MIAC – Page 30 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

If Not U, Jeff Jones Headed to Iowa CC?

Posted on May 30, 2014May 30, 2014 by David Shama

Jeff Jones, the nationally recognized Washburn High School running back who is arguably the prize recruit in the 2014 Gophers football class, could be headed to Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs.

Jones needs a higher score on his ACT test to be accepted by the University of Minnesota. He will take the test for a fourth time on June 14. Washburn coach Giovan Jenkins declined to specify what score Jones needs to become eligible to play for Minnesota this year.

“I honestly think he is going to get it (the improved score),” Jenkins told Sports Headliners. “He’s improved each time. He is confident he’s going to get it. He knows junior college is not where he wants to be.”

Jenkins said if Jones doesn’t qualify for admission to Minnesota he will need to spend two years at a community college and earn a degree to then have immediate eligibility at an NCAA program, presumably the Gophers.

Jenkins has spoken with Iowa Western coach Scott Strohmeier and is enthusiastic about the program that is annually a national power. Jenkins described the Reivers, who won the 2012 National Junior College Athletic Association championship, as a “great program” that has sent more than 20 players to Division I schools the last two years. “It’s definitely a program he (Jeff) wants to be part of,” Jenkins said.

But Jones, of course, would rather be a Gopher, fulfilling the commitment he made in February when he signed his national letter of intent binding him to Minnesota. Jones is the only Rivals.com four-star recruit in the Gophers 2014 recruiting class. He turned heads playing in the prestigious Under Armour All-America Game in Florida last January, gaining 72 yards and being named Team Nitro MVP.

In past years the best Minnesota football preps have chosen schools other than the Gophers so Jones’ commitment to play for his hometown team is viewed as a step forward for UM coach Jerry Kill.

In pursuit of a qualifying ACT score, the 6-foot, 200-pound Jones could take encouragement from former Washburn tight end Ra’Shede Hageman who didn’t become eligible to play for the Gophers until June of his senior year. Hageman became an All-Big Ten defensive lineman and was selected in the second round of this year’s NFL Draft by the Falcons.

Worth Noting

Iowa Western Community College’s Strohmeier has been head coach of the Rievers since 2008. He is from Watkins, Minnesota and played quarterback at Fergus Falls Community College and the University of Minnesota, Crookston.

Jenkins said Hageman has signed his contract with the Falcons and purchased a Porsche.

The Chanhassen house of former Vikings defensive end Jared Allen is for sale at $1.75 million, according to a Wednesday Bizjournals.com story by Jim Hammerand.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer after being asked yesterday if players attending the organized team activities are buying into a new coach and system: “I don’t worry about if they are buying in. My job is to coach them hard and try to get them to be the best players they can be. …”

Zimmer on what he’s seen from All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson: “Yeah, he looks great. He’s made some tremendous cuts, you’d have to ask him, but he seems excited to be here, about some of the things that we are trying to do with him and I think it’s only going to continue to get better.”

With reported trade rumors involving Kevin Love, it’s fair to wonder if the Timberwolves All-Star forward will participate as scheduled in the July 13 celebrity softball game at Target Field. The game is part of the MLB All-Star Game promotional activities and it seems likely Love, sure to be greeted by boos, will become a cancel if traded to another NBA club between now and July 13.

Gophers basketball coach Richard Pitino, who was hired about 14 months ago, will receive a raise and if the increase isn’t agreed to yet it will be soon. Pitino’s initial salary was set at $500,000, plus $700,000 of supplemental compensation.

Randy Wittman, fired as Timberwolves coach in 2008, is close to a contract extension with the Wizards.

The MIAC all-sports standings recognize an overall annual champion for each gender. For the seventh consecutive school year St. Thomas has finished first in both the men’s and women’s all-sports standings. St. Olaf and Saint John’s were second and third in men’s sports while Saint Benedict and Gustavus were runners-up in women’s athletics.

The St. Thomas men have finished first 28 times in 52 years, while the women have done it 23 out of 32 years. The Tommies have finished first in both genders 19 of the past 30 years, an indication of the many winning teams and seasons at the St. Paul school.

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GM on Bridgewater: ‘Baker’s Mitts Okay’

Posted on May 16, 2014May 16, 2014 by David Shama

The Vikings open their rookie minicamp today and it’s expected first round draft choice Teddy Bridgewater will be wearing gloves. He wore gloves while playing quarterback at Louisville and during private workouts before the NFL Draft but didn’t during his disappointing pro day performance in March.

