Sid's jottings

JOTTINGS

• Cole Kramer, the outstanding quarterback who led Eden Prairie to the Class 6A state championship last year, has accepted a scholarship offer from the Gophers. He completed 72 of 101 passes for 1,191 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2017 and hasn't thrown an interception the past two seasons.

• The last time a team won back-to-back Super Bowls was the Patriots after the 2003 and '04 seasons. They have a chance to do it again here Sunday, and just like in February 2005 they have to beat the Eagles to do so.

• The Vikings have five draft picks this year. They are missing their fourth-round pick, which went to Philadelphia in the Sam Bradford trade, and their seventh-round pick, which went to Seattle for Tramaine Brock.

• ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. projects the Vikings taking Texas tackle Connor Williams in the first round, 30th overall, even though Williams missed seven games in 2017 because of sprained ligaments in his left knee.

• After the Vikings' loss at Philadelphia, teams that play home games in a dome are now 0-13 outdoors in conference championship games. Since moving indoors, the Vikings have played three NFC Championship Games outdoors and lost by a combined 96-17.

• You wonder if Gary Trent Jr., like former Apple Valley teammate Tyus Jones, will leave Duke after one season. NBADraft.net does not have Trent as a 2018 pick but has him rated No. 18 overall in 2019.

• An update on the three Gophers men's basketball recruits for next season: Cretin-Derham Hall's Daniel Oturu is averaging 18.9 points and 12.4 rebounds; Orono's Jarvis Thomas Omersa is averaging 20.0 points and 11.6 rebounds; and DeLaSalle's Gabe Kalscheur is averaging 20.2 points and 5.2 rebounds.

• The Gophers have only three games left at home — vs. Nebraska, No. 6 Michigan State and Iowa — and five road games, at Iowa, No. 25 Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and No. 3 Purdue.