NCAA – Page 69 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Twins Ready to Celebrate 1991 Champs

Posted on August 10, 2021 by David Shama

Enjoy a Tuesday notes column:

The Minnesota Twins excel at celebrating their history and that will be evident before Saturday’s home game when the 1991 World Series championship team is honored.

Club president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners this morning that about 30 former players, coaches and front office folks associated with that team will be in attendance.

Dave St. Peter (photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins)

Reunions like these are valued by the Twins not just for the fans but for those who made the World Series championship possible. St. Peter said it’s “the least” the organization can do to honor those who produced one of the franchise’s two world titles (1987 is the other). Attendees are transported and hosted for the weekend at the club’s expense.

The team came off a disappointing 1990 season and wasn’t expected to have a great year in 1991. But there was a core of talent led by Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek. Prior to the season GM Andy MacPhail and manager Tom Kelly (both of whom will be part of the 30th anniversary celebration this weekend) sorted through options to improve the club. They hit the jackpot in acquiring pitcher Jack Morris and the productive bat of Chili Davis. Both were huge contributors to the 1991 success during the season and playoffs.

Alumni from the 1991 team will be on radio and TV broadcasts, sharing stories. Bally Sports North will telecast pregame activities honoring the team. The peerless Jim Kaat, a member of the Twins 1965 World Series team, will work the TV games in the booth with Dick Bremer.

After the Minnesota Vikings cut Jeff Gladney last week, the transaction furthered the second-guessing of not drafting former University of Minnesota All-American Antoine Winfield Jr.

In the 2020 NFL Draft the Vikings, in need of cornerbacks, made Gladney a first round selection. Available, though, was Winfield who the Tampa Bay Bucs took in the second round. He played safety for the Bucs last fall and made nearly 100 tackles while showing he was a draft day steal.

Winfield, who turns 23 next week, could have been the successor to 32-year-old Harrison Smith as Minnesota’s premier safety. This season it looks like Smith will be paired at safety with former Dallas Cowboys sixth round pick Xavier Woods who the Vikings signed as a free agent this offseason. Woods, 26, didn’t grade well last year in Dallas.

Since the 2020 draft the Vikings have strengthened their cornerback roster with the acquisition of younger players and vets. That’s happened without Gladney, who was cut from the team after an indictment for felony assault. He hadn’t been with the club since April following a rookie season when he struggled with mental errors.

Winfield, who was named to the Pro Football Writers of America NFL All-Rookie Team, had doubters among pro scouts because of his 5-9 height. But his tackling, instinct to track the football in the air and rare ability to make the biggest of plays was on full display with the Gophers. The Vikings often had personnel evaluators at Winfield’s Gopher games at TCF Bank Stadium but didn’t prioritize him enough to take him in the first round.

It’s an unfortunate draft saga for the Vikings who could have selected a legacy home town player. Winfield’s dad, Antoine Winfield Sr., was a Pro Bowl cornerback for the Vikings and a fan favorite. Antoine Jr., beloved by Gophers followers, might have been even more popular here.

The Vikings franchise is worth $3.35 billion. That’s according to the new Forbes.com valuation of NFL franchises. The Vikings, ranked No. 18 in value, were purchased by the current ownership group for $600 million in 2005.

The Vikings practice today at their training camp in Eagan, then host joint practices with the Denver Broncos Wednesday and Thursday. After a players’ day off Friday, the Vikings play the Broncos in a preseason game starting at 3 p.m. Saturday in U.S. Bank Stadium.

Tickets for Saturday’s game are inexpensive on the secondary market, likely available at under $10 per ticket. Actual attendance at the game could be 40,000 to 45,000.

Figure the Vikings at 50/1 odds to win the 2022 Super Bowl.

Fans are welcome at Gophers football practice starting at 7 p.m. Thursday in Huntington Bank Stadium. Attendees are encouraged to donate school supplies and also decorated oars for display inside the stadium.

Looks like Minnesota will be about a 14 point underdog to Ohio State for the September 2 season opener in Minneapolis.

A gambler could probably bet $100 and win $20,000 if coach Ben Johnson’s Minnesota basketball team emerges next spring as NCAA champions.

Wendy Blackshaw, who leads the Minnesota Sports and Events organization, and husband John Blackshaw, are the latest “Behind the Game” guests of co-hosts Patrick Klinger and Bill Robertson. John is president of the Bloomington-based Tunheim public relations and public affairs agency. The program is available for viewing on the “Behind the Game” YouTube Channel and via cable access throughout the state.

The newly launched College Football Players Association is a national organization with Minnesota ties. Executive director Jason Stahl is a former faculty member at the University of Minnesota. Three of the seven advisory board members have Minnesota connections: former Gopher football players Gaelin Elmore and Pete Najarian; and ex-University of Minnesota regent Michael Hsu.

