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Minnesota on Sunday named VCU athletic director Norwood Teague as the lone finalist for its vacant athletic director position.

Teague, who has led VCU's athletic department since 2006, will visit Minnesota's campus Monday and interview with university president Eric Kaler and the search advisory committee, and meet with coaches, faculty members and others. Given these tributes, his visit seems like a formality as he's clearly Minnesota's choice for the position.

Minnesota is looking to replace Joel Maturi, who announced in February he will retire from his post June 30.

Minnesota says Teague is one of approximately 40 candidates to apply for the position. The pool included women, people of color and non-traditional candidates.

Teague is best known for both hiring and retaining Shaka Smart, considered the nation's top young college basketball coach. Smart guided VCU to its first-ever Final Four appearance in 2011. Smart received opportunities to leave VCU after the Final Four run and after this past season, but he chose to remain.

Teague also has held positions at North Carolina, Arizona State and Virginia, including director of basketball operations for Virginia. Here's his VCU bio.

He has extensive basketball experience, but he hasn't led an athletic department with a varsity football program. Minnesota is certainly looking for a boost on the gridiron, where it hasn't captured a Big Ten title since 1967.

There will be new leadership in Minnesota's athletic department at the start of the 2012-13 sports season as Joel Maturi announced Thursday he will retire June 30.

Maturi's retirement isn't a major surprise, as many projected the 67-year-old to step down in the next year or so. Minnesota president Eric Kaler said Thursday that Maturi will work with him on fundraising and special projects following his retirement. Kaler said he and Maturi reached a mutual decision that Maturi would step down at the end of June.

Kaler said Minnesota will look both nationally an internally for Maturi's replacement, which Kaler expects to have in place by July 1.

How should Maturi's tenure as Minnesota's AD be viewed? The athletic program had no major scandals under his watch, which hadn't been the case in previous decades. He also helped bring football back to campus with the construction of TCF Bank Stadium, one of the best new facilities in college football. Maturi also made a splash with the hiring of men's basketball coach Tubby Smith in 2007.

But if ADs are ultimately judged by the success of their high-profile programs, Maturi fell short. His hiring of football coach Tim Brewster turned out very badly, and the prolonged search for Brewster's successor last year didn't look good, either. Maturi made some candid, eyebrow-raising comments after firing Brewster and during the process of hiring Jerry Kill.

From the (St. Paul) Pioneer Press:

Last season, his football team, his men's and women's basketball teams, and his men's hockey team all failed to make a national postseason appearance. The last time all four teams did not make a bowl or NCAA tournament was the 1997-98 season. The last time there was no bowl, NCAA tournament or NIT or WNIT appearance was the 1983-84 season.

Maturi also was criticized for buyouts paid to fired coaches like Brewster, former football coach Glen Mason and former basketball coach Dan Monson.

He seemed to have respect throughout Big Ten circles, and he was always forthright in our interactions.

"I know the job," Maturi said Thursday. "Many base my success on wins and losses. I'm not worried about Joel Maturi's legacy. I leave ... feeling good."

Maturi's departure doesn't significantly impact Kill, because it always seemed likely Maturi would step down before any decision on Kill's future would be made. Kill took the job knowing he'd likely have a new boss in the near future.

Then again, new athletic directors usually like to have their guys in place, and Kill will have to prove himself to Maturi's successor. It'll be interesting to see where Minnesota goes with the hire.

I wrote earlier about Jerry Kill signing a seven-year deal with Minnesota. The first-year Gophers coach talked about his new deal during his weekly news conference and on the Big Ten coaches' call this afternoon.

Kill said he, school president Eric Kaler and athletic director Joel Maturi were all on board with a longer contract to help the rebuilding process.

"The situation that we are in -- and I'm not blaming anybody, it's just the situation that we are in -- is that we have some things that we've got to get corrected," Kill said. "I think that coming in, there were more things than I thought and even probably Joel thought. There were some things in there that's going to take time. We have got some issues from academics to different things."

At his previous stops, Kill said, the key to winning has always been having strong leadership at the top, starting with the school president. Now he has a vote of confidence from the man in charge and knows there will be at least some patience in this process, though that can always change if too many losses continue to mount.

"It gives you time," Kill said. "Sometimes if you don't think you have time, you try to do things the quick-fix way. We're all that way. This allows us to make sure we don't go the quick-fix route and make sure we're sound in the decisions we're making."

