Gophers Hockey – Page 30 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Gap Widens with Gophers & Pro Rivals

Posted on November 3, 2016November 3, 2016 by David Shama

With two home dates remaining, it looks like average Gophers attendance per game could be the lowest since the team began playing at TCF Bank Stadium in 2009.

For five games the average attendance is 45,140. The lowest average for a season at TCF is 46,637 for seven games in 2012.

Last month the athletic department reported a decline of about 19 percent in the sale of nonstudent football season tickets from 2015, and a fall off in student sales too. Obviously single game sales have been slow as well. The Gophers didn’t even sell out their rivalry game with Iowa, announcing an attendance of 49,145.

Not only have their been no sellouts this season in the 50,805 seat stadium, but many of the best seats have been unoccupied for all games—even though customers paid premium prices for them.

The TCF Bank Stadium attendance problem highlights the lack of fan interest regarding the high profile programs of football, basketball and hockey at the University of Minnesota. Those three sports have been trending down in public popularity. They are positioned less favorably when compared to their professional counterparts than at any time in memory—certainly dating back to the start of the millennium when the NHL expansion Minnesota Wild joined the Timberwolves, Twins and Vikings as pro franchises in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

This fall the Vikings, Timberwolves and Wild are far outdistancing the Gophers in ticket buyers and general interest from Minnesota sports fans. The gap between the Vikings and Gophers has been in place for decades but a 5-0 start to the season and the opening of spectacular U.S. Bank Stadium widened the difference between the two products. The perception of the Gophers is that they have both an unproven coach and team that is playing a soft schedule following last year’s disappointing 2-6 Big Ten record.

Back in the 1980s Gophers basketball had TV ratings rivaling or surpass any team in town except for the Vikings. The Gophers were riding high with the public through much of the 1990s, too, until the academic fraud scandal eroded confidence and interest by the public. The program and attendance have been in decline for years. Minnesota has finished better than .500 in Big Ten games only twice since 2000 and earned just four trips to the NCAA Tournament during that period. Minnesota was 2-16 in Big Ten games last season, the worst record in program history. Sellout crowds used to be the norm for Big Ten games but now are rare at 14,625 seat Williams Arena.

The media is predicting the Gophers will finish toward the bottom of the Big Ten standings again, while the Timberwolves are forecast to be the NBA’s most improved team. The Wolves have a roster of exciting young talent led by Tom Thibodeau, a first-year coach here but long considered one of the best in pro basketball.

The Wild is off to a fast start after years of playoff disappointments. New coach Bruce Boudreau is an experienced NHL leader, and hockey insiders think he could be the franchise’s best coach since Jacques Lemaire. A deep playoff run next spring might send the Wild’s popularity to second place in this town behind only the Vikings.

“Pride on Ice” was the Gophers hockey mantra for years. If you hear those words now they might be mostly whispered. The Gophers didn’t qualify for the NCAA Tournament last season and haven’t won a national championship since 2003. NCAA titles have long been the expectation at Minnesota but now the Gophers even have difficulty beating instate rivals like St. Cloud State who swept them last month.

Fans don’t like seeing the hockey Gophers in the Big Ten after fashioning a glory-filled past in the WCHA. This weekend old rival North Dakota comes to town for nonconference games and that will put some sparkle back in Gophers hockey. Seats that often go unused at Mariucci Arena are likely to be filled. Perhaps there is a possibility of selling standing-room only tickets for the games Friday and Saturday night in 10,000 capacity Mariucci Arena.

ND is among the top ranked teams in the country and a Gophers sweep would put momentum back in the program. Such a scenario could be a step in narrowing the gap a bit between the Wild and Gophers. That would be good news for an athletic department with plenty of work to do with its football, basketball and hockey programs.

Worth Noting

The nationally ranked Gophers volleyball program has sold about 900 more nonstudent season tickets this year than last. At a $100 per season ticket, the total this year is 1,977 versus 1,074 in 2015.

