Golden Gophers – Page 381 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

U Will Schedule BCS Teams

Posted on November 14, 2012November 14, 2012 by David Shama

Norwood Teague told Sports Headliners the Gophers want to schedule BCS opponents for nonconference games, but not for several years.

The Gophers’ new athletic director cancelled games with North Carolina for 2013 and 2014 earlier this fall. Now Minnesota doesn’t have a BCS opponent on the nonconference schedule until 2018 when Oregon State is scheduled to play in Minneapolis.

Teague and football coach Jerry Kill aren’t saying never to scheduling BCS non-conference foes—schools from the six conferences of the Big Ten, Atlantic Coast, Big East, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC . “Oh, yeah,” Teague said. “We want to do that.”

The decision to exit from the North Carolina series and make the nonconference lineup of games in 2013 and 2014 more winnable was based on a belief by athletic department leaders that the Gophers program needs time to become more competitive.

The Gophers were 4-0 during non-conference games this season and without all four wins (three against non-BCS opponents) the program would still not be bowl eligible. Minnesota is 6-4 after earning its second Big Ten win last Saturday against Illinois but without its non-conference sweep, the Gophers would have to be hoping for a sixth win and bowl eligibility in their last two games—underdog assignments versus Nebraska and Michigan State.

Six wins and a bowl game can help a program in recruiting, and Kill highly values the extra 15 practices allowed to prepare his team for the post-season. Those bonus practices can be like a second spring practice, particularly helpful for a young roster of players like the Gophers.

Teague emphasized that in a difficult Big Ten, having a favorable nonleague schedule is a plus. “It’s where we are now (in scheduling philosophy),” he said. “I am not saying we’re going to be there in five years but it’s where we are now (needing nonleague wins).”

Teague acknowledged an outpouring of disappointment by fans about cancellation of the North Carolina series. Fans, including season ticket holders, have long been frustrated by the lack of BCS teams on Minnesota’s non-conference schedules. There’s no arguing that for many season ticket holders having the likes of Western Illinois and San Jose State as early games in 2013 detracts from the value of their purchases. Other nonconference home opponents on future schedules include Eastern Illinois, Middle Tennessee State and Indiana State.

“If I was a fan and we cancelled the North Carolina series, I would be frustrated too,” Teague said. “…It’s something Jerry felt like we needed to do and I wanted to support him and I agreed with him after we analyzed it.

“I can’t tell you how much we analyzed this over June and July. We met about it constantly. We ruminated on it constantly and decided to go ahead and do it.”

The Gophers Athletic Department paid $800,000 to North Carolina to cancel the games and the decision left Minnesota scrambling to fill open dates in 2013 and 2014 (Minnesota will likely play at New Mexico State on September 7, 2013). The $800,000 was a significant part of the public criticism.

Would Teague make the same decision again?

“I would. I regret that it struck such a chord with our fans, and I don’t want to anger anyone for reasons that seemed like we’re looking at it in a flippant way. The money is one thing. It’s a lot of money and it could be seen as being used for better and more needy situations.

“But it is an investment for the future. We’re trying to get momentum in the program. The Big Ten is tough. …”

Vikings Stadium & Other Notes

A construction management firm for the new Vikings stadium could be chosen within the next 30 days, according to Lester Bagley. The Vikings vice president of public affairs said the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority will issue a request for proposal, and a firm will be selected before year’s end.

That company will determine the cost of potential retractable features for the stadium. Retractable options for cost analysis are expected to include a moving roof, and doors that open to the stadium plaza.

Bagley said ground for the new stadium is likely to be broken next September. Although the facility will be built on the Metrodome site, the Vikings will be able to play the entire 2013 season at Mall of America Field. Before the expected new stadium opening in 2016, the Vikings will play some games at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings are close to announcing completion of an agreement with the University of Minnesota.

