MIAC – Page 35 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Don’t Underrate Minnesota Prep Football

Posted on September 25, 2013September 25, 2013 by David Shama

It’s too obvious to ignore now. Young men who learned how to play football at Minnesota high schools are making regional and national headlines at the college level.

Twenty years ago such players didn’t command as much attention but it’s different now. Last Saturday ESPN College GameDay was in Fargo to pay homage to the North Dakota State Bison. All that program has done is use savvy coaching and a Minnesota-heavy roster to win the last two Football Championship Subdivision national titles.

The Bison roster this fall lists 35 Minnesotans. They and their teammates found glory a few weeks ago in Manhattan, Kansas defeating defending Big 12 champion Kansas State. No one should have been stunned since the Bison have defeated two other Bowl Championship Series schools since 2010 — Kansas and Minnesota. (BCS replaced the Division I-A label awhile ago and FCS replaced the smaller school Division I-AA title).

But the Bison weren’t the only showcase for Minnesota high school alums last Saturday. Former Eagan High School running back Zach Zenner ran for two first quarter touchdowns in Lincoln against Nebraska as the Jackrabbits took an early 17-14 lead. Zenner, a junior, led all FCS players in rushing last season and is No. 1 again this fall with 742 yards. He is one of 18 Minnesotans on the Jackrabbits’ roster, a team that is among the best in the FCS.

Scan the Division II top 25 coaches poll and there is Minnesota State-Mankato ranked No. 2 in the country. UMD is No. 13 and St. Cloud State No. 20 in the poll. The Mavericks have 23 Minnesotans on the roster while UMD has 60 and St. Cloud 48.

Pollsters obviously aren’t hesitant to rank Minnesota colleges high in the Division II poll. Why should they be after UMD won national championship games in 2008 and 2010? The coach of those teams, Bob Nielsen, is now in his first season coaching Western Illinois and he won’t surprise anyone if he recruits at Minnesota high schools.

St. Thomas has been in the mix for a Division III national championship the last couple of years. This summer the Tommies started the season ranked No. 2 in the country in the Division III coaches poll and despite a loss to Saint John’s last Saturday St. Thomas will remain a 2013 national power. The Tommies, who had won 36 consecutive regular season games, have 87 Minnesotans on the roster.

Minnesota colleges have loaded up their football programs with alums of state high schools. The nine MIAC schools playing football—all located in Minnesota—have 680 Minnesotans on their rosters. The 16-member Northern Sun Conference, with nearly all Minnesota-based schools, has 427 Minnesotans.

North Dakota, a member of the Big Sky Conference, has 24 alums of Minnesota high schools. Northern Iowa, from the Missouri Valley Conference like North Dakota State, has nine Minnesotans. The Panthers defeated Iowa State of the Big 12 Conference earlier this year.

It’s a nice success story for Minnesota prep football but the script grows weaker when searching the rosters of NFL teams and major college programs. Only a dozen Minnesotans are in the NFL with the most prominent names being wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Eric Decker.

No major program from the power conferences turns to this state’s talent pool for most of its needs. And that starts with the Gophers. On last week’s depth chart prior to Minnesota’s final nonconference game against San Jose State, the Gophers had seven state natives starting on offense and one on defense. The Gophers have 42 Minnesotans on their roster of 120 total players.

Many of the 42 will never be starters or major game day contributors. Some aren’t even scholarship players. The Gophers 2013 recruiting class had only one scholarship player from the state, linebacker Chris Wipson from Wayzata, according to Rivals.com. The year before the total was nine of 27 recruits from Minnesota.

But with so much success by other football programs — led by the North Dakota State bandwagon — are the Gophers missing the boat? Well, probably not. For openers, the Bison likely couldn’t win a lot of games week after week if they had to go against the speed, skill and depth of teams from major college programs.

Those programs recruit in talent rich states with more population and favorable climate. Generally speaking, former Minnesota preps are going to do better competing at the FCS, Division II and III levels.

