Stadiums – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

100 Special Number as U Gets Jug Win over Michigan

Posted on October 4, 2026October 4, 2026 by David Shama

Minnesota scored a win for the history books yesterday with its 20-14 victory over Michigan in the 100^th game to determine possession of the Little Brown Jug. The victory also gave P.J. Fleck his 100^th career (Gophers and Western Michigan) coaching win.

Gopher football coach P.J. Fleck — P.J. Fleck

The Gophers defeated the Wolverines at home for the first time since 1977 and only third time this millennium. An emotional Fleck said other than marrying his wife and birth of his children, Saturday may have been “the best day” of his life.

Fleck crowd surfed on the set of Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff” prior to the 11 a.m. game. After the game, as usual following a victory, the exuberant 45-year-old did his surfing routine in the locker room with his jubilant players.

Thousands from the delirious sellout crowd stormed the field in celebration following the nationally televised game. Stadium speakers blasted “Mr. Brightside” by the Killers. It was a troll on the visitors with the song being a favorite at Michigan Stadium.

The Gophers, 4-1 overall, have started the Big Ten season 2-0 for the first time since 2019. That team finished 11-2 including a bowl win over Auburn and excelled at one score wins.

The 2026 Gophers had a big three-point win at Washington last weekend and sustained success against the Michigan team ranked top 25 earlier in the year.

Minnesota’s program has a long history of losing games following quality upsets against prominent foes. That was the case in 1977 when Minnesota defeated No. 1 Michigan 16-0 at old Memorial Stadium. The next two Saturdays the Gophers lost Big Ten games.

But yesterday for Gopher fans was a time to savor a Jug triumph and remember the best of the past in the series. Minnesota not only has the win in the 100^th matchup but also won in the 50^th meeting when the Gophers upset No. 5 Michigan in Minneapolis in 1953.

The all-time record in battles for the Jug stands at 73-24-3 in Michigan’s favor. The rivalry wasn’t always so lopsided in the battle for possession of college football’s oldest travelling trophy that had its inception after the 1903 tie between the two schools. The Gophers beat Michigan nine consecutive times from 1934-1942. And took three straight from 1960-1962.

The old-timers reveled in the Michigan rivalry. Mike Wilkinson, now in his 80s and author of the biography on former Gophers’ coach Murray Warmath, posted this on the Sports Headliners website last week: “My old man used to say that if…(Minnesota) lost every game and its lone victory was against Michigan then the season was a success.”

Well, the Gophers will get more wins than the Little Brown Jug triumph this year but the victory will stand close or at the top of 2026 highlights. Wouldn’t it be something if for the first time since Warmath’s 1967 team the Gophers swept all three of their most historic and important rivalry trophies, adding Floyd of Rosedale and Paul Bunnyan’s Axe to the showcase?

Worth Noting

Sailgating on Lake Washington was a hit with Gophers fans who arrived at the Husky Stadium docks after partying and prior to kickoff for last weekend’s game with Washington. The stadium not so much. It is over 105 years old and needs upgrades such as lighting, signage and video boards.

In a cool tie to the past Sports Headliners reader Steve Hunegs reported via email he stayed at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle. That’s the same place (then the Olympic Hotel) the 1941 Gopher team stayed when Minnesota’s defending national champions won 14-6 on their way to a second consecutive title.

The 2026 Gophers stayed in a Seattle suburb.

A total of 19 former men’s Gopher hockey players were on opening night NHL rosters when the season began last week. No NCAA program has more all-time NHL alums than the Gophers with over 130.

Minneapolis-based attorney, sports historian and Sports Headliners advertiser Marshall Tanick will be the keynote speaker next Sunday (October 11) for a program at the Brookview Recreation Center in Golden Valley. Tanick’s presentation is “Jews in Baseball” and will be a highlight of the annual meeting of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest (JHSUM).

Tanick’s presentation will include legendary pitcher Sandy Koufax’s famous absence in the 1965 World Series of his Dodgers against the Twins when he sat out a game because of Yom Kippur. Also, insights on Hank Greenberg’s pursuit of Babe Ruth’s single season home run record, All-Star catcher and World War II spy Mike Berg, the Jew who wrote “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” (before he ever attended a game) and the Jew who fixed the 1919 World Series. More information is available at https://www.jhsum.org/.

It will be stunning if Ryan Jeffers returns to the Twins next season. There’s no strong indication from the front office or ownership the Twins intend to give the free agent starting catcher a multi-year deal to lock him up.

The 29-year-old Jeffers is among MLB’s best at his position and at his age he may never again have the opportunity to land a career best contract. The Twins would be smart to at least offer him a one-year $23 million deal that guarantees the franchise a compensatory draft pick if Jeffers signs elsewhere.

The Twins will have a gaping hole in the lineup without the catching and hitting prowess of Jeffers. Owner Tom Pohlad is on record with intending to expand the team payroll, but it looks like the club prefers to spend the money elsewhere.

The view here is the team would be better off parting with the 32-year-old often injured Byron Buxton and use some of that money to sign Jeffers. He has a no-trade $100 million contract with the Twins that runs through 2028. The pros outnumber the cons for huddling during the offseason and figuring out a new home for the long-time fan favorite.

