NCAA – Page 13 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

No Chance Now of Viking Playoff Game at Frigid Lambeau

Posted on December 30, 2024December 30, 2024 by David Shama

A last of the year column while using a notes format and featuring the Vikings, Golden Gophers and Timberwolves.

There is a missing storyline coming out of Sunday’s 27-25 Vikings win over the Packers in Minneapolis. With the victory, the Vikings eliminated a possible matchup against the Pack in Green Bay during the playoffs.

A game at potentially frigid Green Bay in January is something any Packer postseason opponent wants to avoid. Numbing temps and gusty winds could negatively impact Minnesota’s elite roster of offensive playmakers and favor Green Bay’s running offense with stud ball carrier Josh Jacobs.

The 14-2 Vikings defeated the 11-5 Packers by a total of four points in two wins this season. The talent margin between the two teams is not huge and the Vikings would be a more solid bet to win a playoff game at climate-controlled U.S. Bank Stadium.

The Vikings, of course, can host all their NFC postseason games at home if they defeat the Lions, 13-2, in Detroit Sunday. The game time has been changed to an evening kickoff, with NBC televising the match up that will determine the NFC North Division title and playoff seeding.

No matter what quarterback Sam Darnold does in the Detroit game, or in the playoffs, it appears likely the Vikings will bring him back for at least another season. The club could put the franchise tag on him for something like $40 million for one season, or possibly commit longer to the 27-year-old who before 2024 was an NFL journeyman.

Darnold, who passed for a career high 377 yards and three touchdowns against the Packers on Sunday, is the first starting quarterback in NFL history to win 14 games in his first year with his team. He is playing on a one-year $10 million deal.

“Sam Darnold is the best quarterback in the NFL,” teammate J.J. McCarthy posted on Instagram.

McCarthy, the rookie quarterback sidelined all season, was thought to be the heir apparent to Darnold next season. But Darnold is playing at such an elite level that it seems prudent to re-sign him and let McCarthy recover more from knee surgeries and sit and learn in 2025.

The 7-5 Gophers are about a touchdown favorite to win the Duke’s Mayo Bowl Friday night against 6-6 Virginia Tech. It’s tradition at the annual bowl in Charlotte for the winning coach to be drenched in mayonnaise after the game.

That prospect prompts anticipation about Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck’s fate with his bald head. “Yeah, I am excited,” quarterback Max Brosmer said of the possibility. “I am not sure how fond of mayonnaise coach Fleck is, so we will see what that looks like if we come out with a win up there at the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

“I kind of wish he had hair because I think it would be stuck in his hair a little more. It might be easier to clean off if he’s clean shaven. …”

In one season Brosmer established himself as one of the best Gopher quarterbacks in decades. His physical skills, mental acuity and work ethic are a combination seldom seen in Dinkytown.

“I feel comfortable knowing that I didn’t take any days for granted,” Brosmer said. “I put as much effort as I could into every single day. …”

Brosmer, who transferred to Minnesota from FCS New Hampshire, is the “best processor” of information Fleck said he has ever coached. The coach said this year’s offense was probably the most “complex” he’s had in 12 years as a head coach but Brosmer “processes it like it’s the easiest.”

“…We only had him for eleven months, twelve months, but the legacy he’s going to leave is what he passed down in terms of the process—the preparation—to the other guys. And I think that’s the ultimate definition of a leader is what you’re passing down that other people are going to use to make the team and themselves better.”

Brosmer’s likely successor will be freshman Drake Lindsey. Brosmer is complimentary of Lindsey’s passion to play and work ethic. “No team will be successful without a quarterback that just loves football,” Brosmer said.

On the defensive side, lineman Anthony Smith is likely to be a key player in the bowl game and in 2025 when he could achieve postseason honors. The 6-6, 295-pound redshirt sophomore has gone from a spot player in his career to a starter.

Fleck said early on Smith was moved around with different responsibilities and that was a learning process, “but he’s grown a ton mentally, physically and emotionally. The maturity level is going through the roof. He knows why in everything that he’s doing, he’s able to play a little bit faster. And he’s so versatile. I don’t think I’ve ever had a guy that big with that versatility, at 6’6″, 295 pounds, and he can do a lot of different things. …”

“He’s a dude. He’s a very built player. Very big, naturally strong,” said nose guard and teammate Jalen Logan-Redding. He believes Smith has “really realized how big of a player he actually is when he is on the field.”

