Golden Gophers – Page 344 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Surging Gophers Draw National Attention

Posted on November 6, 2013 by David Shama

With a surprising 7-2 record and three consecutive Big Ten wins, the Gophers are drawing national attention this week leading up to Saturday’s game at TCF Bank Stadium against Penn State.

ESPN’s Samantha Ponder was at the Gophers’ football office yesterday to interview coach Jerry Kill and defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys who serves as head coach when Kill is absent. Her segment will air on Saturday’s College GameDay show.

SI.com college football writer Stewart Mandel listed his bowl game predictions on Monday and he predicted the Gophers will play in the Gator Bowl against SEC power South Carolina on January 1. If so, that will be the Gophers’ first January 1 bowl appearance since the 1962 Rose Bowl.

The Associated Press, Harris Interactive and USA Today top 25 polls all have the Gophers receiving votes this week. Although Minnesota didn’t make anybody’s top 25, the Gophers are earning attention from voters, probably more so than at any time in Kill’s three years as head coach in Minneapolis.

Gophers radio analysts Ray Hitchcock and Darrell Thompson think Minnesota is among the top six teams in the Big Ten. Hitchcock likes Minnesota’s chances of winning two of its three remaining regular season games. That script would leave the Gophers at 9-3 overall, 5-3 in the Big Ten.

The present record of 7-2 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten surprises Thompson and others. “I think it’s a big surprise, quite honestly,” Thompson said. “It also goes as a credit to the coaching staff and the kids. The hard work is starting to pay off. We’ve seen improvement in losses but it’s good to finally see the kids have earned — and the coaching staff has earned — victories.”

Minnesota has won two of its last three games by three point margins. The other victory was by 11 so the Gophers haven’t dominated Big Ten opponents but that doesn’t mean the players and Kill are without solid confidence.

“I think we can play with whoever we want,” said tight end Maxx Williams. “We know our potential. We know how good we are and we know what we can do as a team. …We go into every week thinking we have a chance to win that game. I think that’s what helps us with our success.”

Kill agrees the Gophers can be good if injuries don’t become a problem. “I think that’s the key to the next three to four weeks. The off-week will help us.”

After the Penn State game the Gophers have a bye before playing at home against Wisconsin on November 23 and then closing the season at Michigan State November 30.

Good news yesterday was Kill’s prediction starting quarterback Philip Nelson, who injured his hip last Saturday against Indiana, will be ready to play in the Penn State game.

Worth Noting

The Big Ten has one of the nation’s best teams in Ohio State, ranked No. 4 in the major polls. But the league has no other teams in the top 15 of polls and that’s probably not fair to Michigan State and Wisconsin who deserve better.

Here are the latest Sports Headliners power rankings:

1. Ohio State: Buckeyes look on course for a national championship in next few years.

2. Michigan State: Spartans’ defense compares with any in the country.

3. Wisconsin: Badgers discover the forward pass under new coach Gary Andersen.

4. Michigan: These aren’t Bo Schembechler’s Wolverines; too many mistakes and leaks on defense.

5. Nebraska: Where have you gone Taylor Martinez? Coach Bo Pelini fighting for his job.

6. Minnesota: Swallow hard but Gophers deserve this ranking after three consecutive league wins.

7. Iowa: Hawks battle but offense lacks creativity and playmakers.

8. Penn State: Bowl ban and scholarship reductions will continue to topple this once mighty program.

9. Northwestern: Preseason thoughts of a Big Ten championship have died because these are unlucky Cats.

10. Indiana: If tackling is ever eliminated, pencil in pass-happy Hoosiers for the national title game.

11. Illinois: Illini have lost 18 consecutive league games but wait in anticipation for Indiana and Purdue.

12. Purdue: In their last three Big Ten games the beleaguered Boilermakers have been outscored 114 to 7.

High school senior basketball players can sign NCAA Letters of Intent from November 13-20. Minnesota prep stars Tyus Jones from Apple Valley and Reid Travis from DeLaSalle will reportedly make commitments during the early signing week instead of waiting until the next period, April 16-May 21. Jones is likely to announce his college choice next week at Apple Valley High School while Travis will do so this Friday at DeLaSalle High School.

Don’t be surprised if the Gophers sign Travis. No chance with Jones, though.

