Golden Gophers – Page 378 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Jerry Burns: Fans Unfair to Ponder

Posted on December 10, 2012December 10, 2012 by David Shama

It’s been a fall of boos and other criticism directed at Vikings second-year quarterback Christian Ponder, but former Vikings head coach Jerry Burns said Ponder receives too much blame.

The Vikings’ passing game has faltered much of the season including in yesterday’s 21-14 win over the Bears. The offense produced one touchdown drive and that was courtesy of Adrian Peterson’s running on the game’s opening drive including a 51-yard run. Otherwise, the Vikings used a first quarter Josh Robinson 44-yard interception returned to the Bears’ five yard line to set up their second touchdown, and in the third quarter Harrison Smith ran back an intercepted pass 56 yards for Minnesota’s third and final touchdown.

Ponder, who completed 11 of 17 passes for 91 yards, heard from the boo-birds in the stands, and media critics who have found fault with him this season will no doubt rip him again.

Burns, who was Vikings head coach from 1986-1991 and before that a revered NFL offensive coordinator, said critics don’t understand all the elements responsible for the Vikings’ passing attack that ranks with the NFL’s most anemic (last in yards per game at 172.6). “I just feel sorry for Ponder,” Burns told Sports Headliners on Saturday, a day before the Vikings defeated Chicago and improved their record to 7-6.

Burns said the offensive line isn’t consistent in giving Ponder enough time to throw. Sometimes a formation with an additional blocker in the backfield would help, perhaps adding a precious second allowing Ponder to set his feet.

With defenses sometimes storming Ponder, Burns suggested the Vikings might benefit from more use of screen passes and draw plays with Peterson or Toby Gerhart, his substitute. That kind of action, combined with more rollouts and bootlegs by Ponder using his athleticism, could help make the offense less predictable and keep the defense off balance.

In yesterday’s game wide receiver Michael Jenkins had two second half third down receptions to sustain drives. Big plays from wide receivers have been MIA for the Vikings most of the season, a reality not lost on Burns who attends games and remains a passionate supporter of the franchise.

“I haven’t seen a diving catch, a great catch,” Burns said. “Going up and taking the ball away from people. A guy you can go to.”

Burns isn’t arguing Ponder doesn’t sometimes make bad decisions, throw inaccurately and occasionally have minimal zip on the ball. He is saying that in a team sport the quarterback plays the lead role but the surrounding personnel and play calls make a difference too.

Head coach Leslie Frazier has Burns’ support and he likes the commitment of not sending Ponder to the bench, replacing him with Joe Webb. “It might make things worse at this point,” Burns said. “Now (by benching) you’re bouncing back and forth.”

The Vikings are still in the playoff race with three games to play. It may be unlikely they can win enough games the rest of the way with their limited offense to make the playoffs for the first time since 2009 but the franchise’s future at quarterback seems tied to Ponder.

While some NFL quarterbacks have early first and second year success, others develop more gradually. Burns believes Ponder can be effective in the future with maturity and having the right support around him.

“I think he will be fine,” Burns said.

Worth Noting

What a birthday present on Saturday. St. Thomas quarterback Matt O’Connell turned 20 while running for two touchdowns and passing for one as the Tommies defeated UW-Oshkosh, 28-14, in a Division III semifinals playoff game. Next up for the Tommies is a first ever trip to the Division III national championship game on Friday night against Mount Union in Salem,Virginia. The game starts at 6 p.m. Minnesota time and will be televised on ESPN U.

The Gophers football team has 31 fall Academic All-Big Ten selections, 13 more than last year and second in the conference to Northwestern’s 34. Among the Gophers honored are defensive starters Michael Amaefula, Cameron Botticelli, Keanon Cooper, Aaron Hill, Mike Rallis and Brock Vereen, and offensive starters Jon Christenson, Derrick Engel, Drew Goodger, Ed Olson, Tommy Olson and John Rabe.

With Max Shortell transferring to another school, the Gophers will have only two quarterbacks with game experience for their Meineke Car Care Bowl matchup on December 28 against Texas Tech, Philip Nelson and MarQueis Gray. Coach Jerry Kill told Sports Headliners he won’t take the redshirt status off reserve backup Mitch Leidner for the game.

Kill likes what he’s seen of Leidner in practices this fall. The 6-foot-4, 226-pound Leidner has various attributes including physical toughness. “He’s a very competitive kid,” Kill said.

