Golden Gophers – Page 335 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Big Ten Authority Picks Cats Tomorrow

Posted on October 10, 2014October 10, 2014 by David Shama

“J” Leman predicts a close game tomorrow when the Gophers, 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten Conference, play Northwestern, 3-2 and 2-0, at TCF Bank Stadium. But the former University of Illinois All-American who is now a Big Ten Network football analyst told Sports Headliners he predicts the Wildcats will win.

Leman followed Northwestern’s 0-2 start this season, losing to California and Northern Illinois in Evanston, but since then the Wildcats have won three consecutive games including a dominating performance against Penn State on the road and a home win last Saturday over nationally-ranked Wisconsin. Leman, who was the analyst on BTN’s coverage of the Northwestern-PSU game, said this is a “tale” of two Wildcat teams and the group now on a three-game winning streak is featuring an “opportunistic defense” that stops teams from scoring at 20 yards and closer to the goal line.

“They’ve never been a shut down, lock’em down Michigan State style defense,” Leman said. “They bend a lot. They’re not going to give up a big play. …They’re going to make you work all the way down the field.”

Last Saturday the Wildcats held Wisconsin’s nationally-feared run game to 284 yards and only one touchdown rushing in a 20-14 win. The Wildcats came up with four interceptions including three by safety Godwin Igwebuike who was honored this week as Big Ten Defensive and Freshman Player of the Week.

The Wildcats and Gophers are tied for second in the Big Ten behind Michigan State with +6 turnover margins. “Here’s the key for Minnesota—it’s not turning the ball over and it’s red zone efficiency,” Leman said. “Northwestern is great at making a play when they need a play. …If Minnesota can win the turnover battle, they’ll win the football game.”

But Leman predicts the Gophers, who had a bye on the schedule last week, won’t win because of Minnesota’s suspect passing game. The Gophers are last in passing among conference teams averaging 113.2 yards per game, although quarterback Mitch Leidner did have his best performance of the season against Michigan when he completed 14 of 22 throws including one touchdown in an upset win on September 27.

“Until they can find consistency at that position, they’re going to struggle in close games,” Leman said. “That’s usually what happens when you have issues at quarterback. When you have issues at quarterback you’re going to turn the ball over, and you’re already playing an opportunistic defense (Northwestern).”

When Leman looks at the Wildcats he sees an “offense that’s coming together.” Senior quarterback Trevor Siemian can be productive and has talent among his receivers but the player Leman raves about is 5-11, 185-pound freshman running back Justin Jackson. He ran for a career high 162 yards against the Badgers. “I think Jackson will be the premier running back in this conference by the time he’s a junior or senior,” Leman said.

That statement should make an impression with the Gophers and so too is Leman’s comparison of Jackson with former Minnesota All-American running back Laurence Maroney. “I think if you look at Justin Jackson’s build—Maroney was a little bit thicker—but the way Justin Jackson runs with breakaway speed, runs angry and knows when to cut it up (the field) on the stretch play like Maroney…there’s some eerie similarities,” Leman said.

Leman is a fan of Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald and also an admirer of the Gophers’ Jerry Kill. During Fitzgerald’s nine-year career at Northwestern the Wildcats have drawn national attention with their success and have sometimes specialized in winning close games.

Fitzgerald was one of Northwestern’s greatest linebackers in the 1990s and Kill said the Wildcats “reflect” their head coach’s intensity and intelligence. “They’re always in the right place. They always step up with big plays. They have since he’s been there.”

Kill is in his fourth season as Gophers’ head coach and his staff has increased the win totals each season and Minnesota had an 8-5 record last year. “At Minnesota they develop football players,” Leman said.

Leman doesn’t think the Gophers will earn their fifth win tomorrow, but he has a positive outlook for Minnesota—a team whose attributes includes top running back David Cobb and a solid defense. “I still think Minnesota finds a way to get to eight or nine wins this year,” Leman said.

Worth Noting

Cobb ranked sixth nationally in rushing at 144.4 yards per game after last weekend. Leman rates him among the top five running backs in the Big Ten along with Ameer Abdullah (Nebraska), Tevin Coleman (Indiana), Melvin Gordon (Wisconsin) and Jeremy Langford (Michigan State). Kill said Cobb, a 5-11, 229-pound senior, is faster and stronger than last season when he ran for 1,202 yards—the 12th best total in Gophers’ history.