The Gophers sold out their match last week against Penn State, attracting a crowd of more than 5,000 to the Sports Pavilion. Additional home sellouts are expected against Nebraska and Wisconsin. The Gophers (18-4 overall, 10-3 in Big Ten games) drew 4,883 fans last night in a home win over Indiana.

With a 3-2 conference record and four games remaining, the football Gophers are a contender for the Big Ten’s West Division title. To be competitive later this month in games against Nebraska, Northwestern and Wisconsin, head coach Tracy Claeys may need to use quarterback Mitch Leidner more as a ball carrier. “…If that means Mitch runs it more, then that’s what we’ll do,” Claeys said.

The senior quarterback has rushed only 55 times in seven games—an average of 7.9 carries per game.

Claeys after being asked about the possible impact on recruiting for next year after winning three consecutive games this fall: “I don’t think recruits ever judge anybody on three games. It all comes down to the end of the season and relationships.”

Jerick McKinnon, the Vikings running back who missed Monday night’s game with the Bears because of an ankle injury, told Sports Headliners yesterday he will play Sunday against the Lions. He expressed frustration with his longest run this season being only for 25 yards and wants to target 50 yards or more.

McKinnon said he has “nothing but great things” to say about departing offensive coordinator Norv Turner who taught him the importance of “attention to detail” involving route running, pass protection and other aspects of football.

Vikings power running back Matt Asiata has these words tattooed on his chest: “Wherever you go, whatever you do, just be the best. Dad.”

Left tackle Jake Long, 31, who played his second game for the Vikings against the Bears after signing as a free agent, didn’t want to comment on playing next season if he is asked to return. He said, though, “I love this game.”

Vikings management decided not to sell standing-room tickets for any games during the first season at U.S. Bank Stadium. A team spokesman said the intent is to let fans and management become accustomed to the new facility, and that the standing-room ticket subject will be reviewed after this season. There are no unsold tickets for Sunday’s game with the Lions.

The Vikings and Lions play in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day. The Vikings are 5-1 in Thanksgiving Day games, and haven’t played in once since 2000 when they defeated the Cowboys. The Vikings have played all their Thanksgiving games on the road.

The Prep Bowl later this month, playing in U.S. Bank Stadium for the first time, could have total attendance of 40,000 or more. About 9,000 tickets had been sold as of earlier this week. Attendance was 24,917 last year at TCF Bank Stadium, while three years ago at the Metrodome it was 34,404.

Saint John’s head football coach Gary Fasching speaks to the CORES lunch group Thursday, November 10 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington, 1114 American Blvd. Gophers athletic director Mark Coyle is the scheduled speaker for Thursday, January 12. More information is available by contacting Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net.

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Vikings Could Even ‘Limp’ into Playoffs

Posted on October 24, 2016October 24, 2016 by David Shama

The Vikings had a dismal performance in losing to the Eagles yesterday but with a 5-1 record they are positioned to qualify for the playoffs, and possibly a repeat title in the NFC North.

Mistakes on offense and special teams resulted in the team’s first loss of the season in Philadelphia, 21-10. The Vikings’ patchwork offensive line was exploited by the Eagles—creating the possibility quarterback Sam Bradford would sustain a serious and even season-ending injury.

Sam Bradford (photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings)

Bradford is okay but perhaps the Eagles discovered something schematically other teams can use against the Vikings’ offense. Possible, but Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer would be expected to make schematic adjustments, too, and perhaps with personnel changes. Evident for certain yesterday was the Eagles played at a high level defensively. Philadelphia has given up only 23 total points in three home games this season.

A weak Bears team likely helps the Vikings to a sixth win when the two teams play next Monday night in Chicago. The 1-6 Bears have the worst record among the remaining teams on Minnesota’s schedule. The Vikings close the regular season with the Bears in Minneapolis January 1.

