NCAA – Page 158 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Final Four Likely for New Stadium

Posted on May 18, 2012May 21, 2012 by David Shama

With approval for a new Vikings stadium now finally in place, media speculation has started about attracting a Super Bowl to Minneapolis but it might be even easier to bring the NCAA’s Final Four to town.

“I’ll be amazed if we don’t get it (a Final Four),” Bill Lester told Sports Headliners. He is executive director of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission and was part of the group that helped bring Final Fours to the Metrodome in 1992 and 2001.

The Gophers have been the college host for past Final Fours. “We know how to put it on,” said Joel Maturi, Gophers athletic director. “This is a great city (to visit).”

Lester said the Final Four sites are determined through 2016 but beyond then Minneapolis could be in the mix with a bid. “They (the NCAA) like competing cities,” he said.

The NCAA chooses only Final Four sites that are state-of-the-art domed stadiums. The new Vikings stadium will have either a fixed or retractable roof, and Lester said the seating configuration for the Final Four will be about 74,000.

A Super Bowl was held at the Metrodome in 1992. Although the NFL is known to reward new facilities with a Super Bowl, the league has most often selected warm weather cities as the site for games and sometimes in older stadiums. Earlier this year Indianapolis with a new stadium was the Super Bowl site, and Lester believes there’s definitely a possibility Minneapolis could host another Super Bowl within the next 10 years.

Maturi said the Big Ten Conference will be open to considering the new Vikings stadium for the league’s championship football game. That game is committed to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the next four years, and Detroit has expressed interest in hosting the game at Ford Field, according to Maturi.

There’s been quiet talk about establishing an annual college football bowl game (“City of Lakes Bowl?”) in Minneapolis. Maturi acknowledged it could be a difficult sell to convince teams the city is a desirable destination in December but said this is an attractive area with lots to do.

Maturi believes a nonconference basketball game involving the Gophers and a national power might one day be booked for the new Vikings stadium. “I think it’s a natural,” he said. “We’ll see what happens.”

Meanwhile, Lester said he’s already hearing from potential users of the new stadium that is projected to open in 2016. Contacts range from inline skating organizers to amateur baseball teams looking for a protective environment. Such contacts are providing input on the design of the new stadium.

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Worth Noting

Posted on April 30, 2012April 30, 2012 by David Shama

Vikings general manager Rick Spielman had the final word on college draft choices during the NFL draft last weekend, a change from recent years when authority was shared. Spielman is a self-described “perfectionist” but presents an easy going personality to the media who like him.

In addition to the 10 players drafted, Spielman plans to sign “10-13 college free agents.”

With the drafting of USC left tackle Matt Kalil, the Vikings offensive line is set except for right guard. The starter there might be Brandon Fusco from Slippery Rock University who the Vikings drafted in the sixth round last year. He’s a player Spielman is “very, very excited about” after seeing Fusco play limited minutes last season and following his overall development.

The Big Ten Conference didn’t have a player chosen in the first round of the NFL draft until the Lions took Iowa offensive tackle Riley Reiff at No. 23. Three other Big Ten players were later drafted in the first round (32 total players). National champion Alabama had three players taken in the first round and the Southeastern Conference had nine chosen, including four of the first 10 selected.

If the Twins continue losing games and paying customers, club revenues will decline and possibly create more interest among the front office to use Target Field as the site for outdoor hockey games and other events.

Carl Pavano has only one win but he’s been the workhorse among the team’s starters. He has thrown six-plus innings or more in his five starts and has a staff high 33 innings pitched.

Word is the NCAA had one or more observers at the Nike elite basketball tournament in Eagan earlier this month that attracted some of the best prep players and college coaches in the country. NCAA rules include having coaches segregated from fans and not engage in media interviews. Coaches at the tourney included Jim Boeheim, Bob Huggins, Tom Izzo, Mike Krzyzewski and Bo Ryan.

Former Timberwolves superstar Kevin Garnett tied the Lakers Metta World Peace as the second “dirtiest” player in the NBA, according to results of a league players’ poll published in the April 30 issue of Sports Illustrated. The Clippers Reggie Evans was No. 1.

The Lynx opened training camp yesterday without several players who are still playing overseas. Included are Seimone Augustus, Maya Moore and Lindsay Whalen who will also miss camp time from May 11-13 to practice with the USA Basketball team. They are among 11 players named to the final USA roster.