“I think there’s a lot of solid high school football players in Minnesota but I don’t think there’s your elite level football players,” said Minnesota-based recruiting authority Zach Johnson. “I don’t think you can say Minnesota has the quality at the elite level that you would find in Texas, California, Florida (and) most of the southeast.”

Johnson tracks the Gophers recruiting classes and believes the program is correct in often conservatively targeting the number of Minnesotans for scholarships. “Yeah, they’re looking for a different football player,” he said. “They’re looking for a football player that can play at the highest level.”

Gophers coach Jerry Kill said “we’re doing the best we can” in recruiting state players. He believes the number of prospects who interest him as potential scholarship players can vary from five to 25. Having lived in Kansas, a state somewhat similar to Minnesota in population, Kill saw the importance of a large talent pool. “It has to do with population more than anything. More football programs, more schools, more players.”

The Gophers shouldn’t be second-guessed too much for losing to the Bison (Minnesota was rebuilding in its first season under Kill), or because of all the Minnesota natives on the rosters of teams from the Dakotas. “Minnesota is a perfect place for South Dakota schools and North Dakota schools to recruit because it’s loaded with a big metro area with a lot of football players that are just a step below what you need at the big time SEC, ACC level,” Johnson said. “You don’t see 31 Minnesota kids on a SEC roster or an ACC roster. How many Minnesota kids do you see playing in the Pac-12 and SEC and ACC and schools like that?”

Not many is the answer and that’s no surprise to even a Minnesota high school booster like Ron Stolski. He has been coaching high school teams in the state for 52 years and is executive director of the Minnesota High School Football Coaches Association.

He said states like California, Florida and Texas have special athletes blessed with speed and football is “king,” indicating the importance of the sport in those places. But that doesn’t mean Minnesota kids don’t receive top level coaching. “Our kids are as well coached as any in the country,” he said. “The feedback we get constantly is how in tune our coaches are.”

The success of the FCS, Division II and Division III programs in the region also doesn’t surprise Stolski who has sent many of his former players to those types of schools but only three to Division I football during more than a half century of coaching in Minnesota. “Remember they’re also playing schools with Minnesota kids on them. I think the coaching staffs of all those schools…are outstanding. They get that borderline Division I, Division II athlete. They coach the snot out of them.”

That “borderline athlete” is the kind of prospect the Gophers want to have join the program without a scholarship. Kill will tell you the success of his walk-on program will be critical to whether he turns the Gophers into one of the Big Ten Conference’s better teams.

And, of course, he wants the best Minnesota high school players in the worst way. That list could start with Cretin-Derham Hall defensive end Jashon Cornell, rated by ESPN as the No. 1 football player in the country for the class of 2015. Cornell and his teammates were the feature high school game on ESPN a few weeks ago.

That’s heady stuff and the kind of thing that makes someone like Rochester, Minnesota native and former Gopher Darrell Thompson feel good about this state’s prep football players. He thinks major college programs, including the Gophers, have overlooked the quality and depth of the state’s recruiting pool.

“This (Gophers) coaching staff doesn’t realize that there is more here (prospects) than people (think),” Thompson said. “The grass always looks greener. Just like someone’s wife always looks cuter than your wife or some girl. Someone else always looks better.”

Thompson believes the Gophers could typically take 12 to 15 Minnesotans for a recruiting class and be the better for it. “I wouldn’t think you’d have to go with 25 or 30 kids coming from somewhere else every year.”

Maybe the Gophers could pull that off if they could annually lock up each of the state’s best prep players. Bringing the Cornells, Fitzgeralds and Michael Floyds to Dinkytown each year would be precedent setting in this century.

Probably won’t happen but Minnesotans can know there are a lot of success stories on all levels of college football because of contributions made by this state’s high school football alums. “Our football is being played at a very high level,” Stolski said.

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U President Speaks Out Praising Jerry Kill

Posted on September 20, 2013September 21, 2013 by David Shama

University of Minnesota president Eric Kaler staunchly expressed support for football coach Jerry Kill at a fundraising event earlier this week at the Calhoun Beach Club. Addressing influential University supporters and donors, Kaler made clear how highly he regards his third year coach who suffered another game day seizure last Saturday.