One advisory board member is anonymous on the organization’s website because he is a college football player. The CFBPA allows players, whether on the advisory board or paying members of the organization, to have the option of keeping their names private.

The CFBPA is an advocacy organization for current and past college football players. The following is the stated mission on its website: “The CFBPA will engage in nationwide advocacy for the rights of college football players and be dedicated to their health, safety and welfare. The CFBPA will make sure that college football players everywhere are finally organized to have a collective voice in the decision making within their sport.”

The organization allows others to pay the $24 membership fee for players and is having a membership drive targeting donors this month. As of late last week Hsu said there were less than 100 players who are members, but he expects substantial growth. The organization is interested in surveying college football players about many topics including the name, image and likeness issue, and expansion of Power Five Conferences. “There’s no doubt it (CFBPA) can work,” Hsu said.

The CFBPA is not a union and presently unions are not in play for college athletes because of legal precedent. Hsu said none of the CFBPA leadership is paid including Stahl.

Minnesota United CEO Chris Wright will leave his position after the season and his successor will be introduced to the media this afternoon (Tuesday).

Sports trivia enthusiast Bob Klas Jr. reminds friends Jim Thorpe was among the best Olympians ever. The gifted Thorpe excelled in several sports including track and field, and football—and won the 1912 intercollegiate ballroom dancing championship!

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U Deserves More ‘Love’ from Media

Posted on August 8, 2021August 9, 2021 by David Shama

Most media authorities are respectful but not excited about the season ahead for the Golden Gophers. Wisconsin, Iowa and Northwestern are consistently predicted to finish ahead of Minnesota in the Big Ten West. Top 25 national rankings? Not for the Gophers.

Minnesota, though, is positioned to surprise. The Gophers can match or exceed most Big Ten rivals in the number of returning starters. If quarterback is the most important position in college football, the Gophers boast Tanner Morgan now in his fifth year with the program. Offensive and defensive lines also determine outcomes of games and Minnesota’s lines have experience and depth. The Gophers also have one of the nation’s best running backs in Mohamed Ibrahim.

The Gophers have prove-it positions like wide receiver and linebacker to answer but coach P.J. Fleck’s team has the look of a surprise West Division champion. After an 11-2 season in 2019, Minnesota fell back to 3-4 in the year (2020) of COVID. That record and Minnesota’s defensive woes in the early part of the schedule have impacted predictions of media reps from newspapers, magazines and online.

But that was last year, a season in which the Gophers lost two games by a total of four points and saw the defense improve in November and December. Minnesota, with minimal spring and fall practice time and trying to replace defensive stars from the 2019 team, struggled for awhile last year but got better under the direction of its talented defensive coordinator, Joe Rossi.

Rossi has a line that has added transfer Nyles Pinckney from Clemson and Val Martin from North Carolina State. Boye Mafe, a gifted pass rusher, is a potential All-Big Ten defensive end. The other defensive end, Esezi Otomeow, is a sleeper talent who could do big things. There are several other d-linemen who can play and collectively give the Gophers a steady rotation to keep fresh players on the field.

Based on spring practice Morgan acknowledged the defensive line improvement. “There’s a lot of guys that can make a lot of plays,” he said.

Fleck and his players believe they can beat anyone on their schedule, including Big Ten bully Ohio State with its many gifted players. Because of Minnesota’s talent and experience, Fleck said the program has a “players-led team.” Veteran receiver Chris-Autman Bell describes the Gophers as “super connected.” Mafe said that because of COVID last year it was difficult to bond, but the “chemistry” is much better now.

The coaches and players have stuck together during difficult times. Minnesota’s number of players transferring out of the program ranks among the lowest in the Big Ten during 2020 and 2021, despite the social unrest in the city and other parts of the country. The coaching staff has also remained stable.

“I think one of the big words for this team on the field (in 2021) is consistency and how we play,” Fleck said. “Last year I didn’t think we played consistent enough for a lot of reasons, starting with me.”

In 2020 Minnesota’s inexperience on defense and special teams was problematic. COVID limited practice time and preparation, and sometimes there was unexpected confusion on the field. For the Nebraska game, the Gophers had more than 30 players missing because of COVID but still won the game. This fall the pandemic could be less impactful and Minnesota will take the field with more experience including on special teams where two transfers with prior college success plan to make the field goal and extra point production considerably better. “We know we’re going to have to win really close games,” Fleck said.

The Gophers intend to do just that, with Morgan noting internal expectations for the season are far more optimistic than those of media authorities.

