Preps – Page 83 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Top Hoops Prep Keeps Gophers in Mix

Posted on November 16, 2016November 16, 2016 by David Shama

Race Thompson, the junior forward from Armstrong High School who is among the best prep basketball players in Minnesota, made unofficial recruiting visits to Creighton and Nebraska last weekend. Both schools have offered scholarships, along with Arizona State, Iowa State, Kansas State, North Dakota, Northern Iowa, Marquette and the Gophers.

Thompson said he will probably choose a school after the AAU season ends next summer. If he chose a college now which one would it be?

“I honestly don’t know,” Thompson told Sports Headliners last week.

Race’s dad Darrell is the Gophers all-time career leading rusher and now a radio analyst on Minnesota’s football games. The Thompson family lives in Plymouth, and Darrell is the president of Bolder Options, the Minneapolis-based nonprofit that works with at-risk youth.

Darrell, though, isn’t pushing his son toward a specific college, preferring to let him make his own decisions. Race said the important factors for him in choosing a school are the basketball program’s coach, the players and style of play.

The 17-year-old Thompson, who starts practice with Armstrong later this month, is 6-foot-8 and about 220 pounds after growing an inch and becoming heavier since last season. He was told by a doctor he will grow another inch before reaching his maximum height. He averaged about 16 points last season and is capable of games with a triple-double in scoring, rebounding and assists.

Athletic enough to play both small and power forward for Armstrong, Thompson had a busy summer impressing college coaches while playing AAU basketball. Now the high school season will take up the fall and winter, but Thompson said he also budgets time to relax. “It’s fun to be away from basketball every once in awhile, (and) just be a normal kid and hang out with your friends.”

Worth Noting

The Gophers and Northwestern play Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium, and so far this season the two West Division rivals have only two common opponents, Iowa and Purdue. In early October the Wildcats defeated Iowa 38-31 in Iowa City and the Gophers lost to the Hawkeyes at TCF, 14-7. Minnesota defeated Purdue in Minneapolis, 44-31, on November 5. Northwestern, playing on the road last Saturday, beat Purdue 45-17.

After the Purdue game Northwestern players carried teammate and former Navy SEAL Tom Hruby off the field. Near the end of the game, Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald put the linebacker in at running back near the Purdue goal line. The play was botched, though, and the 34-year-old Hruby didn’t score a touchdown in the game that came one day after Veterans Day.

Gophers football coach Tracy Claeys talking about his wardrobe: “I have one suit. That’s all I got.”

Joe Bjorklund, who a year ago was an offensive lineman for the Gophers, is now working for Mortenson Construction on the Athletes Village project at the University of Minnesota. Bjorklund is a project engineer for the company after majoring in construction management and business at the University.

Dick Ames, one of the Gophers most generous donors ever, was on campus yesterday to see the construction progress on the Athletes Village and have lunch with athletics director Mark Coyle.

Ames was a close friend for 45 years with the late Phil McElroy, the former Gopher football player and athletic department booster. Condolences to family and friends of McElroy who recently passed away. McElroy’s funeral is Friday morning at the Church of St. Patrick in Edina.

Gophers senior associate athletics director Marc Ryan has a son who is on the Saint John’s basketball team. Sean Ryan is a 6-2 freshman guard from Eastview High School.

The Vikings might announce today that Alex Boone is moving from left guard to left tackle to fill the opening created last Sunday when Jake Long’s season ended with his torn left Achilles injury. Boone had experience starting at left tackle when he was with the 49ers. Reserve Jeremiah Sirles could fill the left guard spot vacated by Boone.

The Vikings drafted Western Michigan tackle Willie Beavers on the fourth round earlier this year but despite the chaos of injuries to offensive linemen the rookie apparently isn’t ready to play.

Kyle Rudolph could tie Steve Jordan’s franchise record for most career touchdown catches by a Vikings tight end in Sunday’s home game against the Cardinals. Rudolph has 27 career TD catches. With five scores this season, he is tied with three others for the most touchdown receptions by an NFL tight end in 2016.

The Vikings sent an email to customers last week asking for Pro Bowl votes. The ultimate fan vote for blind loyalty might be a ballot for much criticized offensive tackle T.J. Clemmings. The Vikings had five Pro Bowl players after the 2015 season.