The Meineke Car Care Bowl is played in Reliant Stadium, the same facility that is home to the NFL’s Texans who host the Vikings on December 23. “It’s a beautiful stadium,” Kill said.

No one expected Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville to accept the Cincinnati coaching job on Saturday but Stewart Mandel writing on SI.com said Tuberville wasn’t a good fit in Lubbock during his three seasons stay. Suggesting Cincinnati was a convenient place to escape and rebuild the resume Tuberville had at Auburn, Mandel wrote on Saturday: “Tuberville was an underwhelming 20-17 in three seasons in Lubbock. The locals never warmed to him, and he never warmed to Lubbock.”

The Timberwolves’ 9-9 record matches the franchise’s best start through 18 games since 2006-07 (also 9-9).

Don’t be surprised if point guard Ricky Rubio makes his season debut Wednesday night at Target Center against the Nuggets, the Wolves’ next game. If not then, Saturday evening at home against the Mavericks might be his return game, although there’s been no official announcement from Rubio or the team.

Wolves All-Star forward Kevin Love has double-doubles in eight of his last nine games and 120 in his past 139.

Love, Rubio, forward Andrei Kirilenko and center Nikola Pekovic are on the NBA All-Star game ballot. A total of 120 players are on the ballot to determine all-stars for the February 17 game in Houston. Various sources are available for fan voting including Twitter and Facebook.

The North DakotaState team playing the 10-1 Gophers tomorrow night at Williams Arena is 8-2 and lost 87-61 to No. 1 ranked Indiana at Bloomington. Forward Marshall Bjorklund (Arlington, Minn.) and guard Mike Felt (Redwood Falls, Minn.) are NDSU’s second and third leading scorers at 11.4 and 10.9 points per game.

The St. Thomas men’s basketball team, a unanimous preseason choice by league coaches to win the MIAC, is 4-0 in conference games and 7-0 overall. Gustavus, the second place choice, is off to a 1-3 start in league games and is 2-5 overall.

Coach Brad Frost’s 20-0 Gophers women’s hockey team is dominating opponents. The Gophers have scored 114 goals to their opponents 12, an average of 5.7 per game versus 0.6. Amanda Kessel has 25 goals and 29 assists, while teammate Hannah Brandt totals 19 and 29. Minnesota doesn’t play again until a two-game home series on January 11 and 12 against North Dakota.

Comments Welcome

The Right Hero for Tyus Jones

Posted on December 7, 2012March 7, 2013 by David Shama

Tyus Jones began his junior year of high school basketball on Tuesday night when his Apple Valley team defeated St. Louis Park, 98-82. Although Jones has two more seasons of basketball ahead, he would be remembered as one of Minnesota’s most legendary high school athletes if he never played another game.

The 6-foot-2, 16-year-old point guard is a preseason USA Today high school All-American. College recruiting authorities place him on a short list of the nation’s prize recruits for the class of 2014. He’s played for the USA Under 17 national team, been named the Gatorade Minnesota Boys Basketball Player of the Year in 2012 and in 2011 MaxPreps.com honored him on the freshmen All-American first team.

Jones is an extraordinary playmaker on the court. He sees angles and makes passes that leave observers awestruck. He creates and executes in a blur that seems completely natural, doing things that others might need a minute to plan and then attempt.

Jones could also be commanding headlines playing football and baseball, two other sports he pursued in his younger days. But he’s more than a gifted athlete. He’s a 3.2 GPA student and a polite, articulate teenager with family values including a commitment to caring for others.

He is worthy of the adulation from younger kids who press close to him for autographs and conversations. But Jones has a hero, too—a much older man who reaches out to him, listens and inspires.

Dennis Deutsch is 75 and lives within minutes of Tyus in Apple Valley. Dennis and his wife Sally are the parents of Tyus’ mom, Debbie Jones. They are supportive grandparents including to Tyus.

Deutsch has a bad back, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and is in the process of hopefully locating a kidney donor. “Well, the worst thing I’ve got, of course, is kidney failure,” Deutsch said. “I take dialysis three days a week.”

He has had six kidney related surgeries this year. With the kidney problems and other health issues the former Devils Lake, North Dakota resident endures a lot of pain and discomfort but his family and others make life easier for him.

