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Uncertainty isn't a flattering word, especially if one is talking about the state of a football program.

But, uncertainty is the perfect word to describe three of the four local football programs. Starting at the highest level, the Minnesota Vikings are ushering out the Brad Childress era, luckily, and bringing in new Head Coach Leslie Frazier.

If Saturday afternoon football is more to your liking, there isn't much that is different from the Vikings' state of affairs. After an interim coach took over for the last few games of the 2010 season, the Golden Gophers welcome Northern Illinois transplant Jerry Kill.

On the county level, North Branch is again bringing in a new coach after former coach Justin Sawyer left to be the principal at Braham High School.

Although Sawyer has recently been replaced by Nick Nitti, as of press time, nobody was available for comment on the hiring.

The only constant that is coming back is Chisago Lakes Head Coach Bill Weiss, and that's one of the biggest reasons the Wildcats have remained comepitive for such a long time. It isn't easy to turn over the coaching staff over and over and try to teach the players new concepts and philosphies every couple of years. It's not an easy game to learn, much less master, and uncertainty certainly doesn't help.

Another thing working against the three teams with change coming to them is that they all are replacing quality players at quarterback.

Donovan McNabb steps in for the injured/ineffective/three-time retired/jeans spokesman/cell phone savvy Brett Favre after a disastarous year that was filled with more injuries and picks than touchdowns and memorable moments.

The McNabb signing signals two things to me: the Vikings still think they can win a Super Bowl with this current crop of players and that they are being very short-sighted.

McNabb, for all of his successes in Philadelphia, could never win the Super Bowl there, and those teams had more talent on the roster than this current Vikings team does.

Besides, that was almost four years ago when the Eagles last were a deadly team because of McNabb. He's lost most of his scrambling ability that made him a star quarterback, and he just doesn't have the same accuracy that he used. His passes have lost some zip, he panics a bit more under pressure, and he is just not the weapon he once was.

There is a reason that Philadelphia continually puts out a quality team every year for the last decade despite free agency and holdouts, they're simply smarter than most everyone else. Chances are, if the Eagles didn't believe in McNabb anymore, there's a reason for it. He didn't do anything in Washington to prove them wrong, and he isn't going to do anything in Minnesota to prove them wrong.

But, I do hope I am wrong.

In the maroon and gold, it seems as if Adam Weber has been the starter for the University of Minnesota since 1995. After a four year run as the signal caller for the Gophers, Weber graduated and moved on to the Denver Broncos with the likes of some high profile former college quarterbacks in Tim Tebow, Brady Quinn and Kyle Orton.

Replacing Weber is someone who has been hailed as the future of the program since he stepped foot on campus from, MarQueis Gray. The athletic quarterback has been wallowing on the wide receiver depth chart while Weber played out his elgibility. The change will be a fresh look with Kill's open offense. Gray showed signs of dazzling spectators last year as a receiver and in camp as a quarterback. All early signs are pointing to this being his team, as his position is one of the few that seems to be set with the Gophs coming off of a three-win season.

As Gray goes, so go the Gophers for the next two years, and they don't have any other place to go except up after some trying seasons under former coach Tim Brewster.

In North Branch, it's going to be tough to replace the gutty play that Scott Bossard brought to the Vikings. The recently graduated senior was a two-year starter for North Branch and he along with Zack Smith and Luke Levasseur formed a strong base that the Vikings built into their most successful season in years.

For all of LeVasseur and Smith's talent, they didn't quite have the leadership capabilities that Bossard brought to the table. As a quarterback, he may have inherently had them, but he was the emotional leader for the team, and he backed it up with his play.

When Bossard already had two defenders clung to him like dog hair on a black dress shirt, he didn't go down when a third and fourth defender were approaching, he lowered his shoulder for the extra two yards. When the Vikes needed a big play, they went to Bossard, and he rarely disappointed.

Although the Chisago Lakes football team was immune to the coaching change that plagued the whole region, they didn't avoid the quarterback shuffle.

Jeff Sargeant took over on a part-time basis two years ago and it was his job last year. Sargeant carried the Wildcats to a 4-0 start before they stumbled to lose three of their last four, but the athleticism and track-level speed that Sargeant brought to the position was vital.

Although there is a changing of the guard everywhere we look in Minnesota, each and every team has some sort of excitement and optimism swirling around them.

You are invited to send interesting, unusual and/or humorous items that could possibly be used in this space. If you choose to do so, please send it to [email protected].

If you prefer, you may send it to

Chisago County Press

Attn: Jeff

12631 Lake Blvd.

Lindstrom, MN 55045

or, you may bring it in to the office.

Sports stuff would be great, but, please do not limit yourselves. Politics, religion, culture (pop or otherwise) are welcomed. Please do not feel offended if your contribution is not included.

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