Dave Stead, the State High School League executive director, predicts record attendance for the Prep Bowl’s first year in U.S. Bank Stadium. The two-day Prep Bowl on November 25 and 26 will be a first opportunity for many ticket buyers to see the Vikings’ new facility. Tickets each day are $14 for adults and $9 for students. Admission allows ticket buyers to see all the high school football state championship games being played that day.

The early season verdict on the Minnesota Wild is new coach Bruce Boudreau has the team playing with effort. The Wild, who lost 1-0 last night to the Flames, is 8-6-1 with an impressive 41 goals scored and 29 given up. The team doesn’t practice today, and plays the Bruins tomorrow night at Xcel Energy Center.

Former Twin Randy Bush, an assistant general manager with the World Series champion Cubs, said on WCCO Radio’s Sports Huddle last Sunday he wasn’t contacted by Minnesota regarding its search for an executive to lead the baseball department.

In January look for high school football coaches associations to put out a joint statement at the American Football Coaches National Convention expressing concern over the Big Ten’s decision to play football games on Friday nights next year.

Patty Wetterling, the well-known advocate for missing children, speaks to the Capital Club on December 8, with Vikings executive Kevin Warren talking to the group December 20. The breakfast gatherings will be at Town & County Club in St. Paul. More information is available by contacting Patrick Klinger, patrick@thebrandenchancementgroup.com.

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Ex-Gopher Captain Wants Regent Role

Posted on November 9, 2016November 9, 2016 by David Shama

Former Gopher football captain Jim Carter is submitting an application for membership to the University of Minnesota Board of Regents. The State Legislature will approve individuals to fill four vacancies on the board next year.

Carter, who played for the Gophers from 1967-1969 after a legendary schoolboy career in South St. Paul, said many people have urged him to apply. He is known for his passion and straight talk about the University. As a regent he wants to help with issues such as student tuition costs and debt, student preparedness to enter the workforce, and enhancing athletics including the revenue-producing sports of football, basketball and hockey.

Carter, who lives in the Hastings area and hopes to represent the Second Congressional District on the Board of Regents, played for the Green Bay Packers where he was elected team captain. He has decades of business and civic experience including 28 years as an automobile dealer in Wisconsin, and participation on many boards including the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy. In addition to his experience in governance, Carter has been a donor to many organizations including the University of Minnesota Foundation.

Minneapolis businessman Mark Sheffert, a University alum and advisor to the Board of Regents, is familiar with Carter’s background. “He is passionate about and cares about the University,” Sheffert said. “He has attended many meetings of the regents to learn what they do. He has also talked to regents and University administrators to give his constructive thoughts.”

Typical of Carter’s involvement and support for the University is the assistance and leadership he provided this fall to increase awareness about the proposed Lineman Center for the Gophers. Carter has urged regents and others to help make the center part of the new football facility in the now under construction Athletes Village project on campus.

After attending the Board of Regents meetings last month, Carter is optimistic the University will approve the center early next year. He told Sports Headliners there is an anonymous donor willing “to pay at least half” the cost for the Gophers Center.

It’s anticipated the center will add thousands of square feet to the football practice facility and cost several million dollars. Carter said without the center, offensive and defensive linemen won’t have a large enough place indoors that is dedicated to improving their skills—a space big enough to accommodate not only the players but also practice equipment including blocking sleds. The center space would also be used by Gopher athletes in other sports.

Gophers head coach Tracy Claeys has stressed the importance of the center to Carter and others.

Worth Noting

The Gophers have their first road night game Saturday at Nebraska. Quarterback Mitch Leidner said it’s important for the players to stay relaxed during the day. “Don’t burn too much energy thinking about the game,” Leidner said. “Conserve that energy all the way up until game time starts.”

Emmit Carpenter, the Gophers’ kicker is not only from Green Bay but is a self-described “die-hard Packers fan.” He said his family has owned Packers season tickets for decades. A redshirt sophomore, he is 16 of 18 on field goals this season, and his 16 are tops in the Big Ten.

Sid Hartman is no longer doing sports analysis weekdays at 7:40 a.m. for WCCO Radio. Mike Max has that slot now, with Hartman on air at 8:40 a.m. as in the past.

