Golden Gophers – Page 124 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

U Regent Wants to Revive Programs

Posted on December 16, 2020December 16, 2020 by David Shama

Board of regent member Michael Hsu proposes giving about $1.2 million in University of Minnesota borrowed money next year to the Gopher men’s gymnastics, tennis, and indoor track and field programs, allowing them to continue for the 2021-2022 school year.

The regents received a report stating the U likely needs to borrow about $82 million sometime next year because of the pandemic and its adverse effects on revenues. Hsu suggested at a recent regents meeting that the $82 million be increased to $83.2 million, with the additional sum providing a short term fix for the above mentioned sports. “Give everybody a chance to kind of figure things out and see if there is any way to continue these sports using outside money,” Hsu told Sports Headliners.

In October the regents voted 7-5 to eliminate the three sports at the end of the fiscal year in June as a cost savings to the Gopher Athletic Department. Critics have scoffed at the less than $2 million amount in annual savings that will be realized, but athletic director Mark Coyle has said Title IX issues also dictated the decision. Program boosters have held protests, generated fundraising ideas and used the media to plead their case, with gymnastics coach Mike Burns even appearing nationally on the “60 Minutes” TV program.

Hsu was planting an idea with the suggestion to provide funding for the programs facing elimination. “I am not expecting a (University system) loan amount to be known until May or June timeframe, but we have several meetings before that and it may come up in some fashion. …I don’t think we’ll be acting on any loan until closer to the end of the fiscal year,” Hsu said.

Hsu also said it’s anticipated U is facing about $166 million in budget shortfall by fiscal year end. Therefore, there would be a need to source outside money via a loan, or perhaps sale of bonds, to make up for a lot of the shortfall. Hsu and others predict a significant portion of an $82 million loan would be given to the Gophers’ Athletic Department.

Earlier in the year Coyle projected a worse case revenue shortfall of $75 million for this school year. Since then one major development has been that despite the pandemic, Big Ten teams including the Gophers have been able to play a fall season and generate significant TV revenues.

Hsu doesn’t have the figures on TV revenue, or other current specific athletic department revenue and expense data, but he guesstimates the Gophers’ Athletic Department may need $40 million of the U’s borrowed money. “Let’s be clear. That is a Michael Hsu estimate—that is likely not to be right.”

Worth Noting

St. Paul Saints owner Mike Veeck told Sports Headliners he expects ticket and concession prices to remain the same next season, despite his franchise losing $1 million this year and elevating from Independent to Triple-A status in 2021.

The Saints will be a farm club of the Minnesota Twins, with officials of the big league team assuring the creative Veeck his franchise can continue its famous promotions that characterized the fan experience in St. Paul for more than 25 years. Veeck also said he will be interested to see the direction of Independent Baseball in coming years and could be interested in acquiring a franchise.

A financial victim of the pandemic, the Harold’s Cabin restaurant in Charleston owned by Veeck has closed.

Gophers football fans were wondering who No. 48 was last Saturday when Minnesota defeated Nebraska, 24-21. Redshirt senior Anders Gelecinskyj from Bloomington Kennedy, by way of Minnesota State, kicked one field goal and three extra points in his Gopher debut while subbing for regular kicker Michael Lantz who is out for the season.

On the KFAN Radio post game show Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck acknowledged his new kicker, who despite being on the team for two-plus seasons had never appeared in a game. Then Fleck told a story about Gelecinskyj giving him a gift awhile ago that is popular in the Gelecinskyj family. On Fleck’s desk sits a hollowed out egg painted in German colors.

Fleck talking about his defense that played its best game of the season in defeating Nebraska: “We knew we were going to be younger on defense, and nobody predicted COVID. Then you don’t get the spring ball and summer to develop them (young players). They’re thrown into play with a few weeks of preparation.”

Avante Dickerson, the Omaha cornerback who was the 247Sports composite top ranked Gopher verbal commit, will not sign with Minnesota today on National Signing Day and is delaying his National Letter of Intent commitment until February.

