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.

22’s ‘Crib’ Source of Wisdom for New Minnesota Viking CB

Posted on August 1, 2023August 1, 2023 by David Shama

Enjoy a Tuesday notes column.

Faces change in the Vikings’ secondary from season to season except for one. Safety Harrison Smith, 34 and with 11 past seasons of NFL experience, provides continuity and leadership to a unit in flux.

As safeties and cornerbacks compete in training camp and beyond for playing time, they know Smith sets an example with his performance and leadership. It didn’t take long for new cornerback Joejuan Williams, a 2023 free agent signing, to seek out Smith who wears jersey No. 22. Williams is in competition to be one of the team’s two new starting cornerbacks.

Joejuan Williams photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

“Even though there’s a huge age difference, at the end of the day, that’s a leader right there,” the 25-year-old Williams told Sports Headliners. “I’ve picked his brain first time I went over to his crib. Everybody sittin’ (and) chillin’ having fun and I am asking him 20 questions. I felt like I was annoying him. Just asking him (about) his leadership skills, how he’s done it for so long. I love to pick people’s brains like that and so, yeah, he’s been a great help.”

Here’s what Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said stands out about Williams, a second round pick of the Patriots in 2019 who stayed with New England through 2019: “First and foremost, his size (6-3, 212 pounds). I’ve always known as an offensive guy, you know those bigger corners, just because they’re long, they can play physical.

“I think he’s done a really…great job since he’s gotten here, physically preparing himself as a bigger corner. He’s a very strong player. He’ll cause a lot of problems for us around the line of scrimmage with reroutes and rhythm and timing of passing games. He’s savvy, a smart player, very instinctive. …”

Williams, the tallest of the Vikings’ safeties and corners, is part of a group that includes Andrew Booth Jr., the 2022 second round pick who has often been injured during his career. This could be a pivotal season for Booth.

Williams is taking a willing attitude to help with the 22-year-old Booth. “I know he’s coming out with a chip on his shoulder, and so I am going to help him every step of the way,” Williams said.

Who become the starters and first players off the bench in the secondary will be determined the way coaches always decide these things and regardless of the position they play, per Nick Mullens. The Vikings’ backup quarterback said it’s all about dependability and trust, disciplined play, who works hard and is a good teammate.

Mullens joined the Vikings via trade in late August of last year “Coming into year two is big,” he said regarding more knowledge and comfort with the offensive system.

Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said yesterday the competition to determine the starters on the offensive line at right tackle and left guard will be “the battle of camp.” Redshirt junior Martes Lewis and redshirt senior JJ Guedet are competing at right tackle, while hoping to start at left guard are sixth-year senior Karter Shaw and redshirt senior Tyler Cooper.

Minneapolis native and cornerback Craig McDonald is awaiting a waiver ruling from the NCAA to be eligible for the Gophers this season. The waiver approval is necessary because McDonald has transferred twice in his college career, having been first at Iowa State and later Auburn. McDonald would have three years of eligibility with the Gophers and Fleck is upbeat about his potential contribution.

The Gophers have started practice for their season opener against Nebraska at home Thursday, August 31. Two free open practices are available to fans, starting with this Saturday’s 7 p.m. event at Huntington Bank Stadium. The Tuesday, August 15 practice is also open to the public and starts at 3:30 p.m. at the team’s practice facility at the Athletes Village.

Saturday’s gathering is the annual Family Day Practice and will feature a fan fest on the West Plaza. Fans are encouraged to bring diapers and donate them to the Diaper Bank of Minnesota. Also, as in the past, fans can bring decorated oars to adorn the stadium hallway the Gophers travel from their locker room to the field on game days.

Former Gophers head football coach Jerry Kill turns 62 on August 24 and is healthy as he prepares his New Mexico State team for a second season under his leadership. The Aggies are picked for fifth in their new league home, Conference USA, but Kill teams have a way of surprising. Public season tickets to see the Aggies start at $70.