The Vikings also have two games remaining against the Lions (4-3), another division rival. The other opponents are the Cardinals (3-3-1), Colts (3-4), Cowboys (5-1), Jaguars (2-4), Packers (4-2) and Redskins (4-3).

With their remaining schedule (five home, five road) and superb defense, the Vikings figure to win at least five or six more times. Even playing .500 football—and the Vikings should do better than that—gives Minnesota a regular season record of 10-6 and probable spot in the playoffs. Last season the Vikings’ 11-5 record won the NFC North. In 2008 and 2012 Minnesota had 10-6 records, good enough to win the division one year and finish second the other season. The Vikings qualified for the playoffs both years. …

Former Vikings linebacker Jeff Siemon will (for a fee) sign memorabilia and pose for photos on Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. at Southtown Shopping Center in Bloomington. His appearance is part of the two-day Saturday-Sunday Triple Crown Sports Collectibles show. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. …

Gophers redshirt sophomore running back Rodney Smith was announced as the Big Ten’s Offensive player of the week this morning. He had 257 all-purpose yards in Minnesota’s win last Saturday against Rutgers. That was the most for a Gopher since Troy Stoudermire had 290 against Iowa in 2008. Highlights for Smith included a 94-yeard kickoff return for a touchdown. …

Gophers hockey coach Don Lucia didn’t bring up the subject but told Sports Headliners his uncertain contract status earlier this year cost the program at least one future recruit. He wouldn’t specify a number.

Lucia ended last season with just one more year on his contract. It was thought an extension could be finalized last spring or summer but an agreement for an additional two years wasn’t announced until earlier this month.

“I don’t know why it took so long, to be honest,” Lucia said. “Nothing changed from June when we talked, so it just took that long to get everything back from the University and get it all signed.”

When asked about the delay’s impact on recruiting, Lucia said, “It didn’t help. Let’s put it that way.”

Lucia, 58, has been leading the program since 1999 and is the Gophers’ all-time winningest coach. He is comfortable with the new contract that takes him through the 2018-2019 season. “It’s fine. It’s like anything. In some ways when you coach at this level, you’re always year to year. You do enough, and they want to keep you around. If not, they go in a different direction.

“I still love what I do. I know I am fortunate to be working here. It’s hard to believe this is my 18th year, 30th year as a head coach. It’s nice to be able to go to work and say I really enjoy what I do. I love the kids. This is a fun team to be around. They want to work.”

Lucia and other coaches in the athletic department were reporting to an interim athletic director during the past school year. That negated contract talks for Lucia until new AD Mark Coyle arrived last spring. It also impacted recruiting, although the Gophers do have multiple verbal commitments in place for next season.

Lucia is trying to get the Gophers back in the NCAA Tournament after failing to qualify last season—although Minnesota did win the Big Ten championship. The Gophers’ 6-11 nonconference record was the team’s undoing for the NCAA’s.

This season Minnesota is 2-2 in nonleague games. The Gophers won two games in Alaska against Anchorage and Fairbanks, but were swept last weekend by St. Cloud State. …

Rumors about the Timberwolves trading Tyus Jones to the Sixers makes sense for guard-desperate Philly. Jones could reunite with boyhood friend and ex-Duke teammate Jahlil Okafor.

Sports Illustrated’s NBA Preview issue predicts the Timberwolves will just miss qualifying for the playoffs, finishing ninth in the 15-team Western Conference. The magazine picks the Warriors to defeat the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.

Basketball authorities, including the NBA’s general managers, are optimistic about the Timberwolves who were 29-53 last season and haven’t qualified for the playoffs since 2004. The league’s GMs said in a survey Minnesota will be the NBA’s most improved team.

The survey named Wolves center Karl-Anthony Towns the player most general managers want to start a franchise. They also chose point guard Kris Dunn as most likely to be Rookie of the Year, and the second biggest steal in the draft. It’s a popular view Dunn, selected No. 5 overall in the first round, was the best player in the 2016 NBA Draft.

