Author: David Shama

David Shama is a former sports editor and columnist with local publications. His writing and reporting experiences include covering the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Gophers. Shama’s career experiences also include sports marketing. He is the former Marketing Director of the Minnesota North Stars of the NHL. He is also the former Marketing Director of the United States Tennis Association’s Northern Section. A native of Minneapolis, Shama has been part of the community his entire life. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota where he majored in journalism. He also has a Master’s degree in education from the University of St. Thomas. He was a member of the Governor’s NBA’s Task Force to help create interest in bringing pro basketball to town in the 1980s.

Here’s the Scoop on U Men & Women’s Hoops Tickets

Posted on November 5, 2024November 5, 2024 by David Shama

The University of Minnesota men’s and women’s basketball teams open their seasons this week with home games. Data shows both programs have a lot of ticket availability for their games at 14,625 seat Williams Arena.

As of last week, the men’s program had sold 4,482 full season tickets including 242 to faculty and staff. That compared with 4,800 for the 2023-2024 season. There has been no significant pricing change for either men’s or women’s public season tickets. Ticket information was obtained from the U through the request process by Sports Headliners.

The women’s program had sold 2,309 full season tickets as of last week including 99 to faculty and staff. That compared with 2,424 tickets for the 2023-2024 season.

The women Gophers opened their season Monday night before an announced crowd of 2,647. Dawn Plitzuweit, entering her second season as coach, saw the Gophers defeat Central Connecticut State, 89-48.

Coach Ben Johnson’s team opens its season Wednesday night against Oral Roberts.

With their schedules just beginning, both the men’s and women’s programs may sell additional season tickets, but totals won’t change significantly.

The Gopher women averaged 4,483 fans per game last season. The men averaged 8,140.

Sellouts are rare for either program. The U is projecting over 12,000 for the men’s game with Wisconsin on March 5, with 10,000-plus for Purdue on January 2.

The U women are projected to draw more than 5,000 for the Iowa game February 6, with over 4,000 for the Wisconsin and Indiana games January 26 and February 9 respectively.

The U report said 3,168 single game tickets have been sold so far for women’s home games. Also, 120 tickets have been purchased as part of mini plan ticket packages, a 75 percent decline year-over-year.

Students are admitted free to women’s games, but they must purchase tickets to see the men. The student season ticket total is 2,600 and up from 2,056 for 2023-2024.

The U report said 246 tickets have been sold in mini plan ticket packages for the men’s program. This is up 58 percent year-over-year but down from last season’s final total of 575. Single game tickets sold for men’s games as of last week were 3,590.

Asked what reasons the public is giving for not buying women’s season tickets, the U report responded with the following: “general disinterest, change in life/event circumstances, (and) too many games.”

Regarding the men’s program: “change in life/event circumstances, unhappy with NIL changes, (and) general disinterest.”

The U said reasons cited for purchasing women’s season tickets are: “increased attention and interest in the WBB landscape as a whole, (and) more premium matchups with the expansion of the Big Ten.”

Reasons for purchasing men’s season tickets: “improvement in team performance during the 2023-2024 season, trust and confidence that coach Ben Johnson will continue to lead and grow the program, (and) more premiums matchups with the expansion of the Big Ten.”

The women’s team was 20-16 overall and 5-13 in the Big Ten last season. Only two teams, Northwestern and Rutgers, finished lower in the 14-team standings.

USA Today Sports Network’s prediction for the coming season is Minnesota will finish in a tie for ninth in the now 18-team conference. The order of finish was based on a vote by individuals who cover the conference.

The men’s team is projected to finish last in the Big Ten by many in the media. The Gophers were 9-11 in league games last season and 19-15 overall. Eight teams had better Big Ten records than Minnesota. The previous two seasons Minnesota finished last in the conference.

The women’s and men’s programs have ticket selling attractions in guard Mara Braun and power forward Dawson Garcia, both Minnesota natives.

