Recruiting – Page 86 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Mixed Messages Tag Frazier Era

Posted on December 18, 2013December 18, 2013 by David Shama

Will Leslie Frazier return as the Vikings head coach in 2014?

After Frazier coached the Vikings to a 10-6 record last season and a playoff spot, management and ownership declined to extend his contract. The team reportedly has an option for Frazier’s services in 2014, making it easy and inexpensive to let him go if that is the decision.

But a trusted source has repeatedly told Sports Headliners that in late summer the Vikings were talking about a multi-year extension to Frazier’s contract. If true, this sort of mixed message is part of what characterizes Frazier’s tenure as coach.

Multiple sources, including a Sports Headliners source, are now reporting the Vikings have contacted Penn State head coach Bill O’Brien, a former offensive coordinator with the NFL Patriots. If accurate, it means a coaching search, even if in preliminary mode, has started.

Could Frazier keep his job if the team wins its last two games of the season? A final record of 6-9-1 would be a major disappointment but perhaps not seen as a complete disaster by Frazier’s bosses after this team started the season 1-7.

Frazier was 3-13 two years ago. Two of his three full seasons as head coach haven’t resulted in records even approaching .500. He and his staff, along with the personnel department, haven’t solved the quarterback problem. There have been questionable coaching decisions about the use of certain players, plus stumbles in game management and failing to win in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.

But Frazier’s likeability and leadership has not only won friends in the organization and community but more importantly has kept the players on his side when the season was moving toward oblivion. “These guys have not quit,” said Dean Dalton, a former Vikings assistant coach.

A strong close to the season might save Frazier’s job but it probably won’t stop a shakeup of the coaching staff. Despite Frazier’s loyalty to his staff (and players) there aren’t many knowledgeable Vikings observers who believe offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave and defensive coordinator Alan Williams will return in the same roles in 2014.

Frazier? Ask the question about his future this way: the Vikings haven’t made a long term commitment to him in the past, so based on two losing seasons and other critiques of his work how likely is it he will be retained?

If there’s a change, a lot of names will surface as Frazier’s successor including Brian Billick, the former Vikings assistant coach who won a Super Bowl with the Ravens but hasn’t coached since 2007. His head coaching experience and communication skills could fit well at a time when the Vikings are trying to rebuild the team and gain public confidence for not only next season but the new stadium opening in 2016.

The list could also include Stanford head coach David Shaw whose father Willie Shaw is a former Vikings assistant and Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin, an ex-Gophers assistant whose wife is from Minnesota. Shaw and Sumlin are both known as successful offensive coaches who have talents in developing quarterbacks.

Dalton said there are some differences in coaching college and pro football but not enough to eliminate college candidates for NFL openings. “I think the great ones can do it at any level.”

A successful head coach has to be a “CEO type” in the opinion of Dalton. What that includes is a high football IQ and the ability to attract top assistant coaches while being a teacher and leader who goes about the job with authority and consistency.

“To be honest, Leslie fits all those things,” Dalton said. “It’s been disappointing as to how things have gone in terms of the product on the field and number of victories.”

Worth Noting

Bill McGuire is a name to follow in the coming months and years. The former UnitedHealth executive took over ownership of the NASL Minnesota United FC soccer franchise last year. Some day he could be operating his team in a downtown soccer stadium near the Minneapolis Farmers Market.

McGuire was in Kansas City, Kansas earlier this month along with his son-in-law Nick Rogers who is president of Minnesota United. The two invited Twins president Dave St. Peter and Minnesota Ballpark Authority executive director Dan Kenney. Both are authorities on stadiums.

The group watched a game in Sporting Park, a facility that seats 18,467 for soccer and 25,000 for concerts. The outdoor stadium opened in 2011 and cost $200 million.

St. Peter said the Twins aren’t moving toward an ownership interest in the soccer team or in a new soccer stadium. “Our focus is on the Twins,” he told Sports Headliners.

St. Peter was impressed with the Kansas City stadium. Would a similar facility be successful in the Farmers Market area where business leaders there are intrigued about a stadium being a catalyst for economic growth? “I don’t know if there is a model to support that,” he said. “I am not sure I have enough information to have an opinion.”