Josh Katzowitz from Cbssports.com wrote this week that Bridgewater didn’t wear gloves at the pro day because the weather was warm. “He learned that if he became one of the best college players in America when he wore gloves, maybe he should wear the gloves when he’s auditioning for the pros,” Katzowitz wrote on Monday.

Bridgewater had a difficult pro day but in a private workout impressed Vikings general manager Rick Spielman who has no problem with gloves, even if many quarterbacks don’t wear them. “I don’t care if you put on baker’s mitts,” Spielman told Sports Headliners. “If you can throw best with baker’s mitts on, then do that. It’s what’s the result? That’s all we’re concerned about.”

There is speculation Bridgewater wears gloves because his hands are small and they help him grip the football better. Spielman said it’s not true, and that Bridgewater’s hands measure an acceptable 9 ¼ or 9 ½ inches in width.

“Everybody is acting like his hands are like tiny,” Spielman said. “They’re not tiny. They’re just a ¼ of an inch below what everybody thinks a quarterback’s hands should be. …

“You see a lot of these quarterbacks now in the NFL, especially on colder days, are wearing those gloves. I think Philip Rivers has done it. I think (Tom) Brady has done it a few times to help with their grip. But we have no concerns about that (Bridgewater wearing gloves).”

Spielman said in the scouting process he became convinced Bridgewater can properly grip the football and throw it. “No question. We spent a lot of time with that and saw it personally.”

At Louisville Bridgewater, who earned his degree in sports administration in three years, had impressive passing stats including with his accuracy. Last season, for example, he threw 31 touchdown passes and was intercepted only four times. In 35 games over three seasons as a starter, he led the Cardinals to a 27-8 record.

Bridgewater made a lot of plays in college from the shotgun formation, instead of taking the ball from under center. At his pro day he took many snaps under center and that impacted his performance too, according to Katzowitz’s story.

Before the pro day there was speculation Bridgewater would be the first quarterback drafted and maybe even the overall No. 1 pick. Katzowitz quotes legendary personnel authority Gil Brandt as saying that didn’t make sense.

“If you asked the coaches or scouts ahead of time just how good he was, nobody would have said he’s the first pick of the draft,” Brandt said. “It was a media creation.”

The Vikings found Bridgewater available at the last slot in the first round. Two other quarterbacks, Blake Bortles at No. 3, and Johnny Manziel at No. 22, went ahead of Bridgewater.

Still, with gloves or baker’s mitts, the Vikings think they may have found their quarterback of the future. They will learn more in the days and weeks ahead.

Worth Noting

The Vikings three day rookie minicamp that starts today will see media attention focused on Bridgewater and the team’s other No. 1 draft choice, linebacker Anthony Barr from UCLA. Spielman has seen so much of Bridgewater and Barr through the scouting process he has more anticipation about watching players selected deeper in the draft and also free agents.

Barr, 6-5 and 255 pounds, has extraordinary speed for a man his size and has reportedly run 4.45 in the 40-yard dash. He was among the elite pass rushing prospects in the draft despite playing linebacker for only two years in college.

New Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer is a defensive specialist while new offensive coordinator Norv Turner is a quarterback authority so it will be interesting to see the results of their individual instructional work with players between now and the start of the season in September. Look for multiple Vikings to have fundamentals evaluated and improved.

Although the Vikings didn’t draft Brock Vereen, the former Gophers safety made a lasting impression on Spielman during the scouting process. “As first class of a kid as I’ve ever been around and he’s a good football player, too,” said Spielman about Vereen who was selected by the Bears on the fourth round.

The NFL owners vote on Tuesday whether to award the 2018 Super Bowl to Indianapolis, Minneapolis or New Orleans. Dave Mona, the longtime Minneapolis public relations executive who was involved with the successful drive to bring the 1992 Super Bowl to the Metrodome, said Minnesota’s winter weather reputation won’t place fear in the NFL if the city is chosen to host the game.

“The NFL will not let it (Super Bowl game) fail. They will solve all the logistical problems,” Mona told Sports Headliners while noting this area knows how to successfully deal with winter storms.