“He’s got great vision at the line of scrimmage, and he’s got a knack of keeping his pad level down—and then the strength in his legs—he’s very strong down below,” Kill said. “I think he’s harder to tackle this year than he’s ever been and we noticed that in camp.”

Cobb often makes runs that are longer than expected. He finds running room where there is minimal space and can turn a four-yard opening into 10 because of vision, burst and strength. “You know what? He’s amazing,” said Gophers offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover.

Maxx Williams, the Gophers’ sophomore tight end who could be named All-Big Ten this season, said he, too, is faster than last year. Could the 6-4, 250-pound Williams, who is known for his speed, run as fast as the team’s wide receivers? “Do my best to,” he answered.

Athletes have different ways of handling pregame anxieties. Gophers’ senior wide receiver Isaac Fruechte told Sports Headliners he vomited before football and track events while in high school, and up until this season at Minnesota.

East Ridge High School junior quarterback Seth Green’s parents, Bryan and Teresa Green, both attended the University of Minnesota. Bryan was a running back for the Gophers in the early 1990s. Seth is expected to announce his college choice October 15, with Michigan State, Minnesota and Oregon the contenders.

Vikings’ executive vice president Lester Bagley told Sports Headliners the franchise has thought about one day hosting the NFL Draft. “We haven’t worked on it but certainly it has crossed our minds,” he said.

New York City has been the long-time home of the league’s college draft but that will change next year in Chicago. The draft will be held at a large Chicago theatre, and NFL fan activities will be staged at the city’s Grant Park.

Bagley said this area has the venues and spaces to host the draft and fan festival but the franchise has its “hands full” now with details in playing temporarily at TCF Bank Stadium, building the new downtown Vikings stadium and planning for the 2018 Minneapolis Super Bowl. “We’re sure it’s something community (Minneapolis-St. Paul) leadership would be interested in,” Bagley said. “We’ll see how it goes in Chicago.”

During an interview Tuesday morning on 1500 ESPN, Gophers’ basketball coach Richard Pitino indicated the most uncertainty about the team’s starting lineup is at small forward and center. There’s competition at small forward between Carlos “Squirrel” Morris and Daquein McNeil, while Elliott Eliason and Mo Walker are trying to win the starting center job. Guards Andre Hollins and DeAndre Mathieu, and power forward Joey King, look like starters at their positions.

The Timberwolves play their second exhibition game of the fall tonight against the 76ers at Target Center and FSN North will televise starting at 7 p.m.

Add Cardinals’ relief pitcher and Minnesota native Pat Neshek to the list of players excelling after leaving the Twins. He has pitched in four games during the post-season with a 2.45 ERA in 3.2 innings. During the 2014 regular season Neshek had a 1.87 ERA and 7-2 record.

Dick Jonckowski, the Gophers’ baseball and basketball public address announcer, said he sold about 4,000 of 8,000 sports memorabilia items during his sale at the Canterbury Park Expo Center. Although he doesn’t have the final total, he thought sales might reach $13,000.00 for the fundraiser to help pay medical bills and restore the basement at his home that was flooded earlier this year. He is planning to sell the remaining inventory from the Canterbury sale to a Minneapolis sports memorabilia dealer.

Jonckowski is being treated for non-Hodgkin lymphoma and type 2 diabetes. He finishes chemotherapy in early December and expects a full recovery from the cancer. His 71st birthday is October 22.

For the first time in 2014 the MIAC has five teams receiving votes in both the AFCA Division III Coaches’ Poll and the D3football.com Top 25. In the D3football.com rankings, Bethel leads at No. 11 with Concordia 23rd, Saint John’s 24th and St. Thomas 25th, and Gustavus made the “others receiving votes” section of the poll. In the AFCA, Bethel is 16th, St. Thomas 21st and Concordia 25th, with Saint John’s and Gustavus also receiving votes.

Wild center Ryan Carter, from White Bear Lake and Minnesota State, is one of 16 WCHA alumni on NHL opening week rosters. Last night the recently signed Carter made his regular season debut with the Wild in the team’s 5-0 win over the Avalanche.

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Story behind Story of U Win over Michigan

Posted on October 1, 2014October 1, 2014 by David Shama

Last Saturday’s upset win over Michigan in Ann Arbor was unusually emotional for Gophers coach Jerry Kill who immediately after the game gave a long hug to his wife Rebecca and then praised seizure specialist Dr. Brien Smith. Kill told ABC sideline analyst Jeannine Edwards the doctor “saved my career.”

