Golden Gophers – Page 66 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Vikings Chase Eagles & No. 1 Seed

Posted on December 5, 2022December 5, 2022 by David Shama

The Vikings have the second-best record in the NFC at 10-2. The Eagles, 11-1, would have a first round bye if the playoffs started today.

The best record and No. 1 seed ensures home field advantage in the postseason, up until the Super Bowl in Los Angeles. Not having to play an opening playoff game could be opportune for the Vikings if key injuries are an issue and an extra week of rehab is meaningful. Certainly having all playoff games at U.S. Bank Stadium would be a big edge.

The Vikings’ dynamic passing offense has the best chance of excelling in a controlled climate. An outdoor setting, with extreme weather conditions possible in January, is not desirable. Then, too, the eardrum rattling noise in U.S. Bank Stadium is disruptive for opposing teams’ communications and can fuel adrenaline rushes in the Vikings.

The teams having the best records in the AFC and NFC, with their first-round byes, need to win only two games to reach the Super Bowl. The other 12 playoff teams must earn wins in the Wild Card, Divisional and Conference rounds. If after the regular season ends the Eagles have the best record in the NFC, and the Vikings second best, Minnesota could only have home field advantage for the conference championship game if Philadelphia was eliminated from the playoff field.

The Eagles’ next three games are on the road against the 7-4-1 Giants, 3-10 Bears and 9-3 Cowboys. Then they finish the regular season at home with the 4-8 Saints and Giants. That could be a more “slippery road” than the Vikings’ final five-game regular season assignment.

The Vikings have the 5-7 Lions in their way Sunday in Detroit. A win keeps the Vikings at only two losses and clinches the NFC North Division title. The game, though, might be a struggle, with the Lions having won four of their last five. In September, playing at home, the Vikings hung on to win 28-24.

It’s been a shake-your-head in disbelief season for the Vikings who have won nine one-score games. After the date in Detroit, they will try to continue their magical ride with home games against the 4-8-1 Colts and Giants, before closing the season at the 5-8 Packers and at the Bears.

If the Vikings and Eagles finish with identical records, Philadelphia would have a bye and home field advantage throughout the conference playoffs because of a 24-7 win over Minnesota earlier in the season.

Worth Noting

Bad look: Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert being ejected Saturday night early in the second quarter for tripping the Thunder’s Kenrich Williams. With the Wolves already missing their other big man star, Karl-Anthony Towns, Gobert needed to play all four quarters to give Minnesota its best chance to win. Instead, the Wolves lost another game to a mediocre opponent while often appearing unfocused.

Bad look 2: Wolves bench players laughing late in the game as the team tried to overcome a deficit in the 135-128 loss.

Before the game Wolves coach Chris Finch described Gobert as a “great professional” who has been an asset in his first season in Minnesota since being acquired in a controversial trade last summer with the Jazz. “…All signs are good, you know,” Finch said. “Have some normal growing pains, some of them we expected, some of them we didn’t. We didn’t know what to expect so we’ve just been working through that.”

The Wolves have a versatile defender in third-year forward Jaden McDaniels who can guard the two, three and four positions. With Towns unavailable at the four spot for awhile because of his calf injury, Finch is glad to have McDaniels as a defender. “I think we’ll see him play all over, the two thru the four for us,” Finch said.

Anthony Edwards, the Wolves third year guard who is No. 19 in NBA scoring at 23 points per game, consistently frustrates defenders with both his outside shooting and attacks on the hoop. “So you gotta go up there and play him high because he can shoot, and then you gotta be able to kind of contain him in between the free throw line and the rim because otherwise it’s a launch pad,” said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault.

Chet Holmgren, the Minneapolis native who is missing his rookie season with the Thunder following foot surgery, was out on the Target Center court before the game shooting. He was making a succession of long range shots while wearing basketball shoes. The 7-foot-1, 190-pound Holmgren still has a similar physique to when he was in high school two years ago.

Daigneault said the staff has engaged Holmgren with “systematic stuff” to keep him up to date on Thunder schemes. ”…Fortunately, he’s just a junkie so he loves everything about the game. So his engagement level throughout this process has been very impressive.”

