P.J. FLECK – Page 76 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

No Price too High for Football Mags

Posted on June 17, 2018June 17, 2018 by David Shama

I have been reading preseason college football magazines for longer than I care to remember. I am always excited about their arrival in stores, although it seems like a lot of the same storylines surface annually. Hint to Goldy Gopher: no Big Ten titles since 1967.

Years ago the magazines hit the newsstands in August but now the preseason publications arrive a few weeks before the official start of summer. Maybe you spend a spring weekend breaking your back in the garden but I dedicate a few days devouring college football news from coast-to-coast. I’ve been doing it since Saturday’s heroes posed for covers wearing helmets without facemasks.

These days the magazines hit town and deliver “sticker shock.” I bought three magazines and swallowed hard when the cashier said the total was over $31. I do confess to only paying $13 after using a Barnes & Noble gift card, and receiving a loyalty discount from the retailer.

I am not sure you want to hear me complain about the cost. Certain things are best kept private, which reminds me of the “wisdom” of former Golden Gopher football coach Lou Holtz. He advises those who complain about aches and pain to think twice before sharing their woes with others. Holtz says 90 percent of those you complain to really don’t care, while the other 10 percent are happy you’re hurting!

The three magazines—the Athlon and Lindy’s Big Ten preview publications, and Athlon’s national outlook magazine—are not doing celebratory backflips over the Golden Gophers who were 2-7 in Big Ten games last season and have some attributes missing on their resume including no experience at the quarterback position.

The publications aren’t holding back their concerns about Minnesota. “It doesn’t make any difference how fast you row the boat if it has holes in it. And this boat has many leaks,” writes Lindy’s.

Both Athlon and Lindy’s see Minnesota as the sixth best team in the Big Ten’s seven-team West Division. Athlon predicts the Gophers’ overall record will be 6-6 and 3-6 in Big Ten games. For the postseason Athlon says Minnesota will play in the Heart of Dallas Bowl against North Texas.

Rodney Smith (photo courtesy of Minnesota athletic communications)

Lindy’s ranks the Gophers running backs (because of Rodney Smith) No. 6 in the 14-team Big Ten. The linebackers are ranked No. 7. Minnesota lands at No. 12 in the quarterbacks, receivers, offensive line and specialists categories. The defensive line is No. 11 and the secondary No. 13.

I know my readers like good news so let me intervene here with a thought to boost morale. The schedule could allow the Gophers—whose strength figures to be on defense—to start fast. Nonconference games (all at home) against New Mexico State, Fresno State and Miami (Ohio) should provide a 3-0 start. Then comes the Big Ten opener at Maryland and the Terps are trying to rebuild just like Goldy.

A 4-0 start is possible before the Gophers host Iowa on October 6. Minnesota may not reclaim the pig but at least should go into the game with confidence, a winning early season record and the incentive of playing in front of what almost for sure will be the largest home crowd of the year.

After that the schedule is mostly formidable, and at times nasty. Even Tony Robbins would struggle to find a silver lining in road mismatches at Ohio State and Wisconsin. Tony, though, could point to potentially winnable games including against lowly Illinois. Another smiley thought is Minnesota avoids three of the Big Ten East’s beasts with Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State not on the schedule.

If the Gophers are to achieve a winning season they will need many breakout performances from individual players, particularly on offense. The list starts with redshirt freshman Tanner Morgan at football’s most important position, quarterback. He’s an unknown, just like four-star freshman wide receiver Rashod Bateman who can give the offense a big lift if he is as effective as hyped. Senior tackle Donnell Greene’s name is mentioned as a potential NFL Draft choice and he could be a difference maker on an offensive line that is suspect.

Minnesota has a short list of highly regarded players the magazines include on their second and third team All-Big Ten selections. Running back Smith (already referenced above) made Lindys’ second team. Athlon placed Smith on its second team offense as an all-purpose player, and also made four Gophers third team selections on either defense or offense: linebacker Thomas Barber, defensive end Carter Coughlin, wide receiver Tyler Johnson, and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. If those five can be even better than anticipated, Minnesota increases its chances for a surprise season.

