P.J. FLECK – Page 84 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Rhoda Leadership Key to U Success

Posted on September 15, 2017September 15, 2017 by David Shama

For a young man who could have been in the early months of a medical sales career this fall, Connor Rhoda is sure important to the Gophers.

Rhoda had earned his undergraduate degree in business and marketing education last winter, and planned to give up his last season of eligibility, figuring he didn’t fit into the plans of head coach Tracy Claeys and his assistants. The former walk-on was a “week away” from looking for a job and targeting a career in medical sales and management when P.J. Fleck was hired as head coach and let it be known he wanted to meet with him.

Rhoda’s playing time had been minimal through last season, including just one career start. But Fleck wanted him to compete for the starting job and Rhoda has made good on the opportunity, winning the assignment from redshirt sophomore Demry Croft while helping the Gophers to a 2-0 start.

Fleck demands his quarterbacks be leaders. Rhoda said the leadership role extends to the whole team, not just the offense. He has tried to “immerse” himself with everyone, even support staff in the office, and show the confidence of a leader.

Fleck said Rhoda is an “incredible story” and his leadership has separated him from the other quarterbacks that include Croft who won’t play tomorrow. Croft is facing an off-field issue. “I’ve said this before—year zero—the culture is the first thing in everything we do and if you can’t abide by the culture, then you’re not going to play,” Fleck said.

Croft competed for the starting job last spring and into the season but isn’t the leader and game manager that Rhoda is. Anticipation about Croft has been a focus for Gophers fans since coach Jerry Kill signed him to a Letter of Intent in 2015 and referred to him as a recruiting “steal.”

Kill said he was blessed to sign Croft and Gophers fans hoped he would unseat Mitch Leidner as quarterback in the fall of 2015. Croft, though, was ineffective in three games that season and redshirted last year.

Redshirt freshman Seth Green will play tomorrow if Rhoda is injured in the game. Green might emerge some day as the Minnesota starter but a source close to the program said he wouldn’t be surprised if the athletic 6-4, 229-pound Minnesota native eventually becomes a college tight end.

The quarterback of the future could be true freshman Tanner Morgan who Fleck is planning to redshirt. Another candidate might be left-handed dual-threat quarterback Brennan Armstrong from Shelby, Ohio. The high school senior has verbally committed to the Gophers and could be labeled a four-star recruit by next February when he can sign his Letter of Intent.

Of interest to Fleck tomorrow is Middle Tennessee quarterback Brent Stockstill. He is considered one of the better passing quarterbacks in the country but Fleck was quick to mention something else about him.

“This kid, by far…he’s just one of the toughest quarterbacks I’ve ever played against, I’ve ever coached against,” Fleck said. “I got a chance (at Western Michigan) to coach against him two years ago in the Bahamas Bowl and when you watch that film, that team is extremely tough. Every one of them.

“Why? Because their quarterback is the toughest guy on the field. He’s one of the best passers we’ll face all year, one of the most accurate guys we’ll face all year… and the whole team responds to him.”

The 1-1 Blue Raiders, from Conference USA, are playing their third consecutive Power Five team to begin the season. They lost their opening game at home to Vanderbilt, 28-6, but on the road last Saturday defeated Syracuse 30-23.

Worth Noting

Rhoda stays in communication with Leidner. ”He’s happy for me,” Rhoda said. “Obviously, we’ve had a lot of experiences together and…I respect the hell out of him.”

Former Gopher football player Richard Humleker will receive the Minnetonka Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award tomorrow morning during a program at Minnetonka High School. Humleker is a long-time employee and leader for The Center of Discovery that assists people with disabilities.

The Vikings will deal with future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh on Sunday. What makes the 35-year-old Roethlisberger difficult for a defense? “His ability to extend plays,” said Vikings linebacker Ben Gedeon. “He gets outside of the pocket, he can break tackles and make a potential sack play into a long gain play. So we’re going to have to be cognizant of that, and (be) on our ‘A’ game, no doubt.”

Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford can’t run like Roethlisberger but his throwing accuracy was superb last Monday night in the team’s opening win against the Saints. He completed 27 of 32 passes and threw three touchdown passes, and set a career passer rating record, 143.0.