Former Twins vice president of corporate partnerships Eric Curry became vice president of sales for Sun Country Airlines last month. Curry is also an NCAA men’s basketball referee and officiated 85 games last season. He will work Big Ten, Pac-12 and Mountain West games this season. He officiates his first game ever at legendary Pauley Pavilion on November 12 when UCLA hosts Oakland (Rochester, Michigan).

The Vikings have lost two games this season by four points and another by one point. If Minnesota had won those games their record going into tomorrow night’s game at Mall of America Field against the Redskins would be 4-4, not 1-7. The other teams in the NFC North, the Lions, Bears and Packers, all have 5-3 records so if not for those losses the Vikings would be in the division race.

In that scenario there would be local optimism about a division title, too, because both the Bears and Packers are playing without their injured starting quarterbacks, Jay Cutler and Aaron Rodgers.

Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier will have Christian Ponder make his third consecutive start tomorrow night. Ponder completed 25 of 37 passes last Sunday in a four point loss to the Cowboys. He threw one touchdown pass and had a pass intercepted. In five games this season Ponder has thrown three touchdown passes, been intercepted six times and has a 72.5 quarterback rating, but Frazier saw improvement last Sunday.

“I thought he was more confident in some of the things he was doing, more control,” Frazier said. “I like the decisions that he made when he had to escape the pocket, getting out of trouble and avoiding sacks. There are some things that he can do better obviously…but I like the way he moved and the way he handled our no huddle situation as well. He really seemed comfortable there. We thought he would with the way he practiced and he did a good job of directing our team.”

Despite the Vikings’ record, general manager Rick Spielman expressed public support for Frazier last week. Frazier, however, said he hasn’t spoken to his boss about his status that includes a contract with an option only for 2014.

With the Metrodome being torn down after the Vikings season, the baseball Gophers will play only 18 home games next year after having 34 in 2013. The Gophers don’t have a home game scheduled until March 26 when they play Saint John’s from the MIAC. Minnesota opens its 2014 schedule on February 14 in Glendale, Arizona against Northern Illinois.

The Gophers “M” Club for letter winners will be 100 years old next year. Director George Adzick said dues paying members now total nearly 1,000, an all-time high.

Reservations are requested by next Monday for the November 14 CORES luncheon program featuring Matt Majka, the chief operating officer of Minnesota Sports & Entertainment whose business interests include the Minnesota Wild. The program will be held at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington. For reservations or more information, contact Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net.

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Frazier to Address Locker Room Attitude

Posted on November 4, 2013November 4, 2013 by David Shama

Leslie Frazier wasn’t pointing fingers at his news conference today despite the team’s fourth consecutive loss yesterday, a 1-7 record and criticism from veteran players. The Vikings head coach plans to address his players this afternoon about team attitude in the locker room.

Today’s Star Tribune reported that following yesterday’s game Vikings players made critical comments about defensive coordinator Alan Williams and offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave. “I respect their opinions and I know how competitive they are. How much they want to win,” Frazier said. “I’d like for them to talk to their coaches and myself about whatever concerns they have. Try to get those worked out, but I do understand their frustration.”

Frazier, who expressed confidence the Vikings can start winning, acknowledged he “probably” needs to talk with individual players who have been critical in the media. He wants players on the “same page.”

Frazier doesn’t foresee any staff changes in responsibilities or titles.

Former Vikings head coach Jerry Burns remains supportive of Frazier despite the record and preseason optimism about contending for the NFC North Division championship. “I think Leslie Frazier is a very fine coach,” Burns told Sports Headliners. “If he gave too much command (to his coordinators) I don’t know. I don’t think Leslie Frazier is at fault.”

Burns said criticism causes problems for team cohesiveness. “I don’t like to see that to be honest with you,” Burns said. “It doesn’t help the team. It doesn’t help the fans behind the Vikings.”

Burns is “proud” of Frazier and advises against any major changes to staff and personnel during the season. He said players could be making staff decisions look bad because of problems with execution, and added that it’s difficult to make any major changes in the middle of the season.

The Vikings’ 1-7 record is the worst in franchise history since the same start to the season in 1961. Burns said the team’s record should be better but isn’t partly because of having lost three games in the final minutes of fourth quarters.