Worth Noting

Last week Fleck acknowledged past recruiting misjudgments. Although he didn’t name units, presumably the transfers from other programs last offseason were corrective moves in the defensive line, linebacker and kicker units. He remains committed to building his program with players just out of high school.

Gopher transfers include Martin, Pinckney, linebacker Jack Gibbens (Abilene Christian) and kickers Will Mobley (Temple) and Matthew Trickett (Kent State).

Newcomer of the year in Dinkytown? Defensive tackle Pinckney was a captain at Clemson and is likely determined to have a breakout final college season to position himself for the NFL Draft. Another candidate is true freshman cornerback Justin Walley, who impressed in the spring after early enrollment at the U and following a prep career where he was named Mississippi Mr. Football.

In a state long known for its successful businesses, name, image and likeness compensation for college athletes has the potential to be a positive for the Gophers. Coaches, though, can’t orchestrate paying of players because of NCAA policy and it will require leaders in the business community to show interest in compensating Gophers for their NIL.

For now it sounds like whatever NIL money comes to the Gophers, will be spread around. Ibrahim, who could be a Heisman Trophy candidate this fall, is committed to sharing. “…Any money that’s coming in is definitely going to get split with my five, six, seven, eight offensive linemen,” he said.

Speculation, including from a Sports Headliners source, is North Dakota State wants to join a soon to be revamped Big 12 Conference after the defections of Oklahoma and Texas. Jumping from FCS to a Power Five Conference will be a reality check for the football Bison who have built much of their success with rosters filled with Minnesotans.

Happy 85th birthday today to former Gopher quarterback and assistant coach Dick Larson. The charismatic Minneapolis native remains active in the work place running Integrity Wealth Management in St. Paul.

Herb Brooks, who tragically died in an auto accident August 11, 2003, would have been 84 last Thursday. The legendary former Gophers and Olympic hockey coach is still missed by countless friends and admirers. A master coach and a person of the highest character.

Former Gophers wide receiver Adam Mayer is working for Palo Alto-based Archer, and is recruiting and hiring engineers for flight, aeronautics and computer systems. Dad Barry Mayer was a starting running back on Gopher teams in the late 1960s.

The reservation deadline is Monday for the Football Hall of Fame Banquet coming up this Friday at the DoubleTree Hotel in St. Louis Park. The event is sponsored by the Minnesota Football Coaches Association and tickets can be ordered via www.mnfootballcoaches.com

Hall of Fame Inductees from the high school division are: Bill D. Bailey, Starbuck; Richard Robinson, Minneapolis North and Karl Deis, Mora. College Division inductees are: Mike Plinske, Bethel University and Terry Horan, Concordia College.

Butch Nash Assistant Coach Award winners for 2020 are: Jeff Boonstra, NLS; Joe Coenen, Chanhassen; Todd Hamer, Lakeville North; Mark Harris, Stillwater; Kevin Hulke, Minnesota Valley Lutheran; Gregory Johnson, Verndale; John Kyvig, Andover; Matthew Nelson, Kasson-Mantorville; Daniel Svoboda, GSL; Andrew Stephenson, Spring Lake Park; Michael Wenninger, Luverne.

Several other award winners will be announced Friday including the State Coach of the Year.

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Berrios Trade May Help Keep Buxton

Posted on August 1, 2021 by David Shama

The Twins made a significant payroll dump Friday, trading away starting pitchers Jose Berrios and JA Happ. Their 2021 salaries are $4,142,980 and $5,204,285, per MLB payroll authority Spotrac.com.

Happ, 38, had a questionable future with the club but the 27-year-old Berrios was a foundational talent if he was willing to stay in Minnesota beyond the 2022 season. Front office executives Derek Falvey and Thad Levine decided the uncertainty of signing Berrios to a long-term deal starting with the 2023 season wasn’t worth losing the opportunity to acquire two of the Toronto Blue Jays’ best prospects.

After the 2022 season Berrios, who was Minnesota’s best starter, is on track to command a contract over $100 million. Before the trade, Falvey and Levine faced the prospect of Berrios and center fielder Byron Buxton both having new deals in 2023 for more than $100 million each, plus incentives to earn more.

Buxton, also 27, reportedly is more amenable to staying with the Twins after team control ends following the 2022 season. Although the oft-injured Buxton goes through stretches where he is sidelined more than being in the lineup, he has flashed superstar potential with his hitting, fielding and running the bases. The Twins are in a historically difficult place with the Buxton negotiations, trapped between his career history of physical woes but tantalized by performances that draw comparisons to baseball’s best player, Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels.

