MIAC – Page 36 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Williams Wants to Help Set Legacy at U

Posted on September 6, 2013September 6, 2013 by David Shama

Redshirt freshman tight end Maxx Williams impressed with his blocking and also making a difficult touchdown catch in last week’s Gophers win over UNLV. He hopes the win and his four seasons of eligibility is the beginning of a new era for Minnesota football.

“I want to know I was part of something that became great,” Williams told Sports Headliners. “I think that would be one of the best things that I can do. I helped build that program.”

The 6-4, 254-pound Williams from Waconia High was recruited by other schools including Gophers’ rivals Wisconsin and Iowa but he was never serious about any college but Minnesota. He realized he wanted to help turn around a program that has struggled for decades trying to win Big Ten games.

He also has affection for his home state. “I love it here,” Williams said. “It’s where I always wanted to be.”

Williams’ dad, Brian, played football for the Gophers and so did his uncle, Ron Goetz. His mom, Rochele, was a volleyball player at the U. Those “bloodlines,” as Jerry Kill described them, had the Gophers coach almost gushing about Williams the other day, talking about “great instincts” and the running ability of his 19-year-old tight end.

Williams impressed Gophers quarterback Philip Nelson a few years ago. Nelson’s Mankato West team beat Waconia three consecutive seasons. “He was the whole offense,” Nelson said. “When Waconia was running the ball he was the running back. When they were throwing it he was either the tight end or the quarterback. I’ve known since day one that guy can make plays. I think he’s going to be a big role in this offense.”

Nelson said injuries held Williams back last season but now there is an opportunity for the two to help improve a Gophers offense that often struggled last season and at times against UNLV. Test No. 2 comes tomorrow night in Las Cruces when Minnesota plays at New Mexico State.

Worth Noting

The Aggies better not conclude from scouting the Gophers in the UNLV game that they have seen all of Minnesota’s offense. Nelson said his team “probably showed about 50 percent of the offense” in last week’s opener. “We’re always kind of switching things up running our offense,” he said.

The Gophers may use some no-huddle offense during the season, according to Nelson.

Sophomore Rodrick Williams, who may start tomorrow night at running back in place of the injured Donnell Kirkwood, is nicknamed “Nugget” because he ate so many chicken nuggets on his recruiting trip to Minnesota while in high school. Linebacker James Manuel is nicknamed “Mule” because of his physique.

With Kill declaring Andre McDonald off the team indefinitely, the Gophers are now without three wide receivers who a year ago looked like major contributors for a few seasons. McDonald, A.J. Barker and Devin Crawford–Tufts are no longer with the team.

It’s for certain the Lions will try to exploit the inexperienced Vikings cornerback group including Josh Robinson (two years experience) and Xavier Rhodes (rookie) on Sunday in Detroit. “This is going to be a big week for them (the cornerbacks) but they’ll do a good job,” said Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier. “They’ll be ready.”

Former Vikings offensive coordinator Brian Billick said yesterday morning on ESPN Radio with hosts Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic that Adrian Peterson had a “stunning” total of 33 runs of 20 yards or more last season. “At best, a team will average 11 or 12 a year,” said Billick, who will provide commentary on the FOX telecast of Sunday’s game.

Peterson, who was NFL MVP for the first time after last season, said yesterday he deserved to win the award earlier in his career.

Former Gopher Keith Ballard believes controversial and aggressive forward Matt Cooke will play a major part in the Wild’s success next season. Ballard told Sports Headliners any grievances Wild players had with Cook in the past will be forgotten in the locker room. Both Cooke and Ballard, a defenseman who contributed to national titles with the Gophers, are off-season acquisitions. The Wild open training camp next Thursday.

St. Thomas, hoping to compete again for a Division III national football championship, opens its season tomorrow with a 1:10 p.m. home game against UW-Eau Claire. The Tommies home and away games will be broadcast on WCCO Radio.

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Hageman Draws Comparisons with Suh

Posted on August 30, 2013August 30, 2013 by David Shama

When Darrell Thompson talks about Gophers defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman he mentions Ndamukong Suh. Playing at Nebraska a few years ago, Suh earned a reputation as one of college football’s most dominant defensive tackles ever.

Suh was a much more developed player going into this senior season at Nebraska than Hageman is now but Thompson sees similarities in skill sets and physical size. “I feel like they’re fairly similar,” Thompson told Sports Headliners. “He (Hageman) is not as compact (as Suh), but he’s rangier and might even be a hair more athletic.”

