Golden Gophers – Page 33 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Vikings Must Count on KOC, Flores for Difference Makers

Posted on June 15, 2024June 15, 2024 by David Shama

A common wagering figure this spring is the 2024 Vikings will win seven to eight games (7.5). That prediction is likely more acceptable in other parts of the country than in Vikings land where expectations are more like nine or 10 wins.

Still, only the giddiest of Purple fans—perhaps high on too much aquavit—will argue their favorites have an uber talented roster. The production from the all-important quarterback position is unknown, while the output from the interior offensive and defensive lines, edge rusher and cornerback group belong in the uncertainty category as well. Go ahead, too, and throw in speculation about the quality of the punting and kicking specialists where newcomers loom. And, yes, the schedule is challenging.

There are excellent playmakers at wide receiver, tight end and running back who play with two potential All-Pro tackles in Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw. Star power is lacking on defense where the unit’s biggest name from last season, pass rusher Danielle Hunter, left in free agency.

Scrutinize the roster and it’s evident if the Vikings exceed expectations the personnel will have to play beyond their potential. And that’s where head coach Kevin O’Connell, leading the offense, and defensive coordinator Brian Flores need to be difference makers.

There’s no questioning the coaching chops of either. In the two previous seasons leading the Vikings O’Connell proved his worth as an offensive schemer and play caller. Flores, in his first season leading the defense last season, lived up to his superb reputation after previous assignments as an assistant and head coach in the NFL.

Kevin O’Connell image courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

With two unproven quarterbacks in Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy, O’Connell will need to be efficient in devising an offense that makes a defense think, without being too exotic. This offense could be run focused to the extent the quarterback is asked to throw 22 to 26 passes a game.

Power running with multiple tight ends and even two running backs might be how the Vikings often line up. The addition of running back Aaron Jones, the free agent signee who three times in seven seasons with the Packers rushed for over 1,000 yards, could see the Vikings use him as a bell cow softening up defenses before Darnold or McCarthy hit wide receivers Justin Jefferson or Jordan Addison with a big pass play. Whatever the formation, with or without pre-snap motion, count on KOC to provide an edge in deception and play calling.

Variation of scheme and play calls are likely to be trademarks of Flores’ defense, too. It wouldn’t even be surprising if the unit lined up in a five-man front instead of a three. Flores’ blitzes will be part of the defensive package and expect him to mix his personnel to take advantage of individuals’ strengths and keep players fresh.

It looks like with the players the Vikings have added on defense in the offseason they will collectively be a faster unit than in 2023. That’s exemplified with new linebacker Blake Cashman, the 28-year-old former Gopher whose speed allows him to excel in pass coverage. Rookie Dallas Turner is 6-3, 247, but can motor and may make an impact next fall as a big play pass rusher.

When the Vikings open training camp late next month, the tutoring by O’Connell, Flores and the other coaches will begin as they work with a revamped roster that counts seven rookies and 12 key new NFL veterans. The time will go quickly and must be used wisely as the Vikings prepare for their regular season opener September 8 at the Giants.

A quote from O’Connell last week fit what lies ahead for the staff: ”…There’s an hourglass going for 32 teams the moment that we all come back to training camp and how we use that time—how we prepare the team, I’ve learned is a huge part of the early season.”

Worth Noting

Espn.com posted a story this week about the NFL’s highest paid players and the list included two Vikings and two others with Minnesota ties. Categories used were three-year average (APY) compensation and guaranteed money.

Viking wide receiver Justin Jefferson’s new deal has him at $35 million APY and an NFL record of guaranteed money for a non-quarterback—$110 million. Viking T.J. Hockenson, who agreed to a new deal last summer, is tops among tight ends in guaranteed money at $42.5 million and third in APY at $16 million.

Former Gopher All-American Antoine Winfield Jr., playing for the Bucs, is No. 1 among safeties with $21.03 million APY and $45 million guaranteed. Minnesota native Frank Ragnow, playing for the Lions, is tops among centers in both APY at $14 million and guaranteed money, $42 million.