Kill said everything from the academic center to weight training must be addressed. He'll also have to change the defeatist attitude around the Gophers. Kill's brother came to town and attended a pep rally on Friday night before the Nebraska game. While walking out, he was spotted by a security guard who asked if he was the coach's brother. When he said yes, the security guard told him, "They ain't never going to win here at Minnesota. Ain't happening."

Kill understands the frustration and wants to reward some loyalty. He said he and his wife will pay to feed lunch to the students who attend Gophers' games, a cost of about $4,000.

"We need everybody to help us go this direction," he said. "I can't tell you the number of kids that come up through my office and say, 'Hey, thanks, Coach,' and I'm sitting there going, 'Wait a minute. We're 1-5, we are not doing very well. What are you thanking me for?'

"So there's some good youngsters at this school, and you know, it's been tough times for them, too. And we want to try to hold them in there and we need them."

The timing is curious, to say the least.

Minnesota announced on Tuesday that first-year head coach Jerry Kill had signed a seven-year contract that runs through 2017. The announcement comes just a few days after the Gophers lost their fourth straight game to fall to 1-6 on the season. They have been outscored 144-31 in their three Big Ten losses. And Kill has twice been hospitalized this season already for his seizure problems, which flared up at the end of the New Mexico State game in Week 2.

Kill had been coaching without a signed contract, as the school and Kill's representatives negotiated language in the contract he was offered last winter. So this should be viewed as more like a finalization of a deal than the beginning of a new one.

Except ...

Kill was originally offered a five-year contract, but the school decided to add two extra years on top of that. That's a pretty bold sign of faith in a coach who has yet to prove he can compete in the Big Ten, and one who has had a history of medical problems. Minnesota hasn't just been bad; it has been one of the worst teams in the BCS AQ conferences, if not the worst. Did the Gophers really need to add two extra years at this time? Why not see how the next year or so goes just to be sure? Athletic director Joel Maturi's own status is not exactly the most secure in the world, and other schools aren't making a beeline to the Twin Cities to try to lure Kill away.

On the other hand, Kill is a proven program builder, albeit at lower levels than the Big Ten. Minnesota looks like a serious rebuilding project, and the best bet for getting this team back to being competitive is to formulate a good plan and stick to it. Kill said recently that he and his staff are monitoring 63 players on the roster to make sure they're attending class. He has also said it will be more than a one-, two- or even three-year process. The Gophers only have 41 upperclassmen on the roster and are carrying 78 true freshmen, redshirt freshmen or sophomores on their 119-man roster (including walk-ons). The painful experience of this year may make those younger players better down the line.

Kill may be exactly what Minnesota needs -- a guy who will approach the rebuilding project in a no-nonsense manner, and one who is not necessarily looking to parlay this into a better job as quickly as possible. The Gophers are banking on Kill being the right guy for the long term.

It's an admirable show of faith. They'd better be right.

Minnesota coach Jerry Kill has dealt with seizures for years, always finding the strength to return to his duties within days.

But the seizure Kill suffered on the sideline late in a Sept. 10 game against New Mexico State has taken a greater toll. The coach checked himself into the Mayo Clinic on Sunday after suffering persistent seizures since the initial one.

Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi tells the (St. Paul) Pioneer Press' Charley Walters that he isn't sure when Kill will be released from the hospital or whether the 50-year-old will coach the Gophers this week at Michigan.

"The guy's got some health issues that we're going to take care of," Maturi said. "I'm more concerned about Jerry right now than I am any other aspect."

Kill is in stable condition.

Maturi said Kill was upfront about his health history when the Gophers hired him in December.

"He's continued to coach, and he's been pretty successful doing it his way," Maturi said. "For whatever reason, he's had a relapse or whatever it is of these seizures. We can't get it under control, and we need to find a way. I feel badly for everybody involved, but it's like anything else -- it's the hand we're dealt, and we're going to deal with it in the right way. We're blessed to have a staff that's been with Jerry and knows who he is, knows what he wants, and they'll carry it on real well. Hopefully, our kids will respond appropriately."

This is a situation no one likes to see, and Kill certainly is taking the right approach by putting his health first. His staff of longtime assistants has handled these situations before, although they haven't had to operate without Kill for an extended period.

You have to wonder how Kill's situation is affecting the players, as well as Minnesota recruits. Minnesota has 20 players committed for the 2012 class, headlined by ESPNU 150 offensive lineman Isaac Hayes.

Needless to say, it has been a rough few weeks both on and off the field for the Gophers football program. We continue to wish Jerry Kill well in his recovery.

