By: Samuel Gordon

After the Gophers christened their season less than two weeks ago in their own backyard, they’ll be in somewhat unfamiliar territory this weekend.

Minnesota will travel to Zionsville, Ind., for the Wolf Run Intercollegiate at Wolf Run Golf Club.

In 2007, Golfweek magazine ranked the course the 15th-best modern course in the nation. It’s top-tier, but it’s still unfamiliar.

Gophers senior captain Jon Trasamar is the only current Gophers player with experience on the course, having played at Wolf Run when he was a freshman.

“It’s a difficult golf course,” he said. “It’s not the longest golf course in the world, but you have to be very precise.”

Trasamar said driving accuracy and ball striking will be more crucial than distance over the weekend.

 “The biggest challenge is that other teams have been going to this tournament year in and year out,” head coach John Carlson said. “They’ll have some home-course knowledge. … It’ll be a challenge for us.”

Still, there are holes where birdies are possible if players play smart, Carlson said.

The Gophers opened up their fall season Sept. 8-9 with the annual Gopher Invitational, where Minnesota finished in a tie for fifth out of 12 teams.

Carlson said playing the first tournament the first week of school was not advantageous for his squad. But in the time since, Gophers players have settled into a routine, balancing school and practice.

Because the tournament is in Indiana, only five golfers are going to travel to compete. At the Gopher Invitational, nine of the 10 Minnesota players golfed — five representing the team and four playing unattached.

By: Megan Ryan

Adrianna Nora may be a new face on the Gophers volleyball team, but opponents would be wise not to overlook the junior transfer from Baylor.

That’s because the right-side hitter openly admits that when the ball is set to her, she’s aiming her kill directly at an opposing player of her choice.

And with her “heavy arm,” as head coach Hugh McCutcheon calls it, that ball will most likely hurt.

“Sometimes I, of course, have to hold back to keep the ball in play,” Nora said.

Nora has only played in 16 of Minnesota’s 29 sets so far this season and has started two matches.

But Nora had a breakout weekend at the Bluegrass Battle against Louisville and No. 19 Kentucky. She had nine kills and a .615 hitting percentage against the Cardinals and 13 kills against the Wildcats.

The Stillwater, Minn., native’s increased playing time didn’t come easily, though. With many players competing for starting spots, Nora said she has had to face teammates who push her to improve every day.

“At first, it was really frustrating,” Nora said. “Even coming from Baylor to here, the level of play is so different.

“You never know who’s going to play or what is going to happen. It’s so competitive every single day.”

Freshman outside hitter Sarah Wilhite had been playing more than Nora early in the nonconference season. But McCutcheon said Nora’s consistent performance in practice forced coaches to give her more of a look in a match setting.

And she didn’t disappoint.

“I think she’s just finding her rhythm with the setters and feeling a little more confident,” McCutcheon said. “Certainly, that takes time for anyone when you get to a new team.”

Nora also brings some versatility to the Gophers.

While she has primarily been used as a right-side hitter for Minnesota, she played as a left-side hitter and a middle blocker for Baylor and said she can play wherever the team needs her.

“I think right side’s my favorite spot,” Nora said. “It’s a lot easier — not as much moving as middle. It’s more fun for big kills and blocking.”

Senior setter Alexandra Palmer said she has noticed Nora’s affinity for “big kills.”

“She’s really fun to set to,” Palmer said. “She’s a powerful, aggressive, very intense hitter.”

By: Nate Gotlieb

At the start of last season, San Jose State quarterback David Fales had never completed a pass in Division I college football.

This season, Fales is his team’s unquestioned starter and has potential to be an early round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

The Gophers will play Fales and SJSU at 11 a.m. Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium. 

The senior, a Salinas, Calif., native, was the most accurate passer in the Football Bowl Subdivision last season and led SJSU to an 11-2 record. 

”He’s got a good, level head on his shoulders,” SJSU head coach Ron Caragher said after practice Tuesday.  “He sees the field well, and he makes good decisions with the football.”

