Preps – Page 11 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Debuts: Sam Darnold Gets the ‘W,’ Kirk Cousins the Loss

Posted on September 8, 2024September 9, 2024 by David Shama

Who needs Kirk Cousins?

In homes and taverns around the state, that could be the sentiment of Vikings fans tonight as they chant “Skol” after a dominating 28-6 win on the road over the Giants. In weekend one of the NFL season, new Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold completed 19 of 24 passes including two touchdown passes in a surprisingly easy win for Minnesota who entered the game about a 1.5-point favorite.

Darnold, who the Vikings signed as a free agent in the off-season, was smoking from the beginning. The grandson of former Marlboro man Dick Hammer, Darnold completed his first 12 passes in the game that celebrated 100 seasons of Giants football. He was 13 of 14 at halftime, with 151 yards.

Cousins, who after six seasons in Minnesota as the starting quarterback decided the Atlanta Falcons offered too many bucks to remain with the Purple, had a disappointing debut against the Steelers. The 36-year-old Cousins completed 16 of 26 passes for 155 yards and threw a touchdown pass but had two interceptions in a 18-10 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Darnold looked like a different quarterback today than he has been for much of his NFL career that includes three initial seasons in the league with the Jets where 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 San Francisco 49ers.

Kevin O’Connell image courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

But Darnold, 27, was around offensive guru and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan a year ago and now plays for another quarterback whisperer in Viking boss Kevin O’Connell. He has added football savvy to go with his physical tools that include a quick release and strong arm.

“I am really proud of him,” O’Connell said at his postgame press conference heard on KFXN-FM in Minneapolis.

The Vikings were predicted to have quarterback issues without Cousins and minus first round pick J.J. McCarthy who was injured in the first preseason game and is out for the season. But those same predictors who said earlier in the summer the Vikings won’t make the playoffs, got a surprise today when the Vikings played a complete game.

Led by new running back Aaron Jones, the offense was balanced with 111 rushing yards complementing the work of Darnold and receivers Justin Jefferson and Jalen Nailor who both had TD receptions. Jones, who also scored a touchdown, showed his breakaway speed and toughness, rushing for 94 yards.

Defensively, the Vikings made the boos rain down from the stands much of the game at MetLife Stadium. Coordinator Brian Flores’ defense confused the Giants, and his players came up with five sacks and two interceptions.

One of those sacks came from rookie edge rusher Dallas Turner, a Vikings first round pick last April. He’s among the top favorites for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Regarding that possible honor, Turner said on Friday: “You know, it’s definitely a blessing and an honor, but you know at the end of the day I still have to play football and perform. That journey starts next week. The play is going to speak for itself.”

His sack spoke loudly and even more so was the 10-yard interception for a third quarter touchdown by linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel that put Minnesota ahead 28-6. Veteran safety Harrison Smith had the other INT.

At his postgame presser, O’Connell said his players weren’t surprised with their dominant win. Maybe not, but a lot of fans who bleed purple certainly were.

Worth Noting

The Vikings are offering three fan packages for their October 6 game in London against the Jets. Per person costs range from $1,145 to $4,095. https://onlocationexp.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings-london?utm_source=vikings.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=isg_london_teams-vikings_news_article_press_release_priority_access

Kaden Johnson, the former Minnehaha Academy star who started his college career at Wisconsin, is a fifth-year edge rusher for the Nevada team that plays at Minnesota Saturday. A coveted recruit coming out of high school, Johnson has two solo tackles and nine assisted for the Wolf Pack who are 1-2 on the season, with a 28-26 win over Troy and losses to SMU, 29-24, and Georgia State, 20-17.

The Wolf Pack receive $1.2 million from the Gophers for playing in Minneapolis.

Dick Jonckowski, who turns 81 on October 22, reports he’s still cancer free from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after about 18 months. Over the years Jonckowski has been a fixture with public address work for amateur baseball and on September 21 he will be inducted into the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Cloud at the River’s Edge Convention Center. It’s the 10^th hall of fame for the “Polish Eagle” who has endeared himself to Minnesotans over the years for his emcee, public address and radio broadcast work in amateur sports including with the Gophers.