Among those in attendance at the event on Monday night was Rebecca Kill, the coach’s wife. Kaler’s message was certainly reassuring to the Kills and would draw approval from thousands of Minnesotans who want to see Jerry Kill continue coaching. Kill has left no doubt in the past or this week that he doesn’t plan to let seizures drive him out of coaching, but some friends are less worried about his health and more concerned that another school will entice him to coach elsewhere.

Additional resources are needed to make the Gophers football program more competitive and on a par with the quality programs in the Big Ten Conference. Kill knows a better indoor practice facility, state-of-the-art weight room, upgraded training table facility and a better academic center can help attract recruits. Another issue is improving salaries for his assistant coaches, and that’s not to mention Kill’s salary ranks at the bottom of the Big Ten among head football coaches.

Kaler’s message the other night and statements by athletic director Norwood Teague this summer that the Gophers need a $190 million upgrade in facilities (for football and other sports) are messages that register positively with Kill. But eventually the talk will need to turn into action to retain Kill who has dramatically improved the classroom attendance and performance of his players while sending a more competitive football team out on the field each season.

The support for Kill among the public seems to have grown this week as talk shows, online messages and newspaper letters have encouraged Kill to keep coaching while praising him for his persistence and values. Even the Star Tribune lead editorial on Tuesday had a supportive article headlined: “Epilepsy does not define the Kill era.”

What the public has learned since Kill was hired in December of 2010 is he is a good football coach with rock solid values who thousands of Minnesotans can identify with. His work in the community, including on behalf of epilepsy, could one day become legendary and already he deserves a place among Minnesota’s most active and effective high profile volunteers.

“What he does is fairly remarkable,” Dave Mona said. “He is a poster child for what people are capable of.”

Mona assisted then athletic director Joel Maturi with the Gophers’ head coaching search that led to Kill’s hiring. The two asked Kill about his health during the interview process and found the coach welcoming questions. He talked about his experiences with losing consciousness and also his cancer.

That openness is who Kill is. He wouldn’t want the Gophers job if he didn’t believe he was fully capable of doing it. He might label it “stealing money” if he wasn’t able to work almost 24-7 like he does.

Mona and others see a coach who is doing all kinds of good things for the football program, University and community. The buy in is strong and probably gained momentum during the difficult days since last Saturday. “I think he’s on the path that made him attractive to us in the first place,” Mona said.

Worth Noting

Gophers athletic director Norwood Teague told the CORES luncheon group last week he is “bullish” on football coach Jerry Kill and his assistants. “I am thrilled with where we’re at,” Teague said last Thursday.

Teague said former Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez told him walk-ons were the key to rebuilding the Badgers football program.

Teague expects North Dakota to eventually return to the Gophers hockey schedule. He said the atmosphere for a Gophers-North Dakota game is the best he’s experienced for hockey.

CORES emcee and funnyman Dick Jonckowski opened the luncheon with a story about a guy who shot a loon and later was questioned by a game warden. The warden was curious about what a loon tasted like. “Kind of a cross between a trumpeter swan and bald eagle,” the hunter answered.

San Jose State has won 14 of its last 17 games including a 1-1 record this season. Starting quarterback David Fales, who will face the Gophers tomorrow at TCF Bank Stadium, is 12-3 in the last 15 games.

“We’re going to play a quarterback that most people who come through here from the NFL feel like is going to be a first round draft pick,” Kill said. “He throws the back shoulder throw as good as anybody in the country.”

The Gophers’ depth chart released this morning had Mitch Leidner listed as the No. 1 quarterback, and either Philip Nelson or Chris Streveler at No. 2.

David Benedict, the Gophers’ deputy athletic director, said fewer than 1,000 tickets remain for Minnesota’s home Big Ten opener with Iowa on September 28. The Nebraska game at TCF Bank Stadium on October 26 is sold out. Benedict said attendance for tomorrow’s game with San Jose State will easily exceed last Saturday’s announced attendance of 42,127 for the Western Michigan game. Stadium capacity is 50,805.