Braun is on the 20-player watch list for the 2025 Ann Meyers-Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Award. Braun was named All Big Ten Honorable Mention by both the coaches and media last season, despite playing only 20 games due to an injury. She averaged a team leading 17 points per game and is the second-highest returning scorer in the Big Ten this season. Braun was second in the nation last season in free throw percentage at 94.8 percent.

Garcia is on the 2024-25 Jersey Mikes Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player of the Year Watch List. He was named a top 50 preseason pick by ESPN and CBS Sports in October. He averaged 17.6 points last season while being named second and third team All-Big Ten. He is the top returning scorer in the conference.

Minnesota men’s basketball was a national power in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Sellouts were commonplace, but interest has been declining for a long time. For example, the public season tickets total in 2009-2010 was 9,946 or about twice the final total for the 2023-2024 season. As recently as 2019-2020 public season tickets were at 6,820.

In 2019-2020 the average attendance was 10,232, the lowest figure since 1970-1971. Attendance has declined even more since then. Last season, Johnson’s third leading the Gophers, average home attendance had dipped about 20 percent since 2020.

Worth Noting

The St. Thomas women’s team earned a season opening 84-81 win at home last night in overtime over Milwaukee before an announced crowd of 538. Jade Hill set a school record in the Division I era by scoring 35 points.

The St. Thomas men also opened at home last night, playing after the women’s game before an announced crowd of 1,353. The Tommies defeated North Central, 96-71.

Former Minnesota Mr. Basketball Tyus Jones, from Apple Valley High School, is receiving praise in Phoenix. The veteran point guard, 28, signed with the Suns in the offseason and he’s provided playmaking the team didn’t have last season benefiting scorers like Bradley Beal and Devin Booker. In six games (five wins) he has just five turnovers and is averaging 6.6 assists per game.

Al Nuness, 78, the former Golden Gophers basketball captain, is working as a student supervisor at Chanhassen High School. A retired longtime executive at Jostens, Nuness started his post-college career teaching and coaching. Nuness is a cousin of Tyus Jones and his brother Tre Jones.

John Hynes, who took over as head coach of the Wild in late November of last year, has the team off to a fast start and will speak to the Capital Club breakfast group Thursday, November 14 at the Wild’s executive offices in downtown St. Paul. More information about the Capital Club is available from Patrick Klinger, patrick@agilemarketingco.com.

Chanhassen High School junior Andrew Ballou, who as a sophomore was one of four Minnesota prep golfers to qualify for the U.S. Junior Amateur Golf Championship, has made a college commitment to North Dakota State.

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Vikings Ownership Efforts Deserve Super Bowl Winner

Posted on November 3, 2024November 3, 2024 by David Shama

This is the 20^th season the Wilf family has owned the Vikings. Zygi and Mark Wilf have long talked about their goal to win a Super Bowl, and in their two decades in Minneapolis they have proven their commitment to do so.

The latest example of their resolve to provide resources is last week’s acquisition of left tackle Cam Robinson to replace the injured Christian Darrisaw. The 29-year-old Robinson will reportedly cost the Vikings $2 million, plus about $58,000 for each game he plays, with his former team, the Jaguars, also paying part of the compensation.

That’s not big bucks in today’s NFL but it shows for the umpteenth time the Wilfs’ willingness to spend money when asked. They could have told GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell to make do with their existing roster of offensive linemen—some of whom can play multiple positions. Instead, they okayed bringing in perhaps the best available replacement in the NFL for the all-important left tackle spot.

In July it was reported Darrisaw received a four-year extension on his contract worth $113 million, with $77 million guaranteed. He had allowed only 11 sacks combined for the two prior seasons.

After wide receiver Justin Jefferson, Darrisaw is arguably the most valuable piece of the offense. In June the Wilfs gave Jefferson a $140 million deal, with $110 million guaranteed, that made him the highest paid non-quarterback in the league.