Baseball Hall of Famer and former Twins left-handed pitcher Jim Kaat texting about his golf game: “I don’t keep a handicap anymore. I just play for recreation. My goal is to beat my age, 85, every round.”

Kaat, one of the best TV baseball analysts ever, plays ambidextrously. “I do play a little each way. Lefty is a little better.”

Gabriel Gonzalez, acquired in the 2024 Twins trade sending Jorge Polanco to the Mariners, is the Minor League Player of the Week playing for High-A affiliate Cedar Rapids. The Venezuelan outfielder hit .350 in five games. That’s about 100 higher than his season average for the Kernels.

Ari Peterson, the daughter of former Vikings superstar Adrian Peterson, is enrolled at Minnetonka High School as a freshman. The 6-foot-2 Peterson helped Providence Academy to state Class 2A titles the last two years playing with Maddyn Greenway, daughter of former Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway.

Brian Cosgriff, coach of the defending state champion 4A Minnetonka girls’ team, wants the gifted Peterson to play “positionless basketball.” He told Sports Headliners that Peterson, who has offers from the Gophers, Oklahoma and Ohio State, can be the “best” basketball player in the state when she is a high school senior.

The Skippers have three returning starters, but lost a fourth when prep superstar Aaliyah Crump, among the most coveted players by colleges in the country, decided to play her senior season at Montverde Academy, a private prep school in Montverde, Florida.

Former Vikings defensive end Jared Allen, a member of the franchise’s Ring of Honor, will be the celebrity speaker Saturday night at the Morrie Miller Athletic Foundation Banquet in Winona. He will play golf the next day at the Cedar Valley Golf Course in Winona. Past celebrity speakers include Brett Favre, Joe Montana, Mike Ditka, Bart Starr and Bud Grant. The foundation’s purpose is to benefit youth athletics in Winona.

Steve Erban’s Creative Charters has added the 2025 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in February to the list of travel destinations that includes Gopher football games and more. Son Bryce Erban will be showing his champion Airedale.

WCCO TV sports director Mike Max leads a panel discussion with Gopher basketball coaches Ben Johnson and Dawn Plitzuweit, and Dinkytown Athletes president Derek Burns, at the Twin Cities Dunkers program September 24.

Comments Welcome

Making the Case for Trading Viking WR Jordan Addison

Posted on August 27, 2024August 27, 2024 by David Shama

It’s interesting to consider the Vikings could trade second-year star wide receiver Jordan Addison.

Multiple factors make a trade plausible. The Vikings appear deep in wide receivers starting with 25-year-old superstar Justin Jefferson and moving through other players who impressed during training camp.

The list includes Jalen Nailor, “Speedy,” who lived up to his nickname in three preseason games as Minnesota went 3-0. Nailor, 25, caught four passes for 94 yards, an average per reception of 23.5 yards.

When the Vikings trim their roster to 53 today, the club could list three other wide receivers including Trishton Jackson, 26, who caught touchdown passes in all three preseason games—tops in the NFL. He totaled nine receptions for 154 yards in the games.

Brandon Powell, 28, is small at 5-8, 181 pounds but he is a physical player. The Vikings saw his production last year when he received increased playing time with Jefferson sidelined. He started two games, played in all 17 regular season games and caught 29 passes for 324 yards.

Trent Sherfield, 28, is another physical player and the coaches have to love his willingness and skill blocking, traits not all wideouts possess. The 6-1, 210-pound NFL veteran had one touchdown among his seven preseason receptions.

Jordan Addison image courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings need draft choices in 2025 and an early round selection, preferably a first, could come in return for moving on from Addison. Minnesota has three selections for next year, a first-round pick and two fifth rounders. Expected bottom feeders like the Panthers and Patriots need wide receiver talent. It’s possible the Vikings might get creative and be able to make a trade involving Addison that returns a valued player and draft choice. The club could have needs at cornerback and interior offensive line not only this season but next when the Vikings will be well positioned with salary cap space to pursue free agents.

Addison’s two road incidents within 13 months of each other raise “red flags” about his judgment. He was cited for speeding and reckless driving at 140 MPH on Interstate 94 in St. Paul over a year ago. He later pled guilty to a misdemeanor speeding charge, $686 fine and had his license suspended for six months.

