Preps – Page 99 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Zimmer ‘Glad’ Teddy Playing as Rookie

Posted on December 15, 2014December 15, 2014 by David Shama

Mike Zimmer is now comfortable with the decision to make Teddy Bridgewater his starting quarterback. The Vikings coach has seen rookie quarterbacks “get the heck beat out of them” and the resulting damage to their careers.

When Zimmer lost veteran Matt Cassel to a season ending injury in September, he was concerned about exposing Bridgewater, his first year QB, to the learning curve and pressures of the NFL. “I know this guy’s got a chance to be the guy for a long, long time here, and what I was nervous about at the beginning of the year is I didn’t want to get him beat up,” Zimmer said. “I didn’t want to get him a bunch of bad outings where he didn’t have that confidence and that attitude (to be successful). …”

The Vikings have tried to create an environment where Bridgewater, despite his inexperience, can avoid trauma and progress positively. “I think in the long run his playing and going through all of these experiences, and getting a chance to play against Green Bay and Chicago and Detroit, will be a big factor for us in the future because he’s been through these things now,” Zimmer said. “It’s not new.”

Zimmer has seen Bridgewater learn from being on the field and is “glad” the 2014 first round draft choice is playing so soon. Bridgewater has quarterbacked the team to five wins and six losses. Yesterday he had interceptions on consecutive possessions in the first half and that changed the momentum of a Vikings lead but overall he made plays with his arm and legs. He completed 31 of 41 passes for 315 yards and one touchdown. He ran three times for 30 yards. Two of his last three games his passing rating has impressively been over 115.

Bridgewater has helped lead the Vikings, 6-8 overall, to comeback wins in previous weeks but couldn’t yesterday. The game ended with a 16-14 loss to the Lions when Vikings kicker Blair Walsh missed what would have been an NFL record field goal of 68 yards. Walsh said this afternoon he “lobbied” for the opportunity to try the kick.

Although it’s not reasonable to expect a record game winner, the last two weeks—by Walsh’s admission—have been “tough.” He missed a potential 56 yard game winner in regulation a week ago Sunday against the Jets before the Vikings scored a touchdown to win in overtime. He was one for three on field goals in that game and yesterday didn’t connect in three tries including a 26-yard attempt that was blocked.

“I don’t feel like I am hitting the ball poorly but the results say otherwise right now,” he said. “So it’s something I gotta get shored up and fixed.”

Trailing 16-14, the Vikings didn’t make enough productive offensive plays on their final drive—and really all game—to defeat the Lions, now 10-4 and tied with the Packers for first place in NFC North. But Zimmer did praise his rebuilt offensive line that is without three starters. “I thought they battled their rear ends off,” Zimmer said. “I think they competed. I thought they fought like crazy to give us the opportunity to get the ball in the right place.”

One replacement is Mike Harris who has taken over at right tackle for Phil Loadholt. Harris said the coaches gave his work yesterday the best evaluation he’s received this season. He thought his run blocking and physical play was evident against the Lions.

“My pass blocking was okay,” Harris said. “It‘s something I continue to work on with timing, with my punch.”

Worth Noting

When the Vikings prepare this week for the Dolphins, Minnesota defensive coordinator George Edwards will have knowledge of Miami’s personnel since he was that team’s linebackers coach last season.

Rookies Anthony Barr, Teddy Bridgewater and Jerick McKinnon have received more attention but the Vikings have other first-year players they like, too, including seventh round pick Shamar Stephen. A defensive tackle at 6-5, 310, Stephen was in on 10 tackles in the game against Carolina last month and he has become a starter replacing the injured Shariff Floyd.

Jerry Kill gave an answer that couldn’t resonate better with Gophers football fans when asked by L. Jon Wertheim in the December 1 issue of Sports Illustrated about the program’s long-term goal. “Our long-term goal is to continue to get better. Our mission is to win the Big Ten championship. It’s not easy to do, but that’s what our mission is.

“The next stage is, we haven’t been to the Rose Bowl—I get reminded every day—since (1962). So everybody wants to get that accomplished. The ultimate thing is to win it all. But we’ve got to take steps. We have to improve our operating facilities because in recruiting that’s what kids look at. …”

The Big Ten Conference has 10 teams in bowl games, a total that ties the league’s previous high set in 2011. A difference, though, is three years ago the conference had 12 teams and now has 14.

After bowl matchups were announced, odds-makers had all of the Big Ten teams as underdogs in the 10 games. Dating back to 2000, the conference is 38-62 in bowl games.

