Golden Gophers – Page 320 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Gophers Didn’t Miss Out on Brady Hoke

Posted on September 24, 2014September 24, 2014 by David Shama

Brady Hoke has had more than three years to turn around the slumbering Michigan football program but instead he is reeling from a tsunami of criticism in Ann Arbor and Detroit. The Wolverines are 17-13 in Hoke’s last 30 games including 2-2 this season and the coach’s seat is warm.

The Wolverines and Gophers (3-1) open their Big Ten seasons on Saturday in Ann Arbor. Gophers’ followers might wonder if different circumstances could have placed Hoke on the Minnesota sideline tomorrow. In the fall of 2010 Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi had Hoke on his candidates list to replace Tim Brewster. The two met in San Diego about the Minnesota head coaching job.

Hoke confirmed the conversation with the Gophers in a November 23, 2010 online story by the San Diego Union-Tribune. He described the encounter as “informational” and acknowledged other schools with coaching vacancies had contacted his agent.

At the time Hoke was one of the promising head coaches in college football. He was leading San Diego State to what would be an impressive record of 9-4 in 2010. That year was Hoke’s second in San Diego where he had landed after coaching Ball State to a surprising 12-1 record in 2008 that drew national attention.

In the fall of 2010 Rich Rodriguez was on his way out as Michigan head coach. It’s speculated Hoke didn’t have much interest in the Gophers job because Michigan was his target. He was an assistant coach for the Wolverines from 1996-2002. He not only had “Big Blue” blood in his veins but knew Michigan is historically the winningest college football program in the country and resources in Ann Arbor are far greater than at Minnesota where the Gophers glory days haven’t been seen since the 1960s.

The problem, however, is the Wolverines results have been more like the Gophers under Hoke. While Hoke is four games over .500 in his last 30 games so too is Jerry Kill, the coach Maturi hired to replace Brewster after the 2010 season. Kill’s record is also 17-13.

Hoke was a diappointing 7-6 last season including a blowout bowl game loss to Kansas State. “It was a low energy program a year ago,” Big Ten Network analyst Gerry DiNardo said back in August.

This season hasn’t gone so well either. The Wolverines were humiliated in a nationally televised 31-0 loss at Notre Dame on September 6. Last Saturday was a dark day at Michigan Stadium for more reasons than a storm that caused play to be suspended for more than two hours. During the long day Utah embarrassed the Wolverines with a 26-10 win in front of more than 100,000 unhappy fans.

Last Sunday an online story from the Detroit News was headlined: “UM Collapse Puts Hoke in Dire Straits.” Writer Bob Wojnowski was hardly impressed with what he saw on Saturday.

“This is as low as it goes, at least so far. This is the stuff that gets a coach fired. Not now, not Monday, but Brady Hoke is on the clock, and it’s ticking ominously.

“It wasn’t just the 26-10 loss to Utah, a wet mess halted for two-and-a-half hours by rain and lightning. It was the horrific offense, the downfall of (quarterback) Devin Gardner and all the other ugly images. It was Hoke and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison yelling at each other late in the first half after Michigan was penalized for a sideline infraction, which Hoke later brushed off as a ‘discussion’ between competitors who have known each other for 30 years.

“Whatever it was, it looked like a staff feeling the rising heat. Hoke has to know his job is in jeopardy, and athletic director Dave Brandon’s previous stance of public support seems outdated now. Of course Hoke should finish out the season, and the 2-2 Wolverines should try to salvage something in the Big Ten, but it will take a stirring turnaround for him to recover from this. …”

The Gophers, who once considered Hoke a candidate to come here, have to be hoping any turnaround doesn’t start until at least October.

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Vikings D-End Could Play Running Back

Posted on September 19, 2014September 19, 2014 by David Shama

Nobody is suggesting the Vikings replace Adrian Peterson at running back with a defensive end but Paul Wiggin told Sports Headliners that Everson Griffen could make the switch.

“He could play running back for us,” Wiggin said. “He’s a phenomenal athlete.”

Wiggin is a former college and NFL coach who works in the Vikings’ front office. He made the statement above after being asked about Griffen’s abilities and potential. The 26-year-old, 6-3, 273-pound Griffen is in his fifth season with the Vikings but first year as a starter. During the last offseason the Vikings signed him to a new contract, an indication the organization thought he was ready to replace Jared Allen as an every week starter.

Griffen’s job description puts an emphasis on sacking quarterbacks—something the Vikings hope he can do to Drew Brees of the Saints on Sunday in New Orleans. Griffen had 2.5 sacks in the final three games of last season, and then had two in the Vikings’ opening win this year against the Rams. His two sacks put him among the NFL leaders in that category so far.

“We attack. Our coach (Mike Zimmer) wants us to attack,” Griffen said in the September 14 issue of the Vikings’ GameDay program. “We make plays. I feel like we’re go-getters. We’re not waiting for them (foes) to strike. …”

Wiggin has watched Griffen mature as a person and said that has played a role in the player’s improvement. Griffen is involved with a program that makes meals available to school-age kids, and has participated in the Vikings’ blood drive and community events.