The highly respected Phil Steele Publications has seven Golden Gophers among its college football preseason honorees. Offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery is a third team preseason All-American, while kicker Dragan Kesich made the fourth team.

Both Gophers are first team All-Big Ten selections along with wide receiver Daniel Jackson. Defensive lineman Danny Striggow and cornerback Justin Walley are second teamers, with linebacker Cody Lindenberg on the third team and punter Mark Crawford the fourth team.

Ryan Burns, the Gopher football authority from GopherIllustrated, counts cornerback transfer Ethan Robinson from Bucknell among new players he will analyze this fall. Burns told Sports Headliners Robinson had “copious amounts of opportunities” from other schools including USC.

Robinson will be a senior and figures to start with Walley, a three-year starter and senior. Burns said the potential is present to have “two play making corners there that’s going to help you immensely.”

Greg Gagne, son of former Gopher great and legendary pro wrestler Verne Gagne, is a partner and co-founder of PowerTown, a company producing “original collectible wrestling action figures comprised of legends of the sport from the past eight decades,” per the website. Greg wrestled for his father’s American Wrestling Association years ago and gained tag team wrestling fame with fellow Minnesotan Jim Brunzell. https://powertownwrestling.com/

Former Gophers public address announcer Dick Jonckowski reports he has been cancer free for about 18 months. He has battled and overcome non-Hodgkin lymphoma three times, and celebrates his 81^st birthday in October.

Jonckowski was honored earlier this year by the Minnesota State High School Baseball Coaches Association with its distinguished service award for his many years promoting the sport including as the public address voice at state tournaments.

The Twins could use a right-handed hitting corner outfielder as they try to overcome a disappointing start to the season and chase the Guardians in the race to win the Central Division title. Ironically, 29-year-old right-handed hitting outfielder Brent Rooker is in town with the lowly Athletics, and he is a club leader in home runs with 13 and 41 RBIs. The Twins drafted Rooker in 2017 but gave up on him after the 2021 season. Before the MLB trade deadline on July 30, he will be rumored to join a contending club.

Luis Arraez, the former Twin leading MLB in batting average at .329, can become the only player in the modern era to win three batting titles with three different teams. With Minnesota, Arraez won the American League championship in 2022, topped the National League last season with the Marlins and could lead that league again playing for the Padres.

Meanwhile, pitcher Pablo Lopez, who came from the Marlins in the Arraez deal, is struggling and not producing numbers like a staff ace. Lopez is 6-6 with a .533 ERA. In his last seven starts he is 3-4 with a 6.34 ERA.

The club’s best starter in 2024 is Joe Ryan, 5-5 and 3.24 ERA. In his last seven starts he is 4-3 with a 2.98 ERA.

Can’t beat these baseball names for pitchers: Scott Blewett and Janson Junk are two names brought to attention by friend Dave Mona. Blewett is one of the Saints’ better relievers with a 3-2 record and 2.41 ERA. Junk is also a reliever and the Brewers recently optioned him to their Nashville farm team after compiling a 9.00 ERA in three games and five innings.

That was Minnetonka High School graduate and Kansas senior Gunnar Broin impressing at the U.S. Open yesterday with a two-under 68 that enabled him to make the cut in Pinehurst, North Carolina. After two rounds he is in contention to finish as the low amateur. He played in the 2023 North and South Amateur at the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club so he is familiar with the course.

It was sad to hear of Jerry West’s death this week. The NBA icon was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1960, shortly before the franchise moved to Los Angeles. West teamed with Elgin Baylor, who got his start with the Lakers in Minneapolis, to form one of the most prolific scoring duos in NBA history.

The Lakers picked up their legacy of great teams in Minneapolis after their move to California. During the 1960s their playoff games were sometimes televised back to the Twin Cities by owner Bob Short who used his trucking company, Admiral Merchants, as a sponsor.

