ST. PAUL
University of Minnesota athletics director Joel Maturi declined to address a report today that the Gophers will fire football coach Tim Brewster if they lose Saturday at Purdue.
Citing sources with knowledge of the situation, 1500espn.com reported today that the university drafted a press release and media plan Thursday to institute if the Gophers (1-5, 0-2) lose to Purdue (3-2, 1-1), giving them a sixth straight loss.
"You know my response," Maturi wrote in an e-mail to the Pioneer Press, but did not elaborate. In recent weeks, Maturi has said he would not discuss Brewster publicly.
Gophers spokesman Garry Bowman wrote in an e-mail to the Pioneer Press, "I can't confirm or deny anything in ESPN 1500's report. All I can tell you is that Tim Brewster is our head football coach until Joel Maturi or Tim Brewster decide otherwise."
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Brewster signed a new contract after last season that extended his deal to 2013, but his buyout was rewritten.
If he is fired, the university would have to pay Brewster only $200,000 per remaining year, half his base annual salary. Under his original contract, the university would have had to pay his entire remaining base salary.
According to 1500espn.com, Brewster would have to decide whether he wants to remain as coach for the season's final five games.
Gophers basketball coach Tubby Smith, when asked after his media-day press conference today about
Brewster facing criticism about his job, said he supported Brewster and expected him to return as coach next season. Smith said he hasn't talked with Brewster recently.
"We know that he's got challenging times," Smith said. "What I'm impressed with is how hard his kids are playing. That's an indication that he's maintaining and he's in control. A mistake here or a mistake there, you take that back and it might be a different season. We certainly want to wish him the best. We expect him to be back next year, because I think the best is yet to come."
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
