Golden Gophers – Page 242 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Vikings Looking at Roster Again

Posted on November 14, 2016November 14, 2016 by David Shama

A notes-filled column including news from Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer, and also Gopher season ticket totals:

Zimmer said today he will meet this afternoon with general manager Rick Spielman to discuss personnel. Zimmer referenced the meeting when asked about the left tackle position and also placekicker Blair Walsh.

Starting left tackle Jake Long injured his left Achilles in yesterday’s loss to the Redskins and is out for the season. After the game left guard Alex Boone told reporters he might move to left tackle but Zimmer said that was premature and he will have more to say about his offensive line on Wednesday.

The Vikings have been devastated by injuries in the offensive line. If the team turns to the outside for help a possible addition might be tackle Carter Bykowski who was with Minnesota earlier this year. Bykowski, who is on the Falcons’ practice squad, knows the Vikings’ system.

Walsh missed another extra point (his fourth of the season) in yesterday’s game. He is also only 12 of 16 on field goals and last week the Vikings auditioned potential replacements. Things are so bad Fox TV analyst Chris Spielman (Rick’s brother) said during the game that Zimmer should just plan on Walsh missing kicks. After the game a caller on the Vikings radio network suggested the team should sign a “female soccer player” as the new kicker.

Zimmer on whether injured running back Adrian Peterson might play again this season: “I have no idea.” …

University of Minnesota nonstudent season tickets for both men’s basketball and men’s hockey are down by about 1,000 each from a year ago. As of last week, basketball was at 6,246 compared with 7,221 for the 2015-2016 season. The hockey number was 6,039 after totaling 7,080 in 2015-2016.

Hockey student season tickets were at 2,739 after last season’s figure of 2,788. The basketball student season tickets total was 1,181 after a 2015-2016 number of 1,748. …

After Saturday’s 24-17 loss to No. 21 ranked Nebraska, Tracy Claeys has a 5-7 Big Ten record as interim and head coach of the Gophers. Five of the defeats have been by seven points or less. Claeys has won just one close conference game, defeating Rutgers 32-31 this fall. He has no victories over nationally ranked, or rivalry teams.

The Gophers, 7-3 overall and 4-3 in league games, have lost to Penn State, Iowa and Nebraska—all top 25 ranked teams.

Game times announced: Minnesota’s home football game with Northwestern Saturday will be at 2:30 p.m. and the Gophers men’s hockey game against Minnesota State at Mariucci Arena will start at 8 p.m. …

The St. Thomas football team finished the regular season with a 10-0 record, including 8-0 in the MIAC. Last Saturday the Tommies defeated St. Olaf 73-7 to win the MIAC title. Saint John’s (9-1, 7-1) won second place by defeating Concordia-Moorhead (7-3, 6-2). The Johnnies, who lost their only game to St. Thomas, defeated Concordia 31-7. St. Thomas has an opening Division III playoff game at home on Saturday against Northwestern (Roseville), while Saint John’s hosts Wisconsin-Platteville.

Concordia had a 23-20 loss to St. Thomas earlier in the season. “They should have beaten St. Thomas,” said Saint John’s coach Gary Fasching.

Fasching offered that opinion while speaking to the CORES lunch crowd last Thursday. He had the audience laughing when he opened his talk by saying, “I notice some St. Thomas people (here), so I will try to speak a little slower.”

Fasching told the audience former Saint John’s coach John Gagliardi had his 90th birthday last week. The legendary Gagliardi sat in with the Johnnies’ coaching staff every Monday this season to review film. …

CORES emcee Dick Jonckowski introduced Gophers basketball coach Richard Pitino at a recent gathering of Minnesota high school basketball coaches. He referred to Pitino’s father, Louisville coach Rick Pitino, as the “Italian Stallion.” Then he introduced the “Pepperoni Pony.”

