NCAA – Page 42 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Grass Field Likely X-Factor for Vikings

Posted on January 6, 2023January 6, 2023 by David Shama

The Soldier Field playing surface will be a focus Sunday in Chicago where the Vikings will try to not only win and improve their playoff seeding against the 3-13 Bears but avoid injuries to key players and ensure their availability in the postseason.

The safety of the natural grass surface was harshly criticized in August by the president of the National Football League Players Association. Then shortly before the season began new sod was installed, switching from Kentucky blue grass to Bermuda grass.

The Vikings are more than aware they’re likely to be playing on a slippery surface Sunday at the multipurpose stadium owned by the Chicago Park District. When players can’t maintain their balance, they’re even more vulnerable to injury in the violent game of football. “Yeah, 100 percent,” said T.J. Hockenson.

With new sod and months of use in varying weather conditions, the Vikings’ tight end anticipates a “pretty bad” playing surface Sunday when he and other starters hope to avoid misfortune. Does he consider the field dangerous?

“You just never know,” Hockenson said. “I think it probably could be dangerous if you look at it that way. You just have to make sure you’ve got your feet under you and you’re ready to go.”

Vikings’ wide receiver Adam Thielen said pregame field conditions can be deceiving, with things changing once the game starts. “I think it’s just going to have to be something (Sunday) where you just have to figure it out on the fly.”

The Vikings played on a natural surface last Sunday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay and had difficulty with their footing. “Yeah, for sure,” Hockenson said. “The grass in Lambeau wasn’t very good. It was fine in warmups and then once we got out there (to start the game) it was not good at all. It was just a learning experience for everybody and we’ll be ready to go this week.”

Many Vikings are expected to wear shoes with extra cleats at Soldier Field. A shoe with seven cleats provides extra bite into the grass. Thielen made the switch during the Green Bay game. “…It was perfect and once I put those bad boys on, it felt great.”

Worth Noting

Kevin O’Connell photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

Kevin O’Connell is a rookie head coach as he prepares to lead his Vikings into the playoffs. But lessons learned about a year ago as Rams offensive coordinator, when that team delivered a Super Bowl win, should be helpful.

Minnesota offensive coordinator Wes Phillips also had a valuable experience with the Rams while serving as the team’s passing game coordinator/tight ends coach. Viking quarterbacks coach Chris O’Hara was an offensive assistant with the Rams during their big season.

The 12-4 Vikings are 2-2 in their last four games and have an opportunity to win their first NFC North Division road game of the season on Sunday in Chicago. The January 8 regular season game is the latest in franchise history.

The Bears lead the NFL in rushing yards per game at 181. The Bears were held to 88 yards rushing when Minnesota defeated Chicago 29-22 earlier in the season. The Vikings rank No. 20 in rushing yards given up.

A coaching authority and Sports Headliners reader suggested the 3-4 base defense adopted by the Vikings this season is vulnerable to outside runs because defenders more easily lose containment.

O’Connell, talking recently about his rookie defensive lineman and former Gopher Esezi Otomewo: “His energy and athleticism shows up. He’s flying around out there, has shown to be incredibly coachable for a young player as he gets more and more snaps.”

Ryan Connelly, the Vikings’ practice squad linebacker who played at Eden Prairie High School, will be a free agent later this year. He told Sports Headliners going to the Canadian Football League to play doesn’t interest him. His salary is $317,000 this season, per Overthecap.com.

It just could be the injuries situation for the football Gophers coming out of their bowl win over Syracuse is worse than reported.

Former Gophers football coach Jerry Kill has agreed to a contract that keeps him with New Mexico State through 2027.

Former Twin Nelson Cruz, 42, had eye surgery this offseason and is on the market as a free agent. He hit .294 for the Twins in 2021 but .234 for the Nationals last season.

Probably no Twins interest in Cruz, but the front office is known to sign veteran pitchers. Right hander Zack Greinke, 39, is available after pitching 137 innings last season for the Royals with a 3.68 ERA.