Bagley said details regarding the Gophers’ stadium include placement of heating coils beneath the playing field and expanding seating capacity (currently 50,805). The Vikings have more season ticket holders than TCF’s present capacity, and because the team plays more than a month after the Gophers’ season ends there are “weatherization” issues with the stadium, according to Bagley.

The Vikings don’t play again until Sunday, November 25 in Chicago against the Bears. Some players will use the bye week break to leave town including linebacker Chad Greenway who will be in his native South Dakota hunting pheasants.

Vikings reserve quarterback Joe Webb turns 26 today.

Although the Gophers’ bowl destination won’t be decided for awhile, an athletic department spokesman speculated the destination could be the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas in Houston on December 28, with Minnesota playing Iowa State, TCU or West Virginia from the Big 12 Conference.

With his team down to one healthy center, Gophers coach Jerry Kill said yesterday his staff will need to teach someone to be a backup to starter Zac Epping for Saturday’s game against Nebraska in Lincoln.

Here are Sports Headliners Big Ten football power rankings: Ohio State,Nebraska, Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan, Northwestern, Michigan State, Purdue, Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana and Illinois.

Tickets for the St. Thomas Division III home football playoff game against St.Norbert College on Saturday go on sale starting at 10:30 a.m. that day at O’Shaughnessy Stadium. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $4 for students. The game isn’t expected to sell out. The Tommies are 10-0 while the Green Knights are 8-2.

Bethel (8-2) is a second MIAC team advancing to the playoffs, and plays in Chicago on Saturday against Concordia-Chicago (10-0).

The Timberwolves, 5-2 and off to their best start since 2001-2002, didn’t have a player among the NBA’s top 25 for points, rebounds, assists or minutes through league games as of Monday. The Wolves, undefeated at home in three games, play the Bobcats at Target Center tonight.

Former Gophers center Colton Iverson had 18 points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes playing for Colorado State last week in the Rams’ opening game, a 72-65 win over Montana. The 6-10 Iverson is wearing jersey No. 45, the same number he had at Minnesota.

Rams coach Larry Eustachy praised Iverson in the college basketball issue of Athlon Sports now on newsstands. “Colton changes the whole team. He’s in a small pool of players around the country that have his size, his intelligence and his feel for the game. He passes the test.”

Former Gophers basketball player Keith Young emailed he has completed his first book of poetry. “This is a twenty year hobby that I have decided to turn into a business venture,” he wrote. Poems from an Unexpected Source is about “family, friendship, sports, hope and life.” yeltd@sbcglobal.net.

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‘Superman’ Inspires, Breaks Record

Posted on November 12, 2012November 12, 2012 by David Shama

Maybe it was fate that Adrian Peterson broke a Vikings’ rushing record yesterday against the Lions.

The All-Pro running back went over 1,000 yards for the fifth time in a season and broke a tie with Robert Smith for the franchise record of most 1,000 yard seasons. Peterson ran for 171 yards in a 34-24 win over the Lions, including a 61-yard touchdown run. It was the fourth consecutive game that Peterson, the NFL’s leading rusher, has totaled over 100 yards this season.

Peterson, now in his sixth pro season, is a clear choice as the franchise’s best running back ever. He plays in a division, the NFC North, that has three other franchises with legendary running backs. During their eras Barry Sanders (Lions), Walter Payton and Gale Sayers (Bears), and Jim Taylor (Packers) were superstar runners. Sanders is regarded by some historians as the greatest running back of all-time.

At 27 years old and healthy again after last season’s ACL injury, Peterson is on track to join Sanders, Payton and Taylor in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After yesterday’s win, Peterson’s teammates talked about him like he’s already a legend.

Yes, they described him as the “best back in the league” but the praise went beyond that. “Adrian is kind of a Superman,” left guard Charlie Johnson said. “He’s a freak. You would never think that an injury like that would happen to him. But it happened, and the way he fought back, it is inspiring to us.”