“The guy the world saw on Monday is the guy we get to see everyday in practice,” said Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph. “He’s as accurate as anyone I’ve ever been around. …”

Vikings rookie running back Dalvin Cook impressed a lot of observers in his regular season debut, rushing for 127 yards against the Saints. “…Made a lot of guys miss some tackles, and then he had the ability to show his speed,” said veteran Vikings running back Latavius Murray. “He’s very special. Really, I think everybody just got a taste of what he’s capable of doing.”

Nate Davis of USA Today ranks the Steelers No. 5 and the Vikings No. 15 in his NFL power rankings. The Star Tribune’s Mark Craig ranks the Vikings No. 7 and Steelers No. 15. Both writers rank the Chiefs No. 1.

To avoid slow commutes on 494 look for Vikings players to relocate closer to Eagan next year when the organization moves its headquarters from Eden Prairie. Players, including former quarterback Brett Favre, have long rented or owned living space in Eden Prairie and other southwest and southern suburbs because of proximity to Winter Park, but that changes in 2018 when the organization moves into a state-of-the-art complex in Eagan.

The Twins, who defeated the Blue Jays last night in 10 innings, have 34 come-from-behind wins this season. Byron Buxton, who won the game with his 15th home run of the year, has 10 home runs in his last 31 games.

The Indians’ win streak of 22 games enhances Derek Falvey’s reputation as a talent evaluator. The Twins chief baseball officer was assistant general manager for the Indians before joining Minnesota last fall.

Mike Max has no plans to bring back “The Sports Show,” the popular local Sunday night program that went off the air in 2016.

Coach Hugh McCutcheon said having his Gophers volleyball team ranked No. 1 in the country is “good for our marketing department” and validates the program’s success. The Gophers play in the Boise State Tournament today.

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U, Fleck Raise Bar at Oregon State

Posted on September 11, 2017September 11, 2017 by David Shama

Impressions and memories of the Gophers and the state of Oregon after a trip west last week that included watching Minnesota’s dominant win Saturday night over Oregon State.

Great coaches make a difference, even in the early games of first seasons at their new schools. Let’s not rush to tag Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck with greatness, but after two games he and his staff deserve continued review with a hopeful perspective.

The Gophers had a great coach in Lou Holtz, who led the program in 1984 and 1985. He inherited inferior Big Ten talent from the previous coaching staff when he arrived in Minneapolis. In 1983 Minnesota’s record was 1-10 including an embarrassment for the ages against Nebraska. That 84-13 defeat was part of a humiliating season when opponents outscored the Gophers 518 to 181.

Using plenty of hold-over personnel, Holtz and his assistants changed schemes but mostly willed and demanded Minnesota to a 4-7 overall record in 1984. The Gophers became fundamentally sound and stopped crucifying themselves with mistakes. The players did as they were told, and Minnesota went from the dark side to a promising future during a season when they won three Big Ten games after being winless in the conference the prior year.

In Corvallis Saturday night the Gophers won 48-14 but their personnel isn’t 34 points better than Oregon State’s—especially on the Beavers home field. Minnesota made a few errors but other than quarterback Demry Croft’s fumble inside the Gopher 20 yard line, mistakes weren’t alarming against Oregon State, a Pac-12 team Minnesota struggled with in Minneapolis last season, winning 30-23.

The now 2-0 Gophers were fundamentally solid on offense, defense and special teams. Just as important, Minnesota played with energy. The Gophers followed the lead of their emotionally-charged 36-year-old coach who sprints on and off the field. The athletic Fleck even made a nice catch of an errant Beaver pass.

Despite a roster of young players that ranks among the more inexperienced in the nation, the Gophers played with poise Saturday evening as Fleck became the first Minnesota coach to win his first road game since Murray Warmath in 1954. Fleck is also the first since Warmath to win his initial two games at Minnesota.

The Beavers narrowed the score to 20-14 at halftime after Minnesota jumped to a 17-0 lead. The Gophers didn’t let an enthusiastic crowd, Beaver comeback, or even the sound of a chainsaw on steroids deter them from their work in the second half.

Minnesota got its anticipated rushing game going after a disappointing first game with Buffalo in Minneapolis. Minnesota stayed with the run in the second half and the Gophers pounded their way to 28 second half points. Junior rushers Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks totaled 92 and 91 yards respectively for the game.

The defense hit with force, causing fumbles leading to points Saturday night. At times, the Gophers cornerbacks struggled, but the pass defense improved as the game wore on. Minnesota held Oregon State to only 80 yards rushing and 140 passing for the game.