How dominant can Hageman be as a senior? “As dominant as he wants to be,” answered Thompson, the former Gophers record setting running back and now the game analyst on Minnesota radio broadcasts. “The only person that can hold him back is himself. He can do it. If he plays with leverage and comes off the ball the way he can, he can be an extremely disruptive force. You can’t ask for anything more than a disruptive force right in the middle of your defense.”

UNLV was introduced to Hageman last night including when the former Washburn High School all-state tight end not only blocked a field goal attempt but pushed the ball forward helping Minnesota’s Martez Shabazz scoop it up and run 51 yards for a touchdown. That score was among the biggest plays of the evening as Minnesota increased its third quarter lead to 30-13 before going on to win the opening game 51-23.

Thompson thought Hageman started slowly but became more effective as the game continued. Inconsistency has characterized Hageman’s career with the Gophers but Thompson said it’s understandable given the position switch to defense at Minnesota after being a tight end in high school and early in his college career.

Suh, by contrast, was a defensive tackle and a beast in that role back in high school in his hometown of Portland. Playing at Nebraska, his size, 6-4, 300 pounds, strength and agility made him a dreaded player for offensive linemen to block.

Hageman is 6-6 and 311 pounds. Thompson describes Hageman as a player with a vertical jump in the “mid-30’s” able to bench press over 400 pounds who is explosive and can run while playing with a “little bit of a mean streak in him.”

Thompson said the Gophers’ tackle is still in the “middle of the learning process.” Maximizing technique and learning all the ways of playing his position takes time. “But even this year if he takes the throttle off of himself and plays hard and plays smart and plays with leverage and runs to the ball I think he can be special,” Thompson said. “He can get away without actually having great technique when you’re bigger and stronger than everyone. …There’s not many people like him playing college football.”

Worth Noting

Sources told Sports Headliners this week that Roger Schipper will not return as Gophers athletic trainer. Schipper completed his 28^th season last March as the Minnesota trainer.

David Benedict, deputy athletic director for the Gophers, said last week that the public season ticket sale for football was about 29,000 including 1,800 new tickets. He also said student season tickets may total 5,000.

Gophers freshman Donohvan Jones, the quarterback turned wide receiver, has a 40 inch vertical jump.

Gophers athletic director Norwood Teague speaks to the C.O.R.E.S. group on Thursday, September 12 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington. Reservations for the luncheon and program should be made by Monday, September 9. For more information contact Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net.

Stillwater-based Creative Charters has sold-out its fan trips to New Mexico State for the Gophers and to London for the Vikings. Working with the University of Minnesota Alumni Association, Creative Charters has a discount price through next Wednesday on travel to the Gophers game at Northwestern on October 19.

The Seahawks, including Vikings alums Percy Harvin, Sidney Rice and Antoine Winfield, are among the most mentioned teams to win the NFC and the Super Bowl.

The Big Ten’s biggest game of the opening weekend is tomorrow night when Northwestern, an underdog pick to win the Legends Division, plays at California where pass-happy Golden Bears head coach Sonny Dykes makes his debut in Berkley.

Minneapolis attorney Bob Stein, the former Timberwolves president and ex-football player with the Gophers and NFL Chiefs, is part of the legal team representing retired NFL players who have filed a lawsuit against NFL Films regarding their publicity rights.

Twins president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners this morning not to expect phenoms Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton to be part of the team’s September 1 call ups of minor league players. Both will be in spring training, though, with the Twins next year.

Circle it date for prep football: Wayzata at Eden Prairie, 7 p.m. on October 11.

With the MIAC starting another school year, the conference hopes to build on its success in athletics that includes 43 NCAA team national championships and 243 individual national titles.

The Wild will introduce a new white road jersey at the Minnesota State Fair’s FAN Central building on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. The building is located at the intersection of Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street.

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Physical Play May Define Vikes vs. 49ers

Posted on August 23, 2013August 23, 2013 by David Shama

Preseason NFL games are similar to arguments with spouses. A lot of folks avoid both but Sunday night’s Vikings game with the 49ers in San Francisco deserves more attention than most exhibitions.

The nationally televised (NBC) game is expected to feature more playing time by regulars than is the norm during preseason. Look for the Vikings to possibly use starters on offense and defense in the first half and into the early third quarter. If the 49ers do something similar—and it’s typical for NFL teams to use regulars the most in preseason game threes—it will be interesting to see how physical the action is on the field.