It will be interesting to see if former Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer remains an analyst for Deion Sanders now that Sanders is leading Colorado. Also, former Gophers’ head coach Tim Brewster, a member of Sanders’ staff at Jackson State, is headed to Boulder, per Footballscoop.com.

Dino Babers, coach of the 7-5 Syracuse team the Gophers will play in the Pinstripe Bowl December 29, has a 36-48 record with the Orange and could be on the hot seat next fall. He was hired by Mark Coyle when Coyle was athletic director at Syracuse.

Coyle, the Minnesota AD now, hired the Gophers’ P.J. Fleck who has an impressive road record as head coach. In Minnesota’s last 23 away games the program is 17-6 (.739), including two bowl wins. That is the best 23-game stretch away from home in program history (began with a 37-15 win at Wisconsin on November 24, 2018). Since then the only Big Ten team with more wins or a higher win percentage away from home is Ohio State at 21-3 (.875).

Fleck is 3-0 in bowl games and the Gophers have won five consecutive postseason games.

With the Big Ten already committed to events in Minneapolis, it appears likely that U.S. Bank will host the conference championship football game this decade. Led by Minnesota Sports and Entertainment executive Wendy Blackshaw, the conference has agreed to have its women’s (2023) and men’s (2024) basketball championships at Target Center. The Big Ten office, headed by former Minnesotan Kevin Warren, held its basketball media days in Minneapolis earlier this fall.

The most challenging “get” on the local college sports landscape will be landing the national championship football game. The 2022 game was in Indianapolis, setting a precedent for northern cities.

Minnesota Sports and Entertainment is forming a MSNE Council and has sent invitations to potential founding members. Membership includes a long list of perks and opportunities to benefit the community. Annual cost is $5,000.

Bill Lester, the former Metrodome executive, has a 12-year-old grandson fighting Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Caffrey’s dad and mom, Bill and Michelle, founded Rare Disease Renegades (RDR) to fund research into DMD and other rare diseases. Funds raised not only benefit Caffrey but also others afflicted with rare conditions. RDR has been running an auction of interest to Minnesota sports fans. https://www.32auctions.com/runrenegaderun

St. Paul native and baseball Hall of Famer Jack Morris, along with Twins president Dave St. Peter and Star Tribune columnist LaVelle Neal, were part of the 16-member Contemporary Era Committee that Sunday voted Fred McGriff into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were among those who didn’t receive enough votes for enshrinement.

The Pohlad brothers, Jim, Bob and Bill, are being recognized by Twin Cities Business as 2022 Buinsess People of the Year for their efforts in rejuvenating downtown Minneapolis and concerns for poverty and racial justice. Jim, 69, has turned over his Twins leadership role to nephew Joe Pohlad, 40.

The Wild has been promoting no ticket fees on remaining games. The team is averaging 17,762 fans or 98.9 percent of capacity, per Hockeyreference.com.

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Justin Jefferson Stays Humble in Spotlight

Posted on December 3, 2022December 3, 2022 by David Shama

Justin Jefferson is receiving a tsunami of recognition and praise but the 23-year-old wide receiver has his ego in check, according to Vikings teammates.

The third-year LSU alum is a game changer, and although no NFL wide receiver has ever been named league MVP, Jefferson’s resume is deserving of consideration. This week he was recognized as the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for November. And just days ago his name led all NFL players in fan voting for the 2023 Pro Bowl.

In November Jefferson’s 480 receiving yards led the NFC and he had the second-most receptions in the conference with 29. With the Vikings going 3-1 during the month, Jefferson’s 480 receiving yards was second in the NFL only to the 487 of the Raiders’ Davante Adams.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Jefferson had eight receptions of at least 20 yards during the month, the second-most in the NFL behind Adams. He led the NFC in yards from scrimmage with 490, over 100 more than Lion Amon-Ra St. Brown’s 385, who ranked second. This is the second time Jefferson has been named NFC Offensive Player of the Month.

Jefferson was also named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against the Bills November 10. In a Minnesota overtime win for the ages, he had 10 receptions for a career-high 193 receiving yards. That total is the most in an NFL game this season.