Last month Addison was arrested by the California Highway Patrol on suspicion of driving under the influence. His car was reportedly found blocking traffic on I-105 near Los Angeles International Airport while he was asleep in the driver’s seat.

If there is another incident this year or not too long after, that figures to diminish Addison’s trade value. Rather than gamble on future problems, the Vikings might test trade interest in Addison who could miss games this fall because of disciplinary action from the NFL. The Vikings find themselves in a position of apparent strength with their wide receiver corps and have other offensive playmakers including gifted tight end T.J. Hockenson and potential 1,000-yard rusher Aaron Jones.

There seemingly are always other teams willing to take on a talented player who has had off-field issues. Addison produced 70 receptions, 911 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns last season. The Pro Football Writers Association named him to its All-Rookie team.

Addison and Jefferson form one of the best and explosive pass catching duos in the NFL. The Vikings might have an ego issue about trading Addison after having spent a first-round draft selection on him in 2023 and seeing his importance to the team. A former NFL executive with two clubs cautioned Sports Headliners earlier this summer when he said: “The reality is a first-round pick is different. And a first-round pick that plays well like he did last year—and we presume he will this year—it’s just different.”

The NFL trade deadline is November 5. The Vikings have time to work on an Addison trade if they choose to.

Worth Noting

Vikings reserve quarterback Jaren Hall led the NFL in preseason touchdown passes with four. Trey Lance, the Marshall, Minnesota native, led all the quarterbacks with 662 passing yards and topped rushers with 168 yards while playing for the Cowboys.

Dinkytown Athletes, the official Golden Gophers collective, reports for the most recent fiscal year it bettered the goal of 85 percent revenue going to student-athletes. That means an additional $150,000 will be provided to Gopher athletes for name, image and likeness opportunities.

Casey O’Brien, the former Golden Gophers football player who has inspired so many, is battling cancer again. O’Brien, a six-time cancer survivor dating back to age 13 when he was first diagnosed with bone cancer, is pursuing funds to pay for an alternative therapy not covered by insurance. A graduate of the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, he is known for the courage and optimism he has displayed facing his health challenges—a message he has shared in speaking engagements, conversations and fundraising. Now battling cancer in his lung, liver and low back, he has established a GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-casey-obriens-fight-against-cancer

Jim Brunzell reports Kevin Hamm, his friend and former Gopher football teammate in 1969 and 1970, has been battling leukemia for seven months. https://www.caringbridge.org/site/ac4809a5-5805-11ef-9ac3-53c8c09873a4

The Golden Gophers and North Carolina game Thursday night will be seen across the country on Fox. Jason Benetti, a familiar voice from his work on the Big Ten Network, will do play-by-play. Former Washington Huskies quarterback Brock Huard will offer analysis.

This will be the season opener for both teams, with the Gophers likely to be about a two point underdog. The outcome could turn on a couple of things depending on whose new quarterback plays better, and how the defenses contain the star running backs—North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton and Minnesota’s Darius Taylor.

As of Tuesday, tickets remained for the game with Gophersports.com reporting “low availability” in many sections at Huntington Bank Stadium.

My prediction for the Gophers’ season record: 8-5 including another bowl win running their streak to eight in a row.

Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck starts the season as the third fastest coach in Gopher history to win 50 games. Fleck, 50-34, needed 84 games to reach his total while Henry Williams did it in 58 and Bernie Bierman in 67.

North Carolina head coach Mack Brown’s birthday is today, August 27. At 73 he is the only Division I head coach in his 70s.

The Nevada team the Gophers play in their third game of the season opened its schedule last Saturday with a close loss, 27-24, to SMU. Nevada, playing on its home field and nearly a four-touchdown underdog, led 24-13 going into the fourth quarter. Preseason expectations were for Nevada to be among the worst FBS teams in the country.

Coach Dwight Lundeen goes for his 400^th career victory Thursday night when his Becker football team hosts Hill-Murray. After the 2023 season, his record was 399-167-3, ranking second all-time in state prep coaching history, and trailing Verndale’s Mike Mahlen at 432-132-3. Brainerd’s Ron Stolski and Delano’s Merrill Pavlovich, both retired, rank third and fifth respectively on the all-time wins list, with Eden Prairie’s Mike Grant, 388-80, fourth.