Much maligned Kirk Cousins has thrown 83 touchdown passes since joining the Vikings in 2018. That is tied for fourth best in the NFL with Tom Brady, and trailing Patrick Mahomes (109), Russell Wilson (104) and Aaron Rodgers (90).

Saint John’s coach Gary Fasching told Sports Headliners he is hopeful MIAC football teams will play a spring schedule starting in April. He said it’s likely a four-game Johnnies schedule will include a game against historic rival St. Thomas before the Tommies depart the MIAC next fall for the Pioneer Football League. The matchup was scheduled last fall for U.S. Bank Stadium where Fasching was told the attendance might reach 50,000.

A game next spring with the Tommies would likely be hosted by Saint John’s without spectators. The Johnnies have made a MIAC record six consecutive NCAA playoff appearances dating back to 2014.

Fasching reported that offensive tackle Ben Bartch, the former Saint John’s star drafted in the fourth round this spring by the Jacksonville Jaguars, made his first NFL start last Sunday. “He graded out very well,” Fasching said. “They are really excited with him.”

SI.com points out the Timberwolves Ricky Rubio, playing last year for the Phoenix Suns, made the top 10 in “ESPN’s real plus-minus statistic for point guards.” He is a top 100 player in the NBA, according to SI.com, which ranks him No. 82.

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U Recruiting: Trending to Top 25 Class

Posted on December 14, 2020December 14, 2020 by David Shama

University of Minnesota football recruiting authority Ryan Burns believes Wednesday’s national Signing Day will be special for the Golden Gophers.

Burns is publisher of the popular GopherIllustrated.com website affiliated with 247Sports. In the latest 247Sports major college recruiting rankings for the class of 2021 Minnesota is No. 22. The rankings are not to be confused with the 247 composite rankings that average out multiple recruiting sources and have Minnesota at No. 26 nationally.

The Gophers’ class expected to sign Letters of Intent Wednesday totals 18. “They have seven four-star commits as of today on 247Sports, which would be the highest number of four-stars that Minnesota has signed in the Internet era,” Burns told Sports Headliners today.

The highest ranked of the four-star players by 247Sports is Omaha cornerback Avante Dickerson, the No. 1 senior in the state of Nebraska. He is also the highest ranked Gopher recruit since Washburn running back Jeff Jones committed to Minnesota in 2014. “He (Dickerson) is everything athletically you would ever want in a corner,” Burns said earlier this year.

Burns expects all of Minnesota’s verbal commits to sign on Wednesday, including Dickerson who is the target of rumors he might not become a Gopher. “I think some of that is fabricated on the Nebraska end because they know what it looks like for that type of kid to go elsewhere,” Burns said. “I do think there is some smoke there but I will tell you what I have told people for weeks and months now. I expect Avante Dickerson to sign with Minnesota in 48 hours.”

The six other four-stars recruited by head coach P.J. Fleck and his staff are: defensive end Deven Eastern, Shakopee; running back Mar’Keise Irving, Country Club Hills, Illinois; offensive tackle Cameron James, Chicago; quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, Antioch, Illinois; cornerback Steven Ortiz, Goodyear, Arizona; and defensive tackle Jacob Schuster, Washington.

The total of four-star players could reach eight before Wednesday night. Davon Townley, the defensive end from Minneapolis North High School, is a coveted four-star who the Gophers want as part of their 2021 recruiting class.

“I don’t know what that kid is going to do,” Burns said. “If you put a gun to my head, I would say Minnesota or Arizona State (for his college choice). But there’s a lot of things that have to be figured out on Davon Townley’s end in the next 48 hours or so if he’s going to be able to sign anywhere Wednesday.”

Jaydon Hood is a four-star inside linebacker from Fort Lauderdale who is verbally committed to Michigan but his name is rumored with Minnesota. “I don’t think he is going to sign in December,” Burns said. “I think he is going to sign in February…(the second 2021 signing period).”

