Seattle’s defensive coordinator is Casey Bradley who is a Minnesota native and until 2005 was assistant head coach at North Dakota State. Bradley, who prior to going to Seattle coached for Tampa Bay, is a 1984 graduate of Zumbrota High School. He played college football at North Dakota State.
The Twins have set a franchise record season tickets goal of 20,000 for next year in the new ballpark, according to club executive Patrick Klinger. The franchise’s vice president of marketing told Sports Headliners that a combination of full and partial season ticket packages could add up to 20,000, an increase of about 8,000 over this past year.
A season ticket total of 20,000 will guarantee that about 50 percent of the 40,000 seats in Target Field will be sold for all 81 games. The Twins expect high demand, too, for single game and group tickets. “Our goal is to sellout every game,” Klinger said.
Season ticket prices range from $10 to $275 per game. Single game prices haven’t been announced and tickets aren’t expected to go on sale until some time in March, according to Klinger.
Use of the new ballpark will go beyond baseball. Klinger said concerts are likely in the stadium starting in 2011 and beyond. Stadium facilities will be used for banquets, wedding receptions, holiday parties and business meetings.
The Sports Illustrated college basketball preview issue has a top 10 that includes No. 1 ranked Kansas, No. 2 Michigan State and No. 6 Purdue. The Gophers are ranked No. 26 and described as the Big Ten’s “deepest team.”
The 10 finalists for the 2009 Mr. Football award are: Beau Allen, Minnetonka; Joel Bauman, Kerkohoven-Murdock-Sunberg; Jacob Brusehaver, Hutchinson; John Crockett, Totino Grace; Seantrel Henderson, Cretin-Derham Hall; Ben Henson, Buffalo; Brandon Marquart, Champlin Park; Ryan Tri, Eden Valley-Watkins; Zach Vraa, Rosemount; and Zach Zenner, Eagan. A winner will be announced at the Mr. Football banquet on Sunday, December 6 at the Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis Park. The award is sponsored by the Minnesota High School Football Coaches Association.
While there have been media rumors in Canada that the Gophers Jordan Schroeder will leave the team, the sophomore forward is expected to finish the season here and not join Vancouver which holds his NHL draft rights. Beyond this season, though, it’s uncertain where Schroeder will be playing.
Tickets are available for Eric Butorac’s Minnesota Tennis Challenge on Saturday, December 5 at the Fort Snelling Tennis and Learning Center. The schedule includes matches with outstanding players such as Butorac for an event that will raise funds to support youth tennis programming in Minnesota.
Three MIAC volleyball student-athletes have been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III All-America teams. St. Thomas junior setter Emily Foster and St. Olaf junior outside hitter Kim Smisek were both named to the first team. Saint Benedict senior setter Beth Hanson was a third team selection.