Golden Gophers – Page 21 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Kevin O’Connell’s Post-Game Speeches Drawing Attention

Posted on December 17, 2024December 17, 2024 by David Shama

ABC TV’s Good Morning America featured Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell today, recognizing the 39-year-old’s success in leading the Vikings to a 12-2 record that ranks with the best in the NFL. https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/video/vikings-head-coach-talks-nfls-youngest-coaches-116858495

Part of the focus was O’Connell’s postgame speeches, with GMA describing them as “rousing and viral.” The public has seen those speeches on YouTube and they offer a glimpse into the leadership of the third-year Viking leader.

O’Connell told GMA: “Everybody thinks that he must rehearse those things, or think about what he is going to say long before. That could not be more further from the truth.

“The emotion of the moment might drive me to use a word or two I probably shouldn’t. May be I am getting better at it. …

“When we recently beat the Atlanta Falcons, as I kind of finished up, I kind of felt like maybe they (the players) expected a little more. Did I not deliver in that moment? It was the first time ever I couldn’t wait to watch it back to critique myself.”

Kevin O’Connell image courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

O’Connell certainly delivered last night in the locker room after the team’s 30-12 win over the Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. Speaking in front of the players and others including franchise owners Mark and Zygi Wilf. O’Connell both praised his team for its 12-2 resume and warned them that three games remain and they “have to grind” to close the season with the ultimate success. He ended his talk by telling the players he loves them.

During the speech he also gave out game balls to linebacker Blake Cashman, outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard, running back Aaron Jones, kicker Will Reichard, and defensive tackle Jerry Tillery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDsGKD7HXkA

Worth Noting

Vikings’ long snapper Andrew DePaola, wide receiver Justin Jefferson, cornerback Byron Murphy and outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel are leading NFC vote getters by fans at their positions for the AFC- NFC Pro Bowl Games in February in Orlando.

It might be the most emotional scene all season at Target Center when the Timberwolves host the Knicks Thursday night. The game will be the first regular season game between the two teams since the blockbuster early fall trade that sent center Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks, with power forward Julius Randle and combo guard Dante DiVincenzo coming to the Wolves.

Towns, who played nine seasons with the Wolves, told Newsday.com yesterday he didn’t know what to expect from the fans but said regarding his time with Minnesota “…I gave the absolute best of me even when I wasn’t 100 percent.” Towns will likely hear a few boos but more so applause as he returns to Minneapolis averaging 24.8 points and a career high 13.9 rebounds for the 16-10 Knicks.

Towns will be determined to play at a high level, as will Randle and DiVincenzo for the 14-11 Wolves. If any of the three are subpar in their performances, they will potentially have the satisfaction of being on the winning team.. The two teams will play one other time this season, January 17 in New York.

The emotions likely go beyond the three players and fans. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, once the Wolves head coach and president of basketball operations, could take extra satisfaction from a New York win. So, too, might former Wolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas now a senior vice president with the Knicks. Both men were fired by the Timberwolves earlier in their careers.

The NBA certainly thinks it’s a big game because Wolves-Knicks will be nationally televised by TNT.

Longtime Twins president Dave St. Peter talking about season tickets for 2025: “We’ll be north of 90 percent on season ticket renewal. Whether or not we’re going to get to 95 percent, which is where we were last year, I think is up in the air. But it’s still early on that and we have a lot of offseason left.”

Twins’ infielder Royce Lewis, 25, was a wunderkind in 2023, his first full season in the big leagues. He delivered some of the club’s most timely hits back then, and finished with a .309 batting average, 15 home runs and 52 RBI in 217 at bats.

Lewis, frequently troubled with injuries during his limited career, managed 292 at bats in 2024. Although he homered 16 times and drove in 47 runs, his batting average plummeted to .233. Over the last 30 games he hit .171.

St. Peter reminded fans Lewis is still a young player and that “baseball is hard, and it will humble you.” He added that it will be interesting to see how Lewis works during the offseason and prepares himself for 2025.

“I am optimistic he’s going to have a big bounce back,” St. Peter said. “We see the talent. We certainly see the enthusiasm, and when he puts in the work, I think he’s going to have a lot of success.”

Fan voting for the Twins Hall of Fame ends today, December 17. Candidates for 2025 are former players, but the 2026 ballot will be non-players meaning that historical figures like legendary club broadcaster Halsey Hall can be voted for. https://www.mlb.com/twins/fans/twins-hall-of-fame-ballot

Jeff@MNTwinsZealot recently posted on X the concession prices for 1983 Twins games at the Metrodome. Almost every item was under $2, with prices ranging from .60 cents for coffee to the highest price on the board: $2.75 for a large beer.