It’s evident the Wilfs want to win and with the NFL trading deadline coming up Tuesday, don’t be too sure the Vikings won’t add to recent deals that brought Robinson and running back Cam Akers to Minneapolis. Shopping targets could include help on the defensive line and cornerback.

The Wilfs, long-time NFL fans even before acquiring the Vikings, will win any local poll of the best pro sports owners in the state.

When the Vikings struggled for years to obtain a facility to replace the Metrodome they didn’t make a lot of public bluster threatening to move the team. Their diligence paid off in a private-public partnership that made U.S. Bank Stadium a reality and one of the most acclaimed venues in the country.

The Wilfs also paid for their headquarters complex in Eagan that includes one of the NFL’s best training facilities. That has been a major factor in the Vikings ranking as one of the most player friendly organizations in the NFL as judged by the league’s players.

Asked about the 20-season milestone earlier this year, Mark Wilf said the journey has gone quickly. He praised the “greatest fans in the world” and referred to ownership as being “stewards of this great franchise with such a rich history.”

The Super Bowl goal is a constant ambition, Wilf said. And he’s encouraged about the new regime of Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell that took over in 2022. Asked about the change they have brought, Wilf said:

Mark Wilf photo courtesy of Marshall Tanick

“Well, I would just say the culture, the energy in the building, the collaboration among all the coaches, players, and staff. And it’s a real good feeling around here. We do our part as ownership, try to provide the resources to not just get the best players and staff, but have the kind of facilities that our players and coaches can thrive in, to have the kind of training camp where our fans can experience it and enjoy football like we have. And, of course, having the finest stadium in the NFL at U.S. Bank Stadium.”

Worth Noting

The 5-2 Vikings, who play the 4-4 Colts tonight at U.S. Bank Stadium, have a 69.2 percent chance of making the playoffs and 10.8 chance of winning the NFC North Division, per a Wednesday story on ESPN.com. The Lions’ numbers are 96.1 and 65.1. A third North Division rival, the Packers, check in with better numbers than the Vikings, too: 80.9 and 21.1.

After losing two straight games, the Vikings figure to earn a much-needed win against the mediocre Colts who have benched erratic quarterback Anthony Richardson. Veteran Joe Flacco, 39, figures to give the Colts a steadier performance against Minnesota’s confusing defensive looks than would Richardson. The Vikings rank third in points (137) allowed in the NFC.

Meanwhile, with Darrisaw out for the season, it may be more important than ever for Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold to get the ball out of his passing hand quicker than before.

The Golden Gophers have won four games in a row for the first time since 2021 after defeating Illinois yesterday on the road, 25-17. Minnesota is now 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten after a redemption victory.

The Gophers defeated Illinois head coach Bret Bielema for the first time ever, having entered the game 0-10 against him (0-3 at Illinois, 0-7 at Wisconsin). Minnesota’s Dragan Kesich, whose errant field goals cost his team the season opener against North Carolina, booted four field goals including late in the fourth quarter with a 46-yarder.

That score came at the 1:52 mark of the fourth quarter, increasing Minnesota’s lead to 25-17. The previous play, on third down and two yards to go for a first down, the Gophers (too predictably) tried a hand off and run by Darius Taylor, a marked ball carrier for sure who was stopped for no gain.

Illinois had taken a 17-16 fourth quarter lead after a poor decision by punter Mark Crawford who has the option to run if he sees an opening in the defense. He didn’t have the speed to pick up a first down with 12 yards to go. He was tackled at the Illinois 46-yard line and the Illini marched down the field for a touchdown.

One of the best calls by the Gophers resulted in their last touchdown of the game. On third down at the Illini one-yard line and trailing by one point, the Gophers lined up tight end Jameson Geers behind quarterback Max Brosmer who was under center. Before the snap, Geers moved out in the right flat and was all alone to make a touchdown catch with about five minutes remaining in the game and providing Minnesota a 22-17 lead.

