Recruiting – Page 72 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

U Contractor Role Next for Jerry Kill

Posted on February 29, 2016February 29, 2016 by David Shama

The public may not understand that Jerry Kill will have a role with the University of Minnesota in the coming weeks. News reports last week made it clear the former Gophers football coach and the University couldn’t agree on a full-time position for Kill, but he has accepted an invitation to be an independent contractor for his ex-employer.

Kill was upbeat speaking to Sports Headliners on Friday from Las Vegas where he was vacationing with family. His conversations with Gophers’ interim athletic director Beth Goetz led to an understanding that Kill, depending on his schedule, will be available to appear at University events. “I said whatever works out, if you need me, give me a call,” Kill said.

Goetz tweeted the following last week: “Looking forward to continuing our relationship with Jerry, already planning some great engagement this spring.” (An unsuccessful request for an interview with Goetz was made by Sports Headliners.)

Kill said dates and specifics regarding events for the University are so far undetermined. Since moving from Minneapolis to his lake home in Illinois, Kill has become self-employed with a busy schedule that includes public speaking.

“I don’t know how many times (for University activities)—or even if I am going to be available—because I’ve got a pretty good (busy) schedule,” Kill said. “I think they’re trying to tie some things in there because I am speaking in Minnesota twice in March. I am probably speaking six or seven days in Minnesota in the month of April, so I think I can tie some things in when I am there.”

Kill is revered by University boosters. At the time he resigned as head coach last fall because of his health, he had become the face of the athletic department and the most popular University figure. His influence with school supporters, including financial donors, is needed by the University including for the still in progress fundraising for the Athletes Village project.

Will Kill, as an independent contractor, be asked to raise funds? “If they ask me (to be) in a donor situation, I have no problems with it,” he said. “It’s whatever they need me to do. I have no problems at all.”

Friends of Kill wish he and the University had reached agreement on a full-time position. It appears a stumbling block to such an agreement was defining a role that included the lifetime coach having direct interaction with student-athletes.

Kill, 54, will be in Fort Worth this week helping Gary Patterson, the TCU coach, evaluate the Horned Frogs football team. Kill is still shaping his post-football life but is already involved with speaking assignments, looking after his Chasing Dreams Fund through the Epilepsy Foundation, and writing a book.

Last week he was having fun in Las Vegas with wife Rebecca, and Kill’s brother and his wife. “We don’t ever get to do these kinds of things because we’ve been involved in football so much,” Kill said. “So this is a real treat.”

Did he win any money in Vegas? “No, I haven’t won any money. The first night I dropped $90 and quit.”

Worth Noting

Rivals.com Gophers basketball writer Ryan James praises Rochester John Marshall senior guard Michael Hurt. James said Hurt, who will be on scholarship with the Gophers next season, excels at catching and shooting the ball. He described Hurt as a “hard worker,” effective team defender and a player with a high on-court I.Q. “You can trust Michael,” James told Sports Headliners.

The Gophers’ only scheduled men’s basketball game this season with Wisconsin is Wednesday night at Williams Arena. The Badgers, among the nation’s winningest programs since 2000, have built part of their success on recruiting Minnesota high school players. Wisconsin’s roster this season includes Minnesota natives and reserves Alex Illikainen and Jordan Smith. Illikainen, a 6-9 freshman from Grand Rapids, is averaging 10.9 minutes per game and 2.6 points. Smith, a 6-3 redshirt senior guard from Orono, averages 1 minute and 0.6 points per game.

Gophers football coach Tracy Claeys said that despite going into spring practice tomorrow with a new offensive coordinator “probably about 75 percent of the offense is the same.” As for position switches of players, defensive lineman Mose Hall is moving to offensive tackle for a trial period. Claeys said after five or six practices evaluation will be made about other players possibly switching positions.

Ex-quarterback Chris Streveler will continue as a wide receiver and special teams player. Claeys said he didn’t see a scenario right now where Streveler, who for much of last year was a QB, would return to that position. “The kid works hard,” Claeys said. “He’s a good athlete (and) he loves the game of football.”

Former Gophers administrator Phil Esten, who helped lead planning for TCF Bank Stadium, is involved with a review of Penn State’s facilities for its 800 athletes. Esten is deputy director of athletics and chief operating officer for the Nittany Lions athletic department.

