Sports

Gophers Claim No Distraction By Gray's Absence

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) ― The subject of a star recruit's uncertain status with the team brought terse comments from Minnesota coach Tim Brewster, but the Gophers maintained MarQueis Gray's absence won't distract from the season opener.
  
Gray, a highly touted freshman quarterback, has returned to his home in Indianapolis while the NCAA determines his academic eligibility. He had been practicing with the team since fall workouts began earlier this month, though the Gophers were probably going to redshirt him.
  
Brewster declined to discuss the situation at his regular news conference on Tuesday.
  
"There's a process for sure, and obviously I'm not privy to the process," Brewster said. He added: "Distractions in life happen every day. Our key is to not react, but to respond to situations that are presented to us."
  
Minnesota hosts Northern Illinois on Saturday.
  
"We're going to let things play out, and we just hope he's back on our team," starting quarterback Adam Weber said. "We haven't talked about it too much, because we know there's really nothing we can do. We're going to let the whole system work it out, and if it ever becomes a distraction it's our job as leaders and older guys on the team to get the focus back."
  
Another prize of the 2008 class, linebacker Sam Maresh, needed surgery to fix a heart defect and will not play this season.

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