Author: David Shama

Four Oklahoma players were chosen during the first round of Friday’s NFL draft while the 11 team Big Ten had three players selected.  Three of the first four players chosen were Sooners while Brandon Graham of Michigan, the No. 13 pick, was the first Big Ten Conference player selected during the first round.  Oklahoma rival Oklahoma State had two players drafted on the first round.  The Big 12 Conference had nine first round picks.

President Barack Obama will give the University of Michigan commencement address in Michigan Stadium on Saturday.

Vikings second round draft choice Toby Gerhart’s success at Stanford drew attention not only because of his playing skills but also his skin color.  Exceptional white running backs are uncommon in major college football and non-existent in the NFL.  The last Vikings white running back worth remembering was Ed Marinaro, drafted by the Vikings in 1972.  Both Gerhart and Marinaro were Heisman Trophy runners-up and second round draft choices.

In the NFL Gerhart will be compared with running backs Jahvid Best, drafted by Detroit, and Ben Tate, selected by Houston.  Best was chosen at No. 30 in the first round after the Vikings made a trade with Detroit and vacated that draft spot.  The Vikings traded up with Houston in the second round to obtain Gerhart and later in the round the Texans chose Tate.

Gerhart talking about whether comparisons with former white NFL running backs John Riggins and Tommy Vardell are fair or accurate: “I think at times.  John Riggins was one of the greatest running backs…so any time you’re compared to a Hall of Famer, that’s definitely a compliment.  I think my running style is different than Tommy Vardell. I think he was bigger than I am.  He was more just downhill, bulldozing people.  I think I have a little more wiggle than he did, and I think I can be more all-purpose.”  

Nate Triplett, the Gophers linebacker who was outstanding on special teams at Minnesota, may make the Vikings roster filling that role.  The Vikings drafted the Delano, Minnesota native on the fifth round.

Vikings coach Brad Childress talks or text messages to Brett Favre at least every couple weeks, according to a team source.  The communications are rapport oriented, not football focused.

The NFL’s switch to prime time with two evenings and one day for the NFL draft is likely to continue indefinitely.  The league’s next major marketing move might be to reduce the preseason schedule from four games to two and increase the regular season schedule from 16 to 18 games.

Two-time All-American and Outland Trophy winner Bobby Bell was in town last week for a speaking engagement and to attend the Gophers spring game.  He played on the three most successful Gophers teams since World War II.  The 1960, 1961 and 1962 teams lost only six games, while winning a national championship, Big Ten title and playing in two Rose Bowls.  Bell said the 1961 team might have been the best of the three teams.

Joe Mauer’s athleticism and desire to win are highlighted in a cover story about the Twins catcher in the April 26 issue of Sporting News Magazine.  Mauer said “I’d like to think so,” when asked if he could have been a starting NFL quarterback had he chosen a football career.  Mauer said there’s nothing better than if the Twins can qualify for the World Series.

In the magazine’s same issue, new Iowa basketball coach Fran McCaffery identifies Minnesota as part of his recruiting target, noting the state’s many college prospects and that the Gophers are the only Division I program in the state.

With Delmon Young hitting .245 and Jason Kubel batting .169, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire might be tempted to give more at bats to 39-year-old designated hitting specialist Jim Thome who has three home runs in 34 plate appearances.

Former Twin Carlos Silva is 2-0 with a 0.95 ERA for the Cubs.  He has a career ERA of 4.66.

Bloomington native Cole Aldrich, who played college basketball at Kansas, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before yesterday’s Twins-Royals game in Kansas City.  John Bell Wilson, who talks regularly with former NBA coach Bill Fitch, said Fitch believes the 6-11 center will be among the first 12 selections in the June NBA draft.

Aldrich’s agent is Jeff Schwartz, the same representative used by Kevin Love of the Timberwolves.

Gene Allen will throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Wednesday and be inducted into the CHRISTian Sports Commission Hall of Fame prior to the Gophers-North Dakota State baseball game at Newman Outdoor Field in Fargo.  Allen, a North Dakota native and Twin Cities attorney, was the founder and co-owner of the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.  He led the drive to bring minor league baseball back to Fargo and build Newman Outdoor Field, home to the RedHawks, North Dakota State and the Maury Wills Museum.

Canterbury Park doesn’t open for live racing until May 14 but the Shakopee racetrack will be a popular site to watch Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.  Post time is 5:24 p.m. and the race will be televised by NBC.

The Vikings might not take a quarterback at the No. 30 slot in the first round of the draft tonight but make no mistake the franchise is in the market for a player at the position. The team’s draft decision makers will be looking for someone to add to the quarterback roster tonight, or during rounds two through seven this weekend, or later via free agency.

Vikings director of college scouting Scott Studwell made that clear earlier this week in an interview with Sports Headliners.  The team’s short and long term outlook is uncertain at the position.  It’s not a lock that Brett Favre will return, nor can anyone be sure that backups Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels can perform at a high level for the team this season and beyond.

After Sam Bradford is drafted early in round one, several other quarterbacks are expected to hear their names called during the next three days including Jimmy Clausen, Colt McCoy, Tim Tebow, Tony Pike and Dan Lefevour.  “It’s a decent class of quarterbacks,” Studwell said.  “There are some good players at the top.  I think a lot of the quarterbacks will make (NFL) teams. …If there’s a guy there that we covet and that we think is going to be a potential starter, or good backup for us, we’ll certainly have to talk about taking him.”

What are the criteria in scouting quarterbacks?  Studwell said it’s more than vision, a strong arm and accuracy throwing a football.  He mentioned character, leadership and winning while playing college football.

“The physical part of it is easy to measure on (video)tape,” Studwell said. “It’s the other stuff that’s hard to measure, but sometimes that other stuff is what makes those guys great players.”

Studwell was asked about the likelihood of the Vikings taking a quarterback during the first three rounds.  “I don’t know, to be honest with you,” he said.  “There are quarterbacks that we like and a lot of it will depend on what happens with the other positions.”