MIAC – Page 29 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

U Winning but Future Looks Brighter

Posted on October 17, 2014October 17, 2014 by David Shama

With five victories already and six games remaining on the schedule, the Gophers could certainly reach last year’s win total of eight. But program supporters who are close to head coach Jerry Kill such as Ray Hitchcock are optimistic that in future years the Gophers could have double figure win totals.

Hitchcock, the former Gophers center and now a postgame radio host, told Sports Headliners that “2015, 2016, those could be 10, 11 year wins.” Kill and his staff have improved the player talent since taking over for the 2011 season and done a superior job of maximizing individual and team skills. The 2014 team is heavy with underclassmen—including starters who will return in 2015—and the staff is developing players who can come off the bench when needed.

Hitchcock readily offers enthusiasm about Kill and the future. “He’s building so much depth with these guys. What is he, 6-2 in his last eight Big Ten games?”

That’s exactly the number, and only Michigan State and Ohio State with 8-0 records can boast better numbers than the Gophers. Minnesota’s 6-2 record in league games is the program’s best since the Gophers came up with the same totals from November 6, 1999 through October 21, 2000.

Going into tomorrow’s game at home against Purdue, the Gophers are 5-1 overall and 2-0 in Big Ten games. The most difficult part of the schedule will come next month against Iowa, Ohio State, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Kill will be the first to acknowledge the Gophers need to still improve a lot but Minnesota’s next win makes the team bowl-eligible and is another step toward at least an eight win season.

Gophers teams have only won eight games 11 times since the program began in 1882. Minnesota has won nine games twice, 10 games three times, and earned 13 and 14 single season win totals once each. In today’s college football world of 12 game schedules—plus a bowl game—teams play more games than in most past years but for the Gophers to accomplish a win total of eight or more this fall will obviously be special.

To get there the Gophers will need to fix another number. Kill’s teams are 0-22 when trailing at halftime. The Gophers haven’t been capable of coming from behind and one reason has been struggles with their passing game. Instability at the quarterback position has characterized the offense but the Gophers might have a fix with redshirt sophomore Mitch Leidner who has impressed in his last two games, completing 24 of 37 passes for 320 yards.

“I think over the last two games, the biggest thing about Mitch, he’s relaxed,” Kill said. “Went out and played. Had a smile on his face. I think early in the year he was pressing, then he got hurt, went through some things. I think he’s feeling good, feeling better. I always say, if you feel good, you play good. I think he’s…more comfortable.”

Offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover said Leidner, who was only a part-time starter last season, felt a lot of pressure during the nonconference season. When Leidner was injured and couldn’t play in the last nonconference game against San Jose State he watched the Gophers win without him. Limegrover believes that relieved weight-of-the-world-expectations.

Leidner was back on the field for the next game, at Michigan on September 27. “He literally was like a different young man when we went to Michigan as far as just how he was on gameday, how he was in the huddle, his demeanor gameday, the enjoyment of it,” Limegrover said. “He was out there having fun. That carried over to last week (and) then there was that confidence.”

The strength of the Gophers starts with their 15th ranked national scoring defense but the offense and Leidner might have to contribute more than usual tomorrow against a Purdue team that has scored 69 points in its last two games. The Boilermakers, 3-4 overall and 1-2 in league games, have changed quarterbacks from earlier in the season and Austin Appleby has challenged defenses with runs and passes. Gophers defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys targets holding opponents to 17 points or less and if Minnesota can limit Purdue to that total tomorrow a victory is very likely. And, so, too are a lot more wins later in the season and during the years ahead.

Gophers sophomore defensive back and kick return specialist Jalen Myrick said he has big expectations for the program. “That’s the reason I came here. I wanted to play for a Rose Bowl—so being in a Big Ten championship—that was always my goal and everyone else’s goal.”

Worth Noting

Myrick’s 100-yard kickoff return was the difference in Minnesota’s 24-17 win over Northwestern last Saturday. How has his life been impacted since? “A lot of media followed me on Twitter,” he answered while also mentioning friends who reached out.

Myrick said he was clocked at 21.5 miles per hour on the return but can run faster. “It’s not impossible,” he said.

