P.J. FLECK – Page 27 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Fleck Open to Playing Elite Teams

Posted on September 13, 2022September 13, 2022 by David Shama

The nature of big-time college football scheduling is to book opponents 10 years and further into the future. There is nothing in motion right now, but University of Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck is open to scheduling games against the biggest names in the country.

Asked Monday about taking on a prominent team from the Southeastern Conference or Notre Dame, Fleck said: “I think you always want to think that way—some of the best brands in college football. We’d love to have (them) come to Huntington Bank (Stadium) and also go to those places. But those are…decisions as you keep moving forward and seeing what slots are open, and what years are open. But definitely open to that.”

The Gophers are playing nonconference opponents now booked by previous athletic directors and head coaches. The Gopher media guide shows nonconference foes through 2028 with California, Mississippi State and North Carolina having the most box office power. The slate also includes the likes of Eastern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Louisiana and North Dakota.

Minnesota wraps up its nonconference schedule with Colorado at Huntington Bank Stadium on Saturday. The Buffaloes are the only Power Five team among the three opponents making up the nonconference schedule (all played at home). The Gophers handily defeated FBS lower tier New Mexico State and FCS level Western Illinois.

There is logic to the ho-hum nonconference schedules the Gophers and other Power Five programs have utilized for decades. Part of it is wanting to ensure a fast start to the season, playing opponents the Gophers are usually superior or at least equal to. Minnesota teams often go into the Big Ten schedule 3-0. Fleck’s nonconference record at Minnesota, including bowl games, is 16-1.

Another major element driving Minnesota football scheduling is financial. The athletic department budgets for seven home games. The department wants the revenue from seven games in Minneapolis, not six. With the Big Ten’s unbalanced schedule of nine games for each league team, the Gophers only travel to a nonconference opponent in alternate years when they have five home league games (in 2022 they have four).

Financially important, too, is Minnesota can pay revenue-hungry programs like New Mexico State and Western Illinois modest guarantees compared with what the Gophers would shell out to host powerhouses Alabama, Clemson, Georgia or LSU. Minnesota has never played any of those teams in Minneapolis. Notre Dame was last here in 1937, Texas in 1936.

But while nothing is on the horizon for scheduling marquee opponents, that’s not to say it’s out of the question. Schedules can change on short notice. If Fleck’s program continues to progress the Gophers will command more of a presence on the national stage. That could lead to a high profile nonleague game arranged in the next several years, not 15 or 20 years out.

How? Well, possibly a home-and-home series where the Gophers are sure of a sellout at the Bank and scale the ticket pricing as if it is a Justin Bieber concert.

Another possibility could be the Gophers, if they reach elite status, will draw an invite to a kickoff classic in Dallas or Atlanta where they face a formidable SEC or ACC team. If you’re willing to think way out of the box, how about Minneapolis hosting such a game at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Mill City Classic?

Worth Noting

Since Fleck started his career at Minnesota in 2017 only Alabama at 23-1, Georgia, 22-1 and Oklahoma State 19-1 have better nonconference records than he does at 16-1.

If the Gophers defeat Michigan State September 24 on the road they will receive the attention of national media. Today The Athletic ranks Minnesota No. 43 in the country with West Division rivals Wisconsin No. 35 and Purdue No. 37. The Badgers are the highest ranked of the seven division teams with Iowa No. 48, Illinois No. 58, Northwestern No. 71 and Nebraska No. 81.

Colorado coach Karl Dorrell is on the hot seat, with a 0-2 record and coming off last season’s 4-8. If he is fired Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters, a former Colorado player, could be a target.

Among the benefits of Minnesota’s lopsided 62-10 win over Western Illinois, is the Gophers were able to use so many reserves including senior redshirt running back Preston Jelen from Lakeville. He scored his first Gopher TD on a 30-yard run.

Jelen plans to become an orthopedic doctor. Fleck, a former college and pro player, figures a day will come when he needs shoulder and knee surgeries. “I said put me down for four surgeries…,” Fleck said Monday.

Fleck liked watching four reserves on his defensive line in the second half last Saturday–Deven Eastern, Logan Richter, Anthony Smith and Hayden Schwartz. “I mean that was a good-looking D-line that’s going to be around for a long time,” Fleck said.

Richter is a redshirt junior, Eastern a redshirt freshman, and Smith and Schwartz true freshmen.

The Gophers shut out New Mexico State and held Western Illinois to 10 points. Last year Minnesota was No. 3 in the country in total defense, allowing 278.8 yards per game. “In this league (the Big Ten) you gotta play incredible defense,” said Fleck who refers to defensive coordinator Joe Rossi as a “stud.”

