Golden Gophers – Page 377 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Vikings Win a “Springboard” Game

Posted on September 24, 2012September 26, 2012 by David Shama

Just another game for the Vikings when they defeated the 49ers 24-13 yesterday at Mall of America Field?

“Definitely not,” said Kyle Rudolph. “It was a huge game for us to springboard our season. It moves us to 2-1. That’s a great football team that we just beat.”

Rudolph, the Vikings’ tight end who caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Christian Ponder, used his 6-6, 258-pound body to create mismatches against the 49ers. It helps, too, that he and Ponder, both draft choices in 2011, have spent many hours together working out.

“I have a ton of trust in him. I think he has a ton of trust in me,” Rudolph said. “I know (if) I do my job in the route side of things he’s going to make the throw. He’s shown it time and time again.”

The 49ers were 2-0 coming into the game and considered an NFC power. The Vikings after defeating the Jaguars in their opening game were mistake-prone and didn’t look focused in a sloppy 23-20 loss to the Colts a week ago yesterday.

During the past week some Vikings players were outspoken about team performance. That seemed to help the Vikings focus yesterday, and they impressed with their execution offensively and defensively.

“I think it (the game) was a tone-setter for our team,” said defensive end Brian Robison. “We had a lot of guys step up this week—talk to the team (and) tell them what we needed to do this week. What we needed to do better. …We showed the world we’re a team to be reckoned with in the NFC.”

A confidence building win for the Vikings? “Absolutely,” Robison said. “This (the 49ers) is the best team in the NFC. For us to go out and pretty much dominate the game the way we did, just shows how good we can be.”

Vikings Stadium and Other Notes:

No word after the 49ers-Vikings game whether Randy Moss liked the post-game buffet at the stadium.

Attendance at yesterday’s game was 57,288, the first time the Vikings have announced consecutive home crowds of fewer than 60,000 since 1996. (The opening game at home on September 9 had an announced attendance of 56,607).

General manager Rick Spielman was at yesterday’s game and said he plans to scout college players each Saturday this fall.

Vikings rookie safety Harrison Smith admires NFL veteran secondary players Charles Woodson and Charles Tillman for their ability to strip ball carriers. Smith wants to be a turnover-causing player for the Vikings. “I am not by any means near any of those two guys but watching them and thinking about it daily is something I am trying to do more and more of,” Smith said.

Vikings rookie placekicker Blair Walsh, a sixth round draft choice, said his salary is $390,000. He received a signing bonus but doesn’t have any incentive-based bonuses in his contract.

A printed program error set off a flurry of hurt feelings and emails last week. John Williams was listed as a wrestler in the program that honored him and eight other new inductees into the University of Minnesota M Club Hall of Fame last Thursday. Williams, who passed away in July, was a key contributor to the Gophers’ 1967 Big Ten championship football team, and was a Time Magazine All-American offensive tackle.

Several years ago the Gophers printed season football tickets honoring the late Sandy Stephens, the former All-American quarterback on the 1961 and 1962 Rose Bowl teams. “S-t-e-v-e-n-s” is how the name was spelled on the tickets.

That error, like the Williams flub, didn’t go over well including among those who take pride in Stephens being college football’s first black All-American quarterback. The concern, however, was about school pride, not race, according to Al Nuness, an African-American standout for the Gophers in basketball during the late 1960s and today part of a mentoring group for the athletic department.

The Stephens error was “incomprehensible” to Nuness. “It had nothing to do with black or white. We all bleed maroon and gold,” Nuness said. “This is our history. How can we make these kinds of mistakes (Williams included)?”

Twins TV analyst and former big league shortstop Roy Smalley thinks the Twins’ unsettled starting pitching rotation in 2013 could begin with Scott Diamond, Sam Deduno and Kyle Gibson. Diamond and Deduno joined the Twins during the season in 2012 while Gibson has yet to pitch in a big league game.

Fritz Waldvogel was an All-American senior for St. Thomas last season who made big plays as a receiver and kick returner, scoring 46 career touchdowns. He wore No. 4, a jersey number that’s been given to freshman Jack Gilliland from California. Gilliland, 5-9, 154-pounds, is a pass receiver and already has a 63 yard kickoff return and 25 yard punt return.

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U Defense Winning Admirers

Posted on September 24, 2012September 24, 2012 by David Shama

I have watched Gophers football for decades but Minnesota’s defense last Saturday night against Syracuse was special. It reminded an observer of coach Murray Warmath’s defenses in the 1960s when pass rushers were intimidating quarterbacks, tacklers were punishing ball carriers and Gophers were swarming all over the field making plays.

The Gophers held Syracuse without a touchdown until the last minute of the game. This was a Syracuse offense that came to Minneapolis averaging 533 yards in total offense and ranked third in the country in passing yards per game. The Orange had scored 29 points against USC and 41 versus Northwestern.