49ers coach Jim Harbaugh defines aggression. He used physical play to turn around a punch line college program at Stanford. Then he followed a similar blueprint with the 49ers since taking over in January of 2011. Visit the 49ers website and read this mantra posted about Harbaugh: “Attack each day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.”

Harbaugh, perhaps the NFL’s best coach, had his team in the Super Bowl last season before losing to the Ravens and his brother, head coach John Harbaugh. The 49ers, who were 21-27 in the three seasons before Harbaugh took over, are a favorite to win the Super Bowl next February.

Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway said his team wants a physical identity, too. “I think we’re going to be very physical which is a good thing for us. Coach (Leslie) Frazier has preached that and we’re trying to act on it in camp by being physical every day.

“They’re (the 49ers) a very physical team…so I think it’s going to be a good matchup to see where we’re at. They’re talented. It will be a fun game.”

The Vikings are 0-2 and the 49ers 1-1 in preseason games. Greenway is much more interested in how his team performs, rather than whether the Vikings win.

“This game doesn’t mean anything really as far as what it’s going to be like—what’s going to happen when you play a full four quarters game in the regular season,” Greenway said. “It gives you a snapshot of where you’re at. Obviously if things go well I think we’ll feel good about how we’re doing. But if things go poorly it doesn’t mean that things are going to be poor (during the season). You can’t think that way.”

Worth Noting

Mike Singletary, now a Vikings assistant head coach, was the 49ers head coach before Harbaugh. His career record with the 49ers was 19-22.

Reserve cornerback Bobby Felder, signed by the Vikings in 2012 as an undrafted free agent, was a member of the practice squad last year but is in competition with starter Marcus Sherels for the punt return job. Felder is expected to return punts on Sunday night. Felder has three returns in preseason, averaging 20.7 yards per return.

Former Gophers receiver and quarterback MarQueis Gray is a tight end with the 49ers and has caught one pass for 13 yards.

Vikings reserve quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson attended Balboa High School in San Francisco.

The 49ers are tied for seventh and the Vikings are tied for 10^th on the most difficult 2013 schedules list compiled by the NFL.

NFL teams have to reduce their rosters to 75 by Tuesday and 53 by August 31.

After this season the Vikings will have many unrestricted free agents on the roster including All-Pro defensive end Jared Allen. Would Allen like to see at least some contract offers from the Vikings during the season to retain players, rather than wait until 2014?

“Not my concern really, to be honest,” Allen told Sports Headliners. “They’re (management) going to make decisions based on what they feel is best for the team. My job is to go out and play as hard as I can with whoever is on the field and try to win a championship.”

Tyus Jones plays in the Under Armour Elite 24 game tomorrow night on ESPNU starting at 6 p.m. Minneapolis time. Another Minnesota native, Rashad Vaughn , will also participate. The game will be played on an outdoor court under the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City and features 24 of the best high school players in the country. Jones, the Apple Valley High School senior point guard, is rated by Rivals.com as the No. 2 player in the country for the class of 2014. Vaughn, a shooting guard now playing for Findlay Prep in Las Vegas, is rated No. 7 in the class.

Tyus’ brother Tre, an outstanding eighth grade guard, may join the Apple Valley varsity this fall. Debbie Jones, mother of Tyus and Tre, said she will be completing paperwork with the school district to request that Tre join the varsity this coming season.

The Twins have a rarity with Baseball America’s best prospects ranking of Byron Buxton at No. 1 and Miguel Sano No. 3. Since the rankings began in 1990 only five other teams had two prospects among the top five players, according to the August 19 issue of Sports Illustrated.

Obviously rankings don’t come with a guarantee for future success. In 2004 the Devil Rays had B.J. Upton ranked No. 2 and Delmon Young No. 3. Earlier this month Young was put on waivers by the Phillies and his eight year MLB career, including with the Twins, has been a disappointment.

Congratulations to former Albert Lea High School coaching legend Paul Ehrhard on his 80^th birthday party last Saturday. About 150 family and friends celebrated with Ehrhard who contributed to three state football and three state wrestling titles at Albert Lea. Ehrhard also coached in California where he worked with some high profile football players including Reggie Bush. Ehrhard graduated from Montgomery High School and played collegiate baseball and football at St. Thomas where he later coached the freshman football team.

Starting with this season the MIAC will recognize its top football coach with the John Gagliardi MIAC Football Coach of the Year Award. The award is named after former Saint John’s coach John Gagliardi who is the winningest college football coach ever.

St. Thomas is No. 1 in the nation in the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s Division III preseason poll. The Tommies, 39-1 last season and national champs, have a loaded roster with returning talent.

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