Author: David Shama

Trevor Mbakwe on teammate Blake Hoffarber whose clutch shooting almost rallied the Gophers to a win against Penn State yesterday: “He’s a fighter.  He’s a warrior.”

There’s been talk the Big Ten Conference will use a nine game league football schedule in 2015 but the change will not take place until 2017 because of nonconference commitments.  Until then the 12 member schools will each continue with eight conference games and four nonconference.

The move to the unbalanced schedule will mean some teams each year have five conference road games while others have four.  That’s no different than the Pac-10 did last year.  The change to additional Big Ten games will be welcomed by fans who more often than not receive increased value in watching league games rather than nonconference.

During a couple of seasons in the near future, Big Ten schedules are expected to include not one, but two byes for each conference team.  That will be a conference first in modern Big Ten history.

Former Gophers basketball coach Dan Monson’s Long Beach State team won the Big West Conference with a 14-2 regular season record.

If the Twins’ starting rotation doesn’t perform as an effective group, there’s no blaming youth.  Among the six most likely pitchers to become the five regular starters, no one is younger than 26.  Carl Pavano is 35, Scott Baker and Nick Blackburn are both 29, Brian Duensing, 28, Francisco Liriano, 27, and Kevin Slowey, 26.

John Gordon said on Friday’s Twins radio broadcast that new middle infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka apologized in the dugout during the game to Slowey for an error.  Gordon’s broadcast partner Dan Gladden noted that such unexpected courtesy is common for Japanese players.

The Twins played Tampa Bay in games on Friday and Saturday, winning both games.  Gordon reported that the Rays’ roster is minus “18 players” from last season.

There are proponents for building a new Vikings stadium near Target Center but that plan would necessitate relocating the Sharing and Caring Hands nonprofit, a move that would be emotional, controversial and not likely.

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier being quoted in the February 28 issue of Sporting News Magazine: “I really believe that there’s some things that if we address them this offseason, we’re right back in the hunt for the NFC North championship and the NFC championship as well.”

The 2011 NFL college draft will likely be dominated in the first round by defensive line prospects.  The Vikings, drafting at No. 12 in the first round, not only need a quarterback but a replacement for 38-year-old defensive tackle and starter Pat Williams.

Pro scouts will be at the University of Minnesota’s Gibson-Nagurski Complex tomorrow to evaluate draft prospects.  About 30 players are expected, counting former Gophers and others who attended area colleges.

Inductees into the Minnesota High School Football Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame on April 2 will be Terry Karlsgodt, Mark Kroulik, Bob Majeski, Merrill Pavlovich, Don Stueve and Darrell Wincek.

John Barrett, Jim Carrington, Jim Dotseth, Jeff Gallagher, Ed Homan, Bruce Thompson, Stephen Saxe and Joel Sharratt will be inducted into the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame on April 9.

In a preseason MIAC men’s tennis coaches poll, Gustavus, Carleton and St. Thomas are picked to finish first, second and third respectively.

Wild captain Wes Walz will talk to season ticket holders prior to tomorrow night’s home game against Colorado.  Walz will provide perspective on the game with his talk that starts at 5:45 p.m.

Until the Arden Hills site emerged as a possible location for a new Vikings stadium, I was convinced lawmakers would approve funding for a facility during this legislative session.  Now don’t bet your season tickets that will happen.

How come? Because a site fight is underway and that may delay legislative approval of a stadium.

The Vikings facility problem has been studied for years and it’s the opinion of facility experts that the most cost efficient place to locate a new multipurpose covered stadium to serve the ballclub and community is on the Metrodome site or the nearby Star Tribune property.  At those locations there is a comprehensive transportation system and related infrastructure already in place.

The city of Arden Hills and Ramsey County Board have expressed interest in building a stadium on the former site of the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant.   Along with Arden Hills, it seems three downtown Minneapolis sites including near Target Field could come up for discussion in the legislature.  Don’t be surprised if key legislators decide to appoint a stadium group to study site and funding, and then announce findings in 2012.

With the Vikings lease at the Metrodome expiring at the end of this season, the NFL team and politicians are best advised to resolve the stadium matter now rather than later. Construction costs are likely to rise if stadium planners wait too long and the state economy can use a boost from a project that could cost $800 million and provide a lot of jobs.  And there’s also the not so subtle threat that the Vikings might relocate to another city.

We have the makings of another emotional Minneapolis versus St. Paul site fight with parochial interests on both sides and politics, as always, involved.  Eventually Minneapolis might win out as the site location but not without St. Paul benefitting also via a “Christmas tree” type of legislative bill filled with “goodies” beyond a stadium bill.  St. Paul leaders would like to see their interest free state loan for the Xcel Energy Center forgiven, and state assistance for a downtown St. Paul Saints ballpark would be welcomed, too.