Bobby Bell ranks among the greatest Gophers football players ever. He was a two-time All-American tackle and 1962 Outland Trophy award winner. Yesterday he posted the following news on Facebook: “I went back the past seven months to the University of Minnesota after 52 years in order to complete my college degree. It feels so good to be a college graduate. …”

Dave Stead, executive director of the Minnesota State High School League, said he doesn’t have a final figure but he expects ticket sales revenue from the 2014 Prep Bowl to be down about 50 percent. Attendance and ticket revenues will significantly increase when the Prep Bowl leaves outdoor TCF Bank Stadium for the enclosed Vikings stadium in 2016. Stead said although the Prep Bowl normally is a profitable event, he’s not sure if it will be in 2014.

Timberwolves rookie Andrew Wiggins is on the cover of Mpls.St. Paul Magazine’s best of the year issue. The article on Wiggins, who last June was the first overall pick in the NBA Draft, discusses the 19-year-old’s life as a professional and living in a new community.

While Wiggins has been a regular starter, rookie guard Zach LaVine, also 19, has started just 11 games. But that is 10 more than at UCLA last season, and before the Timberwolves made him a first round choice.

A local pro hockey source said Thomas Vanek’s slow start scoring goals for the Wild can be explained by off-ice distractions including his transition back to Minnesota where he knows so many people. He predicted Vanek could be productive, though, by playoff time when things have settled down and the 30-year-old forward knows his teammates better. Vanek has only three goals in 28 games but does have 14 assists and is fourth on the team with 17 points.

The same source said the Wild have been looking for goalie help and doesn’t believe the team is committed to starter Darcy Kuemper. The franchise decision makers, though, are “solid” in their commitment to fourth season coach Mike Yeo and the players like him.

It wouldn’t be surprising if former Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, who has been offered a role with Minnesota, ends up working for the Rangers, Astros or Mets. Gardenhire grew up in Oklahoma and the two Texas teams, the Rangers and Astros, provide proximity to home while the Mets were the team Gardenhire played for in the major leagues.

Former Gustavus Adolphus golf coach Whitey Skoog was recently inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame. Skoog, who retired in January of 1995 after 22 seasons, coached the Gusties to 17 MIAC titles and 12 NCAA Division III tournaments including second place finishes in 1990, 1991 and 1992. The former Gophers All-American basketball player also coached basketball at Gustavus after his NBA career with the Minneapolis Lakers.

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Minneapolis Looking at College Title Game

Posted on December 12, 2014December 12, 2014 by David Shama

Local representatives of the new downtown Vikings stadium will meet leaders from the College Football Playoff next month in Texas with the intent of some day bringing the championship game to Minneapolis.

Michele Kelm-Helgen, chair of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, told Sports Headliners yesterday she will be going to the Dallas area where the first ever College Football Playoff title game is scheduled for January 12 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. She said playoff officials have already expressed interest in the Minneapolis stadium scheduled to open in 2016.

Kelm-Helgen and other stadium representatives—including Meet Minneapolis executive Melvin Tennant who will also go to Texas—have already secured the 2018 Super Bowl and 2019 Final Four for Minnesota. Next up on the priority list is the College Football Playoff Game that annually determines the Division I champion.

Kelm-Helgen said nothing is in place yet to attract the Big Ten Football Championship Game but conversations could develop in 2015. Already discussions have begun with the University of Minnesota regarding a basketball game—or perhaps a tournament—at the $1 billion-plus enclosed stadium.

The stadium project is more than 25 percent complete. With its innovative design, including the huge partially transparent roof, the stadium is expected to be among the most talked about facilities in North America when it opens.

Worth Noting

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer on rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater developing as a leader: “There are so many different types of leaders. I just want him to be himself. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a rah-rah guy, or grab somebody by the throat kind of guy.”

Cordarrelle Patterson has lost his starting assignment and Zimmer said the second-year big play wide receiver must become more consistent. “It’s being in the right place, doing the right things, running the right routes, blocking the right people, lining up in the right place. I don’t know when it’ll happen, and I’m hoping like crazy it does because I want him to be a great player.”

Forty-eight hours prior to games, NFL teams must announce the probability of injured players participating. Fans hear that players are “out” (not scheduled to play); “doubtful” (approximately 25% chance of playing); “questionable” (approximately a 50% chance); “probable” (likely to start).

Former Viking Bob Lurtsema will speak at the January 8 CORES luncheon at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington, 1114 American Blvd. Bob Gustafson, from Grandma’s Marathon, will speak at the March 12 lunch. CORES is an acronym for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans. Reservations for the January 8 program can be made by contacting Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net.

Ex-Viking Joe Webb has a more prominent role with the Panthers now as a backup quarterback following Cam Newton’s injuries from a car accident this week. Derek Anderson will replace Newton as the starter with Webb in reserve. Webb, who played both quarterback and wide receiver for the Vikings before joining the Panthers this year, hasn’t played enough to complete a pass.