The Gophers had a game plan, stayed with their fundamentals, and willed themselves to a surprising performance against a struggling Oregon State team that is 1-2, and giving up an average of 46 points per game.

Nobody is saying Fleck’s staff and players are going to be the Big 10 surprise team of the year, but this group deserves scrutiny as the weeks progress. More often than not, great coaches impress in the first year at a new program—even if the signs are subtle and the results modest. Those who saw Holtz’s magic show know that.

Unlike Holtz, Fleck inherited a solid program that had a 9-4 team last year. His job is much easier than Holtz signed on for, but despite improvement in recent years the Gophers have struggled to play above .500 in Big Ten games and have yet to win a conference title since 1967. Let’s see where Fleck and his “boat” are headed in the next 10 weeks including Saturday at home in their final nonconference game against Middle Tennessee State.

Streets in Oregon included a few folks wearing maroon and gold last week. The landscape, though, was more a “sea of red,” with an estimated 5,000 Cornhuskers fans in the state for Saturday’s Nebraska-Oregon game in Eugene, the town south of Portland and Corvallis.

Two Cornhuskers fans encountered on a shuttle to the airport were Nebraska-nice Sunday morning. They praised the hospitality of Oregonians while contrasting them to not so warm welcomes at other stadiums where they said Cornhusker fans have been on the receiving end of snow balls at Michigan, oranges at Miami, and beer cans at Missouri.

On the flight last week to Portland from Minneapolis was former Gophers linebacker Gary Reierson who played for the legendary Warmath. He chuckled at the remembrance of how stubborn the Gophers national championship coach could be.

Reierson also recalled how the man known for his defensive coaching fame arrived at a college football all-star game as an assistant but ended up taking charge of the North team’s offense.

Here is a final but appreciative close: Thank you to my wife’s brother Phil and sister-in-law Carole for hosting us for four nights and five days in Portland. Give Phil a game ball from last Saturday for going to Corvallis, despite recent foot surgeries and being confined to a wheelchair. Maybe that’s where the Gophers found part of their inspiration.

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U Football Fate Looks Tied to Offense

Posted on September 1, 2017September 1, 2017 by David Shama

A Friday notes column with emphasis on last night’s opening nonconference win by the Gophers over Buffalo.

The Gophers have new coaches and quarterbacks but their defensive pedigree is still in place. The success of the Jerry Kill–Tracy Claeys coaching era from 2011 through last season was built on defense, often coming to the rescue of a sputtering offense with quarterback issues.

Minnesota was nearly a four touchdown favorite to defeat Buffalo but could only produce three points after a 14 point first quarter in coach P.J. Fleck’s debut game. Buffalo looked like an improved team after last season’s 2-10 record and had the best quarterback on the field in Tyree Jackson, but the Gophers should have done more offensively in their 17-7 win.

Minnesota’s offensive line was unimpressive and if they couldn’t push around a Mid-American Conference team, what lies ahead against Big Ten rivals, or even next week at Oregon State? Running the ball is supposed to be the Gophers’ strength but last night they had 239 yards passing and only 180 rushing.

The Gophers had a chance to go up 21-7 at halftime when redshirt senior quarterback Conor Rhoda threw an interception in the Bulls’ end zone late in the second quarter. After the game Fleck called it a “catastrophic mistake.”

Rhoda said the Bulls gave him an unexpected defensive look and that the error is something he can learn from. The emotional pain of the play was just the opposite of what he felt in the first quarter when he threw a 61-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Tyler Johnson.

Rhoda, a 22-year-old senior who Fleck had talked out of quitting football after last season, had never started a game before at home and it was the second touchdown pass of his career. The former Cretin-Derham Hall quarterback said he had a “ton of family” at the game and the touchdown pass was a fulfilling moment. His only other college career start was last season at Maryland when he also threw a touchdown pass.

After the game Fleck indicated the alternating quarterback system using both Rhoda and redshirt sophomore Demry Croft will continue.

Johnson caught six passes for 141 yards. He and another sophomore, safety Antoine Winfield Jr., were two of Minnesota’s biggest playmakers last night. Winfield knocked a ball away in the first half that might have gone for a Buffalo touchdown. He also blocked a field goal attempt and had five solo tackles, and assisted with two others. “That kid loves football,” Fleck said.