Gophers defensive tackle Cameron Botticelli on whether tomorrow’s game could be a shootout since Purdue has a high scoring offense but suspect defense: “If I have anything to say about it, it won’t. …”

A source told Sports Headliners the Gophers received $500,000 for playing their September 13 nonconference game at TCU. The Horned Frogs, 4-1, defeated the Gophers, 30-7, and are ranked No. 12 nationally in the Associated Press poll.

Former Gophers defensive back Dom Barber hopes to have his communications degree by next March. Although he isn’t interested in coaching, Barber is working in a recruiting role for the Gophers. His brother Thomas Barber, a junior linebacker and running back, plays for Armstrong High School and is an outstanding college prospect.

The Vikings offensive line gave up eight sacks in last Sunday’s 17-3 loss to the Lions. Among those receiving blame is left tackle Matt Kalil who after a successful rookie season in 2012 has been much criticized since. In Kalil’s defense, a Vikings insider said the former USC star is facing some of the best pass rushers and highest paid players in the NFL. But he also said Kalil’s confidence needs to be restored.

“I would not trade Kalil,” the source said. “I would hope we could get him to play up to his potential.”

While rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater receives much of the public and media attention, the team’s other first round draft choice, Anthony Barr, leads the Vikings in tackles with 58 and is one of the more impressive first-year players in the NFL.

The Vikings play in suburban Buffalo on Sunday and fans here will recognize names associated with the Bills having Minnesota connections. Bills starting offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson is from Cretin-Derham Hall High School. Todd Downing, the team’s quarterbacks’ coach from Eden Prairie, graduated from the University of Minnesota and worked in quality control for the Vikings.

Bills offensive line coach Pat Morris had the same title with the Vikings from 2006-2010. Linebackers coach Fred Pagac was the Vikings defensive coordinator in 2011 and for several years was Minnesota’s linebackers coach. Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards was the DC for the Bills from 2010-2011.

Gophers senior guard Rachel Banham is the Big Ten women’s basketball coaches choice for Preseason Player of the Year. Banham was also named to the coaches’ preseason All-Big Ten team that includes Minnesota native Nia Coffey, a sophomore forward at Northwestern.

Ali Lucia, daughter of Gophers hockey coach Don Lucia, is now with WCCO TV. Her journalism career experiences includes being a Fox news anchor in Rochester, Minnesota.

Her dad’s nationally No. 1 ranked Gophers have a bye this week after winning the Ice Breaker Tournament at Notre Dame, Indiana with games last Friday and Sunday. Only several hundred fans were in the seats at the games.

Gustavus, 6–0 overall and 4–0 in the MIAC, is off to its best start since the 1987 season when the “Cardiac Kids” went 10–0 and 9–0 while winning the league title. The Gusties probably will face their most formidable opponent tomorrow at home against Saint John’s, 4-1 and 2-1. The Gusties rank third in NCAA Division III with an average of 385 passing yards per game.

Congratulations to Luverne High School football coach Todd Oye who won his 100th career game last week. The victory gave him a 100-43 record in 13 seasons at Luverne.

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Momentum Increasing for U Facilities

Posted on September 17, 2014September 17, 2014 by David Shama

According to sources, expect 3M to become a corporate contributor to the $190 million campaign to improve Gophers’ facilities, and also look for ground to be broken next spring for a new on-campus indoor football practice facility.

Effective fundraising—mostly still behind the scenes—is being done by the Gophers’ Athletic Department and well-connected volunteers. An announcement is expected that 3M will join Land O’Lakes as a major contributor to the fundraising campaign. LOL has made a $25 million commitment to support a wide range of University of Minnesota activities, but the centerpiece will be building the Intercollegiate Athletics Center for Excellence that will benefit over 700 student-athletes through academics and nutrition.

Among projects expected to receive priority in the master facilities plan is the new football practice building, perhaps costing $70 million. Sources told Sports Headliners they predict shovels in the ground for the football building by next spring.

Gophers football coach Jerry Kill has been outspoken with high school recruits and media about the importance of a new football complex. The existing facility has a ceiling so low footballs hit the top and the building has a crowded schedule with multiple teams practicing there.

Athletic director Norwood Teague, who announced the $190 million campaign in July of 2013, said earlier this month $40 million has been secured but hasn’t specified sources by name beyond LOL which reportedly will contribute $21 million of the $25 million to athletics. Corporations, wealthy donors, the general public and revenue bonds are all on the table as funding sources.