Sports Illustrated quoted an anonymous NBA scout as saying former Wolves forward Kevin Love wasn’t happy with the Cavaliers last season and likely would have been traded over the summer if the club hadn’t won the league championship in June. …

Greg Eslinger, the former Gopher All-American center inducted last week into the M Club Hall of Fame, weighed close to 300 pounds in college but has lost about 75 pounds and is running marathons. Eslinger has a sales career in Fargo.

Steve Fritz bobblehead (photo courtesy of University of St. Thomas)

Athletic director Steve Fritz is the cover subject of the current University of St. Thomas magazine. A bobblehead photo of Fritz, who coached the 2011 UST men’s basketball team to a national title, is on the cover with the headline “Steve Fritz Is the Ulitmate Tommie.” He is in his 50th school year, arriving at St. Thomas in 1967 as a student and basketball player, and after graduation staying on as an employee in various positions during his career.

Minneapolis-based Taste of the NFL founder Wayne Kostroski said via email that tickets are on sale for the 2017 event in Houston Saturday, February 4. The 26th annual party dedicated to hunger relief in America will be held at the University of Houston and be even more appealing to Minnesotans if the Vikings are playing in Houston’s Super Bowl the next day. More at Tasteofthenfl.com.

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Leidner Not in McShay’s 1st Round Now

Posted on October 5, 2016October 5, 2016 by David Shama

Todd McShay made news in Minnesota last spring when he projected Mitch Leidner as a No. 1 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. The ESPN college football authority has revised his opinion this fall.

McShay overrated the Gophers senior quarterback and no longer projects him as a first round draft choice. Last month a Sports Headliners reader told me he heard McShay on ESPN Radio in September predict Leidner as a possible fifth rounder in 2017.

Leidner hadn’t dazzled during his junior season at Minnesota but did show improvement in final games. He ranked 10th in Big Ten efficiency among passers, with a rating of 121.2. In 13 games he completed 59.5 percent of his passes and threw 14 touchdown passes. But in early May McShay wrote that the 6-4, 230-pound Minnesota native had “ideal size” for a quarterback, and labeled him a “late riser.”

McShay used a disclaimer in his “Way-too-Early NFL 2017 Mock Draft”, writing on the ESPN website that he hadn’t “studied tape” on the players he projected 1-32. In fairness to McShay he had just finished his assignments with the recently completed 2016 draft.

In his May 5 article this spring McShay had two quarterbacks, Deshaun Watson from Clemson, and Brad Kaaya of Miami, projected as the first two picks in next year’s draft. Leidner, projected as the No. 25 pick, was the only other quarterback in McShay’s mock first round.

McShay offered a revised mock draft for ESPN late last month. The top projected quarterback was Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer at No. 18. The other first round quarterbacks were Watson at 24 and Kaaya at 30. …

It’s time for another Sports Headliners Big Ten power rankings—and Gophers fans should brace themselves. Minnesota is no longer deserving of the No. 7 listing in the last rankings of 14 conference teams. Not after an unimpressive 3-0 nonconference start and last Saturday’s 29-26 loss to Penn State in Minnesota’s league opening game.

It’s far from a perfect process comparing scores, but the Gophers didn’t earn any bragging rights last Saturday when a couple of interesting scores from out West became finals. Wyoming, with a 3-2 record, defeated Colorado State 38-7 and Colorado, 4-1, beat up on Oregon State 47-6. Minnesota, playing at home, won games against Colorado State, 2-3, and Oregon State, 1-3, by a touchdown.

Coach Tracy Claeys’ team has some strengths, including the kicking game. Placekicker Emmitt Carpenter made four field goals in the loss to PSU and is nine-for-nine in his career. He leads the Big Ten in points with 43. Punter Ryan Santoso ranks sixth in Big Ten punting with a 41.9 average and he has shown touch in booting balls inside the opposition’s 20-yard line.

