Minnesota Sports Briefs: Gophers have first bowl practice in Houston

• Meineke Car Care Bowl

Meineke Car Care Bowl

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(Houston, TX) -- The University of Minnesota football team spent its Christmas Day practicing in Houston, Texas yesterday, getting ready for Friday night's Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders also practiced on the holiday. Minnesota had a quick, high-tempo workout at St. Thomas High School before enjoying a movie last night to relax. The Gophers will practice again today and tomorrow. Kickoff Friday night is set for 8 p.m.

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University of Minnesota athletic director Norwood Teague spent his Christmas Day working over a hot grill in Houston. He and several staff members barbecued burgers, polish sausages, and hot dogs for the Golden Gopher football team yesterday. The team is in Houston getting ready for Friday's Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas. The team practiced at St. Thomas High School in Houston and Teague used the school's legendary grill nicknamed the "Holy Smoker" to cook up the post-practice snack for the squad.

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Minnesota begins Big Ten men's basketball play on Monday. The Golden Gophers host Michigan State to kick things off. Minnesota went 12-1 in conference play and is ranked 14th in the country in the national coaches poll and 11th in the media survey. Michigan State is 19th in the coaches rankings. Monday's tip-off is set for 1 p.m. at Williams Arena. The Spartans have won 17 of the last 19 match-ups between the two clubs.

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DNR officials are reminding outdoor enthusiasts to check ice thickness before heading onto the state's lakes and ponds. If the ice measures two inches or less, you're urged to stay off. Ice must measure four inches or more to be considered safe for fishing. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources suggests using a chisel or auger along with a tape measure to correctly measure ice thickness. You can also check with local bait shops or resorts to ask about current ice conditions.

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