Preps – Page 112 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Ariel McDonald: 2 Wins Gets U in Tourney

Posted on March 10, 2014March 10, 2014 by David Shama

The Gophers play Penn State in their Big Ten Tournament opener on Thursday night in Indianapolis and Ariel McDonald believes Minnesota has to win the game to remain a possibility for the NCAA Tournament. A second win in the tournament will make him even more optimistic about Minnesota’s NCAA chances.

“If they can get two wins they should be safe, but right now they live to see another day,” McDonald told Sports Headliners after the Gophers defeated Penn State yesterday at Williams Arena. McDonald, a former Gophers point guard, was the TV analyst for yesterday’s Big Ten Network game when Minnesota improved its conference record to 8-10 and overall to 19-12.

He believes there is some possibility the Gophers could earn an invite to the NCAA Tournament when selections are announced next Sunday if they win just their Big Ten opener. That optimism is based on Minnesota’s strength of schedule including wins over top 20 teams Iowa, Ohio State and Wisconsin.

But even though Minnesota has defeated Penn State twice this season, winning again on Thursday doesn’t figure to be nearly as easy as yesterday’s 81-63 victory. “I think one of the hardest things to do in sports is beat a team three times (in one season),” Gophers coach Richard Pitino said last night.

Penn State finished 6-12 in the Big Ten, 15-16 overall. The Nittany Lions had two wins over Ohio State, an indication of their abilities. “I think they’re really good,” Pitino said.

The coach expects a “war” on Thursday night and part of the fight will likely be low post scoring. McDonald said the Gophers need balanced offense coming from the outside and inside. The inside scoring must come from not only players driving to the basket but the team’s low post players like Elliott Eliason and Mo Walker. “When they can get you 22 to 25 points in the low post the Gophers usually don’t lose,” McDonald said.

When the Gophers experience five minute scoreless streaks like they did in some conference games McDonald understands why. “The reason (is) they don’t have anybody they can throw it down low to and just say, ‘Hey, go get us a bucket, or at least a foul so we can go shoot free throws and kind of overcome this lapse.’ ”

While Eliason, Walker and power forward Joey King are important to team success, McDonald said the Gophers hopes each game start with point guard DeAndre Mathieu who provides the offensive tempo Pitino wants. “He dominates the ball and he creates so much for them off the dribble. …Usually when you can control him you can control the Gophers so he is a big, big piece to their success.”

Mathieu is only 5-9, 165. but he is quick and fearless. “I like small guys who just have guts,” McDonald said. “They’re not scared to go in there to the big guys. That’s why I like DeAndre. He seems to be under control. I think he is special.”

Mathieu and the Gophers will find out soon if they’re special enough for the NCAA Selection Committee.

Worth Noting

McDonald wasn’t even one of the Big Ten Network analysts before the season but he used his persistence to get on the air. He worked three network games this season and hopes to have frequent assignments in 2014-15. He has previous analyst experience working Minnesota State High School League games and this winter has given his basketball opinions weekly on 1500 ESPN.

Ross Travis, from Chaska, started at forward for the Nittany Lions yesterday and scored four points after entering the game averaging nine. Reserve guard Graham Woodward, from Edina, didn’t score.

While the Nittany Lions have two native Minnesotans on their roster, the Gophers have one in power forward Joey King from Eagan. The Gophers began playing basketball in 1896 and this might be the first time in program history only one player from the state has been on the roster.

Look for the five finalists for the 2014 high school Mr. Basketball Award to be announced today or tomorrow.

College national championship teams, including the 2013 Gophers women’s hockey team, will be honored by President Barack Obama today at the White House. The event will be streamed live on Whitehouse.gov/live. The Gophers had a record of 41-0-0, the only undefeated women’s hockey team ever.

Ron Stolski, the winningest high school football coach in state history, shares his wisdom in an interview for the American Football Coaches Association website. Stolski, still coaching at Brainerd, has been a Minnesota prep coach for over 50 years. The interview can be accessed at Mfca.com.

Stolski is also executive director of the Minnesota Football Coaches Association, the organization offering events throughout the year promoting football. Upcoming events include the MFCA Clinic March 27-29 and the recruiting fair May 5.

Minnetonka High School alum Will Leer, competing for the U.S. track team, finished sixth in the 1500 meters final on Saturday at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Sopot, Poland. His time was 3:39.60.

