The University of Minnesota football players were told at a 7 a.m. meeting today that Denver Broncos tight ends coach Tim Brewster will be the new head coach.
"He sounds like the right guy for the job," said Gophers linebacker John Shevlin. "It sounds like this is where he wanted to be.
"We were told that Mike Shanahan (Denver Broncos head coach) and (Texas coach) Mack Brown spoke very highly of him, as well as (former Gophers All-American center and Broncos rookie) Greg Eslinger."
Athletics director Joel Maturi telephoned associate AD Tom Wistrcill (CHECK) at 6:55 a.m. today to say the deal had been completed, according to Wistrcill. Maturi is in Denver, where he finalized the agreement with Brewster, 46.
Wistrcill said Brewster "was passionate about getting this job and said this is where he wanted to be."
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Brewster will be introduced at a press conference at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Meanwhile, holdover Gophers assistant Gordon Shaw was in his office early this morning heading out on the road to discuss the new coach with recruits and to solidify their commitments to the school.
There is a question of whether Brewster will be allowed to visit with players who have committed to attending Minnesota because fired coach Glen Mason already had made home visits last month. The Gophers' compliance office was working on that issue this morning, according to an unnamed Gophers official.