As of this morning the Twins’ biggest stars, Royce Lewis, Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton, had missed a total of 177 games. Here’s how it breaks down: Lewis 67 with a right quad strain and 20 with a right adductor strain; Correa 22 with a right intercostal strain and 35 with right plantar fasciitis; Buxton 20 with right knee inflammation and 13 with right hip inflammation.

Yesterday (August 26^th) was the anniversary date of the first no-hitter by a Twins pitcher. In 1962 Jack Kralick threw a near perfect game except for a walk as the Twins defeated the Athletics 1-0 at Metropolitan Stadium

The MIAC Sports Network can be found and installed free at various sources such as Apple TV as well as the web at https://miacsportsnetwork.com/.

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Yes, P.J. Fleck Really is P.J. Fleck

Posted on August 25, 2024August 26, 2024 by David Shama

P.J. Fleck begins his eighth season as head coach of the University of Minnesota football team this week. Everyone who has followed his career at the U will agree he’s unique, but more importantly he has been accepted by more Minnesotans as authentic.

Fleck’s personality and make up, with his enthusiasm, determination, vision and planning, make him stand out even among his peers across the Big Ten and nation. Seemingly never at a loss for words to advocate for his program and players, he’s filled with energy, passion, curiosity and a commitment to teach, coach and help others inside and outside the U. He is also the first to admit his over-the-top style and demand for commitment to his culture isn’t for everyone.

Interestingly, when Fleck was a preschooler, his mother was so concerned about her son’s exuberance she took him to a medical authority to be checked out. The verdict: nothing wrong with the kid who was bouncing off the walls at home—just his nature.

Fleck, 43, has preached his ‘Row the Boat” philosophy from day one at Minnesota. The mantra actually dates back to his prior years at Western Michigan where he coached the Broncos to their first bowl win in program history and in his last season went 13-1, with a final national ranking in the top 20.

“Row the Boat” means no matter how difficult the circumstances, you put oars in the water and keep rowing. The mantra and Fleck’s perspective about never giving up tie back to the death of his son Colt in 2011 who passed away soon after birth from a heart condition. The tragedy inspired the then youngest head coach in FBS to steam ahead in life regardless of the obstacles.

When Minnesota athletic director Mark Coyle sought out a new head coach in January of 2017, he knew he was getting someone that didn’t fit the stereotypical coach in personality and make up. “P.J. is a proven winner and a strong leader,” Coyle said back then. “He’s built a unique, positive culture that gets the best out of his students on the field and in the classroom. His infectious energy and passion make him a terrific coach and dynamic recruiter. I am excited he will be leading the Gophers for years to come.”

Fleck has brought sustainability to the program which is something that characterizes successful programs across the country. His best team in 2019 was 11-2 and finished ranked No. 10 in the final AP poll. The COVID year of 2020 was an outlier for many programs including Minnesota, but since then Fleck’s teams have been 9-4 twice and 6-7 last year.

Brent Salem, a former college coach and son of ex-Minnesota head coach Joe Salem, is impressed with what Fleck has done at a job he considers among the more difficult places to win in the Big Ten. “He is doing it the right way, bringing in kids, recruits, that want to buy in and be part of the program.”

Fleck takes a 360-degrees view on his life and view of his job leading the program. Academically, athletically, socially, spiritually. That’s a core message to his players who have excelled in the classroom and been active in various community causes. “Our program is about two things,” Fleck has said. “Serving and giving.”

Fleck’s dynamo personality, endless energy and constant preaching about culture caused a lot of people to question whether he is genuine. More and more have come to find out who he is, including friends like Cal Simmons, a Minneapolis area insurance executive. The two play golf together at Interlachen Country Club. (BTW, Fleck likes to joke he’s “the perfect member” who pays his dues but seldom plays golf because of his demanding schedule.)

What was Simmons’ initial take about the Gopher coach? “I think like everybody’s first impression it was questioning how much of this is just an act and how much is real? I quickly came to realize that everything he says is what he believes,” Simmons said.

“He walks the talk. He’s committed to his kids. He’s committed to sending young men out into the world so that they can be successful.”

