FOUR DOWNS COLUMN
A busy time for sports as we head into August. Let’s cover it all with another “Four Downs.”
FIRST DOWN: I feel like a broken record talking about the quarterback situation for the Vikings. I truly believe that no matter who wins the starting job to start week one vs. the Packers, both J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray will play at some point in the season because neither of the two has proven they can stay healthy. If we are being honest as Minnesota sports fans we need to add Carson Wentz to the list of quarterbacks who may get some playing time for the same reason.
SECOND DOWN: What a difference a year makes for the Minnesota Twins. Last year the President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey traded away 10 players at the deadline. In 2026 as I am writing this new General Manager Jeremy Zoll has made deals for left-handed reliever A.J. Minter from the Mets and starting right-hander Dean Kremer from the Orioles. When you are reading this there might have been more deals to give Minnesota a chance at the postseason may have happened. Whether they win the American League Central or quality for a Wild Card spot or not, it’s nice the Twins are relevant going into the fall.
THIRD DOWN: College football fall camps have started around the area and the excitement around the region is starting to grow, especially with so many area athletes being involved. The Bison jumping to the FBS, the Dragons coming off a good season and their former quarterback Jack Strand getting first team reps with the Falcons, the Cobbers having an nicely set up MIAC schedule, UND returning Jerry Kaminski and Lance Rucker for Missouri Valley Football Conference play, local kids with the Gophers with a tough Big Ten schedule ahead, and other smaller schools around the area will give us plenty to focus on with Saturday football all season.
FOURTH DOWN: A shout out to women’s sports in Minnesota once again. We know about the success of the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA and Minnesota Frost in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, now we have to add the Minnesota Vixen to the championship teams in the land of 10,000 lakes. What makes it better is the head coach is Barnesville native Connor Lewis. In an area where the “Core Four” Minnesota teams haven’t won a championship since 1991, it is nice the ladies are bringing home the hardware.
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