An announcement is expected soon about how the public can make contributions to the campaign. Included will be a website with information that potential contributors can review.

The $190 million master facilities plan will include a new practice building for Gophers basketball, and amenities for other sports such as wrestling and track. Minnesota’s athletic facilities are considered among the worst in the Big Ten and generally haven’t been improved for many years.

The near $200 million project is expansive and ambitious, with a fundraising goal that may be challenging to meet without the sale of bonds. The University is authorized to sell bonds and those involved with the fundraising have been considering that option for awhile.

Worth Noting

“Who would you want your son to play for?” Football Bowl Subdivision coaches were polled asking that question and ESPN.com posted a story last Saturday reporting Gophers coach Jerry Kill tied for third with Stanford’s David Shaw. Georgia’s Mark Richt and Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops tied for first. Duke’s David Cutcliffe was fifth in the ESPN poll while Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio and Ohio State’s Urban Meyer were among five coaches tied for sixth. Ninety-eight of 128 coaches participated in the poll.

Dick Jonckowski, the Gophers baseball and basketball public address announcer, is selling half of his sports memorabilia to help pay medical bills. The sale will be October 3, 4 and 5 at the new Canterbury Park Expo Center. Items—many of of them autographed—will include baseball, basketball and football cards, and photos and publications.

For many years Jonckowski’s basement has housed a vast collection of not only Gophers, Twins and Vikings memorabilia but also national items. He is selling much of the collection because of bills relating to his non-Hodgkin lymphoma and type 2 diabetes. He expects a full recovery from the cancer.

Former Gophers quarterback and NFL coach Tony Dungy said on Monday’s Dan Patrick Show it remains to be determined whether Vikings running back Adrian Peterson abused his four-year-old son. Dungy also said he grew up with similar discipline. See Danpatrick.com.

Mick Tingelhoff, who is a 2015 senior finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, said he doesn’t know who he would ask to be his presenter if he does receive induction into the Canton, Ohio shrine.

One reason the Vikings activated running back Joe Banyard last week is his work ethic. Signed as a free agent in 2012, he has yet to have an NFL rushing attempt. Growing up in Texas, he hunted rattlesnakes.

Parking near TCF Bank Stadium for last Sunday’s Vikings game cost $40 in at least one lot but some customers are paying $70 at the 49ers’ new stadium in Santa Clara.

Rochester Postbulletin.com reported last week that 6-foot-8 eighth grade guard Matthew Hurt, who is being recruited by the Gophers, suffered a lacerated spleen recently and could miss early games with John Marshall High School. His brother Michael, a 6-7 junior guard-forward, has already been offered a scholarship by the Gophers.

Richard Pitino, who had his 32nd birthday yesterday and is the Big Ten’s youngest basketball head coach, wrote on his Gophersports.com blog last week that Minnesota fans should disregard what his dad—legendary Louisville coach Rick Pitino—says in coming weeks when their two teams prepare for a nonconference nationally-televised game in Puerto Rico in November. Writing with dry humor but also making a point about his dad, Richard said: “Ignore anything and everything that comes out of my father’s mouth leading up to this game.”

Former Timberwolves reserve Mark Madsen will be an assistant coach for the Lakers under new head coach Byron Scott. Madsen’s basketball resume and positive outlook will likely land him an NBA head job some day.

This is the fourth year WCCO Radio is broadcasting all St. Thomas football games. A three-year agreement ended after last season but another three-year deal is in place.

Through the first two weeks of the season, MIAC football teams have a 12-5 record against nonconference teams. Among the highlights last week was a 55-45 Augsburg win against Concordia-Wisconsin when the Auggies had 682 yards in total offense with over 400 yards rushing. The MIAC has only one nonleague game remaining in 2014—Bethel at home against Chicago on October 18.

Bridgeport Tusler, who was the 2012 Associated Press Minnesota Player of the Year while at Osseo, is now a freshman wide receiver at Bethel. Tusler started his college career at South Dakota State.

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Kill May Land Best Recruiting Class Yet

Posted on September 12, 2014September 12, 2014 by David Shama

National Signing Day for college football programs isn’t until next February but Ryan Burns told Sports Headliners he will be surprised if the Gophers’ 2015 class of recruits isn’t the best of the Jerry Kill era. Burns manages the GopherIllustrated.com website that tracks Gophers recruiting.