Fales’ dramatic ascent came after a slow start to his college career. 

He initially signed with the University of Nevada but transferred to Monterey Peninsula College in Monterey, Calif., after just one season.

Then, after a successful 2010 campaign with Monterey, Fales accepted an invitation to walk on at the University of Wyoming. But that team already had two quarterbacks on the roster, and Fales ultimately returned to Monterey for the 2011 season.

He led Monterey to a Coast Conference co-championship that season and earned conference offensive player of the year honors.

Fales found another Division I suitor in SJSU in December 2011 and enrolled there that spring.

After winning the starting job at SJSU, he morphed into a star. 

He threw for 4,193 yards, 33 touchdowns and just 9 interceptions in his first year on campus and earned second-team All-Western Athletic conference honors. 

Fales spent part of his summer as a counselor at the Elite 11 high school quarterback camp.  There, he worked out with reigning Heisman trophy winner Johnny Manziel and Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, among others.

“It was really just a great experience to go on the field and compete with them,” he said.

This season, Fales returns three of his top receivers, including Noel Grigsby, who had 1,307 receiving yards and nine touchdowns last season.

The Spartans are 1-1 this season. They beat Sacramento State 24-0 in week one but lost to No. 5 Stanford 34-13 on Sept. 7.

After watching film on the Gophers, Fales called the front seven “energetic.”

“They’re big, strong, fast, high-energy guys,” he said.

The Gophers praised Fales’ abilities, but head coach Jerry Kill said his team is excited for the challenge Fales provides.

“We’re going to play a quarterback that most people [see] in the NFL,” Kill said. “I’m anxious to see how the kids respond.”

Senior safety Brock Vereen echoed that sentiment.

“This is our first true, big test,” he said, “and we’re ready for it.”

By: Jack Satzinger

This Saturday, Minnesota hosts San Jose State and highly touted quarterback David Fales.

And senior defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman has already proven this season that he’ll do whatever it takes to get to Fales this weekend.

His tenacity and high motor were on display last weekend against Western Illinois.

In the fourth quarter against WIU, Hageman’s helmet was ripped off mid-play by an opposing offensive lineman, but he still managed to get in the backfield and deliver a sack.

“You’ve got to be mentally tough,” Hageman said of the play. “The goal is getting to the quarterback, and I don’t care [what’s in my way].”

That’s included more than just having his helmet ripped off. Hageman said teams are throwing more double teams his way this season.

Still, Hageman, a projected future first-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, has anchored a defense that’s allowed an average of just 18.7 points per game — third-best in the Big Ten.

Hageman tied for a team-high six tackles to go along with his sack Saturday. After failing to record a sack in the first two games of the season, Hageman was asked if last Saturday’s performance was his best of the season so far.

“I felt it was an OK game for me,” he said. “There [are] always things I can work on.”

Minnesota defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys said he was “pleased” with his defense’s performance against WIU. He added that he thinks Hageman has a lot of room to grow despite being one of the nation’s top defensive players.

“He needs to learn that his upside is still a lot higher than what it is right now,” Claeys said. “He [has] responded well to that challenge, especially in the fourth quarter when we needed some people to step up and make some plays for us.”

SJSU’s offense is likely the most talented the Gophers have seen yet this season.

And whether the offense throws a bunch of double teams at Hageman, or even rips his helmet off, Hageman said he’s preparing to do whatever it takes to get to the quarterback.

“I’ve seen them play,” Hageman said. “I heard [Fales] is a great quarterback. I’m definitely going to watch film after practice and get a feel for the [offensive] line and see how they move.”

Special teams playmaker

Hageman’s playmaking ability stretches to more than defense, and the 300-plus-pound lineman has made his mark on special teams early this season by blocking kicks.

In Minnesota’s first game of the season against Nevada-Las Vegas, Hageman blocked a field goal that was returned for a touchdown by senior defensive back Martez Shabazz. And last week against WIU, Hageman blocked an extra point.

Hageman said there’s no particular recipe for blocking a kick.

