Recruiting – Page 42 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Holmgren Likely to Wait on Decision

Posted on July 7, 2020July 7, 2020 by David Shama

Enjoy a Tuesday notes column with news about prep recruiting, the 3M Open and more.

Don’t look for megastar recruit Chet Holmgren from Minnehaha Academy to announce his college choice this year. While recruits and their families can tire of the relentless contact by recruiters, Holmgren’s father David told Sports Headliners his 7-foot, multi-positional son is unlikely to accept a college basketball scholarship during the fall signing period.

David Holmgren said the most informed decision can be made in the spring because of several factors. Those variables can include the job status of coaches, and transfers going in and out of programs.

Chet Holmgren, who may emerge next winter as the consensus top recruit in the nation for the class of 2021, has a list of seven schools he is focusing on including Minnesota. David, a former Gopher, said his son’s final choice will be “more up to him” than it will be a collaborative family decision.

Totino-Grace tight end Joe Alt, who was a top target for Minnesota’s 2021 recruiting class, verbally committed to Notre Dame yesterday. 247Sports national recruiting analyst Allen Trieu had predicted Alt would choose the Irish over Minnesota, Iowa and other offers.

In a story by Trieu yesterday he quoted John Alt, Joe’s dad, that the recent departure of often praised Iowa strength coach Chris Doyle was a factor in Joe not selecting the Hawkeyes. “He wanted to be trained by (Chris) Doyle and Doyle is gone,” said John Alt, a former Hawkeye. “It fell into place with Notre Dame and it’s hard to argue it.” …

Alt likely is attracted to Notre Dame by a combination of factors including the program’s success in developing NFL linemen, the school’s academic excellence, faith-based values, and storied football tradition. Alt is close to four-star status, per 247Sports.

Jeff Ferguson, who retired as Totino-Grace’s head football coach in February, knows a lot about Alt and has high praise for him as a person and football player. “I think he is just a tremendous prospect,” Ferguson told Sports Headliners.

Alt was a ninth grade quarterback, sophomore inside linebacker and last fall as a junior played tight end for Totino-Grace. In college he projects as an offensive tackle. His adaptability to new positions has been dictated by more than growth spurts that now have him at about 6-7, 240 pounds. “He is very intuitive on the field,” Ferguson said.

Ferguson described Alt as an “amazing” young man who is likeable, level headed and focused on football, academics (near 4.0 student), family and friends.

Ferguson was the Eagles head coach for 18 seasons, winning eight state titles. He continues to work part-time at Totino-Grace in fundraising and while he may coach in the future it won’t be as a head coach.

In March Ferguson’s wife Barb was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has experienced 14 chemo treatments, with three more to go before a mastectomy in September. Ferguson is upbeat about his wife’s health, referring to the cancer as “treatable and curable.”

Spring Lake Park alum Troy Merritt tied for eighth last weekend at the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club. Merritt tied for seventh in last year’s 3M Open, winning almost $180,000 in his home state. This year’s 3M Open field won’t entirely be known until July 17 but tourney boss Hollis Cavner expects Merritt to play.

The PGA Tournament will be July 20-26 at TPC Twin Cities, and Cavner told Sports Headliners Merritt could do well again. “Good story and good contender,” Cavner said.

Merritt not only knows the course but it’s favorable to the Minnesotan’s fairway and short game efficiency. “It’s a second shot course,” Cavner said about TPC, a layout that doesn’t mandate bombing the golf ball off the tee.

Will Tiger Woods play for the first time in the second-year tournament? “We have no clue,” Cavner said while pointing out many players are delaying commitments these days.

How about paying $1,000 for a club seat between the 30 yard lines at US Bank Stadium for the September 13 Vikings-Packers game? That was the top price yesterday at Ticket King, per Mike Nowakowski of the local ticket outlet.

Nowakowski said his business is down 95 percent since March and the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. While his office is taking calls about tickets for the Vikings and college football, he isn’t optimistic about business returning to normal until next year.

There is no word yet about the Vikings allowing fans in US Bank Stadium for games this year but there are ticket buyers despite the uncertainty. The NFL has made its intent clear about having a season but that is subject to debate, with or without spectators.

Nowakowski said prior to March there was an increase in interest in Gophers football tickets. “Before COVID there definitely was some buzz after the (successful) season and the (2020) recruiting class,” Nowakowski said.

Condolences to the family and many friends of Lou Holtz whose wife Beth passed away last week after a long battle with cancer. The legendary Holtz’s coaching stops included the Golden Gophers where he and Beth once were Edina residents.

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Hometowners Loom Big for P.J. Fleck

Posted on June 25, 2020June 25, 2020 by David Shama

The 2021 University of Minnesota football recruiting class is looking like the best of the internet era for the Gophers, but there is still more potential.

