NCAA – Page 18 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Despite Injury, Favored Status Remains for J.J. McCarthy

Posted on August 15, 2024August 16, 2024 by David Shama

Despite right knee meniscus surgery on Wednesday that will end his season, rookie J.J. McCarthy apparently remains the quarterback in waiting for the Vikings. This is part of what head coach Kevin O’Connell said yesterday when he reported on McCarthy following surgery:

Kevin O’Connell image courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

“As our fans either have already come to find out or will in the future, this guy is so motivated and so dialed in. As excited as I was to draft him, he’s confirmed everything that I hope to see not only early on through training camp, but through his performance last Saturday (preseason opening game). Our fan base and everyone should just be excited about the fact that we’ve got our young franchise quarterback, I believe, in the building.”

At the news conference KOC didn’t speculate 27-year-old Sam Darnold, who the Vikings signed as a free agent in the offseason, could become the team’s long-term quarterback.

Darnold and the 21-year-old McCarthy, who the Vikings took at No. 10 in the first round of last spring’s NFL Draft, might have been in a quarterback battle during the coming season. The two had been taking most of the reps at training camp this summer.

Speculation had a couple of scenarios about the competition including Darnold starting the season and McCarthy moving in at No. 1 after several games. Another path was holding McCarthy out for the entire season to let him learn and more fully develop—remaining on the bench no matter how Darnold performed.

Darnold will likely one day remember 2024 as the season that defined his pro football career. The opportunity to become an established starter was evident last winter when he reportedly signed a $10 million one-year contract to likely replace the departed Kirk Cousins, but now with the absence of McCarthy it’s even more likely he’s at a fork in the road regarding his career.

It appears Darnold will need to stage one of the more amazing comeback stories in recent NFL history to change the likelihood of McCarthy taking over the team next year. McCarthy has youth, talent and commitment on his side while Darnold’s track record is one of mostly disappointment after being drafted third overall by the Jets in 2018.

The grandson of Marlboro man Dick Hammer, McCarthy didn’t get off to a smoking start with the Jets where in three seasons he threw 39 interceptions, and 45 touchdown passes. Then he played two unproductive seasons with the woeful Carolina Panthers. Last season, he started one game as a backup for the 49ers.

Darnold, though, is intriguing. He has a quick release throwing the football and good arm strength. He is athletic enough to move around in the pocket like a teenager playing backyard football. With McCarthy’s injury, Darnold can play in a more relaxed environment and know the boo-birds in the stands, and perhaps even his own coaches, won’t pull a quick “trigger” and bludgeon his career.

Darnold’s reputation is that of a gun-slinger quarterback. He can make observers scream, “Oh, no!” Or yell, “Oh, yes!” as he fits passes into tight spaces.

The truth is Darnold has never been in a situation so ripe for success as in Minnesota. He is in a quarterback friendly system led by O’Connell. His gifted offensive teammates include wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, elusive running back Aaron Jones, and formidable pass blockers Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. This is an elite NFL offensive environment that Darnold is integrating with.

No one, including O’Connell, can know for sure whether there is a transformation coming from the former USC quarterback who many thought might be the No. 1 overall draft choice in 2018 instead of Baker Mayfield. He is intriguing enough to believe if he gives the Vikings sustained production the club can have playoff aspirations and thoughts of winning 9 games or more.

If not, thoughts of the “Golden Boy” and 2025 will come quickly to mind.

Worth Noting

Congratulations to sports icon Dave Mona who is back for his 50th year as the press box voice at Vikings games, working games over the years at Met Stadium, the Metrodome and U.S. Bank Stadium. Asked about his age, Mona quipped, “More than 50.”

On game days Mona is continually providing information to the media. Asked about the future, he joked again and said: “Yeah, just a year at a time. Have been for about 48 years.

“I enjoy it. It’s a fun thing to do. I love working with a group of guys being part of the stats crew. I think people would be fascinated to see what goes on statistically as part of the game and how calm it is in there—despite all the information being tossed back and forth.”

Max Johnson, the son of former Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson, wears jersey No. 14 just like his father. Max, who previously played collegiately at LSU and Texas A&M, is in a starting team quarterback competition for North Carolina to see who leads the Tar Heels in their August 29 opener against the Golden Gophers in Minneapolis. Max has two seasons of remaining eligibility.

Gopher head coach P.J. Fleck talking about the competitiveness of the 2024 team: “I just think they’re ultra-competitive. They really are. And I think good teams know they’re really good. They act that way. They walk that way. They talk that way. They work that way.

“And look, we don’t know what kind of team we’re going to be…that story is yet to be told. But they come to practice every day like they feel they’re a really good football team. And I love that about them. …

“But right now, I mean competing with each other, is as good as we’ve ever had. With iron sharpening iron. I think it’s really productive for us.”