It’s interesting that all of the players except Smith are from the state of Minnesota. Also included on preseason Big Ten honor teams are two other Minnesota natives, and they both played high school football at Eden Prairie. Linebacker Ryan Connelly is one of nationally ranked Wisconsin’s best players, while wide receiver and kickoff returner J.D. Spielman is a constant scoring threat for Nebraska.

Gophers’ second-year coach P.J. Fleck can’t fix his boat with only players from the state of Minnesota but better recruiting in Minnesota and Wisconsin is a must. FCS powerhouse North Dakota State has built its program mostly with Upper Midwest players including a boatload from Minnesota and Wisconsin. As for the Badgers, they have taken over the Big Ten’s West Division and become a national playoff contender with a formula that includes a thundering herd of offensive linemen—mostly from the state of Wisconsin.

Like it or not, expect to hear more in 2018 from Fleck about his culture and process in building his program after last year’s 5-7 record that followed a 9-4 in 2016. The 37-year-old, who was 1-11 his first year coaching at Western Michigan and 8-5 in his second, usually has plenty to say as Athlon noted in an anonymous quote from a coach at another school.

“I know P.J. Fleck rubs some people the wrong way with that rah-rah stuff, but it’s genuine,” the coach said. “He’s a positive energy, positive thoughts guy.”

That quote was among the first words I read after I bought my magazines. In the days ahead I will read the publications cover-to-cover including the (yawn) anticipated national successes of the Alabamas, Clemsons, Georgias, Ohio States and Wisconsins. I will wince at six-time national champion Minnesota being ranked No. 73 in the country by Athlon—just behind No. 72 Arkansas State! And, yes, I will even look forward to purchasing three or four college football magazines again next year.

I better start saving up. How soon will there be a $12 college football magazine in my future?

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U Targets Elite Illinois Recruits

Posted on June 1, 2018June 1, 2018 by David Shama

The football Gophers are making an impact in the state of Illinois recruiting players for the class of 2019 and could end up with commitments from two of the top three prospects, according to Ryan Burns from GopherIllustrated.com.

Defensive end Jason Bargy from Momency, Illinois has already verbally committed to Minnesota. Burns said the top three 2019 prospects in Illinois are Bargy, Crystal Lake offensive tackle Trevor Keegan and Quincy running back Jirehl Brock. All three are four-star recruits and Brock is more likely to verbally commit to the Gophers than Keegan, who is considered the No. 1 prospect in the state.

Brock will make an official visit to Minnesota on June 8. Burns wouldn’t be surprised if he eventually chooses Minnesota, although the recruiting authority acknowledges Iowa is the favorite. Brock, Burns said, has made six visits to Iowa City and that could be interpreted two ways. Likely it shows how interested he is in Iowa, but Burns speculates all those trips may indicate doubts—perhaps searching for a reason not to become a Hawkeye.

The Gophers have 10 commitments for the class of 2019, with three players from the state of Illinois already on board. The three are Bargy, three-star defensive back Tyler Nubin from St. Charles, and three-star offensive tackle J.J. Guedet from Washington. Burns said all three are “in the ear” of Brock to become a Gopher.

Historically the state of Illinois hasn’t been a target for Minnesota recruiting, with the Gophers even pulling more players and big-time contributors over the years from Wisconsin and Michigan among nearby states. That’s changed, though, under second-year coach P.J. Fleck who is an Illinois native, played collegiately at Northern Illinois and recognizes the opportunity in his home state where there are annually many top prospects.

Burns said the Gopher shopping list in Illinois includes other players than those referenced above and when the 2019 class is finalized Minnesota could end up with something like five of the top 15 players from the Land of Lincoln. “So not only are they going into the state of Illinois, and getting quality kids, they’re getting the top echelon,” Burns said.

University of Illinois football is sending out “distress signals” and schools like Minnesota, Iowa and Iowa State are among those trying to capitalize on the opportunity to recruit Illinois prep players skeptical about the Illini’s future under head coach Lovie Smith who is 5-19 in his first two years leading the program. The 60-year-old Smith, who took the Illinois job after many years in the NFL, is 2-16 in Big Ten games.