Adrian Peterson figures to be happy about the Vikings re-signing Matt Cassel to quarterback the team. In the February 10 issue of Sports Illustrated he was asked who he wanted as the team’s starter next season. “Matt Cassel,” Peterson answered. “We were productive when he was behind center. If (we do) draft a quarterback, (Johnny) Manziel or (Teddy) Bridgewater. They have the potential to come in and play.”

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Vikings Need to Draft QB for System

Posted on March 7, 2014March 7, 2014 by David Shama

Former Vikings defensive lineman Bob Lurtsema remains close to the team and has advice regarding the upcoming NFL Draft.

“With Norv Turner (offensive coordinator) you have got to draft a quarterback that fits his system. …Don’t draft the best available quarterback.”

Many college quarterback prospects are scramblers but taking one with the Vikings’ No. 8 pick in the first round of the May 8 draft might be a mistake. “That’s not what Turner wants,” Lurtsema told Sports Headliners. “Turner wants a guy who reads (situations) quick. Throws the ball like a bullet. There are certain things he wants because of the way he coaches.”

Lurtsema said it’s crucial for a franchise’s draft success to have the general manager, head coach and offensive coordinator on the “same page.” Will that be true of the Vikings on draft day with general manager Rick Spielman, new head coach Mike Zimmer and new offensive boss Turner?

“No idea,” Lurtsema said. “I sure hope so.”

The Vikings have devoted much of this century searching for a franchise quarterback. Daunte Culpepper’s success ended in 2004. Except for a couple of seasons with Brett Favre, it’s been pretty much trial and error with the Vikings while clubs like the Seahawks and 49ers found quick fixes when they changed head coaches.

Lurtsema said Turner, who has the reputation of being among the NFL’s best offensive minds, has to decide if he wants to make a commitment to Christian Ponder, currently the only quarterback signed for 2014, or to find another QB already in the league. If he does want to make such a commitment, the Vikings could draft a player other than a quarterback with their first choice on draft day.

Whatever the decision, Lurtsema is optimistic about Zimmer and Turner. He is convinced the club has upgraded its coaching talent. “Coaching is 60 to 65 percent (of success),” Lurtsema said. “I’ve told you that. I say it on TV. I say it to everybody.”

Lurtsema is excited about the offensive potential of next year’s team even without knowing the quarterback situation. Turner’s NFL experience includes head coaching and his resume documents high production offenses in previous employment. His mantra is a balanced offense and commitment to keeping defenses guessing. “He really mixes it up very well,” Lurtsema said.

Lurtsema was impressed with Zimmer soon after he was hired earlier this winter. “He (Zimmer) said he wants to give some guys a big, swift kick in the butt. …There wasn’t a lot of second effort a lot of the time (last season). You can tell second effort when they’re hauling their fanny.”

Coach Bud Grant won 11 championships with the Vikings. Lurtsema played for Grant and reveres him. “He (Zimmer) has a lot of Bud Grant in him,” Lurtsema said. “You know he’s the boss. If I was to deal with Zimmer (play for him) and make a couple of mistakes, he wouldn’t tell me about it. He’d cut me (from the team). That’s the part that sticks out. You don’t have to go up and cradle a lot of these spoiled athletes. They make the dumb mistakes—adios amigo.”

Worth Noting

Lurtsema likes the competitive attitude of Central Florida’s Blake Bortles and predicts he will be the first quarterback selected in the draft.

Derek Carr is a pocket passer and there’s been speculation the Fresno State quarterback could be available to the Vikings at No. 8. He fits the non-scrambler style Lurtsema said Turner wants to avoid for his system.

Joe Schmit will autograph copies of his new book, Silent Impact, a week from today starting at noon at Barnes & Noble downtown. The next day, March 15, the KSTP TV sportscaster will be at the Mall of America Sears Court starting at 1 p.m.

Schmit has written a lively, easy to read self-help book about how we impact others including non-verbal communication. The book’s cover jacket makes this point: “The words we say or don’t say, the things we do or don’t do, and the ways we react or don’t react can have a tremendous influence on those around us.”

Schmit has won 15 Emmys in his broadcast career but has faced challenges including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The disease is in remission and Schmit credits his attitude in battling the cancer.