The Gophers play their farewell baseball game at 41-year-old Siebert Field tomorrow night starting at 6:35 p.m. The ceremonial first pitch prior to the game against St. Thomas will feature Marilyn Siebert, daughter of legendary coach Dick Siebert, former coach George Thomas and former Gophers Paul Molitor and Terry Steinbach. During each half inning every decade of Gophers baseball dating back to the 1940s will be honored on the field. While the Gophers are playing their games this season at the Metrodome, Minnesota is planning a new on-campus stadium to replace Siebert Field. All tickets for tomorrow night’s game are general admission.

Jason Verdugo, 37, officially begins work as Hamline’s athletic director tomorrow succeeding Bob Beeman who is moving to Texas. Verdugo will give up his Hamline baseball coaching job at season’s end.

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Royce White to Review NBA Options

Posted on March 21, 2012March 21, 2012 by David Shama

Royce White’s grandfather dropped him off in Ames, Iowa on Sunday. What’s the next stop for White?

If conversations during the coming weeks determine the Iowa State sophomore is going to be an NBA lottery choice in June, then the former Hopkins High School All-American has likely played his last college game. His grandfather, Frank White, told Sports Headliners on Monday that Royce’s dream has always been an NBA career. “If he’s a top 10 lottery pick there’s no way I would (try to) convince him to stay,” Frank said.

The two Whites have a close relationship. Frank has mentored Royce from childhood. “I was there (at Royce’s birth) to cut the umbilical cord,” Frank said.

It was grandpa who drove 220 miles from his suburban St. Paul home last week to Ames to pick up Royce. Then he drove the Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Year 600 miles to Iowa State’s NCAA tournament games in Louisville. The two made the return trip to Ames on Sunday while Royce’s teammates flew home.

Royce suffers from anxiety and preferred not to fly to Louisville, believing he would feel better for the most important college games of his life if he travelled by car. Frank said fans should understand while it made Royce a “little more comfortable” to travel by car, it’s not that his grandson hasn’t done a lot of flying. Royce was on all the Iowa State Big 12 airplane trips except one and took a preseason trip with the Cyclones to Italy. “He’s been flying since third or fourth grade,” Frank said.

There can’t be any second-guessing the decision to drive to Louisville. Not after White helped the Cyclones to an opening tournament win on Thursday over defending NCAA national champion Connecticut. And not on Saturday after he scored 23 points, grabbed nine rebounds and had four assists while showing he was the most versatile player on the floor against a star-laden Kentucky team.

The Wildcats are the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament but it was White who received much of the attention from media and fans during and before the game. He seemed to enjoy the attention and at one point in the Kentucky game reportedly yelled: “I am the best player in the country.”

CBS recorded the moment and although his grandfather didn’t see it he had an explanation. “He said he was just trying to get everyone pumped up,” Frank said.

Royce looked toward the Iowa State fans when he made his statement. He has found acceptance in Ames after fighting through off-court problems with the Gophers, never playing a minute for his hometown University during the 2009-10 school year.

“He’s really embraced Iowa State and they have embraced him,” Frank said. “At the hotel (in Louisville) I had people telling me how great a young man (and) great player he is.”

Frank said Royce cried after the Kentucky loss, a defeat that may have been the first and only opportunity for him to fulfill his goal of winning a national championship. “I know he had some tears,” his grandfather said. “He believed he was going to win. Some of the Kentucky players he had played against (previously) in AAU (competition), and done well. Kentucky may have played its best game. Iowa State had its worst shooting game of the season.”

Despite being 6-feet-8 and 270 pounds, White wasn’t stereotyped at Iowa State as a player who could only position himself near the basket. Cyclones coach Fred Hoiberg, the former Timberwolves guard and front office executive, recognized White’s versatility and creativity. Hoiberg allowed White to bring the ball up the floor, sometimes being a primary ball handler and passer in the offense. White’s experiences at Iowa State will help make him more attractive to pro scouts who could project him both as a small and power forward.

Frank believes his grandson, who will be 21 next month, could move to the pros this year but he’s also comfortable with a decision to return to Iowa State for another season. Royce is a 3.0 student with a passion for music, a self-taught piano player who has long been interested in psychology. “I told him I don’t need anything other than for him to succeed in life,” Frank said.

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