Many of you have asked for updates regarding the condition of Minnesota coach Jerry Kill, who had a seizure on the sideline late in Saturday's game against New Mexico State.

Brian and I will try to provide as many updates as possible until Kill returns to his duties, which we hope is soon!

According to a Minnesota news release sent Sunday, Kill is continuing to show signs of improvement and is resting comfortably at a local hospital. Minnesota team physician Dr. Pat Smith says all tests performed on Kill to this point have shown normal results. Further testing will continue, and Smith hasn't said when Kill could be released from the hospital.

Another update on Kill's status is expected Monday.

"Coach Kill is in good hands and is receiving the very best in medical care," Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi said in a prepared statement. “Right now the reports we have received from our medical staff are positive and I am very pleased that he continues to show steady signs of improvement."

This is certainly good news after some scary moments Saturday. Here's wishing coach Kill a speedy recovery.

Assistant head coach Bill Miller and coordinators Matt Limegrover and Tracy Claeys are leading the team during Kill's absence.

Jerry Kill hasn't coached a game as Minnesota's coach, but he's recording victories in other ways.

Kill has made a strong effort to reach out to Minnesota fans and former players during his first few months on the job. It's no surprise that after attending Big Ten spring meetings Monday-Wednesday in Chicago, Kill spent Thursday making three speaking appearances around the state.

His decision to open spring practices resulted in increased media coverage and attention for the program.

"I knew he could coach," Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi said. "I didn't realize what a rock star he was with the media and others. He's won people over, and I'm really excited that he's our football coach."

Kill wasn't Minnesota's first choice to replace Tim Brewster, and his hiring disappointed some Gophers fans hoping for a bigger name. But his efforts to unite a fan base disappointed with the program's direction aren't going unnoticed.

"The people have been great to me, they really have," Kill said. "We've reached out, from lettermen to the history of Minnesota football all the way back to coach [Murray] Warmath's era. We certainly have studied it."

Maturi notes that "long-term decisions are based on winning and losing," which is hardly a revelation for Kill. To help get Minnesota back on course, Kill has relied heavily on former players.

"It's kind of fitting with the Legends and the Leaders [divisions]," he said. "I've gone back to the legends to find out what we need to do better. Hopefully, we can build our program back to where it once was.

"I've had plenty of feedback. It's been inspiring and a good learning experience for me."

Here's the second half of my interview with new Minnesota coach Jerry Kill. Check out Part I as well.

Why do you think it has been such a struggle for Minnesota to win consistently?

Jerry Kill: I've been asked that question a little bit. A lot of people say, 'Hey, you're not a big-name guy. How are you going to get it done? Nobody's had winning records in the Big Ten for a long time and so forth. What are the weaknesses and strengths?' The big thing, to be honest with you, I have to change the culture. I've got to bring in a coaching staff and they've got to stay committed. I've been able to do that in the jobs that I've had before. You can't have rotating doors, and [the players have] got to understand what you want.

We've got to do a great job in recruiting, and jiminy christmas, with all the things that we have here to offer to young people, and even after they get out of school, all the great businesses and companies and all the things we have here to offer, we've really got to sell what we have. I've been asked about a pro sports town, does that affect you? I think we have to embrace that. That's fantastic to utilize those things in recruiting.

Jerry Kill is not going to turn the program around. There's a lot of people that have come and tried to do it and haven't done it. It's going to have to be a statewide effort, and we're all going to have to get in it together. One person's not going to do it. That's why it's so critical I hire a good coaching staff and we've got to stay positive and we've all got to work together. It's going to have to be a great team effort, and that's the way I've always approached things, and I feel we'll get that done.

When do you expect to have your full staff in place?

JK: I'd like to get it done as quickly as I can. The big thing is in our situation, I'm going to interview the coaches that are here, visit with them and get a feel for where they're at and everything. We have some good coaches back at Northern Illinois that we've spent a ton of time with who have been through this process. We want to be professional there and got to see how that's going to play out, if they're going to hire one of those people. I have to be very selective and do the best thing for the University of Minnesota. If I have to take a little bit more time than I usually would, I'm going to because everything we do is critical.

Every move we make is critical. We don't want to make a wrong move and then have to start over. I'm going to be very careful because when you're excited and fired up and a little bit tired, sometimes you don't make good decisions. I've got to make sure I've got a good, clear mind and I'm making the best decisions for the University of Minnesota and for us to get the program where everybody would like to have it.

