Author: David Shama

Although some observers are in a funk about the Gophers after losing to Wisconsin last Saturday, it’s a good bet the players will be sharp in tomorrow’s homecoming game at TCF Bank Stadium against Purdue.  The Gophers (3-2) know they made too many mistakes against Wisconsin, losing a sixth straight game to the Badgers, but their commitment to the season doesn’t have to hit bottom with seven games remaining.

Senior wide receiver Eric Decker said earlier this week the Gophers need to prepare better in practice to avoid the mistakes that led to a loss against traditional rival Wisconsin but he’s not concerned about emotional damage for tomorrow’s game.  “I’m not (worried).  I think we have enough upperclassmen and leadership to be able to put that (loss) in the past and prepare for Purdue,” Decker said. “This is a big game for us and all of us feel like this is a must win.  Every week is the biggest game for us. We are going to do everything we can do (and) break down film on Purdue and see what we can do against them on offense.”

The Gophers gave up 454 total yards to Wisconsin in the 31-28 loss, 295 rushing and 159 passing.  “I feel like we took a step back last week,” Gophers safety Kyle Theret said.  “We didn’t play the way we wanted to. We didn’t hit like we wanted to and I feel like we were ‘out-toughed.’ It is kind of embarrassing as a defense and we want to get back to the way we want to be playing.”

Purdue quarterback Joey Elliott ranks first in passing yardage per game (255.2) and total offense (270.8) in the Big Ten Conference.  Purdue running back Ralph Bolden is second in the conference in rushing yards per game (108.2). The Gophers defense is fourth (202.4) in passing defense and 10^th in rushing defense (174.6).

But the Gophers defense has made big plays this season as has the team’s passing game (ranking sixth in the conference).  The running game, though, has been a problem and the Gophers are last in league rushing at 96 yards per game.

The Gophers may better that average against a Purdue defense that is giving up 159.4 yards per game in rushing defense, ninth in the league.  The Boilermakers are 10th in pass defense at 240 yards per game.

With road games the next two Saturdays at Penn State and Ohio State (both Big Ten title favorites), the Gophers will be in a funk themselves if they don’t beat a Purdue team that is 1-4 on the season and 0-1 in the Big Ten, losing last week to Northwestern.

Viking running back Adrian Peterson talking about recognizing Brett Favre’s 40^th birthday tomorrow: “I don’t know if the team has any plans. I haven’t come up with anything yet, but I definitely plan on surprising him with something; some type of gift or something.”

Viking coach Brad Childress has a 14-3 record in his last 17 regular season games.

If the Vikings (4-0) win at St. Louis (0-4) on Sunday it will be the team’s sixth consecutive road win.

Gopher coach Tim Brewster talking about sophomore center Trey Davis who will be starting on Saturday and replacing the injured Jeff Tow-Arnett who is injured and out for the season: “He (Trey) played for us last year.  Got some experience.  He’s got strength.  Explosive guy.  He was a national champion shot putter, track athlete.  He’s a smart guy.  He’ll do a good job of making decisions at the center spot and help our offense.  I feel very comfortable with Trey Davis stepping in and taking over the center job for us.”

Purdue first year offensive coordinator Gary Nord had the same title last year at Florida Atlantic when the Owls lost to the Gophers.

The Gophers don’t have a big tailback on the roster but that could change next season.   Minnesota may have a special runner coming to campus if Lamonte Edwards, already about 6-2, 215 pounds, keeps his verbal commitment.  The Woodbury High School running back is one of two four-star players to make a verbal commitment to Minnesota (the other is Irondale lineman Jimmy Gjere), according to Rivals.com.  The Minnesota 2010 recruiting class has moved up to No. 32 in the rankings, https://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/commitlist.asp?Year=2010&School=46

Josh Sacco, a five-year-old from Tennessee, has been gaining attention for his memorization of Kurt Russell’s locker room speech in the movie “Miracle” that tells the story of coach Herb Brooks and his players on the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team.  https://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/How-4-year-old-boy-mastered-Miracle-speech-in-?urn=nhl,193765&cp=13

Martin Havlat, who got his 400^th career NHL point on his third assist in the Wild’s win and home opener on Tuesday night, goes through an extensive stretching routine (up to 45 minutes) prior to games and practices. He’s been able to avoid groin and hamstring injuries during his NHL career.

The Wild, who lost to Los Angeles last night, are on an 11-day road trip today, the longest of the season.

Wild head coach Todd Richards’ parents flew to Columbus to watch his NHL coaching debut last Saturday.

Gopher sophomore Jordan Schroeder has been named to the preseason All-American team by College Hockey News. Schroeder is also the Western Collegiate Hockey Association’s preseason Player of the Year pick by both the coaches and the media. Last season he was the WCHA Rookie of the Year and was a second-team All-WCHA selection after ranking third in the country with 45 points and 32 assists in 2008-09.

