KEVIN O’CONNELL – Page 6 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Predictions for 2025? Gather Round Ladies and Gentlemen!

Posted on January 1, 2025January 1, 2025 by David Shama

Yogi Berra supposedly said: “It’s difficult to make predictions—especially about the future.”

I agree with the Yankee Hall of Famer and sage for the ages. But after several days at a darkness retreat, I somewhat cautiously offer the following prognostications for 2025:

Let’s get it over with at the start, Purple Crazies. The Vikings will play in the Super Bowl for the first time since 1977.

Let’s also get greedy and predict the result—although the Crazies won’t like it. The 0-4 in Super Bowls Vikings will lose to the 0-4 Bills. Or my admittedly cloudy crystal ball says Minnesota will lose to the Chiefs, the franchise that defeated Minnesota 23-7 in the Vikings’ first Super Bowl in 1970.

And did you know the 1970 game was in New Orleans? Yup, and the same city hosts the 2025 Super Bowl.

“It’s like déjà vu all over again,” Yogi might quip.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell will be rewarded in 2025 with a new contract paying him in the range of $12 million to $15 million annually.

Rest easy about Sam Darnold as he nears free agency. The Vikings will franchise tag him in 2025 and pay their quarterback something like $40 million for one season.

The Vikings will also retain free agent running back back Aaron Jones with another one-year deal.

The Hitman may bow out. After 13 seasons in purple, I am forecasting 35-year-old Vikings safety Harrison Smith will retire.

I predict Taylor Swift—oops, I mean Travis Kelce—will top the NFL Pro Games fan balloting. Can’t wait for Thursday’s announcement about voting for players on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football.

Retirement could be next, too, for 37-year-old Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley who will be 38 by the time next season is about to tip.

Leaving the Wolves could be power forward Julius Randle who might be moved prior to the NBA trade deadline February 6.

With revenue sharing starting in big time college sports, there will be scores of Golden Gophers athletes who earn five, 10 times or more than a first-year graduate from the University of Minnesota. With NIL earnings and revenue share money, the millionaire athlete arrives in Dinkytown.

Don’t be surprised if a state of Minnesota high school athlete will approach $500,000 in NIL earnings this year.

The Gophers may have a new head men’s basketball coach in 2025. A qualified but long-shot candidate to get the job would be Badgers assistant Joe Krabbenhoft who considered playing for Minnesota coming out of high school in South Dakota but went to Madison.

U basketball forward Parker Fox will not be eligible for a ninth season of college basketball.

John Tauer’s St. Thomas men’s basketball team will win the Summit League title in a year or two.

Former Lynx superstar Maya Moore, a first-year nominee, will be enshrined in 2025 in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

I am establishing the over-under on a Twins starting pitcher being allowed to go nine innings in a game next season at two. Offseason optimism!

The state will approve legalized sports wagering in 2025. This means betting on your local favorites will now hurt not only emotionally but also gash your wallet.

“Kirill the Thrill” Kaprizov maintains his status of best nickname among Minnesota sports elites.

It will be one of the feel-good stories of the year when popular men’s hockey coach Bob Motzko wins his first NCAA championship and the Gophers’ first since 2003.

Drake Lindsey, a freshman last fall, will win the starting Gopher quarterback competition against Zach Pyron, the transfer from Georgia Tech.

As he nears his 50^th birthday late next year, Tiger Woods, paired with 16-year-old son Charlie, will win the 2025 PNC Championship for the first time.

Nobody asked about my golf game, but I am anticipating a hole-in-one on a local par 3.

Celebrity local athletes will have armed security at their homes to combat the national trend of burglaries of the rich and famous. At our home, we’ll install a light timer.

It will be another year of restaurant closings and even bankruptcies. Things aren’t so hot at the grocery store either where I recently paid $4.99 for a can of soup.

Someone, not me, will become famous for writing a dating app instructional manual.

Most of you, sorry to type this, won’t keep your New Year’s fitness resolutions. BTW: Word is Gen Z is opting for weight loss drugs and skipping the gym.

And, no, I am not prognosticating anyone will patent an anti-hangover drink in 2025!

Finally, I predict another year for the Sports Headliners Ducky Awards introduced last fall in this space. The honor is bestowed on a Minnesota sports figure who is doing “just ducky.” To be considered by the Ducky committee a person has to be going through a delightful period in his or her career. The highest criteria will be someone we can look at and declare that life is “pretty peachy keen.”

Early favorite: Sam Darnold. Dark horse: Royce Lewis.

3 comments

‘Incredible Fans’ Can Take a Bow for Vikings’ Record

Posted on December 27, 2024December 27, 2024 by David Shama

Enjoy a holiday notes column focused on the Vikings.

