Column: Aaron Worm, Behind the Mic

Friday night, Albert Lea showed why Homecoming is a great annual event. Stores must have been sold out of blue and cherry body and face paint. With the temperatures being pretty nice for a late September evening, a lot of fans painted on their shirts instead of wearing one.

I saw a lot of the elementary kids decked out with paint, and one group that each had a letter on their chest to spell out “Tigers.”

Even though Albert Lea came up just short, there was no lack of excitement on Friday.

The Tigers rallied from a 21-point deficit to pull within 2 points in the fourth quarter. A big hats off to the Tiger football players and coaches for never giving up, and leaving it all on the field.

This Friday two teams battle once again for their first win this season, as ALHS heads to Mankato East. It’s the Cougars’ homecoming, so the Tigers will look to spoil their celebration

Now, about Floyd. I am going to miss him. With the struggles the Gophers football team has had the last couple of years the wins over Iowa gave fans something to smile about. I really thought we had turned the corner with the 4-0 start, but after this weekend the Gophers wins came about teams with a combined record of 7-12.  I wasn’t shocked that the Hawkeyes won; I was just surprised how flat the Gophers looked.

I was able to enjoy a lot of Saturday outdoors, because I flipped the game off when Minnesota trailed 24-0 at halftime. When you have a disappointing loss like this, it’s too bad, and now the Gophers have some time to think about it.  They are not back in action until their Homecoming game on the 13th against Northwestern.   Sometimes it’s easier to bounce back when you can get right back out there the following weekend.

I got overly excited about the Gophers and predicted they would be 6-0 heading into Wisconsin later this month.

So I am going to avoid any predictions on the Vikings after Sunday’s 7-point win over Detroit. I predicted a Purple win, but never thought the defense would hold Detroit to just 13 points. This defense is a lot better than last year, which is not saying much. Last year the Vikings gave up the second-most points per game in the NFL, at 28.1. Through four games, they are giving up 18 a game.

Baseball’s postseason begins this week, with the new wildcard format.   Heading into the final three games, Atlanta has a seven-game lead over the second wildcard team, St. Louis.

If things stay where they are right now, the Braves will host the Cardinals in a one-game playoff to move on to the NLDS. In previous years the Braves would have moved on without this winner takes all, one-game wildcard. I’m not a fan of the new format.  If you are looking for a bandwagon to jump on in the postseason how about Baltimore? The O’s haven’t been to the post season since 1997 when they lost for the second consecutive year in the ALCS. With it being an election year, wouldn’t it be suiting to have Baltimore and Washington in the World Series? And if not those two teams in the series, anybody else besides the Yankees.

 

KATE Radio Sports Director Aaron Worm’s column appears each Monday in the Tribune. He can be heard from 6 to 11 a.m. weekdays on The Breeze.