He just tries to keep a low pad level and explode through the offensive line. He leaps for the ball after he breaks through the line.

His 36-inch vertical probably doesn’t hurt.

Gaining attention

On Tuesday, Hageman said he’s been under a microscope this year after all the preseason hype. That added attention has opened up opportunities for some of his teammates up front.

Gophers redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Theiren Cockran leads the Big Ten in sacks this season with three. Cockran had two in the second half of last week’s game against WIU.

“He didn’t play a lot a year ago at full speed,” Claeys said. “He was hurt all year long with a foot injury and struggled. I think he has tremendous upside.”

De’Vondre Campbell is another name that often comes up when talking about potential. Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill said the redshirt sophomore has the potential to develop into a Hageman-like talent in the future.

Dr. Date,

I always thought my girlfriend and I had a pretty good time in, you know, the sack. I’ll be honest — I don’t have much to compare it to, but things seemed to be going well.

But recently, she’s been saying she doesn’t feel like having sex (before, we usually did it three to four times a week). We might fool around a little bit, but that’s it. I asked if anything’s wrong, and she finally admitted (not in so many words) that she doesn’t enjoy sex that much. Basically, she can take it or leave it.

I’m worried that I did something wrong. Is it that she just doesn’t like having sex with me? Is there something I should be doing differently?

—Blue-balled

Go-get-her,

If she can take it or leave it, then it’s very simple: Tip the scales in favor of her taking it.

She still likes you, right? Does she masturbate? Then spontaneity helps. The trick is to make the most out of those brief moments when she’s hot and bothered. If you’ve always been good in, you know, the sack, it’s time to get better at handling business outside the sack. Bedrooms are kind of boring, familiar territory unless you’re a regular at many of the TC’s finest sex emporiums — which actually might not be a bad idea in your situation.

Spice, spice, spice.

Do you ever give her clitoris attention? If the answer is an unfortunate “no,” then remedy that situation immediately.

Another, probably less-likely option is that your girlfriend is asexual, which, despite not quite fitting this situation, is generally more prevalent than many of the people I talk to seem to think.  

If a little detective work in this line turns up nothing, then it’s my sad duty to say, “This lady isn’t diggin’ you

anymore.”

—Dr. Date

Dr. Date,

This is kind of embarrassing, but here goes. I’m almost 21 and I’ve never kissed anyone. The only “boyfriend” I’ve had was in middle school, and we dated for a total of three hours. Most of my friends have had at least one serious boyfriend/girlfriend, and most have gone way, way further than I have (though I guess it’s hard not to).

My parents met in college, and my older sister has been dating her high school boyfriend for six years. I feel like the older I get, the harder it’s going to be to jump into adult dating. Even if I met someone, how would I explain to them that I don’t have any experience?

—Nervous

Jitters,

Honestly, don’t. At least, don’t tell him right off the bat. Men can get scared away by that kind of early mention. It inevitably comes across awkwardly, too — there aren’t many great conversational openings for people to blurt out, “I’mnewtokissing!” or something like that.

So wait ‘til you’ve known Mr. Big for a while and then broach the subject — preferably in a way that represents it as the natural fact it is, and not as clingy or intimidating. Something like, “Hey, you’re not that bad for a first relationship.” Well, maybe not that exactly, but treat it light-heartedly.

I know you think it’s a big deal, but it’s not a big deal. There’re plenty of similar people with similar stories. Something will evolve naturally with the right dude.

If you put yourself out there, find people with common interests, mine the friend-of-friend pool and keep good posture, you’ll be in decent shape.

—Dr. Date

By: David Litin

Though technically banned on campus, longboards are accepted by police as a legitimate form of transportation.

In the late 1990s, the University of Minnesota banned skateboarding on campus because of its potential to damage property.

But University police Deputy Chief Chuck Miner said the department allows students to use longboards because they are only using them for transport.

“If they’re going from point A to point B,” he said, “we generally don’t stop them.”