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Golden Gophers Sit Tight on Ben Johnson’s Contract

Posted on June 11, 2024June 11, 2024 by David Shama

There has been postseason anticipation about Ben Johnson’s contract as University of Minnesota head men’s basketball coach. That suspense goes back to late March when Johnson’s Golden Gophers posted the best record in his three seasons of leading the program at his alma mater.

Athletic director Mark Coyle told Sports Headliners there will be no changes in Johnson’s contract this offseason. The deal has three years remaining (ends April 30, 2027) and Coyle believes longer contracts are a thing of the past because of the flux in rosters with basketball players and other athletes coming and going. The transfer portal and influence of NIL money can change rosters on a dime.

Minnesota will have two returning starters, Dawson Garcia and Mike Mitchell Jr., from the 2023-2024 team that finished 9-11 in Big Ten regular season games and 19-15 overall. The conference record was good for ninth place in the 14-team league standings.

That was a major improvement over Johnson’s first two seasons when his teams had consecutive last place conference finishes and a combined 6-33 league record. That prompted public criticism of Johnson during his first experience as a head coach after being a career assistant college coach at Minnesota and elsewhere.

“We made great, great strides,” Coyle said during an interview at his campus office. “I’ve talked to Ben about if we go .500 in conference play, we’re going to be in the NCCA Tournament more times than not if you play a decent nonconference schedule.

“So, our goal is to continue to support Ben and help him take the next step. I think Ben is very excited about the roster he brought in. A lot of thanks to (program booster) Bob Klas and the people that support our NIL initiative. …Ben is in a really good spot, so we did not do a contract extension.”

The Gophers—who are bringing in eight new players including six transfers—lost three starters with remaining eligibility from last season’s team. It’s believed Pharrel Payne and Elijah Hawkins left for more lucrative NIL money. Cam Christie is pursuing the NBA Draft.

Coyle said Johnson and other coaches are in his office on a regular basis to discuss NIL. Working with the Dinkytown Athletes collective, the Athletic Department has seen a surge in money benefiting athletes from many sports since DA started almost two years ago. Coyle didn’t offer a figure as to how much money Johnson has had to work with in 2024 but an informed estimate by Sports Headliners is “north” of $1 million.

“I don’t think we know what our peers are at,” Coyle said. “You hear rumors what our peers are at but then you see them lose two or three starters, too.”

Money is a centerpiece of Johnson’s responsibilities. A Big Ten contending team in this market could command among the higher ticket prices in college hoops and those revenues would shoulder a big load in a department where the only programs making money are football, men’s basketball and men’s hockey.

The Gophers averaged 8,139 in home attendance last season, ranking 12^th in the Big Ten. That was down from 9,451 the previous year.

A spokesman from the Athletic Department emailed that the Gophers made $5 million from men’s basketball this past year. The potential, he said, was to make $2 million more.

On a side topic, a visitor asked Coyle about the disruption of play by TV commercials during major college basketball games including in the Big Ten. Combined with frequent timeouts by coaches, there are almost constant stoppages of play.

Coyle, who is a member of the Division I Basketball Committee, remembered a game in 2024 where the teams played through two designated media timeouts because nothing happened to stop the game clock. A price was paid, though, when the timeouts finally came. In about a five-minute span the action on the floor consisted of a couple of free throws.

Coyle said “we need to have that conversation” about the disruption in flow of men’s college games.

Worth Noting

Christie, who played one season as a freshman for the Gophers, doesn’t turn 19 until July 24. If he is drafted later this month by an NBA team it will almost certainly be in the second round.

This what NBA.com, courtesy of RotoWire, said about the younger brother of Lakers reserve Max Christie: “Christie stands out due to his energy and shooting ability but needs to devote more time to improving on the defensive end of the court to reach his ceiling. Don’t be surprised if he starts his career in the G League. Given the similarity of traits, Christie could end up having a similar career to his brother.”

Richard Pitino, who preceded Johnson as Gophers coach, received an extension this spring that will pay him $1.2 million next season and rise to $1.4 million in 2028-2029, the last year of the contract. When Pitino started his career as Minnesota coach in 2013 his compensation was $1.2 million.