“He’s always played at a really crazy high level,” Harrison Smith told Sports Headliners. The Viking veteran safety is in his 11th NFL season and appreciates not only Jefferson’s talents but his character, too.

“…He’s such a big superstar (but) he doesn’t have like a standoffish personality. He likes to just be one of the guys.”

When tight end T.J. Hockenson joined the Vikings in early November after a trade with the Lions, Jefferson welcomed him. “He gets to know everybody. He builds a relationship with everybody,” Hockenson said. “It’s cool to be on the same team as him and be in the same locker room.”

Justin Jefferson image courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

Teammates describe Jefferson as a friendly, smiling, talkative and energetic person who is having so much fun with the game he loves. “He is one of the best people I’ve been around,” Hockenson said. “Just very fun-loving guy. Loves the game. It’s like he gets to go out at recess every day when we step onto the field. …”

Amen to that says running back Alexander Mattison. “Just a kid having fun, playing the game. And he hasn’t changed his ways since he came in (the NFL). Just that kid in love with the game and it’s rubbed off on us.

“I think he keeps some of the older guys…everyone around him, keeps everyone young. So yeah, his energy is always having fun, laughing, and enjoying the game, enjoying the life we live.”

Fans, not just in Minnesota, but across the country are on board with Jefferson. The NFL announced on Monday that his 90,313 votes leads all players in balloting for the 2023 Pro Bowl Game. He is in prestigious company with other top vote getters like Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce, followed by RB Saquon Barkley of the Giants and WR Tyreek Hill from the Dolphins.

Some may consider Hill the NFL’s top wide receiver but there are plenty of observers who think Jefferson deserves that spot. The Jefferson hysteria, that includes raves over his ability to make the most difficult of catches, has led to speculation he will one day rank with the greatest ever to play at his position.

Mattison was told Jefferson is having his name mentioned in the same breath with legendary receiver Jerry Rice, considered by many the best ever WR. “It’s crazy to think about, just within three years to be having these conversations. But you just kind of take a step back and look at the facts,” Mattison said. “And they’re realistic conversations to have which is crazy to actually think about. …”

Hockenson knows how revered Jefferson is already. “I think he’s one of a kind. He’s a special player. He’s one of the best to do it in this league. I am sure at the end of this (his career) he’ll be one of the best to do it ever.”

Hill is the NFL’s highest paid receiver, reportedly with a four-deal of $120 million. Jefferson is a lock to receive a new contract from the Vikings in 2023 paying him much more, perhaps over $150 million for five years.

Mattison doesn’t expect the payoff to change his friend. “Somebody like him he’s not going to have that conversation with you (about money)…as humble as he is, but he definitely is well deserving of that.”

Worth Noting

Offensive right tackle Christian Darrisaw (concussion) and tight end Ben Ellefson (groin) have been ruled out for Sunday’s Vikings and Jets game at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Smith (ankle) indicated Thursday it’s likely he will play. “It sure seems like it. I don’t know, though. We’re not there yet.”

Fourth-year Vikings center Garrett Bradbury has often been maligned in the past but Pro Football Focus notes the former No. 1 draft choice has given up just two sacks and is responsible for only four penalties in 741 snaps. PFF gives him a respectable grade of 71.

“…With the relationship with Kirk (Cousins), their communication throughout games and in-game has been huge for us,” said head coach Kevin O’Connell. “And I think physically he’s done a lot of good things in the run and pass game, kind of fitting with what we want to do. So, I’m really happy with the type of season Garrett’s had so far, and I’m hoping to continue to just get that consistent play out of him.”

Since Kene Nwangwu’s rookie season of 2021, he leads the league in kickoff return touchdowns with three including Thanksgiving night when he scored on a 97-yard return against the Patriots. The Vikings’ specialist has the third most kickoff return touchdowns in team history behind Cordarrelle Patterson and Percy Harvin, who both had five. Nwangwu is averaging a touchdown every 13.7 return (41 career kick returns).