Miner said skateboarders have damaged areas around campus, including a railing by Northrop Auditorium and parking facilities.

The Board of Regents’ ordinance against skateboards defines them as a “piece of wood … mounted on skate wheels,” a definition that extends to longboards.

Longboard Club Vice President Mike Casey said he has never been told not to longboard on campus.

“They don’t actually enforce it,” Casey, an education graduate student, said.

Casey said the only time he ever received a ticket while longboarding was for running a red light.

“Cops are really fair,” he said.

Drew Swanson, a bioproducts junior and president of the Longboard Club, said he’s never felt any “discrimination” while riding his longboard.

But both Swanson and Casey said the police have every right to stop anyone for longboarding.

“It is dangerous,” Casey said.

Longboarding culture

Kristin Schulte, a University alumna, started the Longboard Club in 2009 to bring boarders together.

She said that longboarding is a cool, fun and useful way to get from place to place.

“People will notice,” Schulte said. “It’s cool.”

Schulte went into UMPD’s headquarters when she started the organization and asked if longboarding on campus was an issue.

“They said, ‘Don’t worry about it,’” she said.

When hosting rides, Casey and Swanson said they always make sure other riders wear helmets.

“In longboarding culture,” Swanson said, “safety is important.”

This is a big difference between longboarders and skateboarders, Casey said, and wearing helmets while longboarding is “breaking the skater stereotype.”

Gina Harsevoort, a studies in cinema and media culture junior, said longboarders have never bothered her.

“I don’t really see it as a problem,” she said.

Harsevoort said she finds bikers more annoying because there are more around campus.

“[Longboarding] shouldn’t be banned,” Harsevoort said, but she added that there could be a problem if longboard accidents occur more frequently.

“It’s a form of transport,” said mathematics sophomore Laura Sater.

Sater said she has never had a problem with longboarders while she rides her bike. If she needs to pass, she said she just rides around them.

Like Harsevoort, she doesn’t agree with the Regents’ policy banning longboarding.

“I think it’s a little ridiculous,” Sater said.

By: Kyle Stowe

At its first meeting of the school year Wednesday night, the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly announced its 2013-14 platform.

GAPSA will advocate for open-source content programs and improvements to the international student experience at the University of Minnesota this year, among other initiatives.

Along with the Minnesota Student Association, GAPSA crafted a plan for open-source textbooks and other academic materials at the state Legislature, but the measure failed.

Like MSA, GAPSA will push for a similar plan again but only at the University level this year.

“We want the University to become more innovative,” GAPSA President Brittany Edwards said.

Some College of Education and Human Development faculty members already created an open-source textbook platform, but GAPSA and MSA want a similar, campus-wide program.

Alfonso Sintjago, GAPSA’s executive vice president, said the assembly wants to work at the University level to discuss open-content initiatives further with faculty and staff members.

“We have our concerns, and we’re interested in seeing how they relate to faculty and staff,” he said.

GAPSA discussed creating a task force aimed at improving international student experiences at the University this year.

The resolution creating the task force says despite current services available to international students, some have “complained about a sense of alienation.”

Sintjago said many students have approached GAPSA members asking for help.

“We feel more can be done to holistically improve their experience,” he said.

The resolution says international students have a “lack of awareness” regarding the rights and resources available to them, adding that they have limited interaction with local students.

Sintjago said GAPSA wants to work with International Student and Scholar Services to help improve international students’ experiences.

The assembly is expected to pass the resolution during its next meeting in October.                                    

By: Nicholas Studenski

Three robberies at gunpoint occurred in the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood near the University of Minnesota this weekend, according to Minneapolis police reports.

Early Sunday morning, a group of men confronted four people not affiliated with the University on the corner of 13th Avenue Southeast and Eighth Street Southeast, the report said.

Nathan Crist said he and his friends were in Dinkytown for a party when they were attacked by the group of men.

One threatened a victim with a gun, firing it into the air near the victim’s head, according to the police report.

Crist sustained multiple injuries in the incident, including a broken nose, bruises to his face and stitches. He said his friends were also injured.