Gophers’ kickoff specialist Dragan Kesich has booted 15 touchbacks in 17 attempts in the first two games. “He’s very talented,” Fleck said. “He kicked one off his toe, and he miss hit it badly, and he kicked it to the six-yard line. I mean I would have prayed for the six-yard line a few years ago.”

The Vikings’ Justin Jefferson, who had 184 yards in receptions in Sunday’s win over the Packers, is keeping good company at the start of his third NFL season. Jefferson’s fifth career game with at least 150 receiving yards and a touchdown reception tied him with Hall of Famer Randy Moss and Victor Cruz for the second-most by a player in his first three NFL seasons. Only Lance Alworth, another Hall of Famer, has done better with six.

Among anniversaries noted by the NFL is 130 years ago Minneapolis-born William “Pudge” Heffelfinger became the first pro football player in 1892. Following a playing career at Yale, Heffelfinger was the first football player to receive a paycheck as a pro.

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Vikings Earn ‘A’ Grade in Opener

Posted on September 11, 2022September 11, 2022 by David Shama

Describe the first game of the Kevin O’Connell era a rousing success. The Vikings dominated the Packers today in their NFL opener, 23-7, and deserve high marks for their performance.

O’Connell, the new head coach, called an impressive game in a new offensive scheme that included motioning wide receiver Justin Jefferson before the ball was snapped. The Vikings offense played with tempo and aggressiveness against a Packers defense considered one of the NFL’s best. Even the suspect offensive line exceeded expectations, providing time for quarterback Kirk Cousins to throw and also opening holes for Dalvin Cook.

Jefferson, heading into his third NFL season, showed why his NFL peers consider him one of the league’s elite players. He had 186 receiving yards on nine catches, an impressive 20.4 yards per reception. He scored both of Minnesota’s touchdowns during an explosive performance that included his second quarter 36-yard TD reception. It was an A+ day for No. 18 who befuddled Packer defenders in the first half when he scored both of his touchdowns.

Wreaking havoc on the Packers and setting a tone for a physical defense was outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith. He was part of a gang tackling effort in the third quarter that caused Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers to fumble. The Vikings turned that opportunity into a 56-yard Greg Joseph field goal to extend their lead to 20-0.

Smith and teammates came up with the defense’s biggest play of the day in the second quarter with the Vikings ahead 7-0. Green Bay had fourth down on the Minnesota one-yard line but couldn’t get in the endzone. Smith, Jonathan Bullard and Harrison Phillips stopped AJ Dillon’s run and a 79-yard Packer drive.

Smith, the former Packer signed by the Vikings in the offseason, not only earned high marks for his day but is worthy of a game ball along with O’Connell and Jefferson. When those three and the other Vikings and coaches weren’t frustrating the Packers, the boys from Green Bay were doing it to themselves.

On Green Bay’s opening play of the game, rookie wide receiver Christian Watson ran past defenders in the secondary and Rodgers delivered a pass into his hands. Those hands didn’t secure the ball, though, and an almost certain 75-yard touchdown.

The Vikings went on to build a 17-0 halftime lead and the Packers never came closer than when they scored a third quarter touchdown to trail 20-7. Rodgers showed frustration and anger as his depleted offensive line allowed pressure by the Vikings and his inexperienced receivers let him. Give the defending NFC North Division champions a D grade in their opener.

It was smiles all around by Vikings players and their delirious fans who did their best to disrupt Green Bay communications. Yeah, let’s give an A+ to the Purple Patrons, too.

Worth Noting

Don’t worry Gopher fans. Nebraska isn’t going after P.J. Fleck for its next football coach. Hiring coaches away from another Big Ten member school is a “no-no” in the conference.

Andrew DePaola, 35, is the oldest Viking; the youngest is Andrew Booth, Jr. at 21. Harrison Smith has played the most seasons with the team, 11. Blake Brandel and Brian O’Neill are the tallest Vikings at 6-7; Dalvin Cook is the shortest, 5-10. Dalvin Tomlinson is the heaviest at 325 pounds, while Chandon Sullivan the lightest at 189.

Ken Mauer, Jr., the St. Paul native with 37 years of NBA officiating experience, received a two-sentence letter from the league earlier this month notifying him of his termination. The letter wasn’t a surprise after he was suspended without pay all of last season for refusing to be vaccinated for COVID.

Mauer and other referees who took the same anti-vaccine position are suing the NBA in federal court. The league allowed players to decide whether to be vaccinated but mandated referees use the vaccine. “I just don’t think that’s right. I don’t think that’s fair,” Mauer told a luncheon group in Bloomington last Thursday.

