Golden Gophers – Page 389 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Gophers Need to Make ‘Statement’

Posted on August 29, 2012August 29, 2012 by David Shama

The way Troy Stoudermire looks at things it’s time for the Gophers to break away from the past. The assignment starts tomorrow night on the road against UNLV in Minnesota’s 2012 opening game.

“It means a lot to go win this game,” Stoudermire told Sports Headliners. “Winning this game is just one step to what we’re trying to accomplish. We gotta come make a statement.

“Every year we’ve been having a team full of talent but we never could get that done. That’s the way we gotta look at it. But this year we’re gonna get that done.”

No player on Minnesota’s roster has more perspective about the program than Stoudermire, a senior cornerback and record-setting kickoff returner. He was a freshman on the 2008 team and was granted a fifth season of eligibility in 2012 by the NCAA because a broken arm limited him to four games last season.

Minnesota’s season records during the Stoudermire era are 7-6-, 6-7, 3-9 and 3-9. That adds up to 19 wins, 31 losses and the record of the last four years has a lot to do with why the college football world has low expectations again for the Gophers. Stoudermire said nobody outside the program gives the Gophers “a chance” to accomplish much in 2012 “but we gotta make a name for ourselves.”

He has been impressed with his teammates during August practices leading up to tomorrow night’s game when the Gophers are expected to win by a touchdown or more. He said the offense is “really good,” led by senior dual-threat quarterback MarQueis Gray who “can do anything.”

The defense?

“This has been the lowest penalty rated camp that I’ve been at on defense,” Stoudermire said. “…I’ve seen the defense improve way more than any other year I’ve been here. We’ve just been on point. Everyone is making calls. Everyone is in the right spot and doing what they’re supposed to do, and not trying to do a little extra, and that’s all you need to have a really good defense.”

Gophers, Vikings & Other Notes:

UNLV is a struggling program like the Gophers. The Rebels were 2-11 last season, winning games at home against New Mexico (45-10) and Wyoming (42-16). Third-year coach Bobby Hauck is 4-21 at UNLV.

Among NCAA teams last season the Gophers ranked 110^th in total offense, UNLV 117^th. In total defense Minnesota ranked No. 77 with the Rebels at No. 105.

Kickoff for the Minnesota-UNLV game is 10:04 p.m. tomorrow. A daytime high of 102 degrees and overnight low of 79 in Las Vegas is forecast by weather.com. Gophers coach Jerry Kill will “play a lot of kids” and the players were told starting last week to consume plenty of fluids.

Quarterback MarQueis Gray had to leave the opening game at USC last year because of heat-induced arm cramps. That’s something Kill expects Gray to avoid tomorrow night. “We’ll take care of that,” Kill said. “MarQueis sweats a ton so we’ll have to make sure he takes plenty of fluid in.”

Kill plans to redshirt all his freshmen offensive linemen including Isaac Hayes and Jonah Pirsig, the two highly publicized Minnesota natives. He will also redshirt former Lakeville South High School quarterback Mitch Leidner.

That means Philip Nelson, the freshman from Mankato West, along with sophomore Max Shortell will be the backup quarterbacks to Gray for the UNLV game. Kill didn’t say so but he probably hopes to redshirt Nelson too.

Kill brought in outside speakers to address the team during August practices including former Gophers All-American safety Tyrone Carter. Don Banham, former Minneapolis police officer and father of Gophers football player Cole Banham and Gophers women’s basketball star Rachel Banham, also spoke to the team.

The Big Ten Network is celebrating its fifth anniversary this month.

The Vikings need a win tomorrow night in Houston over the Texans to finish the preseason at 2-2. Last Friday night at Mall of America Field the Vikings lost 12-10 to the Chargers and it looked like about 65 percent of the seats were filled.

With new automated parking meters near the stadium, the city was charging a Vikings game night rate of $3 per hour Friday. Unless you pay by credit card, that’s 48 quarters to park for four hours.

Merchandise sold in the stadium concourse Friday night included a Christian Ponder jersey for $115 and a limited edition Adrian Peterson jersey for $155.

Former Vikings linebacker Ben Leber, who has been doing TV-radio sideline reporting during the team’s preseason games, told Sports Headliners he will be a game analyst for Conference USA football games on Fox. He will also provide game analysis on two Western Michigan games for ESPNU.

Red McCombs, who sold the Vikings in 2005, has mixed feelings about not having the franchise anymore, according to Chad Ostlund who worked for McCombs and remains a friend. Ostlund said McCombs was “frustrated” about the team’s new stadium efforts when he, McCombs, owned the team.