The Minnesota High School Football Coaches Association will sponsor two all-star games for seniors this year. The June 25 game for 2016 seniors will be at Husky Stadium in St. Cloud. The December 10 game for 2017 seniors will be at the new downtown U.S. Bank Stadium. In 2017 and after, there will be only one all-star game per year and it will be played in December at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Former Eden Prairie High School running back Anthony Anderson is now at Iowa Western Community College and has a scholarship offer from Marshall University, but is still deciding on his college football future, according to Western coach Scott Strohmeier.

The first of 11 Twins spring training games on Fox Sports North will be this Thursday when Minnesota plays the Red Sox in Fort Myers starting at 6:05 p.m.

Rick Prescott from Minneapolis has written a book called “The Dome Is Down: Saying Goodbye to the Metrodome.” The dedication page says, “This book is dedicated to anyone who just before entering the Metrodome for an indoor baseball game on a sunny day, looked up at a beautiful blue sky and thought, ‘Today would be a great day for outdoor baseball.’ ”

WCHA commissioner Bill Robertson is expecting near sellout or sellout crowds for the women’s WCHA Final Face-Off on Saturday and Sunday at Ridder Arena. “We’ve got three of the top 10 ranked teams in the country competing in this tournament, which is outstanding,” he told Sports Headliners.

In the latest USCHO.com national poll Minnesota is ranked No. 2, followed by Wisconsin at No. 3, and North Dakota No. 8. Minnesota Duluth is the fourth team in the tournament involving WCHA teams who advanced from the first round of playoff games.

Wisconsin and Minnesota Duluth face off at 2 p.m. on Saturday, then starting at 5 p.m. the Gophers play North Dakota in the second semifinal. Winners advance to Sunday’s championship game at 2 p.m.

General admission and reserved seating are available for the tournament. More information about tickets is on the Gophers and WCHA websites.

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U Fans Guessing on WR Recruit

Posted on February 2, 2016February 2, 2016 by David Shama

Former Gophers assistant head coach Matt Limegrover, now offensive line coach at Penn State, is trying to persuade four-star wide receiver Dredrick Snelson to sign his National Letter of Intent with the Nittany Lions tomorrow.

Ryan Burns, publisher of Scout’s GopherDigest.com, told Sports Headliners Limegrover has visited Snelson’s Florida home and last weekend he was on the Penn State campus. But recruiting authority Matt Jessen-Howard tweeted a quote on Sunday where Snelson said Gophers fans should not worry about his loyalty.

Snelson gave a verbal commitment to the Gophers last summer but there has been ongoing speculation he has or will change his mind. Burns, who has been covering recruiting for five years, has seldom seen such intrigue involving a recruit.

Burns said Snelson has sent mixed messages. “Penn State is confident they’re going to get him,” Burns said. “Central Florida, where he has been twice this month (January), is confident they’re going to get him. The Gophers are thinking they’re going to land him.

“Two out of the three parties are going to be wrong. We won’t find out until Wednesday morning. How does it end? I think it ends he signs with Minnesota but I’ve been wrong before and I’ll be wrong again. …”

Burns described Snelson, from Pembroke Pines, Florida, as “media savvy” and someone who enjoys the recruiting publicity. On the telephone he found Snelson to be respectful and a “nice kid.”

Snelson, about 5-11, 200-pounds, has impressive but not dominating physical skills. He is projected as a slot receiver with the Gophers and Burns believes Snelson could be ready as a freshman to succeed 2015 starter K.J. Maye who used up his eligibility.

Snelson, along with Eden Prairie High School linebacker Carter Coughlin, is one of only two consensus four-star recruits who have verbally pledged to the Gophers. Not many Florida four-star recruits commit to Minnesota but Burns believes Snelson likes how the Gophers use the slot receiver and that he sees an opportunity to play early in his career. New Gophers offensive coordinator Jay Johnson, who replaced Limegrover, has been involved with recruiting Snelson since last month.

In recent years the Gophers’ receiving roster has lacked impact players and no doubt Snelson is aware of that. Burns said in-state receivers Drew Hmielewski from Marshall and Phillip Howard from Robbinsdale Cooper may have even better potential as college players than Snelson.

Recruiting Websites list 19 players as part of the Gophers’ 2016 class. Burns believes the verbal commitments of all are solid except for Snelson and Coney Durr who visited Virginia Tech last weekend. Durr, a three-star recruit from Geismar, Louisiana, is a defensive back.