The Vikings’ Cinderella season has happened for a lot of reasons on the field and via the front office but don’t discount the fans in the success story. U.S. Bank, now in its ninth season of hosting Viking games, is counted among the NFL’s loudest venues.

“I mean the fans at U.S. Bank are incredible,” Minnesota quarterback Nick Mullens told Sports Headliners earlier this year. “Anytime we can play at U.S. Bank, we’re all for that, for sure.”

Regarding NFL teams playing away from home, including in Minneapolis, Mullens said: “On the road your communication has to be on point. It has to be increased as far as the silent count goes and things like that. So, everybody has to just lock in a little bit more for the most part.”

The noise in the building can be deafening. It was at a rock concert like level against the Texans earlier this season. The fans earned praise after the game for making the venue so loud it forced the Texans into mistakes as they lost 34-7 to the Vikings in September.

The advantage of a home game can often be overly hyped in football, but the U.S. Bank effect is legit and could certainly be in play Sunday when the Vikings host the Packers in a renewal of their border rivalry. Minnesota is 7-1 at home this season, with the only loss coming against the Lions, 31-29.

The Vikings will hope to start fast Sunday like they did earlier in the season when they jumped to a 28-0 first half lead at Lambeau Field. Putting the Packers in the hole early will not only send the crowd into a frenzy, but also could force the Green Bay offense to become more one dimensional as quarterback Jordan Love goes pass-happy in trying to score points.

Vikings linebacker Blake Cashman says that kind of situation “creates a lot of opportunity for a defense.” It can become easier to “dial in” the pass rush and mix coverages.

The 13-2 Vikings, BTW, are 12-0 when Cashman isn’t injured and sidelined.

The Vikings and 11-4 Packers are similar in sack totals, at 44 and 43, but different in styles. Minnesota blitzes much more frequently than Green Bay, which relies on its front-four to deliver pressure.

Love, presumably, will be healthier than when the two teams played in Green Bay on September 29. His mobility was noticeably compromised in that game because of a knee sprain.

Love, 26, has moved into the category of better quarterbacks in the NFL. He sat for three seasons behind Aaron Rodgers before becoming the starter last season.

Drafting Love late first round in 2020 was controversial but has proven to be among the savvy moves of general manager Brian Gutekunst. The son of former Golden Gophers head coach John Gutekunst, Brian has rebuilt the Packers into not only one of the league’s elite teams, but he also has the youngest roster in the NFL.

The Vikings can emerge at season’s end with a 15-2 record, NFC North title and first round playoff bye by defeating the Packers Sunday and Lions in Detroit on January 5. Although the Vikings have won eight straight and are playing at home, the game is seen as a tossup because the Packers are impressive, too, after winning their last two games by a combined score of 64-13.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, whose team was only supposed to win 6.5 games, is considered the national leader for NFL Coach of the Year. He is the third NFL coach ever to win at least 13 games in two of his first three seasons, joining the Packers’ Matt LaFleur and 49ers’ George Seifert.

GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is in the conversation for Executive of the Year but probably won’t win. Still, there is no discounting his value including saying no to a staggering contract for Kirk Cousins and then using the money to acquire difference making free agents on defense and the in-season acquisition of offensive left tackle Cam Robinson.

Sam Darnold image courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

Sam Darnold is a dark horse for NFL MVP, even though entering the last two games of the season skeptics are still waiting for him to revert to the poor quarterback play that characterized much of his early NFL career with other teams.

In 11 games Darnold has at least two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 100-or-higher this season. He could become the fourth player in league history with 12 such games in a season. Others are Rodgers (14 games in 2020 and 13 in 2011), Patrick Mahomes (13 in 2018) and Matt Ryan (12 in 2016).

Fox will televise Sunday’s game nationally with its lead team of Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi.

Dave Mona was recognized earlier this month by the Vikings for 50 years serving as the team’s press box announcer.

Vikings’ legend Scott Studwell will speak to the Capital Club breakfast group Thursday, January 9 at Mendakota Country Club. More information about the Capital Club is available from Patrick Klinger, patrick@agilemarketingco.com.

Carley Knox, Lynx president of basketball operations, is the latest guest on “Behind the Game.” She offers input about her career, WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark and the rise of women’s sports. Co-hosts are Patrick Klinger and Dave Boden. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw5y8LAhdLA.

Comments Welcome

Kevin O’Connell’s Post-Game Speeches Drawing Attention

Posted on December 17, 2024December 17, 2024 by David Shama

ABC TV’s Good Morning America featured Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell today, recognizing the 39-year-old’s success in leading the Vikings to a 12-2 record that ranks with the best in the NFL. https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/video/vikings-head-coach-talks-nfls-youngest-coaches-116858495

Part of the focus was O’Connell’s postgame speeches, with GMA describing them as “rousing and viral.” The public has seen those speeches on YouTube and they offer a glimpse into the leadership of the third-year Viking leader.

