Notes, quotes and opinions during a busy sports week that not only includes Gophers football, the Vikings and Wild, but also opening games for Gophers basketball and the Timberwolves.
Jerry Kill expects to be working in the coaches’ booth in the press box above Memorial Stadium in Bloomington on Saturday rather than on the sidelines when his Gophers play Indiana. Kill is figuring out how to manage his epilepsy with medications and lifestyle. He has attended all recent practices and was in coaches’ booths the last two Saturdays as the Gophers pulled off upset wins over Northwestern and Nebraska.
An intense and dedicated worker even for a college football coach, Kill is determined to make changes that will help in his battle against seizures. “I gotta work smarter,” he said yesterday. “I got great people (assistants).”
Kill’s activities from the coaches’ booth include communicating with his quarterbacks. Philip Nelson was asked if there is an aspect that even if minimal is missed with Kill not on the sidelines. “Yeah, I think just having his fire out there. It’s something that I personally miss but at the same time what we’re doing (as a team) is working,” the Gophers sophomore quarterback said. “I know coach Kill is pretty superstitious so I know he might stay in the box as long as we keep winning.”
Kill noted that retired college football legend Darrell Mudra coached from the press box during his career and won national championships. “I kind of enjoy it up there,” said Kill who indicated he’s working more like 10-hour days now instead of 16. Count on Kill providing plenty of passion to his team in game day locker room situations.
ESPN reported last Saturday that draft expert Todd McShay ranks the Gophers’ Ra’Shede Hageman as the No. 5 defensive lineman prospect for next year’s NFL Draft. Hageman’s improved play as a senior is a top of the list reason why the Gophers are 6-2 overall, 2-2 in the Big Ten and winners of their last two games including a 34-23 win over top 25 ranked Nebraska last Saturday.
Gophers defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys has become an admirer of Hageman, a former tight end still learning how to play on the defensive line. “If they had a draft (in the Big Ten) for d-linemen, I am telling you I would not want to play against Ra’Shede with the way he’s playing and how much better he’s getting each week.”
In a dominant performance against Nebraska, Hageman had three tackles, one sack and two tackles for losses. A press box observer compared the work of the Gophers’ nose guard to the legendary Bobby Bell, Minnesota’s two-time All-American defensive tackle in the 1960s who won the Outland Trophy.
The Gophers will welcome a career day from the 6-6, 311-pound Hageman against the Hoosiers. Indiana (3-4, 1-2) leads the Big Ten in passing with 342.7 yards per game and a few Hageman sacks of the quarterback could help turn things Minnesota’s way.
Claeys, who has been the team’s acting head coach when Kill is absent, said this about the Gophers’ potential: “I think there’s bigger wins out there for us if we continue to work and believe in each other. …”
The Gophers led Nebraska 17-13 at halftime. Since the 2011 season, when the Kill era began, Minnesota is 12-0 in games when leading at halftime.
ESPN College GameDay last Saturday featured senior Stanford center Conor McFadden, a former walk-on from Sun Fish Lake, Minnesota who according to the show learned the Cardinal playbook in only three days. His brother Pat McFadden, who also played at St. Thomas Academy, is a freshman walk-on running back.
Former quarterback Joe Webb now converted to wide receiver by the Vikings will be a free agent after this season. “I still have quarterback in my heart but right now just trying to help the Vikings at receiver,” he told Sports Headliners.
Brad Childress lost his job as Vikings head coach after the Packers won 31-3 in Minneapolis in November of 2010. Don’t expect the same for Leslie Frazier whose team was embarrassed by the Packers 44-31 last Sunday at Mall of America Field. One difference is that other than perhaps wide receivers coach George Stewart there’s not a top candidate on the staff to succeed Frazier, who was Childress’ defensive coordinator.
But Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf were at Sunday’s game when the Packers dominated Minnesota and they know enough about football to not be pleased with the loss, or the team’s unexpected 1-6 start to the season.
Frazier on whether he foresaw his team’s troubles after being 10-6 and in the playoffs last season: “…There was no scenario that went through my mind that would have told me that we’d be 1-6 at this juncture. Looking at the way our games have transpired, I do understand why we are where we are. As I said earlier, I do believe we can get some things fixed and get going here. There are definitely some things we have to work on to get done, but I think it’s possible to get done.”
Frazier said new quarterback Josh Freeman, who had been diagnosed with a concussion, received permission to play last Friday although he didn’t participate in the Packers game. Either Freeman or Christian Ponder will be announced today or later in the week as the starting quarterback.
The Cowboys, who host the Vikings on Sunday in Texas, are in first place in the NFC East with a 4-4 record and remain the most popular NFL team in the nation, according to a Harris Poll released two week ago. “America’s Team” is No. 1 even though the Boys have only one playoff win since 1996.
The Packers were No. 2 in the poll, the Vikings No. 13.
The Wild won’t be road weary this week. The team lost to the Blackhawks at home on Monday night and had yesterday off. There will be practices today and tomorrow at Xcel Energy Center followed by a home game Friday against the Canadiens. Then practice at home on Saturday and a game against the Devils on Sunday at Xcel.
Former Gophers point guard Ariel McDonald is an assistant boys basketball coach at Providence Academy in Plymouth. He will also do Gophers analysis for 1500 ESPN.
Gophers coach Richard Pitino showing his sense of humor on his Gophersports.com blog writing about FIU transfer Malik Smith and his performance in a scrimmage: “He didn’t hurt any of our great fans with his errant passes.”
Pitino said he won’t inform his players until Friday who the starters will be for that evening’s opening exhibition game against Cardinal Stritch at Williams Arena. The starting lineup will change multiple times in the week’s ahead. Cardinal Stritch, located in Milwaukee, won the 2013 NAIA Division II national championship.
The Timberwolves open the regular season tonight at home against the Magic who are trying to convert former Hoosiers All-American forward Victor Oladipo into a point guard as a rookie.
Here are several things to know about the local NBA club that also plays at Target Center on Friday night against the Thunder, perhaps the best team in the Western Conference.
Unless this club has another run of devastating injuries, expect the Wolves to make the playoffs for the first time since 2004. The talent and coaching are in place to finish 12 to 18 games over .500.
The Wolves will score points and some nights could be the league’s most entertaining bunch. A lack of experience and defensive lapses may limit the postseason run, though.
Power forward Kevin Love might extract more success from his skills than any All-Star in the NBA. Still waiting for those marvelous length of the court outlet passes he threw during his one season at UCLA.
Not sure yet if Ricky Rubio is more Jason “White Chocolate” Williams, Jason Kidd, Magic Johnson, Pete Maravich or Bob Cousy. But know this: the Wolves point guard is one special playmaker and he’s only 23.
Center Nikola Pekovic’s short arms don’t suit him well for blocking shots but the man is scary strong. That attribute serves him well on offense and defense where he can shove opponents into places on the court they don’t want to be.
Shooting guard Kevin Martin makes a lot of bull’s-eyes and is the team’s best offseason acquisition. His marksmanship helps counter the limited shooting skill of small forward Corey Brewer who can contribute best as Mr. Defense.