Griffen was drafted by the Vikings in 2010 after being a second team All-Pac 10 defensive end as a junior playing for USC. In high school in Avondale, Arizona he also played in the defensive line and had 16 sacks his senior season. But guess what? He also played running back in high school, rushing for 1,251 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Worth Noting

Replacing Peterson in New Orleans likely will be Matt Asiata who was given that assignment in Peterson’s absence last Sunday. The Vikings are also looking at rookie Jerick McKinnon and Joe Banyard, a first-year player last season who has yet to have an NFL carry. “We will keep evaluating that spot each and every time,” Zimmer said.

Wiggin, whose career experiences include college head coach at Stanford and in the NFL with the Chiefs, has the title of senior personnel consultant with the Vikings. Part of his job is to scout opposing linemen from films. He identifies tendencies that can help Vikings offensive and defensive linemen.

The Rams’ Robert Quinn, for example, is one of the NFL’s most dominant defensive linemen. In preparation for the Rams game on September 7, Vikings offensive tackle Matt Kalil was given 42 plays involving Quinn to watch on his iPad.

Gophers redshirt freshman quarterback Chris Streveler will have his first college start tomorrow if Mitch Leidner, who has been slowed by knee and turf toe injuries, can’t play against San Jose State at TCF Bank Stadium. Streveler, 19, might have the cool for the pressure-filled job.

As a reserve player Streveler likes to have “fun” on the sidelines, trying to help however he can. Off the field? “I don’t really take myself too seriously,” he said. “I stay pretty low-key.”

Leidner has only passed for 362 yards in three games, completing 48.1 percent of his passes with two touchdowns and four interceptions. Still, offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover believes the redshirt sophomore can become an effective passer, and that progress will come by Leidner having better support from teammates including pass blocking.

“In anything you want to be successful (doing), you have to feel comfortable in that environment, and I don’t think he feels comfortable now going back and throwing the football,” Limegrover said. “So what’s happening is he’s trying to do too much and it’s getting him in trouble. I think that has to start up front (offensive line).”

Last winter the Gophers signed a promising group of incoming freshman wide receivers to National Letters of Intent but so far none has seen the field. This week it was announced that Isaiah Gentry, the 6-4 receiver from Cincinnati, is out for the season because of a knee injury that bothered him for a couple of weeks.

“Yeah, he’s a tough kid,” Limegrover said. “He fought through what a lot of guys would have shut down on and really actually did pretty well. So long‑term, that’s exciting for us, and it’s a little disappointing in the short-term that he had to get shut down.”

Melvin Holland Jr., 6-3 from Ashburn, Virginia, and Conner Krizancik, 6-2 from Mentor, Ohio, could be freshman wideouts who will play this season. Among the first year receivers, Holland may have turned the most heads in practices.

At the start of this college football season the University of Alabama compliled a list of programs with the most graduate students on their rosters. The Crimson Tide and Boston College topped the list with 15 each, and only four other teams had more than San Jose State’s nine grad students including starting quarterback Blake Jurich.

The Spartans have only five players on their 104-man roster who aren’t California natives. Three of them are from Arizona, with one each from Texas and Washington.

Congratulations to Browerville head football coach Wayne (Ribsy) Petermeier on his 100th career win last week. Petermeier, now in his 13th season at Browerville, was previously head coach at Hayfield for one season. His career record is 100-41.

The Gophers baseball team practiced this week with 33 players. The Gophers don’t provide full scholarships for baseball but 26 of the players have partial financial assistance ranging from 25 to 70 percent.

The baseball Gophers once offered a full scholarship to Joe Mauer who could have also had a football scholarship to Florida State but signed a contract with the Twins coming out of Cretin-Derham Hall High School in 2001.

Big Ten Hockey Media Day is next Wednesday in Detroit. Forward Kyle Rau and goalie Adam Wilcox will represent the Gophers who are expected to be among college hockey’s elite teams next season.

SI.com listed college basketball’s top 20 college guards, wings and “big men” for next season in a September 11 story, but no Gophers were included—a mild surprise that senior guards Andre Hollins and DeAndre Mathieu were left out. In a separate listing of freshmen, Tyus Jones, the ex-Apple Valley high schooler now at Duke, was included with the best first-year guards, and Rashad Vaughn, who played at Cooper High School two years ago and is now at UNLV, was listed among the top wings.

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Momentum Increasing for U Facilities

Posted on September 17, 2014September 17, 2014 by David Shama

According to sources, expect 3M to become a corporate contributor to the $190 million campaign to improve Gophers’ facilities, and also look for ground to be broken next spring for a new on-campus indoor football practice facility.