Tim Connelly, the basketball boss of the Timberwolves who open their season later this month, said last week he believes his team is championship caliber. BetMGM agreed last week listing the Wolves odds of +2500 (same as the Cav’s and Nuggets) as tied for sixth best among NBA contenders.

The top five are the Thunder and Spurs (tied at +260), Sixers (+850), Knicks (+900) and Celtics (+1400).

Connelly said Wolves Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett, now a team ambassador, will not have a “day to day role” with the club, perhaps indicating he won’t be a prime decision maker on personnel.

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Better Hurry for Minnesota-Iowa Tickets at the Bank

Posted on September 18, 2026September 18, 2026 by David Shama

As of this week, the University of Minnesota is projecting the Iowa game as the lone sellout for the 2026 home football schedule.

The October 24 game not only matches the Golden Gophers against a historic neighboring rival, but it’s also Homecoming for the U. Many of the single game tickets will be purchased by Iowa fans, with the Hawkeyes expected to bring the largest contingency of out of state fans to Huntington Bank Stadium in 2026.

Single game tickets start at around $100 and range much higher. With the Athletic Department projecting a reported $9 million deficit for the school year per the Pioneer Press, extra revenue will be welcome.

Sports Headliners received extensive football ticket sales information this week from the University through the public records process. As of September 12, a total of 22,174 public season tickets had been sold. The total in 2025 was 23,084.

This is the fourth consecutive year of decline in public season tickets purchased. The 2024 total was 23,592, and 25,396 tickets were sold in 2023. That’s a 12 percent decrease in four years from a ticket stream expected to fill half or more of the 50,805-seat stadium.

The U report said lifestyle changes such as health and age, preferences to purchase single game or mini-plans tickets, and cost of living were common reasons for not renewing season tickets this year. Less frequently cited were “team performance, transfer portal, campus issues, etc.”

Gophers football stadium celebration after defeating Badgers — Gophers-Badgers 2021 game at Huntington Bank Stadium photo by Marshall Tanick

The 25,396 total in 2023 is a record for public season tickets during the head coach P.J. Fleck era that began in 2017. The 2022 and 2021 teams both won nine games with winning records in Big Ten games, while memories were more recent than of the 2019 squad that was 11-2 overall, 7-2 in the Big Ten and No. 10 in the final Associated Press national poll.

The last three seasons the Gophers have twice had 8-5 overall season records, while going 6-7 in 2023 (a total of 13 wins and 14 league losses during the span). Disappointment has settled in now after a walloping at home by Mississippi State last Saturday, 38-13.

The announced average attendance for home games last season was 46,512. For this season the projection is 46,000.

The definition of announced attendance is tickets distributed. Turnstile count gives a more accurate figure as to people in the stadium.

The total turnstile count in 2025 was 261,694. That’s a seven-game average of 37,385.

The U is projecting a turnstile total of 260,000 in 2026. (The total in 2024 was 258,570).

Ticket pricing from last year has changed only in that sales tax is added to the total. In the past it was netted out of the price. Before taxes and fees, season tickets range from $310 to $1,500.

The public season tickets total includes the Gopher Pass and faculty-staff purchases. The Gopher Pass is a mobile ticket allowing fans access to all home games with either a seat or standing room if the game is sold out. The Gopher Pass costs $249 before tax and fee.

One public ticket category that has increased is mini-plan (multiple games) ticket sales—1,717 versus 1,136 last year. Public group ticket sales are 5,960 versus 7,615 in 2025.

Student season ticket sales are 7,106 after totaling 7,978 a year ago. That is the fourth consecutive year of decline with the highest total in 2023 with 8,545 sold. The 2024 total was 8,013.

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These Vikings Deserve Fandom’s Accolades & Appreciation

Posted on July 28, 2026July 28, 2026 by David Shama

The Vikings have a game for the ages on Friday, September 18.

What?

The Minnesota Vikings’ schedule has them in Chicago September 20 for an NFC North Division game against the Bears.

We’re talking about the Minneota High School Vikings. And the good folks in the small southwestern Minnesota town of Minneota have a circle it date on the calendar for September 18.

Minneota has a citizenry of about 1,500 people, with the farm community’s population similar in size to the number of tailgaters outside US Bank Stadium at 6 a.m. on Vikings gameday. The football public in this state is more than aware where the Purple play on September 20, but folks ought to pay attention to what’s happening in Minneota two days prior.

It’s a compelling story about the town and the school with a grades 7-12 enrollment of approximately 300 students.

On that late summer evening the high school Vikings will host the Canby Lancers in a game that will be the talk of the town. The Vikings carry a 46-game win streak into the season and could set a school record on a night of celebration that includes honoring the legendary Gerhard Meidt. It was Meidt’s Minneota teams from 1986-1989 that won 48 consecutive games and set at that time a new state record for prep football in Minnesota.

Gerhard Meidt Stadium in Minneota — Minneota’s renamed stadiuim (photo submitted by Chris Meidt)

This coming season K.P. Kompelien Field becomes Gerhard Meidt Stadium. Dedication ceremonies on the evening of September 18 will also include celebrations of a new stadium scoreboard, signage and lights.

