Author: David Shama

Over 750,000 votes were made by fans from 83 countries in the polling to determine their favorite Vikings players past and present.  The announcement event at the Convention Center on December 19 will include players being honored, plus NFL Films video and special guest speakers.  Tickets at $50 each are available at www.vikings.com.

While the Vikings are considering other sites for a new stadium, the Metrodome property remains a strong possibility to be approved by the legislature.  The land is public and not subject to acquisition issues.  The site is likely to be more cost efficient than others because of existing infrastructure.  Also, a multipurpose covered stadium available for large sports and entertainment attractions is a better fit in a downtown locale than the suburbs because of proximity to public transportation, hotels, bars and restaurants.

Vikings owner Zygi Wilf was upset by media criticism of his remarks made at the news conference announcing the firing of Brad Childress.  Wilf was attacked for using few words and providing minimal information, but the media criticism won’t negatively impact the owner’s decision to keep the franchise in Minnesota.

The Vikings reported their 134^th consecutive home sellout last Sunday.

A former NFL coach watched Tarvaris Jackson throw two touchdown passes and three interceptions on Sunday against Buffalo and said the Vikings fifth-year quarterback still has problems making decisions while passing.

Vikings wide receiver Bernard Berrian continues to under perform.  In six games he’s caught 19 passes for 190 yards and no touchdowns.  There have been plays where he ran a sloppy route or didn’t fight for a reception.

Gophers marketing leader Jason LaFrenz said standing room only tickets remain for this weekend’s home hockey series with Minnesota Duluth.

LaFrenz also said the Gophers will wait until after football season ticket renewals come back next winter to see if they will start a season ticket campaign to sell new seats.  A renewal rate of more than 90 percent is possible and would leave such a minimal number of open seats that a campaign seems unlikely.

The No. 22 ranked (AP) and 7-1 Gophers basketball team plays in Philadelphia tonight against Saint Joseph’s, 3-5.  The Hawks were 11-20 last season and the program has fallen off since the powerful 2004 NCAA tournament team.

In last Saturday night’s win over Cornell the Gophers were at times awful shooting free throws, but a late game spurt enabled them to make 26 of 44, finishing at 59.1  percent.  Minnesota has not shot free throws effectively this season but senior guard Blake Hoffarber said the team doesn’t have problems in practice and thinks the problem is mostly mental.   “…But I think we’re gonna be fine,” he said.  “We have to take it out of our heads and focus in practice on what we normally do.”

Last Saturday’s Bethel-St. Thomas playoff football game was broadcast by WCCO Radio, stirring memories of the 1950s when the MIAC had prominent media coverage with Saturday night football games televised locally.

Was it really surprising?  Gophers football disappointed the masses again with the hiring last night of Northern Illinois’ Jerry Kill.

The program has tormented followers for 40 years and for a lot of fans the bad news just keeps coming.  A prominent former Gopher athlete called Sports Headliners to ask, “Is this the best we can do?”

Another fan who has been a big booster of TCF Bank Stadium emailed this: “My football season ticket partner already emailed me to say he is done.  We’re not renewing our tickets. This is a DISASTER!”

Kill has been a success coaching for three years at Northern Illinois and before that seven for Southern Illinois where his record was 55-32.  Maybe he can be the turnaround guy the program needs so badly, but the first reaction of many fans is why him and not a bigger name?

It’s obvious Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi couldn’t attract a marquee name… or could he?  No, the Dan Mullens, Chris Petersens and Jim Harbaughs didn’t come knocking on Maturi’s door.  But Mike Leach campaigned for the job and Lou Holtz reportedly did, too.

The opening created after Tim Brewster (another Maturi hire) was fired cried out for a name coach with a top resume.  Maturi said publicly in October he wanted a “Tubby Smith type hire.”

About that need Maturi was right.  The program needs credibility, excitement, and hope! The Kill appointment won’t immediately sell tickets, nor will it improve the Gophers image.

Kill has never been a head coach at a BCS school.  Leach was 84-43 at Texas Tech before being fired.  He battled the big boys of college football at a place that historically has been difficult to win at.

Apparently Maturi and school president Bob Bruininks considered Leach too controversial.  Fans and media thought he was just right for the Gophers.

A passionate fan who wanted Leach at Minnesota emailed the following last week:  “You don’t think all these guys (other successful coaches) are like him?  ….They should cancel football at the U.”

The December 6 issue of Sporting News Magazine includes a cover story on Leach who lives in Key West, Florida while contemplating coaching options.  The magazine lists Minnesota as No. 1 among schools that would be “perfect fits” for him.

SN’s comment: “Any state that elects Jesse ‘the Body’ Ventura as governor is a perfect fit for the quirky, outspoken Leach.  Hey, the Gophers have to fill that new stadium somehow.”

During WUCW’s Sports Show program last night Sid Hartman and Mike Max both said Holtz was interested in the Gophers job.  I have reason to believe that Holtz also would have considered the position after Maturi fired Glen Mason and before he hired Brewster.

Holtz, who has his own controversial career, won a national championship at Notre Dame after revitalizing the Gophers in 1984 and 1985. He had this town so fired up that when he left Minnesota, the Gophers were selling 56,000 season tickets.

There will be no proven BCS coach leading the Gophers in the near future and those who still care about Minnesota are left to wonder if a guy named Kill can bring life to this beaten down program that has not won a Big Ten title since 1967 and managed just a couple of third place finishes in 40 years.

Kill, who succeeds interim Gophers coach Jeff Horton, said the following in a news release:

“I am so excited to have the opportunity to be the head coach at the University of Minnesota.  It is a tremendous opportunity and — I think — great timing.  I can promise all the people at the University of Minnesota and throughout the entire state that I am going to give them every single ounce that I can give them. I have done that on every job that I have taken.

“I was raised the old-school way by my father and mother to do my job to the very best of my ability. You go full speed at it and you don’t let anyone out-work you. I have lived by that motto my entire life and that is what I intend to do at the University of Minnesota.”

If healthy enough to play, Vikings quarterback Brett Favre makes consecutive start No. 300 next Sunday against the Giants.

Bills owner Ralph Wilson, 92, arrived via limousine inside Mall of America Field yesterday about 30 minutes before kickoff.  It had to be a long airplane ride home for Wilson after his team was inept during a 38-14 loss to the Vikings.

Speculation continues about the coaching security of Wild coach Todd Richards whose team has been inconsistent and needs better players.

When the college basketball polls come out later today the Gophers figure to retain a top 25 ranking despite two disappointing performances last week, a loss to Virginia and win over Cornell.

Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards said his nephew, Dominique Edwards from Chaska High School, is going to start working out with the older Edwards’ trainer.  His nephew is a senior and likely headed to prep school.

A favorite catered lunch for Vikings players at Winter Park is provided by Popeyes.