Peterson has been playing since the opening game of the season despite the brutal injury he suffered. He’s his old self running with power, making superlative cuts and possessing the straightaway speed to race past secondary defenders.

“He’s pretty darn good, huh? Best back in the league right now,” center John Sullivan said. “Those all-time discussions (best runner ever) are always going to be debatable. What he’s doing—especially in a pass happy league—is fantastic.”

Johnson agrees there’s no lasting impacting from the ACL injury. “He’s unbelievable. I really don’t think you can tell if he got hurt or not. It’s just the way that he’s running, and seeing the field well. It’s fun to block (for him).”

Johnson said Peterson’s ordeal of suffering the injury and then coming back so dramatically to reclaim his spot as the NFL’s premier running back set an example for the other Vikings. “He means a lot. For him to get hurt last year and for him to attack his rehab the way he did, that gets our attention. That the guy…had a major knee injury and he’s back way ahead of when everybody thought he was, that makes you work hard. It makes the whole locker room want to work hard and get better every day seeing that.”

The Vikings have a bye next week and for now they can celebrate being 6-4, ending a two-game losing streak. There were contributions from many Vikings on both offense and defense yesterday in beating the Lions (4-5) in a key division game but the main donor was No. 28.

Four of the Vikings’ six remaining games are on the road. Vikings marketing executive Steve LaCroix said small numbers of tickets are still available for the team’s last two home games, December 9 versus the Bears and December 30 against the Packers. Both games will sellout. Information on tickets: www.vikings.com.

Gophers, Wolves & Other Notes

The Gophers are bowl eligible for the first time since 2009 with their 17-3 win over Illinois on Saturday, winning the game with a reshuffled offensive line and using several true freshmen including quarterback Philip Nelson who had a difficult day facing Illini blitzes that seemed to have him and his receivers off balance.

Nelson passed for 78 yards. It didn’t help that two of his most reliable receivers, A.J. Barker and Derrick Engel, were injured and didn’t play.

Coach Jerry Kill has been shuffling personnel on the offensive line all season including having to replace starting left tackle Ed Olson and left guard Tommy Olson. At Illinois, injuries forced the Gophers to play three different centers.

In addition to Nelson, the Gophers received significant minutes from these true freshmen: defensive tackle Scott Ekpe, defensive end Alex Keith, wide receiver Andre McDonald, tight end Lincoln Plsek and running back Rodrick Williams.

Much of the Timberwolves’ fast start this season can be attributed to the team’s defensive play. The Wolves, despite a run of injuries that has sidelined multiple players, have a 4-2 record. They rank fifth among NBA teams in fewest points given up per game, 89.5, and third best in lowest field goal percentage allowed, .415.

But on Friday night before the Wolves earned their fourth win of the season, forward Andrei Kirilenko told Sports Headliners there’s much potential for improvement. “I still think we’re far from playing great defense but I think we’re doing a very good job in the mental effort. Everybody (is) trying to play defense. A lot of things when you play on defense, comes from the state of mind. …”

Kirilenko is a former all-NBA defense first and second team selection. He said it can take years for teams to maximize their defensive effectiveness as they learn assignments, how to help each other and develop the required work ethic.

Kirilenko said his wife, former Russian pop singer Marina Masha Lopatova, is living with him in Minnesota. Can Kirilenko sing? “I can sing in the shower,” he said.

The Wolves other Russian player, 23-year-old rookie guard Alexey Shved, has improved his English in the last few months. “I tell them you’re in America now, you have to speak English,” teammate Chase Budinger joked.

Budinger suffered a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee on Saturday night against the Bulls in Chicago. Surgery will be scheduled later this week.

The November 12 issue of Sports Illustrated includes the magazine’s annual college basketball preview. The Gophers are ranked No. 31 in the country and forecast to earn a win in the NCAA Tournament. Indiana is No. 1, with two other Big Ten Conference schools in the top 10, No. 6 Michigan and No. 7 Ohio State.