The Vikings’ John Sullivan is one of four NFL centers endorsing Dollar Shave Club’s One Wipe Charlies, “a flushable wet toilet-paper product launched in June,” according to a September 16 article on Adage.com. The website reported the players will endorse the product in radio commercials with the tag line: “Every great play starts with a clean snap.”

The Vikings are trying to avoid an 0-3 start to the season Sunday against the Browns, also 0-2. The Vikings lost their first three games in 2011 when the eventual final record was 3-13. In 2008 the Vikings made the playoffs despite a 0-2 start.

Former Vikings coach Bud Grant signs copies of his new book I Did It My Way starting at noon today at Barnes & Noble downtown, 801 Nicollet Avenue.

Highly sought Brooklyn, New York prep shooting guard Isaiah Whitehead, who had interest in the Gophers, announced yesterday he will attend Seton Hall next year.

Hamline honors its 1988 football team at halftime tomorrow night at Klas Field. That team tied for the MIAC championship with Concordia and was led by coach Dick Tressel, the Pipers’ all-time winningest football coach. Tressel is now an assistant with Carleton, Hamline’s opponent tomorrow night. Hamline’s head coach is Chad Rogosheske who played for Tressel. Also on the Piper staff is Luke Tressel who is Dick’s son.

Ken Norton, the heavyweight boxer who died this week, is best known in this area for his 1979 draw with Minnesota native Scott LeDoux at Met Center. It was one of Norton’s last fights.

The mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul will declare next Thursday Roy Griak Day in the two cities. There will be a 50 year celebration of Griak’s service to the Gophers that day and Governor Mark Dayton will issue a certificate of recognition. More than 500 Griak admirers are expected at an on-campus celebration from 5 to 8 p.m. next Thursday. More information is available at GoldenGopherFund.com.

Griak was the Gophers’ men’s cross country and track and field coach for 33 years from 1963 to 1996. He is now an administrative assistant for those programs. He said remaining in athletics and staying active beats the alternative of “playing bridge with old ladies.”

Griak exercises most days with activities that include biking, 60 modified pushups and 80 modified sit-ups. Griak will be 90 years old on October 5.

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Vikings Face Tougher Schedule Now

Posted on September 9, 2013September 9, 2013 by David Shama

A worrisome September schedule became a bigger concern for the Vikings after they lost their NFL regular season opening game on Sunday in Detroit against the Lions. “We need to win these first two,” Jared Allen said last week from Winter Park.

Instead the Vikings’ All-Pro defensive end and his teammates lost 34-24 to the Lions with another road game ahead next Sunday in Chicago against the Bears. After that the opponent is the Browns and the Vikings’ only home game of the month. September closes with a game in London versus the Steelers.

Vikings NFC North Division rivals Detroit and Chicago won games yesterday. Vikings linebacker Erin Henderson pointed out last week games within the division “count double,” so the first two games on Minnesota’s schedule have added significance for a team hoping to win the NFC North and have guaranteed entry into the NFL playoffs.

“It’s a tough situation (the early schedule) but not all bad,” Henderson told Sports Headliners. “Get the away games out of the way early. Really learn a lot about your team and what kind of people you have on your roster early on. Deal with some adversity and be up against some tough situations…some tough crowds. I think we’ll find out how resilient we are and what kind of team we’re trying to be and what direction we’re trying to head in.”

The Lions had more production from their offense yesterday than the Vikings with Detroit having 469 total yards versus Minnesota’s 330 while dominating time of possession. Vikings’ quarterback Christian Ponder had a mixed performance that included passes totaling 140 yards to wide receiver Jerome Simpson but he also had three interceptions and a first half ball that might have been picked off and returned for a touchdown.

Probably the biggest miscue of the day, though, came in the fourth quarter with the Lions ahead by only three points, 27-24. Ponder tripped over Vikings’ lineman Brandon Fusco and stumbled trying to hand the ball off to Adrian Peterson. The Lions recovered Ponder’s fumble at the Vikings 39 yard line.