Is this as big a challenge as some of the places you've been before, or bigger because it's the Big Ten?

JK: The Big Ten is a tough league. It's a tremendous challenge, no question about that. But I've had all kinds of challenges. They were going to drop that football program at Southern Illinois, and it's a I-AA program, but they were going to drop it. And guess what? They got a brand-new stadium, a brand-new basketball arena and that happened because of what we did. And [former Southern Illinois athletic director] Paul Kowalczyk, a lot like Joel [Maturi], we rolled our sleeves up and we went after it. And a lot of people thought we were crazy. Nobody knew who I was when they hired me at Southern Illinois. People were probably laughing in the press conference. But you don't win games in the press conference. You've got to win games through hard work and proving to yourself that you can do it.

You mentioned at the press conference that your health situation might have scared some people away. How much did you face that in recent years?

JK: Oh, I'm sure. I don't think there's any question about it. I've been fortunate to have a job. When I was at Southern Illinois, I was going to stay there the rest of my life. Shoot, I bought a lake house down there, I was happy, I was content. When I got diagnosed with cancer, I'm sure people said, 'Well, he's done a good job, but I don't know now.' But [former Northern Illinois AD] Jim Phillips and president [John] Peters said, 'Hey, the guy can coach football. He went for two to try to beat us one time, and he beat us the other time. We feel like this guy's a good fit for our job.' So they rolled the dice and I think if you called those people today, I don't think they'd tell you it was a bad hire. We went to three straight bowl games and they were 2-10 when I got the job.

Nobody was supposed to know I had cancer, but somehow everybody found out and I didn't lie to the media. I could have. I told them straight out what the deal was. There are a lot of cancer patients that have survived cancer that are successful. I don't know if they want us to roll up and disappear. Cancer's the best thing that ever happened to me. It made me a better person, it made me a better football coach and I'm more driven because life is short and I'm going to live it, baby. And I'm enjoying it right now.

Jerry Kill wasn't Minnesota's first choice. From what I've been told, he might not have been the school's fifth or sixth choice.

But don't be surprised if Kill ends up being the right choice for a Minnesota program that needs to start winning again in what will be a tougher Big Ten.

Minnesota's exhaustive coaching search ended Sunday as the school tabbed Kill as its new head man. His hire was greeted mostly with skepticism and even anger on the part of some who had been convinced Minnesota would land a big fish. There even was some buzz Saturday that Boise State's Chris Petersen would leave for the Gophers job.

Get real.

If you're upset, don't blame Kill. If you weren't impressed with him at Monday's introductory news conference, you likely will be a few years down the line.

If you're still peeved, feel free to blame Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi. I'm all for good quotes and candor from key athletic officials, but Maturi went too far at his Oct. 17 news conference to announce the firing of coach Tim Brewster and the start of the search.

Some Maturi sound bytes from Oct. 17:

• "We're out here to find a Tubby Smith. We're out here to find somebody that people can recognize, people have confidence in, and people are going to bring instant credibility and notoriety to the football program. That is my goal."
• "Can I pay the dollars that Urban Meyer are making? No. Nick Saban? No. We cannot go down that path. That's not a path that we can go down. But can we pay more than what we're paying, yes, we can. We can pay competitively, and we can pay our staff competitively."
• "You're not following Vince Lombardi here. This is a situation where, you know what, somebody can come in and win some games and people are going to feel good about him and they win a few more games and they're going to feel really good about him. And if we go to the Rose Bowl, we might even put a statue of them outside of TCF Bank Stadium."

Maturi left the impression that Minnesota was aiming high. He talked a big game, and in the eyes of many, he didn't deliver.

Wasn't that the No. 1 problem with Brewster?

Minnesota tried to pursue higher-profile coaches than Kill, but Maturi and right-hand man Dave Mona encountered some hesitation. As colleague Bruce Feldman and others reported, candidates expressed concern about Maturi's future as athletic director and the fact Minnesota had a retiring president. Coaches want stability, and Minnesota couldn't really offer it.

The drawn-out search ended with Kill, who lacks flash but boasts a strong track record. Saturday night, I caught up with Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips, who hired Kill at Northern Illinois, and told him it looked like Kill would be the guy at Minnesota.

"Why not?" Phillips said. "The guy has won everywhere he's been."

Kill went 23-16 in Northern Illinois, a program that had flat-lined when he took over, and recorded two wins against Big Ten teams the last two seasons. He went 55-32 at Southern Illinois and helped the Salukis become an FCS power. He's 127-73 in 16 seasons as a head coach, he turns around programs and he understands what it takes to run a program.

