Golden Gophers – Page 408 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Worth Noting

Posted on April 18, 2012April 18, 2012 by David Shama

Before the Vikings stadium bill was defeated in legislative committee on Monday night an amendment was attached directing Minneapolis officials to hold a referendum allowing residents to approve or disapprove the city’s funding of the proposed stadium.

Shortstop Brian Dozier, 24, was among the Twins final spring training cuts and is hitting .362 for Triple-A Rochester. But don’t expect him to be recalled unless management is convinced he’s ready to play every day in the big leagues for the first time in his pro career. He won’t be recalled to sit on the bench and would take over for Jamey Carroll, 38, at shortstop.

Twins pitcher Nick Blackburn injured his right shoulder in Saturday’s home game against the Rangers, but it didn’t keep him away from Target Center on Saturday night where the Oklahoma native watched the Timberwolves and Oklahoma City.

Got a sports “bucket list” for places and events? Sports Illustrated offered these suggestions in its April 9 issue: Wrigley Field Bleachers, Caribbean Series, College World Series, Duke vs. North Carolina Basketball, Lambeau Field, British Open at St. Andrews, Indianapolis 500, Notre Dame Football, Bruins at Canadiens, Wimbledon, NBA Finals Game 7 and Penn Relays. What’s at the top of your list?

Admission will be free and 3,000 or so fans may attend the Gophers spring football game on Saturday that begins at 11 a.m. in TCF Bank Stadium. Alabama drew 78,526 at the Crimson Tide’s spring game last weekend.

Look for sophomore wide receiver Marcus Jones, who didn’t have contact this spring while recovering from a torn ACL, to be among Minnesota’s best playmakers in the fall.

Philip Nelson, the Mankato West quarterback who started classes at Minnesota last winter, might draw more attention from fans at the spring game than any other newcomer. Rival freshman quarterback Mitch Leidner, another winter enrollee, will be fun to watch, too. Leidner is from Lakeville South.

A key negotiating point between the University of Minnesota and Tubby Smith regarding a contract extension could be buyout compensation if the Gophers later decide to change coaches. Smith has two years remaining on his present contact, and it’s not likely an extension will come before the University hires a new athletic director.

The search for a new athletic director is a priority task for new University president Eric Kaler. The search plan was announced on February 21 and it wouldn’t be surprising if about 10 people have been identified as final candidates. Their profiles will probably include business and sports administration experience.

Will Kevin Love’s late season concussion impact his availability for the Olympics? In January the Timberwolves All-Star forward was named one of 20 finalists for the U.S. Olympic team. The official 12-man team will be announced later this spring.

Adrian Peterson tweeted that fellow running back Toby Gerhart’s injured knee from last season won’t keep him from participating in organized training activities in late May. Peterson also tweeted he’s giving $1 million to Oklahoma, his alma mater.

Ridiculous: the NFL schedule announced yesterday that has the Vikings playing all four games against the Packers and Bears in the last six weeks of the season. Never before or hopefully again.

Devereaux Peters, the Lynx’s first pick in this week’s WNBA draft, never averaged more than 11.9 points per game in college but the 6-2 forward could help Minnesota defensively as a rookie. She was a finalist for national WBCA Defensive Player of the Year at Notre Dame.

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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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