Disappointing news for Gophers’ fans that record setting senior Mo Ibrahim wasn’t among the three finalists announced this week for the Doak Walker Award recognizing the nation’s best running back. Juniors Chase Brown, Illinois; Blake Corum, Michigan; and Bijan Robinson, Texas; are the finalists.

Many friends and admirers attended the wake in St. Paul this week for legendary former University of St. Thomas and Cretin Derham-Hall baseball coach Dennis Denning, 76, who recently passed away. “The line was out the door to get inside, and I got to the funeral home when it started at 4 p.m. An amazing tribute to coach Denning,” per an email from former Cretin baseball player Bill Robertson.

The Wild gets a stamina challenge this weekend playing Saturday afternoon at home against the Ducks and then facing the Stars in Dallas starting at 2 p.m. Sunday. Former teammate Ryan Suter, 37, has no goals and four points for the Stars who haven’t played a game since Thursday night. The Wild is 8-7-2 in its last 17 games in Dallas.

The Golden Gophers men’s hockey team has outstanding speed on the roster and has scored five or more goals in four of their last five games including 5-0 over the Spartans last night in East Lansing.

Canterbury Park will likely have a later start to the season in 2023 than normal because of redevelopment and improvements in the stable area. The Shakopee racetrack’s expected schedule will be from May 27-September 16, as proposed to the Minnesota Racing Commission.

Comments Welcome

Fleck Contract Extension Seems Likely

Posted on November 29, 2022December 2, 2022 by David Shama

Emptying out the University of Minnesota and college football notebook in today’s column.

Does P.J. Fleck soon receive a contract extension? The Minnesota head coach has been rewarded with additional years on his contract every year except the COVID- shortened season of 2020.

Fleck, named head coach at Minnesota in January of 2017, received his most recent extension about a year ago. The deal reportedly not only gives him security through 2028 but raised his compensation to $5 million annually.

Athletic director Mark Coyle, who hired Fleck and initiated the multiple extensions and raises, must make the call about a revised contract. On the one hand, Coyle might view the past season as disappointing because of preseason expectations the Gophers could win their first ever Big Ten West Division title, but they came up short despite a very favorable schedule. Minnesota’s strength of schedule ranked No. 126 out of 131 FBS teams, per NCAA statistics.

On the other hand, the Gophers finished 8-4 overall and 5-4 in league play. The winning record in Big Ten games is the third straight for Fleck in a full season (2019, 2021 and 2022). A win in the upcoming bowl game will give Minnesota a nine win year, equaling last year’s record and following the 11-2 mark in 2019.

The Gophers have defeated Wisconsin in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1993-1994. Last Saturday’s win left Fleck with a 28-10 overall record in the three last full seasons. The last four years his conference record is 21-13, the best such run by a Gopher coach since Murray Warmath in the 1960s.

Contract extensions are frequently made as a gesture of faith in the coach, sending an important message about job security that gets out into the recruiting world. Not giving Fleck an extension now, even if it doesn’t include a raise, will raise eyebrows a bit.

It’s not like the Gophers, as a member of the TV revenue rich Big Ten, don’t have money in the athletic department. While Fleck’s compensation could remain the same next year, raises for at least some assistants will be appropriate.

Deserving contract adjustments are defensive coordinator Joe Rossi and running backs coach Kenni Burns. Word is Rossi almost left Minnesota for Notre Dame last offseason. His defenses consistently rank among the best in the Big Ten and statistically stand out nationally. Burns also excels as a coach and his recruiting would be missed if he were to go elsewhere. If either is offered a head coaching job, they likely would be gone from Fleck’s staff.

With the regular season over, meetings with players are being held to evaluate future plans. Fans think about recruiting high school players and players from the transfer portal but in today’s college football it’s necessary to recruit players on the existing roster.

“You always have to constantly be recruiting your own players in a day and age that tampering is rampant,” GopherIllustrated.com recruiting authority Ryan Burns told Sports Headliners. “The NCAA doesn’t do anything about it (tampering) and so that’s the most important job. P.J. is well aware of that, his staff is well aware of that, but it’s incredibly important in the NIL (and transfer) era where it’s legal to an extent to pay players.”