In the 17-10 win the Gophers held Syracuse to 350 total yards including 228 passing. The Gophers intercepted two Orange passes and recovered two Syracuse fumbles.

Coach Jerry Kill told the Big Ten Network after the game his defense is improved from a year ago because the players know their assignments better. They can play faster, and with some new personnel the overall foot speed is better, too.

“Much improved,” said Big Ten Network analyst Gerry DiNardo on Saturday night. “Tracy Claeys, defensive coordinator, has done a fabulous job. Look at how many people are flying to the ball. Every time there is a turnover you can count how many of the Minnesota guys are around. Jerry Kill says they’re playing faster and they’re playing harder than they were a year ago.”

Any eye-catching defense includes playmakers that stand out each Saturday. A list of those Gophers has to include sophomore safety Derrick Wells, junior tackle Ra’Shede Hageman and senior end D.L. Wilhite. Those have been impact players and others like junior linebacker Aaron Hill and senior cornerback Troy Stoudermire have been impressive, too.

With last Saturday’s win over Syracuse, the Gophers have not only won four consecutive games to start the season but Minnesota has won six of its last nine games dating back to last season. That’s the program’s best streak since 2004 when the Gophers won eight of nine games going back to 2003.

On Saturday night the Gophers also played before their first sellout crowd at home since November 27, 2010.

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Faces May Change in 2014 Twins Infield

Posted on September 21, 2012September 21, 2012 by David Shama

The need to develop better starting pitching dominates conversations about the Twins but Roy Smalley said the club’s unsettled infield is “absolutely” priority No. 2 for improving the team.

Guessing who will be the starting shortstop and second baseman next season will occupy the thoughts of fans over the winter, but it’s not even a lock that in another year or two Trevor Plouffe will be playing third base and Justin Morneau will be at first.

Plouffe has a head start on the third base job going into spring training after a first season in that assignment for the Twins during 2012. Never able to win the shortstop job in the past, Plouffe has been okay in the field and at times very promising at the plate, hitting 23 home runs with 51 RBI and a .238 average in 383 at bats.

Smalley, the former Twins and Yankees shortstop, said Plouffe has homework to do. “He’s got some mechanical things in his swing he needs to iron out. It’s just a process. I think he will keep making progress.”

Morneau will one day be in the Twins Hall of Fame but he will be 32 with a history of concussions when his reportedly $14 million contract ends after next season. If the Twins and Morneau can’t get together on a deal, and Plouffe doesn’t lock up the third base job, the infield in 2013 or 2014 could have four new faces compared to this summer’s starting players.

Uncertainty surrounds shortstop and second base. Not to have those positions settled with quality players is not the “normal recipe” for a division contender, according to Smalley who stays close to the Twins as a TV analyst.

After years of being a division champion, the Twins are trying to find their way back to the top. Smalley is impressed with the defensive ability shown by late season call-up Pedro Florimon but the 25 year old hasn’t proven he can hit.

Smalley believes Florimon is “probably the leader” to claim the shortstop job but said there are other possibilities including Brian Dozier who was the regular shortstop earlier in the season. “It will all be determined by performances in the spring,” Smalley said.

The same evaluation can be applied to the second base situation. Among the possibilities is Alexi Casilla who has been with the Twins since 2006 but has never established himself as a starter playing shortstop or second base. “They keep trying to give him the job (second base) and he kind of keeps refusing it,” Smalley said.

Eduardo Escobar, 21, is another middle infield candidate and late season call-up whose offensive skills are suspect. The prospect of minimal offense from the shortstop and second baseman isn’t attractive and such a situation would demand that the third baseman, first baseman and a corner outfielder be productive with power.

But right now the Twins don’t even know if they have good field, no hit guys who can be solid over the course of a full season. “First you have got to catch the ball at short and second,” Smalley said. “You’ve got to make all the plays there.”

Notes on Max Shortell & More:

Sophomore quarterback Max Shortell, who threw three touchdown passes in relief of the injured MarQueis Gray last Saturday, is a popular teammate who often shows his sense of humor, according to Gophers’ junior wide receiver Derrick Engel.

“Max is definitely a jokester,” Engel said. “Even on the football field, like in the game (last) Saturday. During TV timeouts he was joking, smiling. He definitely helps lighten up the mood in the huddle. …”

Engel described Shortell as “down to earth” and a person easy to accept. “Everyone gets along with him really well, no matter where you’re from, no matter what your background is,” Engel said. “Everyone connects with Max. I think that’s a key thing to have, is your quarterback…being able to connect with the rest of your teammates. Maxie is definitely one of the more popular guys on our team, and we’re confident with him being our leader going into the next few games while MarQueis is healing up from his injuries.”

