Golden Gophers – Page 360 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Gophers Kill Allows Players Twitter But…

Posted on August 9, 2013August 9, 2013 by David Shama

No coach wants to find out a player is making headlines like Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel. The Heisman Trophy winning quarterback has drawn the wrong kind of attention during the 2013 offseason with his Twitter account and with allegations he received cash for signing autographs.

Gophers coach Jerry Kill, whose team started summer practices last week, is doing all he can not to have similar problems. “We educate our kids during two-a-day (training) camp,” he told Sports Headliners. “We bring in people from Facebook (and) social networking. We have what I call a player personnel book that we go over all those things.

“We’re teaching those things all the time so that we don’t get caught up in something like Johnny Manziel. But even if you teach it, sometimes things happen. I know (A&M) coach (Kevin) Sumlin is a good football coach and good man.

“We live in a different world. It’s just that sometimes kids get caught up in things they don’t understand.”

The power of Twitter was evident last fall when Gophers wide receiver A.J. Barker tweeted he was quitting the team and referred followers to Tumblr where he let loose with an emotional criticism of Kill. The episode was there for the world to see and despite the incident Kill won’t try to tell his players they can’t tweet, although Boise State coach Chris Petersen (and perhaps at least a few other coaches) has banned Twitter accounts.

“I am not a big Twitter guy because I guess I am older and whatever, but I am a reality person,” Kill said. “Reality is it’s a part of our world. It’s a part of their (the players) world. Whether you say you’re not going to allow it or not, they’re going to do it.

“We don’t want any football information (leaked)—those kind of things going out on it. But we monitor Twitter, we monitor Facebook, and if there is anything on there that is not good, that’s not gonna be good for them (the players).”

Kill doesn’t ban Twitter even during the 12-game regular season which this year begins at home on August 29. “I don’t care what Boise State or anybody says, they’re (the players) going to use Twitter,” Kill said. “It’s like telling everybody they can’t drink a beer. You can’t (completely) control that. …

“We educate them on (using) Facebook that you never get those statements back. That’s a lifetime on there, so you better understand what you’re doing and how you do it.”

Gophers quarterback Philip Nelson, a sophomore like Manziel, gave up his Twitter account. “Once I got here and realized some of the things that happened, I deleted it right away,” Nelson said. “It’s not even worth it because it’s all about football here. You just gotta watch yourself. We’re held to a different standard as football players.”

Gophers senior safety Brock Vereen has a friend at Boise State so he is familiar with Twitter policy there. “I am not sure how many issues we’ve had with Twitter, but at the end of the day guys here have to be adult about it,” Vereen said. “They have to be mature about it. Think before you tweet. That’s what coach Kill always tells us.”

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Frazier Expects ‘Big Things’ of Simpson

Posted on August 7, 2013August 7, 2013 by David Shama

Jerome Simpson’s first season with the Vikings last year was a disappointment but he could be among the team’s most pleasant surprises in 2013.

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier is expecting “big things” from the 27-year-old wide receiver who because of a suspension and injury started only 10 games and played in 12 last season. Built for speed, Simpson averaged 14.5 yards per catch with four touchdown receptions in 2011 playing for the Bengals. With the Vikings he averaged 10.5 yards with no touchdown catches.

With a developing third-year quarterback in Christian Ponder and the need for an effective deep passing game, the Vikings brought in Greg Jennings to be a big play guy but an effective Simpson can create a potent one-two combo. Ponder threw a 50 yard pass to Simpson in last Saturday night’s training camp scrimmage to preview the kind of deep threat potential the Vikings have.

Last week and prior to that scrimmage Frazier was praising Simpson. “…He looks like the Jerome we had a year ago at this time. He was doing some very good things for us last preseason, and he had done some good things in camp, and then we had to fill the time for the suspension. Then he came back, played a game, and then he was injured and never really got on track after that.

“But we are seeing a guy right now that I think can help our football team and really make a difference for us in the passing game. He’s having a very, very good camp. His attitude has been great. It’s been great watching him get in and out of routes in the passing game and we are expecting big things out of him this year. We just need to keep him on the field and keep him healthy.”