P.J. Fleck—the young Western Michigan coach who has the undefeated Mid-American Conference Broncos ranked No. 14 by the Associated Press—quietly has his name mentioned by Gophers boosters as a future coach. Fleck is a media favorite who last week was featured by the New York Times and this week was written up by the Washington Post. Other national media coverage has come from Sports Illustrated and Forbes.com.

The 5-3 Vikings rank second among NFL teams in points allowed per game at 15.8. Although the offense has struggled to score, that unit has just one turnover in eight games going into Sunday’s road game with the 4-3-1 Redskins.

Eden Prairie sophomore quarterback Cole Kramer is the grandson of former Gophers athletic director Tom Moe. The Eagles are among the playoff favorites for the November 25 Class 6A state title game at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Minikahda Club pro Jeff Sorenson shot a course record 12-under par 60 Monday at Cabo del Sol Golf Club in Cabo San Lucas. Playing in a tournament for TaylorMade club professionals, the 2016 Minnesota Section PGA Player of the Year beat the previous course record by four strokes.

Twins reliever Glen Perkins, recovering from shoulder surgery, said on Monday he expects to pitch in spring training games next March. Perkins, the Twins All-Star closer, pitched just two innings during the 2016 season.

The Twins Hall of Fame is way overdue to induct the late Halsey Hall, the colorful radio-TV analyst from the club’s early years in Minnesota. Inductees for next year perhaps will include former outfielder Michael Cuddyer and ex-general manager Terry Ryan.

The Wild has recalled forwards Christoph Bertschy and Zack Mitchell and defenseman Mike Reilly from its Iowa affiliate team in the American Hockey League. The Wild has placed defenseman Marco Scandella on long-term injured reserve because of a high right ankle sprain (October 27 at Buffalo).

Hollywood comedian and actor Erik Stolhanske, a Minnesota native, will be the first keynote speaker for the free Bremer Bank Game Changers Speaker Series November 22 at Xcel Energy Center. Stolhanske was born without a fibula and has a prosthetic leg, but despite obstacles has earned roles in shows such as Super Troopers and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Visit the Minnesota Wild website and Speaker Series page for more information. https://www.nhl.com/wild/fans/game-changers-speaker-series

Olivia Paradise, the granddaughter of hockey legends Herb Brooks and Bob Paradise, played No. 1 singles for the Class 2A champion Mahtomedi tennis team this fall and is known for her modeling work.

The WCHA has the three top-ranked women’s teams in the national USCHO.com poll, No. 1 Wisconsin, No. 2 Minnesota and No. 3 UMD. The Big Ten Gopher men’s team has moved up to No. 8 in that USCHO poll, two spots behind No. 6 North Dakota who Minnesota tied in one game and defeated in another last weekend. UMD is No. 1.

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Look for U to Upset Terps Saturday

Posted on October 14, 2016October 14, 2016 by David Shama

It hasn’t been a great beginning to Tracy Claeys’ first full season as Gophers football coach. His team has been unimpressive in every game.

The Gophers scored wins over three ho-hum nonconference teams, showing an improved offense but sometimes leaky defense. In the last two weeks Minnesota has flopped, losing Big Ten Conference games to Penn State and Iowa.

In those two league games the Gophers couldn’t hold second half leads. They played inconsistently on offense, defense and special teams. They self-imploded making costly and sometimes foolish penalties.

This week came news redshirt senior quarterback Mitch Leidner has been diagnosed with a concussion and likely won’t play tomorrow at Maryland against the 4-1 Terps (1-1 in the Big Ten). When Claeys showed up at his Tuesday news conference to answer questions about Leidner and other players, he looked like a concerned coach.

Who could blame him? The pressure is on Claeys to shift the Gophers in gear. This is a team he pronounced during the offseason as potentially the best at Minnesota in years, a group that could contend for the Gophers’ first ever Big Ten West Division championship. A team playing a 2016 schedule that avoided games against Big Ten East Division powers Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State.

Now a schedule that looked relatively easy seems formidable given Minnesota’s slow start to the season. There are seven teams remaining to be played and right now the Gophers are likely to be favored in only two—October 22 and November 5 home games against Rutgers (2-4, 0-3) and Purdue (3-2, 1-1).