How does Engel think true freshman Philip Nelson, who has yet to take a snap in a college game, would respond if he had to replace Shortell? “It might be a little difficult right away playing in front of that many people (compared with high school), but I think Phil is someone who would respond great if he was thrown in. Especially now that he knows that he’s like the No. 2 guy to come up in the next few weeks if something were to happen to Max.

“Phil is an 18-year-old kid but he doesn’t act that way. He’s real mature for his age. He’s a great leader. I think he will be great for us down the road, if not sooner.”

Gray’s high ankle sprain sustained last Saturday against Western Michigan will likely keep him sidelined tomorrow night when the 3-0 Gophers play 1-2 Syracuse at TCF Bank Stadium. The Orange has scored 98 points in three games including 41 in a one point loss to Northwestern.

Syracuse, led by senior quarterback Ryan Nassib and senior wide receiver Marcus Sales, ranks third in the country for passing offense per game at 379.67 yards. Sales is averaging 116.7 yards per game in receptions and has caught four touchdown passes. So far Minnesota’s pass defense, led by impressive coverage in the secondary and six sacks by defensive linemen D.L. Wilhite and Ra‘Shede Hageman, ranks No. 15 in the nation.

Minnesota’s defensive backs have frequently been in position to make plays and the Gophers have five interceptions. Senior cornerback Troy Stoudermire praises secondary coach Jay Sawvel’s work with the unit.

“We’re the last group to leave every single day in the meeting room,” Stoudermire said. “Just putting in the extra time, I think that’s what’s making our DB group the best (in recent U history) right now.”

It was Stanford athletic director Bob Bowlsby (once the AD at Iowa) who hired Jim Harbaugh about six years ago and launched the former Michigan quarterback into the big time world of head coaching. Harbaugh was head coach at Division I-AA San Diego before Stanford hired him. He turned heads at Stanford, making the Cardinal a top 10 program. Now as head coach of the 2-0 49ers (they play the 1-1 Vikings on Sunday at Mall of America Field) Harbaugh has a Super Bowl favorite in his second season in the NFL.

Harbaugh succeeded Mike Singletary, now a Vikings assistant coach, as boss of the 49ers. Singletary’s record in three seasons with the 49ers was 18-22. Harbaugh’s record is 15-3.

Vikings’ defensive coordinator Alan Williams talking about 35-year-old receiver Randy Moss of the 49ers: “You never want to turn Moss loose. That would be a mistake not to pay attention to Randy Moss. Until he’s turned in his retirement papers, I think every defensive coordinator, every secondary, every defense is going to pay attention to him. We have to.”

Vikings’ quarterback Christian Ponder leads the NFL in passing completion percentage at 75.8. Vikings’ offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said there were only a few plays out of 70 that Ponder should have made a different decision in the game last Sunday against the Colts.

Blair Walsh, the Vikings’ rookie kicker, can set a franchise record on Sunday if he can boot a field goal of 50 yards or more in three consecutive games. He told Sports Headliners he has no incentive bonuses in his contract for achievements like that.

Vikings defensive end Jared Allen answering a question about a personal foul penalty against the Colts: “I am not a dirty player. I play hard.”

If a major football coaching opportunity occurs in Minnesota expect Marc Trestman’s name to surface. The former Gophers quarterback and Vikings assistant coach has a long resume of college and pro assignments. He’s in his sixth season coaching Montreal in the Canadian Football League where his teams have won two Grey Cup championships.

Timberwolves media day will be on Monday, October 1 from noon to 2 p.m. at Target Center. Fans can watch and also submit questions that day via www.timberwolves.com.

The Wolves will train in Mankato from October 2-5, working out at the Bresnan Arena in the Taylor Center at Minnesota State University.

The Wolves will gain a local pro sports marketing edge this fall if the Vikings disappoint fans, and the Wild don’t play because of the NHL work stoppage. Popular opinion is the Wild, bolstered by free agents Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, are more likely to make the playoffs than the Wolves.

Former North Stars player and president Lou Nanne has become a frequent guest on Mike Max’s Sunday night TV program, “The Sports Show,” replacing the late Dark Star.

FOX Sports North and the Big Ten Network will combine to televise 34 of 36 men’s Gophers hockey games next season including Minnesota’s opener at Michigan State on October 12.

Are there leadership changes coming in baseball’s AL Central Division? It wouldn’t be surprising if there were off-season changes to the Twins’ coaching staff. How about manager Jim Leyland’s future in Detroit where the Tigers could be headed to a disappointing second place finish?

The streak is over. The St. Scholastica (Duluth) women’s soccer team, undefeated in 99 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference games dating back to 2003, lost to Minnesota- Morris last Saturday.

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