Fleck talking about prize freshman Koi Perich, who arrived on campus in June, and the Esko native’s possible playing time: “I think it’s really early when you talk about true freshmen. I think it’s all about how their bodies handle the next few weeks.

“It’s really difficult coming here in June and making a huge impact as a true freshman. It’s just hard at any level at any position, but we love what he does. We love how hard he plays. He’s really smart and if he continues to take the next right step, then you could see him being in the mix as we go forward. Not only just safety, but special teams and other certain parts of the game.”

Veteran teammate and defensive lineman Danny Striggow on Perich: “Koi is a fun guy to be around. I didn’t really hear him talk for the first couple of weeks that he was here. He was a little quiet but now he’s starting to open it up…to get in with a lot of the guys.

“It’s really cool to see him come in and be explosive right away. Kind of see him work into his role and really take control of the positions that he is in and the reps that he is getting. To be able to go out there and really take advantage of what he’s getting for reps.”

Veteran linebacker Cody Lindenberg has been impressed with Perich’s energy and instincts. The former 4-star recruit, who was the MVP of the January All-American Bowl, is a playmaker at safety or special teams including returning punts. “…Whatever it is, he’s going to make a play somehow, some way. It’s been great to see him grow, too. It’s a short while since he’s been here but he’s gotten a ton better.”

Gopher senior Quinn Carroll, who has switched from right tackle to right guard, likes playing more inside where a player is “more influential” in the run game and “that’s my strength” right now.

Condolences to family and the many friends of Scott Buss, age 50, who died unexpectedly several days ago. The Eden Prairie resident was a personal favorite. We were scheduled to be part of a foursome at Dwan Golf Course in Bloomington on Sunday. Scott was chosen by sportswriter John Sherman from the Sun-Current for Edina’s all-time high school baseball team. In his senior spring at Edina in 1993 the Star Tribune named him the all-state first baseman. Kind and soft spoken, with a passion for people and sports, Scott leaves a void that will never be filled for those who loved him.

Tom Kelly, who managed the Twins to two World Series championships and whose statue is outside Target Field, turns 74 today (August 15).

Bailey Ober, 12-5 with a 3.52 ERA, can extend his career best winning streak (now at four) when he starts for the Twins tonight against the Rangers in Texas.

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Collective Makes Significant Impact on Gopher Football

Posted on August 11, 2024August 11, 2024 by David Shama

Dinkytown Athletes, the official Golden Gophers collective involved with Name, Image and Likeness opportunities for University of Minnesota athletes, launched in July of 2022 and sold its first memberships to the public in September of that year. DA, led by Derek Burns and Robert Gag, faced a skeptical Minnesota sports public but interest in boosting the coffers of the collective is documented in a report shared recently with Sports Headliners.

Active paying members were up 156 percent year-over-year in the spring of 2023 and 180 percent in the fall of last year, per “The Dinkytown Difference Football Case Study.” The document doesn’t specify dollar amounts, but the opinion here is DA has become competitive with other collectives supporting major college football programs including many in the Big Ten. (Editor’s note: DA is a Sports Headliners advertiser.)

Darius Taylor photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

Without the growth in financial support for DA from contributors, the Gophers wouldn’t be returning 16 starters from last season’s team. Among returnees are standouts including sophomore running back Darius Taylor whose 799 yards rushing last season was fifth best in school history for a true freshman despite missed playing time when he was injured. Taylor’s NIL earnings are estimated at six-figures. For sure being rewarded, too, with NIL earnings are other Gophers including Aireontae Ersery, rated the best returning offensive tackle in college football by Pro Football Focus.

In a new era where players on the existing rosters of college football teams have to be re-recruited, the transfer portal window is an anxiety producing time as programs look to both retain and add personnel. For the 2023-2024 portal period the Gophers coaching staff led by P.J. Fleck lost three transfers to Power Five programs including starting quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis. Minnesota gained eight transfers, giving the Gophers a net gain of 94 games in playing experience, according to the Dinkytown difference document.

Rivals.com gave Minnesota the second highest grade among Big Ten teams last spring for its work in acquiring talent in the transfer portal. Minnesota’s B grade was surpassed only by Washington’s B+.

Minnesota’s eight transfers include promising running back Marcus Major from Oklahoma, former state No. 1 recruit and edge rusher Jaxon Howard from LSU, plus needed help at wide receiver where Cristian Driver from Penn State and Tyler Williams from Georgia. The biggest transfer prize looks like FCS transfer Max Brosmer from New Hampshire.

As a startup, founders Burns and Gag learned money needs to be in place before the transfer portal opens. In the 2022-2023 portal the Gophers lost 10 transfers to Power Five programs. Minnesota gained two transfers during that period resulting in a net loss of 115 games in Power Five playing experience, according to the document.