If that weren’t enough, the Lancers are a rivalry team and it’s Minneota’s Homecoming Game. There will even be fireworks on the big night.

“…We’ll do the whole deal,” said Chris Meidt. “It’ll be a great, great event.”

Chris played quarterback for his dad in the 1980s. Last year he attended a game celebrating the 40^th anniversary of the 1985 team that was the school’s first playoff group. The scoreboard malfunctioned in the second quarter and that embarrassment turned out to be a community changing moment.

Chris had a successful run as St. Olaf football coach, and his football resume also includes two seasons (2008 and 2009) as an offensive assistant coach with the NFL Washington Redskins. Now he’s president and CEO of North Risk Partners, a privately owned independent insurance brokerage and risk management firm headquartered in Minnesota. He understands finances and folks in Minneota turned to him to raise money for much of what the town will celebrate on September 18.

Challenge accepted. “I created a committee of one. I was the committee,” Chris said.

In a period of six months $500,000 was raised in donations. The money came almost entirely from Miinneota citizenry. About a dozen families pitched in for a fundraising effort Chris calls a “fun year” that included hearing stories about how Gerhard impacted the lives of people in the community.

It was an expression, too, of how proud donors are of Minneota. And beyond individuals, Chris said it was a “team effort” that also included help from the city and school district.

Gerhard passed away at age 88 in June of last year. What would he think of what’s going on now?

Chris said: “He would tell me, ‘What are you thinking? Why would you do this?’

“…But he passed away. So, he lost his vote. …”

Gerhard, known to many as Gary, arrived in Minneota in 1981 with wife Karen and his children. His background included a wonderful run of football success at Rothsay where his 1972 team won the first ever nine-man state championship. He moved on from Rothsay to Lyle where he was superintendent of schools.

In Minneota he was school superintendent, football coach and choir director. “He was an interesting guy,” Chris said, speaking for a legion of admirers. “He was a renaissance man probably a little bit before his time. But he did it all.

“He was a music major. He was a math teacher. He got his administrative degree. He loved football, loved the tactical side of it.

“He was ultimately just a team guy. He was all about creating team. Didn’t matter if it was music, band, (or) football. He wanted to collaborate together, cheer each other on. That’s what he instilled.”

It wasn’t just the “plug and play” youth that Gerhard cared about. The students who had what Chris referred to as an “edge” about them were not going to be left out of activities and attention if Gerhard could make a difference.

An educator to the core, he was diligent about finding a role for everyone to play and be successful at. “He never wrote anyone off. Ever,” Chris said.

One of his mantras was: “If you don’t love each other, you can’t win together.”

Chris played quarterback for his dad from 1984-1987. He was a prolific passer who once held the state caree record of 8,533 yards. His 1986 and 1987 teams won state Class C championships.

Minneota Athletic High School Hall of Famers Chris and Gerhard Meidt (photo submitted by Chris Meidt)

As quarterback, Chris was allowed to call his own plays, a demonstration of the commitment his father had in developing decision making and leadership in young people.“He just believed you coach them hard during the week and Fridays were for celebrating and letting the kids run the game,” Chris recalled.

Ron Stolski, the retired Brainerd football coaching legend and still the longtime executive director of the Minnesota Football Coaches Association, first met Gerhard in 1962. Ron followed and admired Gerhard’s career that had multiple stops.

“As a coach, he was very direct, well organized and demanded discipline,” Ron told Sports Headliners via email. “Traits he carried throughout his outstanding career. …

“It was in Minneota that he realized his greatest success. He was a change agent, an innovator who coached and introduced a multiple formations passing game featuring motion and spread formations that literally changed and affected the high school football landscape in Minnesota.”

Chris and his father are both in the Minneota Athletic High School Hall of Fame. This year a bust of Gerhard will be placed in the Hall of Fame as part of the grand celebration of their famed educator and coach. Gerhard was inducted into the Minnesota Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1999.

As for the 2026 Vikings, they’re coming off four consecutive Class 1 A state titles. Chris said good players were lost through graduation, but this year’s Vikings will be “formidable.”

The head coach is Chad Johnston. “He’s amazing. A wonderful man,” Chris said.

Johnston also led the Vikings to state titles in 2009, 2014, 2015 and 2017. “(Gerhard Meidt) was the guy that changed everything in Minneota football and it was his program,” Johnston told John Millea in a Minnesota State High School League story in December of 2022.

“There are shadows of what was done here before, and I think that’s what drives us,” Johnston said in the article. “And a lot of these kids have parents who have played in the Prep Bowl. That tradition means a lot to me, to be able to say that there has been no downslide in this program since the ‘80s. The kids have worked hard to keep us on the map and the credit goes to the kids, it really does.”

Gerhard, who won three Class C state titles at Minneota from 1986-88, had a head coaching record of 236-79 in 32 years at Rothsay, Minneota and Big Lake where he also coached after leaving the Vikings. He and wife Karen were married for 65 years and he was a proud father and grandparent.

He would be humbled and would no doubt deflect praise if present on September 18.

Skol!

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