The Paul Hornung Award is given annually to the most versatile player in college football and fans are allowed to vote on it. Colorado’s Travis Hunter is a lock for the award, but the Gophers’ Koi Perich will draw votes and could be a favorite to win the award in 2025.

Former Gopher defensive back Beanie Bishop, who transferred to West Virginia after the 2022 season, is NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for October. The Steeler cornerback tied for the league-lead with three interceptions, ranked second among rookies with five passes defensed and had 16 tackles.

The Timberwolves, starting the season at 3-3, are working to acclimate veteran newcomers Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and Joe Ingles into their lineup and rotations. The first two players didn’t join the team until about a month ago.

Ingles, speaking recently to Sports Headliners, wouldn’t put a timeline on things meshing and it’s challenging because of the short time the players have been together. “I mean it just naturally takes time. Some days will be really good. Some quarters will be really good. They’ll be possessions that are good. They’ll be possessions of time when it doesn’t look as good. Obviously for us, you just gotta keep figuring that out as quick as possible.

“We don’t want to go 20, 30, 40 games in (and not have it). The good thing is everyone’s trying to figure it out. It’s an unbelievably hard-working team and they’re passionate and all that stuff. …”

Randle, the highest paid of the three newcomers and a focus of attention at power forward replacing Karl-Anthony Towns who was traded to the Knicks, is a first-time teammate of Ingles who notices how “hard he (Randle) plays on both ends.”

Randle is a career scorer of more than 20 points per game but there is more to his makeup that Ingles has noticed. “He is probably a lot more unselfish than I probably anticipated. When you’re with people day to day you see a lot more of who they are. …”

Randle’s effort earns praise, too. “He’s been a hell of a teammate,” Ingles said. “He’s been playing his ass off this year.”

The Wolves were the league’s best defensive team last season. So far, they rank No. 17 in defensive rating. “We pride ourselves on keeping people under 30 (points each quarter) as much as we possibly can,” coach Chris Finch said.

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Koi Perich ‘Big Fan of NIL,’ Will be Endorsing Gushers

Posted on October 29, 2024October 29, 2024 by David Shama

Koi Perich, the Gophers freshman phenom, is going to be working with General Mills and promoting Gushers as part of his Name, Image and Likeness activities that include clothing. https://athletesthread.com/collections/koi-perich

Blake Baratz, the Minneapolis-based sports agent, told KFAN’s Paul Allen yesterday morning that Perich has “something coming up with General Mills and Gushers.” He didn’t provide details about Perich’s endorsement of the fruit-flavored snack.

Perich, whose football success as a true freshman has drawn national attention, was also on Allen’s program and talked about multiple subjects including NIL that allows college athletes to be compensated for various roles including endorsing products and personal appearances. “I am a big fan of NIL,” Perich said. “I don’t have a lot to say on it, but, yeah, anything that can help me, and I’ll use anything I can…to help other people. That’s a big thing and awesome what they’re doing with it.”

NIL played a role in the 19-year-old Perich wanting to become a Gopher. He and those around him know that with his performance on the field, likeable personality and Esko, Minnesota roots, the opportunities with NIL can keep growing.

With his generational talent, Perich could enrich himself more at some other schools, but he expressed his confidence in head coach P.J. Fleck and the Gopher program yesterday. “I feel like in the next couple of years we’re just going to keep improving and improving, and it’s going to be really fun,” he said.

Before Perich left the KFAN studios Fleck joined Allen as he normally does on Monday mornings. The host teased that it was “student show” day and someone with the initials “K.P.” had a question for the coach.

The student asked: “Why don’t you blitz your safeties more?”

Not sure if the ultra-competitive Perich, who is confident he can do a lot of things on the football field, was serious or teasing, but Fleck kind of poked back with this answer:

“If you don’t like catching interceptions, I can blitz you a little bit more. You’re not going to be on KFAN as much (without those interceptions).”

At that point, Perich was like, Row the Boat. Whatever for the team.