The power of the National Basketball Players Association apparently made the league take a different stance with the players than it did with the officials. Mauer is prouder of the stance he is taking in litigation than the NBA career he loved. ”What I am going to win (in court) is that it’s wrong to take anyone’s civil liberties,” Mauer told his audience. “You should be allowed to decide for yourself whether or not you want to put a needle in your arm. …”

A practicing Catholic, Mauer has a strong religious faith. However, he doesn’t criticize others who choose to take the vaccine or wear masks.

Mauer, 67, was hired by the NBA before the 1986-87 season. At 30 years old he was on his way to achieving his life’s dream. He started refereeing in grade school and continued on from there including while on a baseball scholarship at the University of Minnesota. Others scoffed at his ambition to become the first NBA ref from Minnesota.

“Well, they’re doing JV games and I refereed 37 years in the NBA,” Mauer said. “They don’t laugh at me anymore. I am a little bit proud of that.”

Despite physical challenges like broken ribs, Mauer never missed a game during his career including 19 NBA Finals that he worked. He spoke to the CORES group at the Bloomington Event Center. CORES is an acronym for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans.

Bruce Feldman’s August 31 story for The Athletic on 37 college football assistant coaches to watch this year included Minnesota defensive coordinator Joe Rossi (“one of the most underrated coaches in college football”) and running backs coach/assistant head coach Kenni Burns (“recruiting skills and ability to have all his guys ready to perform”).

Former Gophers basketball public address announcer Dick Jonckowski is battling his third round of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and will learn Tuesday whether treatment has made him cancer free.

Steve and Dortothy Erban’s locally-based Creative Charters is offering transportation to all Gophers football away games starting with Michigan State September 24. That game will have customers flying out and back to Minneapolis the same day. The next road game, October 15 at Illinois, will have travelers Amtrak bound for Chicago and Champaign, and then returning home via plane. https://creativecharter.com/about.html

Among reasons to like the chances for the Guardians to win the AL Central Division is they close the season at home with six games against the Royals, a team that is 27 games under .500.

Ouch: Since 2002 the Twins are 38-98 against the Yankees. Since 2027 they are 2-16 at Yankee Stadium.

Word is Pete Najarian, the former Gopher and pro football player who is known nationally as a stock market guru, will continue indefinitely on WCCO Radio’s Sunday “Sports Huddle.”

All five of the Timberwolves preseason games will be televised. Bally Sports North will have the October 4, 9 and 14 games against the Heat, Clippers and Nets. ESPN will televise October 6 and 12 games against the Lakers.

At Cincinnati, where former Gopher administrator John Cunningham is the athletics director, the Bearcats’ home football games are sold out for the season.

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Hunter & Smith May Hold Vikings’ Fate

Posted on September 4, 2022September 6, 2022 by David Shama

Predictions about the Vikings’ final 2022 season record run to extremes. Sports Illustrated, for example, has Minnesota at 7-10 while national talk show host Colin Cowherd is giddy about the Purple shocking the NFL with a 13-4 record.

Reality is speculating on a final record before the first regular season game is even played is challenging. Of course, it’s also fun.

The Vikings didn’t use their starters in three winless preseason games, the norm now for NFL teams. The Purple forecasting assignment is also more difficult because of the team’s new coaching staff headed by Kevin O’Connell. He is a rookie head coach and unknown leader, although the Vikings have a staff that includes veteran assistants.

The team was 8-9 last season, missing the playoffs for a second consecutive year. Sports Illustrated almost nailed Minnesota’s final record in its football preview issue in 2021 (predicting 9-8) and made the correct call about missing the playoffs.

S.I. was on the money last year in forecasting a second-place finish in the NFC North but in 2022 believes the Vikings will finish third behind the 11-6 Packers and (gasp) the 9-8 Lions. S.I. sees a possible scenario where the Minnesota offense is “middling” and the defense falters in its comeback bid.

Kevin O’Connell photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

Cowherd likes O’Connell’s resume as the former offensive coordinator of the Super Bowl champion Rams. He projects O’Connell will be a big help to veteran QB Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota offense. Cowherd’s gushing about the Vikings includes the prediction they will upset the hated Packers in the season opening game for both teams September 11.

Before Cowherd tells his audience the Vikings will win the Super Bowl, I asked a former NFL front office executive to jump in and offer his thoughts. What’s a best-case scenario for the Purple?

“I think if they keep (Danielle) Hunter and (Za’Darius) Smith healthy, and Cousins has a pretty good year, I think they’re a 10-win team and make the playoffs,” the source said while asking that his name not be used.

The two outside linebackers (may also play defensive end) have big upsides as pass rushers but also histories of being sidelined with injuries. If healthy, Hunter and Smith can take a lot of pressure off the uncertain secondary that includes two inexperienced and vulnerable defenders, safety Camryn Bynum and corner Cam Dantzler.