Classy Barry Fritz, the only crew supervisor of off-ice officials the Wild has ever had, will retire after this season. Fritz, who turns 77 in February, has never missed a home game while overseeing statistics and press box responsibilities of the support personnel. He also worked for many years as a Twins official scorer.

Former Wild executive Bill Robertson, now commissioner of the USHL, hired Fritz in 1999. “Mr. Barry Fritz is one of the most organized and detailed people I have ever worked with and always does it with a smile on his face,” Robertson wrote via email. “He has a can-do attitude every day at the rink or ballpark. He was so easy to work with on every level and always looked out for his support crew.”

There’s talk the NCAA may expand “March Madness” from 68 to 90 teams. If so, most of the Big Ten teams will be in the tournament.

Star Tribune columnists Patrick Reusse and Chip Scoggins speak to the Capital Club January 18 starting about 7:30 a.m. at Mendakota Country Club. The two collaborated on the recent book Tales from the Minnesota Sports Beat: A Lifetime on Deadline. More information about the club is available from Patrick Klinger, patrick@agilemarketingco.com

Boys basketball high school coaching legend and community leader Larry McKenzie speaks to the CORES lunch group January 12 at the Bloomington Event Center. McKenzie coached teams at Henry and North to six state tournament titles in 10 appearances. For reservations contact Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net. CORES is an acronym for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans.

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Gophers Hit Their Numbers in Bowl Win

Posted on December 30, 2022December 30, 2022 by David Shama

The Gophers, finishing their year with a 9-4 record, hit the right numbers yesterday in a 28-20 win over Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl in New York. Here are figures worth remembering, and praise for a Gopher never to be forgotten:

Minnesota won its sixth consecutive bowl game dating back to 2015. That’s not only a school record but sets an all-time Big Ten Conference mark, eclipsing a record the Gophers had shared with Wisconsin (2014-2018) at five consecutive bowl wins.

The Gophers have won nine games or more in each of the last three full seasons (not counting the pandemic season of 2020). The last time Minnesota accomplished that was in the early 1900s.

All-American tailback Mo Ibrahim set school records yesterday for most rushing yards in a season and career. He did so by gaining 71 yards in the first half, then sat out the second while resting an ankle that has troubled him this year. Ibrahim also set a new single season record for the Gophers with 20 touchdowns, getting Minnesota’s first score yesterday with a four-yard power (what else) run.

Running backs coach Kenni Burns, interviewed on the KFAN Radio pregame show yesterday, said working with Ibrahim was “probably the biggest joy” of his life. Burns recalled that over six years Ibrahim had to develop confidence and his skills, but the coach could see the potential and told the Baltimore native he had a chance to be the greatest runner ever at Minnesota. “I am determined to be,” Ibrahim answered, according to Burns.

Ibrahim, 24, will take on the challenge of making an NFL roster next year. He also has interest in a coaching career. Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck, who has never seen a better runner from the line of scrimmage to 12 yards out, said he “looks forward” to hiring the former three-star recruit who through ability and grit willed himself to a great career, while earning the love of his coaches and teammates.

After the game Minnesota QB Tanner Morgan made a request to athletic director Mark Coyle and school president Joan Gabel. “I think his number (24) should be retired tomorrow.”

With an awful playing field at Yankee Stadium, it may well have been best Ibrahim didn’t play in the second half. Chunks of loose grass were prevalent on the hard field, famous as home to the 27 times World Series champion Yankees. Players on both sides were losing their footing through much of the game and field conditions worsened in the second half.

Syracuse, 7-6 after its bowl loss, had the better of the game statistics but not the final score because the Gophers made two big plays in the second half. Leading 14-10 in the third quarter true freshman safety Coleman Bryson, playing for the injured Tyler Nubin, intercepted a Syracuse pass and ran 70 yards for a touchdown. Bryson was named MVP of the Pinstripe Bowl.

Later in the third, Syracuse kicked off after the Orange had booted a 38-yard field goal to make the score 21-13. Minnesota return man Quentin Redding caught the ball, faked a pitch to Le’Meke Brockington and then ran 72 yards to the Syracuse 25. Soon after Gopher wide receiver Daniel Jackson caught his second touchdown pass of the day from Morgan, another sixth-year player and a leader who goes out as the winningest QB in school history.