"I can't promise you wins and how fast it's going to happen and all those things," Kill said Tuesday. "I promise you we'll get better every day."

If you listened to Kill on Monday, you realize he's genial, genuine and has beaten the odds his entire life.

He's the first member of his family to graduate college. He was a walk-on player at Southwestern College before beginning an extensive coaching career in the high school and small-college ranks. He was diagnosed with kidney cancer, which is now in remission but scared some schools away, Kill said.

"I have no problems with people judging me," Kill said. "I look forward to that challenge. I've always had a little bit of a chip on my shoulder."

Kill understands how he's being viewed right now, and he doesn't mind one bit. He joked that his wife, Rebecca, had other choices, too.

"I was second or third down that line and I had to work at it," he said.

Kill will do the same at Minnesota.

Ten items to track in a five-pack of Big Ten games on Saturday.

1. Lines collide in Iowa City: If you love line play and power football, pay attention Saturday afternoon at Kinnick Stadium. Wisconsin boasts the nation's No. 12 rushing attack and an offensive line boasting 130 career starts among its top six players. Iowa ranks seventh nationally against the run and has 100 career starts among its top five defensive linemen. Two future first-round draft picks match up in Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn and Wisconsin left tackle Gabe Carimi. The Richter scale had better be working in Iowa City because there could be a few tremors.

2. Spartans head across state lines: Michigan State is off to its best start since 1966, but all seven Spartans wins have taken place within the confines of the state. Some see this as a bigger deal than it really is -- an impressive win at Michigan should count for something -- but the Spartans can help their case for national respect with a good performance against 5-1 Northwestern in Evanston. Plenty of Michigan State fans should turn up at Ryan Field as the Spartans try to maintain perfection before another big road test at No. 15 Iowa.

3. Gophers resume play without Brewster: The Tim Brewster era is over at Minnesota, but the Gophers still have five games left to play. Interim coach Jeff Horton leads Minnesota in its first game without Brewster as it hosts Penn State. How will the Gophers respond? Perhaps more importantly, how will their fans respond after booing regularly during five consecutive home losses? "We're coming into two home football games, and I don't think it's fair for the kids to be booed," Minnesota AD Joel Maturi said Sunday in announcing Brewster's firing. "Quite frankly, it's why I have my plea out to our fans, don't boo our kids."

4. Buckeyes boiling: Don't expect Ohio State to overlook Purdue like it did last year. For starters, most Buckeyes players were on the field at Ross-Ade Stadium when Ryan Kerrigan and the 1-5 Boilermakers recorded the upset. Add in the fact that Ohio State comes off of a humbling loss to Wisconsin, and Jim Tressel's crew should be locked and loaded. Tressel has been masterful at exacting revenge, but his team faces some obstacles Saturday. The offensive line must keep Kerrigan away from Terrelle Pryor, and a banged-up defense will be without star linebacker Ross Homan and nickel safety Christian Bryant.

5. Bowling in Champaign: There's still time left for both Indiana and Illinois, but the loser of Saturday's game in Champaign could face an uphill battle to reach six wins and a bowl game. Indiana recorded its only Big Ten win of 2009 against the Illini, and Bill Lynch's crew needs two more wins to qualify for its second bowl game in four seasons after going 14 years without making the postseason. Illinois has survived its toughest stretch at 3-3, but this is a game the Illini need on their home field to show that things really are turning around.

6. Penn State faces must-win: Joe Paterno keeps stiff-arming the "must-win" label, but everyone knows it applies for Penn State on Saturday. If the Lions stumble against 1-6 Minnesota, they'll have a hard time reaching a bowl game and getting Paterno his 400th career win. This week, Paterno scoffed at a suggestion of in-fighting among the coaching staff, and Penn State players know they need to play with greater passion after a lackluster performance against Illinois. Rob Bolden and the offense need to step up against the Big Ten's worst scoring defense, especially since Penn State's own D continues to deal with some key injuries.

7. Wildcats back to being underdogs: The Northwestern Wildcats are underdogs for the first time this season, and that could spell good things Saturday against No. 7 Michigan State. Northwestern has been at its best as an under-the-radar, unranked underdog since 2003, recording eight wins against ranked opponents, including two last season. But Michigan State is executing at an extremely high level in all three phases, so Northwestern needs to clean up its mistakes, particularly with penalties and special-teams meltdowns.