Minnetonka High School alum Will Leer is competing in the 1500 meters for the U.S. track team at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Sopot, Poland. Leer, who excelled in track and cross country at Pomona College in California, is among the world’s elite runners in the mile, 1500 meters, and has advanced to the finals in Poland.

Leer is the nephew of former KSTP-TV reporter Robb Leer who is in the public relations business with Minneapolis-based Leer Communications & Consultants.

North Carolina coach Roy Williams is recruiting Hopkins sophomore guard Amir Coffey and attended the Royals-Eden Prairie section title game on Wednesday night.

Today 1980 Olympic hockey gold medalists Bill Baker, Steve Christoff, Dave Christian and Rob McClanahan will be at the Herb Brooks Foundation booth at the Let’s Play Hockey Expo in St. Paul’s RiverCentre. Baker, Christoff, Christian and McClanahan will be autographing commemorative hockey pucks that have inspirational Herb Brooks quotations. Baker is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Christoff 11 a.m. to noon, Christian 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. and McClanahan 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

This weekend eight wrestlers who won titles last year will try to repeat as Big Ten champions including Minnesota’s Tony Nelson, Dylan Ness and Kevin Steinhaus. The Big Ten Wrestling Championships are tomorrow and Sunday at Wisconsin. Penn State has won four consecutive team titles but the Gophers are ranked No. 1 nationally in the USA Today/NWCA/AWN Division I Coaches Poll. Penn State is ranked No. 2, Iowa No. 3.

Hammond Stadium, the Twins spring training home in Fort Myers, is being renovated and changes include a walkway around the field providing fans with various views of the gameday action while enjoying more concession options. Minnesotan Rolf Bjelland praised the walkway in an e-mail and offered other comments after attending a recent game:

“Our arrival was effortless with good parking direction and very friendly parking attendants. There is ample parking and an oversupply of handicap parking. Walking from the parking lot to the stadium, one has the feeling of a county fair with wonderful colors, crowds of people and various outside vendors. …

“They now have two grass slopes for spectators—great for sunbathing and child play. The field looks like a carpeted checkerboard in green and the infield like a well-manicured golf bunker.”

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Mpls. Super Bowl Final Bid Due in May

Posted on February 7, 2014February 7, 2014 by David Shama

Vikings executive Lester Bagley returned from Sunday’s Super Bowl in the New York area optimistic the 2018 game will be awarded to Minneapolis. “I think we have a very strong chance,” Bagley told Sports Headliners.

Bagley is on a five-member Minnesota Super Bowl steering committee that includes Meet Minneapolis president Melvin Tennant and Timberwolves CEO Rob Moor. The steering committee is part of a larger Minnesota Super Bowl group led by local business leaders including Doug Baker, Richard Davis and Marilyn Carlson Nelson.

“We’re going to hire an executive director to run the bid process for the next four months because we all have aggressive day jobs,” Bagley said.

The Vikings open their new indoor stadium in 2016 and last fall Minneapolis was named a finalist for the 2018 Super Bowl along with Indianapolis and New Orleans. Preliminary bids are due April 1 and then negotiations lead up to a final May 7 deadline for offers to be submitted. Those bids will be discussed at the NFL owners meetings May 18-21.

The NFL has awarded Super Bowls to northern cities in the past, sometimes a few years after their domed stadiums opened. Detroit hosted the 2006 Super Bowl at Ford Field. Indianapolis was the site of the 2012 Super Bowl at Lucas Oil Stadium. Minneapolis hosted the 1992 Super Bowl at the Metrodome.

Both prestige and economic benefit result from hosting the game that has grown into a week full of related activities. “The Super Bowl is like the world’s grandest event,” Bagley said.

Last Sunday’s Super Bowl was the most watched U.S. TV program ever, drawing an audience of 111.5 million. The game was played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and Cynopsis Sports calculated in its Monday newsletter MetLife received “$32.4 million in exposure as a result of its naming rights deal.”

Asked about the anticipated economic benefit to this community, Bagley said a study from the Indianapolis Super Bowl calculated a figure of $324 million. By comparison the Twins have estimated the economic impact of MLB’s 2014 All-Star game in Minneapolis at about $85 million.