The Twins, who lost a second consecutive game last night to Seattle at home, haven’t hit a home run in 10 of their last 11 games. They have been out scored 47-19 in their last eight games (seven losses).

Joe Mauer has now caught 833 games for the Twins, surpassing Earl Battey’s franchise record for a catcher of 831.

The St. Thomas football team, recently ranked No. 4 nationally by Lindy’s Sports and No. 7 by USA Today, begins its season on Saturday at UW-Eau Claire. The Division III Tommies are coming off consecutive 10-0 regular seasons.

St. Thomas’ Curtis James, Riley Dombek, Chinni Oji, Harry Pitera and Garrett Maloney, Augsburg’s Adam Carl, Saint John’s Bobby Fischer, Bethel’s Josh Wolfe and Concordia’s Tom Knowlton were selected preseason Division III All-Americans by various sources. Saint John’s kicker Jimmie Mattson was named to the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List for the second consecutive season. The award is annually presented to the nation’s top collegiate kicker, regardless of division.

Schools and other non-profit organizations serving youth located within a 50 mile radius of Target Center can enter a contest to win a $10,000 donation for basketball court renovation. www.timberwolves.com/community

Lindsey Berg, who helped the USA volleyball team to the silver medal in the 2012 Olympics, is among nine women and men who will be inducted into the Gophers Sports Hall of Fame on September 20 at TCF Bank Stadium. Ticket information about the event is available by calling 1-800-U-Gopher.

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Here’s Your U Football Predictions

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

Sports Headliners evaluated the Gophers coaching, special teams, and offensive and defensive units. With 12 teams in the Big Ten Conference, a number of 1 through 12 was assigned to where those entities rank.

The Gophers (with a tweak of optimism) were given an overall No. 7 ranking (63 points divided by 9). That means Minnesota is projected as the seventh best team in the conference this fall.

Here’s how Sports Headliners arrived at that number:

Coaching: Former LSU and Indiana head coach Gerry DiNardo, now working as an analyst for the Big Ten Network, said earlier this month Gophers coach Jerry Kill and his staff will consistently win games against teams with similar talent. That’s coaching, folks.

But until this staff, now in its second year at Minnesota, accomplishes more than last season’s 3-9 record Sports Headliners can’t vault the group near the top of the Big Ten coaching ladder. Let’s say Minnesota’s coaches are better than Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Penn State and Purdue. Rank: 7.

Special teams: Kill is all-in about special teams and the results should be a team strength. Competition for assignments and team speed will help the Gophers in punting, kickoffs, field goals, coverages and returns.

The team’s punting was a nightmare last season but in practice this month four punters are trying to win the job. Also, placekickers Jordan Wettstein (six of six) and Chris Hawthorne (six of nine) combined for 12 field goals last season and have been competing in camp. Wettstein is a senior, Hawthorne a junior.

Troy Stoudermire holds the career Big Ten kickoff yardage return record with 3,102. He needs 315 yards to set the NCAA record.

Last season the Gophers blocked a punt and executed a key onside kick to help win games. With more experience, the Gophers figure to be even better in special teams—long known as an impressive part of the Kill resume. Rank: 6.

Quarterback: The Big Ten has lots of promising quarterbacks so it requires some faith in MarQueis Gray’s extraordinary athleticism to push him toward the top of the rankings. Even the casual fan knows Gray, who set school single game and season rushing records for a quarterback last year, must improve his passing in 2012.

Last season he threw eight touchdown passes and the same number of interceptions. Now a senior, Gray understands the Gophers system and how to read defenses better than last year, his first full season as a starting quarterback.

Kill has confidence in Gray and there’s no doubt he’s the team’s preseason choice for MVP. Sports Headliners wants a seat on the Gray bandwagon while noting if the Gophers lose him because of injury…well, their season looks grey. Rank: 5.

Running backs: When DiNardo was in Minneapolis to evaluate the Gophers for the Big Ten Network he spoke bluntly about the running backs. The pronouncement: no one in the group scares opponents.

It’s hard not to nod in agreement with that statement, and passionate Gophers fans will argue Minnesota hasn’t had a big time talent at running back since Gary Russell was finishing his brief career here. During the coming season Kill will provide playing time to at least a couple of running backs, perhaps several.

The by-committee approach is one Kill used at other schools where he’s coached. That could change some day if the Gophers find another Laurence Maroney or Marion Barber III, but for now the running back unit doesn’t look like a strength. Rank: 9.