Darrin Nelson, the former Viking and Stanford running back, was inducted into the National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall of Fame on Tuesday night.

Zach Zenner, the ex-Eagan High School football player and record-breaking running back at South Dakota State, was awarded an $18,000.00 postgraduate scholarship by the National Football Foundation. A biology major, Zenner has a 3.87 GPA. He is the first player in FCS history to rush for 2,000 yards in each of three seasons.

CollegeFootballNews.com predicted earlier this week the Gophers will defeat Missouri, 34-20, in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl on January 1 in Orlando. The Tigers are about a touchdown favorite to win the game.

Friends are extending best wishes to former Gophers and Detroit Lions tight end Charlie Sanders after cancer surgery on his knee. Sanders was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007.ame.

Paige Tapp, a pre-major Carlson School of Management student at the University of Minnesota, is one of five Big Ten Conference volleyball players who maintain a 4.0 GPA. Earlier this week the sophomore from Stewartville, Minnesota ranked fourth in the country with 1.55 blocks per set.

The Gophers basketball team, 8-2, doesn’t play a game again until December 19 because of semester exams. Coach Richard Pitino has to hope the time off will help redshirt sophomore forward Charles Buggs with his continued recovery from offseason knee injury. Pitino needs Buggs as a key reserve off the bench. Buggs is averaging 4.2 points and two rebounds per game.

Talk about annoying conflicts: The Timberwolves and Gophers men’s basketball team played home games on the same nights of December 5, 8 and 10.

Jared Nuness, the former Hopkins High School basketball player and now an assistant coach for Baylor, will evaluate prep players on Saturday at the Tip Off Classic tournament at Minnetonka High School. Nuness, former Park Center and Bloomington Kennedy head coach, has many recruiting contacts in Minnesota. Tip Off games will include a matchup between two of the best high school teams in the state, Apple Valley and DeLaSalle.

The grand opening of the Minnesota Wild restaurant at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport was Wednesday. The venue is located in Terminal 2 and promotes “gourmet food, live hockey and hockey sticks everywhere.” It is a joint venture between HMS Host and the Wild.

“Restaurants like the new Minnesota Wild venue introduce visitors to Minnesota’s vibrant culture and help differentiate Minneapolis-St. Paul International from other airports,” said Jeff Hamiel, executive director and CEO of the Metropolitan Airports Commission.

Short-fused John McEnroe—along with James Blake, Michael Chang and Andy Roddick—is scheduled to play in the PowerShare Series Tennis Champions Shootout at Target Center on April 29. Minneapolis is part of a 12-city tour next year involving former ATP Tour stars. In each city there are three one-set matches (semifinals and finals) to determine a winner and accumulate points.

At age 55, McEnroe is the senior member of the group coming to Minneapolis but he is still more than a competent player. He won the PowerShare Series points championship this year with 1,600 points and four tournament titles. Blake, who finished No. 2 in the PowerShare standings, said “McEnroe is still playing great.”

McEnroe has long been known as a volatile competitor whose scorn can quickly place a “dark cloud” over a tennis court. “Johnny Mac just doesn’t like to lose,” said Jim Courier who is another player participating on the PowerShare circuit.

Tickets for the event at Target Center range in cost from $37 to $252.

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Bridgewater Chasing Tarkenton Record

Posted on December 1, 2014December 1, 2014 by David Shama

In today’s column why Teddy Bridgewater, who broke one Viking rookie quarterback record yesterday, is on track to break another—and why a Gopher star with remaining eligibility could be gone before next spring.

Bridgewater broke Christian Ponder’s rookie season record of 158 pass completions in yesterday’s 31-18 win over the Panthers. Bridgewater has 173 completions this season, besting Ponder’s total in 2011.

Bridgewater passed for 138 yards against the Panthers. In nine games and eight starts he has 1,827 total passing yards. In franchise history, Frank Tarkenton, with 1,897 yards, holds the club record for passing yards by a rookie quarterback.

Bridgewater, needing only 71 more yards, seems certain to break Tarkenton’s total next Sunday when the Vikings play the Jets at TCF Bank Stadium. Seven times this year Bridgewater has exceeded 150 yards passing, with a season-best 317 against the Falcons.

Ponder is second to Tarkenton among Vikings rookie quarterbacks for most touchdown passes. Tarkenton threw for 18 scores in 1961, while Ponder had 13 his rookie year. Bridgewater has eight touchdown passes and with four games remaining seems unlikely to break Tarkenton’s record.

Known for his slow game starts, and sometimes criticized for inaccuracy, Bridgewater threw two first half touchdown passes yesterday and completed 15 of 21 passes during the game. It was his most accurate performance of the season and his 120.7 rating was the first time he bettered 100.