Totino-Grace’s Joe Alt and Davon Townley from Minneapolis North could join others who have already made verbal commitments to the Gophers—and the hometowners would be significant additions to the class of 2021 that 247Sports ranks No. 15 in the nation.

Recruiting authority Ryan Burns told Sports Headliners a decision regarding college choice may come from Alt within the next 30 to 60 days. Burns, publisher of GopherIllustrated.com, said a summer timeline has been in place for awhile for the high school tight end who projects as a big time college offensive lineman and could finish his prep career as a four-star player.

Joe’s father John Alt was a great offensive tackle for Iowa but Burns thinks interest in the Hawkeyes might be cooling given the program’s already high count of offensive line prospects. But Notre Dame, where the family also has ties, could be even more competition for the Gophers. With the COVID-19 pandemic, though, a visit to the South Bend campus and meeting with the Fighting Irish coaches hasn’t been possible and might not be in place for awhile.

How that plays out Burns isn’t predicting but he acknowledged the importance of Alt becoming a Gopher could potentially be a “significant milestone.” Fleck and his staff have frequently been frustrated in efforts to land top players from the state of Minnesota, particularly offensive linemen who have instead chosen Nebraska, Notre Dame and Wisconsin. “I think that would represent a very serious win for P.J. Fleck,” Burns said about Alt committing to Minnesota.

The Gophers have lost two defensive linemen who once made verbal commitments including D’Marion Alexander from Texas who backed out just this week. Burns said social justice issues happening in Minnesota this spring prompted the change in plans. The departures puts a focus on Townley, a four-star defensive end.

Quality defensive linemen might play the most prized of all the positions in college football, with Burns believing “supply never meets demand.” Townley is an athletic basketball player turned football star, and Burns praises his skills including a “great first step” that is so important to pass rushers. While Penn State has offered a scholarship, Burns said Minnesota is in the lead for Townley who is related to former Gophers All-Big Ten wide receiver Tyler Johnson.

In the back and forth world of teenagers, players can decommit and recommit again. But Burns doesn’t see that happening with Albert Regis, the other defensive lineman the Gophers lost. He said the four-star Texas native wants to stay closer to home and Minnesota is too far away for him.

Better news for the Gophers among defensive linemen could come with the eventual commitment for the class of 2022 by Trey Bixby, a four-star defensive end from Ohio. Michigan State is among interested schools but Burns said the Gophers could have an edge because the family is originally from Minnesota and Bixby has a strong interest in the program. “He grew up a Gopher fan,” Burns added.

247Sports lists 16 verbal commits for the 2021 class including four-star cornerback Steven Ortiz from Arizona. Not only is Ortiz a talented player, but he has been a vocal leader with the recruiting class. His leadership among fellow recruits reminds Burns of former Gopher Carter Coughlin who while in high school in Eden Prairie was so enthusiastic about Minnesota. “He (Ortiz) is the best recruiting leader Minnesota has had since Carter Coughlin’s class (2016),” Burns said.

Burns expects the 2021 recruiting class to eventually total in the low 20s. He predicted Fleck is in no hurry to use up all his scholarships. A winning 2020 season on the field is predicted, and Minnesota could leverage that success to be a factor with hyped recruits.

Speaking of wide receivers, Burns doesn’t believe Eden Prairie native JD Spielman, who left Nebraska this spring, will transfer to Minnesota. The Gophers have an opening for playing time with Tyler Johnson gone and Spielman was one of the Big Ten’s more explosive receivers at Nebraska. Spielman’s next stop is unknown.

The Gophers do have one of the nation’s best wide receivers in junior Rashod Bateman. CollegeFootballNews.com this week ranked Bateman the No. 7 player in the Big Ten in its listing of the conference’s top 30 players. Minnesota quarterback Tyler Morgan is No. 9. Ohio State QB Justin Fields is No. 1.

Asked about possible breakthrough players among true freshmen from the class of 2020, Burns likes Florida wide receiver Douglas Emilien on offense. Another Florida native, defensive back Jalen Glaze, is his choice on defense, with the possibility for playing time at the nickel position or another spot in the secondary.

No Delay for Miguel Sano Arrival

Club president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners this afternoon there is no anticipated problem in arranging for Minnesota Twins players to report for training in Minneapolis by July 1, including slugger Miguel Sano who is in the Dominican Republic where he encountered a personal issue earlier this month.

“There is no concern about getting Miguel in here,” St. Peter said. “His case (alleged kidnapping) was dismissed today so there is no personal problem.”

The 6-foot-4 Sano encountered off-field issues in the past including a weight problem. Team officials monitored his 2020 offseason training and like the reports. “We expect Miguel to report in shape and ready to go,” St. Peter said.

The 27-year-old had a career season in 2019 for home runs, 34, and RBI, 79. St. Peter said the club doesn’t talk about projected future numbers but clearly there is an expectation of high performance this season and beyond.