Minnesota has won five consecutive bowl games under Fleck. While other teams may not focus on giving their best, that hasn’t happened with the Gophers.

“Yeah, that comes from coach Fleck,” said offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh Jr. “He demands that we have the discipline and structure every single day to…(be) our best. It shows throughout training camp, spring ball, bowl prep, whatever season of the year it is. It comes from the top.”

The Timberwolves have won three consecutive games, and that success is coming at an opportune time because of the next two opponents. The Wolves will play two of the best teams in the NBA, against the 26-5 Thunder Tuesday night in Oklahoma City and in Minneapolis Thursday evening against the 23-9 Celtics.

The Wolves, 17-14, have won their last three games by a total of nine points. Before Sunday night’s 112-110 home win over the Spurs, Minnesota point guard Mike Conley talked about what was being emphasized.

“It’s finishing and that’s on both ends of the floor. Boxing out, defensive rebounding, finishing our plays offensively. Playing through contact, just being aggressive, being physical. I think when we can get back to our nature of being that aggressive team, we can play through mistakes and be a confident team going forward.”

Guard Donte DiVincenzo came off the bench to score a season high 26 points, including 15 points in the first half when the Wolves took a 57-45 end of the second quarter lead. It was his second consecutive 20-plus game and coach Chris Finch had him on the floor in the closing minutes when the 6-4 guard contributed offensively and defensively.

The crowd came to see the Wolves for sure, but also 7-3 Spurs’ wunderkind Victor Wembanyama. The 20-year-old could be the future face of the NBA. He plays with extraordinary agility and versatility, able to roam the court defensively and offensively.

Wembanyama scored a game high 34 points, making four of 12 three-point shots. In pregame warmups he drew a roar from the crowd after making a beyond midcourt shot.

After the game Wolves power forward Julius Randle was asked about the assignment of guarding Wembanyama. “Just take up his air space. You know he’s 7’10, whatever the hell he is. Just trying to take up his air space and make it difficult for him. You know when you let him play free in space, he’s special, so just trying to make it as hard as possible. …”

Heartfelt condolences to friends and family of Bill McReavy Sr. who passed away recently at age 92. Bill is in the Loyalists’ Hall of Fame among devoted supporters of Gophers athletics. He always had a smile for friends and was an icon in the community heading up Washburn-McReavy funeral and cremation services.

Sad to report the deaths of former Gopher hockey player Len Lilyholm and wife Carol after a car accident on Saturday in Iowa. They were travelling from Minnesota to their home in Florida where they planned to spend time with friends Lou Nanne and Dave Brooks, a source told Sports Headliners. Len played in the early 1960s for Minnesota on the “Smurf line” that included Brooks and Gary Schmalzbauer. Nanne, a defenseman, was on the team, too.

Belated happy birthday to Randy Shaver who recently turned 69. The former KARE 11 news and sports anchor can be followed on his podcasts.

Minneapolis native Jay Pivec, now retired but a well-traveled basketball coach who is in the NJCAA Coaches Association Hall of Fame, has a new book out about his basketball life. The Book of Piv is a fun storytelling read and available from Amazon.

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Kevin O’Connell’s Leverage for New Contract Rock Solid

Posted on December 9, 2024December 9, 2024 by David Shama

With the 11-2 Vikings experiencing a potentially historic season, it is apparent head coach Kevin O’Connell has substantially increased his leverage for future contract negotiations. His initial deal, agreed to in 2022 when he was named the franchise’s 10^th head coach, ends after the 2025 season and is estimated to pay him about $5 million annually.

Ownership is expected to soon offer O’Connell a new contract, and perhaps has even done so. While the likelihood is considerable the two parties will strike a deal prior to next season, O’Connell’s impressive three seasons in Minnesota are so admired he could choose the ultimate power play of letting his contract expire and allow bidding from other teams.

The admiration among fans, media and NFL people is widespread and can even take an unexpected direction. Recently Kayln Kahler, from ESPN, wrote the dysfunctional Bears franchise, having fired their head coach earlier this fall, should consider a trade for O’Connell. Such a trade, including multiple future first round draft choices, will fall on deaf ears at TCO Performance Center in Eagan.

