Golden Gophers – Page 393 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Worth Noting

Posted on April 13, 2012April 13, 2012 by David Shama

Smalley will be among the substitute analysts for Bert Blyeven on Twins telecasts this season. Smalley’s first assignment will be the series here against the Royals April 27-29. Then he will work road games in Anaheim and Seattle.

Josh Willingham, who has four home runs in six games, has hit more than 20 home runs four times in the big leagues since 2006. In the first five games this season he hit three home runs and drove in six of the team’s 12 runs. The Twins new left fielder has played first base and catcher during his professional career, but has primarily been an outfielder.

Joe Mauer homered at home yesterday for the first time since August 18, 2010. He and Justin Morneau homered together for the first time since July 6, 2010.

Ex-Gophers football players are responding to Minnesota coach Jerry Kill’s request to assist with costs associated with the funeral of former linebacker Gary Tinsley and the expense of flying the team to Florida. Kill reached out to ex-players asking them to consider making a donation to the University of Minnesota Foundation – Gary Tinsley Memorial Fund.

Kill’s willingness to fly the entire Gophers team to Jacksonville for tomorrow’s funeral is yet another example of the character he’s demonstrated since being named head coach in December of 2010. The Gophers will catch an early morning flight and fly back after the funeral.

It looks like the state legislature and University of Minnesota will agree on a policy to serve alcohol in suites and also have a beer garden available to all fans at TCF Bank Stadium for Gophers football games next season.

Minnesota prep basketball authority Ken Lien emailed that Nebraska coach Tim Miles has offered 6-9 Alex Illikainen, the Grand Rapids High School freshman, a scholarship.

Hopkins High School basketball coach Ken Novak told Sports Headliners his former player Trent Lockett has been considering Baylor, Gonzaga, Iowa State and Marquette. Lockett, who led Arizona State in scoring average last season at 13 points per game, is leaving the Sun Devils. Novak said the 6-5 guard earned his undergraduate degree in three years at Arizona State, and will be eligible next fall to play one season for his new college team.

Hopkins senior forward Zach Stahl has offers from Northeastern University in Boston and the University of Hawaii, according to Novak.

Novak’s dad, Ken Sr., celebrated his 83^rd birthday last month and is expected to be a Hopkins assistant coach again next season. “If he’s out, I am out,” his son joked.

The older Novak is known for his energy and friendliness. Ken Jr. said when he returned from Hawaii during spring break he found his entire yard had been raked by his father.

Kevin Thompson, a 6-1 sophomore wing who played high school basketball at Minneapolis North, has been named Dakota County Technical College’s first ever National Junior College Athletic Association Division II All-American.

1500 ESPN talk show host Patrick Reusse discussed the shooting ability of Gophers forward Rodney Williams on the air Monday and said he could beat Williams in a game of H-O-R-S-E with a week’s practice to prepare.

Former Gophers basketball coach Dan Monson, whose Long Beach State team won the Big West regular season and conference titles, turned down head coaching interest this spring from Colorado State and SMU.

The Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame will honor outstanding individuals from professional and amateur football in Minnesota at the Chapter’s annual awards dinner on Sunday, April 22 at the University of St. Thomas. Two-time Gophers All-American defensive tackle Bobby Bell will give the keynote address, and Bell’s 1960 national championship team will be honored with the Murray Warmath Legendary Team Award.

The Bobby Bell College Impact Player of the Year Award will be presented to Fritz Waldvogel, a two-time All-American who started a school record 50 games at St. Thomas. There will be other award recipients including Bruce Kruckeberg from Gustavus (scholar athlete award) and Derek Klinkner from Southwest Minnesota State (courage award), and also seven high school players for their academic-football achievements: Beau Bates (Minnetonka), Adam Bungum (Triton), David Holien (Cotter), Cavonte Johnson (Edina), Zack Moheban (Bloomington Kennedy), Sean Murphy (Nicollet) and Matthew Suek (Fergus Falls). The event is open to the public and begins at 6 p.m. in the Anderson Student Center at St. Thomas. Ticket information is available on the chapter’s website, nffminesota.org.

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Maturi Supports Smith Contract Extension

Posted on April 6, 2012April 6, 2012 by David Shama

Joel Maturi told Sports Headliners earlier this week he hopes an announcement will come soon regarding a contract extension for Gophers basketball coach Tubby Smith. The Gophers athletic director said University of Minnesota attorney Mark Rotenberg is talking with Smith’s agent, Ricky Lefft.

Smith’s contract has two years remaining and an extension has been speculated upon for about a year. Discussions have been on and off over the last 12 months with the two sides unable to reach a deal, although neither Smith nor the University has publicly detailed the differences.

Smith said yesterday at a season-ending news conference he doesn’t expect an agreement to be reached until after a new athletic director is hired in May or June. “I am confident we’ll get it done,” he said.

Maturi, who is leaving his position at the end of June, has talked with Smith about his contract and so too has new University president Eric Kaler. “He’s (Kaler) comfortable with me being here,” Smith said.