Burns said the Gophers “badly” want Hood but he isn’t prepared to predict Hood will flip the Wolverines for Minnesota. Hood hasn’t visited the U campus, but in this pandemic era committing to a school without seeing it isn’t unusual. Burns estimated about half of the 18 commits for 2021 haven’t been to the Minnesota campus.

Eastern is one of only two native Minnesotans in the 2021 scholarship class as currently comprised. The other is offensive tackle Logan Purcell of Annandale. Small numbers of players signing on with the Gophers has been the norm for many years. Review the recruiting lists for the Gophers dating back to 2014, for example, and you will see mostly totals of two, three, or four Minnesotans annually in the various recruiting classes.

The state is hardly a hot spot for prep football talent but there are quality players available each year, just not in large numbers. It’s not been for lack of effort by Gopher coaches that some of the state’s best preps over the years have chosen other college programs. This year the three highest ranked Minnesotans, per 247Sports, are Lakeville South offensive tackle Riley Mahlman, Eden Prairie defensive end Justice Sullivan and North’s Townley. Mahlman is headed to Wisconsin, Sullivan to Iowa.

What can reverse the trend of the Gophers losing good and even great in-state players? Rival programs Wisconsin and Iowa have been more successful in keeping talent within their borders. Burns said Wisconsin and Iowa preps stay home because those players grow up rooting for their winning teams, while Minnesotans for decades have mostly watched the Gophers be mediocre, or worse, although last year’s team earned the state’s favor with an 11-2 season.

“…You get an offer from them (Badgers or Hawkeyes), it’s why the heck would you go anywhere else? Whereas here in the state of Minnesota, it’s why the heck would you play for the Gophers? They stink.

“I think for the trend to change, the No. 1 thing that this Gopher football staff can do is…just win, and it’s not going to happen overnight. …You have to win this year and the next year and the year after that and you have to keep winning. And likely you’re going to have to do that with non-Minnesota players until the Minnesota kids can figure out maybe we should just stay here in-state and see what they can do in terms of developing me.”

James Laurinaitis from Wayzata was going to play for the Gophers and head coach Glen Mason until he changed his mind more than 15 years ago. He went on to become a three-time consensus All-American linebacker at Ohio State. By contrast the Gophers have five Minnesota natives who made All-American teams in the last 50 years.

The Gophers listed 116 players on their preseason roster, but only 36 were state natives including many walk-ons trying to earn scholarships. This year’s starters are pretty much players from beyond the state’s borders except the interior offensive line where most positions are filled by Minnesotans.

BTN will have Signing Day Big Ten Conference coverage starting at 1 p.m. Wednesday with a three-hour program.

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Veteran Chain Crew Works U Sidelines

Posted on December 8, 2020December 8, 2020 by David Shama

Mark Lundgren, 71, just finished his 20^th year as boss of the Chain Gang for University of Minnesota home football games. His position as crew chief and that of other “gang” members is not paid, but people line up to fill openings.

Opportunities are rare. Since 2000 only one Chain Crew member decided to retire while in good health. “Unless someone dies, people don’t leave,” Lundgren told Sports Headliners this week. “People really enjoy it.”

Lundgren keeps a file with names of those expressing interest but he has only added a small number of people to the crew in 20 years. Four are guys who played for Lundgren when he was head football coach at Golden Valley High School decades ago. One of them is Brian Cosgriff, the former Hopkins girls basketball coach who turned the Royals into a national power.

Over the years Cosgriff has made time, despite a busy schedule of coaching, teaching and family, to be at TCF Bank Stadium for Gopher games because he enjoys the experience of being a crew member so much. “It’s unbelievable,” he said. “It’s definitely a crew. I call it the Chain Gang Mafia. Half the fun of working the games is getting there early so you can shoot the bull with the guys in the locker room beforehand. We got games on the TV, we got food, and afterwards we tailgate.”