As of yesterday, Stub.com listed some tickets for more than $1200 each for the Lynx’s home game July 14 against phenom Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever.

Don’t be surprised if the Timberwolves, Twins and Wild band together to televise their games next fall and beyond after the fallout this spring between Comcast Xfinity and Bally Sports resulted in no Twins games on local cable TV.

It was a spirited and heartfelt tribute yesterday for the late Jim Carter at 7 Vineyards and Winery in Dellwood. Nicknamed “Hurricane” while at the University of Minnesota playing football and hockey in the late 1960s, the South St. Paul native was a fierce competitor in sports, business and life. He was a dedicated friend to many people including those in recovery from addiction.

Close pal and Gopher football teammate Bob Stein was among those speaking at the celebration of life for Carter who passed away in November from cancer. Stein recalled Carter not liking a penalty call in a hockey game and storming out on to the ice with a chair in hand. A game official recognized Stein who was seated near the ice, and asked for an intervention with the 6-4, 250-pound Carter. “Are you crazy?” Stein said.

Stein, a defensive end, and Carter, a fullback, faced each other one-on-one many times in practice drills. Stein likened it yesterday to Bighorn Rams butting heads in the popular Dodge Ram TV commercials. He said after the drills both players would go back to the frat house with headaches, and then rest while needing to get ready for that evening’s party.

Stein spoke of Carter’s “humility,” interest in others and their welfare, saying it didn’t matter what a person’s stature in life was, he wanted to know about you. Emcee Dick Jonckowski recalled that several years ago Carter approached him and said he heard the Gophers baseball public address man had cancer. Carter asked Jonckowski about the financial impact on his life and he acknowledged there was uncertainty. Not long after a check from Carter arrived in the mail.

Former teammates and other friends were in attendance including ex-South St. Paul goalie Gaylen Bicking who played with Carter. He told the gathering that while efforts haven’t been successful yet, the will is there to name the South St. Paul High School football facility after the former Packers great: Ettinger Field at Jim Carter Stadium.

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Quartet of Local Stars Reminds of 4 Greats 20 Years Ago

Posted on June 5, 2024June 5, 2024 by David Shama

The sensational return of third baseman Royce Lewis to the Twins’ roster yesterday and the announcement of a new contract for Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson on Monday is a reminder that this town’s four major pro sports teams each has a superb young player who likely will entertain fans for years to come.

Lewis, Jefferson, shooting guard Anthony Edwards of the Timberwolves and wing Kirill Kaprizov of the Wild are cornerstones for their teams, and prompt memories of the best foursome who ever played at the same time in this area for Minnesota’s big four teams. Twenty years ago, Minneapolis-St. Paul lit up with star power having Marian Gaborik from the Wild, Kevin Garnett of the Wolves, Joe Mauer from the Twins and Randy Moss of the Vikings.

Mauer goes into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum this summer, while Garnett and Moss are already enshrined in the basketball and football halls. Only Gaborik isn’t enshrined in his sport’s hall of fame.

Jefferson and Edwards look like they’re on track to be hall of famers for sure. Lewis has flashed the potential to be mentioned among baseball’s best players in today’s game. Kaprizov brings fans out of their seats in anticipation of what he might do but he has to build on his success to become a hall of famer.

Lewis, who turns 25 today, has played in just 72 games (counting 2024) over three seasons as the injury gods have been cruel to him and his adoring fans. But, oh my, what anticipation the gifted hitter has set for all who follow him. Last October he became the third player in MLB history to homer in his first two postseason at bats. He set the stage for the dramatic during the regular season by hitting four grand slams in a 20-game span as he helped the Twins win the AL Central Division title. Last night after his return from a severe quadriceps strain, all he did was produce one of only two Twins hits in their loss to the Yankees, hitting a home run and making a terrific play in the field.