Leidner’s senior experience and leadership is a major asset. Shannon Brooks, recovered from a broken foot, is one of the Big Ten’s most explosive running backs. Defensive tackle Steven Richardson has been called “unblockable” by a rival coach. But this team has issues including an inconsistent offensive line that too often can’t open holes for runners like Brooks, and is flagged for false starts and holding. The defense is vulnerable to big plays because of mistakes in the secondary and not enough pass rush.

Put the Gophers at No. 11 in the power rankings. Ohio State is an easy choice for No. 1. It’s not a layup, though, to rank Michigan No. 2 and Wisconsin third. The Wolverines won 14-7 against the Badgers last Saturday in Ann Arbor. Both teams have elite defenses, lesser offenses.

Here’s how the rest of the Big Ten teams rate: No. 4 Nebraska; No. 5 Maryland; No. 6. Northwestern; No. 7 Iowa; No. 8. Michigan State; No. 9 Penn State; No. 10. Indiana; No. 11 Minnesota; No. 12 Illinois; No. 13 Rutgers; and No. 14 Purdue. …

The Gophers hockey team opens its season with Alaska-Anchorage in Anchorage on Friday and Sunday. Minnesota goalie Eric Schierhorn is from Anchorage and his parents will host a dinner in their home for the Gophers travel group on Saturday night.

The nonconference game against Alaska-Anchorage is likely to be Minnesota’s last with the Seawolves. Budget cuts in the Alaska university system may end the men’s college hockey programs at Alaska-Anchorage and Alaska-Fairbanks. A source said the hockey programs account for about five percent of the university system’s budget.

Eden Prairie forward Casey Mittelstadt, who is expected to sign with the Gophers in November, is highlighted by NHL Central Scouting as a player to watch in rankings released earlier this week. He received an A rating. …

Vikings rookie wide receiver and 2016 No. 1 draft choice Laquon Treadwell has only been on the field for a few plays through four regular season games but receivers coach George Stewart has a message for worrisome fans. Don’t fret because the Vikings like what they see of the 21-year-old who was the 23rd pick in last spring’s draft.

“He is fine. He is a smart kid,” Stewart told Sports Headliners. “The problem is Rick Spielman, our GM, has assembled a lot of talent (among receivers) in that room.

“He’s a rookie. Just because you are a first round pick, doesn’t guarantee you’re going to come in and play. He’s the future of our football team. We have a lot of guys right now that are playing at a high level (like)—Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. We just have one football now, too. …It’s hard to spread that thing around.”

Treadwell, 6-2 and 215 pounds, has yet to catch a pass in a game and part of his very limited playing time has been on the punt coverage team. Stewart praised Treadwell’s attitude and willingness to work.

He said Treadwell’s limited game action shouldn’t be interpreted as the Vikings being disappointed in the former Ole Miss star who gave up his final season of college football to enter the draft. Treadwell, Stewart explained, is getting a how-to on life in the NFL as a receiver including adjusting to a different offense than the one he knew in college and learning about defensive coverages.

Could Treadwell some day be a Pro Bowler? Achieving that honor will have a lot to do with desire, and Stewart talked about how Thielen has progressed from an undrafted free agent to a playmaker for the Vikings. “…If you would have told me that Adam Thielen from Minnesota State would be the player he is four years ago I wouldn’t have said so. It’s the want-to. He (Treadwell) has to want to. So hopefully if that’s a goal of his, hopefully he gets a chance to attain it.”

Treadwell broke his leg as a junior at Ole Miss and it’s a fair question to ask if that has diminished his speed. NFL.com reported that Treadwell ran a 4.63 40-yard dash at his Pro Day before the draft last spring. Stewart said the Vikings weren’t concerned about Treadwell’s speed when they chose him and aren’t now. “I believe it’s healed now because he’s out doing good things,” Stewart said.

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