Wide receivers & tight ends: The Gophers had 10 receptions for touchdowns last season. Returning players accounted for only three. Senior wide receiver Brandon Green caught one touchdown pass and senior tight end John Rabe had two.

Kill told Sports Headliners earlier this year the Gophers have to find receivers who can “go make a play.” That sometimes means a difficult catch or a long run after a reception. Rabe figures to start at tight end but who will get the most playing time at the other receiving positions is puzzling.

This much is for sure: most of those who will make big plays for the Gophers catching the ball will be freshmen and sophomores. There’s talent in the group but until proven differently skepticism is justified. Rank: 8.

Offensive line: If the Gophers are to eventually approach the success of Wisconsin or even Iowa, this unit needs to become a program strength. State of Minnesota high school programs should be able to mainstream promising offensive linemen to Dinkytown, guys at least good enough for Kill and staff to bulk up and coach up to a high level.

The line will be better than a year ago with young talent starting to mature. The unit’s star likely will be junior left tackle Ed Olson. Kill has told Sports Headliners Olson could experience a “breakout” season.

The Gophers have a half dozen or so freshmen, sophomore and junior candidates who could factor into contributing to an improved offensive line. The opinion here, though, is the line is at least one year away from being outstanding. Rank: No. 7.

Defensive line: Let’s count the seasons the Gophers have had poor defensive line play and the pass rush was…well, what pass rush? Never mind. I don’t have time to count that high.

The Gophers defense gave up 31.1 points per game last season. That ranked 11th in the Big Ten and the performance of the defensive line was part of the problem. This season’s unit will be more experienced and has a potential star (a rarity in recent program history) in defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman. The redshirt junior from Minneapolis could be difficult for opponents to block and may become one of Minnesota’s most dominant linemen in years.

Kill will play numerous linemen in games to keep them fresh. At least some look like they bring special skill sets like pass rusher Theiren Cockran and hard working former walk-on Cameron Botticelli. Kill has achieved success at other schools with a strong defense and this year’s version could be much improved. Rank: No. 7.

Linebackers: Kill talks about having only 10 seniors on the roster but this is a unit with experience. Senior linebackers Keanon Cooper, Aaron Hill, Mike Rallis and Spencer Reeves have 45 career starts.

But perhaps the star of the unit could be James Manuel, a junior and converted safety. Two years ago during August practices then head coach Tim Brewster was excited about Manuel. In Manuel’s first two seasons he started only three games but the player Brewster described as “a man” at 19 years old is talented.

Can the unit make a lot of big plays for the Gophers game-by-game? We’ll see. Rank: No. 8.

Defensive backs: The Gophers secondary produced only four interceptions last season, and like the other parts of the defense the tackling was inconsistent. But this could be one of the most improved units on the team in 2012.

Kill can start two senior cornerbacks in Stoudermire and Michael Carter. Junior Derrick Wells has been converted from cornerback to safety and before August practices started, Kill mentioned Wells among potential key contributors on the team.

There’s more good news, too, with the addition of three junior college transfers in the secondary. They provide needed depth, experience, athleticism and speed. Rank: 6.

Conclusion: If Gray plays in all 12 games and the Gophers don’t have an epidemic of injuries overall, Minnesota could win five to seven games. A 3-1 or 4-0 record in nonconference games looks probable. Then two or three wins in the Big Ten is realistic. Expect the Gophers not only to improve on last year’s 3-9 record, but to be more competitive and perform better throughout the fall than they did from game 1 through 12 in 2011.

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Shortell Feels on ‘Different Level’

Posted on August 21, 2012August 23, 2012 by David Shama

When cramps forced quarterback MarQueis Gray to the sidelines in the Gophers opener last year against USC, true freshman Max Shortell had to enter the game in the fabled Los Angeles Coliseum. Shortell would later start two games for the Gophers.

Looking back at last year, Shortell said he realizes how inexperienced he was. If called upon to replace Gray this season he will be much more comfortable.

“Last year I was almost just trying to make it through,” he said last week. “This year I feel like I am on a whole different level.”

Shortell, who completed 26 of 54 passes while throwing two touchdown passes and two interceptions, acknowledged that for a backup quarterback to watch from the sidelines in games not knowing when he will play presents a challenge.

“It’s hard the whole game to be focused (while) on the sidelines,” he said. “Coming into the game you know you’re not going to play but you have to be in every snap all week mentally. You have to be prepared to play.

“As far as staying loose on the sidelines, that’s really hard to do. Especially when it’s cold out. …It’s real tough just to be waiting.”