Then third down penalties by the Vikings helped set up Detroit’s last score of the day. First defensive tackle Letroy Guion was flagged for a late hit on Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford. Three plays after that a pass interference play on Vikings rookie cornerback Xavier Rhodes—trying to cover All-Pro wide receiver Calvin Johnson—gave the Lions a key first down at the Minnesota 15 yard line. Four plays later the Lions scored a final touchdown to make the score 34-24.

Rhodes, of course, had a difficult assignment facing Johnson but not a surprising one. “If you look…at the history of the NFL, they always target rookies,” Rhodes told Sports Headliners last week. “You do good (even) in the first five games, they’re still going to target you because they feel like you’re a rookie and you don’t know what you’re doing out there.”

Rhodes and the rest of the Vikings will learn more about how resilient they are next Sunday in Chicago.

Worth Noting

While trying to pass, Ponder often had pressure from the Lions’ talented defensive line. His offensive line, particularly left tackle Matt Kalil, had difficult moments.

Vikings’ second-year placekicker Blair Walsh kicked a 52 yard field goal yesterday. He is now 11-11 on field goals of 50 or more yards in his NFL career.

Rookie punter Jeff Locke was unimpressive yesterday averaging 34.8 yards. Walsh, though, likes the potential. “I think the sky’s the limit for him this year,” Walsh said recently.

Philip Nelson has become friends with Adam Weber who was the Gophers quarterback from 2007-2010. “He offered a lot of help,” said Nelson, the Gophers sophomore starting quarterback.

Nelson is a business marketing major with a 3.5 GPA. He is interested in becoming a high school coach.

Gophers senior tackle Ra’Shede Hageman said despite his success as a prep tight end at Washburn he wasn’t recruited by other high schools. He did think about DeLaSalle but didn’t pursue the downtown Minneapolis Catholic school. “I didn’t want to wear uniforms,” he told Sports Headliners.

Last Saturday night’s telecast of the Gophers-Aggies game was produced by AggieVision, a video production group from New Mexico State. Poor camera angles left viewers fortunate enough to see the game on DirecTV frustrated. The camera work just added to the frustration endured by those watching the game on the Big Ten Network website. The visual over the Internet continually had missing action. Fox Sports North will replay the game today starting at 2 p.m.

Could Iowa State football fans already be worrying about their opening game next year against North Dakota State? The FCS Bison have wins against four FBS schools since 2010—Kansas, Minnesota, Colorado State and Kansas State. All were on the road and so too will the August 30, 2014 game in Ames against FBS member Iowa State. The Bison have 32 Minnesota natives on their roster.

The Pirates, competing in the closest division race in the National League, will have their postseason ambitions at least partially determined by former Twins Garrett Jones, Justin Morneau and Francisco Liriano. Jones has pretty much been replaced at first base by Morneau but he could contribute in the outfield or pinch hit. His stats include 13 home runs and 49 RBI. Morneau is off to a slow start with the Pirates with no home runs or RBI in his first seven games. Liriano is 15-7 with a 2.98 ERA and could end the season leading National League pitchers in wins.

MIAC football teams that played nonconference games last weekend all had wins. In a preseason coaches poll, St. Thomas was the unanimous choice to finish first in the league followed by Bethel, Augsburg, a tie between Concordia and Saint John’s, and then St. Olaf, Gustavus Adolphus, Carleton and Hamline. Conference games begin September 21.

Congratulations to Marcia Bach, former executive director of the USTA Northern Section, who will be inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame on September 27 at the Minneapolis Club. More information is available by calling the USTA Northern office, 952-887-5001.

Minnesota tennis legend David Wheaton is helping host a clinic and pro-am September 23 on the clay courts at Bearpath Golf & Country Club in Eden Prairie to benefit the nonprofit Word Servants organization. The same day World Servants will also hold its annual golf event at Bearpath. For more information contact Michael Minich via email, mminich@worldservants.org.

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