8. Norm chant: Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker still hasn't returned to the team following foot amputation surgery last month, but Hawkeye Nation is keeping him in their thoughts Saturday. Every time Wisconsin's offense faces a third down on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium, Iowa fans are being encouraged to chant "Norm! Norm! Norm!" This is a great idea to honor a great coach, and you can find out more about it here.

9. Opportunity knocks again for Purdue: No one outside Mollenkopf Athletic Center expected Purdue to be 2-0 in Big Ten play after a rash of injuries claimed starting quarterback Robert Marve and other key players. And no one expects the Boilers to be 3-0 in the conference after Saturday's trip to No. 10 Ohio State. Danny Hope's team has no pressure and once again gets a great opportunity to showcase itself on the national stage. Much like Illinois, Purdue typically plays Ohio State tough: the Boilers are 3-5 against the Buckeyes since 2000 with two losses by a combined seven points and only one loss by more than 16 points.

10. Rough road for Badgers: Bret Bielema and the Wisconsin Badgers overcame their big-game bugaboo against Ohio State. But if they intend to remain in the Big Ten title race, they need to back it up with a signature road win. Bielema still needs more of those, especially after Wisconsin's Oct. 2 loss at Michigan State. He has a 2-2 record against his alma mater, Iowa, but has dropped back-to-back games. Divisional alignment puts the Wisconsin-Iowa series on a two-year hiatus, so Saturday's game has extra meaning. "I graduated from Iowa," Bielema said. "They treat me very badly when I go down there. So it’s a hostile environment."

It's painful enough to fire your coach only six games into a season, as Minnesota did with Tim Brewster.

But here's what might be more painful: As athletic director Joel Maturi stepped to the podium Sunday in Minneapolis, the party in Madison still raged as Wisconsin celebrated its win against the nation's No. 1 team. And down in Iowa City, the Hawkeyes were welcomed back after scoring the highest points total in team history against Michigan (38) in a win over the Wolverines.

As Minnesota admitted failure Sunday -- and to Maturi's credit, he did so in candid fashion -- its two biggest rivals celebrated their latest successes.

Minnesota received another reminder of where it is, and where it needs to go.

"It only emphasized what I think we can do," Maturi said of Wisconsin's big win Saturday. "I'm proud to say I was at the University of Wisconsin when they were in a similar condition to what we are in. Proud to say I was there when they won their first Rose Bowl, so I know it can be done. I think I have a clue as to how it was done and why it was done, and I'm here to do what I can to have it happen at the University of Minnesota."

Whether or not you believe Maturi can help restore and enhance Minnesota's football program -- many ADs don't get a chance to hire a second football coach -- his reference point is a good one.

After winning the Big Ten in 1962, Wisconsin went 31 years before claiming another title. Minnesota is in a 43-year drought without a championship, tied with Indiana for the longest in the league.

So it can be done, but it's far from a guarantee.

A large portion of Minnesota fans are rejoicing because Brewster is gone. That's their right as fans. But coaching change is never easy, and the really hard part comes next.

The Big Ten gets better in 2011 when Nebraska joins the league. Minnesota will be in a division with Michigan State and Iowa -- currently ranked No. 7 and No. 15 in the BCS standings, respectively -- as well as the aforementioned Huskers, a Northwestern team consistently making bowl games and a Michigan program that will restore itself to powerhouse status at some point.

Oh, and the Gophers still get to face Wisconsin every year in a protected crossover game.

"We're also at a significant time in the history of the Big Ten Conference," Maturi said in his opening remarks Sunday. "There are many exciting changes taking place -- expansion, divisional play, a conference championship football game -- and I believe it's critical that the University of Minnesota be in position to take advantage of those opportunities of those changes."

How prepared is Minnesota to take advantage?

Becoming the first FBS school to dump its coach this season give Minnesota a head start on looking for a successor.

Minnesota now can dream a little and make a run at a big name. Maturi certainly landed one for the Gophers men's basketball program in Tubby Smith.

"We were prepared to pay more for the coach when we [hired Brewster] four years ago," Maturi said. "Now can I pay the dollars that Urban Meyer are making? No. Nick Saban? No. We cannot go down that path. That's not a path that we can go down. But can we pay more than what we're paying, yes, we can. We can pay competitively."

The Minnesota job always will have its challenges, namely the location and the distance from many of the nation's recruiting hotbeds. But Wisconsin and Iowa face the same obstacles. And let's face it: recruiting didn't lead to Brewster's downfall; it was one of his strengths.