Gray is a senior and could be one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten. Shortell’s playing time might be even less than last season when he participated in eight games.

“I hope I can play,” Shortell said. “I hope I can push MarQueis and step in when I need to.”

Shortell said the Gophers offense, now in its second season with a new coaching staff, is “light years” ahead of where it was in August of 2011. “We’re making plays that we just missed last year. In games we just missed plays and now out here on the practice field we’re making these plays.”

Gophers football notes and other items:

A priority for the Gophers in practice during August is special teams. Coach Jerry Kill and his staff came to Minnesota from Northern Illinois with a reputation for producing results with special teams. Minnesota won only three games last season but the recovery of a fourth quarter onside kickoff was a big play in a 22-21 win over Iowa and a fourth quarter blocked punt turned into a touchdown produced the final Gophers points in a 29-23 victory against Miami (Ohio).

Punting, kickoffs, coverages and returns receive Kill’s attention and it’s a good bet the Gophers will turn another game or two their way in 2012 with special teams. “I think you always win in the kicking game,” Kill said last week. “If you go look at NFL—at college football—the good teams gotta be good on special teams. Because you’re gonna win some games on special teams, or you gonna lose some games. And we’ve spent a heck of a lot of time on trying to win, and we’ve always been pretty good at it everywhere we’ve been. …”

Look for Kill to announce his starters for the UNLV game (August 30) in six days or so. Regardless, in certain position units like the defensive line Kill will play subs, not just starters, in game action.

Sports Illustrated’s college football issue ranks Alabama No. 1 with two Big Ten teams in the publication’s preseason top 10—No. 6 Wisconsin and No. 8 Michigan State. Other Big Ten teams in the top 25 are No. 13 Michigan, No. 19 Nebraska and No. 22 Ohio State. The magazine lists seven Heisman Trophy favorites including Michigan’s Denard Robinson and Wisconsin’s Montee Ball.

The Universityof Minnesota Alumni Association is partnering with Creative Charters to promote a fan trip to the Gophers-UNLV game in Las Vegas. The alumni association is also promoting a tailgate party before the game with a discount available for early registration. More at www.minnesotaalumni.org

Vikings offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said yesterday that backup quarterback Joe Webb looked better in his second preseason game than in the first. The coach said Webb is making progress including understanding defenses.

“Well, Joe is making strides every day,” Musgrave said. “The other night he missed on a couple throws that he would like to have back, but he did some good things for us too. He made some plays with his legs when we spread him out and got everybody out of the backfield. That is definitely one of his strengths.”

Fritz Waldvogel, the former St. Thomas star, has scored 27 touchdowns in nine games playing in the German Football League, according to www.tommiesports.com.

Gophers assistant coach Saul Smith told Sports Headliners Maurice Walker, who missed all of last season, is healthy and playing summer basketball. Smith said the Gophers need the 6-10, 289-pound Walker’s presence in the low post. “We’ll need him in Atlantis,” Smith said about the November 22 Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas where the Gophers will play Duke.

Smith’s dad, Tubby Smith, starts his sixth season at Minnesota this fall. Saul said this could be the best Gophers team so far but Minnesota “will have to prove it” in the Big Ten.

Prep basketball authority Ken Lien emailed that DeLaSalle forward Reid Travis, ranked by ESPN.com as the No. 31 player nationally in the prep class of 2014, has been offered a scholarship by Boston College.

Lien also reported that Cooper guard Rashad Vaughn said Baylor, Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina and Texas are showing strong interest in recruiting him.

ESPN ranks Vaughn the No. 12 prospect in the class of 2014 while Apple Valley point guard Tyus Jones is No. 2.

NBC’s coverage of the USA men’s gold medal basketball game had 12.5 million viewers, while the USA women’s title game had 10.2 million, according to NBA.com.

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor left the states last week for China to participate in a mission with the Starkey Hearing Foundation.

The St. Cloud State men’s basketball team will play an exhibition game on November 2 at Michigan State. Kevin Levandoski, a 6-1 sophomore guard from Appleton, Wisconsin, is on the Huskies roster and is MSU coach Tom Izzo’s nephew. Levandoski suggested the game to Izzo, according to online reports.

About.com ranked the greatest baseball players of all time last week. Among catchers, the Twins Joe Mauer didn’t receive a mention among the top 15. Harmon Killebrew ranked No. 6 among first basemen and Jim Thome No. 10.

The Gophers volleyball team is ranked No. 16 in the country in a preseason poll by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. In a poll of Big Ten coaches Minnesota is picked to finish No. 4 in the league with Nebraska the title favorite.

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