The transfer portal opens next Monday and don’t think there isn’t backchanneling already from schools and players. “You’re going to see some eye-opening moves in those first 48 hours when the portal opens,” Burns predicted.

The transfer portal, allowing athletes to switch schools and have immediate eligibility, debuted four years ago. The upcoming period is predicted to have more action than ever. The portal period starts December 5 and closes January 18, before opening again for a couple of weeks in May.

“…It will be more wild than it’s ever been, I promise you that,” Fleck said last week. “Not just here, just around the country.”

The Gophers could use talent and experience from the portal at most positions. “We have a general idea of what we want to do and how we want to attack that (the portal),” Fleck said. “We’re still going to be a mixture of high school kids and the portal. ..”

Eventually impacting recruiting in a big way could be Dinkytown Athletes, the new collective that facilitates Name, Image and Likeness opportunities and financial compensation for Gopher athletes including football players. Fans, boosters and businesses can benefit athletes through activities such as endorsements and personal appearances. Gophers’ All-American running back Mo Ibrahim has a NIL deal with Gushers, the fruit-flavored snack from General Mills.

Dinkytown Athletes launched earlier this fall. “They’re off to a good start but if they’re going to sustain (success)…there’s not going to be a big booster that’s going to save them like at Michigan State, like the Rocket Mortgage folks,” Burns said. “It’s got to be the common fan (giving money) that’s got to be able to save them.”

Co-founders of Dinkytown Athletes are Rob Gag and former U offensive lineman Derek Burns. The two are guests on the latest Behind the Game show and talk in-depth about their collective with co-hosts Patrick Klinger and Bill Robertson. https://youtu.be/jneDiCjYCkY

The Gophers will need to upgrade their talent to be competitive in the near and more distant future. Next season Minnesota will play two of the best teams in the nation, hosting Michigan in Minneapolis and playing Ohio State in Columbus. The Gophers also play ACC power North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

It’s likely next year will be the last for two divisions in the Big Ten. The West has been inferior for years and expectation is that in 2024, with west coast powers USC and UCLA joining the Big Ten, the conference will eliminate divisions and have a 16-team race for the league championship. The Big Ten has the potential to seriously rival the SEC as college football’s best conference.

Right now the best thing the Gophers have going for with personnel is redshirt freshman quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis. At the game’s most important position, Kaliakmanis could be the best QB talent at Minnesota since All-American Sandy Stephens played his last game in the 1962 Rose Bowl.

Without Kaliakmanis’ arm, legs and poise last Saturday, the Gophers likely wouldn’t have defeated the Badgers who were superior in line play on offense and defense. Kaliakmanis won the day against Wisconsin junior Graham Mertz, setting career highs in completions (19), attempts (29), yards (319) and touchdowns (2). Kaliakmanis completed nine passes of 15 yards or more and averaged 16.8 yards per completion.

With the college football regular season over for many teams, multiple national stats stand out for Minnesota. Ibrahim is second nationally in average rushing yards per game at 144.9, third in points per game at 10.4 and fourth in total rushing yards with 1,594.

Minnesota is No. 2 in the country in time of possession, with an average of 35.14 minutes per game. The Gophers’ defense is No. 5 in scoring defense, allowing 13.3 points per game. Minnesota is No. 3 in fewest penalties per game, allowing 3.67.

The Gophers averaged 45,019 fans per home game, compared to 46,159 in 2021.

The Vikings, BTW, might want to draft Michigan placekicker Jake Moody to replace Greg Joseph. Moody is second in the country in scoring per game at 10.9, converted 26 of 32 field goals and is a perfect 53 of 53 on extra points.

The Minnesota High School All-Star Football Game will be played December 10 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Eight players headed for the Gophers’ program have been announced as participants: Ethan Carrier, Detroit Lakes; Alex Elliott, Hutchinson; Greg Johnson, Prior Lake; Garrison Monroe, Shakopee; Martin Owusu, Prior Lake; Max Shikenjanski, Stillwater; Reese Tripp, Kasson-Mantorville; Jerome Williams, Osseo.

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