In 2013 the Gophers had also been in Ann Arbor when on the morning of the October 5 game Kill suffered an epileptic seizure. He has had a number of seizures but this was the first causing him to miss coaching a game. He also didn’t coach the following game two weeks later, and while he eventually returned to game day coaching last season it was from the press box and not the sidelines.

With a history of seizures, including at Minnesota where he started coaching in 2011, Kill drew criticism from media and fans last year who questioned whether the coach’s health should prompt his resignation. He responded by taking a leave of absence to again confront his challenge with epilepsy and seizures.

Kill turned to Smith, a nationally recognized authority on treatments for seizures. Last week Smith talked to Mlive.com reporter Sue Thoms for a September 27 story about Kill. “I think he just realized, yes, I have to monitor the situation because I can’t push the envelope too far,” Smith said.

Kill has made changes with medication and in his lifestyle including management of stress, according to the story. Close associates and other observers have praised his renewed health. His progress, of course, doesn’t come with guarantees that he will not have future seizures.

Smith knows the concern is ongoing for those afflicted with seizures. “It can be challenging, and it’s not always an easy fix for everyone,” Smith said. “In many cases, it’s trial and error with different medications and making other adjustments. You have to keep plugging away at it and fix the things you can fix.”

During his TV interview with Edwards, Kill gratefully acknowledged the role of Rebecca. Kill said without her support, including willingness to let her husband continue his career, he wouldn’t be coaching.

Kill’s mother was at the game and that added to the emotional scene in Michigan Stadium. She witnessed the Gophers’ first win over the Wolverines since 2005 and only the fourth victory dating back to 1977. It was a milestone win for Kill who preaches all the time he coaches “for the kids” and the victory eased the frustration of 58-0 and 42-13 losses in Ann Arbor in 2011 and 2013.

The Gophers won back the Little Brown Jug, college football’s oldest rivalry trophy. Kill wants Minnesota fans that haven’t seen the jug to have that opportunity. Tonight and Thursday evening the jug will be on display in the T. Denny Sanford Athletics Hall of Fame at TCF Bank Stadium from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Kill told Sports Headliners yesterday that people who haven’t seen him for awhile remark about how much better he looks. “I’ve worked hard to walk everyday—get some time to myself everyday,” Kill said. “Still working the same (long) hours but just being smarter about it. Doing the best I can to sleep. It’s hard during the season but I am doing the best I can. It’s all good at the end of the day. I am doing all the things that Doc Smith told me to do.”

Dan O’Brien, the Gophers associate athletic director who works closely with the football program, knows too that epilepsy means there’s never guarantees seizures won’t reoccur but the last 12 months have been positive. “He hasn’t had any (seizures) since right after that Michigan game (2013) when they started a new treatment plan,” O’Brien said.

Kill and his team stumbled a year ago in Michigan. Last Saturday he and the Gophers triumphed, celebrating a kind of double win on and off the field—partially thanks to a doctor from the Wolverine State.

Big Ten Power Rankings

Here’s how Sports Headliners sees the 14 Big Ten teams after five weeks of mostly nonconference action but also league games for all but three schools.

1. Michigan State (3-1, 0-0)—Spartans are the class of the Big Ten and worthy of their top 10 national ranking with a high scoring offense, tough defense and tougher coach in Mark Dantonio.

2. Ohio State (3-1, 0-0)—Buckeyes fail to impress defensively but offense coming along nicely without injured quarterback Braxton Miller who is out for the season but coach Urban Meyer says is the starter in 2015.

3. Wisconsin (3-1, 0-0)—Badgers inconsistent so far and LSU loss will haunt this team all year, but love that running game led by Wisconsin native Melvin Gordon.

4. Nebraska (5-0, 1-0)—Cornhuskers on a sugar binge after devouring all those cupcakes and first test comes Saturday at Michigan State—wonder if coach Bo Pelini will bring his cat for good luck.

5. Iowa (4-1, 1-0)—Hawkeyes have won two games by a total of eight points and lost one by three while playing tough in the trenches (as usual). U student body already practicing “We hate Iowa cheer” in anticipation of November 8 game in Minneapolis.