Crew members receive complimentary parking and game tickets from the U Athletic Department. They are provided with a pregame meal, shoes and apparel. “What I’ve got is a lot of guys that maybe have coached, or been in football, or played, and just kind of want to keep up with it,” Lundgren said. “It is a fun job, I will say that.”

Lundgren has 14 people at his call to work games, although the official crew on gameday totals a couple fewer. Alternates have to be in place in case someone is unable to show up at the stadium. There are varied assignments for crew members ranging from managing yardage markers to writing and charting every penalty, and down, distance and time. The mission is to work with officials (the “zebras”) to ensure the game is supervised with accuracy and fairness.

Lundgren joined the Chain Crew in 1993. He had known longtime Gopher football trainer Jim Marshall for awhile and it was Marshall who connected him to Peter Deanovic, the crew chief. Lundgren was part of a crew that included Tom Mahoney, the legendary Fairmont football coach. The two became close friends and Lundgren was a pallbearer at Mahoney’s funeral. Matt Mahoney, Tom’s grandson and now the head coach at Fairmont, is on the current crew working for Lundgren.

Because of the pandemic, this year has been like no other for Chain Crew workers. They had to be tested the day before a game, and the day of, for COVID. That meant it just didn’t make sense for crew member Ken Baumann, another prep coaching icon, to attempt a four-hour drive between Mahnomen and Minneapolis. Lundgren hired alternates to replace any crew member who tested negative one day, but came up positive on gameday.

Because of COVID, fans were not allowed to attend home Gopher games. “It’s just like a morgue compared to a normal gameday,” Lundgren said.

The revised Big Ten schedule had the Gophers playing four games in Minneapolis, but last Saturday’s regular season home finale against Northwestern was cancelled because of COVID. The pre-COVID Gopher schedule consisted of seven home games so ending up with three was a downer, plus Lundgren wouldn’t be seeing coach Pat Fitzgerald.

“Fitzgerald from Northwestern is one of the finest people you’ll ever meet,” Lundgren said. “He’s just very kind. It’s not like you are friends, but he will come out and he will greet you. He will tell you to have a good game.”

Lundgren also offered praise for longtime Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz. “Ferentz, ironically, as much as people hate Iowa, is a nice guy to work a sideline with.”

While meeting coaches and interacting with game officials can be a pleasant part of the job, Lundgren knows he isn’t on the field to be a spectator. “I learned that you have to pay attention. Everybody says, ‘Boy, you’ve got the best seat to watch the game. You’re right there.’

”Well, you can’t really watch the game and do your job. I end up taping all the games and then watching them when I get home (where he can be a fan). We have to remain intent on our duty as opposed to a fan watching the game.”

Part of being focused while on the field is to avoid being run over on the sidelines by a wayward player. Lundgren calls it “getting the hell out of the way.”

Cosgriff said Lundgren expects crew members to be alert in doing their jobs, focusing on both their work and safety. “Believe me, if you’re not paying attention he’s going to let you know,” Cosgriff said. “He’s definitely the godfather of the Chain Crew, that’s for sure.”

Lundgren reflects on his 20 years as crew chief and acknowledges he has enjoyed the experience including the relationships and fair treatment he has received from the U. He will also be anticipating 2021. “You build up for the season. You’re excited for the scrimmages (to prep for games). You’re excited for football to start, and for the games to come. This year with the COVID and the cancelling of the games, it’s been a real disappointment for everybody on the crew. There’s no doubt about it.”

For Cosgriff, being part of the Chain Crew has provided time to be with Lundgren, a person with whom he is so close. “He is the reason I got into coaching because I wanted to be just like him. Since my parents have passed away, he has kind of become my surrogate father. Anyone who played for him has kind of felt that way.

“When there’s health problems with the family, or you are struggling with something, you call coach Lundgren. Everyone does. He is that kind of guy. He is totally supportive. You know he’s going to be there in the drop of a minute for you.”

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