Golden Gophers – Page 429 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Notes Including U Football Valued at $125.5 Million

Posted on October 26, 2011December 27, 2011 by David Shama

The Indianapolis Business Journal reported earlier this month that Indiana University professor Ryan Brewer developed a methodology to determine the financial worth of major college football teams representing public institutions. Brewer’s study ranked the Gophers No. 26 in the country with a valuation of $126.5 million. Only Indiana and Purdue ranked lower than the Gophers among Big Ten schools, according to the Journal.

The Journal reported that Texas, a school that boasts the Longhorns TV network, was No. 1 on the list with a valuation of $848.3 million. That was almost double No. 2 Georgia at $483.6. The SEC had six teams in the top and the Big Ten placed five in the first 15.

Jerry Kill’s contract announced yesterday pays him $1.2 million, according to Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi who acknowledged the compensation is among the lowest for Big Ten head football coaches. The median salary of conference head coaches is $1,781,759, according to a September 30 article by the dailynebraskan.com.

The seven year deal pays Kill $1.2 million annually unless the University approves increases. The compensation is more than three times Kill’s salary at Northern Illinois.

Maturi said Kill’s top assistants, defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys and offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover, have salaries in the $300,000 to $325,000 range.

Kill said on WCCO Radio Sunday that among Gophers football redshirts who have potential is 6-5, 275-pound offensive tackle Foster Bush from Menasha, Wisconsin.

Gophers fan Dave Henry emailed with news about his in-laws, Bob and Till Kraay of Owatonna who were married on October 29, 1951. They plan to celebrate their 60^th wedding anniversary with family and friends on Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium when Minnesota plays Iowa. Not only will it be 60 years to the day that the two were married, but the Kraays went to Iowa City on November 3, 1951 after returning from their honeymoon and watched the Gophers and Hawkeyes play to a 20-20 tie. “They sound like fans of the day to me!” Henry wrote in his email.

Speculation about NFL franchises that might relocate to Los Angeles includes not only the Vikings but two organizations that years ago moved from southern California, the Raiders and Rams.

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ESPN Filming Segment on U Legend

Posted on October 14, 2011November 27, 2011 by David Shama

Gophers football and basketball notes:

An ESPN producer was in Minnesota this week working on a story about 1941 Gophers Heisman Trophy winner Bruce Smith, according to Bruce Krinke. The story will be an eight minute segment that will air beginning on November 6 as part of the network’s “Outside the Lines” programming.

“Outside the Lines,” hosted by Bob Ley, is producing segments like the Smith story that ties together sports and Veterans Day on November 11, according to Krinke who is a Smith family friend and was instrumental in giving a bust of the deceased Gophers football hero to the University last month. Smith was presented with the Heisman only two days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and he later served in the U.S. Navy.

Gophers football coach Jerry Kill told Sports Headliners on Wednesday that he has been “seizure free” for awhile. “I don’t know the exact time, but it’s been 10 days anyway,” he said.

The progress has come with effective control of his medications and having the “right amount of sleep” as he settles into a routine. “We feel very comfortable where we’re at,” Kill said. “I just gotta take care of myself and make sure I do all the things they (doctors) tell me.”

It’s almost one year ago (October 17, 2010) that athletic director Joel Maturi announced the dismissal of Gophers football coach Tim Brewster. “You know, Minnesota can and should be competitive in the Big Ten,” Maturi said at the news conference announcing the change.

Gophers basketball coach Tubby Smith raved about incoming freshmen players Joe Coleman and Andre Hollins yesterday at media day. Smith, now in his 39^th year of coaching, praised the two for their work ethics and maturity. “I don’t think maybe we’ve ever recruited two better people in my career,” he said.

Hollins will be in competition with sophomore Maverick Ahanmisi and junior college transfer Julian Welch for the starting point guard position. Coleman could push junior small forward Rodney Williams for the starting job.

Smith said an announcement on his contract extension could come soon. He also said there’s nothing to report on funding for a new practice facility.

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Don’t Fret Over Kill Contract Yet

Posted on August 24, 2011November 27, 2011 by David Shama

Media reports that Kill has not signed his contract may give Gophers fans undue worry. Maturi said Kill signed and is working under a five year Memorandum of Understanding with terms that include a $1.1 million salary.

A detailed contract continues to be negotiated between Kill and the Gophers. What some observers may not realize is that it’s not unusual for someone like Kill to coach for at least part of his first season without a signed contract.

Former Gophers coach Glen Mason didn’t have his formal contract completed while coaching during his initial season in 1997. As with Mason, Kill and other coaches around the country, negotiations involve agents and lawyers. Agreement on specific language can require time.

During the interview with Sports Headliners, Maturi said his department continues to look at a contract extension with Gophers basketball coach Tubby Smith. Although he has three years remaining on his deal, Smith is looking for an extension and undoubtedly a salary boost from his annual compensation of about $2 million that already ranks him fourth in the Big Ten.

Smith also wants a new practice facility but Maturi said funding requires “seven figure” lead donors. So far that funding hasn’t been secured.

Maturi’s to-do list these days also includes hiring a chief financial officer, replacing Elizabeth Eull who is still with the University but not in the athletic department. The position requires budgetary and human resources expertise.

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