He retired at age 74 from a business career in North Dakota and along with Sally relocated to Minnesota to more effectively deal with health problems and be closer to family including Deb, Jadee, Tyus and Tre, a talented seventh grade athlete with his own basketball ambitions. The Deutschs attend basketball games and school activities including the recent early morning Eagle Pride recognition for Tyus’ academic achievement.

The transition of Dennis and Sally into a more visible place in Tyus’ life is something the teenager is grateful for. “I’ve been getting more and more close every day with him,” Tyus said. “He’s at all my basketball games.”

The two talk about many subjects including grandpa’s experiences as a paratrooper, or his love for poker (health permitting, he plays weekly at Canterbury Park). “My grandpa, he’s a great man so I learn a lot from him,” Tyus said.

Grandpa doesn’t pester Tyus with advice but will share his wisdom. “He’s definitely talked to me about risks,” Tyus said. “Not to put yourself in bad situations in life. My grandpa just wants the best for me. He always has my back. …

“He’s always very, very caring and loving as a grandfather towards me. It’s good to have family like I have because there’s people out there that don’t have the support that I do.”

Before Tuesday night’s game at St. Louis Park High School, Tyus renewed the tradition he has with the Deutschs. “I always make sure I go speak to him, or walk with him entering the gym,” Tyus said. “Spend time with him and my grandmother because they don’t have to be there but they’re supporting me. I make sure I go and show I appreciate it.”

Dennis was in a wheelchair at courtside Tuesday evening, another reminder of the health problems that Tyus is so aware of. “It hurts to see my grandfather go through that (health issues). Some days he’ll be in a tremendous amount of pain, and you don’t wish to see that upon anybody, especially not my grandfather.

“But you would never know that he has to go through that. He never complains. He just gets up every day and just lives life. It’s pretty amazing what he’s had to go through and what he has to go through still. He just takes it and goes with it. I feel extremely bad for him, my grandpa going through that.”

Debbie recalled how back home in Devils Lake her dad was community minded. He led a fundraising effort to maintain Lake Region State College. ”Without him doing the fundraising, the college probably doesn’t stay open,” she said. “He’s always involved in everything. That’s just how he’s been.”

Dennis said he was “born with a basketball on my back” but he wasn’t the player Tyus is or even Debbie who was twice an all-state point guard in North Dakota. Back in the day, Dennis could be a feisty parent yelling at Debbie.

“He’s very emotional,” Debbie said. “I remember…being on the court hearing him yell from the stands, ‘drive,’ or ‘shoot.’ He was very vocal. He’s just very supportive. Always been that.”

Debbie learned the game and has been sharing her knowledge with her sons. She coached Tyus’ youth teams along with her sister Darcy Cascaes who is the athletic director at DeLaSalle. Along the way Debbie encountered male chauvinism about women coaching boys from a man who suggested she “stay in the kitchen.”

From an early age Tyus has known he has basketball role models around him. One of his brothers, Jadee Jones, played collegiately at Furman and he’s the junior varsity head coach for Apple Valley High School. Another brother, Reggie Bunch, played college basketball at Robert Morris. Tyus’ dad Rob Jones (he and Debbie are divorced) played at Chicago area prep power Proviso East and collegiately at Wisconsin-Parkside. Rob and former Gophers guard Al Nuness are cousins.

With so much family in the Minneapolis area, will all that weigh on Tyus’ college choice? He admitted it’s a factor but it won’t close the deal for the hometown Gophers. Minnesota is on his list of eight final possibilities along with Baylor, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State, North Carolina and Ohio State.

Where does Dennis believe Tyus will attend college? “I have no idea. We leave that strictly up to him. The biggest decision he’s got to make is what his studies are going to be.”

Tyus said his grandfather wants him to take his time making the college choice, be sure he looks at “all aspects” of the decision and chooses a place where he will be happy. Both Tyus and Dennis talk about the importance of academics, and although Tyus is uncertain of his major he said it could have “something to do with sports or broadcasting.”

But the basketball part of the decision is huge and Tyus knows it. He could be in college only for a season or two before going to the NBA, fulfilling a career dream and benefitting himself and his family financially. He wants to be part of a college team that plays fast, knowing an up-tempo style blends best with his playmaking. It’s also important, he said, to be surrounded by talented players whose company he enjoys both on and off the court.

Neither Tyus nor his mother are sure when the college choice will be decided. He’s already made several unofficial visits to schools that interest him. As a junior in high school he can start making official visits to schools next year. He can sign a National Letter of Intent binding him to a school next November.

