Author: David Shama

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.

TCF Bank Stadium and the Metrodome are possible sites for World Cup soccer in 2018 and 2022.  A Minneapolis bid is among a long list of American cities interested in bringing matches here.

Gophers’ athletic director Joel Maturi said TCF Bank Stadium is also a possible location for soccer if Chicago receives the 2016 Olympics.

Maturi said the athletic department hasn’t lost any previously committed purchasers of premium seating at TCF Bank Stadium because of the new policy not to provide alcohol anywhere in the facility.  “It’s been far more positive than we expected,” he said.

There are five suites in the new stadium that haven’t been sold and about 150 indoor club seats remaining, according to Maturi.  He also said demand for seating during the first season could result in temporary bleachers being set up along the sidelines, accommodating a few hundred fans.

Last spring the state enacted legislation requiring that alcohol be made available to the general public at the stadium, not just in premium seating areas as had been University policy.  The legislature deserves criticism for micro-managing on this issue when there are so many more important problems to address.  Thumbs down, too, for the legislature’s silly approval of making hockey the official state sport.  Effective public policy encourages and celebrates diversity including for all sports and participants.

Bill Lester, executive director of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, didn’t have an announcement date or cost but said sometime this fall details will be released on a proposed “reconstructed” Metrodome.  He said the proposal details will include a retractable roof on the facility.

Lester said the Metrodome will remain a multipurpose facility and sightlines for football will be similar to what they are.  A redesign would place emphasis on making the stadium a better home for the Vikings while accommodating NCAA basketball tournaments and amateur baseball.

Seating capacity for football is expected to be about 65,000, a slight increase from now, according to Lester.  He also said that while a funding partner hasn’t been officially determined to pay for a reconstructed stadium it’s clear to him that the state is the “primary beneficiary” of such a facility that keeps the Vikings here and continues to host other major events that generate tax dollars.