Bagley said the local Super Bowl committee will “regroup” if they are turned down for 2018 but he is optimistic. “We think 2018 is the year.”

Worth Noting

Alan Roach, who attended high school in Brainerd, was the public address voice for eight Super Bowls until last Sunday’s game. Roach is also the public address announcer for Broncos home games and that caused a potential conflict of interest with being assigned to Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Roach was invited to a party where the Minneapolis group pitched the 2018 Super Bowl to NFL decision makers.

Hall of Fame coach Bud Grant will speak at the March 13 CORES luncheon at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington. Grant had 11 championship teams with the Vikings and coached Minnesota to four Super Bowls. CORES is an acronym for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans. Reservations (by March 10) for the lunch and program can be made by contacting dotsethj@comcast.net.

The Vikings new coaching staff includes head coach Mike Zimmer and three coordinators—George Edwards, defensive coordinator; Mike Priefer, special teams coordinator; and Norv Turner, offensive coordinator. Other assistants: Robb Akey, assistant defensive line; Jeff Davidson, offensive line; Ryan Ficken, assistant special teams; Jonathan Gannon, assistant defensive backs/quality control; Jerry Gray, defensive backs; Jeff Howard, defensive assistant; Klint Kubiak, assistant wide receivers/quality control; Andre Patterson, defensive Line; Drew Petzing, coaching assistant; Kevin Stefanski, tight ends; George Stewart, wide receivers; Scott Turner, quarterbacks; Kirby Wilson, running backs; Adam Zimmer, linebackers.

Willie Schneider, the senior fullback on the Tommies football team last fall, is the nephew of Seahawks general manager John Schneider who is receiving so much credit for personnel decisions that helped Seattle win the Super Bowl.

Gerry DiNardo, analyzing Big Ten Conference recruiting on the Big Ten Network Wednesday, raved about Connor Mayes, the center from Van Alstyne, Texas who signed a National Letter of Intent with the Gophers. “I think this guy has the potential to be one of the best freshmen in the entire Big Ten class this year,” DiNardo said.

Jeff Jones, the Washburn running back who also committed to the Gophers on Wednesday, said whether coaches care about him determines motivation. “…That gives me the fire and the will to be able to go out and play my heart out for that staff,” he told Sports Headliners.

Asked if he would have a special meal to celebrate Signing Day on Wednesday, Jones said no but he often enjoys “a cold bowl of cereal” with Reese’s Puffs a favorite.

Gophers fans might be upset Minnesota high school offensive linemen J.C. Hassenauer and Frank Ragnow chose Alabama and Arkansas for their college careers but Hawkeyes fans are probably even more troubled about Ross Pierschbacher from Cedar Falls going to Alabama. He is a first team Parade magazine All-America offensive lineman.

Philip Nelson, the former Gophers quarterback, isn’t the only name Minnesotans will recognize if they follow Rutgers football. Ex-Gophers offensive coordinator Mitch Browning is the offensive line coach and former Gopher Norries Wilson is the running backs coach. Nelson will be eligible to play for Rutgers in 2015.

Former Gophers, Badgers and Vikings assistant Phil Hueber is on the University of Pittsburgh staff as offensive line coach.

Gophers football coach Jerry Kill and Eden Prairie High School coach Mike Grant are on a panel for the “Breakfast with the Champions” program February 19 at Target Field’s Metropolitan Club. The program is a project of the Positive Coaching Alliance Minnesota and the purpose is to help develop team leaders. Coaches and others who are interested in more details can contact Deborah_edwards@positivecoach.org.

The Minnesota Minute Men announced the 10 finalists (only seniors are eligible) for the 30th Annual Mr. Hockey Award: Philip Beaulieu (Duluth East), Tyler Cline (Blaine), Spencer Naas (Benilde St. Margaret’s), Tyler Nanne (Edina), Avery Peterson (Grand Rapids), Mitch Slattery (Hill Murray), Steven Spinner (Eden Prairie), Luc Snuggerud (Eden Prairie), Nick Wolff (Eagan) and Zach Yon (Roseau).

The Minute Men also announced Maclean Berglove (Elk River) and Hunter Shepard (Grand Rapids) are the finalists for The Frank Brimsek Award recognizing the state’s top senior goaltender. The Mr. Hockey Awards Banquet will be held on March 9 at RiverCentre.

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