Among the players leaving the Gophers was cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr., who became a 2023 All-American at West Virginia. Austin Booker made all-Big 12 as a defensive lineman for Kansas. Defensive lineman Trill Carter was the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year playing for Texas.

Worth Noting

Steve Erban said his company will be taking about 600 Gopher football fans to Minnesota’s October 12 UCLA game at the Rose Bowl. Creative Charters has almost sold out its availability.

Just added to the football fan travel lineup is a trip to the November 9 Rutgers game. Erban said the trip experience will include a visit to the Thomas Edison National Historical Park in West Orange, New Jersey.

Speculation is Viking safety Lewis Cine, the team’s top draft choice in 2022, will not be a member of the team when roster cuts are made later this summer. Cine, selected last in the first round with the No. 32 pick, has been a disappointment during his career and appears to be way down on the safety roster in training camp.

In the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Cine played in three and seven games respectively, and started in none. It now appears that Cine, and cornerback Andrew Booth Jr., who was the team’s second player taken in the 2022 draft, will be draft busts. Booth Jr. was traded last week to the Cowboys for cornerback Nashon Wright.

The most important performance yesterday in the Vikings’ 24-23 closing seconds victory over the Raiders may have been the winning field goal by rookie kicker Will Reichard. In the opening preseason game for both teams the Vikings got a clutch 38-yard boot by Reichard who is trying to win the kicking job after Minnesota released veteran Greg Joseph in the offseason.

Adding to the drama at U.S. Bank Stadium yesterday, Reichard had his first field goal attempt as a pro blocked, and Raider kicker Daniel Carlson kicked three field goals including a 56-yarder. Carlson was released by the Vikings after his first two games as a rookie in 2018. He’s been with the Raiders ever since where he’s become one of the NFL’s best, and the hasty decision by the Vikings to cut ties remains among the worst in recent years for the franchise.

An interesting individual matchup in Viking training camp is rookie edge rusher Dallas Turner going against stud offensive left tackle Christian Darrisaw. Turner, a first-round selection, had a sack yesterday and looks like a game-changer.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell said after the game his top two quarterbacks, newcomers Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy, are “ahead of where I thought they would be at this point.” It’s believed that Darnold, an NFL vet going into his seventh season, is almost certainly the starter for the regular season opener at the Giants September 8.

Rookie McCarthy made a couple of underwhelming throws in the first half, including an interception. In the second half, he threw two touchdown passes with velocity and touch on the football. Darnold played only one series, the opening drive of the game.

The Twins finish their four-game series today against the Guardians who have lost two of the first three games against Minnesota at Target Field. Cleveland holds a 2.5 games lead in the AL Central Division but has lost seven of its last eight games and is 17-23 since June 26.

The Guardians are the smart choice to win today with ace starter Tanner Bibee going against Minnesota rookie David Festa. Last Monday, though, Festa impressed in a win over the Cubs, giving up two hits and no runs in five innings.

Twins president Dave St. Peter is a college football fan and will attend his first game at Michigan Stadium when Texas plays Michigan September 7. “Excited about it,” St. Peter said. “Never been to the ‘Big House’ so it will be a fun experience. I am certain of that.”

This will be the 14^th trip he and friends have made to well-known college football venues.

Target Field has a history of hosting college football games with regional teams and interest remains in future bookings, but St. Peter told Sports Headliners nothing is on the “calendar for the next few years.”

Look for Twins games to be on cable/satellite next season, plus directly to the consumer via streaming. Comcast viewers who finally have the Twins back on cable this summer by paying a higher monthly fee may have to pay more of the same for Timberwolves and Wild telecasts.

Owen Presthus, grandson of former Golden Gophers basketball captain Paul Presthus, is an outstanding soccer player and a few days ago was signed by Columbus Crew 2 to an MLS Next Pro contract.

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Twins Trio Rate Comeback Player of Year Candidacy

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

More than halfway through the 2024 season, the Twins feature three players who are worthy of American League Comeback Player of the Year candidacy. Post-season MLB annually announces recipients in both the American and National Leagues after a vote by media who cover the 30 teams. Initially, each MLB club puts up one candidate for voting.

Criteria for selection is broad with the MLB.com website referring to the winners as being “one player in each league who has re-emerged on the field during the season.” Hello, Jose Miranda, Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton who have “written scripts” making them comeback candidates.

Third baseman and DH Miranda had a miserable 2023 spending much of the season on the Injured List because of shoulder impingement. He had only 142 at bats and hit .211. That was after a rookie season in 2022 when his numbers included 444 plate appearances, 15 home runs and a 268 average.

In spring training there was no certainty Miranda would even make the roster, but his plate production has been eye-popping including his .332 average and .907 OPS. Last week he tied a MLB record with hits in 12 consecutive at bats. In the field the versatile Miranda has started several games at first base.