Jefferson, 24, is a three-time Pro Bowler who in his first four seasons set an NFL record for receiving yards with 5,889. He has produced four consecutive seasons of 1,000-plus receiving yards. In 2022 he became the youngest player in NFL history to lead the league in receptions (128) and receiving yards (1,809). His new deal, reportedly for $140 million, makes him the highest paid non-quarterback in league history.

Edwards, 22, is already a two-time All-Star Game selection. This spring he was named second team All-NBA for the first time in his four-year career. An explosive scorer, he emerged this season as the alpha on the team averaging a career-high 25.9 points per game. He became the first player in franchise history to average 25-plus points per game, and five-plus rebounds and assists. He was often brilliant in the playoffs as the Wolves reached the Western Conference playoffs for the first time in 20 years.

The electric Kaprizov, who turned 27 last month and is a three-time All-Star, easily broke Gaborik’s franchise rookie record of 36 points. The Russian native had 51 points to lead all NHL rookies in 2020-2021. In Kaprizov’s second season, he broke the franchise record for goals (42) held by Gaborik and Eric Staal. His 47 goals were part of his 108 points season (100 points a first in franchise history) while helping the Wild to a record number of wins at 53.

Worth Noting

Dawson Garcia, who led the basketball Gophers in scoring last season at 17.6 points per game, has a Name, Image and Likeness deal with Dakotah Sport and Fitness in Prior Lake. The former Prior Lake all-state player grew up working out at the facility.

Charles Barkley’s TV commentary on the Timberwolves’ playoff games this spring prompted a favorite memory from Dave Mona. He recently wrote about it on Facebook reminiscing about how his company had produced a lithograph honoring the 50 greatest players in NBA history. It was back in 1997 that Mona and his wife Linda were in Cleveland charged with obtaining signatures from the players—including Barkley—on all 250 lithographs.

“About halfway through the signing it was clear he was starting to tire,” Mona said on Facebook. “He was cracking his neck and flexing his fingers. Linda, who was standing over his right shoulder, started to give him a back rub and it was obvious he loved it.

‘Can you come up to my hotel room after we’re done here,’ he suggested. ‘You’d have to ask my husband,’ she said. ‘He’s the one handing you the sharp pencils.’

Mona wrote that Barkley smiled and said: “He can come too.”

Rob Fornasiere, the longtime assistant coach to Golden Gophers head baseball coach John Anderson, emailed several eye-catching stats about his former boss who retired at age 69 this spring. The statistics, gathered by Joel Rippel from the Star Tribune, include these gems: Anderson coached in over half of all games the baseball Gophers have ever played—dating back 136 years—and his 1,390 wins is 49 percent of the program’s total victories.

Anderson took over as Minnesota’s head coach in 1981 and since then there have been 55 other Big Ten coaches. He and Fornasiere coached together for 1,943 games over 33 seasons, winning 1,164 games.

Minnesota sports and entertainment icon Dick Jonckowski will emcee next Monday’s tribute for the late Jim Carter, the well-known South St. Paul and former Golden Gophers athlete. At Minnesota Carter played hockey but was best known as a physical running back who was a key contributor to the 1967 Big Ten title team and captained the 1969 football Gophers. The tribute, organized by former football teammate Jim Brunzell, will be held at 7 Vines Vineyard and Winery in Dellwood, and will be attended by former Carter teammates and other friends. Carter passed away in California last November.

Per a news release yesterday from the University of Minnesota Athletic Department, Golden Gophers athletes continue to excel academically. The cross country, men’s golf, gymnastics and women’s hockey programs earned a perfect academic progress rate score for the 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years.

Twelve programs earned a perfect APR score in the most recent reporting year of 2022-23: men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, football, men’s golf, gymnastics, women’s hockey, softball, women’s swimming, women’s tennis and volleyball. https://gophersports.com/news/2024/6/4/athletics-minnesota-continues-to-shine-in-academic-progress-rate

Belated Happy Birthday to Lou Nanne who turned 83 Sunday. Over a period of 25 years Minnesota’s Mr. Hockey was a player, coach, GM and president of the NHL North Stars.

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