Worth Noting

The Gophers’ commitment list has only one running back, Butler (Kansas) Community College transfer Kobe McCrary. Gophers head coach Tracy Claeys said on WCCO “Radio’s Sports Huddle” on Sunday recruiting running backs has been a challenge because freshmen Shannon Brooks and Rodney Smith were so successful last fall.

McCrary, about 6-1 and 230-pounds, gives the Gophers a backup to Brooks and Smith. He has more size than either of them and helps replace power running Rodrick Williams who was a senior last year.

The Big Ten Network will have Big Ten coverage of Signing Day tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Central Time. As of yesterday Scout.com listed three Big Ten programs in the top 10 nationally: Ohio State, No. 2; Michigan, No. 5; and Michigan State No. 7. Minnesota is No 43.

Part of the network’s coverage tomorrow will be Michigan’s “Signing with the Stars” event featuring celebrities from sports, music and entertainment. Celebrities expected to attend are Tom Brady, John Harbaugh, Derek Jeter, Jim Leyland, Denard Robinson, NASCAR’s Brad Keslowski, wrestling’s Ric Flair and others. They will introduce head coach Jim Harbaugh’s 2016 football class.

Jaylon Boston is a name for Gophers fans to follow in the next 12 months. “He is a hell of a player,” said McKinley Boston, Jaylon’s grandfather and the former Gophers athletic director.

Jaylon lives with his grandfather in New Mexico and attends Centennial High School in Las Cruces. As a sophomore, the 5-10, 185-pound running back was second team all-state, but because of what his grandfather described as a “medical” situation he didn’t play as a junior. Boston said New Mexico State, where his grandfather was athletic director until about a year ago, is looking at Jaylon but the Gophers aren’t.

Despite speculation to the contrary, don’t give up on the University of Minnesota and former football coach Jerry Kill being able to develop a new position for him at the school. There has been contact between the two parties.

Gophers senior guard Rachel Banham could end the season as the Big Ten’s scoring leader. In 21 games she is averaging 24.3 points per game and ranks second behind Ohio State’s Kelsey Mitchell, 25.3 points. Banham has scored 20 or more points in nine consecutive games and has done that 19 times this season. Former Hopkins High School standout Nia Coffey, a junior forward at Northwestern, is fifth in scoring at 20 points per game and first in rebounding at 10.4.

Although the Gophers lost at Michigan on Sunday, they have won four of their last five games. Minnesota, 14-7 overall and 6-4 in the Big Ten, won those games by seven points or less, and the Gophers have shown the ability to close out opponents in the fourth quarter. The Gophers play Rutgers, 13-9 and 4-6, at home on Thursday night.

Former Timberwolves assistant Eric Musselman is drawing attention in his first season as head coach at the University of Nevada. Nevada’s pregame ball handling warm-up is a hit and the team is playing competitively in the Mountain West.

Musselman, who was a head coach in the NBA with the Kings and Warriors, might be on a list of candidates if the Timberwolves make a coaching change. Interim Timberwolves head coach Sam Mitchell is trying out for the permanent job. Other potential candidates perhaps could include Tom Thibodeau, the former Timberwolves assistant and ex-Bulls head coach who is well-known for his defensive teachings.

Connor Nord, the former St. Thomas basketball center whose final season was 2014-2015, has been playing professionally in Germany, and plans to continue his career in Europe. Marcus Alipate, a combo guard who played four seasons with Nord at St. Thomas, will be playing pro ball in New Zealand.

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Wallace Wants Vikings Return in 2016

Posted on December 18, 2015December 18, 2015 by David Shama

Vikings wide receiver Mike Wallace is headed toward his fewest receptions since his rookie year of 2009. His contract doesn’t guarantee he will return to the team, but he wants to stay in Minnesota.

Wallace was acquired last March in a trade with the Dolphins to give the Vikings a deep-threat among their receiving corps. His contract reportedly pays him close to $10 million this season, but doesn’t assure a paycheck or roster spot next season from Minnesota. The Vikings can let him go at no cost to them, according to reports.

After a rookie season when Wallace caught 39 balls, he has totaled 60 or more receptions each year. Twice he has had more than 70 catches in a year, but this season, with three regular season games remaining, he has just 33.

Mike Wallace (photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings.)