Ownership and staff have learned O’Connell is the “secret sauce” the Vikings and other NFL teams covet. He is loved in the organization, including the locker room, for the way he carries himself and treats others. He has created an environment and culture that should be the envy of other franchises.

In his first season (2022) the Vikings went a surprising 13-4 during the regular season. They were an amazing 11-4 in one-score wins, an NFL record.

In 2023 the Vikings’ season was derailed by quarterback Kirk Cousins’ Achilles injury and they finished with a 7-10 record. Despite having to navigate through a franchise record four starting quarterbacks, the Vikings ranked fifth in the league in passing yards per game (256.4).

Kevin O’Connell image courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

Predicted to win about six games this season—partly because of uncertainty at quarterback with Cousins leaving as a free agent to play for the Falcons—O’Connell and his staff have stunned the football world with the performance of Sam Darnold. The former journeyman quarterback has been “born again” in Minnesota and will earn a lot more next season than the one-year deal of $10 million the Vikings are paying him, and that has everything to do with their “quarterback whisperer” coach.

O’Connell has been on target in so many ways that have paid off for the team including his selection of assistant coaches. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has “bouquets” thrown his way every week for his creativity and overall work. Quarterbacks coach Josh McCown is in his first season working for O’Connell and has been impressive, too. It’s likely both men will have offers sooner or later to become head coaches.

O’Connell’s overall record (all with the Vikings) is 31-17, including one playoff loss. His winning percentage of .645 is the best in franchise history, surpassing that of legendary Bud Grant (.607) over 18 seasons. O’Connell is 24-9 in one-possession games as a head coach, the third best winning percentage (.727) in NFL history in one-score contests (minimum 25 games).

Not only does O’Connell have a superlative resume, but he also has a potentially long coaching career ahead. He doesn’t turn 40 years old until next year.

Speculation earlier this fall was the Wilf ownership group might offer him $10 million per year, but that appears too far under market value. More than doubling his salary to $12 million to $15 million seems appropriate. Contract length also has him in the “driver’s seat” with seven years or longer a possibility. Clearly ownership wants him to be the man in charge for the foreseeable future.

According to Sportico.com, the 10 highest paid NFL coaches annually are: Andy Reid, $20 million; Sean Payton, $18 million; Jim Harbaugh, $16 million; Mike Tomlin, $16 million; Sean McVay, $15 million; Kyle Shanahan, $14 million; John Harbaugh, $12 million; Dan Campbell, $11 million; Sean McDermott, $11 million; Mike Macdonald, $9 million.

Worth Noting

Darnold made history in yesterday’s 42-21 win over the Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. He is the ninth quarterback in NFL history and first since Aaron Rodgers in 2019 to have at least 325 passing yards, five touchdown passes, a completion percentage of 75-or-higher and a passer rating of 155-or-higher with no picks in a game.

After the game O’Connell offered his admiration of Cousins including the veteran quarterback’s character. “I love him as a person. I think he’s a great human being, great father, great husband. He stands for so many great things that I always really valued.”

According to Statista.com last June, at $294.17 million Cousins ranks No. 6 in all-time cumulative career earnings among NFL players. Rodgers, $380.66 million, was No. 1 ahead of Matthew Stafford, Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, Matt Ryan and Cousins.

Former Viking and Minnesota native Adam Thielen, age 34, had nine receptions for 102 yards in the Panthers’ 22-16 loss to the Eagles yesterday. With a total of 8,063 career receiving yards, he is the fourth undrafted player in the common-draft era (dating back to 1967) with at least 8,000 career receiving yards. He joins Antonio Gates (11,841 receiving yards), Rod Smith (11,389) and Wes Welker (9,924).

The veteran wide receiver has 25 career games with at least 100 receiving yards. He joins Smith (30 games) and Welker (28) as the only undrafted players since 1967 with 25 career games with 100 or more receiving yards.

If there is a change in Golden Gophers basketball head coaches after this season, St. Thomas’ John Tauer should be a level one candidate. Tauer, whose Tommies won the 2016 NCAA Division III national title, has his D1 team at No. 113 in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Net Rankings. Minnesota is No. 163.

