Author: David Shama

There’s an old maxim in business that says the people you don’t fire come back to haunt you.  There was support within the University of Minnesota late last winter, according to my sources, to fire basketball coach Dan Monson.  After the Gophers’ season ending NIT loss to Cincinnati, media reports said Monson would be terminated but the University didn’t take action. 

Today, following years of criticism among fans and media, Monson ended his eight season career as Gopher coach.  The fact Monson is no longer coaching the Gophers is not surprising, only the timing of the development. It seems unprecedented for a Big Ten football or basketball coach to resign only a few weeks into the nonconference season. 

The Gophers have lost five of seven games, including five in a row (two straight at Williams Arena).  Monson’s team looks like a candidate to finish last in the Big Ten Conference.  Last season the Gophers finished 10^th among 11 teams.  In his career at Minnesota, Monson’s Big Ten record was 44-68 and his conference finishes have been 10^th three times, ninth once, sixth twice and fourth once. 

The shrewdest and most passionate followers of the program wanted Monson ousted after the 2003-2004 season (3-13 in the conference).  Since then failure on the court and in attendance has followed.  Empty seats have been everywhere at games this season, and last season average attendance was about 3,000 less than capacity.  

Monson most certainly should have been let go last winter.  Instead, many fans have walked out on the program while others have apathetically remained to agonizingly watch poor basketball in an atmosphere that has changed from one of the most electric in college sports to a place of sadness and solitude.  Patrick Reusse said recently on KSTP Radio the change is enough to make you “puke.” 

At last night’s game at Williams Arena, a 90-68 loss to Clemson, a fan seated near me couldn’t decide whether to cheer for the Gophers or the Tigers, speculating that a Clemson win would contribute to Monson’s departure.  Before the game Monson’s wife Darci was one of the few adults in the arena’s lower level who stood to applaud the Gophers as they were introduced.   

Frustration, ridicule and apathy have been choking this once proud program that for three decades produced all-American players, conference champions, NCAA tournament teams and a home court environment that was the envy of schools near and far.  Monson inherited a winning program with great tradition and turned it into something that looks more like Northwestern than Minnesota.  (The Gophers have lost five straight games to the Wildcats, historically the conference’s worst basketball program).

Jim Dutcher, who coached the Gophers for 11 seasons and won the conference championship in 1982, said Monson didn’t recruit effectively enough to win. “You win with athletes,” Dutcher said.  “The recruiting didn’t turn out to be consistent and so he had to rely on some kids who went other places and came back (home), and some junior college players. And with a mix of junior college players and transfers it’s hard to build a program that way.  Generally when programs break down a little bit, you are not getting that talent that you need.”

When the line forms to receive NFL post-season recognition, look for Viking defensive tackle Kevin Williams to be near the front.  Williams’ name is included in talk about the league’s best interior defensive linemen and the Vikings’ gaudy record against the run only enhances his reputation.

Arizona Cardinals tackle Reggie Wells was part of an offense that almost acted like it didn’t know it’s legal to run the football during the Cardinals’ 31-26 loss to the Vikings on Sunday.  The Cardinals ran the ball six times for 33  yards.  The week before Miami rushed for seven yards against the Vikings.  Wells said the size and strength of the Vikings defensive linemen and the ability of the linebackers to run make the defense formidable. (The Vikings rank No. 1 in the NFL against the run, No. 10 overall). 

What about Williams?  “He’s a great overall player,” Wells said.  “He plays the run well.  He plays the pass well.  He’s quick, he’s strong. He comes to play every week.” 

Williams, 26, is in his fourth season with the Vikings after being selected as the ninth player in the 2003 draft.  He was a consensus all-rookie player in 2003 and was chosen first team all-pro by the Associated Press in 2004, plus he was a 2004 Pro Bowl selection.   

Wells made it clear that Williams is deserving of being mentioned with the NFL’s elite tackles.  “When you talk about overall game and what he can do, I don’t know how you couldn’t put him up there,” Wells said. 

Williams came into this season with 26 career sacks, a total second only to Alan Page’s 28.5 sacks among Vikings in their first three seasons.  His sack total of five this season ranks him second among defensive tackles in the NFC.  Since 2003 he has the most sacks of any defensive tackle in the league.

Williams can be targeted for double teaming but that creates opportunities for teammates.  “They pick their poison and whoever they double team, other guys get to run free,” Williams said.   

Last season Williams missed two full games because of a right knee injury.  He was mindful of his conditioning and weight during the last off season.  The 6- foot-5, 311-pound former Oklahoma State star reported in “great shape” for the season, sacrificing his fondness for fried food as part of a strategy not to burden his knee with too much weight. “I am from the south and l like a lot of fried stuff but I had to shy away from that (to) go more toward bacon, fish, (and) things like that,” he said. 

Playing football is a miserable activity if you don’t like the game but that’s not a problem for Williams. “It’s something I take to heart and try to be the best at,” he said. “I want to continue to get better every year and that’s just what I am striving to do right now.” 

What about a return to all-pro status? “Definitely, that’s always a great thing to have,” he said.

Larry Fitzgerald was asked earlier this week if he might lobby ownership on behalf of much criticized coach Dennis Green (2-9 this season, 13-30 in three seasons coaching the Arizona Cardinals).  “I don’t know what the appropriate thing to do is,” Fitzgerald said.  “I think the best way to defend his name is to go out and play hard for him every Sunday.”

It’s a typical reaction for players to be loyal to their coaches but Fitzgerald, the 23- year- old wide receiver from Minneapolis, has ties to Green that are unusual.  Fitzgerald was a ball boy when Green coached the Vikings. He is appreciative too of the opportunity Green provided in Arizona where Fitzgerald developed into a Pro Bowl player after last season, his second in the NFL.  

Green and Fitzgerald’s father, Larry Sr., are friends.  Larry Sr. said he and Green talk weekly.  He considers Green one of his closest friends and wouldn’t speculate on the coach’s future with the Cardinals after Arizona lost to the Vikings on Sunday. 

With replacement names being discussed across the country, few observers would say it’s highly likely Green will return as coach.  Regardless of who coaches the team in the future, though, there is reason for optimism because of skill position players such as Fitzgerald and quarterback Matt Leinart. 

Fitzgerald missed three games this season with a hamstring injury.  Rookie Leinart was a contract holdout during preseason.  Because of their newness to one another, Fitzgerald said he and his quarterback are still working on their “chemistry.” 

He also indicated they will be together for a long time and will soon develop the connection gifted quarterbacks and wide receivers have for one another.  Fitzgerald and Leinart are both hold-your-breath performers who can make the outcome of a football game a last minute scene. 

That was what happened Sunday when the Cardinals were driving for a last minute potential winning touchdown against the Vikings.  Fitzgerald caught 11 passes for 172 yards in the game and was a threat on the last drive to give the Cardinals a victory. 

“There wasn’t anybody on that other sideline taking a sigh of relief as long as Larry was in the game and had the opportunity to make a play,” said Steve Loney, Cardinals offensive line coach.