Worth Noting

How times change. Sports Headliners was told by a local source that Vikings officials and Frazier discussed extending the coach’s contract late last summer. There was supposedly mutual interest after Frazier’s 10-6 record in 2012 and optimism about the 2013 season. Frazier’s current contract reportedly has an option for the 2014 season but management has declined to make a further commitment.

The same source who talked about Frazier’s contract said ex-NFL coach Jon Gruden was in town several weeks ago but didn’t know the reason for the visit.

Frazier said today tight end Kyle Rudolph’s fractured left foot could keep him from playing for another month. The coach plans to start Christian Ponder at quarterback for a third consecutive game when the Vikings play at home on Thursday night against the Redskins.

The NFL Network will air a one hour documentary on former Vikings quarterback Randall Cunningham tomorrow night starting at 8 p.m. Minneapolis time. The program includes interviews with Cunningham, former Vikings teammate Cris Carter and ex-Vikings coach Dennis Green. Cunningham quarterbacked the 15-1 1998 Vikings team and he has lived a dramatic life on and off the field.

Cretin-Derham Hall High School assistant coach Ray Hitchcock said there’s a “pail of mail” at school every day from colleges wooing junior defensive end Jashon Cornell. He has been rated the No. 1 high school football prospect in the nation for the class of 2015 by ESPN.com. Hitchcock believes Gophers coach Jerry Kill has reason for optimism in the recruitment of the 16-year-old. “I think Jerry has a great shot,” Hitchcock said.

Jeff Jones, the Gophers’ only four-star recruit per Rivals.com who has verbally committed for 2014, ended his senior season for Washburn on Friday night with 44 touchdowns — 34 rushing, eight receiving and two kickoff returns for scores. Coach Giovan Jenkins told Sports Headliners that Kill’s struggles with epilepsy haven’t diminished his running back’s interest in the Gophers.

“If he had to pick a school today, I think Minnesota would be No. 1 due to his relationships with the coaches,” said Jenkins who coached the Millers to a 6-0 City Conference record and 13^th consecutive title.

After Saturday’s improbable 42-39 win over Indiana, the Gophers have won three consecutive Big Ten games for the first time since 2008 and only the fourth time dating back to 2003. Minnesota is a surprising 7-2 overall, 3-2 in the Big Ten and justifies the faith of program insiders who before the season thought the Gophers’ record could be significantly better than last year’s 6-7 and 2-6 totals. The last time Minnesota won four consecutive conference games was 1973.

Gophers quarterback Philip Nelson was named Co-Big Ten offensive Player of the Week for his play against Indiana including four touchdown passes and a 70 percent completion rate. Minnesota punter Peter Mortell was named Special Teams Player of the Week after averaging 43 yards per kick and placing two punts inside the Indiana 20 yard line. Nelson shared his honor with Penn State running back Bill Belton who had a career high 201 yards rushing versus Illinois.

Twins players can expect new coach Paul Molitor to be up front with them. Molitor has that reputation including a willingness to talk about the cocaine addiction he experienced early in his major league playing career.

Molitor is a smart baseball man and so, too, is another Minnesota native who could be on the Twins staff some day, Gene Glynn. He recently agreed to return for a third season as manager of the Twins’ AAA Rochester team.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the Twins and Saints develop a business relationship when the St. Paul minor league team moves into its new downtown ballpark in 2015.

Tubby Smith recently hired his son Saul Smith, who worked for him at Minnesota, as video coordinator at Texas Tech. Saul joins former Gophers assistants Joe Esposito and Vince Taylor on his dad’s staff at Tech.

The Gophers basketball team plays Concordia, St. Paul tonight in an exhibition game at Williams Arena. Minnesota defeated Cardinal Stritch 79-57 in an opening exhibition game last Friday night and now plays a Concordia program that was 9-18 last season.

The Gophers made 11 of 30 free throws on Friday night and were out rebounded 40-34 by Division II NAIA Cardinal Stritch. “We’re not worried about the free throws,” said Gophers guard Andre Hollins. “I think that was a lot of nerves from the first game.”

Rebounding could be an ongoing issue, though. The Gophers lack size, and coach Richard Pitino noted that 6-4 forward Austin Hollins played 23 minutes but had no rebounds.