The family follows the Gophers and while Tyus indicated Minnesota could be his final choice no one can count on that. Sally said if he chooses a school other than the Gophers “we hope he’s on TV a lot.” Mom is prepared to buy a “ton of airline tickets.”

What about grandpa and Tyus? “I think we’ll both accept it (whatever the choice) when the day comes,” Tyus said.

Comments Welcome

Goalie Wilcox Gophers MVP

Posted on December 5, 2012December 5, 2012 by David Shama

Gophers coach Don Lucia agreed with the suggestion freshman goalie Adam Wilcox is the early season team MVP. “I think without question so far what he’s done. …His numbers are phenomenal and he’s given us a chance to win every night he’s started so far this year.”

Wilcox has a WCHA-leading 1.61 goals against average. Stephon Williams from Minnesota State is second to Wilcox at 1.92. Wilcox’s 819 game minutes is also best in the league.

Before the season it was uncertain who would replace last year’s senior All-American goalie, Kent Patterson. But Wilcox has responded so well he’s been a major contributor to the Gophers 10-3-2 record with Minnesota being ranked among the nation’s best teams despite struggling to score goals.

The Gophers opened their season dominating Michigan State at Mariucci Arena, winning 5-1 and 7-1. Fans may have expected similar performances from the talented Minnesota roster.

“Michigan State had a very young team,” Lucia told Sports Headliners. “They had four freshmen defensemen playing their first college games after one week of practice. We were able to jump on them and seal the deal early in the game both nights. That (series) was more of an aberration than anything else.

“We have a long ways to go as a team. It’s been a struggle for us offensively. Defensively we’ve played pretty well. Our shots against are very good, low 20s where you want them. Our specialty team play is good but we have to try to figure out a way to score … five on five.”

Lucia said the Gophers, thought by some to be the No. 1 team in the country before the season, were probably overrated. The optimism was based on the Gophers qualifying for the Frozen Four last season, having healthy players in 2011-12 and a “lot of things” going right, according to Lucia. He said the Gophers miss last year’s seniors who played “integral roles” and there have been more injuries on the team this fall. There are players too, the coach said, who need to play better.

Does this team have the potential to be better than last season’s group? “I think your team always has potential,” Lucia said. “Now I think a big part of it is going to be two things. Your best players have to be your best players night in and night out. That next group of guys that are your support players have to take their game to another level.”

The Gophers, 5-3-2 in league play, are at Colorado College, 8-5-3 and overall 8-7-1, Friday and Saturday nights. USCHO.com ranks the Gophers No.4 in the country, Colorado College No. 19.

Worth Noting

Can’t help but wonder if the Vikings and Bears will play a fine-free game on Sunday at Mall of America Field. A week ago Sunday in Chicago, Vikings defensive end Jared Allen and Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher were involved in plays resulting in fines of $21,000 and $15,750 respectively.

Adrian Peterson wasn’t hurt on Urlacher’s horse-collar type tackle but Bears offensive lineman Lance Louis suffered a season-ending ACL injury after being hit hard by Allen. Allen said last week he doesn’t expect revenge from the Bears but will deal with what comes on Sunday.

The Vikings will honor the 30-member Minnesota all-state prep football team at halftime of the Bears game. The team was selected by media, the Vikings and high school coaches. Dwight Lundeen of Becker, whose 2012 team was a Class 4A power, was selected Coach of the Year.

The all-staters: Marley Allison, Edina; Jordan Anderson, Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s; Brady Ayers, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown; Dalton Bass, Hills-Beaver Creek; Lance Briard, Springfield; Zach Creighton, Lakeville North; JT DenHartog, Hopkins; Jake Disterhaupt, Moose Lake-Willow River; Tucker Forsgren, Pelican Rapids; Alex Grove, Willmar; Aaron Haatja, Dassel-Cokato; Jordan Hein, Perham; Jared Lea, Chanhassen; Chase Morlock, Moorhead; Jack Nelson, Byron; Daulton Olinger, Spring Lake Park; James Onwualu, Cretin-Derham Hall; Elijah Patrick, Prior Lake; Ashanti Payne, Robbinsdale Cooper; Jacob Peterson, St. Cloud Tech; Daniel Polansky, Goodridge/Grygla; Nate Ricci, Stillwater; Noah Scarver, Washburn; Shaun Schindler, Hutchinson; Brandon Schmitt, Dawson Boyd; Jordan Staples, Morris; Bridge Tusler, Osseo; Brett Watercott, Becker; Jake Wieneke, Maple Grove; Alex Wood, Lakeville North.