After emerging as one of baseball’s better teams last year and adding quality players in the offseason, the Twins talked in spring training about the goal of reaching the 2020 World Series. “That goal remains in front of us today,” St. Peter said.

MLB teams begin the 60-game regular season July 23 or 24. All the Twins games will be on radio and TV. For the first time in 60 seasons the game can be heard in the metro area on both AM (WCCO) and FM (102.9 The Wolf). The addition of FM is expected to help attract a larger listening audience among young fans.

The club’s radio network will be over 80 stations, the second or third largest in MLB, St. Peter said. The radio voices will be Cory Provus and Dan Gladden. Justin Morneau and Bert Blyleven will work a package of games on TV with Dick Bremer, with other analysts expected to join play-by-play man Bremer.

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D-1 NCAA Vote on Tommies Next Week

Posted on June 9, 2020June 9, 2020 by David Shama

Phil Esten, vice president and director of athletics at the University of St. Thomas, told Sports Headliners Monday the NCAA will vote next week whether to approve the Tommies’ request to participate in Division I sports starting with the 2021-2022 school year.

That vote was to have happened in April but got postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tommies are requesting a transition from Division III status to Division I after involuntarily being removed from the D-3 MIAC starting in 2021-2022.

Historically, the NCAA does not allow immediate transition from D-3 to D-1 but for various reasons it’s believed the Tommies are a likely exception. “I remain optimistic (about approval),” Esten said.

Playing at the D-1 level would allow St. Thomas athletes to test themselves against far better competition. After the MIAC’s decision to ask the Tommies to find another home (conference presidents thought UST was too dominant in athletics), school leadership contemplated whether to remain at D-3, or transition to a higher level. The D-1 alternative became more realistic when the Summit League extended an invitation to the Tommies last fall.

The Summit not only provides a home for 19 of the Tommies’ 22 sports (football and men’s and women’s hockey excluded) but the NCAA can also look at other favorable factors encouraging a vote of approval for D-1 status. While the private school has a small undergraduate enrollment of about 6,000, it has a prominent history of academic and athletic success, with generous funding including alumni support. Unlike many states Minnesota only has one D-1 program with the University of Minnesota, so the big time college sports platform here is not crowded.

The Twin Cities media market has to be attractive to the NCAA and Summit League whose full participation schools (all sports offered) in 2019-2020 were Denver, North Dakota, North Dakota State, Omaha, Oral Roberts, South Dakota, South Dakota State and Western Illinois. St. Thomas’ presence in the revenue producing sport of men’s basketball is a plus for future Summit League TV and corporate sponsorship deals. The recruiting base of Twin Cities athletes is also a major asset for Summit League schools.

The COVID-19 epidemic has made the major college athletics landscape uncertain in regard to future revenues. There is plenty of speculation about drastically reducing athletic department budgets including travel. More regional (less national) travel seems all but certain, and that is another reason why Esten believes a D-1 program in the Upper Midwest could benefit not just the Tommies but other schools looking for shorter travel distances with their schedules.

With the Summit League not an option, Esten said he is still “sorting” through where his hockey programs will find new conference homes, but the plan is for the Tommies to be part of the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League whose 10-members last fall consisted of Butler, Davidson, Dayton, Drake, Jacksonville, Marist, Morehead State, San Diego, Stetson, and Valparaiso.

Some of those schools are not exactly located just around the corner from the St. Thomas campus, and travel along with the usual expenses associated with the sport of football will certainly contribute to an overall UST athletics budget expected to jump from about $5 million annually to perhaps $10 million.

Esten declined to offer specifics on budgets but the foreseeable future will have St. Thomas subsidizing its athletics budget as in the past, with revenues not matching expenses. On the fields and courts the Tommies will face more difficult opposition and there could be one-sided results for awhile, with Esten saying the school goes into D-1 territory with “eyes wide open.”

St. Thomas coaches already have and are recruiting D-1 caliber athletes. The Tommies are accustomed to winning championships, and even on the national stage coaches like John Tauer from men’s basketball and football’s Glenn Caruso have had their teams in the news as NCAA D-3 championship contenders.

St. Thomas president Julie Sullivan wrote about the Division I process in an October, 2019 article on the school’s website last fall. In that article she expressed what the school sees as the value of transitioning to D-1 status. “This decision is about more than athletics – it’s about advancing our vision to be a leading Catholic university recognized at the national level. An important outcome of increasing St. Thomas’ visibility, for example, is an ability to attract a more geographically diverse cross section of students who are accomplished in and out of the classroom.

“This additional representation would add value to classroom discussions, campus life, co-curricular activities and virtually every aspect of St. Thomas while providing St. Thomas with the opportunity to extend the reach of our mission and impact. The presence of Division I sports teams will also build on the strong Tommie fan loyalty and provide the campus and alumni with more engaging fan experiences.”

St. Thomas has the internal commitment to become D-1, and now all it needs is NCAA approval next week.

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