Wallace has started every game except one but in three of those games never caught a pass. His games with the most receptions have totaled eight, six and four. It seems at times he has been used as a decoy, opening up space on the field for others. On other occasions he has been part of a failed Vikings passing attack characterized by poor blocking and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater’s inconsistencies.

Whatever the reasons for Wallace’s miniscule totals that include just two touchdown catches, he admitted being frustrated at times.

“Of course. I’d be lying to you if I said I didn’t (get frustrated),” Wallace told Sports Headliners. “I’ve been like three or four games where I had zero catches. Of course you’re going to be upset, but…probably all three of those games we won, so it’s bittersweet. Definitely, first things first is win, but at the end of the day you’re still on the field and you want to do personal things. At the same time you gotta stay positive.”

The Vikings won two of the three games Wallace referenced, defeating the Bears and Falcons while losing to the Packers. In those games and all season he said he remained upbeat. He hasn’t voiced concerns, or made complaints, to coaches.

Wallace likes his teammates and coaches. They support one another and that has everything to do with wanting to remain a Viking. He is all about wanting to return in 2016.

“I love this team,” Wallace said. “I love the guys on this team. I love the coaches. It’s fun. These guys give me energy. …”

Starting this Sunday with a home game against the Bears, Wallace hopes for opportunities to be more involved as the 8-5 Vikings compete for the NFC North championship and a playoff run. The 29-year-old known for his extraordinary speed, wants a fast finish to the season.

“I am trying to, man,” Wallace said. “I am focused on it. I want it to happen. I love being on this team. I want to give myself the best chance to be on this team, try to have a strong finish. …”

Worth Noting

The Vikings had to score 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to defeat the Bears in Chicago last month. Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery caught 10 passes for 116 yards and one touchdown.

It’s likely the Bears offense will feature a lot of quick screen passes to their receivers on Sunday—something the team has favored in its offense for a couple of seasons.

The Vikings started six rookies in their last game on December 10, the most in franchise history. Starting against the Cardinals were offensive tackle T.J. Clemmings, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, linebackers Eric Kendricks and Edmond Robinson, cornerback Trae Waynes and safety Anthony Harris.

The Vikings have scored 11 special teams touchdowns since coordinator Mike Priefer joined the franchise in 2011—tied with the Eagles for the most in the NFL during that span.

Want to be a volunteer for the 2018 Super Bowl in Minneapolis? Maureen Bausch, the Minneapolis-based executive in charge of planning and executing the week-long celebration for the Super Bowl here, told Sports Headliners she expects about 8,000 volunteers will be needed for activities and events. Anyone applying will be vetted four times including online.

Bausch doesn’t expect a problem reaching the 8,000 total and anyone interested can sign up in the summer of 2017. The best way to stay knowledgeable about the process and Super Bowl 2018 news is to sign up now for email notifications at mnsuperbowl.com. And, no, you don’t receive a game ticket if you volunteer.

Mikko Koivu in Wild's Stadium Series uniform. — Mikko Koivu in Wild’s Stadium Series uniform.

The Wild will unveil the 2016 NHL Stadium Series Alumni uniform on Monday during the team’s game against the Stars at Xcel Energy Center. The Stadium Series uniform current Wild players will wear was unveiled in late November and jersey sales to fans have been so brisk club officials were anticipating another shipment before Christmas.

Tickets remain for the 2016 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series weekend February 20-21. Starting at 4 p.m. on February 20 alumni from the Wild and North Stars will face alums from the Blackhawks. The next day beginning at 2:30 p.m. the Wild play the Blackhawks. Both games will be held outdoors at TCF Bank Stadium.

Former Gophers basketball player Jamal Abu-Shamala is now a financial services representative with Principal Financial Group and offices in Minnetonka.

Undefeated Hopkins is ranked No. 7 among midwest boys basketball teams by USA Today following last Saturday’s 89-81 win over previously unbeaten Apple Valley. The Royals are No. 25 in USA Today’s national rankings. Last week Apple Valley was No. 16 in the rankings but now is unranked.

Iowa Western Community College assistant coach James Bankhead is recruiting Minneapolis North forward Jamil Jackson and St. Croix Lutheran guard Ade Murkey. Iowa Western’s roster this season includes sophomore guard Andre Wallace who played at Eden Prairie High School. Iowa Western is ranked No. 10 in the latest NJCAA poll of Division I programs.

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