Effective fundraising—mostly still behind the scenes—is being done by the Gophers’ Athletic Department and well-connected volunteers. An announcement is expected that 3M will join Land O’Lakes as a major contributor to the fundraising campaign. LOL has made a $25 million commitment to support a wide range of University of Minnesota activities, but the centerpiece will be building the Intercollegiate Athletics Center for Excellence that will benefit over 700 student-athletes through academics and nutrition.

Among projects expected to receive priority in the master facilities plan is the new football practice building, perhaps costing $70 million. Sources told Sports Headliners they predict shovels in the ground for the football building by next spring.

Gophers football coach Jerry Kill has been outspoken with high school recruits and media about the importance of a new football complex. The existing facility has a ceiling so low footballs hit the top and the building has a crowded schedule with multiple teams practicing there.

Athletic director Norwood Teague, who announced the $190 million campaign in July of 2013, said earlier this month $40 million has been secured but hasn’t specified sources by name beyond LOL which reportedly will contribute $21 million of the $25 million to athletics. Corporations, wealthy donors, the general public and revenue bonds are all on the table as funding sources.

An announcement is expected soon about how the public can make contributions to the campaign. Included will be a website with information that potential contributors can review.

The $190 million master facilities plan will include a new practice building for Gophers basketball, and amenities for other sports such as wrestling and track. Minnesota’s athletic facilities are considered among the worst in the Big Ten and generally haven’t been improved for many years.

The near $200 million project is expansive and ambitious, with a fundraising goal that may be challenging to meet without the sale of bonds. The University is authorized to sell bonds and those involved with the fundraising have been considering that option for awhile.

Worth Noting

“Who would you want your son to play for?” Football Bowl Subdivision coaches were polled asking that question and ESPN.com posted a story last Saturday reporting Gophers coach Jerry Kill tied for third with Stanford’s David Shaw. Georgia’s Mark Richt and Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops tied for first. Duke’s David Cutcliffe was fifth in the ESPN poll while Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio and Ohio State’s Urban Meyer were among five coaches tied for sixth. Ninety-eight of 128 coaches participated in the poll.

Dick Jonckowski, the Gophers baseball and basketball public address announcer, is selling half of his sports memorabilia to help pay medical bills. The sale will be October 3, 4 and 5 at the new Canterbury Park Expo Center. Items—many of of them autographed—will include baseball, basketball and football cards, and photos and publications.

For many years Jonckowski’s basement has housed a vast collection of not only Gophers, Twins and Vikings memorabilia but also national items. He is selling much of the collection because of bills relating to his non-Hodgkin lymphoma and type 2 diabetes. He expects a full recovery from the cancer.

Former Gophers quarterback and NFL coach Tony Dungy said on Monday’s Dan Patrick Show it remains to be determined whether Vikings running back Adrian Peterson abused his four-year-old son. Dungy also said he grew up with similar discipline. See Danpatrick.com.

Mick Tingelhoff, who is a 2015 senior finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, said he doesn’t know who he would ask to be his presenter if he does receive induction into the Canton, Ohio shrine.

One reason the Vikings activated running back Joe Banyard last week is his work ethic. Signed as a free agent in 2012, he has yet to have an NFL rushing attempt. Growing up in Texas, he hunted rattlesnakes.

Parking near TCF Bank Stadium for last Sunday’s Vikings game cost $40 in at least one lot but some customers are paying $70 at the 49ers’ new stadium in Santa Clara.

Rochester Postbulletin.com reported last week that 6-foot-8 eighth grade guard Matthew Hurt, who is being recruited by the Gophers, suffered a lacerated spleen recently and could miss early games with John Marshall High School. His brother Michael, a 6-7 junior guard-forward, has already been offered a scholarship by the Gophers.

Richard Pitino, who had his 32nd birthday yesterday and is the Big Ten’s youngest basketball head coach, wrote on his Gophersports.com blog last week that Minnesota fans should disregard what his dad—legendary Louisville coach Rick Pitino—says in coming weeks when their two teams prepare for a nonconference nationally-televised game in Puerto Rico in November. Writing with dry humor but also making a point about his dad, Richard said: “Ignore anything and everything that comes out of my father’s mouth leading up to this game.”

Former Timberwolves reserve Mark Madsen will be an assistant coach for the Lakers under new head coach Byron Scott. Madsen’s basketball resume and positive outlook will likely land him an NBA head job some day.

This is the fourth year WCCO Radio is broadcasting all St. Thomas football games. A three-year agreement ended after last season but another three-year deal is in place.

Through the first two weeks of the season, MIAC football teams have a 12-5 record against nonconference teams. Among the highlights last week was a 55-45 Augsburg win against Concordia-Wisconsin when the Auggies had 682 yards in total offense with over 400 yards rushing. The MIAC has only one nonleague game remaining in 2014—Bethel at home against Chicago on October 18.

Bridgeport Tusler, who was the 2012 Associated Press Minnesota Player of the Year while at Osseo, is now a freshman wide receiver at Bethel. Tusler started his college career at South Dakota State.

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