Presuming Minnesota can earn victories against Rutgers and Purdue, the Gophers need to find one or two additional wins to become bowl eligible. Tomorrow’s game at Maryland, the October 29 game at Illinois and November 19 home game against Northwestern look like other opportunities to build on the Gophers’ three wins total and earn a bowl invitation with the usually required six victories.

The prevailing prediction is Minnesota will lose tomorrow. The Gophers weren’t favored even before the Leidner news. Without their most important offensive player, the odds-makers like the Terps by about a touchdown.

The Gophers are replacing Leidner with former walk-on Conor Rhoda who has played briefly in one game this season and has six yards passing. Rhoda didn’t play in any games last season and in 2014 made two brief appearances, attempting one unsuccessful pass. The redshirt junior, now on scholarship, is an unknown to media and fans but he just might get the job done tomorrow managing an offense that needs to rely on running the football better than it has all season.

Minnesota’s offensive line will have to get off the line of scrimmage and hold blocks longer than last Saturday in a disappointing 14-7 loss against Iowa. But that line is capable of playing better under the direction of motivating assistant coach Bart Miller, and if there are holes to run through the Gophers have the rushers to pile up a lot of yardage.

The Terps gave up 372 rushing yards last week in a 38-14 loss at Penn State. Minnesota gained over 200 yards the week before against the Nittany Lions in their 29-26 overtime loss. Those numbers should provide Minnesota some confidence.

Rhoda needs to complete some low-risk passes and provide balance to Minnesota’s run game. The passing potential will take a step forward if potential All-Big Ten tight end Brandon Lingen, who has been sidelined with a broken clavicle, is able to play. Wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky, a senior leader and Leidner’s favorite receiver, needs to help Rhoda out with timely catches like on third downs.

While Leidner’s absence seems like a problem for the Gophers, it might elevate performances by his teammates. Darrell Thompson, the ex-Gopher and the school’s all-time leading rusher, believes Minnesota players may gain a psychological edge. “I think they rally around him (Rhoda),” Thompson told Sports Headliners.

If Rhoda minimizes mistakes, completes key passes, makes a few runs off the read-option, mixes in successful scrambles out of the pocket and mostly hands off to his running backs that have holes to run through, the Gophers will have a formula for success.

“That would be ideal,” said Thompson. “I hope there is a quarterback controversy by the end of the game. That means we’re doing something right.”

The Minnesota offense can inspire the defense after only scoring seven points last week. That defense could have one of its better days against the Terps who were held to two first half touchdowns last Saturday. Maryland scored 173 points in its first four games but played a cushy schedule facing Howard, Florida International, UCF and Purdue.

Gophers’ fans might be planning a pity party tomorrow without Leidner and after five substandard performances to start the season. But sometimes when “the sky is falling” the expected script doesn’t become reality.

Claeys is at the “keyboard” and it’s time for him, the staff and the players to write a better storyline. The Gophers are due to have their best game and quiet critics who already are speculating about the new coach’s future at Minnesota.

The Terps do have the advantage of playing at home and they could be motivated after the beatdown by Penn State. But they have quarterback issues too with senior starter Perry Hills possibly not available because of a shoulder injury, or not playing a complete game if there is a re-injury. Then the Terps would use true freshman Tyrrell Pigrome.

The outcome tomorrow could be decided by two mystery quarterbacks and by the team most determined to win coming off of disappointing early season Big Ten losses. Pigrome has yet to start a game but has played in all five games for the Terps and already shown playmaking skills. Rhoda is a lunch-bucket sub from Eagan who finally gets his big chance tomorrow.

Rhoda and the Gophers are the better script. I am going with Minnesota over the Terps, 27-24.

Worth Noting

Darrell Thompson eats bacon—lots of it—during the week leading up to the Gophers-Iowa game. The Maryland Terrapins take their nickname from turtles that live in fresh or brackish waters. Turtle soup this week for the Gophers’ radio analyst?

“I only do bacon,” Thompson said. “I love bacon. No turtle soup.”