6. Minnesota (4-1, 1-0)—The Gophers will need the same kind of passing from quarterback Mitch Leidner and offensive line play shown in the Michigan game to become real contenders in the West Division race, but that’s not an impossible task.

7. Maryland (4-1, 1-0)—The Terps have only a game-ending loss to West Virginia but we will know a lot more after Saturday when they host Ohio State in a game that could be trouble for the Buckeyes.

8. Penn State (4-1, 1-1)—PSU fans now know new coach James Franklin doesn’t walk on water after the Nittany Lions lost to so-so Northwestern last Saturday, again showing a dismal run game that might make the late Joe Paterno hold his nose.

9. Rutgers (4-1, 0-1)—The feisty Scarlet Knights, formerly from the not so famous American Athletic Conference, have been better as a Big Ten member than most expected and have away from home wins over Washington State and Navy. Gotta give a wink to a school whose football alums include Ozzie Nelson.

10. Northwestern (2-2, 1-0)—Coach Pat Fitzgerald received major contributions from freshmen in last weekend’s dominating 29-6 win at Penn State and the Cats could give the Gophers an alley fight in Minneapolis a week from Saturday.

11. Michigan (2-3, 0-1)—Coach Brady Hoke, who won 11 games in 2011, is 9-9 in his last 18 games, and his seat is the warmest in college football while more seats are going empty in 109,901 capacity Michigan Stadium.

12. Indiana (2-2, 0-1)—The stumbling Big Ten image got such a lift from the Hoosiers’ miraculous road win over SEC member Missouri on September 20 that I don’t have the heart to rate them any lower in the power rankings than 12th although they might deserve it.

13. Illinois (3-2, 0-1)—Illinois has one of the league’s better quarterbacks in newcomer Wes Lunt and offensive coordinator Bill Cubit is talented but Illinois is in for a long season including a probable fourth consecutive loss to the Gophers on October 25.

14. Purdue (2-3, 0-1)—The Boilermakers play at Illinois on Saturday in a game that will cheer up one of these two downtrodden programs and probably give the scoreboard a workout since Purdue is yielding 27.8 points per game, the Illini 35.

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Spielman Playmakers Explode for Vikings

Posted on September 29, 2014September 29, 2014 by David Shama

Weekend analysis and notes on the Vikings, Timberwolves, Gophers and Twins.

Rick Spielman was under plenty of scrutiny last winter but yesterday at TCF Bank Stadium the Vikings general manager looked like a football savant. Spielman draft choices, including rookies Teddy Bridgewater and Jerick McKinnon, led a parade of explosive plays as the Vikings out-scored the Falcons 41-28 to even their record at 2-2.

Spielman was on the spot going into the NFL Draft last spring after quarterback Christian Ponder, his first round pick in the 2011 draft, faltered in 2013 after helping the Vikings to the playoffs the previous season. Spielman chose Bridgewater late in the first round this year, even though most other teams passed on the Louisville quarterback who yesterday in his first pro start passed for 317 yards and led the Vikings offense to its best day of the season. And it was also last spring that Spielman chose an obscure running back from Georgia Southern named McKinnon in the third round. He came off the bench against the Falcons to run for 135 yards.

Receiver Jarius Wright almost matched McKinnon’s 135 yards, coming up with a career high 132 yards on eight catches. Spielman chose Wright on the fourth round of the 2012 draft and his speed blends perfectly with a giddy-up gang of young offensive talent.

That group of playmakers includes Cordarrelle Patterson, one of the NFL’s most explosive talents for catching passes and returning kickoffs. Yesterday Patterson, who probably drew extra preventive attention from the Falcons’ defense, caught two passes for 38 yards and averaged 43 yards on two kickoff returns. Patterson is one of three No. 1 draft choices Spielman maneuvered to obtain in 2013.

The Vikings showed off a think fast, move faster attack yesterday. Bridgewater processed his decisions like a veteran—sometimes tip-toed and sometimes ran away from pressure—and consistently released the football quickly and with accuracy. Several times he took off and ran with impressive foot speed, complementing the track-like acceleration and high speed motoring to McKinnon, Wright and Patterson.

Another leg came in handy yesterday, too—the right leg of third-year placekicker Blair Walsh. Yup, another Spielman find. Walsh was taken in the sixth round of the 2012 draft and replaced veteran Ryan Longwell whose leg strength was no match for Walsh. In the win over the Falcons, Walsh made four of five field goals including one from 55 yards.