Simpson missed three games last season because the NFL suspended him for violating league substance abuse policy. Simpson told Sports Headliners last September he recognized the need to change. “Just getting back to the old Jerome Simpson, and just being myself and not getting out of character,” Simpson said. “Just always staying humble and doing the right thing.”

Wide receivers coach George Stewart said earlier this summer that while Simpson was slowed by a foot injury in 2012 he can be a contributor, and not just catching passes. “He’s a young man, if he’s healthy (he) will help us in the vertical game, but (he) also has been a good leader,” Stewart said after watching Simpson in spring activities.

Starting his sixth pro season in September, Simpson has much to prove to himself and the Vikings. He has only a one year contract so there’s extra incentive to have a productive season, and perhaps become a breakthrough player on an offense that also has plenty to prove.

Worth Noting

It will be no surprise if Texans superstar defensive end J.J. Watt doesn’t play or sees only a few series on the field Friday night when Houston meets the Vikings in the opening preseason game for both teams. Watt, who had 20.5 sacks last season, dislocated his left elbow about a year ago. He acknowledged soreness on Sunday and will wear the same mammoth black brace on the elbow used in 2012.

The Texans plan to announce today their division of quarterback reps for the game. Matt Schaub is the starter. Christian Ponder is expected to play at least a few series for the Vikings as their No. 1 quarterback.

The Texans training camp is in Houston where temperatures this week have been at or near 100 degrees.

The Vikings have 32 new players on their 90-man roster since the end of last season. Along with nine draft choices, the Vikings have nine free agents and 14 undrafted free agents.

Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier and Texans head coach Gary Kubiak were teammates at Rice University.

The Vikings are promoting awareness of the NFL’s new game day policy limiting the size and types of bags allowed in league stadiums. More information for fans is available at NFL.com/allclear.

When the Gophers play UNLV at TCF Bank Stadium on August 29 it will be Minnesota’s first home season opener since 2008. The Gophers are set to open seasons at home on future schedules including 2014-2016.

If defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman is named All-Big Ten after this season he will be the first Gophers player so honored since Eric Decker in 2009. Since 2006 Minnesota has only two other All-Big Ten players, Matt Spaeth in 2006 and Willie VanDeSteeg in 2008.

Quoting Collegefootballnews.com in its Big Ten preview story: “Minnesota could very, very quietly be dangerous. Jerry Kill might not have a whole bunch of flash, but his team should be more than just competitive.”

Two of the best prep seniors in the state will lead their teams in the annual Timberwolves Shootout at Target Center January 4. Guard Tyus Jones and Apple Valley will play Blue Valley Northwest High School from Overland, Kansas. Forward Reid Travis and DeLaSalle will meet St. Rita High School from Chicago. Also, Cretin-Derham Hall will face Bettendorf High School from Bettendorf, Iowa. Grand Rapids, featuring junior center Alex Illikainen, will play against a team yet to be determined.

Jones’ younger brother Tre Jones is a gifted playmaker but is even a better defensive player. Tre, who as an eighth grader might play for the Apple Valley varsity next season, is a great on-ball defender.

The Saints new baseball park in Saint Paul’s Lowertown might command a $750,000 to $1 million per year naming rights fee, according to a sports industry source.

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New Vikings Stadium Linked to US Bank?

Posted on August 5, 2013August 5, 2013 by David Shama

A pro sports industry source told Sports Headliners that US Bank will pay $15 million per year for the naming rights to the new Vikings stadium opening in 2016. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, believes the naming rights deal between the bank and the local NFL team could be seven to 10 years in length and an announcement about US Bank Stadium will come later this year.

However, Vikings executive Lester Bagley said there are no announcement plans about US Bank or any other company, and the naming rights project is a detailed ongoing process.

“There are 16 Fortune 500 companies in the state. We’re confident we will have a great Minnesota company (name) on the building,” Bagley told Sports Headliners.

A $15 million figure would compare favorably with reports of recent stadium naming rights fees at or approaching $20 million per year for the Cowboys and the 49ers. Both teams operate in larger population centers than Minneapolis-St. Paul, an area described by Bagley as a “modest Midwest market.”