Minnesota also has a beautiful on-campus facility in TCF Bank Stadium, a major selling point for Maturi in this process.

There's no reason why Minnesota can't be a consistent bowl team and occasionally compete for Big Ten championships.

"Everything is here," Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber said Sunday. "The university gives everything a student-athlete needs to be successful, not only academically but athletically. It's just a matter of time. We will win football games here at the University of Minnesota. It's too bad that we haven't had the success, but ultimately, we will.

"That's a promise. It will happen here."

It needs to happen soon.

Tim Brewster came to Minnesota talking big and dreaming bigger.

I can't remember how many times I heard Brewster mention Minnesota's 18 Big Ten championships and six national championships, never mind the fact that neither event had happened since 1967.

Brewster knew the bar needed to be raised in Minneapolis. You couldn't blame him for aiming high. Why else would the school fire a coach (Glen Mason) who consistently made bowl games?

But Brewster couldn't make Minnesota into a championship program. In fact, he couldn't get the Gophers to the level Mason had them at the time of his termination following the 2006 Insight Bowl. Brewster never won a trophy game and went 1-9 in November games, with his lone win coming against FCS South Dakota State. His teams have been outscored 67-0 in their past two meetings with rival Iowa.

When he stopped winning in September and October this season, his days became numbered. And after Minnesota lost its sixth consecutive game Saturday at Purdue, dropping to 1-6 on the season, the school pulled the plug on the Brewster era.

Brewster went 15-30 at Minnesota and 7-18 since November 2008.

"While I appreciate the passion and commitment that Coach Brewster has shown, it is clear that a change in the leadership of Gopher football is necessary," athletic director Joel Maturi said in a prepared statement. "We have high aspirations for our football program and we are not satisfied with its current direction. The results so far this season have been unacceptable and the program has simply not shown enough improvement over the past three and a half years to continue with the status quo."

Co-offensive coordinator Jeff Horton will take over for Brewster on an interim basis. I hate to see lame-duck coaches in college sports, so this seems like the right move.

Firing Brewster only cost Minnesota $600,000, a buyout lowered in his recent contract extension.

Brewster never lacked passion, and his recruiting abilities as a former Mack Brown assistant showed at Minnesota. I loved the way he upgraded Minnesota's schedule, which had been a joke during the Mason era, and added showcase nonconference games against teams like USC.

But he also showed too many signs of a first-time college head coach.

His decision to replace veteran offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar and switch from the spread to a pro-style offense didn't pay off. He replaced Dunbar with an NFL assistant in Jedd Fisch whose complex concepts flew over the players' heads. Brewster kept shuffling his staff, a formula that rarely works in a sport where sticking to your guns usually is the way to go.

Minnesota is the first FBS program to make a coaching change in 2010, and the school now begins what could be an extensive coaching search. There are some dream candidates Minnesota can pursue (alum Tony Dungy, former assistant Kevin Sumlin, Mike Leach) and some more realistic ones (Montreal Alouettes coach Marc Trestman, former Iowa State coach Dan McCarney).

It will be interesting to see how much control Maturi has in the search since he was the one who hired Brewster.

Minnesota is a challenging job, but it's a better job now with a beautiful on-campus stadium to sell.

There are no excuses why Minnesota shouldn't be a middle-of-the-pack Big Ten team, building toward the high bar Brewster set but never could reach.

Five lessons from the week that was in Big Ten football. Study up.

1. The Big Ten title race goes through Iowa City: Iowa's impressive performance at Michigan combined with wins by both Michigan State and Wisconsin increase the likelihood that the 2010 Big Ten championship will be decided at Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes host Wisconsin and Michigan State the next two weeks and still have a Nov. 20 home date against Ohio State, which isn't out of the race despite Saturday night's loss in Madison. The wild card is Purdue, which still has trips to both Ohio State and Michigan State. If Iowa can defend its home turf, it likely will be going to Pasadena for the first time in 20 years.

2. Bret Bielema can win a big game: Bielema's record looked a little hollow before Saturday night. He had won 43 games with the Badgers, but only one against a ranked opponent from the Big Ten. In leading Wisconsin past Ohio State, Bielema accomplished something not even his predecessor and boss Barry Alvarez can attest to: a win against the nation's No. 1 team. The Buckeyes were the only Big Ten team Bielema had yet to beat (0-3 before Saturday night). Wisconsin took a big step toward elite status again, although things don't get easier this week at Iowa.