Burns described the 37-year-old Fleck as “much more of a dynamic recruiter” than Smith. “P.J’s enthusiasm just really resonates with 17 and 18 year old kids,” Burns said. “…P.J. is texting these kids, (and) facetiming them—while I don’t necessarily think Lovie is making sure to make an effort to do that on a daily basis.”

Minnesota offensive line coach Brian Callahan has recruiting responsibilities in Illinois and deserves credit along with Fleck for progress the Gophers have made in the state. “That’s a place where Minnesota wanted to go more last year,” Burns said. “They got some quality kids (class of 2018) from there like Elijah Teague, a defensive tackle who I expect to contribute early on. They signed a middle linebacker named Mariano Sori-Marin from there, but they knew that they wanted to get inroads into this 2019 class and I think you’ve seen that.

“Illinois is consistently producing 25, 30 legitimate BCS kids a year. To get not even into June yet, and you’ve already landed three of the top eight from the state of Illinois, I can tell you Lovie Smith and staff are not very happy with P.J. Fleck because these are kids that Illinois thinks they should be keeping (at) home. But P.J. is going in there and winning some pretty important recruiting battles.”

Worth Noting

Among the Gophers’ other recruiting targets is three-star, pro-style quarterback Jacob Clark from Rockwall, Texas. Burns said Clark’s dad visited Minnesota’s campus this week. Burns predicted a college decision by mid-June with the quarterback choosing either Minnesota or California.

June is an international travel month for the University of St. Thomas football team. Coach Glenn Caruso has arranged a 13-day trip to Ireland and Italy including a game in Rome on Saturday against one of Italy’s top Division I teams. NCAA rules allow teams to take an international trip for competition every three years.

The MIAC announced yesterday that St. Thomas has won the Men’s and Women’s All-Sports Competition for the past school year. It’s the 11th consecutive year the Tommies have been No. 1 in overall MIAC competition for both genders.

Customers at St. Paul Saints games are alert for Bill Murray sightings. The comedian and actor doesn’t live in Minnesota but is sometimes spotted at CHS Field watching the team he is part owner of. Mike Veeck, also a Saints owner, said Murray doesn’t have “handlers” and fans “absolutely love him because he is so approachable and they can get autographs. They feel the relationship with him.”

The Twins, 22-30 on the season, aren’t winning close games. Last night they lost 9-8 to the Central Division first place Indians. Minnesota, 6.5 games behind the Indians, has seen 11 of its last 12 games decided by three runs or fewer, and has a 3-8 record in those games.

Miguel Sano, who hit a game-tying home run in the seventh inning, had three RBI last night—the most he’s had this season.

Cheryl Reeve, the Lynx coach who has led her team to four WNBA titles, was quoted extensively in a May 27 New York Times article while analyzing a Western Conference NBA finals game between the Warriors and Rockets. She is a fan of Golden State forward-center Draymond Green. “There’s just an element to the way he plays,” Reeve told the Times.

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Age in Footrace with CB Newman

Posted on May 1, 2018May 1, 2018 by David Shama

A Tuesday notes column including a former teammate’s perspective on ageless Terence Newman, and speculation about who the state’s most coveted 2019 prep football recruit will choose for college tonight.

That was no golden parachute the Vikings gave the 39-year-old cornerback Newman by re-signing him. He started seven of 16 regular season games last year, and could even be a regular again.

“Oh, for sure,” said Ben Leber. “There’s definitely a little bit of a step that he’s lost, but he’s still better than 80 percent of the rookies and the young guys out there.”

Leber, the retired Vikings’ linebacker who provides analysis during team radio broadcasts, played with Newman at Kansas State where the former Wildcat was also a track star. Leber estimates his former teammate still has “90 percent” of his top football speed.

Newman’s 15 years of experience allows him to mentor other defensive backs, and to use his knowledge most effectively for his own benefit. “His mind is invaluable as far as leadership…(he also) puts himself in the right position,” Leber said. “You watch the way he plays the game now. He’s so precise with his angles. He knows exactly where the receivers are going to end up.”

Newman is returning for his fourth season with Minnesota. He has the most career interceptions (42) among active NFL players and is the oldest active defensive player in the league. He has participated in 47 games with the Vikings, making 33 starts.

It wouldn’t surprise Leber if the Vikings and Newman agree on another contract a year from now. He describes Newman as “a machine,” while acknowledging people may kid the veteran about playing at such an advanced age.

