Preps – Page 134 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

U Football & Other Notes

Posted on February 3, 2012February 3, 2012 by David Shama

Hired as Gophers coach about 14 months ago, Jerry Kill’s leadership is becoming more evident. How do you measure it?

The classroom attendance and grades by his players are improving. Academics were much more of a problem on the team when Kill and his staff first came here. For fall semester the football team earned an impressive overall 3.1 G.P.A. Expect more positive future news about football G.P.A.’s.

Although no major college football program is bullet proof, the Gophers haven’t been in the news for major off the field behavior problems and scandals. There’s a code of conduct emphasized by the staff and plenty of reminders.

Most of the sports public is still apathetic about Gophers football but Kill has won many admirers among boosters, media and high school coaches since he came here in December of 2010. His straightforward manner has earned him friends and is in contrast to his outspoken predecessor, Tim Brewster.

Kill has shown commitment to making the Gophers much better than a Big Ten bottom feeder with his tireless work on the job. He has also demonstrated courage in dealing with his seizures. Whether it’s coaching in front of a regional TV audience, or talking to a recruit in his home, Kill hasn’t let his history of seizures deter him.

At a Signing Day news conference on Wednesday, Kill said he’s still not driving a car. His wife Rebecca accompanied him on recruiting trips to help out.

Signing Day on Wednesday was another indication that Kill will build his program similar to Wisconsin’s. The Gophers signed 10 players from Minnesota to national letters of intent, compared to five in 2011 and three in 2010. The Badgers roster, including stellar offensive linemen, has for years listed a dominant number of Wisconsin high school products.

Kill and his staff will continue to recruit plenty of players from beyond the Minnesota border but expect higher numbers of Minnesotans than in the past. Kill knows there are good players here, just not enough to completely fill the roster of a contender.

Among the 27 signees are high-profile Hopkins wide receiver Andre McDonald and Mankato West quarterback Phillip Nelson. McDonald, an ESPN four-star recruit, is a “tremendous talent,” Kill said. MaxPreps’ Tom Lemming rates Nelson the No. 2 pro-style quarterback in the country and National Sleeper of the Year.

Tim Salem, the former Gophers quarterback, has been hired as running backs and special teams coordinator at Illinois.

Gophers junior player Rodney Williams isn’t included among players projected to be drafted next June by an NBA team, according to nbadraft.net. In 2010 the website predicted Williams would be among the first 10 picks in the 2011 NBA draft.

There’s speculation the Vikings will take USC left tackle Matt Kalil with the No. 3 choice in the first round of the upcoming college draft. He’s listed as the second best player in the draft after Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck by ESPN.com-Scouts Inc.

It was 40 years ago this winter the Vikings re-acquired Fran Tarkenton, pulling off a major trade with the Giants to bring the quarterback back toMinneapolis. Tarkenton led the Vikings to three Super Bowls in the 1970s.

Seven new affiliates have joined the Timberwolves Radio Network, bringing the total to 26, the most since the 2006-07 season. The new affiliate stations in Minnesota are Aitkin/Brainerd, Mankato and Montevideo. New in North Dakota are Carrington, Jamestown, Oakes andValley City.

Former North Stars executive Dean Lombardi, now general manager of the Kings, is earning praise for his decision to replace coach Terry Murray with Darryl Sutter. The Kings are second in the NHL’s Pacific Division.

Herb Brooks, who coached the Gophers to three national championships and America’s “Miracle on Ice” in the 1980 Olympics, is included on the short list of the Big Ten Network Icons series that includes Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler and Dan Gable.

St. Olaf hockey seniors Ben Leis, Charlie Raskob and Jeff Warren made the right impressions during summer internships and have full-time employment waiting after graduation. Leis and Warren will be joining Best Buy as Demand Planning Analysts later this year. Raskob will work for Target as a Business Analyst.

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No ‘Chance’ McDonald to Drop U

Posted on January 30, 2012January 30, 2012 by David Shama

Gophers coach Jerry Kill received a rare four-star commitment (ESPN.com) late last week when All-State Hopkins High School wide receiver Andre McDonald announced he will sign a national letter of intent with Minnesota on Wednesday. McDonald committed to the Gophers last year, but then changed his pledge to Vanderbilt in the fall.

Will he switch again in the next 48 hours? “I don’t think there’s any chance of that,” said John DenHartog, Hopkins coach. “I think he’s excited about the decision. Minnesota is the best place for him. He can help the program.”

DenHartog said McDonald gave up Vanderbilt this winter after the wide receivers’ coach left to join a new coaching staff at Illinois. Chris Beatty then recruited McDonald aggressively as did Iowa.

The Gophers are neither deep in bodies or talent at wide receiver. McDonald is about 6-3 and 205 pounds, and was a dangerous receiver in high school. “He’s got some unique skills,” DenHartog told Sports Headliners. “He can be a difference maker. He can make moves in tight spaces and make people miss and turn in big gains.”

DenHartog said McDonald “has unlimited potential” but that Kill didn’t promise a starting job. “Andre knows he’s going to have to work hard,” DenHartog said.

The Hopkins coach has been impressed with the forthrightness and caring of Kill. He also likes the longevity Kill and his staff have with one another. DenHartog is optimistic about the downtrodden Gophers program.

“If anyone (a coach) is going to do it, I believe he’s the one,” DenHartog said. “His intensity and honesty are really refreshing. The majority of time people are trying to sell a dream but coach Kill, he’s going to be forthright and the kids appreciate that.”

McDonald is playing in the International Bowl in Austin, Texas on Wednesday night. He’s expected to sign his paper work committing to the Gophers that day.

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Worth Noting

Posted on January 30, 2012January 30, 2012 by David Shama

Twins president Dave St. Peter said the organization is hopeful major league baseball will decide in the “next couple months” to award the 2014 All-Star game to Minneapolis.

Camilo Pascual, who was the Twins first ever 20 game winner and ranks second all-time in shutouts, will be inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame during a pregame ceremony July 14 at Target Field.

Twins manager Tom Kelly had 1,140 wins, ranking No. 1 in franchise history and No. 43 in major league baseball. He will become the seventh person in Twins history to have his number retired on September 8 as part of a pregame ceremony at Target Field.

Gophers basketball coach Tubby Smith described Saturday’s 77-72 overtime win against Illinois as a victory Minnesota “desperately” needed. The win gave the Gophers a 4-5 Big Ten record and a win against a former top 25 team.

“We want Tyus!” That was the chant on Saturday night from the Minnesota student section encouraging Apple Valley High School sophomore point guard Tyus Jones to become a Gopher. Jones watched the game from near the Minnesota bench.

Mike Markuson, a 1982 Hamline graduate, is the new offensive line coach at Wisconsin. A Farmington, Minnesota native, Markuson was a defensive tackle for the Pipers. His coaching stops include Mississippi where he’s been the last five years (co-offensive coordinator).

Former Gophers golfer and New York Times best selling author Harvey Mackay shares advice from his UM golf coach in “The Mackay MBA of Selling in the Real World.” Les Bolstad told Mackay to approach every shot on the golf course as if it were his last. “Therefore, it better be my best,” Bolstad instructed.

United States Tennis Association Northern Section Hall of Famer Nick Pappas died last week. Funeral services are today starting at 11:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church, 3450 Irving Ave. South in Minneapolis.

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