3. Michigan State has a playmaking defense: One of the few small numbers attached to Michigan State's defense in 2009 was interceptions. The Spartans had only six all season, tied for the second fewest in the country (Illinois, Florida Atlantic, Tulane and UNLV each had five). They have reversed the trend in impressive fashion this fall, recording 12 interceptions, including three in each of the past two games. Michigan State's secondary had a hand in all four takeaways against Illinois, despite playing without suspended cornerback Chris L. Rucker. "The kids are making plays," Spartans defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi said. "There is no magic to it."

4. Change is in the air at Minnesota: The official announcement hasn't arrived yet, but Tim Brewster appears on his way out as Golden Gophers coach after four seasons. The Gophers dropped their sixth consecutive game Saturday, falling behind 21-0 at Purdue, and team officials appear ready to act sooner rather than later. Despite a contract extension this winter, Brewster entered the season on the hot seat and has done little to help his cause. If Brewster is finished, it will be interesting to see how the school handles the search. Will athletic director Joel Maturi, who hired Brewster, get another chance to tab the man to lead the football program?

5. Ohio State's streak of league titles in jeopardy: The Buckeyes now need to win out and get some help to extend their streak of Big Ten titles to six. Ohio State not only lost the No. 1 ranking on Saturday night, but also control of its own destiny in the league title race. Jim Tressel's team must win out and hope Michigan State stumbles at least once to ensure a co-championship. To get back to the Rose Bowl, Ohio State should root for Iowa to keep winning until Nov. 20, when the Buckeyes visit Iowa City. Every Saturday can change the picture in college football, and Ohio State's picture just got a lot cloudier.

Minnesota coach Tim Brewster told reporters after today's loss at Purdue that he hasn't had any discussions with school officials about his future with the program.

"Absolutely not," Brewster said.

Brewster added that he knows of no change in support from his bosses. Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi wasn't available for comment after the game.

"Life deals you tough hands at times," Brewster said, "and you better be tough and you better stand up in the face of adversity and keep marching, keep working and that's exactly what we’re going to do as a football team. Hopefully our fans will recognize that, but I have great empathy for our fans because they're not nearly disappointed as I am."

The Gophers have dropped six consecutive games and need to win out to become bowl eligible. Their remaining schedule includes home dates with both Ohio State and Iowa and a road trip to Michigan State.

"I'm not worried about it because coach Brewster’s a good coach, and I know he’s going to coach us hard," receiver Da'Jon McKnight said. "If he's gone or not then I'll still love him. We're just trying to play hard for him and play hard for each other."

Special thanks to Josh Katzenstein for passing along some quotes from West Lafayette.

It's nice to feel wanted, and Nebraska has been feeling the love since being admitted to the Big Ten earlier this month.

Officials and fans representing teams like Iowa, Wisconsin, Penn State, Minnesota and even Michigan have expressed interest in potential rivalries with Nebraska.

Wisconsin has been the most aggressive, at least publicly, as head coach Bret Bielema contacted the Big Ten office about scheduling an end-of-year series with Nebraska just hours after the Huskers were voted into the league. Bielema told me a few days later: "With Coach [Tom] Osborne's and Coach [Barry] Alvarez's history, maybe we can start a little trophy game. Call it the Alvaborn Cup or something like that. We don't have a season-ending finale game, so maybe we can start a tradition here."

Alvarez, the Wisconsin athletic director, sees the potential, too. Wisconsin could use a regular rival on the final Saturday of the season, now that the Minnesota game has been moved earlier.

But as a former Nebraska player, Alvarez also understands that rivalries don't happen with the snap of a finger or a phone call. Matchups like Nebraska-Oklahoma and Nebraska-Colorado took time to build, and the same will hold true in the Big Ten. The Cornhuskers haven't played a regular-season game against a Big Ten team since 2003 (Penn State).

"I don’t think you just say, ‘We’re going to be rivals,’" Alvarez said. "That grows. That’s your fans and the teams and the coaches, they establish a rivalry. You don’t just mark it on your calendar that we have a rivalry. [Wisconsin and Nebraska] haven't played since 1974."

Minnesota and Nebraska have met 51 times, most recently in 1990.

"[A rivalry] makes sense because of the geography, because we’ve played them more than anybody else, so there seems to be some good history," Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi said. "That will happen over time."

Again, the ingredients for great rivalries with Nebraska are there in the Big Ten. But it's important to allow these things to simmer for a while.