“If you’re 39 going on 40 and you still have sweet hips like he does, no, you’re not old,” Leber said. “It’s fun to rib him about it because it just doesn’t happen in our league. But he’s definitely put himself in position to earn that, keep doing it and to keep collecting checks—and to keep chasing that (first Super Bowl) championship.”

Sounds like Edina’s Quinn Carroll will announce Notre Dame as his college choice tonight on KARE 11. The offensive tackle is among the most sought after prep players in the country for the class of 2019 and he has shown considerable interest in the Golden Gophers, but I will be surprised if Carroll doesn’t verbally commit to the Fighting Irish during the 10 p.m. newscast of the Minneapolis NBC affiliate.

“I would be absolutely flabbergasted if it’s not the Notre Dame Fighting Irish,” said Ryan Burns of GopherIllustrated.com. “They’ve been the consensus favorite here for many months.”

Burns believes Notre Dame’s football prestige and the Catholic focus of the school favors an ultimate commitment for the Irish. “It also doesn’t hurt that Notre Dame just had two offensive linemen go in the top nine picks of the NFL Draft, while Minnesota hasn’t had an offensive lineman drafted since 2006,” Burns said.

Carroll’s dad, Jay, was a tight end for the Gophers and named the team’s Outstanding Offensive Player in 1983. Burns estimates the younger Carroll has visited the Minnesota campus more than 10 times since Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck was hired in January of 2017. “It’s not every day you see a guy keep coming back to campus…and not end up choosing the University of Minnesota,” Burns said about so many unofficial visits.

Burns predicts the Gophers will finish as Carroll’s No. 2 choice. As of late the Gophers have been “bridesmaids” on high profile recruits including Council Bluffs, Iowa quarterback Max Duggan who chose TCU.

Fleck received good news recently when the NCAA granted medical redshirts to two of his more promising young players. Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and wide receiver Demetrius Douglas, both 19, have been given additional eligibility following injuries last season. Winfield will be a redshirt sophomore next season, and Douglas a redshirt freshman.

Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said at Sunday’s Minnesota Football Honors Awards that coach Mike Zimmer wanted to use the team’s first round draft choice on an offensive tackle but Spielman and the scouting department opted for cornerback Mike Hughes.

Jake Wieneke, the free agent wide receiver from Maple Grove signed after the NFL Draft by the Vikings, prompts comparisons with Adam Thielen but Wieneke had a much more impressive college career. Wieneke was named to All-America teams all four seasons at South Dakota State and is the Missouri Valley Conference’s all-time leader in career receptions and receiving yards. Detroit Lakes native Thielen, who was signed as a free agent by the Vikings in 2013, has become one of the NFL’s better wide receivers but in college at Minnesota State his highest honor was being named All-Northern Sun Conference South Division as a senior.

A source close to the Wild told Sports Headliners there probably isn’t anyone within the organization that will fit the candidate pool to possibly become owner Craig Leipold’s next general manager.

Former North Star and ex-Tampa Bay GM Brian Lawton is interested in the position. He said on WCCO Radio’s “Sports Huddle” on Sunday that he has spoken with Leipold.

Former Sharks and Kings executive Dean Lombardi, with ties to the old North Stars, might be another name to follow.

While Wild GM Chuck Fletcher was let go last week, it appears head coach Bruce Boudreau will return for a third season. No NHL coaches were fired during the regular season for the first time since the 1960s.

Kevin Gorg, the Fox Sports North reporter on Wild and Twins games, will be sharing his wagering expertise again this year at Canterbury Park which opens for live racing Friday. He’s sold a $2 tip sheet at the Shakopee racetrack for years.

Not a good start for new Twins pitching coach Garvin Alston whose staff has an American League second worst ERA of 5.29. Dating back to last Friday’s first game of the homestand, the Twins have given up 30 runs in four games.

The inaugural Cretin-Derham Hall Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet will be May 17 at the University of St. Thomas. Matt Birk, Joe Mauer and Chris Weinke are among those who will be inducted.

Early birthday wishes: Lynx point guard and Gopher women’s basketball coach Lindsay Whalen turns 36 on May 9.

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