Jim Souhan and I joined in the video craze at startribune.com a few weeks ago. We needed a brand - that's what titles are called these days - and arrived at "Unsportsmanlike Comment.'' In the spirit of this, the weekly videos have been jam-packed with smart-aleck remarks.

Last week, there was a mention of Tim Brewster, the Gophers coach, and at the same time I let out a cough. I've been dedicated to making light of Brewster from the moment that he uttered "Gopher Nation'' at his introductory news conference.

So, to cover up the cough, I said something about either coughing or throwing up when I heard Brewster's name. Souhan responded with a much-better retort, saying, "I'm happy you coughed.''

I didn't think much of this until Wednesday, when I was in the newspaper office and took a look at the website. The prompt to get viewers to look at the video said, "Brewster makes Reusse want to vomit.''

I understand the object is to get hits, but good gawd almighty, that was taking a three-second aside and putting this old smart aleck in a very low-class situation. And let's face it - no matter what my critics have to say, they always admit I'm a classy fellow.

ANY-way, the prompt for the video was an embassment - and it started with a non-funny and unsportsmanlike comment from me.

As for Brewster, Souhan stirred up the emotions of startribune.com readers with Friday's column stating that Athletic Director Joel Maturi had reached a deadline for making a decision on the football coach: Fire him or give him a meaningful extension.

The shots Souhan took at Brewster left the impression that Maturi's wisest course would be Option A (a firing). Here are a couple of admissions from me:

One, I'll never have any time for Brewster, because he's way too full of hogwash; and two, I don't think Brewster or any other coach should be fired three seasons into a five-year contract.

There are exceptions, of course. Steve Kragthorpe inherited what seemed to be a loaded Louisville team in 2007 and managed to dismantle all the good work done there in three years. And Rich Rodriguez's job should be in jeopardy in 2010, after two horrible seasons at Michigan - where horrible seasons are impossible.

Brewster has turned out to be less effective as a preparer of a football team than his predecessor, Glen Mason. There's no evidence that those extra stars he has attracted with his recruiting classes will result in anything more than mediocre football. And the rhetoric grows more stale by the sentence even with large numbers of original Brewster believers.

Maturi's decision to stay with Brewster and his 6-18 Big Ten record in three years isn't based on saving money. There are boosters that have turned on Brewster and could raise the $800,000 buyout with three phone calls.

The athletic director is alleged to also have serious doubts about Brewster, but what Maturi is doing here is giving into his notion of fairness:

Bull-slinger and sideline blunderer that Brewster has proved to be, Maturi believes that a coach deserves at least four years - and that's why Coach Brew will have the chance to be around next fall.

If it comes with a contract extension. it will be one that offers little in financial security. Mark Dienhart was the athletic director and gave Jim Wacker an extension before the 1997 season. He then fired Coach Wacky after another flop of a season, and it didn't cost him a dime.

That's the extension Brewster figures to receive, and also exactly what he has earned.

Didn't think I'd be the fellow to say this, but the chant with Dinkytown, the Gophers fan base, toward Brewster should be, "One more year! One more year!''