Hunter and Smith will need rest during games, with subs Patrick Jones and D.J. Wonnum available off the bench. “If they lose those guys (Hunter and Smith), or even one of those guys, it’s going to make just a huge difference,” the source said.

The NFL authority also said Cousins will be a key to a best-case scenario for the season. The veteran must play better in “crunch time” than in the past for the Vikings to make or even exceed expectations.

The potential positives for 2022 improvement include the schedule. The Vikings play nine of their 17 games at home and have only 7 true road games. They play the Saints in London on October 2 in a neutral site game that figures to be an easier assignment than trying to win in New Orleans. “I think that’s a big advantage schedule wise,” the source said about where the 17 games will be played.

Worst-case scenario for the season? Injuries wreak havoc, the authority said, citing names like Hunter, Smith, linebacker Eric Kendricks, running back Dalvin Cook and wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen as difference makers the Vikings can’t afford to lose in large numbers. (Jefferson, BTW, is Sports Illustrated’s choice to be NFL Offensive Player of the Year.)

Troubles, too, could include stumbling in the transition to new offensive and defensive schemes. If the Vikings falter on the learning curve that could contribute to losing a lot of close games again. Minnesota lost eight one-score games in 2021.

Regarding a disappointing 2022, the source summarized it this way: “So I think the worst-case scenario is the injury bug hits them, and they have growing pains with the new schemes on offense and defense, and they lose close games like they did last year and that knocks them out of the playoffs.”

With that scenario, his prediction is the Vikings finish 7-10.

Golden Gophers Notes

Wyatt Gilmore and Riley Sunram are two high school players to follow as the Gophers pursue their 2024 football recruiting class. Both have been offered scholarships and recruiting authority Ryan Burns from GopherIllustrated offers praise.

Gilmore, from Rogers, Minnesota, projects as a defensive tackle with Minnesota. “…I think he is going to be a really good pass rusher,” Burns said.

Sunram, from Kindred, North Dakota near Fargo, projects as a defensive end. “Riley Sunram I think is going to be a pretty special player,” Burns said. “I think he could be one of the best players to come out of the Dakotas in the last handful of years.”

The Gophers’ recruiting class for 2023 is holding at 18 verbal commitments, per 247Sports. Burns believes it could be November before there are additions to the class, with the possibility Minnesota will add players at cornerback, linebacker and receiver.

Credit past decisions in the University of Minnesota athletic department allowing the Gophers to pay less than market rate guarantees for home games against their three nonconference opponents in 2022. The $1,250,000 total is less than some Power Five programs pay out for one nonconference game.

Not only did the Gophers shutout New Mexico State 38-0 in their opener last Thursday night, but they also kept the Aggies from making long gains most of the game. Defensive coordinator Joe Rossi said last season Minnesota allowed the fewest explosive plays in the nation.

The Gophers played two of their backup quarterbacks in the fourth quarter to finish out the game, Cole Kramer and Athan Kaliakmanis. Offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca said during training camp it wasn’t clear who would replace Tanner Morgan if he were injured.

Head coach P.J. Fleck praised both his top backups near the end of camp. He said Kramer, a redshirt junior, had a “phenomenal camp.” Regarding redshirt freshman Kaliakmanis the coach said, “I am really proud of the progress he’s made, and he’s going to be a really, really talented player.”

Former Gophers in their debuts for other programs: RB Bucky Irving started and ran for 13 yards on five attempts for Oregon Saturday in its 49-3 loss to Georgia. Also Saturday, QB Zack Annexstad started for Illinois State and threw an interception returned for 100 yards while playing most of the game in a 38-0 loss to Wisconsin. On Friday night RB Ky Thomas started for Kansas, running seven times for 19 yards in a 56-10 win over Tennessee Tech.

Minnesota athletic director Mark Coyle said his department has about $21.5 million to pay back on a loan caused by drastically reduced revenues during the pandemic. He also estimated the debt still owed on the Athletes Village in the $38 to $40 million range.

“Athletes Village has been an absolute game changer for our program,” Coyle said. “We call it the wow factor when a recruit comes into your building and they have a chance to walk through this facility. It’s good when they pull out their cell phones and they start taking pictures.”

Coyle plans to attend Lindsay Whalen’s induction Friday into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. The legendary former Gophers and Lynx guard will join over 300 inductees in the basketball shrine in Springfield, Mass. Ex-Gopher and NBA star Lou Hudson is also part of the 2022 and will be inducted posthumously.

Coyle said Gopher athletes now have a 96 percent graduate rate, the highest ever at Minnesota. He also estimated that last school year over 130 of his athletes benefitted from more than 260 Name, Image and Likeness deals.

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