Carlos Gomez, who couldn’t win the full-time center field job with the Twins, is on the cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated. A story on the Brewers center fielder refers to his impressive start this season and being an early candidate for American League MVP. The article also describes the lack of patience at the plate that has characterized much of his baseball career including with the Twins. The story quotes Twins manager Ron Gardenhire in 2009: “We’ve been trying to get him to calm down and get him to control the situation, and sometimes the situation controls him.”

Hockey authority Lou Nanne will talk to the CORES group on September 11 and Bethel football coach Steve Johnson will speak on November 13. Both luncheon programs will be at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington. CORES is an acronym for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans.

CORES emcee Dick Jonckowski is the public address announcer for Shakopee High School softball and baseball games, plus Gophers baseball. Jonckowski also is the longtime public address announcer for Gophers basketball.

The MIAC 2014 top baseball award winners are MVP, Tyler Peterson, St. Thomas first baseman; Pitcher of the Year, Justin Thompson, Saint John’s; Rookie of the Year, Ben Buerkle, Saint Mary’s outfielder; and Coach of the Year, Nick Winecke, Saint Mary’s.

The league’s softball award winners are: MVP, Lexi Alm, Saint Benedict outfielder; Pitcher of the Year, Kendra Bowe, St. Thomas; Rookie of the Year, Hannah Heacox, Gustavus Adolphus pitcher; and Coach of the Year, John Tschida, St. Thomas.

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GM, Coach Bios Give Vikes Draft Clues

Posted on May 2, 2014May 2, 2014 by David Shama

Anyone who claims to know for certain who the Vikings will draft first next week is hallucinating.

The Vikings have eight picks in the NFL Draft next Thursday, Friday and Saturday including the No. 8 choice in the first round. The team’s personnel decision makers have extensive information on prospects and know who they prefer and what their needs are going into next week’s seven round draft.

But locked and loaded on who to choose first? No chance.

Look at last year’s draft when general manager Rick Spielman made trades that gave his franchise three first round picks, not one. In 2012 Spielman maneuvered to secure two choices in the first round and extra picks in later rounds.

Spielman’s past willingness to make trades and shuffle his team’s draft order is a clue about what might happen next week. So, too, is the background of new head coach Mike Zimmer who made his reputation in the NFL as defensive coordinator of the Bengals. He will take his best shot at upgrading Minnesota’s defense as fast as possible. That could mean a preference in this draft for aggressive and rangy defensive players.

While the Zimmer file provides some draft clues, remember the offense looks like it will be at least partially entrusted to new coordinator Norv Turner. A former head coach and veteran quarterback authority, Turner’s views on offensive personnel figure to weigh heavily in the draft.

Opinions about the potential of the top quarterbacks are varied and controversial but if Turner is enamored with one or two prospects that could mean the Vikings stay at No. 8 in the first round, or even try to move up in the draft. Chris Burke’s mock draft in this week’s Sports Illustrated has the Vikings choosing Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles. At 6-foot-5 with a strong and accurate arm, Bortles not only has classic NFL quarterback attributes, but his intelligence also seems like a good fit for Turner’s complex offense.

Spielman has scored in the past with some quality players in the draft including tight end Kyle Rudolph and wide receiver-kickoff returner Cordarrelle Patterson but his reputation with fans is tarnished because Christian Ponder, his No. 12 choice in 2011, hasn’t developed into a franchise quarterback. But because Spielman was burned with Ponder doesn’t mean the Vikings won’t risk another high draft choice on a quarterback.

It’s possible the Vikings could trade up in the draft to find their quarterback, or fill a linebacker spot with highly regarded Khalil Mack from Buffalo. To do that the Vikings might trade with the Rams who have the No. 2 pick. The Vikings could offer extra lower round draft choices to the Rams, plus their No. 8 first round spot.

Probably more likely, though, is a move by the Vikings to boost their total number of picks from eight to 10 or more for what is considered a draft deep in talent. The Vikings need help at so many positions, particularly on defense, that increasing the number of draft choices makes sense. Then, too, Zimmer is expected to work effectively with players who are regarded as projects and could be lower round selections.

The 49ers, a team in need of a personnel adjustment or two to perhaps return to the Super Bowl, might be a trade partner for Minnesota. The 49ers have the No. 30 pick in the first round but they have 11 total draft choices. Burke predicts the 49ers will take Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby at No. 30 but wrote the 49ers have the “ammo for a leap up the board.”

