MIAC – Page 55 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Possible UST Turnovers Concern Caruso

Posted on December 2, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

St. Thomas coach Glenn Caruso will be concerned about “turnovers” when his Tommies play at home tomorrow against St. John Fisher (New York) in a second round NCAA Division III playoff game. Caruso described it “very much as an anomaly” when St. Thomas had four turnovers last week in a 38-10 win against Monmouth (Illinois).

“Fisher has 27 interceptions this year and 11 in the last three weeks,” Caruso told Sports Headliners.

The 12-0 Tommies have never won a Division III national football title but are three wins away from that goal. St. Thomas is averaging 39.7 points per game and has allowed only 39 total points in the last eight games.

Caruso has to be among the most watched Division III coaches in the country but his commitment is to St. Thomas, not a possible job someplace else. “All we really focus on is today,” he said. “I am so proud to be at St. Thomas.”

The Tommies have won 24 consecutive regular season games and 37 of their last 40 with Caruso coaching. A native of Connecticut, he raves about the character and talent of Minnesota kids who come to play for him.

Among his stars is senior wide receiver Frtiz Waldvogel from Mendota Heights. Waldvogel is one of 10 candidates for the Gagliardi Trophy honoring the most outstanding Division III player.

In 12 games he has 14 touchdowns, 67 receptions for 1,088 yards and 1,754 all purpose yards. His 10 career kick-punt returns for touchdowns ranks second in Division III history.

A national selection committee and fan voting will determine the winner. Fans can vote through noon on December 3, www.division3football.com.

Comments Welcome

Worth Noting

Posted on November 15, 2011December 28, 2011 by David Shama

Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst, who twice since 2007 has been rumored to be a candidate for the Gophers job, is head coaching material, said Barry Alvarez. The Badgers athletic director told Sports Headliners he’s received inquiries about Chryst and coaching jobs this fall.

Vikings reserve quarterback Joe Webb said although he hasn’t been asked by the coaching staff, he‘s willing to become a wide receiver. Webb played both positions in college and his experience could help him get open and catch the ball. He has the size (6-4) and speed (4.4) to be an intriguing wide receiver prospect.

The Oakland Raiders, now in first place in the AFC West with a 5-4 record, play the Vikings on Sunday at Mall of America Field and the franchise has a historic tie to this area. In 1960 Minneapolis was going to be one of the founding franchises in the new AFL but preferred an invitation to join the established NFL. Oakland accepted the franchise opening caused by the Minneapolis decision.

Vikings :30 and :60 second TV commercials advocating for a stadium in Arden Hills can be seen on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imCQC_Yd2Wg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnQaKCzUyGo

Former Gopher Royce White scored 25 points in his first regular season game for Iowa State, making nine of 15 field goals and seven of nine free throws last week. The Cyclones play at Drake tonight.

In its college basketball issue distributed last week, Sports Illustrated doesn’t include the Gophers among teams predicted to make the NCAA tournament. Ohio State is ranked No. 3 in the country, and also among the top 20 teams is No. 13 Wisconsin. Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue and Northwestern are other Big Ten teams predicted to qualify for the tournament.

Minneapolis native Larry Fitzgerald finished first in an NFL players poll about “who has the best fashion sense off the field,” according to S.I.’s November 14 issue.

St. Thomas received the most votes in a poll of league coaches to determine the preseason favorite to win the MIAC basketball championship. Former Gophers quarterback John Nance is expected to be among the Tommies’ key players. The other three MIAC teams receiving the most votes were St. Olaf, Augsburg and Carleton.

St. Thomas also received the most votes in the women’s coaches poll followed by Gustavus, Saint Benedict and Concordia.

Comments Welcome

No Division II Football Plans for UST

Posted on October 5, 2011November 27, 2011 by David Shama

Fourth-year coach Glenn Caruso told Sports Headliners his roster includes many players recruited by Division I and II football programs but the Division III powerhouse Tommies have no plans to play at a higher level in future years.

The 5-0 Tommies are ranked No. 3 nationally and last Saturday whipped MIAC tradition-rich Saint John’s 63-7 (49-0 at halftime). In Caruso’s first season of 2008 he led the Tommies to the third biggest turnaround in Division III history. In 2009 St. Thomas was 11-2 and last season the Tommies were ranked No. 4 in the country and had a 12-1 record.

Caruso said St. Thomas is comfortable at the Division III level, offering student-athletes a “balance” between academics and football. That Division III tag, though, hasn’t stopped Caruso from attracting quality players. He estimates “probably half” his roster is comprised of players who either could play in the higher divisions, or received offers from Division I or II schools.

Among his standouts are wide receiver-kick returner Fritz Waldvogel and offensive lineman Chad Vandergriff. Could those two Division III preseason All-Americans play for the Gophers? “Oh, geez, I don’t know,” Caruso said. “And for me to speculate on that would probably be ignorant. Just glad they’re playing for St. Thomas.”

Caruso isn’t ready to label the 2011 Tommies his best club “but what stands out is this team hasn’t made similar mistakes twice.” The Tommies were plenty good last Saturday, dismantling the Johnnies with a performance that only surprised Caruso a “little bit.”

“It wasn’t like it was out of the realm of possibility,” he said. “I have often been asked could you ever have dreamed this in your wildest dreams? Well, heck, yea. …I wouldn’t be a competitor if you couldn’t dream about where your program is going to go at the highest of levels. But I did not expect that to necessarily happen this Saturday, but it felt pretty good.”

Caruso, who grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut, has worked hard to turnaround the Tommies program. It’s a work ethic he and his siblings learned from their father Frank, an attorney who practiced law at home to give his children more direction.

“My dad worked tirelessly to make sure all of his kids were hard workers, were good- natured people that cared about others (and) that tired to look at the world optimistically,” Caruso said. “…My dad worked his butt off every single day not to try and make our lives easier, but to try and teach us how to navigate all the stuff that’s going to happen throughout our life.”

Caruso and the Tommies are navigating pretty well these days.

Comments Welcome