Two Minnesotans are first team selections on the American Football Coaches Association FCS All-American team—Marcus Williams, the North Dakota State junior cornerback from Minneapolis, and Zach Zenner, the South Dakota State sophomore running back from Eagan.

Texas Tech, the Gophers opponent in the December 28 Meineke Car Care Bowl in Houston, sees benefits playing in that football-rich area. The Red Raiders have a large alumni base in the Houston area and have put a bull’s-eye on recruiting in Texas’ largest city, according to a Sunday online article by the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.

Tech coach Tommy Tuberville said in the story: “The lifeblood of a program is recruiting. Players win games. For our program right now, for what we need to do and where we need to go, I think this is good for us.

“I know we’re recruiting a lot of players from that area, trying to get more players on the team from the Houston area. We were kind of lacking the last few years, but our coaches have gone into Houston and selling our program, selling Texas Tech, and it’s worked pretty good.”

The Gophers recruit Texas and three of their more promising freshmen are tight end Lincoln Plsek from Waco, and running back Rodrick Williams Jr. and nose guard Scott Ekpe, both from Lewisville. Minnesota has several Texans on its two-deep depth chart.

Texas Tech could be about a two touchdown favorite in the Meineke game. The Big Ten will have six other teams in bowl games and all of the conference’s schools may be underdogs. The Big Ten has no teams in the top 15 of the BCS standings, with Nebraska at No. 16, Michigan No. 18 and Northwestern No. 20.

UW-Oshkosh plays at St. Thomas on Saturday in a game starting at 2 p.m. involving two undefeated teams trying to advance to the national Division III football title game. The Titans have drawn attention for not only winning but their comebacks, according to the school’s website.

After trailing St. Scholastica 10-0 in their playoff opener, the Titans scored 55 unanswered points in a 55-10 win. Bethel scored the first 14 points in a second round playoff game but the Titans responded with 37 straight points in a 37-14 victory.

Last Saturday, trailing 21-6 at halftime against Linfield, the Titans tied the game with 15 unanswered fourth quarter points, then won 31-24 in overtime and ended the Oregon school’s 26 game home winning streak.

Baseballamerica.com posted its listing of the Twins top prospects and also the projected lineup for the big league team in 2016. The November 20 article ranked third baseman Miguel Sano No. 1 among prospects with outfielders Byron Buxton, Oswaldo Arcia and Aaron Hicks at numbers 2, 3 and 5 respectively. Starting pitcher Kyle Gibson ranked No. 4.

For the 2016 season, Gibson is projected as the No. 1 starter on the Twins with Sano at third base, Buxton in center field, Hicks in right field and Arcia the designated hitter. Other projected starters: catcher Joe Mauer, first base Chris Parmelee, second base Eddie Rosario, shortstop Daniel Santana and left fielder Denard Span. Span has been traded to the Nationals since the article was posted.

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo was at St. Louis Park High School last night watching Apple Valley junior point guard Tyus Jones play against the Orioles. MSU is on Jones’ final eight schools under consideration for college.

The 9-1 Gophers basketball team, 88-64 winners over South Dakota State last night, play next at 3-4 USC in a 7:30 p.m. start Minneapolis time on Saturday. The game will be televised on the Pac-12 Network. The Trojans lost 63-51 at Nebraska on Monday night.

USC, coached by former Northwestern coach Kevin O’Neill, is led in scoring by J.T. Terrell and Eric Wise, their only double figures scorers at 12.7 and 10.4. Minnesota, ranked No. 14 in the latest A.P. poll, defeated USC, 55-40, in Minneapolis last December.

KSTP TV sportscaster Joe Schmit said on Monday night a source predicted injured Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio may play his first game this season on December 15 at Target Center against the Mavericks.

Dave Mona, co-host of the WCCO Radio Sports Huddle, will be the speaker on Thursday, January 10 at the C.O.R.E.S. luncheon in Bloomington. Anyone interested in more information can email Jim Dotseth at dotsethj@comcast.net. C.O.R.E.S. is an acronym for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans.

Comments Welcome