Although soccer and baseball seasons are concurrent, St. Peter isn’t concerned about the growth of soccer. “We don’t view soccer as a threat to our fan base,” he said.

McGuire is highly regarded among business people. He probably doesn’t see his franchise’s present home site at the National Sports Center in Blaine as a permanent facility for the team. It wouldn’t be surprising to some day see an open air soccer facility downtown that could also be used for concerts and other events.

For the second time in five years the MIAC will provide the football officiating crew for the Division III national championship game in Salem, Virginia. Working Friday’s game between Mount Union and UW-Whitewater will be Twin Citians Tom Barnette, Tony Day, Tom Schiller, Josh Thurow, Ben Conley, Chris Rossini and Tom Gillund.

Washburn running back Jeff Jones liked Iowa State running backs coach Kenith Pope who was recruiting him but left the Cyclones staff recently. As a college assistant, Pope was part of staffs that coached legendary running backs Barry Sanders and LaDainian Tomlinson. Jones made an official visit to Iowa State last weekend after previously visiting the Gophers.

Washburn coach Giovan Jenkins told Sports Headliners Jones has improved his ACT score and plans to take the test again to score even higher.

Steve Erban e-mailed earlier this week that his Creative Charters has filled the seats on the December 25 airplane headed to Houston for the Texas Bowl but space remains on the second plane departing Minneapolis on December 26. Erban encourages Gophers fans to travel next week in large numbers, helping develop a reputation that Minnesota fans are passionate about attending bowl games. The Gophers are favored to defeat Syracuse on December 27 in the Texas Bowl. More on travel information at Creativecharter.com.

Former Vikings assistant coach Dean Dalton has followed the improbable comeback season of Auburn. The 11-1 Tigers will play at the Rose Bowl for the national championship against 12-0 Florida State on January 6. Dalton will be there and see his son Devon, an Eden Prairie High School graduate, play the tuba in the Auburn marching band. The Tigers were 3-9 overall last season, 0-8 in the SEC.

Congratulations to Hamline’s Student Athletic Advisory Committee for thinking about U.S. military members in Afghanistan during the holidays. SAAC collected 342 pounds of items including food, shampoo and toothpaste to ship there. SAAC has members from 19 sports and is chaired by volleyball coach Becky Egan. Tara Dooley, Hamline’s assistant trainer who served in Iraq and Kuwait, and school athletic director Jason Verdugo initiated the overseas effort.

Johnson High School and alumni celebrate 100 years of hockey at the St. Paul school on Saturday with multiple events. The school won four state titles including the 1955 team that Herb Brooks played for. Alumni games will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at Phalen Arena in St. Paul. Johnson will play South St. Paul in junior varsity and varsity games at 1 and 3 p.m. at Aldrich Arena in Maplewood. A dinner and silent auction are scheduled Saturday at Jimmy’s Event Center in Vadnais Heights starting at 5 p.m.

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Frazier Not Sure about Peterson Status

Posted on December 9, 2013December 9, 2013 by David Shama

Football, basketball and baseball notes:

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier described the potential of Cordarrelle Patterson as “very special” today and offered a review of injured players including All-Pro Adrian Peterson at his afternoon news conference.

Patterson, the rookie wide receiver and kickoff returner, was superb yesterday in the 29-26 loss to the Ravens. He caught five passes for 141 yards including a late fourth quarter touchdown reception of 79 yards. Can Patterson become an elite NFL player?

“Oh, there’s no question about it,” Frazier answered. “…He’s showing that in some of the things he does when the ball is in his hands. He has a chance to be very special for a long time.”

The Vikings’ offense is making more use of the rookie now than earlier in the season but Frazier doesn’t regret the team’s cautious approach. “We had a plan from… the day we drafted him and how we wanted to bring him along, and it’s worked out beautifully.

“You see the things he’s done now but I don’t know if those things would have occurred in September or October if we didn’t take the approach that we took. I think we did it the right way to get the results we wanted to be able to get at this time of the year.”