Jonckowski jokes that he met up with Blair Walsh at a local McDonald’s. Jonckowski asked the Vikings’ placekicker how he is doing. “I can’t kick,” Walsh supposedly said. …

That was Minnesota resident Eric Curry officiating the ESPN televised game Friday night in Hawaii between basketball powers Arizona and Michigan Sate. Curry is married to former Gophers basketball player and now Macalester coach Kelly Roysland. …

The Timberwolves had three players listed in Sports Illustrated’s ranking of the NBA’s top 100 players. The magazine’s NBA preview issue last month ranked center Karl-Anthony Towns No. 23, forward Andrew Wiggins No. 67 and point guard Rick Rubio No. 71. …

Twins owner Jim Pohlad told Sports Headliners he is open to spending more money on players as new baseball department bosses Derek Falvey and Thad Levine rebuild his team. The Twins’ payroll ranked 19th among MLB franchise’s in 2016, according to Espn.com.

Twins fans have noticed the Braves, who ranked with baseball’s worst teams last season, added free veteran agent pitchers R.A. Dickey and Bartolo Colon this month.

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Gophers, Claeys on the Spot Now

Posted on November 11, 2016November 11, 2016 by David Shama

The last three regular season games—starting Saturday in Lincoln—will define the Gophers’ football season. This stretch could also be a “final exam” for Tracy Claeys as head coach.

University of Minnesota president Eric Kaler and interim athletic director Beth Goetz set up this potential drama for Claeys last November when they named him head coach. The three-year contract given the Gophers’ former defensive coordinator included a reported buyout of $500,000 after this season—a bargain-basement sum in big time college football.

After popular head coach Jerry Kill resigned in October of last year, Kaler and Goetz decided not to open up a national search for Kill’s successor. Instead, they opted for something of a trial balloon approach by changing Claeys’ title from interim to head coach.

The announcement of Claeys’ promotion came on November 11. Three days later the Gophers lost to No. 8 ranked Iowa. As interim head coach, Claeys had lost games to No. 15 Michigan and No. 1 Ohio State.

The 2015 Gophers had a difficult schedule and run of injuries. Claeys did get his first win November 21 against Illinois, and then lost to Wisconsin in the regular season final game. The Gophers had a victory over Central Michigan in the Quick Lane Bowl and made their final record 6-7.

This season Minnesota is 7-2 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten games. The schedule so far has been the easiest in memory. The Gophers have conference wins against Maryland, Rutgers, Illinois and Purdue. Those teams are a combined 5-19 in league games. Colorado State, Indiana State, and Oregon State—the three teams Minnesota defeated in nonconference games—are a combined 6-12 in their league games.

Minnesota’s two losses—to Penn State in overtime and Iowa by seven points—are missed opportunities. Penn State is now a top 20 team nationally, while Iowa is mediocre. Wins over either would have bettered the public perception of Claeys and his record, which includes no wins over nationally ranked teams, or rivalry teams like Iowa and Wisconsin.

New opportunities, though, are coming this month against No. 21 ranked Nebraska, improving Northwestern and No. 7 Wisconsin. Make that opportunities with an exclamation mark!

Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin are tied for first place in the Big Ten’s West Division with 4-2 records. Northwestern is 3-3 but played impressively the last two weeks in league losses to No. 6 ranked Ohio State and Wisconsin. Iowa, 3-3, is also in the West Division logjam that eventually will sort itself out and send the winner to the Big Ten championship game against the king of the East in Indianapolis in December.

Claeys told Sports Headliners last summer he wanted the Gophers positioned in November to make a run for Indy. A West Division title this fall, or even two wins in the last three games, would boost Claeys’ popularity with skeptical fans. Funny how championships and wins over hated border rivals can impact things.

What are the Gophers’ chances in their remaining regular season games? Minnesota is likely to play competitively against Nebraska and Northwestern, but Wisconsin is a big reach. The Badgers have a defense that compares favorably with any in the nation and the game is in Madison where the Gophers haven’t won since 1994.

As both interim and head coach, Claeys has a 9-6 record. Three of the six losses have been by seven points or less. Down the stretch he and the Gophers have to flip close losses like last year’s 30-25 Iowa game and the 29-26 Michigan score.

