Author: David Shama

The Gopher basketball team ended its conference schedule Wednesday night with its eighth consecutive loss.  Minnesota’s Big Ten record, 3-13, was the same as the 2004 Gophers achieved.  Since World War II only the 1987 Gopher team with two conference wins produced fewer victories than the 2004 and 2007 teams, both of them Dan Monson products. 

Monson came to Minnesota as coach for the 1999-2000 season.  He accepted a contract buyout to leave the Gophers last fall, having produced four teams in nine seasons that finished in ninth place or lower in the conference standings.  Only once did Monson have a team that finished in the upper half of the standings.  The current team awaits today’s games involving Northwestern (2-13) and Penn State (2-13) to know its exact position in the final conference standings but ninth or lower is assured for the Gophers. 

Although Minnesota had finished in 10^th place in the conference in two of the previous three seasons and the 2006-2007 team had no full time starters returning, Monson, his staff and a program insider suggested the possibility of competing for the Big Ten title.  Here’s what Monson said in the team’s media guide released last fall: 

“I feel our program is in the best shape it’s been since I came here eight years ago.  We’ve established a base.  A coaching base, a recruiting base, we’ve put hundreds of thousands of dollars into our facilities, we’ve revamped our academic counseling unit.  …I feel really good about our Gopher basketball family.” 

The results on the floor were much different than expectations.  The Gophers, with a full list of deficiencies, were often no fun to watch.  Two of the troublesome areas were turnovers and scoring.  Ball handling and passing woes characterized this team literally to season’s end as the Gophers totaled 16 first half turnovers and 28 for the game in Wednesday’s 66-47 loss to Purdue.  Lawrence McKenzie, 15.3 points per game, Dan Coleman, 14.4,  and Spencer Tollackson, 11.9 scored about two-thirds of the team’s points (team average 61.3).  Often no one else seemed capable or interested in contributing. 

Not only did Monson leave during the season but so, too, did his junior college transfers, forward Engen Nurumbi and point guard Limar Wilson.  The departure of Wilson opens a scholarship for next season and the Gophers will pursue a physical junior college forward to add muscle in the front court.  Perhaps another player will leave the program and make a second scholarship available.  All the current players have at least one more year of eligibility. 

Attending Gopher basketball games in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s was extraordinary entertainment.  The house of pleasure often became a place of pain for consumers who watched Monson’s teams.  Fan and media apathy have increased dramatically and attendance declined but many fans have stayed supportive of the team.  On those occasions when the Gophers could excite the crowd this season, the fans screamed and hollered a bit like the old days. 

Give interim coach Jim Molinari credit for repeatedly thanking the fans and acknowledging their noise making at Williams Arena.   When the fans were on their feet, the band was playing the Rouser and the old building was rocking a little, the pain went away for a few moments.

All 2,100 dinner and program tickets for the University of Minnesota Alumni Association’s Annual Celebration sold out in four days after going on sale February 22, according to UMAA president Denny Schulstad.  “Tickets for the program only at about $20 ($10 for students) are for sale at Northrop Ticket office,” Schulstad said via e-mail. “We expect to sell all 3,000 of those fairly soon.”  The event is May 8 at Mariucci Arena with the program starting at 7:30 p.m.  The speakers will be University alums Tony Dungy and Stan Freese. Ticket information: www.northrop.umn.edu or 612-624-2345.

Pioneer Press sports columnist Charley Walters has about 3,500 names and phone numbers to use as sources.

Viking coach Brad Childress talking about quarterback Brad Johnson, released earlier this week:  “Brad has been a true pro throughout his career and we wish him the best as he moves forward. Brad was an important part of the team and a guy who led by example on and off the field. He’s a class act and a guy younger players could learn a lot from about what it takes to play in the NFL.” 

Kevin Gorg, Fox Sports North hockey analyst, is picking Holy Angels to win the Class AA championship and St. Thomas Academy to win the Class A title at the boys high school hockey tournament that begins Wednesday.   

St. Cloud State is Gorg’s pick to win the Red Baron WCHA Final Five (March 15-17  at Xcel Energy Center) and move on to win the men’s NCAA championship.  “The Huskies have the best goalie in the country in Bobby Goepfert,” he said.  Is there a possible surprise team in the WCHA tournament?  Gorg suggests Wisconsin could be that team. 

Single game tickets for the Final Five go on sale Monday at 10 a.m.  Tickets can be purchased at the Xcel Energy Center Box Office, Ticketmaster locations, charge by telephone at 651- 989-5151 or online at ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone using Ticketmaster TDD/TTY, call: 800-359-2525.

Some day I might call Tim Brewster “Mr. Make Things Happen” except years ago Fortune magazine put that tag on my friend Harvey Mackay.  Brewster won’t have the opportunity to win football games until next fall but the new Gopher football coach launched a marketing campaign from day one after being hired last month. 

Brewster is selling Golden Gopher football to every man, woman and child willing to hear his message.  He’s gushing with optimism and expectations that Minnesota football will return to a level of excellence similar to its storied past and that fans will enthusiastically embrace the program.  And he’s doing it in the right way, showing humility and willingness to listen and take advice from others. 

Mackay, who lettered in golf at the University in the 1950s, is a sales guru, acclaimed speaker, nationally syndicated business columnist and author of inspirational international business books that have sold over 10 million copies, been translated into 37 languages and sold in 80 different countries.  He also is a passionate sports fan and loves the Gophers. 

I recently asked Mackay his thoughts regarding Brewster so far.  “In three words, he gets it,” Mackay began.  “He has impressed with the little things and the big things he has done.  Little things like saying I am happy to be here in the Twin Cities, not just Minneapolis.  He talks about team work and what it means.  He has put together an impressive, dedicated staff that has made a commitment to be here and be successful.  That is an outstanding plus.” 

The Brewster profile is that he almost works 24-7 and Mackay is impressed with the 46-year-old coach’s work ethic.  “It looks like he works eight days a week and he’s proud to say that’s what he does,” Mackay said. 

Read Mackay’s books and see how often he promotes the value of developing extraordinary mentors in business and life.  Brewster’s mentors include national championship coach Mack Brown of Texas and Super Bowl coach Mike Shanahan of Denver.  “A person’s life equals the total sum of his or her experiences and he’s had some truly outstanding experiences to date,” Mackay said. “Mack Brown on a scale of 10, with 10 being the highest rating, is a 12.  Friends who know Shanahan tell me he is tremendous, too.” 

Brewster’s willingness to meet people and learn from others includes meetings he’s already had with coaches of other sports at the University.  “He’s truly a good listener, asking substantive, in-depth questions in order to be brought up to speed fast,” Mackay said.   

There’s something else Mackay and a lot of other folks like about Brewster. “I also like his comments that it’s not going to take forever to take the program to the next level,” Mackay said.  “He hasn’t coached a game yet but having met him, looked at him eye-to-eye, and read his comments in the newspaper, it would be impossible not to be enthusiastic about Tim Brewster.  The Gophers are in good hands with Tim.”