Peterson sustained a foot injury in yesterday’s game. Frazier said the team is awaiting test results later today and consultation from a “foot doctor.” The coach isn’t sure of Peterson’s availability for Sunday’s home game against the Eagles, nor is Frazier sure he will have second unit running back Toby Gerhart who has a hamstring injury.

Frazier hoped to have tight end Kyle Rudolph back by now from his foot injury but instead the Vikings will place him on injured reserve and his 2013 season is finished. Frazier said quarterback Christian Ponder, who missed yesterday’s game because of concussion concerns, will be available for the Eagles. The staff will meet today to discuss the quarterback starter for Sunday’s game.

Vikings fan Steve Nestor predicts the team will have the sixth pick in the first round of next spring’s NFL Draft and select Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr who has thrown 48 touchdown passes this season and averaged 405.5 yards per game passing.

Jeff Jones, the Washburn running back who won the state’s Mr. Football Award yesterday, wants to visit Iowa State, Michigan State and Missouri before making his college choice. Those trips haven’t been scheduled but Jones took his first official college visit over the weekend to Minnesota, and pronounced it an “honest” look at the Gophers where he heard from players already in the program.

What would Jones decide if he chose a college yesterday? “If I had to commit this afternoon, yeah, it would be the University of Minnesota,” he said on Sunday.

The Gophers, with a bowl game remaining, have an 8-4 record, and the most wins since the 2003 team won 10 games. Winning in college is important to Jones.

“I grew up here in Minnesota. I watched Minnesota lose a lot of games,” Jones said. “Just to be from here and to see that they’re doing better, it puts a smile on my face because there are a lot of good players that came out of Minnesota that chose different colleges because they were losing. I feel like it gives us incentive to stay home now.”

Gophers coach Jerry Kill has made the right impression with Jones. “He changed that program around. They really believe in the brick-by-brick foundation.”

Jones will play in the prestigious Under Armour Game, a national all-star prep game to be held on January 2 in Orlando. He may announce his college choice around the first of the year. “If I get a couple more visits in before the Under Armour Game there is a good possibility,” he said. “If I don’t get any visits in I think I am going to have to wait until the signing day.”

High school players can sign National Letters of Intent binding them to a school on February 5, 2014. If Minnesota is Jones’ choice he will be competing for playing time next year against all the Gophers top running backs who are in the program now including starter David Cobb who has rushed for 1,111 yards this season and Berkley Edwards, a speedy freshman who is being redshirted. “I feel like it will be good competition with the running backs over there,” Jones said. “It’s going to be a dogfight next year between four or five of us there.”

Jones, a four year starter who ran for 4,668 yards at Washburn while also being a slot receiver and safety, is the only Rivals.com four-star player among those who have made verbal commitments so far to the Gophers in the class of 2014. A two-time City MVP and all-state player, Jones said winning the Mr. Football Award is a “great cherry on top of the ice cream.”

Jones was one of 10 finalists for the award, one of the projects by the Minnesota Football Coaches Association and Vikings to promote prep football. The award banquet was held yesterday at the DoubleTree Hotel in St. Louis Park .

Golden Valley-based Buffalo Wild Wings, sponsor of the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl in Tempe, Arizona, was probably lobbied by the Gophers as a bowl game destination. With large numbers of Minnesotans in the Phoenix area, the Gophers figured to have strong support at the game. But it will be Michigan and Kansas State in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl on December 28 while the Gophers will play Syracuse on December 27 in the Texas Bowl in Houston.

The St. Thomas football program is looking for an offensive coordinator, a full-time 12 month position. Three years of college coaching experience is required. The school posted the opening last week.

The Gophers basketball team, 8-2, plays South Dakota State, 4-6, tomorrow night at Williams Arena. The two programs have played nonconference games against one another for eight consecutive years. The Gophers are 16-0 in the series that dates back to 1930.

The Gophers are averaging 77.4 points per game, the most for Minnesota since the 83.3 points average in 1989-90. The Gophers’ offense often looked stagnant under former coach Tubby Smith but this season players appear more comfortable.