Winfield came into the game with the reputation of being an exceptional player on a promising defense. That unit held the Bulls to 61 yards rushing and 211 passing. Even though the score was close in the second half, the Gophers seemed likely to win because of the defense.

The sluggish offense, though, did little to dispel the preseason predictions Minnesota will have challenges scoring and the team will produce a mediocre season. Pick a record like 5-7, 6-6 or maybe 7-5. It’s only one game after last night, but so far expectations haven’t changed.

Announced attendance was 43,224 but there weren’t nearly that many fans in TCF Bank Stadium. Empty seats between the goal lines were numerous including some on the 50-yard line.

The Gophers are working to improve the fan experience at games. At the McNamara Alumni Center late yesterday afternoon food and beverage items were on sale, but “I’m a Fleck Fan” hats were free.

A person with the Bulls’ travel party said Buffalo draws about 20,000 fans per game, with a public season ticket base of around 10,000.

Fleck said the value is “priceless” of the reality TV series that is airing this summer about he and his family. During the month of August the NCAA doesn’t allow the recruiting of high school players, so the show placed attention on Fleck and his program in a way rivals couldn’t match. The series “Being P.J. Fleck” aired more than 100 times on ESPNU, ESPN2 and BTN prior to the end of August.

“…There was one team that wasn’t dead on national television in August and that was the University of Minnesota, four times for 30 minutes in people’s living rooms,” Fleck said. “You make sure people know that we’re going to be on TV at this time, and now dad, mom, brother, sister, uncle, (and) recruits are sitting in that room watching it while no one else can really have the contact with them.”

Fleck said the value of the series extended beyond recruiting. He heard from people who had been part of his life more than 10 years ago, and was also contacted by strangers. Some people shared stories about illness and the loss of relatives.

“…They say how you’ve influenced their life,” Fleck said. “That’s more than (the importance of) any money, that’s more than any win. That’s more than anything, and that’s the purpose of having the show is to make sure that our culture gets out to as many people as it possibly can, to serve and give through television.”

University of Minnesota alum and New York Times best selling author Harvey Mackay counted the late Muhammad Ali among his close friends. Mackay leaves for Rome next week to participate in the “Celebrity Fight Night” charity effort that Ali headlined for years with other celebrities. Among the events over several days will be a concert at the Roman Coliseum with Andrea Bocelli, Elton John and other entertainers.

Mackay played golf for the Gophers and coach Les Bolstad. He remembers Bolstad as being among the influential mentors in his life.

Glenn Caruso (photo courtesy of University of St. Thomas)

Glenn Caruso will pursue his 100th win as St. Thomas football coach when the Tommies open the season at home tomorrow against the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. His overall record is 99-15, including 59-5 at home and 17-7 in the NCAA playoffs.

The Tommies are ranked No. 5 in the Division3football.com preseason national poll. MIAC rival Saint John’s is No. 10.

Fans at tonight’s Twins-Royals game will see a video tribute to Joe Nathan who meets with media this afternoon to announce his official retirement from baseball. Among the franchise’s greatest closers ever, Nathan came to the Twins in November of 2003 in a trade with the Giants. It was a terrific deal for the Twins. The Giants received catcher A.J. Pierzynski and cash, while the Twins added Nathan, Francisco Liriano and Boof Bonser.

The August 28 issue of Sports Illustrated lists the top NFL broadcasting teams and ranks former Timberwolves play-by-play man Kevin Harlan No. 5 along with his TV partner Rich Gannon, the former Vikings quarterback. “Best pipes in all of broadcasting,” S.I. wrote about Harlan.

The No. 1 pair in the listings is NBC’s Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth.

Big Ten Basketball Media Day, including the Gophers Richard Pitino and the Big Ten Conference’s other 13 coaches, will be held for the first time ever in New York’s famous Madison Square Garden on October 19.

The NHL Centennial Fan Arena, honoring 100 years of teams, players, and other memories in the National Hockey League, is travelling to various markets and will be at the Minnesota State Fair today through Monday. The Stanley Cup will be on display from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today as part of the centennial celebration, plus Minnesota Wild players Tyler Ennis and Jared Spurgeon will sign autographs from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m..

The NHL Centennial Fan Arena location is Expo Place at the corner of Cooper Street and Murphy Avenue on the northern end of the Fairgrounds, near Gate 2. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The attraction is free with paid admission to the State Fair.

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