Author: David Shama

If reports are accurate that Seantrel Henderson has eliminated Notre Dame from his list of possible college choices, where does that leave the Gophers?  Maybe in better position than you think.

Henderson, the Cretin-Derham Hall offensive tackle, is rated by Rivals.com as the nation’s best schoolboy prospect in the football class of 2009.  July postings on the Internet report he’s eliminated tradition rich Notre Dame from his list of prospective schools.  A former Minnesota prep coach, who has been close to college recruiting for years and requested anonymity, told Sports Headliners he believes the Irish were dumped when Henderson shortened his list of schools.

Notre Dame is a Catholic school like Cretin-Derham Hall and the Irish roster includes Henderson’s former high school teammate, Michael Floyd.  Even more than a year ago Floyd told Sports Headliners he would be talking to Henderson about joining the Fighting Irish.  Then, too, the Irish have one of college football’s better recruiters in Rob Ianello.

But perhaps working against the legendary football program in South Bend is the losing trend. The records of the last two seasons were 3-9 and 7-6.  Speculation is ongoing that this could be coach Charlie Weis’ last season at Notre Dame.

In an interview with Sports Headliners last winter Henderson talked about the importance of winning.  “I won’t really want to go anywhere where the team is not that good,” he said.  “As long as the team is up and coming then I am fine. …”

USC, Florida, Ohio State and others that frequently are annual candidates for the national championship are in hot pursuit of Henderson but the Gophers are still believed to be a possibility, according to sources.  The Gophers haven’t won a Big Ten title since 1967, and 1962 was the school’s last stop in a New Year’s Day bowl game.

That stuff doesn’t look so hot in a power point presentation when compared with schools like the big three mentioned above who have combined for four of nine        national titles this decade.  Consider the following, though:

In two years as Minnesota’s head coach, Tim Brewster’s recruiting classes have drawn national attention.  The record of 1-11 in 2007 improved to 7-6 last season.  A better year in 2009 could make an impression with Henderson.

Brewster is a tireless recruiter and hard work won’t stop the Gophers from going all out for Henderson who would be a signature recruit for his young program.  New offensive line coach Tim Davis has an outstanding reputation as a teacher and recruiter.  He and Brewster make a formidable recruiting combo.

The Gophers are recruiting J.D. Pride, a former Cretin Derham-Hall quarterback now at Totino Grace.  Pride and Henderson are friends.  Also, Pride’s father is a former Gopher football player.

The Gophers’ roster has several former Cretin-Derham Hall players including running back Shady Salamon who played with Henderson.  Other former Raiders include offensive linemen Matt Carufel and Ned Tavale, and safety Kim Royston.

The lure of staying home in more familiar surroundings could factor in, too.  In the interview last winter Henderson said that was a consideration but quickly added he was interested in exploring other places, too.

Floyd was a USA Today All-American.  He didn’t choose the Gophers and neither have a long list of the state’s best including three-time All-American linebacker James Laurinaitis from Ohio State by way of Wayzata.

Will Henderson stay or go?  If Brewster had already won a Big Ten title it would be easier to say amen.  You can bet that a lot of Gophers fans are praying Henderson will say yes.

Vikings’ single game tickets went on sale Monday with all games available except Green Bay, October 5, and Chicago, November 29.  Prices range from $30 to $135.

Subhub.com lists a price range for the Green Bay game from $122 to $1,288. For Chicago the range is $44 to $1,292.

The online ticket source has tickets ranging from $150 to $629 for the historic TCF Bank Stadium opener on September 12.   The Gophers play Air Force in a 6 p.m. game.

How versatile and explosive was Vikings’ first round pick Percy Harvin in college playing for Florida?  Since 1996 he’s the only wide receiver in Division I-A to gain more than 1,500 yards rushing and receiving in three seasons.  He will wear No. 12 for the Vikings.

The Big Ten Network and ESPNEWS will air live coverage of the Big Ten Conference football media day on Monday beginning at 10 a.m. Minneapolis time.  The network will provide four hours of live coverage that day, including the full press conferences for all 11 head coaches and Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany.