It was commonplace last season to reference the term plantar fasciitis with Correa. The injury to his left foot didn’t cause him to miss too much time in the lineup but it damaged his mechanics and hitting production. He had an eight-year career low in batting average (.230) and a disappointing OPS (.711). As usual, though, his fielding at shortstop was outstanding.

With better health, Correa’s 2024 performance has earned him an invitation to next week’s 2024 All-Star Game in Arlington, Texas. The Twins highest paid player after signing a reported $200 million contract before the 2023 season, Correa has silenced his critics with his play in the field, his hitting and leadership. He’s batting .303 with an impressive .886 OPS.

Buxton has long been the Twins poster man for injuries and extensive missed time in the lineup. Since 2017 when Buxton had a career high 140 games, the gifted 30-year-old has played in as few games as 28 and no more than 92. In 2023 injuries were problematic again and his role was designated hitter.

Although Buxton missed 15 games earlier this season with right knee inflammation, he has made more than 55 starts in center field and had a few DH appearances. His total games of 69 are only 16 fewer than his 85 all last season (39, 61 and 92 games respectively in 2020-2022). Buxton is hitting .324 in his last 30 games and his .272 season batting average is second best to a career high of .306 in 2021.

Outfielder Tyler O’Neill from the Red Sox, first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino of the Royals, and pitcher Carlos Rodon from the Yankees are national names frequently mentioned for AL Comeback Player of the Year, with authorities recognizing there is a lot of baseball to be played until late September.

Worth Noting

It was almost a year ago (June 29) the Twins signed a free agent player to a minor league contract whose size prompts comparisons with Yankees superstar Aaron Judge, 6-7, 282 pounds. Outfielder Carson McCusker, 6-8 and 250-pounds, was signed by Minnesota out of independent league baseball, and he is now playing for the organization’s Double-A Wichita team. In 236 at bats, he is hitting .284, with seven home runs and 39 RBI.

When the Vikings open their season September 8, it will be the first time Minnesota has played at the Giants in week one since 1969. Fran Tarkenton threw three touchdown passes for the Giants in that game and New York overcame a 23-10 second half deficit to win 24-23, per Pro-football-reference.com. Tarkenton, drafted by Minnesota in 1961, had been traded from the Vikings to the Giants before the 1967 season.

Despite the prowess of the 49ers over the years, San Francisco has lost eight consecutive games in Minneapolis. The Vikings host the 49ers September 15 at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The Big Ten Conference has expanded to 18 schools but that didn’t do much for representation in Jeff Borzello’s “way too early” top 25 college men’s basketball rankings last week. Purdue, at No. 16, received the highest ranking among Big Ten teams in the listing. Indiana checked in at No. 18 and other Big Ten schools recognized were league newcomer UCLA at No. 24 and Rutgers at No. 25.

The conference has been overrated for decades and no Big Ten school has won the NCAA title since 2001 when Michigan State did it.

Look for media predictions having coach Ben Johnson’s 2024-2025 Gophers finishing among the bottom six teams in the league standings.

The Lynx will collect a ticket revenue bonanza Sunday, with prices on the team’s website yesterday ranging from $29 to four-figures to watch rookie sensation Caitlin Clark and the Fever at Target Center.

Bryce Benhart, the senior from Lakeville who turns 24 on July 14, is expected to set a Cornhusker record for career starts by an offensive lineman this season. He is tied for the lead with 41.

That’s former Golden Gophers cheerleader (Kennedy Cummins then) making a name for herself (Carlee Bright now) in professional wrestling with the WWE.

Familiar names Fred Bryan from the NFL, Ken Mauer Jr. of the NBA and Tim Tschida from MLB are no longer professional officials, but they will share career experiences and talk about how officiating is evolving to keep up with technology when they appear at the July 17 Capital Club breakfast at Mendakota Country Club. More information about the Capital Club is available from Patrick Klinger, patrick@agilemarketingco.com

Heroes lost: Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda and Greg Larson. The recent deaths of Mays and Cepeda struck a chord with Minnesotans old enough to remember both played for the Minneapolis Millers. Mays joined the New York Giants in 1951 and Cepeda was a star rookie for the team in 1958, the franchise’s first in San Francisco. Snooty San Franciscans booed the transplanted Mays while adopting Cepeda as their own. The Giants, who came close to relocating to Minneapolis instead of San Francisco, would have been an entertainment phenomenon here—with the adoration starting with former Millers Mays and Cepeda.

Larson, who passed away in June like Mays and Cepeda did, was a home-grown hero. The Minneapolis born Larson captained the 1960 Golden Gophers national football championship team. A three-year letter winner, Larson was an All-Big Ten center in 1960 for his team that tied Iowa for the conference title.

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