Perich has been impressive returning punts for the Gophers but it’s been his interceptions from the safety position that have led to honors. He leads the Big Ten with five interceptions including two that closed out wins over USC and UCLA. He has been named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, Big Ten Freshman of the Week, Thorpe Award National Defensive Back of the Week and the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Week.

Koi Perich photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

Before Perich’s career is over at Minnesota, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him have a role on offense, perhaps as a receiver with limited snaps. “I can play a lot of positions,” Perich said on KFAN. “That’s what I’ve done my whole life. I feel any time, any position they put me there I can play it. It will just take me a little time and I can master it.”

Fleck admires the focus and commitment of how Perich lives his life. …”You’re talking about a kid, whatever he does, he is fully committed. He’s no nonsense. He just wants to compete and be fully committed and help make teams better. …

“He’s only been on campus for about five months, so he’s got a long career ahead of him. And a lot of work to do and he’ll just keep doing it better.”

Baratz’s company, IFA, represents other Gophers, too, including sophomore running back Darius Taylor. He burst on the scene last year as one of the nation’s premier runners. His emergence also prompted Fleck to say about 12 months ago the Gophers could lose players to other schools without NIL support from the public and the program would deteriorate.

Asked about where NIL is now, Fleck said this at his news conference yesterday: “It’s always a work in progress. It always will be. Always has been.

“We’ve had some very generous donors step up big time for us, and continue to do and work with Dinkytown Athletes and the collective. It’s really special to see what these people are doing for our student-athletes. I think everybody sees the importance of it. …That goes a long, long way in building football programs in 2024 and beyond.

“I’m really excited about where we are and the progress we continue to make every single day. The job of the head football coach is even more important now in fundraising. Not just for facilities and stuff, but for your student-athletes and getting out there and making sure people are really, really aware of what’s going on in college football. …So, I think people are really becoming more aware of it, especially our fans, our donors, our boosters, our supporters. And I can’t thank them enough. …”

NIL isn’t going away, even as revenue sharing with college athletes waits in the wings. It’s believed the Gophers football team has at least two players earning six-figures in NIL income. That number will increase and will be made possible by more individuals and businesses in the state supporting NIL for football and the other 21 sports at the University of Minnesota.

Dinkytown Athletes, the official NIL collective of Gopher athletics, recently announced a “million-dollar match campaign.” Mark Pearson’s Twin Cities-based financial services company, Nepsis, is matching dollar for dollar donations, new memberships or upgraded memberships to DA through November 10. The proceeds will go to Gopher football and volleyball.

Worth Noting

The Gophers have answered critics of their game management this fall. In the UCLA game Minnesota was trailing 17-14 with 2:20 remaining. The Gophers went on a scoring drive that ended with 27 seconds left in the game for a 21-17 win.

Against Maryland the Gophers got the ball on their 35-yard line with 28 seconds remaining in the first half. In six plays they moved down the field to kick a field goal with two seconds left in the second quarter boosting Minnesota’s lead to 34-13.

Gopher quarterback Max Brosmer was named the Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Week yesterday for his performance against Maryland, a 48-23 win. Brosmer completed 26-of-33 passes (78.8 percent) for season-highs of 320 yards and four touchdowns.

The Gophers are surprisingly about 3-point favorites to win at Illinois Saturday. That would not only make Minnesota 6-3 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten games, but also end a 0-10 record against head coach Bret Bielema (3-0 as with the Illini,, before that 7-0 at Wisconsin). The Illini are No. 24 in the AP national rankings, and are 6-2 overall and 3-2 in Big Ten games.

Fleck wasn’t biting yesterday when asked what a win over Bielema and a bowl eligibility sixth win would mean for his team.

“This is going to bore you—1-0 (winning the game). It’s all we’re worried about. I have a lot of respect for coach Bielema and what he does. He always has a hard, smashed mouth, tough football team. No matter where he was, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Illinois. It’s his DNA. We gotta play our best football, playing a ranked opponent on the road. We gotta DIB, man. Do it better.”

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