Gophers senior punter Peter Mortell showed his generous nature last holiday season, and he has raised the ante this year.
Last December, all Minnesota players received a $452 Best Buy gift card for playing Missouri in the Citrus Bowl. Mortell purchased items and donated them to needy kids at St. Joseph's Home for Children in Minneapolis.
This year, he started a crowd funding effort to raise $10,000 to buy gifts for teenage patients at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital. After 12 hours, contributions exceeded $10,000, and he set a new goal of $25,000. Mortell is also looking for a $25,000 match from a corporation.