Creative Charters, the Stillwater-based company that has promoted Golden Gophers trips since 1993, will take fans to Charlotte for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl between Minnesota and Virginia Tech on January 3. The three-night trip leaves Minneapolis on January 2 and returns travelers home on January 5. Part of the trip’s offerings include a visit to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Creative Charters is a Sports Headliners advertiser (see ad toward top of the page).

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Kevin O’Connell’s Leverage for New Contract Rock Solid

Posted on December 9, 2024December 9, 2024 by David Shama

With the 11-2 Vikings experiencing a potentially historic season, it is apparent head coach Kevin O’Connell has substantially increased his leverage for future contract negotiations. His initial deal, agreed to in 2022 when he was named the franchise’s 10^th head coach, ends after the 2025 season and is estimated to pay him about $5 million annually.

Ownership is expected to soon offer O’Connell a new contract, and perhaps has even done so. While the likelihood is considerable the two parties will strike a deal prior to next season, O’Connell’s impressive three seasons in Minnesota are so admired he could choose the ultimate power play of letting his contract expire and allow bidding from other teams.

The admiration among fans, media and NFL people is widespread and can even take an unexpected direction. Recently Kayln Kahler, from ESPN, wrote the dysfunctional Bears franchise, having fired their head coach earlier this fall, should consider a trade for O’Connell. Such a trade, including multiple future first round draft choices, will fall on deaf ears at TCO Performance Center in Eagan.

Ownership and staff have learned O’Connell is the “secret sauce” the Vikings and other NFL teams covet. He is loved in the organization, including the locker room, for the way he carries himself and treats others. He has created an environment and culture that should be the envy of other franchises.

In his first season (2022) the Vikings went a surprising 13-4 during the regular season. They were an amazing 11-4 in one-score wins, an NFL record.

In 2023 the Vikings’ season was derailed by quarterback Kirk Cousins’ Achilles injury and they finished with a 7-10 record. Despite having to navigate through a franchise record four starting quarterbacks, the Vikings ranked fifth in the league in passing yards per game (256.4).

Predicted to win about six games this season—partly because of uncertainty at quarterback with Cousins leaving as a free agent to play for the Falcons—O’Connell and his staff have stunned the football world with the performance of Sam Darnold. The former journeyman quarterback has been “born again” in Minnesota and will earn a lot more next season than the one-year deal of $10 million the Vikings are paying him, and that has everything to do with their “quarterback whisperer” coach.

O’Connell has been on target in so many ways that have paid off for the team including his selection of assistant coaches. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has “bouquets” thrown his way every week for his creativity and overall work. Quarterbacks coach Josh McCown is in his first season working for O’Connell and has been impressive, too. It’s likely both men will have offers sooner or later to become head coaches.

O’Connell’s overall record (all with the Vikings) is 31-17, including one playoff loss. His winning percentage of .645 is the best in franchise history, surpassing that of legendary Bud Grant (.607) over 18 seasons. O’Connell is 24-9 in one-possession games as a head coach, the third best winning percentage (.727) in NFL history in one-score contests (minimum 25 games).

Not only does O’Connell have a superlative resume, but he also has a potentially long coaching career ahead. He doesn’t turn 40 years old until next year.

Speculation earlier this fall was the Wilf ownership group might offer him $10 million per year, but that appears too far under market value. More than doubling his salary to $12 million to $15 million seems appropriate. Contract length also has him in the “driver’s seat” with seven years or longer a possibility. Clearly ownership wants him to be the man in charge for the foreseeable future.

According to Sportico.com, the 10 highest paid NFL coaches annually are: Andy Reid, $20 million; Sean Payton, $18 million; Jim Harbaugh, $16 million; Mike Tomlin, $16 million; Sean McVay, $15 million; Kyle Shanahan, $14 million; John Harbaugh, $12 million; Dan Campbell, $11 million; Sean McDermott, $11 million; Mike Macdonald, $9 million.

Worth Noting

Darnold made history in yesterday’s 42-21 win over the Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. He is the ninth quarterback in NFL history and first since Aaron Rodgers in 2019 to have at least 325 passing yards, five touchdown passes, a completion percentage of 75-or-higher and a passer rating of 155-or-higher with no picks in a game.

After the game O’Connell offered his admiration of Cousins including the veteran quarterback’s character. “I love him as a person. I think he’s a great human being, great father, great husband. He stands for so many great things that I always really valued.”

According to Statista.com last June, at $294.17 million Cousins ranks No. 6 in all-time cumulative career earnings among NFL players. Rodgers, $380.66 million, was No. 1 ahead of Matthew Stafford, Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, Matt Ryan and Cousins.

