The Vikings are going through Organized Team Activities at Winter Park this week and head coach Mike Zimmer has a message for the team this spring. The Vikings won their first NFC North title in six years last fall, and the football world is predicting more success in 2016, but today Zimmer cautioned “let’s not try to be someone else.”
Zimmer has stressed work ethic and toughness since he was hired as Vikings head coach after the 2013 season. His first team was 7-9 and often inconsistent in multiple ways including effort. Last fall the Vikings took a major step, earning an 11-5 regular season record and that division title before losing a first-round playoff game to the Seahawks.
Zimmer knows his players hear during the off-season how the team is “going to be good” but the words he spoke today while meeting with the media were to remind everyone the Vikings are expected to play hard and not be their own worst enemy with miscues. “We’re a blue-collar team that works hard and doesn’t make a lot of mistakes,” he said. …
Representatives of multiple organizations, including the Vikings, scored “points” yesterday with a knockout preview of the culinary scene planned for the new U.S. Bank Stadium opening this summer. In a presentation to the media, speakers promoted concepts and offerings that emphasize local partners and quality food.
TV personality Andrew Zimmern said U.S. Bank Stadium is going to “serve the best food” in a facility he predicted will be the “single greatest on the planet.” Andrew Zimmern’s Canteen and his AZC Rotisserie will be on the roster of U.S. Bank Stadium offerings as will Minneapolis-based purveyors such as Ike’s, Revival, and Spoon and Stable.
Michele Kelm-Helgen, chair of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, told Sports Headliners pricing hasn’t been determined but predicted it will be similar to food sold at Target Field and Target Center. “It will stay in line (with those facilities),” she predicted.
Interestingly, the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium opening in Atlanta in 2017 has already announced concession prices that will be a hit with Falcons fans. According to a May 23 story on Falcons.com, offerings will include $2 hot dogs, popcorn and bottled water; $3 nachos, peanuts, and pizza; and $5 12-ounce domestic beer. …
The Vikings have about 2,000 seats remaining in their personal seat licenses inventory for the new stadium, team executive Lester Bagley told Sports Headliners. They have sold approximately 47,000 seat licenses.
Single game ticket sales for 2016 begin in mid-June for the 66,200 seat U.S. Bank Stadium. …
The Twins announced today they have selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Buddy Boshers from Triple-A Rochester. Boshers, who was signed by the Twins as a minor league free agent last December, was 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA in 15 relief appearances for the Red Wings this season.
The Twins have placed outfielder Darin Mastroianni on the 15-day disabled list with a left oblique strain (retro to May 22). The club has transferred left-handed pitcher Glen Perkins to the 60-day disabled list. He was placed on the disabled list April 13 (retro to April 11) with a left posterior shoulder strain. …
It’s still not confirmed whether Apple Valley High School star shooting guard Gary Trent Jr. will return to the program for his senior season. Sources have said Trent and his father have been considering other schools. The goal might be that during 2016-2017 he could be more challenged in practice playing against elite players. National prep power Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada has a reputation for rosters with highly recruited players and has been rumored as a preferred place for Trent.
“It does seem like Trent Jr. and Sr. want to find a situation that works for them but I have no confirmation if they have found it,” Jadee Jones told Sports Headliners.
Jones is an assistant on the Apple Valley varsity and he expects a decision by the Trents in June after school is finished. He said with or without Trent, the Eagles expect to have a strong team next season. “I do think we have what it takes to be competitive in the state tournament,” he said.
Jones is the older brother of Apple Valley point guard Tre Jones and also Tyus Jones who plays the same position for the Timberwolves. Tre will be a junior at Apple Valley next season and is regarded as one of the better point guard prospects in the national class of 2018.
Jadee said Tre has shown progress in his game even since Apple Valley’s season ended in March, and he has added about eight pounds to increase his strength. Tre is now 6-2 and about 175 pounds. Jadee said he sees a “noticeable difference” in his brother’s ball handling and physicality this spring.
Tre, however, is inactive for awhile after breaking the thumb on his right hand. He will wear a cast for almost four more weeks.
Tyus is spending the month in Anaheim where training and medical professionals are helping him to improve, Jadee said. Evaluations and training are focused on helping the 20-year-old move better and be more explosive. Jadee said Tyus cancelled off-season leisure travel plans to improve his physical development. …
The Gophers’ opening Big Ten Tournament baseball game in Omaha against Iowa is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. tonight and will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network. Regular season champion Minnesota is the No. 1 seed in the tourney, while the Hawkeyes are No. 8.
In Big Ten games the Gophers finished 16-7 and led the conference in hitting with a .304 batting average, and also in home runs with 21. Minnesota was third in team ERA at 2.99. …
Gophers fans can follow the progress of the Athletes Village construction project at NothingShortOfGreatness.com. …
Former Gopher football player Mark Smith and his Presnap Training Academy is now in its eighth year. Counselors include ex-Gophers Lewis Garrison, Rickey Foggie, and Jay Thomas. Academy sessions are at Eastview High School in Apple Valley. More at Presnapfootball.com. …
Minnesota Wild players Erik Haula, Zach Parise, Jason Pominville, Nate Prosser, Jared Spurgeon and Jason Zucker will sign autographs tomorrow at the BMO Harris Bank at 5050 France Ave. South in Edina. They will be available from 3 to 4 p.m. to raise money for people affected by the devastating spring wildfires around Fort McMurray in Alberta, Canada.
Starting at 2 p.m. tomorrow, the first 300 fans donating $50 (only cash or credit card) will receive a ticket for one autograph from each of the six players. All proceeds from the event will go to the Red Cross to support those affected by the wildfires.
Spurgeon’s wife, Danielle, is one of thousands impacted by the fires in Alberta. Her parents lost their home to a fire in west Edmonton earlier this month. …
For the ninth consecutive school year the St. Thomas men and women are the MIAC’s All-Sports champions. During 2015-2016, St. Thomas won 15 conference championships—nine women’s titles and six men’s—and finished as the runner-up in three other sports. This is the 30th all-sports championship for the St. Thomas men, and 25th for the women. …
The Lynx, 3-0 this season, play the Mercury, 0-3, in Phoenix tonight in the first of eight televised games by Fox Sports North. Although the Lynx is the defending league champ, WNBA general managers predicted in a poll this month the Mercury will win the 2016 title.
David,
It appears that the existing indoor practice facility for the Gophers football program is going to be a part of the athletic village. I assumed that it would be torn down as the new one would be going up. Do you have any information as to how the old building will be used? Thanks.