The network will also record the Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon on Tuesday and broadcast the event at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 1.  The Monday and Tuesday events will be at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

The “M” Club and athletic department will honor eight individuals with induction into the University of Minnesota “M” Club Hall of Fame on September 17.  The eight are: Mike Antonovich (men’s hockey), Aaron Broten (men’s hockey), Dennis Dale (men’s swimming and diving), Jack DeField (men’s track and field), Dale Hanson (wrestling), Judy Knight (softball) and Lori [Townsend] Monaghan (women’s cross country/track and field) and Andy Uram (football). Tickets for the ceremony on September 17 can be purchased through the Gopher ticket office, 612-624-8080, 800-U-GOPHER or online at www.gophersports.com.

“Wally the Beerman” told Sports Headliners earlier this week that he plans to sell beer tonight at the St. Paul Saints game against the Lincoln Saltdogs, the first time he has worked as a vendor since his open heart surgery in May.  He also plans to sell at Canterbury Park on Saturday for the track’s Claiming Crown races.

Twenty-one players who participated at USA Hockey’s Boys’ Select 17 Player Development Camp have been chosen for the under-18 select team that will compete at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial from August 11-15 in Piestany, Slovakia.  The roster includes four players who were members of the 2008 U.S. Under-17 Select team. Among the four is Ben Marshall (Grant, Minn.) who led all defensemen with seven points at the recent Select 17 development camp.  The three others are Nick Bjugstad (Coon Rapids, Minn.), Christian Isackson (West Saint Paul, Minn.) and Mike Parks (O’Fallon, Mo.).

The 2009 PGA Championship Wanamaker Trophy is to be displayed next month at the charity golf event to benefit the Autism Society of Minnesota.  The event will be August 3 at Troy Burne Golf Club in Hudson.  For those registered to attend, the trophy is scheduled to be available for pictures throughout the event.  More information is available at www.AuSM.org , or by calling the AuSM office at 651- 647-1083.  The PGA Championship will be played August 10-16 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska.

Gophers’ football coach Tim Brewster has been impressed with quarterback Adam Weber this summer.  Because of Weber’s playing position and skills, he might be the most important player on the team as Minnesota tries to improve on last year’s 7-6 record after being 1-11 in 2007.

“He’s what I call a totally invested athlete,” Brewster said. “He’s worked so hard this summer.  He’s doing a great job coaching our offense.  He’s leading our captain’s sessions with the team.  He’s poised to be one of the outstanding quarterbacks in the country.”

The Gophers are about six weeks away from their opening game at Syracuse in the Carrier Dome.  A week later, September 12, the Gophers make history playing in the first game ever at TCF Bank Stadium against Air force.  Then comes another home nonconference game versus nationally ranked California.  The Big Ten schedule follows and it includes adding Penn State and Michigan State, both of whom figure to be better than the two schools dropping from the schedule, Michigan and Indiana.

The total schedule looks more formidable than any in memory but Brewster’s expectations are for his program to continue improvement.  One of the elements to having what Brewster describes as an “ascending” program is being led by an exceptional quarterback.  “That guy is the guy,” he said.  “You’ve got to have a bell cow.”

Weber was a freshman team All-American in 2007 and was second team All-Big Ten last year.  He set school records while showing a moxie to lead and make big plays with his arm and legs.  Among his stats were completion percentages of 57.5 in 2007 and 62.2 last year.

Brewster prefers a quarterback whose completion percentage will be in the “high 60s” or better.  He thinks that’s when a quarterback will be dong “great.”

Whether Weber can move closer to 70 percent will be an important storyline for the coming season.  He will be among the Big Ten Conference’s most experienced quarterbacks.  That will help and so, too, will off season shoulder surgery.

Brewster described the 6-3, 225 pound Weber as a “new man” and not just because of the surgery.  Brewster said Weber has been dedicated in his conditioning and improved his physical strength.  “He is in a tremendous frame of mind,” Brewster said.