Former Viking and Minnesota native Adam Thielen, age 34, had nine receptions for 102 yards in the Panthers’ 22-16 loss to the Eagles yesterday. With a total of 8,063 career receiving yards, he is the fourth undrafted player in the common-draft era (dating back to 1967) with at least 8,000 career receiving yards. He joins Antonio Gates (11,841 receiving yards), Rod Smith (11,389) and Wes Welker (9,924).

The veteran wide receiver has 25 career games with at least 100 receiving yards. He joins Smith (30 games) and Welker (28) as the only undrafted players since 1967 with 25 career games with 100 or more receiving yards.

If there is a change in Golden Gophers basketball head coaches after this season, St. Thomas’ John Tauer should be a level one candidate. Tauer, whose Tommies won the 2016 NCAA Division III national title, has his D1 team at No. 113 in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Net Rankings. Minnesota is No. 163.

Meanwhile the women Gophers are No. 37 in the women’s rankings under second-year coach Dawn Plitzuweit. Minnesota is off to a 10-1 start and roster building strategy includes awareness of Minnesota and Wisconsin natives playing elsewhere who may want to transfer closer to home.

Jamal Abu-Shamala, the former Golden Gophers basketball player from Shakopee, has the volunteer honor of being Head Coach of the Twin Cities Dunkers in 2025. In that role he will arrange speakers for the organization that started 1948.

The Gophers have a 2025 football season tickets sales campaign going on with prices starting at $310. Public season ticket sales the last two years have been in the 23,000 to 25,000 range.

The Gophers had one year in the 1980s when they reported 56,000 season tickets while playing in the Metrodome.

The talented Gopher men’s hockey is coming off shutout home wins against Michigan Friday and Saturday night. Minnesota goalies Nathan Airey and Liam Souliere, with defensive help, shut out the Wolverines on consecutive nights for the first time in more than 80 years.

“Our D-corps is our strength right now and really I mean they’re elite,” Minnesota coach Bob Motzko said after his No. 4 ranked team swept the No. 6 Wolverines.

The Gophers, 15-2-1 overall and 8-0 in the Big Ten this season, are 32-10-1 in conference home games since the start of 2021.

The Wild’s fast start to the season includes being tied for the league lead with the Jets and Capitals in total points at 40. The way it looks now, unless the team has an incredible run of injuries sidelining key players, Minnesota can be mediocre the rest of the way and still make the playoffs for the first time since 2023.

Football coach Glen Caruso’s St. Thomas signing class for 2025 includes Beau Thielen from Eagan, a 4.5-star long snapper recruit. He drew interest in the recruitment process from FBS and FCS schools.

Al Worthington, who pitched for the 1955 Junior World Series champion Minneapolis Millers in 1955 and later was a standout for the Twins, will be 96 in February.

He is on the 2025 ballot for the Twins Hall of Fame. Fans can vote for 2025 candidates and/or use a write-in option. https://www.mlb.com/twins/fans/twins-hall-of-fame-ballot

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Fleck: Gophers Will Recruit a Transfer Quarterback for 2025

Posted on December 4, 2024December 5, 2024 by David Shama

Head coach P.J. Fleck went to the transfer portal about a year ago to find his 2024 quarterback. The move paid off with New Hampshire transfer Max Brosmer performing superbly in both team leadership and passing with production that included a best ever at Minnesota single season completion percentage of .668.

Brosmer engaged his teammates from the beginning, building relationships and trust. He was also an insatiable learner whose knowledge and maturity gave the Gophers an in-game advantage in problem solving and creating opportunities.

“I’ve never been around a young man who processes information like he processes information,” said Fleck who predicts Brosmer will be an NFL player and later a successful coach if he chooses that career path.

The downside with Brosmer, who figures to be in training camp with an NFL team next year, is that he has used his one season of eligibility. The Minnesota quarterback job is up for grabs in 2025 and Fleck surprised some observers today by saying “we’re absolutely going to bring in a transfer quarterback to compete.”

Fleck said he’s been “transparent” in meetings with quarterbacks on the existing roster, including assumed Brosmer successor Drake Lindsey, and also Jackson Kollock who was one of 20 high school players the Gophers signed today on National Signing Day. Fleck said competition is intended to make everybody better.

A transfer quarterback is likely to have more experience than Lindsey and Kollock who potentially could spend four or more years in the program. But that’s not necessarily a given, and Fleck is certain to prioritize the ability to play at a high level right away is more important than the number of eligible seasons.

Lindsey, an Arkansas native who was the high school Gatorade Player of the Year in that state, is considered a gem from the 2024 recruiting class. The former three-star recruit had the benefit of learning from the cerebral Brosmer this fall. Fleck said the redshirt freshman “has attached himself to Max’s hip.”