The Orange had 477 yards in total offense, Minnesota 215. Syracuse passed for 330 yards, while the Gophers had 138. The Orange, who out first-downed Minnesota 27-13, rushed for 65 yards more than Minnesota. The Gophers, though, got the numbers they wanted including a win by eight points.

BTW in Minnesota’s last 24 away games Fleck’s teams are 18-6 (.750), including the four bowl wins. That is the best 24-game stretch away from home in program history (began with a 37-15 win at Wisconsin on November 24, 2018). Since then, the only Big Ten team with more wins or a higher win percentage away from home is Ohio State at 21-3 (.875).

Praise for New Twins Executive Chair

The Twins have a new leader in Joe Pohlad, who has succeeded his uncle, Jim Pohlad, as executive chair. For many years Joe, 40, has worked in various business positions for the Twins.

“…I think he’s a great fan of the organization and what it means to the Upper Midwest,” a source who is familiar with the Twins told Sports Headliners while speaking anonymously.

Joe is officing at Target Field, while Jim works nearby in a downtown building. Derek Falvey, the organization’s chief baseball officer, said his access to Jim was there when needed, “But now Joe, just being in the building, gives us a little more efficiency.”

The anonymous source sees Joe as a cooperative voice in the front office. It’s expected Joe will allow the baseball leaders to do their jobs, without being meddlesome. ”…I think he is very level-headed,” the source said. “Nobody I ever dealt with (among) the Pohlads…none of them were volatile. They were always very even keeled, very levelheaded guys, and Joe is the same way. Cut from the same cloth.”

Falvey said Jim and Joe were among the first people he met when the Twins were courting him to become the team’s baseball leader in 2016. That initial friendship with both men continues to this day.

The Pohlad family, including Jim’s brothers Bob and Bill, have made a strong impression on Falvey. He has learned they care a lot about the legacy of the Twins in the Upper Midwest, and the vitality of downtown Minneapolis. They have invested considerable resources in both without seeking recognition.

“They just want to be a part of the community,” Falvey said. “They’re so humble.”

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Big Names Chasing U 4-Star RB Commit

Posted on December 20, 2022December 20, 2022 by David Shama

In less than 24 hours the frenzy of National Signing Day for football players will be happening. The Golden Gophers have 20 verbal commitments from high school football players (per 247Sports) and they can’t be sure all will “row the boat” until signing their National Letters of Intent.

Among players worth fretting about today is four-star running back Darius Taylor from Walled Lake, Michigan. He committed verbally to Minnesota last spring but he’s receiving last minute pressure to flip his commitment.

Ryan Burns, the recruiting authority aligned with GopherIllustrated and 247Sports, told Sports Headliners this is a “whirlwind” time for Taylor who could be the successor to Minnesota All-American tailback Mo Ibrahim next fall. Gophers’ running backs coach Kenni Burns was instrumental in recruiting Taylor but he has departed for the head coaching job at Kent State. Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa have been pushing for Taylor to decommit. In the last week Notre Dame has been in pursuit, too.

Burns said Gophers coaches, including P.J. Fleck, saw Taylor several days ago and indications are Taylor will keep his commitment. But big brands are chasing Taylor who is known for his power and balance (like Ibrahim). “So, if Minnesota is able to hold on to Darius Taylor over Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan that it’d be a heck of a get for Minnesota,” Burns said.

The 247Sports national composite team rankings today have Minnesota at No. 39. The Gophers’ recruiting classes typically have a final ranking in the high 30s or in the 40s. That’s not flashy but is characteristic of developmental programs that usually have only a couple of four-star recruits at best and usually no five-stars.

Fleck, hired in January of 2017, has found talent mostly in three-star players. This year’s team has two All-Americans in former three-star recruits Ibrahim and center John Michael Schmitz. Other programs in the Big Ten West, including Iowa, also follow the developing talent model and sometimes with great success.