The magazine includes former St. Cloud Tech High School guard Nate Wolters among its three players who are potential “game changers”—players from lesser known schools that could make a big impact this season. S.I. reports the South Dakota State point guard is a potential NBA draft choice, and last season accounted for 27.2 percent of his team’s field goals and 33 percent of the free throws.

The NHL lockout could end soon as players feel the pressure of continued lost paychecks. Meanwhile, players from the Wild work out at rinks in Edina, Orono and Wayzata knowing they have to be in shape and keep their skills sharp, or they will be at a competitive disadvantage if training camp and the season starts. It’s presumed NHL training camps will last only seven to 14 days.

The 2013 NHL Winter Classic scheduled for Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor has been cancelled but look for the site to host the game in 2014. The 2015 game? It’s worth a bet Target Field will be the site.

Gophers hockey reunions are planned for February 23 and March 2 recognizing the 10^th anniversary of the 2003 national championship team and the 30^th anniversary of the 1983 WCHA title team. The Gophers athletic department is inviting former team members, coaches and staff to receptions prior to Minnesota’s home games on those dates with Minnesota-Duluth and Denver. There will also be on-ice recognition of the anniversary teams during the games.

Twins president Dave St. Peter will speak at the Minnesota Minute Men Holiday Event on December 3 at Jax Café. The Minute Men welcome prospective new members at the 6 to 8 p.m. event that will include complimentary beverages and appetizers. RSVP at www.minnesotaminutemen.com.

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Rodney Williams: U Deserves Top 25

Posted on November 9, 2012November 9, 2012 by David Shama

Preseason college basketball polls have been giving the Gophers “sniffs,” but Minnesota hasn’t been included in the top 25 men’s basketball rankings of polls by the Associated Press, USA Today Sports, Sports Illustrated, and AthlonSports.com. Gophers forward Rodney Williams told Sports Headliners he believes Minnesota should be ranked with the nation’s better teams.

“I definitely think we deserve to be in the top 25,” he said. “I think we’re a team with a lot of depth, a lot of experience now. I think we can give a lot of teams trouble.”

After two exhibition wins, Minnesota opens the regular season tonight at home against American University and can begin to make its case with the pollsters. The Gophers return all five starters from last season’s NIT finals team. The regulars consist of Williams, a senior, and junior guard Austin Hollins, and sophomores Joe Coleman (forward), Andre Hollins (guard) and Elliott Eliason (center). Off the bench are two players who could become starters, senior forward Trevor Mbakwe and sophomore center Maurice Walker.

Coach Tubby Smith told Sports Headliners earlier this fall his team has three potential NBA draft choices in Andre Hollins, Mbakwe and Williams. But despite the talent and depth, there are doubts about the Gophers including whether the team can effectively close out games and avoid the injuries that have contributed to consecutive 6-12 regular season finishes in the Big Ten.

Williams thinks the Gophers are ready for a successful season in his last year at Minnesota. “It would definitely mean a lot because these past years we’ve been so close,” he said. “We lost a lot of games that we could have won with little turnovers at the end, or not getting that big rebound, but I think with the team we’ve got now we’ll be able to get over that hump and make some noise in the Big Ten Tournament, in the conference play and the NCAA Tournament.”

Mbakwe, who missed most of last season because of his injured ACL, has played limited minutes in the two exhibition games. He said his leg strength isn’t 100 percent but he expects to be at that level in a month or so.

But Williams already sees the physical, explosive power player that could impact games blocking shots, rebounding and scoring inside like Mbakwe did last year before the injury.

“You haven’t been able to see much of him out there in exhibition games because they are exhibition games and you don’t want to risk anything with him being back a little earlier than a lot of people thought,” Williams said. “I definitely think Trev is back to his old self and you’ll be able to see that a lot more on Friday.”

American University is a Washington, D.C.-based school and member of the Patriot League. The Eagles, who were 20-12 last season, placed third in their conference last year and could push for a similar finish in 2013.

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