Notes from the Sports Desk by Tyler Julson

 

This week marks what I consider the official start of the winter sports season. Even though girls’ hockey has already had a few games, all of the teams will be in action by the end of this week. Girls’ basketball and boys’ hockey are on my slate of games to get to this week. Thursday I’ll be at the first Albert Lea boys’ hockey game of the season as they take on Owatonna. Both teams have lost quite a bit of their lineup from last season, so it will be interesting to see how they fare in their first games.

I’m not sure where I’ll be Friday night yet; there’s a handful of basketball games in the area. I’ll probably be at the Albert Lea girls’ game for the second time in the week; I think this team has the capability to surprise a few teams in the conference this season.

The Winter Sports Yearbook has officially been sent to the printers this week. Albert Lea’s Zach Glazier is on the cover, and I think it turned out really well. As always, the team of people that work on each edition has been great. Having their help takes a big load off of my shoulders and makes the final product that much better.

I would like to take this opportunity to offer my apologies to the Minnesota Gophers and all their fans. I’ve been down on them all year and, once again, they proved me wrong — beating Wisconsin handily to claim a bowl spot. One projection I saw had them heading to Detroit for the Quick Lane Bowl on Dec. 26 against Duke. Another projection had them in the Redbox Bowl in Santa Clara, California, on Dec. 31 against Oregon. If I were a Gophers fan, I would want Duke in Detroit, but what do I know? I’ve been calling for them to lose the past five weeks.

In other college news, it looks like the worst possible scenario for the college football playoff might happen after all. Alabama is almost a surefire lock for the playoffs, I don’t think a loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship would drop them out. Clemson isn’t going to lose (this is my attempt to jinx them into losing), so they’re in. Notre Dame is done playing in the regular season; they’re in. The last spot is really the only one still somewhat up for grabs. Hopefully Oklahoma could jump ahead of Georgia with a win, but if the Sooners lose, I fear the SEC will get two teams in. In a long shot, the ideal scenario is for Georgia to get badly beaten by Alabama, Oklahoma and Ohio State to lose their championships, and for UCF to win its game and the committee to find it in its heart of hearts to let the only other undefeated team into the playoffs.

Tyler Julson is the Tribune’s sports reporter. Contact him at tyler.julson@albertleatribune.com.