Meanwhile the women Gophers are No. 37 in the women’s rankings under second-year coach Dawn Plitzuweit. Minnesota is off to a 10-1 start and roster building strategy includes awareness of Minnesota and Wisconsin natives playing elsewhere who may want to transfer closer to home.

Jamal Abu-Shamala, the former Golden Gophers basketball player from Shakopee, has the volunteer honor of being Head Coach of the Twin Cities Dunkers in 2025. In that role he will arrange speakers for the organization that started 1948.

The Gophers have a 2025 football season tickets sales campaign going on with prices starting at $310. Public season ticket sales the last two years have been in the 23,000 to 25,000 range.

The Gophers had one year in the 1980s when they reported 56,000 season tickets while playing in the Metrodome.

The talented Gopher men’s hockey is coming off shutout home wins against Michigan Friday and Saturday night. Minnesota goalies Nathan Airey and Liam Souliere, with defensive help, shut out the Wolverines on consecutive nights for the first time in more than 80 years.

“Our D-corps is our strength right now and really I mean they’re elite,” Minnesota coach Bob Motzko said after his No. 4 ranked team swept the No. 6 Wolverines.

The Gophers, 15-2-1 overall and 8-0 in the Big Ten this season, are 32-10-1 in conference home games since the start of 2021.

The Wild’s fast start to the season includes being tied for the league lead with the Jets and Capitals in total points at 40. The way it looks now, unless the team has an incredible run of injuries sidelining key players, Minnesota can be mediocre the rest of the way and still make the playoffs for the first time since 2023.

Football coach Glen Caruso’s St. Thomas signing class for 2025 includes Beau Thielen from Eagan, a 4.5-star long snapper recruit. He drew interest in the recruitment process from FBS and FCS schools.

Al Worthington, who pitched for the 1955 Junior World Series champion Minneapolis Millers in 1955 and later was a standout for the Twins, will be 96 in February.

He is on the 2025 ballot for the Twins Hall of Fame. Fans can vote for 2025 candidates and/or use a write-in option. https://www.mlb.com/twins/fans/twins-hall-of-fame-ballot

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Fleck: Gophers Will Recruit a Transfer Quarterback for 2025

Posted on December 4, 2024December 5, 2024 by David Shama

Head coach P.J. Fleck went to the transfer portal about a year ago to find his 2024 quarterback. The move paid off with New Hampshire transfer Max Brosmer performing superbly in both team leadership and passing with production that included a best ever at Minnesota single season completion percentage of .668.

Brosmer engaged his teammates from the beginning, building relationships and trust. He was also an insatiable learner whose knowledge and maturity gave the Gophers an in-game advantage in problem solving and creating opportunities.

“I’ve never been around a young man who processes information like he processes information,” said Fleck who predicts Brosmer will be an NFL player and later a successful coach if he chooses that career path.

The downside with Brosmer, who figures to be in training camp with an NFL team next year, is that he has used his one season of eligibility. The Minnesota quarterback job is up for grabs in 2025 and Fleck surprised some observers today by saying “we’re absolutely going to bring in a transfer quarterback to compete.”

Fleck said he’s been “transparent” in meetings with quarterbacks on the existing roster, including assumed Brosmer successor Drake Lindsey, and also Jackson Kollock who was one of 20 high school players the Gophers signed today on National Signing Day. Fleck said competition is intended to make everybody better.

A transfer quarterback is likely to have more experience than Lindsey and Kollock who potentially could spend four or more years in the program. But that’s not necessarily a given, and Fleck is certain to prioritize the ability to play at a high level right away is more important than the number of eligible seasons.

Lindsey, an Arkansas native who was the high school Gatorade Player of the Year in that state, is considered a gem from the 2024 recruiting class. The former three-star recruit had the benefit of learning from the cerebral Brosmer this fall. Fleck said the redshirt freshman “has attached himself to Max’s hip.”

Lindsey enrolled early at Minnesota and participated in spring practice where he was impressive. The true freshman played in two games during the 2024 season with the highlight being against Rhode Island when he completed three of four passes and threw a touchdown pass. He has four seasons of eligibility ahead at Minnesota.

Kollock is a high three-star in the 247Sports composite recruiting rankings. The Gophers may have pulled off a coup in getting the Laguna Beach, California quarterback who can not only pass but is more athletic than Lindsey and Brosmer, setting up the possibility of more run-pass options in the Minnesota offense.