Claeys has won tight games against lesser opponents, including three this year by seven points or fewer. If the Gophers are to win big boy games in November—even by narrow margins—then they must play with more consistency. The offense has the conference’s second leading rusher in Rodney Smith but the line—playing without injured starters—has faltered at times, just like senior quarterback Mitch Leidner who has thrown untimely interceptions. The defense—the foundation of the program’s revival dating back to the first season of Kill and Claeys in 2011—has often been impressive. NCAA statistics earlier this week had the Gophers ranked 23rd in total defense and No. 3 in turnover margin, but the unit has been susceptible to big plays, partly because of suspended defensive backs. The Gophers have also had penalty problems on both offense and defense including a pattern of targeting calls by the referees.

To the credit of Claeys and his staff, adjustments have been made during games that helped Minnesota win. Last week’s halftime changes defensively limited Purdue to only three points in a 44-31 win. Being able to make the right moves during games is one of several things Claeys has done that deserve listing in the positive category.

Last offseason Claeys showed he would run the program his way by dismissing offensive coordinator and line coach Matt Limegrover. He kept the rest of Kill’s staff together—a group known for its longevity and skills. Claeys also signed a recruiting class in February that includes several freshmen who have displayed exceptional promise. The coach has also worked his way through the off field problem with the already mentioned defensive backs. With good fortune and preparedness, he has managed to keep his team relatively healthy even if a few key parts like tight end Brandon Lingen have missed much of the season. He and his staff have also shown skill in player development including breakthrough seasons for wide receiver Drew Wolitarksky and kicker Emmit Carpenter.

But despite winning seven games and being bowl eligible for a fourth consecutive season, Claeys and the Gophers have stirred minimal interest and passion in this competitive sports marketplace. Attendance is down at home games with the Gophers headed toward their lowest average since moving into TCF Bank Stadium in 2009. Claeys talks about recruiting “going well” but the Gophers’ 2017 class ranks near the bottom of the Big Ten, according to authorities like 247sports.com. Recruits include those with minimal or no offers from prominent football schools.

Claeys is a humble, straight talking bachelor from small town Clay Center, Kansas who is completing his first contract year and wants to stick around Dinkytown. He hopes new athletic director Mark Coyle will extend his deal, and Claeys mentioned on his Tuesday KFAN Radio show this week that having only two years on a coach’s contract can be used against the Gophers in recruiting.

Claeys probably won’t have to work under such circumstances. Coyle will either extend Claeys, or go in a different direction before December. The coach can finish the regular season no worse than 7-5 overall, and 4-5 in conference games. Those could be chancy numbers when it comes to Claeys’ future.

The good news is he and the team will have a lot to say about their fate the next three Saturdays.

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Ex-Gopher Captain Wants Regent Role

Posted on November 9, 2016November 9, 2016 by David Shama

Former Gopher football captain Jim Carter is submitting an application for membership to the University of Minnesota Board of Regents. The State Legislature will approve individuals to fill four vacancies on the board next year.

Carter, who played for the Gophers from 1967-1969 after a legendary schoolboy career in South St. Paul, said many people have urged him to apply. He is known for his passion and straight talk about the University. As a regent he wants to help with issues such as student tuition costs and debt, student preparedness to enter the workforce, and enhancing athletics including the revenue-producing sports of football, basketball and hockey.

Carter, who lives in the Hastings area and hopes to represent the Second Congressional District on the Board of Regents, played for the Green Bay Packers where he was elected team captain. He has decades of business and civic experience including 28 years as an automobile dealer in Wisconsin, and participation on many boards including the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy. In addition to his experience in governance, Carter has been a donor to many organizations including the University of Minnesota Foundation.

Minneapolis businessman Mark Sheffert, a University alum and advisor to the Board of Regents, is familiar with Carter’s background. “He is passionate about and cares about the University,” Sheffert said. “He has attended many meetings of the regents to learn what they do. He has also talked to regents and University administrators to give his constructive thoughts.”

Typical of Carter’s involvement and support for the University is the assistance and leadership he provided this fall to increase awareness about the proposed Lineman Center for the Gophers. Carter has urged regents and others to help make the center part of the new football facility in the now under construction Athletes Village project on campus.