Burns said recruits who prioritize money won’t be choosing Minnesota. Name, Image and Likeness compensation is being offered at some programs as part of the inducement process. “…Minnesota is a school that will not promise NIL up front,” Burns said. “It’s just not the way they’re going to do it. No. 1, it’s not legal. No. 2 (the) compliance (department) here at the University of Minnesota would never allow that.”

As for the Gophers ranking at No. 39, Burns has an optimistic take. “I think there’s more ceiling in this class than maybe the rankings would dictate,” he said.

To illustrate the point Burns talked about Greg Johnson who 247 ranks a four-star in its evaluation but when factoring in other recruiting outlets gives the Prior Lake lineman a composite three-star ranking. “I think he’s the best offensive line prospect since Joe Alt to come out of this state (two years ago). I mean I think the world of him. …I can see him being a multi-year starter for Minnesota, being an All-Big Ten type of guy that becomes drafted. I am very bullish on him.”

Burns is “bullish” too about safety Garrison Monroe from Shakopee. Seventeen Minnesota verbal commits have higher composite evaluations than Monroe, a three-star athlete with good length and speed. “…He’s someone I just banged the table for at 247Sports, and now at 247 he’s the No. 4 prospect in the state,” Burns said.

When Burns spoke to Sports Headliners Monday morning, Decatur, Georgia wide receiver Kenric Lanier was one of three potential recruits he thought might verbally commit before Signing Day. Later in the day 247 announced Lanier, a three-star who will play in the Army All-American Bowl in January, has flipped his Vanderbilt commitment for Minnesota after visiting the Gophers last weekend.

Burns said two others to watch are Iowa native Asa Newsom and Ohio prep Phillip Daniels. Newsom is a linebacker and Burns said the “Hawkeyes want him tremendously bad.” Daniels decommitted from Pitt awhile ago and is coveted by highly regarded Minnesota offensive line coach Brian Callahan (had five Gophers in the last two seasons who earned Big Ten recognition).

Verbally committing yesterday, too, was three-star wide receiver TJ McWilliams from Indianapolis. He flipped his commitment from Purdue where the Boilers have lost offensive guru head coach Jeff Brohm.

The 2023 Gophers’ recruiting class also includes players from the transfer portal who Burns believes will help fill defensive and receiver needs. “I really like this transfer portal class,” he said.

Committing yesterday was former North Carolina defensive end Chris Collins who could give the pass rush a boost and certainly adds depth. Two other transfer players on defense are Jack Henderson from Southeastern Louisiana and Ryan Selig from Western Michigan. When Michael Dixon transferred from Minnesota after the season, that left a hole at safety that Henderson could fill. Burns said Henderson was the highest graded player for three years in the Southland Conference, per Pro Football Focus. Selig will compete to replace graduating middle linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin.

The Gophers have placed an emphasis on receivers, with commitments from three high school players and two transfers. The most immediate help is likely to come from transfers Corey Crooms and Elijah Spencer. Burns expects Crooms, from Western Michigan, to make an impact as a slot receiver who will be a threat on deep patterns and across the field. Spencer, from Charlotte, was the 2021 Conference USA Freshman of the Year, and his presence on the outside will create a competitive situation for playing time with Gopher returnees.

Burns said the influx of receivers “speaks volumes” about Minnesota’s intention to pass the ball more and with more success than in the past under Fleck. Those incoming receivers in the class of 2023 join Chris Autman-Bell, Dylan Wright, Daniel Jackson and possibly tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford if he decides to play another season at Minnesota. It’s expected Minnesota will still be a run-focused offense next season—led by talented quarterback Nathan Kaliakmanis—but considerably more balanced than in the past.

“There is no more excuse for you not to throw the football if you’re P.J.Fleck,” Burns said. “You have as much talent as you’ve had since that 2019 season (star wide receivers Rashod Bateman and Tyler Johnson).”

Burns believes the Gophers might not be done with adding transfers. Additional players could include a cornerback, and offensive and defensive linemen.

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