The Vikings offensive line was outstanding, making it possible for the flashy playmakers to score points. And while the defense had its struggles, it was resilient enough to shut out the Falcons in the fourth quarter after Atlanta had started the period with a 28-27 lead. The Vikings made a habit of blowing games in the fourth quarter last year but that looks like a problem solved. “We hung in there and we fought,” head coach Mike Zimmer told KFAN Radio after the game.

For now why scrutinize the meltdowns of last year or Spielman’s hot seat last winter? Not after yesterday when the Vikings young offensive talent had too much juice for the Falcons.

The Timberwolves open training camp this week and players will hear owner Glen Taylor refer to Adrian Peterson. The Vikings running back allegedly abused his four-year-old son and is facing criminal charges. During the first week of training camp Taylor always talks to players about the importance of their personal conduct.

In the past Taylor’s topics included spousal abuse but not child abuse. “We hadn’t even thought of that,” he told Sports Headliners.

The NFL has provided newsmaking examples about assaults, shootings, drinking and drugs. Hornets NBA forward Jeffery Taylor, who is being kept away from his team as he awaits an October 8 court date on domestic assault charges, is a reminder that pro basketball isn’t immune from issues.

Taylor will cover various subjects in his talk including how important it is for players to be involved with the community, and also respectful toward fans. He mentioned a potential situation where a player could find himself with a fan that has had too much alcohol. “You just have to learn to walk away,” Taylor said.

Twice in the past Taylor was interested in buying the Vikings. The last time was before the Wilf family acquired the club from Red McCombs in 2005. The NFL told Taylor what it believed the franchise was worth but the Wilfs and their group of investors were willing to pay more. “I think I bid like $525 (million) and I think theirs was closer to $600 (million), and I didn’t counter,” Taylor said.

Timberwolves rookie Andrew Wiggins is popular in Lawrence, Kansas and the Kansas City area because of his freshman phenom season for the Kansas Jayhawks in 2013-2014. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Wolves hosted an exhibition game in Kansas City in the coming years. The Missouri city was once home to the NBA’s Kings and has interest in acquiring a team again.

The Gophers’ win over Michigan Saturday was the 25th for Minnesota in the rivalry that started in 1892. The Gophers have now won more times in Ann Arbor, 13, than in Minneapolis, 12. Michigan leads the all-time series, 73-25-3.

Minnesota, 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten, will probably be favored by odds-makers to win each of its next three games—at home against Northwestern and Purdue, and then at Illinois. The Gophers could be undefeated in the Big Ten going into the Iowa game in Minneapolis on November 8. Iowa is a favorite to win the Big Ten West Division but the Gophers prompted some notice as a factor in the division race by defeating Michigan.

The Purdue game on October 18 will be part of the 100th Homecoming celebration at the University of Minnesota.

The public season tickets renewal percentage for Gophers men’s basketball for the 2014-2015 season is more than 95 percent. If Minnesota impresses during the nonconference schedule it wouldn’t be surprising to see nearly all of the Big Ten games at Williams Arena sell out.

Condolences to the family of former Gopher Jed Dommeyer who passed away earlier this month. Dommeyer led the Gophers in scoring during the 1955-1956 season averaging 19 points per game.

Twins first baseman Joe Mauer finished the 2014 season with four home runs in 455 at bats. Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner had four homers in 66 at bats. Jim Kaat, perhaps the best hitting Twins pitcher in club history, hit three home runs in 83 at bats in 1964, according to Baseball-reference.com.

Former Twins players who had productive seasons included first baseman Justin Morneau who won the National League batting title with a .319 average playing his first season with the Rockies. Ex-Twin Michael Cuddyer, now a Rockies teammate, won the NL title last year. Former Twins center fielders Ben Revere and Denard Span finished fifth and sixth in the National League batting race with averages of .306 and .302. The two tied for the league lead in hits with 184 each. Revere was third in stolen bases with 49, and Carlos Gomez, another ex-Twins center fielder, had 34 to finish fourth. Span, with 31, was fifth.

No one close to the Twins will be surprised if a decision comes this week on manager Ron Gardenhire’s future. He has a record of 199 wins and 291 losses the last four seasons, losing more than 90 games per year. Gardenhire has one season remaining on his contract.

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