After the game Bridgewater credited better execution by himself and teammates for the impressive day against the Panthers. He was specific when answering a question about where the improvement has come since his first start back in September.

“I think I’m better at just making quicker decisions,” he said. “…If I’m able to make quicker decisions I’m able to get the ball out faster.”

Has Maxx Williams played his last Big Ten game for the Gophers?

The team’s big play tight end is eligible for the 2015 NFL Draft. Matt Miller, the draft writer for Bleacherreport.com, posted this on November 13:

“The senior tight end class isn’t great for 2015, which is why one area scout I spoke to believes redshirt sophomore Maxx Williams (Minnesota) may come out early. Williams, if he were to declare, would be my top-ranked tight end.”

When asked a couple of times this fall about leaving school early, Williams wouldn’t address the subject other than to say his focus was on the next game. Now the only game remaining is a bowl assignment later this month or early January, with an announcement coming on December 7 or 8 as to where the Gophers are headed.

Williams is one of three finalists for the John Mackey Award, recognizing the nation’s best tight end. Matt Spaeth, a Minnesota native like Williams, won the award in 2006 and he raves about Williams. “He’s got all the tools and does all the right things,” said Spaeth who plays for the Steelers. “His playmaking ability sets him apart from other people. That’s something you either have or don’t have.”

This season Williams has made a couple of catches worthy of storage in the “vault” for best ever receptions by a Gophers tight end. He has shown glue-like hands, body control, speed, toughness, and consistency while establishing himself as the team’s best receiver statistically with 29 receptions for 471 yards and seven touchdowns. His athleticism has even allowed the coaches to use him as a wide receiver.

The word playmaker keeps coming back into the conversation about the 6-4, 250- pound Williams. “The NFL is comprised of playmakers and that’s what he is,” Spaeth said.

But tight ends must block—both on the college and pro levels. For the casual fan blocking is something that can be overlooked with Williams but it’s another of his many attributes. His ability and willingness to block is an important contributor to the Gophers running game, the primary component of the team’s offensive success.

Spaeth didn’t want to offer public advice on whether Williams should leave early for the NFL and the riches that could await. He said, though, another season of college football will “absolutely” help Williams. “The stronger he gets the better off he will be.”

The Mackey Award winner will be announced on December 10. If Williams wins the award, that will heighten his national profile and perhaps encourage him to leave the Gophers for the draft.

Worth Noting

A Gophers source said yesterday the most likely bowl destinations for Minnesota are the December 27 National University Holiday Bowl in San Diego, or two January 1 bowls, the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl in Orlando and the Outback Bowl in Tampa. He acknowledged because the Gophers aggressively recruit the Southeast, the two Florida bowls could be preferred destinations. Minnesota hasn’t played in a Florida bowl game since 2000.

Among the many admirers of Gophers football coach Jerry Kill are members of the Minnesota Football Coaches Association, the organization of high school coaches with a long list of activities promoting their sport. Ron Stolski, the MFCA executive director, praised Kill with these words in an e-mail:

“You demand only the BEST from yourself, your staff and the boys you love. Your example of resilience, spirit, toughness and resolve is infectious, and permeates all you do. You are too humble to ever acknowledge this truth, but I am not, and I sing your much deserved praises at every opportunity.”

The winner of the 2014 Mr. Football Award, sponsored by the Minnesota Football Coaches Association and the Vikings, is Hutchinson High School running back and free safety Robbie Grimsley. He averaged 10.7 yards rushing last season and caused 12 turnovers on defense. He totaled five touchdowns on interception, kickoff and punt returns, and rushing and receiving.

Grimsley, who was announced as the Mr. Football winner at a banquet yesterday at the DoubleTree hotel in St. Louis Park, told Sports Headliners he will accept a scholarship to North Dakota State where he expects to play safety for the Bison.

Grimsley was one of 10 finalists for the award and some of those players, including Prior Lake linebacker and running back Alex Hart, may interest the Gophers as walk-ons. Hart’s brother, redshirt freshman tight end Nick Hart, is on the Minnesota roster now as a walk-on.

Kez Flomo, the running back from Totino-Grace and another finalist, has no Division I offers but his coach, Jeff Ferguson, hopes FCS and Division II offers will be coming. Totino-Grace lost to Eden Prairie in the Class 6A state title game and should be better next season. The Eagles had 16 underclassmen starting, including eight sophomores.

Taste of the NFL Founder Wayne Kostroski, the Minneapolis restaurateur and 2010 James Beard Humanitarian of the Year, was recently presented with the Pedestal Award honoring philanthropy. Taste of the NFL, now entering its 24th year, has distributed more than $22 million through its programs and events to help feed 37 million Americans who have turned to local food banks for assistance.

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