“I … kind of blacked out the whole situation,” Crist said.

University police sent alerts to students, faculty and staff notifying them of two more crimes from last week. Federal law requires UMPD to send alerts when violent crimes occur near University or student group buildings.

Two people were also robbed at gunpoint on the corner of Fifth Avenue Southeast and Seventh Street Southeast late Saturday night, according to a police report. 

Two men threatened the victims with a handgun, demanding their purses, a University crime alert said. When one of the victims didn’t comply, one of the men hit her and took the purses. Neither victim was injured, according to the University alert.

On Thursday night, a University student and a friend were robbed near the corner of 11th Avenue Southeast and Seventh Street Southeast.

Six men surrounded the two, threatening them with a gun and stealing the student’s purse, according to the University alert.

According to Minneapolis police data, there were eight aggravated assaults like this one in Marcy-Holmes from January to August this year.

Burglary

A University student’s Dinkytown home was broken into early Saturday morning, according to a Minneapolis police report.

Materials science junior John Stierna was home at the time. Stierna said he heard someone rummaging around on the third floor of the house and went to investigate.

The suspect jumped from the third-floor balcony and ran away after seeing Stierna, the report said.

Stierna said the suspect must have broken in through a first-floor screen door. Though the suspect didn’t steal anything, he may have left his cellphone, the report said.

Stierna said he’s noticed other nearby houses have also been broken into recently.

“I think there’s somebody around here who’s breaking into more than one house,” Stierna said.

Minneapolis police Sgt. Bill Palmer said it’s “too early to tell” if recent burglaries in the area are linked.

The Marcy-Holmes neighborhood, which includes Dinkytown, saw 69 burglaries from January to August this year.

By: Kyle Stowe

When senior kicker Chris Hawthorne transferred to the University of Minnesota from North Carolina State University in 2010, he hoped to get involved on campus outside of football.

But for student-athletes, finding time to get involved on campus isn’t always easy.

“It’s a challenge,” he said. “There isn’t a whole lot of down time in college athletics.”

Despite the hurdles, student-athletes like Hawthorne will now have a new opportunity to further engage with campus. Last Tuesday, the Minnesota Student Association unanimously passed a new bylaw allowing University of Minnesota athletics teams and spirit squads to apply for voting representation in MSA.

Previously, MSA regulations only allowed officially registered student groups to vote on student government policies and platforms.

“The new bylaw is intended to help athletes that don’t have the time to serve as a part of another student group,” said MSA member Joelle Stangler, who drafted the policy.

Athletics teams aren’t considered official student groups, so in the past, student-athletes needed to join a separate group to have a voice on student government issues, which many couldn’t fit into their schedules.

Stangler said the idea came up last spring after talking with Hawthorne and she thought MSA was losing a “key portion” of the student body by not being accessible to athletes.

“It just didn’t seem to be fair,” Stangler said. “They are a huge part of our school.”

Hawthorne said he’s planning a 12-hour dance marathon to benefit the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital, which he hopes athletes and non-athletes will attend.

He said furthering student athlete engagement on campus will make the University a better place.

“It further unites our campus around one central idea, and that’s the promotion of the betterment of our University,” he said. “I want to help student-athletes assume leadership roles on campus and get in touch with the University.”

Junior women’s tennis player Julia Courter said it can be difficult for student-athletes to keep up with what’s happening on campus and said she wants to make athletes more knowledgeable about campus issues.

“It’s a major priority of ours to make time to represent the maroon and gold outside of athletics,” Courter said. “We just need to be informed.”

Hawthorne and Courter are both members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, a student group aimed at addressing student-athlete concerns and issues.

Although the committee is a registered student group, Courter said there should be more options for athletes to get involved with campus.

 “If we’re more informed about what’s going on, we can get more involved,” Courter said.

Stangler said she thinks the new bylaw will increase student-athlete involvement in MSA.

 “A student-athlete perspective has been lacking,” Stangler said. “We hope this will encourage

participation.”