Author: David Shama

The 32 team NFL has five African-American head coaches.  Two of them, Tony Dungy of Indianapolis and Mike Tomlin of Pittsburgh, came through here as defensive coordinators for the Minnesota Vikings.  Here’s a prediction that the present defensive coordinator, Leslie Frazier, will one day add his name to the list.

Dungy was in town last weekend when his Colts beat the Vikings 18-15.  Dungy was Vikings head coach Denny Green’s defensive coordinator from 1992-1995.  Then he moved on to Tampa Bay as head coach of the Bucs.  In 2007 he became the first African-American head coach to win a Super Bowl.

Low key but effective, Dungy is a contrast to Tomlin, a more emotional leader who was the Vikings’ defensive coordinator for one year, 2006, before becoming head coach of the Steelers at 34 years old.  The book on the Steelers’ decision makers is that they don’t hire bad head coaches. Tomlin is only the team’s third head coach since 1969.  He coached the Steelers to a division title and the playoffs after finishing with a regular season record of 10-6.

Last season was Frazier’s first as the Vikings’ defensive coordinator, coming here from Indianapolis where he had worked for Dungy (Tomlin was an assistant under Dungy in Tampa Bay).  Last season Frazier’s defense was No. 1 in the NFL for allowing the fewest rushing yards per game, 74.1.  The defense scored six touchdowns on interceptions (fifth most in league history) and two touchdowns on fumble recoveries.  The Vikings gave up 17.5 points per game and tied for fifth in points allowed.

Vikings’ linebacker Ben Leber was asked if he considers Frazier one of the league’s best defensive coordinators.  “You know, I think so,” he said.  “…We’re not doing a great job right now helping him out…with the wins and losses but he’s putting together great schemes and I feel like we’re executing pretty well.”

Leber admires Frazier’s technical knowledge of defense, and also his leadership.  “When we’re up, he stays the same,” Leber said.  “When we’re down, he stays the same.  That’s the mark of a good leader.  You know you can’t be too emotional about the game.  You just gotta keep going. …When things need to be said, he’ll say it. So I think he’s got all the leadership qualities of a good head coach.”

Former Viking Mike Morris, now a KFAN Radio talk show host, is also an admirer.  “Part of it is his appeal to the players in the room,” he said.  “…He’s got a great personality for that kind of thing.  Players listen to him and respect him.  He’s sharp. He thinks on his feet.”

Both Morris and Leber consider Frazier, 49, a potential head coach.  Can Frazier be as good a head coach as Dungy and Tomlin?  “Well, who knows?” Morris asked.  “Dungy and Tomlin? Who knows? That’s pretty good company.”

Whether it’s eventually with the Vikings or another NFL team, Frazier looks like he’s in the NFL head coach candidates’ pool.

Frazier’s defense held the Colts to 25 yards on 19 rushing attempts last Sunday.

ESPN.com’s Rick Reilly wrote a column this week about which pro sports teams rule their cities. The Vikings, of course, were a no-brainer for Minneapolis.  Reilly wrote:  “The Twins get no love. Once, they were playing a Saturday afternoon game in the HumpDome, and it went extra innings. The game was stopped so the stadium crew could get the field ready for a football game that night. Ouch.”  https://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3576248

Jared Allen is not only among the better potential pass rushers in Vikings’ history, he’s also the best paid cheerleader.  Allen, who came to the Vikings in the off-season for the richest contract for a defensive player in the NFL, was frequently raising his arms to encourage crowd noise during last Sunday’s game in the Metrodome.

The Purple Nation responded and the Colts’ offensive players had to run their plays in a noisy environment that furthered the dome’s reputation as one of the loudest stadiums in pro football.  Last week, even before Allen played his first Vikings regular season game in the dome, he was talking about the importance of the home crowd to the defense.

“Yeah, definitely,” he told Sports Headliners.  “You thrive off the crowd. …”

Allen said defensive players respond to energy from the fans.  Plus, the opposing offense sometimes can’t “hear their checks (play changes),” he said.  The results can be penalties or turnovers such as fumbles.

The Vikings’ Adrian Peterson leads the NFL in rushing after two games with 263 yards.

Dave Mona’s new book, “Beyond the Sports Huddle,” is headed for a second printing.  Mona said earlier this week about 4,200 books from the original press run of 5,000 had been sold.

Gopher football coach Tim Brewster talking about Saturday’s non-conference game against Florida Atlantic at the dome: “For us to have a chance to win against Florida Atlantic, it’s going to take our best effort.”

The Gophers, 3-0, have had an easier non-conference schedule than the Owls, 1-2.   Florida Atlantic has lost to Texas and Michigan State on the road, with a home win over UAB.  The Gophers won at home against Northern Illinois and Montana State, and on the road at Bowling Green.

Brewster said the Gophers are No. 1 in the country in red zone efficiency (inside the 20 yard line).

When the Gophers play in Columbus against Ohio State a week from Saturday they could be seeing true freshman Terrelle Pryor starting at quarterback for Ohio State.  Arguably the most highly sought prep recruit in the country earlier this year, Pryor looks on course to replace senior Todd Boeckman at quarterback.

Manager Ozzie Guillen said in the September 15 issue of Sporting News that his White Sox team has “more talent” than the Twins.  Guillen admires Twins’ manager Ron Gardenhire, saying he doesn’t receive the credit he deserves.  Writer Steve Greenberg described the interview as “crude, hilarious and unfailingly provocative.”

The Twins have lost 13 of their last 22 games but are still only 1.5 games behind the White Sox in the Central Division race.  The White Sox come to Minneapolis for a three-game series starting next Tuesday.

Last night’s Twins-Rays game in St. Petersburg drew 17,296 fans at the 36,000 seat Tropicana Field, according to the Star Tribune.  That’s startling since the Rays and Twins are contenders for division championships.  Tampa Bay has been the most pleasant surprise among major league teams but season attendance is awful.  Usually a winning team brings out the fans even in a mediocre sports market, but not in Tampa-St. Pete.

The Minnesota Thunder is promoting breast cancer awareness at its final regular season home game on Saturday at the National Sports Center.  In conjunction with Rock The Cure (www.rockthecure.org), the Thunder organization is donating a portion of the game’s proceeds to Twin Cities area breast cancer charities.

The Thunder will be wearing pink jerseys at Saturday’s game which will be auctioned off for charity during the game. Players will autograph the jerseys before the winning bidder receives them.

Fans can purchase a limited edition pink t-shirt and ticket package for only $20, or can purchase the t-shirt separately for $10.  Both can be purchased online at www.mnthunder.com or by calling 651-294-4664.  T-shirts will also be available for purchase at the game.  To purchase single game tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com or call 651-989-5151.

Safety Joey Lehman, from Coon Rapids High School, ran an interception back 40 yards for a touchdown to help Concordia University-Saint Paul beat Minnesota State University Moorhead 27-23 victory last Saturday.  He also blocked an extra point attempt and was named the NSIC Defensive Player of the Week.