When Dawn Plitzuweit was considering becoming the women’s basketball coach for the Gophers earlier this year, she spoke with Richard Pitino about what it is like to work under Minnesota AD Mark Coyle. “I am not exactly sure how they got connected but I was surprised and also excited that she did talk to Richard because I knew she was interested (in Minnesota), and I knew Richard—how he felt about this place—that it would be a good conversation.”

Pitino, who left his job as Minnesota’s men’s coach in March of 2021 to take over at New Mexico, has long had a solid relationship with Coyle. “…We just have a really good friendship and really thankful for that friendship,” Coyle said.

The Twins, who face the MLB trade deadline later today at 5 p.m., have lost five consecutive games including three straight over the weekend to the lowly Royals (.299 winning percentage). The two teams don’t play again until next season when they open the regular season March 28-31 in Kansas City. The Twins were 6-1 in Minneapolis against the Royals but only 3-3 in Kansas City.

Former Twin Luiz Arraez enters August hitting a gaudy .381 through 107 games for the Marlins. MLB.com points out today that after 107 games in 1941 and 82 fewer at bats Ted Williams was hitting .411 for the Red Sox. Williams, who once played for the Minneapolis Millers, was the last MLB hitter to average .400 for a season (he hit .406 in 1941).

Minnesota hockey icon Lou Nanne is spending a lot of time at his lake place near Balsam Lake, Wisconsin and not playing much golf. He just had a pickle ball court installed in his barn.

Jonathan Mekonnen, the Eastview class of 2024 basketball wing, verbally committed to Colorado State last week where the program is led by native Minnesotan Niko Medved.

The 2023-2024 season will be the first for a 35-second shot clock in Minnesota boys and girls high school basketball games.

Billy Robertson, the former WCHA and USHL commissioner, discussed his over four-decades career in sports on the latest episode of “Behind the Game.” He talked about his many memorable experiences including characters he has known over the years. You can see the show at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfPHTGHLF_Y&t=4s

The fifth annual Taste Fore The Tour presented by Tradition Capital Bank at Interlachen Country Club last week was a sold-out fundraiser for Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP), the Twin Cities’ largest food pantry. VEAP provides food, social services, and financial assistance to people in south Hennepin County. While dollars are still being counted from the event, donations are expected to allow VEAP to offer 800,000 new meals. To date, Taste Fore The Tour reports donating the equivalent of 3.2 million meals for local people.

Special hosts for the event July 24 included Michele Tafoya, Matt Birk and Ben Leber. Celebrities also included Rachel Banham, Bobby Bell, Matt Boldy, Devan Dubnyk, P.J. Fleck, Justin Gaard, Andre Hollins, Kent Hrbek, Ben Johnson, Glen Mason, Randall McDaniel, Zach Parise, Mark Parrish, John Randle, Laura Schara, Ron Schara, Drew Stafford, Scott Studwell, Darrell Thompson, Carrie Tollefson, and Jason Zucker.

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Coach P.J. Fleck Calls Allegations in Critical Story ‘Baseless’

Posted on July 27, 2023July 27, 2023 by David Shama

A highly critical article of the Golden Gophers football program by Front Office was addressed this morning by head coach P.J. Fleck at Big Ten Media Day in Indianapolis.

The story by A.J. Perez sourced anonymous former Minnesota players accusing Fleck and the program of having a “toxic” environment. Allegations were made of physical and emotional harm in a program that supposedly encouraged players to tattle on one another and play to Fleck’s ego. https://frontofficesports.com/former-gophers-players-staff-reveal-troubling-allegations-of-toxic-culture-under-p-j-fleck/

“These allegations are baseless,” Fleck said about the Front Office story while speaking on the Big Ten Network. He added the accusations are similar to past stories about the program that he said are without merit.

Fleck, about to start his seventh season as head coach, said physical punishment is never used to discipline players. That practice is contrary to University of Minnesota Athletic Department policy for all sports at the school.

Fleck said there are multiple avenues in place allowing players to anonymously report issues at Minnesota. Athletic Director Mark Coyle also makes his cell phone available to Gopher athletes who may have concerns. But “zero claims” have been made, according to the coach.