The rights fee paid by Target for naming rights to Target Field has been reported in the $5 million range per year. The source estimated the annual rights fees at $2 million for Xcel Energy Center and $1.5 million for Target Field.

The University of Minnesota has a $35 million, 25 year deal for TCF Bank Stadium. That arrangement provides TCF Bank with benefits beyond the name on the Gophers football stadium and includes campus ATMs and other financial services.

A naming rights deal will be a major revenue source for the Vikings who by agreement with the state receive those monies. The source said US Bank is expected to receive a variety of benefits ranging from in-stadium presence to bank promotions, and from social media to community outreach.

Gophers & Other Notes

The Gophers were 3-9 in 2011, 6-7 last season. Coach Jerry Kill recently told Sports Headliners he is optimistic about continued improvement.

“I think we’ll have a better football team than we did a year ago,” Kill said. “I don’t know what that means (in wins and losses). I know we feel that way as a coaching staff.”

Strength and conditioning coach Eric Klein has voiced optimism after watching players become bigger and stronger during the offseason. He told Kill he feels this is the “first time” he has helped position the Gophers “for success.”

Kill has said the program needs more experienced players in the years ahead. The Gophers may only have four or five senior starters, and a dozen or fewer seniors who contribute during the season.

Compare that to what the Gophers encountered in Lincoln last year when on Senior Day Nebraska honored more than two dozen seniors. “That’s when you get good,” Kill said. “You can have a senior class of 20 kids, 25 kids every year, then you’ve got a program. We haven’t had that.”

Before the Gophers started official practices late last week there was the expected preseason optimism among players. “We’re comfortable in coach Kill’s system, and we’re a lot more confident,” said senior safety Brock Vereen.

Vereen, senior linebacker Aaron Hill and some others are under consideration by Kill to become captains. “This year we do expect to have a tremendous turnaround and to have my name as part of a leader of a team that made such a great stride compared to last year, it would mean a lot,” Vereen said.

If the Gophers are to improve over last season, they will need high performance years from at least a few players. Senior defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman is the most high profile player right now, and is being included on preseason watch lists like the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, recognizing the nation’s best defensive player.

How much does Hageman want to be named All-American after this season? “You’re gonna see to my actions. … Just give it my all,” he said.

But for the Gophers to exceed last year’s six win total they will need players to emerge from obscurity too. One of those players could be true freshman running back Berkley Edwards who back home in Michigan was among the nation’s fastest prep sprinters.

Quarterback Philip Nelson watched Edwards this summer in Minneapolis. “From day one we all knew that he was a speed demon. … I think he has the capability of really being able to really get through the defense and make some good plays for us.”

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier evaluating the team’s two-minute offense last season: “There were some missed opportunities, we could have did a little bit better in. We are trying to correct that. …There were times we did a real good job in our two-minute situations that we had, but we think we can be more productive.”

Concordia-St. Paul junior Tom Obarski is on the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List for the second-straight year. The award recognizes place-kickers for excellence on the field and in the community. Obarski, who has made field goals of over 50 yards including a 59 yarder, is one of 34 place-kickers on the list from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Division II, Division III, NAIA and NJCAA levels.

Glen Perkins, after his 27^th save of the year yesterday in a 3-2 Twins win over the Astros, now has the most single season saves by a Minnesota pitcher since 2009 when Joe Nathan had 47.

Twins rookie starting pitcher Kyle Gibson isn’t having much success lately. He lasted only three innings on Saturday night, the shortest start of his big league career, and he gave up four runs on nine hits. He has allowed a home run in each of his last three starts after yielding none in the first four outings.

The Twins play at Kansas City tomorrow night after being swept by the Royals at Target Field last week. The Twins have won three straight since winning yesterday against the Astros and sweeping them in a three game series.

Outfielder Byron Buxton, considered by many the best minor league prospect in baseball, has hit three home runs in his last 10 games playing for the Twins Class A Fort Myers team. He also has two triples.

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