There will be a news conference Monday at Target Field announcing a football game to be played in the Twins stadium next year. Best guess is North Dakota State will be the host team. The Bison have a home game on their 2017 schedule October 28 against Northern Iowa. Could the game be played at Target Field? The Gophers are at Iowa that Saturday.

Jeff Sorenson told Sports Headliners a hot putter and positive approach helped him earn the Minnesota Section’s PGA Player of the Year Award this week. The Minikahda Club pro, who won the award for a fifth time, said he’s “been putting really well” the last two-plus months after changing his set up and grip.

Sorenson isn’t so hard on himself mentally as in the past. He is better at maintaining a positive attitude and not letting poor shots bother him. “You get down, you’re done,” he said.

Two years ago Sorenson, 38, had major back surgery, so earning the most points to win the Player of the Year Award is rewarding. “I am just appreciative of being able to play,” he said.

Edinburgh pro Don Berry finished second to Sorenson in 2016 and was Player of the Year the two previous years. Sorenson, whose last Player of the Year Award was in 2012, worked for Berry in multiple roles from ages 13 to 25. The two remain friends. “He’s a grinder. He doesn’t make too many bogeys,” Sorenson said.

Sorenson said he earned about $22,000 in section events this year, plus earnings in other golf tournaments. He has played in two PGA championships during his career and among his goals are to play in more.

When Lou Holtz coached the Gophers in the mid-1980s he proposed playing the annual Minnesota High School All-Star Football Game in the fall after the prep season ended. That becomes a reality with the first Minnesota Football Showcase scheduled at U.S. Bank Stadium Sunday, December 3, 2016. Past games have been played in June but the intent remains the same—to feature outstanding senior football players from around the state.

The Vikings and the Minnesota Football Coaches Association are partnering to present the 55th annual game matching the North All-Stars against the South All-Stars. Totino-Grace’s Jeff Ferguson will coach the North and Eden Prairie’s Mike Grant the South. KMSP Fox 9 will televise the game in the Minneapolis-St. Paul market.

The All-Star Game has been played since 1945 (annually since 1974) with over 4,200 players and 475 coaches participating. Past sponsors include The Shriners who sent game tickets to their large membership, resulting in crowds of over 30,000 at Memorial Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus.

The 2016 event is billed as a football celebration with attractions to include youth football clinics, marching band performances and autograph sessions with Vikings alumni. Tickets are available now, with proceeds going to the MFCA and Tackle Cancer Campaign. More at vikings.com/showcase.

First place St. Thomas has a bye Saturday but two of the three teams tied for second in the MIAC football standings play each other. Hamline, 4-1 overall and 2-1 in league games, is the surprise group in the MIAC. The Pipers will be in Moorhead Saturday to face Concordia (2-2, 2-1).

The other one-loss team is Saint John’s (5-1, 3-1). The Johnnies are at home to play Carleton (1-5, 1-3 MIAC).

The Minnesota Wild might be a more relaxed and focused team for three periods Saturday than shown last evening in a 3-2 opening regular season loss to the Blues in St. Louis. The Wild started slow even though the Blues had played the night before and could have been the more sluggish group. The Wild is at home Saturday night against the Jets who won four of five games against Minnesota last season.

New coach Bruce Boudreau is expected to help the Wild improve its scoring and the team is considered by some hockey authorities a “sleeper pick” to have a big season.

From a Minnesota basketball historical perspective, it will be interesting to see if the Lynx can win its fourth WNBA championship in franchise history next week. The Minneapolis Lakers won world championships in 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953 and 1954.

The Lynx, tied 1-1 with the Sparks in the WNBA Finals, play tonight in Los Angeles in the best of five series.

Gophers basketball coach Richard Pitino’s second annual Coaches vs. Cancer Minnesota Tip-off Reception will be from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, November 6 at the Minikahda Club. Activities include a cocktail reception and live auction. More at coachesvscancerminnesota.org.

Condolences to the family and friends of former Gophers basketball player and coach George Hanson who died recently. Hanson played for Minnesota in the 1950s, was an assistant coach in the 1960s and was head coach for one season in 1970-71. As nice a man as ever coached the Gophers, Hanson was let go after compiling an 11-13 overall record, 5-9 in the Big Ten.

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