In the Williams Arena concourse there are photos of the Gophers’ greatest players including Ron Johnson who is identified as being All-Big Ten in the late 1950s. That is correct but missing is acknowledgement of his two-time All-American status.

The Timberwolves, 3-0 for the first time since the 2001-2002 season, play at Cleveland tonight. Wolves forward Kevin Love leads the NBA in scoring average at 29.7 points per game.

Wild right wing Jason Pominville, Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and Capitals left wing Jason Chimera have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Nov. 3. During that period Pominville tied for the league lead in goals (4) and points (6), scoring in all three games to help the Wild (8-4-3, 19 points) earn four out of a possible team six points. He is tied for third in the NHL in goals this season with 10.

The Venture Bank 2014 Minnesota Golf Show will be February 14-16 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

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National Championships Coach Praises Kill

Posted on November 1, 2013November 3, 2013 by David Shama

J Robinson, 67, has coached the Gophers to three national championships in wrestling. He has strong philosophies about coaching and life, and doesn’t hesitate to express them.

“You’re put here for a purpose. You’re not put here to be happy,” Robinson told Sports Headliners.

Robinson is a former Army Ranger who when asked about Gophers football coach Jerry Kill brought up leadership. Robinson, who attended both Ranger and Jungle Warfare School before serving in Vietnam, said leadership isn’t measured just when the leader is present. A test of leadership is whether things “fall apart,” or if they function successfully when the leader is absent.

At times the Gophers have been without their football leader because of Kill’s absence to better manage his epilepsy, but the program has excelled in wins the last two Saturdays over nationally ranked Northwestern and Nebraska. Kill played a partial role in those wins but they wouldn’t have happened without the staff he hired and the players he tutored in two-plus seasons as Minnesota’s head coach.

The success doesn’t surprise Robinson. “He’s got a formula for what I would call success,” Robinson said.

That “formula” has various elements from identifying player personnel to infusing discipline into the program to being willing to trust and delegate responsibilities to assistant coaches. The Gophers are a surprising 6-2 so far this season and maybe on track to duplicate third year turnarounds Kill led at Southern Illinois (10-2) and Northern Illinois (10-3).

Last Saturday’s win over Nebraska, a school the Gophers hadn’t defeated since 1960, was a potential program-changing victory. But to make that a reality this Minnesota team will have to distinguish itself from others who have had similar headline making upsets.

The 1977 team upset No. 1 ranked Michigan 16-0 in Minneapolis, then lost games the next two weeks and finished 7-5 after being 6-5 the year before. In 1986 the Gophers surprised No. 2 ranked Michigan in Ann Arbor but lost the next two games, ending with a 6-6 record after the previous season’s 7-5 mark.

In 1999 the Gophers surprised No. 2 Penn State in “Happy Valley” and won their next two games before losing in the Sun Bowl to Oregon. That season the Gophers were 8-4, winning three more games than in 1998 but in 2000 and 2001 the records were disappointing, 6-6 and 4-7.

The Gophers also surprised Michigan in Ann Arbor in 2005, only to lose the next two games and finish the season at 7-5 after being 10-3 in 2003. Coach Glen Mason was fired after the 2006 bowl game when the Gophers were 6-7.

At Indiana tomorrow the Gophers will try to do the unusual, follow up on a major win with another victory and signal a major shift in the program. Quarterback Philip Nelson said beating Nebraska, college football’s winningest program since 1970, was a confidence booster. “I think this one’s a big one just because Nebraska is a great team. Nobody really ever expects us to really win that much.”

Worth Noting

Freshman wide receiver Donovahn Jones ran four times from scrimmage for 40 yards against Nebraska. A converted prep quarterback, he is still learning how to play wide receiver.

Asked how close he is to becoming a primary receiver Jones said, “I have a little more learning before I get to that point. I am not that far away.”

Jones, who turned down a Missouri program that wanted him to be a wide receiver, said he isn’t interested in returning to quarterback. The position demands passing skills he doesn’t believe he possesses. He also said senior wide receiver Derrick Engel and freshman running back Berkley Edwards are probably the only offensive players faster than he is.

Gophers deputy athletic director David Benedict said earlier this week more than 5,000 tickets remain for the Penn State game at TCF Bank Stadium on November 9.