Senior guard Maverick Ahanmisi said the offense is less structured now with new coach Richard Pitino encouraging players to move the ball up court quickly and often take a shot. “Coach tells us he wants us to run the show,” Ahanmisi said.

Playing fast offense and full court defense takes energy. Pitino and strength and conditioning coach Shaun Brown have “transformed everybody’s body,” according to Ahanmisi. He said his body fat has changed from 8.8 percent to 7.9. Mo Walker said his declined from 18 percent to “11 or 12.”

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo will be in Rice Lake, Wisconsin tomorrow night to watch Rice Lake High School center Henry Ellenson, brother of Gophers forward Wally Ellenson.

Security was tight for those involved with last week’s scheduled game in Mexico City involving the Spurs and Timberwolves that ended up being postponed because of a fire in the arena. Even staff members from the two organizations weren’t allowed to leave the hotel without an NBA security person accompanying them in the streets of Mexico City.

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said on WCCO Radio yesterday morning the Spurs-Wolves game might be rescheduled for April 8 at Target Center.

Matt Thornton, the new owner of Jay Buckley’s Baseball Tours, e-mailed that the LaCrosse, Wisconsin-based company has 30 trips scheduled for 2014 including to spring training sites, the College World Series, MLB’s All-Star Game and MLB regular season games. More at Jaybuckley.com.

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Gophers Hoops Schedule Needs a Fix

Posted on December 4, 2013December 4, 2013 by David Shama

Despite an 8:30 p.m. tipoff, wintry weather and losses in two of their last three games, the Gophers attracted their second largest home crowd of the nonconference season last night against Florida State. The announced attendance of 11,386 was no surprise because Florida State is by far the most attractive opponent on the early schedule.

The game was part of the annual Big Ten/ACC Challenge and in alternate years that guarantees the Gophers will schedule a home nonconference game with more box office appeal than usual. But for many years now the nonconference schedule has been filled with the likes of Bethune-Cookman, Chicago State and Coastal Carolina, with “highlight” games against schools from the Dakotas.

With Gophers season ticket holders paying some of the higher prices in the country to watch college basketball, the interest of patrons should count for more. “Unfortunately it doesn’t but it should,” former Gophers coach Jim Dutcher told Sports Headliners.

This fall the Gophers haven’t been approaching sellouts in the 14,625 seat Williams Arena. Through Big Ten nonconference games as of last Sunday the Gophers had the third lowest average attendance in the 12-team league. Minnesota’s 10,974 average was better than only Northwestern and Penn State.

Most major conference basketball teams, the Gophers included, schedule weaker opponents in November and December to build up their records hoping to later qualify for the NCAA Tournament. That’s reality but Dutcher and others believe in a competitive sports market like Minneapolis there needs to be some balance in Minnesota’s schedule.

Dutcher’s teams played home and away games with Iowa State, Kansas State, Louisville and Marquette. “We (also) played South Dakota State and North Dakota State, and some of those (teams), but we wanted to have some challenging home games. Recently, with Minnesota, the only challenging home games they’ve had are those they had to play, the ACC challenge.”

In recent years the Gophers have faced a few of the marquee names in college basketball on neutral courts — Duke, Louisville, North Carolina and Syracuse. It might be difficult to bring a school like that to Minneapolis but the new Vikings dome could be alluring enough with a big payday and national TV audience to make that happen in 2016 or beyond.

More doable would be a home nonleague schedule anchored by at least two major conference opponents (excluding an ACC team) who have name recognition even if they aren’t among the absolute elites of college basketball. An easy suggestion for part of the plan is to have either Iowa State or Marquette here every year. Playing those neighboring schools at home and away would add a lot of energy to the nonconference schedule.

Dutcher fondly remembers in 1978 and 1980 when his team beat Louisville at Williams Arena and also in Louisville. Playing big time schools excites fans and players. “Your players love it,” Dutcher said. “They want the challenge. They don’t want to beat Mount Whoever, that’s no thrill.”

When Tubby Smith coached the Gophers he didn’t bring top box office teams to Minneapolis. “You gotta decide if you’re trying to build a program or you’re trying to build a record,” Dutcher said. “If you’re trying to build a record you schedule soft. If you’re trying to build a program you accept some challenges.”