The Twins didn’t want to make excuses after losing their opening playoff game to New York on Wednesday night, but they had to be tired after the intense schedule and emotions of recent games.

Twins right hander Nick Blackburn starts tonight’s game in New York and will need to keep his pitches down against the Yankees powerful lineup of hitters.  Blackburn had no decision in a May start in New York, giving up six hits and four runs in 7.2 innings.

Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, 79, isn’t expected to attend the playoff series in New York with the Twins, according to Yahoo! Sports.  He’s been in declining health and mostly stays in Tampa and seldom sees his Yankees.  This post-season run will be seen as a win-one-for-George, whose Yankees last won the World Series in 2000.  https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-yankees-steinbrenner&prov=ap&type=lgns

The Twins are selling Homer Hankies at their pro shops and the Metrodome.  There will be a “white out” against the Yankees for playoff games at the dome on Sunday and Monday.

Rochester native and tennis pro Eric Butorac is promoting the Minnesota Tennis Challenge on Saturday, December 5 at the Fred Wells Tennis and Education Center, https://www.ebmntc.com./

The superstitious will demand that when the Twins move their locker room and offices from the Metrodome to Target Field they must take along the water coolers.  The less informed may believe the organization’s winning ways and stubborn will not to give up can be attributed to the water consumed by the front office, manager, coaches and players.  In fact, the franchise has a system worthy of study at the University of Minnesota business school, if not Harvard.

After yesterday’s incredible 12 inning tie-breaking win over Detroit, the Twins have now won five Central Division championships in the last eight years.  To win the latest title the team had to come back from three games behind the Tigers with four to play on the regular season schedule.

The never-give-up franchise serves up comebacks with the best organizations in baseball.  The Twins spent much of 2009 playing less than .500 baseball, but yesterday finished 87 and 76, winning 17 of their last 21 games.  They followed the blueprint of comebacks in other seasons when the team started slow including in 2003 when the Twins went 47-31 to win the Central after having a 43-41 record in mid-July.

Characteristics that define winning organizations in business are visible with the Twins.  Among those characteristics is a confidence that the franchise knows how to win.

Manager Ron Gardenhire and his staff didn’t panic this season when the pitching staff was imploding because of injuries and poor performance.  They didn’t stop teaching players and doing the best they could when problems were also evident at third base, second base and left field.

Pitching coach Rick Anderson rebuilt a staff during the season, offering suggestions and encouragement to some guys not even on the roster at the All-Star break.  In the last days of the season the pitching responded remarkably, both among the starters (only two of five remained from the early season rotation) and bullpen.

Gardenhire tightened the defense in September, putting Matt Tolbert at third and Nick Punto at second. That’s the Twins way.  Emphasize pitching, defense and always fundamentals in every aspect of baseball.  And team play.  One guy goes down, another has an opportunity.

Michael Cuddyer moved from right field to first base and went nuts at the plate hitting eight of his 32 home runs and producing 24 of his 92 RBIs in the final weeks of the season.  Left fielder Delmon Young emerged as an unlikely hero producing 15 hits in his last 42 at bats including three home runs and 15 RBI.

Substitutes were dramatic in yesterday’s win.  Center fielder Carlos Gomez, who scored the winning run in the 6-5 victory, had a .143 batting average during limited play in September.  Second baseman Alexi Casilla, who drove in the winning run, hadn’t played since September 29.

A successful organization must be able to evaluate talent, and the team’s front office including general manager Billy Smith deserves credit for a farm system that produced in-season acquisitions like left handed starter Brian Duensing and catcher Jose Morales, plus acquired talent from other major league clubs.   While a lot of fans were feeling sorry for themselves when the team acquired shortstop Orlando Cabrera in late July, he was a big reason why the Twins were so good late in the season.  Front office evaluators brought in additional contributors from other teams in relief pitchers Jon Rauch and Ron Mahay.

Over the years has the organization made personnel mistakes?  Moved too slowly to retain players or trade for others?  Sure, but this organization has shown a skill for identifying and developing players.  For example, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Denard Span, and Cuddyer were all draft choices.

The Twins operate within a system of loyalty and stability.  The front office people are usually promoted from within.  The players are nurtured and groomed to not only help the franchise win, but also to enhance their careers (encouraged, for example, to learn how to play multiple positions).  Patience is usually extended to all concerned.

All of this and more has created an environment that gives the organization the best chance to win.  It is classic business management.

Now the Twins must target another 2009 miracle, beat the Yankees in the playoffs.  The Yankees had baseball’s best regular season record and have a home field advantage.  They must drink some pretty good water, too.