“We’re one of the most transparent programs in the country,” Fleck said. “There are tons of testimonials from past, present and even future Gophers to support and prove that.”

Media and fans should be open-minded to potential further developments regarding problems in the program. The allegations are serious but one new story with anonymous sources will not prompt an investigation of a program that has been successful on the field, in the classroom and with community projects.

There are hundreds of players who have gone through Fleck’s program since he took over as coach in 2017. There have to be some who didn’t like their experience and probably a few who hold bad feelings and intentions.

A source close to the program texted this to Sports Headliners: “My nugget for you would be that at least a few of these unnamed sources are guys that all failed drug tests and didn’t make it more than a year with Fleck.”

The timing of the Front Office article is interesting, coming during Big Ten Media Days and close to the beginning of the Gophers opening of training camp. Tyler Nubin, the senior Gopher safety and team leader, reacted this way on Twitter: “Hilarious hit piece. Been a part of this program for 5 years and I’ve never seen anything except great people and great coaches who care about the PLAYERS. This program not for everyone. For obvious reasons…. I ain’t come back my 5th year for nothing.”

Former Gopher Casey O’Brien tweeted this: “Wouldn’t trade it. Proud alum of @Coach_Fleck and @GopherFootball. #RTB.”

College Football Notes

Fleck continues to receive recognition as a top 25 coach nationally. Stewart Mandell, The Athletic’s respected college football writer, ranked Fleck No. 21 in a listing early this year that had Alabama’s Nick Saban and Georgia’s Kirby Smart “1A and 1 B.”

Lindy’s Big Ten football magazine points out the Gophers’ winning record in Big Ten games the last two seasons is a first for the program since 1967-1968. “Over the past half century, the Gophers have won just 38 percent of their Big Ten games,” per Lindy’s.

The Gophers have no sellouts yet on their seven-game home schedule including the opener with Nebraska August 31. The athletic department’s website reports limited seating availability for the Big Ten rivalry game. Purchase of a ticket includes the option to buy a ticket to another home game starting at $10.

As in the past, the department is scaling ticket prices differently (sometimes dramatically) depending on the opponent. Gophersports.com reports tickets range from $115 to $305 for the Nebraska game. Prices range from $25 to $120 for the second home game of the season, September 9 against Eastern Michigan.

Minnesota’s most attractive road game to many fans will be October 21 in Iowa City against the Hawkeyes. Iowa’s athletic department website reports the first five home games of the season, including against the Gophers, are sold out. SeatGeek has tickets for the Minnesota game starting at $61 as of today.

Georgia tries for a third consecutive national championship this year, a feat no team has accomplished in post-World War II college football. The Gophers were the last to run off three in a row—1934-1936.

Rutgers isn’t on the Minnesota schedule, but no Big Ten program has a closer connection to the Gophers this fall. Former Gophers Curtis Dunlap and Michael Dixon are expected Rutgers starters at offensive guard and defensive back. Ex-Minnesota assistant coaches Kirk Ciarrocca and Joe Harasymiak are the Scarlet Knights offensive and defensive coordinators respectively.

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Golden Gophers Football Record Trails Only 3 Rivals

Posted on July 18, 2023July 18, 2023 by David Shama

The University of Minnesota football team will take the field August 31 in its season opener against Nebraska hoping to continue the momentum of the last four years. Since 2019 the Golden Gophers have one of the best records among Big Ten programs.

Coach P.J. Fleck’s program has the fourth best winning percentages among league teams dating back to the 2019 season, as pointed out this summer by Lindy’s Sports in its Big Ten football preview. The Gophers trail only Ohio State, Michigan and Iowa with their .696 percentage in all games and .618 against Big Ten opponents.

Minnesota is 21-13 in league games during this stretch. The 21 Big Ten wins over four years is the most ever for the football program that began in 1882. The Gophers are 32-14 overall, including three consecutive bowl wins during the four-years.