Burns is optimistic because he believes multiple members of the 2015 class will be talented enough to play as true freshmen, and also the Rivals.com star rating system values these recruits more than past Gophers groups.

And there are other reasons for his optimism about Minnesota signing a lot of quality players to National Letters of Intent on Signing Day.

Burns, who played high school football at Tartan and then at St. Olaf, is impressed that the Gophers staff is chasing what he calls “plan A” recruits—and more so than in the past. “They’re not going to be going down the list to the B’s and C’s, I don’t think, in this class. They’re just in on too many of the plan A guys,” he said.

The 2015 recruiting class, which eventually could total about 25 scholarship players, will be Kill’s fifth at Minnesota. Expecting it will be the best isn’t downgrading the 2014 group that is already contributing to the Gophers including when as many as six true defensive freshmen have been on the field together. “I wouldn’t say by far (the best group in 2015) because the 2014 class is very good, but I think they’re going to take another step up in this class for sure,” Burns said.

Burns pointed out that prep players sometimes use schools as safety nets by verbally committing to programs before Signing Day but knowing if more desirable scholarship offers come along they will switch loyalties. With players who have already verbally committed to the Gophers for 2015, Burns sees a group that wants to be in Minneapolis.

“They’re not using Minnesota as a reservation place, or they’re looking around for bigger offers,” Burns said. “They’ve come to (Minnesota’s) campus. They’ve seen it. They’ve talked to the coaching staff. They really like them and they stick. That’s why you’re only probably going to see one or two kids compared to…six or seven (flip commitments) come Signing Day.”

GopherIllustrated.com lists 13 players who have verbally committed to Minnesota’s 2015 class. They are Almonzo Brown, wide receiver from Suwanee, Georgia; Shannon Brooks, running back, Jasper, Georgia; Ray Buford, athlete, Southfield, Michigan; Nick Connelly, offensive line, Red Wing; Demry Croft, quarterback, Rockford, Illinois; Bronson Dovich, offensive line, Chaska; Jonathan Femi-Cole, running back, Aurora, Ontario; Jacob Huff, defensive back, Bolingbrook, Illinois; Julian Huff, linebacker, Bolingbrook, Illinois; James Johannesson, running back, Fargo; Quinn Oseland, offensive line, Springfield, Illinois; Ted Stieber, offensive line, Akron, Ohio; and Jaylen Waters, linebacker, Copperas Cove, Texas. All are Rivals.com three-star players except for Brooks, Connelly, Johannesson and Julian Huff who are rated two stars.

Speed, length and wingspan are defining characteristics among the potential 2015 class. “That’s what everybody is looking for nowadays,” Burns said. “You look at Eric Murray (the Gophers outstanding junior cornerback). He had no offers coming out of high school. But what did he have? He had great length and he had great speed.

“Look at guys (among the 2015 commits) like Jaylen Waters—his arm’s extremely long and he runs well.”

Major college programs have been chasing Gophers commits like Brown, who has offers from Florida, Kentucky and Missouri. “You see a lot more of that (than other years),” Burns said. “You’re seeing Kill win more battles and it’s just something that hasn’t happened. Usually (in the past) it’s coming against teams like Middle Tennessee State.

“Probably one of the crown jewels of this class so far is Quinn Oseland. He has all the connections in the world to go to Illinois. He had Oklahoma State, he had Michigan State, Oregon (after him). But he came up here on a visit…in July. He really didn’t’ even want to come. His coach kind of like was, ‘Hey, you should take a visit.’ His eyes were opened to it (becoming a Gopher).”

Burns is enthusiastic, too, about Croft, the 6-4 quarterback, and cousin of Minnesota sophomore wide receiver Donovahn Jones. “I think his ceiling may be the highest of (all) the Big Ten quarterbacks so far committed. He has so many physical tools. If he can learn the system, if he can develop, he is an ideal dual-threat quarterback for what Kill wants to do.”

Even two-star recruits like Dovich and Johannesson have Burns curious about what they will be like in college. He said Dovich could have the “highest celing”among the offensive linemen who have committed. “His athleticism is off the charts (and)…I think he will probably be bumped to three stars.”