Fleck is a master of not only the big picture but also the details. His players are even schooled in how to properly shake hands. “…You know a lot of these kids have come from kind of tough backgrounds and they leave after four years ready to contribute to the world and it’s because of P.J. Fleck,” Simmons said.

How quickly did Fleck validate to Simmons who he really is? “I think immediately when I started to be around him. He’s unchanged. He’s the same way all the time. He is who he is.

“I’ll play golf with him, and we’ll talk about things. We’ll talk about football maybe a little bit, not a lot. But then I’ll hear a press conference…and he says the same thing to the press that he says to me the day before when we’re playing golf. He doesn’t tell me one thing and mask it over with a different story to the press.”

What is Simmons’ reaction to Fleck’s non-stop energy? “He’s different. His engine runs at a very high level. He’s just wound kind of tight. …I used to play a lot of golf with (former U coach) Lou Holtz. In some ways, the overall personality is somewhat the same. But you know, we’re all different and he is who he is.”

Salem, who lives and works in the metro area and is a Gopher fan, offers this perspective on Fleck’s personality and make up: “The thing I always said was if the recruits like him and the kids (his players) do…that’s all that matters. It doesn’t matter what we think.”

Simmons, a member at Interlachen for 46 years, might receive a call from Fleck at 8.m. asking about playing golf at 10 a.m. Simmons knows he might be second choice after Fleck’s wife Heather, but he doesn’t mind.

Fleck is about a 10 handicap, Simmons a 7. They play competitively against one another, and the better score might be determined with the final putt.

Simmons has seen the coach’s skill and competitiveness on the golf course even if changes in college football have taken away his time on the links. “P.J.’s life changed with NIL and the portal. He used to have much of the second half of May and the month of June off. He would start work again about July 1. With the portal, he doesn’t have any time off. The portal just completely shot his month of June this year. …”

The time demands that come with being a head coach in college football are over the top. Unless you’re an insider or at least on the fringe of the job, you can’t have much grasp of what Fleck’s life is like. The schedule is virtually non-stop with his administrative duties, coaching, recruiting and travelling, and engaging with players, parents, the public and media.

But there are non-negotiables with his time, including taking care of his well-being. It’s a must-do to remain physically fit and Fleck’s Thursdays include meeting with a confidant to discuss what’s on his mind. There is also a weekly date night with Heather.

When Fleck arrived here in January of 2017, he talked about winning national championships at the school that claims seven with the last coming in 1960. He also spoke early on about expanding the 50,000 seat U stadium to 80,000. Neither of those things have come close to happening and perhaps those lofty goals can be attributed to an exuberant 36-year-old coach but there’s nothing wrong with setting the bar high at a place where it’s been challenging to win for a long time.

Asked about the changing landscape of college football and the ceiling for the Gophers program last week, Fleck didn’t talk about winning championships but instead voiced optimism about the expanded College Football Playoffs that now will have a 12 team field.

“I think as you go through this with 12 teams, that leaves the window open for a lot of teams to get in there from different conferences. I think that’s exciting for the fans. I think that’s exciting for college football and the growth of the sport…I think I’ve said that publicly at Big Ten Media Days that I think it’s really healthy especially for Minnesota.”

Dave Mona is another friend of Fleck’s, and he sees a change in the coach. “I think he’s mellowed,” Mona said. “I think he’s thoughtful about what he says.”

The Fleck naysayers have been predicting for years that the coach intends to move on for another job. But Fleck frequently talks about how much he and Heather enjoy being part of this community. Fleck has established roots here including his close relationship with Coyle.

Part of Fleck’s commitment here includes the building of a new home. The house was supposed to be finished earlier this summer, but the move in was happening last week.

“I mean, we’re still waiting to move into our house,” Fleck said last Monday. “Call me frustrated. I mean Heather’s right there moving right now. We’re moving in today.

“This was (going to be) June 1, July 1, August 1 and now it’s August 19th. I told her a year ago I’d help (with the move). I can’t help (when) it’s August 19^th and our driveway is just being poured today.

“How do you move in (when) the movers show up the same time the concrete guys show up?

“So, pardon the expectation not meeting reality. Call me crazy.

“(But) they don’t have to worry about me, the Italian-Irish woman is at home. She’s got a huge heart. She got every single person lunch today.”

That sounds like Minnesota nice. Authentic.

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