Last month came news the Gophers and Louisville are likely to play a game on an aircraft carrier next November. Matching Richard Pitino against his dad Rick Pitino is something Gophers fans have been anticipating for awhile. It’s just that the fan base hoped a game would land here.

Worth Noting

The largest nonconference attendance so far this season for the Gophers was for Pitino’s debut as coach, 12,957 on a Friday night last month against Lehigh.

Pitino impressed again last night with his coaching as a less talented Gophers team defeated Florida State 71-61. The passionate coach threw his jacket off in the second half, then later whipped his tie off, too.

Weather and logistics have been concerns with past games played on aircraft carriers. Dutcher said when San Diego State and Syracuse played last year it was so windy no three-point shots could be attempted. “I think the shine is off those games,” Dutcher said. “That show has left town.”

Dutcher’s son Brian is head coach in waiting at San Diego State where he is associate head coach for the Aztecs. Head coach Steve Fisher has led the Aztecs to a 97-0 record when leading with five minutes remaining in games.

Condolences to Twin Cities marketing authority Billy Robertson on the passing of his mother Gwen Robertson. A celebration of her life will be held on Friday in St. Paul at Lumen Christi Catholic Church with visitation from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and funeral service/mass from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.

Jeff Jones, the Washburn four-star running back per Rivals.com, will make his official visit to the University of Minnesota Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Jones, who has verbally committed to the Gophers, will be picked up on campus Sunday morning by Washburn coach Giovan Jenkins and the two will attend the Mr. Football Banquet later that day.

Jenkins said Jones has accepted an invitation to play in the prestigious January 2 Under Armour All-America Game in Orlando. Jenkins is going to encourage Jones to finish all his official visits to schools before January 2 and Jones might announce his college choice at the Under Armour game.

Jones is one of 10 finalists for the Mr. Football award. The 2013 winner will be announced on Sunday, December 8 at the DoubleTree Hotel in St. Louis Park. Tickets are $15 and can be ordered on the MFCA website (click on MFCA ad on this page). The banquet begins at noon.

There are multiple reasons the football Gophers look forward to playing in a bowl game including the social aspect. Spending time at a bowl game site means arriving days in advance and having more opportunity than usual for players to be together.

“It’s like a big vacation, just having fun with your teammates,” Gophers cornerback Brock Vereen said.

That fun can include playing video games and dancing. Asked about a favorite memory, Vereen said:

“Any of the locker room dance battles is definitely a highlight. There’s been many. Everybody on the team thinks they can dance but (defensive back) Jeremy Baltazar is definitely one of the best dancers on the team. He just wings it. I don’t think there is a name for some of the stuff he does.”

Quarterback Philip Nelson values the extra practices allowed as part of bowl game preparation. “I think that’s where you make big strides as a team so I am really excited to get those extra 15 practices,” said Nelson.

The Gophers will hear about their bowl destination next week. This week and next they concentrate on academics, strength training and conditioning. The coaches will be on the road recruiting.

Local sports author and motivational speaker Ross Bernstein is scheduled for presentations in Australia, Singapore and South Africa. Bernstein will be in Australia next month when the Australian Open is played. He plans to spend time in Australia with Minnesota native and doubles star Eric Butorac.

The Twin Cities Dunkers breakfast group has a Dunkers Fund that assists the athletic departments at Minneapolis and St. Paul public high schools. Two years ago the fund awarded $32,500 to schools and this year over $70,000. Assistance has included monies for uniforms and equipment.

St. Paul Pioneer Press sportswriter Bruce Brothers retired last Friday. His assignments over the years included beat writer for the Wild.

Former Gophers and U.S. Olympic hockey trainer Gary Smith works for the Institute for Athletic Medicine. His assignments include being the athletic trainer for Eden Prairie High School teams.

The Swarm, the local professional box lacrosse franchise that starts its 10^th season in Rochester, New York on December 28, is partnering with Goldy’s Locker Room to sell merchandise and tickets at 10 locations.

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