Maturi hired Smith in 2007, thinks highly of him and wants him to stay with the Gophers. Maturi has no doubt provided a favorable report on the coach to Kaler.

“I think it’s (the contract extension) the right thing to do,” Maturi said. “I’ve always felt good about Tubby Smith. I think he’s the right fit for Minnesota.”

Smith reportedly earns close to $2 million on his present deal, and by achieving certain goals in his contract can earn more. His five year stay at Minnesota has been criticized by some fans and media. In addition to off-court problems involving the basketball program, his Big Ten record is 14 games below .500. He’s coached two teams to the NCAA tournament and this spring led the Gophers to second place in the National Invitation Tournament.

Smith’s name has often been rumored with other college openings including South Carolina last month. His agent is based in that state but the Gamecocks hired Kansas State coach Frank Martin for their opening.

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Worth Noting

Posted on April 6, 2012April 6, 2012 by David Shama

Maturi said the contract hasn’t been signed but it’s likely the Gophers will play a major conference opponent that will be a local box office draw as part of next fall’s nonconference schedule. The Gophers nonconference home schedule is frequently criticized for not having marquee opponents.

The Big Ten and ACC annual series has helped enhance the nonconference schedules for teams in both leagues. A new alliance between the Big Ten and Pac-12 might lead to an annual basketball series, further improving nonconference schedules.

A Monday article in the Wall Street Journal ranked the Gophers as the 10^th most valuable Division I college basketball program in the country. Citing a study by Ryan Brewer, an assistant professor of finance at Indiana-Purdue Columbus, the publication listed Louisville ($211.5 million) No. 1 followed by Kansas, Indiana, Ohio Sate, Arizona, North Carolina, Duke, Virginia, UNLV and Minnesota ($87.9 million). The study included a formula using current revenues and expenses, and also other data. The Gophers and fellow Big Ten schools Indiana and Ohio State benefit from the lucrative Big Ten Network revenues.

Jerry Robertson, grandfather to Gophers forward Rodney Williams, said his grandson benefitted from playing near the basket when inside players Trevor Mbakwe and Ralph Sampson III weren’t able to play because of injuries. Williams had three straight 20 point games in the NIT. “Rodney was forced to step up his game instead of deferring to Mbakwe and Sampson,” Robertson said.

Robertson, who coached Williams in AAU basketball, thinks his grandson will come back for his senior season rather than pursue the NBA draft.

Redshirt freshman center Elliott Eliason, a business management major, was the only Gopher basketball player to make Academic All-Big Ten this past winter. Minnesota and Ohio Sate were the only schools to have just one selection while Purdue and Indiana had a league-leading seven each. To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten, student-athletes must be letter winners who are in at least a second academic year at their institutions and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

Don’t be surprised if the basketball Gophers lose one or more players with remaining eligibility who decide to transfer.

The Gophers women’s swimming and diving team had 23 Academic All-Big Ten student-athletes. The men’s gymnastics team 13, the men’s swimming and diving team 11, and the women’s basketball team 10.

Timberwolves president Chris Wright said the franchise has renewed 98 percent of its Target Center lower bowl season ticket holders, and 94 percent overall. The club has sold over 900 new full season tickets and hopes to reach 2,000 by next season. That would push the total on full season tickets to more than 8,000, Wright said.

Timberwolves rookie point guard Ricky Rubio tore his ACL on March 9. The Wolves were a .500 team with him but their record is 4-11 since he’s been unable to play.

The Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced tonight from Tampa as part of the Frozen Four. The finalists for the award honoring college hockey’s best player are Spencer Abbott, senior forward from the University of Maine; Jack Connolly, senior forward from the University of Minnesota-Duluth; and Austin Smith, senior forward from Colgate University. The announcement will be aired live on the NHL Network and on the Hobey Baker website at 5 p.m. Minneapolis time.

WCCO TV’s Mark Rosen signed copies of his new book, “Best Seat in the House,” for two hours last week at the downtown Barnes & Noble store. Chapters include one devoted to former Vikings coach Bud Grant who signed copies of the book at the store and surprised Rosen by staying for 90 minutes. “I would have been happy if he had stayed 15 minutes,” Rosen said.

No dates and times yet but the Vikings will play preseason games (in this order) at San Francisco, home against Buffalo and San Diego, and at Houston.

Congratulations to St. Croix Lutheran’s Carl Lemke, honored as the 2011 MFCA Coach of the Year at the Minnesota Football Coaches Clinic last week. St. Croix Lutheran won the Class 3A state championship last fall. Lemke was also recognized as the Class 3A coach of the year. Other coach of the year winners by class: Class 5A, Mike Grant, Eden Prairie; Class 4A, Mike Rowe, ROCORI; Class 2A, Brent Schroeder, Caledonia; Class 1A, Cory Larson, Dawson-Boyd; Nine Man, Andrew Fleischman, Edgerton/Ellsworth.

Wally McNeil, “Wally the Beerman,” said racehorse Wally’s Choice is retired. McNeil was a part owner of Wally’s Choice, a horse that earned the second most money ever for a Minnesota bred racehorse.

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