Burns said Johannseon ran for 40 touchdowns and 2,600 yards as a junior, and he has seen the 6-2, 212-pound North Dakotan run a 4.5 forty. “You don’t have a lot of athletes like that,” Burns said.

Kill and his staff are trying to build a winner at Minnesota by sometimes identifying talent others don’t see. The Gophers aren’t among the glamour programs in college football and that partially explains why the 2015 class is only ranked No. 60 in the nation by Rivals.com. But other Kill classes have been ranked low and probably undervalued so Gophers fans are advised not to worry too much about the players’ real potential.

“I would be shocked if Jerry Kill ever got a top 25 class in Rivals rankings,” Burns said. “I mean he’ll even tell you he doesn’t look at it. Just for the perception of the fans he would love to (have a highly ranked class) but I think if Minnesota gets to the point where they’re signing a class that’s between 30 and 45 in the nation I think they will be extremely happy. Anything above that I think is just gravy.”

Worth Noting

The Gophers had 67 yards passing in last week’s victory against Middle Tennessee State. Can they win tomorrow at TCU with similar production against the Horned Frogs?

“I don’t think so. …I would imagine they will open it up this week and they’ll throw the ball a little bit more,” Gophers radio analyst Darrell Thompson told Sports Headliners.

Minnesota only had 156 yards passing in its opening win against Eastern Illinois. The Gophers rank No. 13 in passing among 14 Big Ten teams, and may not have starting quarterback Mitch Leidner (knee injury) available tomorrow. If backup Chris Streveler takes over, will the Gophers throw frequently despite his limited experience?

“I think they have to,” Thompson said. “I think it’s just at a point now where if we don’t, we’re limiting ourselves, just becoming a little too predictable.”

TCU (1-0) will certainly be the best defense the 2-0 Gophers have seen so far. Horned Frogs coach Gary Patterson is on a short list of college football’s best defensive minds. “He’s as good a defensive coach as there is in the country, and I think everybody knows that,” Gophers coach Jerry Kill said.

The temperature for tomorrow’s game in Fort Worth will probably be in the low to mid-70s by kickoff at 3 p.m. The Gophers could have faced a warmer welcome to Texas in September but will still be prepared with liquids—even pickle juice for replenishing sodium.

Gophers’ tight end Maxx Williams talks with former teammate and ex-Minnesota quarterback Philip Nelson who is in Mankato awaiting trial for a fight incident earlier this year. The two have known each other since ninth grade and were football rivals in high school, Williams at Waconia and Nelson at Mankato West. “He’s still one of my friends,” Williams said.

Big Ten football hasn’t been impressive in nonconference matchups for years and the conference’s image is ready-made for critics to pile on again. Big Ten teams have lost every major test to nonconference powers during the first two weeks of the season and the highest ranked league team now is Michigan State at No. 13 in the AP poll. Other top 25 Big Ten teams are Wisconsin at No. 18 and Ohio State, No. 22.

Sunday’s Vikings-Patriots game at TCF Bank Stadium will not be the first for New England on the University of Minnesota campus. In 1971 the two teams met in an August preseason game. The Patriots will become the first NFL team to have played the Vikings in four Minnesota stadiums, TCF Bank and Memorial Stadium on the U campus, Met Stadium in Bloomington and the Metrodome downtown.

The Vikings’ Adrian Peterson needs 78 yards to break Cris Carter’s career club record for combined net yards, 12,410. With two more touchdowns Peterson can tie Randy Moss for second place in career TD’s, 93. Carter holds the Vikings record with 110.

Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson rushed for 102 yards on only three carries in the win over the Rams last Sunday, including a 67-yard touchdown run, but offensive coordinator Norv Turner said it was the other runs that impressed him the most. “The two other runs were more impressive to me because they were challenged runs at the line of scrimmage, they were physical runs. Our guys did a good job up front (blocking).”

No. 7 nationally-ranked Bethel plays at No. 15 Wartburg tomorrow in Waverly, Iowa. Wartburg defeated Augsburg, 40-3, in Minneapolis last week. Tomorrow will be Bethel’s opening game. The rankings are by D3football.com.

The Wild will hold a practice open to the public on Saturday, September 20 at Xcel Energy Center from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fans can enter Gate 1 starting at 8:45 a.m. Admission will be free with concessions for purchase. That morning single game tickets will be on sale.

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