Throw out Minnesota’s 3-4 record during the COVID season of 2020 when the Gophers played only conference games, and the winning percentages are even more impressive. That year was an outlier for many programs because of the pandemic challenges, including for the Gophers who were coming off a 2019 season with an 11-2 overall record and 7-2 Big Ten mark (tied with Wisconsin for best in the Big Ten West Division). Expectations in Dinkytown were not for 3-4.

The Gophers are having their best four-year stretch since 1960-1963 when the overall and Big Ten records were 25-12 and 19-9 respectively. In the four seasons before Fleck arrived in 2017, Minnesota was 16-17 in league games and 31-21 overall.

Historically, Minnesota ranks about in the middle of the 14-team Big Ten in winning games, so the past four years are out of the norm. Critics can point out the Gophers (and Iowa) are members of the Big Ten West Division and play a softer schedule than the more powerful East Division led by Ohio State and Michigan. Those same critics can fault Minnesota for not playing a more formidable nonconference schedule and may also point out that the modern day Big Ten plays more league and nonconference games than in the past, but for the Gophers to have the resume of the past four years is impressive.

Fleck is 44-27 in six seasons leading the program. He is fifth in program history in overall wins (44), games coached (71) and sixth in Big Ten wins (26). His .619 winning percentage is third best among the 11 Gopher head coaches who have at least 45 games leading the program. Ahead of Fleck are Dr. Henry L. Williams (.786, 1900-21) and Bernie Bierman (.716, 1932-41, ‘45-50).

Part of the program’s success has been built on a foundation of impressive defense. Joe Rossi was named defensive coordinator in November of 2018 and Minnesota’s record since then is 26-11. The Gophers had an outstanding defense last year and were even better in 2021. That season Minnesota ranked third in the nation in total defense, tied for sixth in scoring defense and eighth in the nation in rushing defense.

For all the program’s success, there are significant things remaining on the to-do list. Goals including winning the program’s first outright West Division title, first Big Ten championship since 1967, a return to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1962 and an initial entry into the playoffs which will have an expanded field starting in 2024.

This fall the Gophers are trying to win nine games or more for the third time in four seasons. If they do, the program will gain even more local and national recognition because the schedule includes games at Ohio State and Iowa, and home against Michigan. Fleck is winless against all three including 0-6 versus the Hawkeyes. Yes, throw in winning back Floyd of Rosedale on the priority list detailed above.

Remembering an Extraordinary Friend

This is a sobering week after learning Sunday of Mark Sheffert’s passing at age 76. I remember the mornings at the Hilltop restaurant in Edina when I would listen to his words of wisdom about the University of Minnesota including athletics. He was one of the most intelligent sources about business, education, community and politics that I have ever known.

Former regent Dave Larson suggested to me years ago that Mark would have been a superb athletic director at Minnesota. Couldn’t agree more because Mark knew how to collaborate with people, was a master at finding solutions to problems and strived for excellence.

In the mid-1960s Mark was on the Gophers freshman football team before an injury ended his career. Mark never lost his affection for the U including the football program.

My friend was a prominent businessman for decades in Minneapolis including as president of First Bank Systems and later his Manchester Companies where he was a nationally known advisor in financial, strategic, leadership and governance issues that challenge companies experiencing change, and even crisis. He was a member of the Minnesota Business Hall of Fame and loved teaching at the U’s Carlson School of Management where he could mentor future leaders.

In 2018 Mark told me he had served on 56 boards for public, private and nonprofit entities including Minneapolis-based Bolder Options that mentors youth. He lived a life dedicated to giving back and helping others. Bolder Options stirred memories of his own upbringing.

“We lived on welfare in Lincoln, Nebraska so I know what it’s like to be poor,” Sheffert told Sports Headliners in 2018. “I know what it’s like to have kids make fun of you when you’re poor. It’s probably why I am as tough as I am.”

Tough, yet compassionate. That was Mark who died way too soon. He had been battling health issues for years but was a champion to Bolder Options to the end. Memorials can be directed to the organization at https://bolderoptions.salsalabs.org/webdonationpage0copy1/index.html

Here is a link to the 2018 Sports Headliners column about Mark and Bolder Options. https://shamasportsheadliners.com/ex-gophers-help-kids-at-risk/

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