Two years ago New York Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks, a former Twin, signed a reported seven-year $70 million deal. Hicks is a poor man’s Buxton. The Twins will try to lock up Buxton with a deal that includes incentives for playing in a certain number of games, or plate appearances. That could be a hang-up with Buxton and his advisors who are positioned to ask for sizeable guaranteed money—perhaps five-years, $110 million.

Negotiations will happen during the offseason with Buxton. He earns $5,125,000 this season, per Spotrac.com. That payroll authority also lists the $7,897,884 salary of DH Nelson Cruz, who was recently traded to the Tampa Bay Rays. If the Twins brought back Berrios, Cruz and Happ in 2022, on similar deals as this season, that totals about $17 million.

In the next offseason the team is likely to part with 31-year-old shortstop Andrelton Simmons who has a one-year deal at $10,500,000. Starting pitcher Michael Pineda, 32, makes $10 million this season but with unrestricted free agent status in the offseason he might be another payroll savings. Reliever Alex Colome, a first-year bust with Minnesota, is making $5 million in 2021 and unlikely to return. Other Twins like Max Kepler (due $6,750,000 in 2022, per Spotrac) could be expendable. The grand prize of payroll reduction is if the Twins find another franchise willing to take on third baseman Josh Donaldson’s deal paying him $21 million next year.

The point is the Twins, historically careful with high salaries, are potentially looking at a much reduced payroll the next couple years and they now may feel more comfortable about offering Buxton a new contract he will sign. Whether Buxton is worth a mega-deal to a franchise that fans are worried is headed for reset mode in 2022 and beyond is another question. Certainly securing Buxton for years to come will help the organization’s image and ticket sales. But Buxton and a ho-hum supporting cast won’t produce championships. Trout’s Angels have been mediocre for a long time and can only dream of playing in the World Series.

It takes a roster of high performers to win championships and no team goes deep into October without pitching. Falvey and Levine substantiated that need in their flurry of trades late last week when six of the seven new players acquired were pitchers.

Worth Noting

Austin Martin, 22, the infielder-outfielder acquired from Toronto in the Berrios deal, could be Buxton’s successor in center field if the veteran leaves Minnesota either by trade or free agency. Martin has been ranked the Jays’ second best prospect and 16th overall in baseball, per Mlb.com.

Joe Ryan, acquired this summer from the Rays for Cruz, is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA as a starting pitcher for Team USA in the Olympics. The Americans have now advanced into the medal round.

Best player from the Twins organization ever to play for the U.S. in the Olympics? Jacque Jones, 1996.

Condolences to family and friends of Tom Duffy of Minneapolis, who passed away in late July. Retired from IBM, Tom was the second person Hollis Cavner hired to help run the 3M Championship Tournament in 1992. Tom told Cavner he would work for one year in sales and marketing, but stayed for 19.

Cavner said he learned a lot from Tom including how to deal with people. “He is one of the finest gentlemen I ever met in my life,” Cavner said.

Expectations are Cavner’s 2021 3M Open Tournament will gift a minimum of $1.5 million to charity. The figure is in line with previous years.

Next year’s 3M Open will be July 18-24 and again following the British Open. Cavner likes that positioning and hopes for it indefinitely because he sees top players wanting to play here, and then taking a break for the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Big Ten men’s basketball coaches like to brag on their league but the players aren’t doing much to captivate NBA scouts. In the last two NBA drafts only two conference players have been selected in the first round, Maryland’s Jalen Smith in 2020 and Michigan’s Franz Wagner in 2021.

No Big Ten team has won an NCAA title since Michigan State in 2000.

Congratulations to Edina resident and prominent Minnesota businessman Ron Leafblad on his upcoming induction September 10 into the University of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame. Leafblad was a tight end on the 1963 UW Rose Bowl team and captained the 1964 squad. The Chicago-area native has been an exemplary supporter of UW through the years including with the school’s alumni association and letter winners club. He was a student representative of the Athletic Board while in school. He and his wife Diane have generously donated funds to assist academics, football and alumni efforts at UW.

Leafblad is the owner of a diverse group of companies whose products range from retail apparel to corporate uniforms, and from website development and fulfillment to precision parts for the computer and medical equipment industries. His Gold Country business has for several years been part of the Sports Headliners group of advertisers.

Scheels in Eden Prairie has been promoting an appearance today by University of Minnesota football coach P.J. Fleck. A $50 ticket at the meet and greet includes an autographed copy of his new book, Row the Boat, with proceeds benefiting the U Masonic Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House.

Former Minnesota North Stars Neal Broten and Mike Modano have scheduled signings at Scheels Eden Prairie August 14 and 21.

It looks like WCCO Radio’s Sports Huddle, the much listened to Sunday show that started in 1981 and aired through early 2020, won’t be returning to the air.

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