After attending the Board of Regents meetings last month, Carter is optimistic the University will approve the center early next year. He told Sports Headliners there is an anonymous donor willing “to pay at least half” the cost for the Gophers Center.

It’s anticipated the center will add thousands of square feet to the football practice facility and cost several million dollars. Carter said without the center, offensive and defensive linemen won’t have a large enough place indoors that is dedicated to improving their skills—a space big enough to accommodate not only the players but also practice equipment including blocking sleds. The center space would also be used by Gopher athletes in other sports.

Gophers head coach Tracy Claeys has stressed the importance of the center to Carter and others.

Worth Noting

The Gophers have their first road night game Saturday at Nebraska. Quarterback Mitch Leidner said it’s important for the players to stay relaxed during the day. “Don’t burn too much energy thinking about the game,” Leidner said. “Conserve that energy all the way up until game time starts.”

Emmit Carpenter, the Gophers’ kicker is not only from Green Bay but is a self-described “die-hard Packers fan.” He said his family has owned Packers season tickets for decades. A redshirt sophomore, he is 16 of 18 on field goals this season, and his 16 are tops in the Big Ten.

Sid Hartman is no longer doing sports analysis weekdays at 7:40 a.m. for WCCO Radio. Mike Max has that slot now, with Hartman on air at 8:40 a.m. as in the past.

P.J. Fleck—the young Western Michigan coach who has the undefeated Mid-American Conference Broncos ranked No. 14 by the Associated Press—quietly has his name mentioned by Gophers boosters as a future coach. Fleck is a media favorite who last week was featured by the New York Times and this week was written up by the Washington Post. Other national media coverage has come from Sports Illustrated and Forbes.com.

The 5-3 Vikings rank second among NFL teams in points allowed per game at 15.8. Although the offense has struggled to score, that unit has just one turnover in eight games going into Sunday’s road game with the 4-3-1 Redskins.

Eden Prairie sophomore quarterback Cole Kramer is the grandson of former Gophers athletic director Tom Moe. The Eagles are among the playoff favorites for the November 25 Class 6A state title game at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Minikahda Club pro Jeff Sorenson shot a course record 12-under par 60 Monday at Cabo del Sol Golf Club in Cabo San Lucas. Playing in a tournament for TaylorMade club professionals, the 2016 Minnesota Section PGA Player of the Year beat the previous course record by four strokes.

Twins reliever Glen Perkins, recovering from shoulder surgery, said on Monday he expects to pitch in spring training games next March. Perkins, the Twins All-Star closer, pitched just two innings during the 2016 season.

The Twins Hall of Fame is way overdue to induct the late Halsey Hall, the colorful radio-TV analyst from the club’s early years in Minnesota. Inductees for next year perhaps will include former outfielder Michael Cuddyer and ex-general manager Terry Ryan.

The Wild has recalled forwards Christoph Bertschy and Zack Mitchell and defenseman Mike Reilly from its Iowa affiliate team in the American Hockey League. The Wild has placed defenseman Marco Scandella on long-term injured reserve because of a high right ankle sprain (October 27 at Buffalo).

Hollywood comedian and actor Erik Stolhanske, a Minnesota native, will be the first keynote speaker for the free Bremer Bank Game Changers Speaker Series November 22 at Xcel Energy Center. Stolhanske was born without a fibula and has a prosthetic leg, but despite obstacles has earned roles in shows such as Super Troopers and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Visit the Minnesota Wild website and Speaker Series page for more information. https://www.nhl.com/wild/fans/game-changers-speaker-series

Olivia Paradise, the granddaughter of hockey legends Herb Brooks and Bob Paradise, played No. 1 singles for the Class 2A champion Mahtomedi tennis team this fall and is known for her modeling work.

The WCHA has the three top-ranked women’s teams in the national USCHO.com poll, No. 1 Wisconsin, No. 2 Minnesota and No. 3 UMD. The Big Ten Gopher men’s team has moved up to No. 8 in that USCHO poll, two spots behind No. 6 North Dakota who Minnesota tied in one game and defeated in another last weekend. UMD is No. 1.

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