Kollock was committed to Washington until after last season’s college football playoffs when head coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb left the Huskies. DeBoer is now head coach at Alabama and Grubb is the NFL Seahawks offensive coordinator. It’s a tribute to Kollock’s talent and potential that those offensive gurus pursued him.

As Lindsey did, Kollock will enroll early to learn about the offense and participate in spring practice.

So, with a transfer likely coming and Lindsey and Kollock available going into next season and beyond, the Gophers look positioned at quarterback—the most important position on the field—to start a talented player who they believe in and with a backup or two that has their confidence.

Gophers Football Notes

The one four-star recruit, per 247Sports composite rankings, is linebacker Emmanuel Karmo from Robbinsdale Cooper. He had an impressive senior season and moved up from three-star to four-star status.

The Gophers signed three of the 247 top five rated high school seniors in Minnesota. The group includes No. 2 ranked Caledonia linebacker Ethan Stendel (comparisons to Gopher Cody Lindenberg) and No. 5 defensive lineman Abu Tarawallie from Heritage Christian Academy.

The expansion of the Big Ten to include four west coast schools, including UCLA and USC, may start a trend of Gopher recruiting out that way. California, with three signees, was second among states in the Gophers’ 20-recuits class. There are six players from the state of Minnesota.

In addition to Kollock, Minnesota signed Daniel Shipp, a three-star offensive lineman from Eastvale, California and three-star wide receiver Legend Lyons from Covina, California.

Shipp injured his knee and missed much of his junior season. The Gophers need tackles and are hoping he can bolster the roster. There is also a void on the wide receiver roster where Lyons can make an impact. Fleck likened his physical skills to former Minnesota All-Big Ten wide receiver Tyler Johnson.

Fleck, who just completed his eighth regular season with the Gophers, keeps preaching he is in charge of a developmental program. Generally, that means Minnesota (like many schools in the Power 4 conferences) will not be able to attract large numbers of four and five-star players.

That is reflected in the annual 247Sports composite national recruiting rankings. Minnesota ranks No. 51 in the 2025 listings. Dating back to 2021, the Gophers have been No. 38, 49 and 46 last year.

Today’s National Signing Day precedes the opening of the transfer portal next Monday. The portal means losing players on the existing roster and adding transfers from other schools, potentially at other levels than Division I including FCS which has been a productive source for Power Four programs including Minnesota (FCS alums Brosmer, Jack Henderson and, Ethan Robinson from the 2024 team).

Despite the transfer portal opportunity after last season, the Gophers retained an impressive 16 starters from the 2023 team. Name, Image and Likeness money for football through Dinkytown Athletes, the Golden Gophers official collective handling NIL, has increased since a year ago. DA, like other collectives, keeps its balance sheet private but it’s believed there is a significant increase from a year ago partially because of a recent “million-dollar match campaign” with Mark Pearson’s Twin Cities-based financial services company, Nepsis, and donations, memberships and upgrades of memberships from the public and businesses.

The estimate here is DA will have between $2 million and $3 million for football NIL. It’s believed Koi Perich, named All-Big Ten safety this week by both the media and coaches, and a candidate for national Freshman of the Year, might receive an NIL amount of over $500,000 next year. Running back Darius Taylor is believed to be another six-figure NIL Gopher.

No doubt players transferring in, as well as those already on the roster, will benefit from earnings doing NIL work. And the Gophers will have a significant number of transfers with obvious needs at receiver, offensive line and cornerback. There could be 10 to 15 incoming players.

Fleck’s name has been linked with the North Carolina head coach opening but he likely isn’t leaving Minnesota. There is more TV money for a Big Ten program than in the ACC where North Carolina competes. Fleck and his wife like living here and have established roots after eight seasons with both the program and community, and they recently moved into their newly built suburban Minneapolis home.

Fleck also has considerable contract security here, similar to many other college football head coaches now. If he is fired without cause his buyout is over $23 million ($23,302,502), per a USA story on coaches October 16. Kirby Smart at Georgia tops the buyout list at $118,083,333. Ohio State fans are grumbling about yet another loss to Michigan but neither the school nor another entity likely wants to pay the $37,276,042 to fire head coach Ryan Day and say, “Goodbye Columbus!”

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