The 49ers have six picks in the top 100 while the Vikings own four. Those are attractive numbers for both franchises. The stuff of trades but until draft day comes nobody knows for certain what’s next including those who are paid to make the moves.

Worth Noting

Burke’s mock draft for Sports Illustrated has defensive end Jadevon Clowney from South Carolina going No. 1 overall to the Texans. He predicts Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel will be the first quarterback drafted at No. 4 by the Browns.

Here’s what Burke forecasts for Vikings NFC North rivals in the first round: Lions at No. 10 choose UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr; Bears, No. 14, pick Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald; Packers, No. 21, take Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier.

Burke’s second round includes the Vikings choosing BYU linebacker Kyle Van Noy at No. 40.

Gerry DiNardo said on the Big Ten TV Network Monday night Iowa and Nebraska are the teams most likely to win the Big Ten Conference’s new West Division next fall. His choices in the East are Michigan State and Ohio State.

DiNardo said the Gophers, a member of the West, need to improve their offense. In eight Big Ten games last season Minnesota was 8^th in rushing, 12^th in passing and 10^th in scoring.

The Wild, who open a second round Stanley Cup playoff series tonight in Chicago against the Blackhawks, will have tickets for Minnesota’s home games going on sale tomorrow beginning at 10 a.m. at Xcel Energy Center and Ticketmaster. Single game tickets range in price from $49 to $146.

It will be interesting to follow the local TV ratings in the series. Wednesday night’s game seven first round finale between the Wild and Avalanche was the highest-rated telecast ever in Fox Sports North history. The telecast had a 16.4 household rating in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area, according to Nielsen Media Research. The previous record, a 15.3 rating, was in August of 2010 for a Twins-White Sox game.

In the Minneapolis–St. Paul market, 17,280 households represent one rating point. That means over 283,390 households tuned in Wednesday night. The telecast received a 32 share, signifying 32 percent of the viewing audience in the Twins Cities area watched the game. During overtime the telecast reached its peak viewing audience with a 18.3 rating and 49 share, indicating nearly half of Twin Cities households were tuned in.

Coach Richard Pitino’s 2014 six-man recruiting class includes one Minnesota native, shooting guard Zach Lofton who attended Columbia Heights High School and is transferring to the Gophers from Illinois State. Lofton will sit out next season as a transfer and junior forward Joey King from Eagan will be the only scholarship Minnesotan on the roster.

Pitino’s 2015 recruiting class could be led by two Minnesotans, DeLaSalle point guard Jarvis Johnson and Grand Rapids forward Alex Illikainen. Both have been ranked as top 100 recruits by Rivals.com but neither has made a college commitment.

New Gophers women’s basketball coach Marlene Stollings is working on completing her staff.

The Twins lost a doubleheader with the Dodgers yesterday as part of a three game interleague series. The Dodgers won all three games in the series including the extra innings finale last night, the longest in Target Field history at 5 hours, 11 minutes.

Aaron Hicks, who has seen his playing time reduced recently, started in center field in both games. He was hitless and his average for the season dropped to .178. Last year as a rookie he batted .192. Hicks left the second game after suffering concussion-like symptoms. If healthy, and not on the injured list, it seems probable that when Twins outfielders Josh Willingham and Oswaldo Arcia return from injuries Hicks will be demoted to Triple-A Rochester.

The National League Dodgers have a history here. The Dodgers not only played the Twins in the 1965 World Series but during the 1950s had their American Association farm team in St. Paul. The Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1958 but before that tried to convince the New York borough to build major league baseball’s first domed stadium. The New York Giants, who operated the Minneapolis Millers farm team here, joined the Dodgers in California in 1958 by moving to San Francisco. Before deciding on California the Giants seriously considered moving to Minneapolis.

KARE TV’s Randy Shaver will speak at the Thursday, May 8 CORES luncheon at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington. Shaver, who is well known for his work in raising money for cancer research and patient aid, was a sportscaster at the station for almost 30 years before becoming a weeknight news anchor. Reservations for the lunch and program should be made by next Monday or sooner. Contact Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net. CORES is an acronym for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans.

The Gustavus Adolphus men’s tennis team won the MIAC regular season championship for the 26th consecutive season. This year’s title is the 47th for the program since 1940 and the fifth for head coach Tommy Valentini since taking over the program in the 2009-10 season. Within their run of 26 straight league titles, the Gusties won 242 consecutive MIAC matches.

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