O’Connell told GMA: “Everybody thinks that he must rehearse those things, or think about what he is going to say long before. That could not be more further from the truth.

“The emotion of the moment might drive me to use a word or two I probably shouldn’t. May be I am getting better at it. …

“When we recently beat the Atlanta Falcons, as I kind of finished up, I kind of felt like maybe they (the players) expected a little more. Did I not deliver in that moment? It was the first time ever I couldn’t wait to watch it back to critique myself.”

Kevin O’Connell image courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

O’Connell certainly delivered last night in the locker room after the team’s 30-12 win over the Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. Speaking in front of the players and others including franchise owners Mark and Zygi Wilf. O’Connell both praised his team for its 12-2 resume and warned them that three games remain and they “have to grind” to close the season with the ultimate success. He ended his talk by telling the players he loves them.

During the speech he also gave out game balls to linebacker Blake Cashman, outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard, running back Aaron Jones, kicker Will Reichard, and defensive tackle Jerry Tillery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDsGKD7HXkA

Worth Noting

Vikings’ long snapper Andrew DePaola, wide receiver Justin Jefferson, cornerback Byron Murphy and outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel are leading NFC vote getters by fans at their positions for the AFC- NFC Pro Bowl Games in February in Orlando.

It might be the most emotional scene all season at Target Center when the Timberwolves host the Knicks Thursday night. The game will be the first regular season game between the two teams since the blockbuster early fall trade that sent center Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks, with power forward Julius Randle and combo guard Dante DiVincenzo coming to the Wolves.

Towns, who played nine seasons with the Wolves, told Newsday.com yesterday he didn’t know what to expect from the fans but said regarding his time with Minnesota “…I gave the absolute best of me even when I wasn’t 100 percent.” Towns will likely hear a few boos but more so applause as he returns to Minneapolis averaging 24.8 points and a career high 13.9 rebounds for the 16-10 Knicks.

Towns will be determined to play at a high level, as will Randle and DiVincenzo for the 14-11 Wolves. If any of the three are subpar in their performances, they will potentially have the satisfaction of being on the winning team.. The two teams will play one other time this season, January 17 in New York.

The emotions likely go beyond the three players and fans. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, once the Wolves head coach and president of basketball operations, could take extra satisfaction from a New York win. So, too, might former Wolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas now a senior vice president with the Knicks. Both men were fired by the Timberwolves earlier in their careers.

The NBA certainly thinks it’s a big game because Wolves-Knicks will be nationally televised by TNT.

Longtime Twins president Dave St. Peter talking about season tickets for 2025: “We’ll be north of 90 percent on season ticket renewal. Whether or not we’re going to get to 95 percent, which is where we were last year, I think is up in the air. But it’s still early on that and we have a lot of offseason left.”

Twins’ infielder Royce Lewis, 25, was a wunderkind in 2023, his first full season in the big leagues. He delivered some of the club’s most timely hits back then, and finished with a .309 batting average, 15 home runs and 52 RBI in 217 at bats.

Lewis, frequently troubled with injuries during his limited career, managed 292 at bats in 2024. Although he homered 16 times and drove in 47 runs, his batting average plummeted to .233. Over the last 30 games he hit .171.

St. Peter reminded fans Lewis is still a young player and that “baseball is hard, and it will humble you.” He added that it will be interesting to see how Lewis works during the offseason and prepares himself for 2025.

“I am optimistic he’s going to have a big bounce back,” St. Peter said. “We see the talent. We certainly see the enthusiasm, and when he puts in the work, I think he’s going to have a lot of success.”

Fan voting for the Twins Hall of Fame ends today, December 17. Candidates for 2025 are former players, but the 2026 ballot will be non-players meaning that historical figures like legendary club broadcaster Halsey Hall can be voted for. https://www.mlb.com/twins/fans/twins-hall-of-fame-ballot

Jeff@MNTwinsZealot recently posted on X the concession prices for 1983 Twins games at the Metrodome. Almost every item was under $2, with prices ranging from .60 cents for coffee to the highest price on the board: $2.75 for a large beer.

Creative Charters, the Stillwater-based company that has promoted Golden Gophers trips since 1993, will take fans to Charlotte for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl between Minnesota and Virginia Tech on January 3. The three-night trip leaves Minneapolis on January 2 and returns travelers home on January 5. Part of the trip’s offerings include a visit to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Creative Charters is a Sports Headliners advertiser (see ad toward top of the page).

Comments Welcome