St. Thomas Academy coach Dave Ziebarth earned his 100^th career win last week. Ziebarth, 100-26-0, coaches his team tonight against Henry Sibley in the Section 5-5A championship playoff game.

Texas native Adrian Peterson is requesting 62 tickets for people he knows to attend Sunday’s game in Arlington, Texas against the Cowboys. The Vikings All-Pro running back said he was a Cowboys fan growing up.

Peterson still has tightness in his right hamstring but said keeping it warm and stretching enables him to run effectively. “Last week (Sunday’s game) I felt good,” he said. “It’s probably the best I’ve felt in a couple of weeks. This week I’ve just got better.”

Cordarrelle Patterson is the only NFL player with two kickoff returns for touchdowns this season. The Vikings rookie didn’t even return kickoffs in high school, had one touchdown in junior college and two in college. His returns this season are for 105 yards and 109 yards, a distance that is tied for the NFL record.

Vikings placekicker Blair Walsh said he is no longer bothered by a left hamstring injury and will be able to kickoff and handle other kicking in Sunday’s game against the Cowboys.

Coach J Robinson has eight All-Americans returning to his wrestling team and believes the Gophers could contend for the national championship. InterMat’s rankings have three Big Ten schools as the best in the country with Penn State No. 1, Iowa No. 2 and Minnesota No. 3.

The Gophers basketball team opens its exhibition schedule tonight with a 7 p.m. game against Cardinal Stritch. New Minnesota coach Richard Pitino said earlier in the week he’s been impressed with his team’s attitude and poor practices have been minimal.

Pitino described junior guard Kendal Shell as a player that at first he questioned having on the roster, but not any more. Shell played in nine games for a total of 20 minutes averaging 0.7 points per game last season. “Kendall is the most improved player by far,” Pitino said.

Another changed player is junior forward Mo Walker who has lost almost 60 pounds after not being able to play effectively at 310 pounds last season. Pitino wants more change, though. “He needs to be meaner on the court,” the coach said.

Drake transfer Joey King, who is from Eagan, expects a lot of family and friends at games. The sophomore forward said his grandparents are talking about “getting a bus” for game day supporters.

Wally Ellenson, another sophomore forward for the Gophers, is the brother of Henry Ellenson who is ranked as the No. 42 player nationally in the prep class of 2015 by Rivals.com. Wally said his brother (Rice Lake, Wisconsin) has grown a couple more inches to 6-10. “He kind of wants to stop but I don’t think he has a choice,” Wally said.

Junior forward Oto Osenieks only averaged 2.2 points and 1.7 rebounds per game last season but now might become a starter. Osenieks passed on an opportunity to tryout for the Latvian team that played in the European championships this summer. With a new Gophers coach and changes in the program, he stayed in Minneapolis to improve. “I don’t regret my decision. I got so much better in the summer.”

Osenieks said he’s become a more aggressive player while remaining an “unselfish” teammate. “I am not afraid of contact,” he said.

Osenieks is taking business courses in school and some day may open a Latvian restaurant in Minneapolis. “I love it here,” the Riga, Latvia native said.

Daquein McNeil, the Gophers freshman guard from Baltimore talking this week about the weather in Minneapolis: “I hope it doesn’t get colder.”

The Wolves are at home tonight against the Thunder, a favorite to win the NBA title and the club that new Minnesota shooting guard Kevin Martin played for last season. Martin’s NBA stops have also included the Kings and Rockets where he played for Wolves coach Rick Adelman. Martin was a major scorer for Adelman’s Rockets in 2010-11, averaging 23.5 points per game.

Wolves power forward Kevin Love played in only 18 games last season because of injuries but had a memorable season in 2011-2012. He became only the third player in NBA history (Larry Bird, 1984-85; Charles Barkley, 1992-93) to average 25+ points and 10+ rebounds while making 50+ three-pointers.

Former Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn is living in Portland and looking for his next career opportunity. Wolves owner Glen Taylor said Kahn contacted him asking for assistance regarding a potential position that didn’t work out.

Wolves CEO Rob Moor said renovation of Target Center is expected to begin late next spring or early summer. Changes to the building will happen in phases over about an 18 month period and could force the Lynx to find another home court for some games.

Moor also said that while seating capacity for concerts will increase there will not be additional seats for basketball as part of the $100 million renovation.

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