Lindsey enrolled early at Minnesota and participated in spring practice where he was impressive. The true freshman played in two games during the 2024 season with the highlight being against Rhode Island when he completed three of four passes and threw a touchdown pass. He has four seasons of eligibility ahead at Minnesota.

Kollock is a high three-star in the 247Sports composite recruiting rankings. The Gophers may have pulled off a coup in getting the Laguna Beach, California quarterback who can not only pass but is more athletic than Lindsey and Brosmer, setting up the possibility of more run-pass options in the Minnesota offense.

Kollock was committed to Washington until after last season’s college football playoffs when head coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb left the Huskies. DeBoer is now head coach at Alabama and Grubb is the NFL Seahawks offensive coordinator. It’s a tribute to Kollock’s talent and potential that those offensive gurus pursued him.

As Lindsey did, Kollock will enroll early to learn about the offense and participate in spring practice.

So, with a transfer likely coming and Lindsey and Kollock available going into next season and beyond, the Gophers look positioned at quarterback—the most important position on the field—to start a talented player who they believe in and with a backup or two that has their confidence.

Gophers Football Notes

The one four-star recruit, per 247Sports composite rankings, is linebacker Emmanuel Karmo from Robbinsdale Cooper. He had an impressive senior season and moved up from three-star to four-star status.

The Gophers signed three of the 247 top five rated high school seniors in Minnesota. The group includes No. 2 ranked Caledonia linebacker Ethan Stendel (comparisons to Gopher Cody Lindenberg) and No. 5 defensive lineman Abu Tarawallie from Heritage Christian Academy.

The expansion of the Big Ten to include four west coast schools, including UCLA and USC, may start a trend of Gopher recruiting out that way. California, with three signees, was second among states in the Gophers’ 20-recuits class. There are six players from the state of Minnesota.

In addition to Kollock, Minnesota signed Daniel Shipp, a three-star offensive lineman from Eastvale, California and three-star wide receiver Legend Lyons from Covina, California.

Shipp injured his knee and missed much of his junior season. The Gophers need tackles and are hoping he can bolster the roster. There is also a void on the wide receiver roster where Lyons can make an impact. Fleck likened his physical skills to former Minnesota All-Big Ten wide receiver Tyler Johnson.

Fleck, who just completed his eighth regular season with the Gophers, keeps preaching he is in charge of a developmental program. Generally, that means Minnesota (like many schools in the Power 4 conferences) will not be able to attract large numbers of four and five-star players.

That is reflected in the annual 247Sports composite national recruiting rankings. Minnesota ranks No. 51 in the 2025 listings. Dating back to 2021, the Gophers have been No. 38, 49 and 46 last year.

Today’s National Signing Day precedes the opening of the transfer portal next Monday. The portal means losing players on the existing roster and adding transfers from other schools, potentially at other levels than Division I including FCS which has been a productive source for Power Four programs including Minnesota (FCS alums Brosmer, Jack Henderson and, Ethan Robinson from the 2024 team).

Despite the transfer portal opportunity after last season, the Gophers retained an impressive 16 starters from the 2023 team. Name, Image and Likeness money for football through Dinkytown Athletes, the Golden Gophers official collective handling NIL, has increased since a year ago. DA, like other collectives, keeps its balance sheet private but it’s believed there is a significant increase from a year ago partially because of a recent “million-dollar match campaign” with Mark Pearson’s Twin Cities-based financial services company, Nepsis, and donations, memberships and upgrades of memberships from the public and businesses.

The estimate here is DA will have between $2 million and $3 million for football NIL. It’s believed Koi Perich, named All-Big Ten safety this week by both the media and coaches, and a candidate for national Freshman of the Year, might receive an NIL amount of over $500,000 next year. Running back Darius Taylor is believed to be another six-figure NIL Gopher.

No doubt players transferring in, as well as those already on the roster, will benefit from earnings doing NIL work. And the Gophers will have a significant number of transfers with obvious needs at receiver, offensive line and cornerback. There could be 10 to 15 incoming players.

Fleck’s name has been linked with the North Carolina head coach opening but he likely isn’t leaving Minnesota. There is more TV money for a Big Ten program than in the ACC where North Carolina competes. Fleck and his wife like living here and have established roots after eight seasons with both the program and community, and they recently moved into their newly built suburban Minneapolis home.

Fleck also has considerable contract security here, similar to many other college football head coaches now. If he is fired without cause his buyout is over $23 million ($23,302,502), per a USA story on coaches October 16. Kirby Smart at Georgia tops the buyout list at $118,083,333. Ohio State fans are grumbling about yet another loss to Michigan but neither the school nor another entity likely wants to pay the $37,276,042 to fire head coach Ryan Day and say, “Goodbye Columbus!”

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