Timberwolves – Page 104 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Vikings Survey More Than PSLs

Posted on January 2, 2013January 3, 2013 by David Shama

The Vikings’ survey of season ticket holders regarding personal seat licenses has created a stir in the marketplace but there’s more to understand. Team spokesman Jeff Anderson said the survey will determine not only costs for personal seat licenses but also ticket pricing, and will measure interest in potential events at the new downtown stadium including professional soccer.

Stakeholders being surveyed include season ticket buyers, private suite holders and corporate sponsors. Anderson said surveying will continue into the fall, and the club is also using focus groups to obtain marketing information.

Personal seat licenses mean fans pay fees beyond the price of tickets for specific seat locations. Costs for licenses and pricing of tickets won’t be announced by the Vikings until 2014.

Ted Mondale, executive director of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, said the target date for opening the stadium is July 1, 2016. He plans to have several events (including a possible open house) in the stadium before the first Vikings’ preseason game in August. Those first events will be important to test stadium operations.

Mondale said it’s likely the Vikings will play the full 2014 and 2015 seasons at TCF Bank Stadium. That would make the 2013 season the last for the Vikings at Mall of America Field.

By mid-March the authority expects to determine what features, including a possible retractable roof, will fit into the $975 million stadium budget, and what ideas will be dropped.

Worth Noting

Although the Vikings had a sellout crowd of more than 64,000 at Mall of America Field on Sunday to watch the playoff qualifying win over the Packers, ticket demand was such that Mondale said perhaps 100,000 tickets could have been sold.

Give former Vikings defensive lineman Bob Lurtsema credit for his prediction about the team last summer. In a town of skeptics, Lurtsema said the Vikings, who were 3-13 in 2011, would have a 10-6 record and possibly make the playoffs. The Vikings won four consecutive games to end the season and finish 10-6.

Lurtsema believes the Broncos, 13-3 and winners of a league leading 11 consecutive games, are the best team in the NFL right now. He likes their defense and admires former Gophers wide receiver Eric Decker who has five touchdown catches in his last three games and a career best 13 for the season.

Coach Jerry Kill said the Gophers played their most “physical” game in his two years at Minnesota during the team’s 34-31 loss to Texas Tech at the Meineke Car Care Bowl last week. While disappointed with the loss, Kill was encouraged by the improvement of his team including on offense after the Gophers had struggled to score points in their last two regular season games.

Leading 31-24 late in the game, the Gophers took a gamble being in press coverage (no deep pass defenders) and gave up a touchdown to Tech that tied the score. The Red Raiders went on to kick the game winning field goal as time expired.

Tech’s unsportsmanlike penalties during the game upset Minnesota supporters. A Gophers fan who was in Houston for the game wrote an email to Sports Headliners that said in part:

“Fans after the game came to us…and apologized for their players’ behavior. The next day, when we were at a boardwalk park near Galveston, fans came up to us and said the same. I had one Texas Longhorn fan, who was at the game, come up to me and say they were rooting for Minnesota. They cannot stand TT. …”

North Dakota State announced yesterday that football coach Craig Bohl, who aggressively recruits Minnesota high school players, has signed an eight-year contract extension with the Bison from 2013 to 2021. Bohl’s base salary is $206,503 and the agreement includes language about annual increases, plus incentives such as compensation for winning the FCS national championship. Bohl will also receive three percent of gross tickets sales for Bison home games. NDSU plays Sam Houston State for the FCS national title on Saturday.

The basketball Gophers are No. 9 in the latest Associated Press college basketball poll, but more importantly boosted their reputation as a Big Ten title contender after winning the conference opener on Monday against Michigan State, 76-63. Minnesota’s defense shut out the Spartans (No. 18 A.P.) the last 4:05 of the second half to break open a close game.

The Gophers’ next four games are Sunday at home against Northwestern, then January 9 and 12 at Illinois (No. 11) and at Indiana (No. 5), and January 17 in Williams Arena versus Michigan (No. 2). If the Gophers are 4-1 after the first five games, they will deserve to be in the conversation about the league’s best teams.

The Timberwolves play Utah tonight, the team’s first trip to Salt Lake City this season. Jazz fans are known for their passion and basketball IQ. “It is a tough place to play,” said Suns coach Alvin Gentry. “They’re a big team also. Their strengths are the same as Minnesota’s. They try to pound the ball on the inside to (Al) Jefferson and (Paul) Millsap. They’ve got some big guys that they play there. I think it will be a great matchup.

“I like this team right here (the Wolves). I love the way Rick (Adelman) coaches. Once they get everybody healthy and knowing exactly what they’ve got, I think you’ll see them make a little move and go on a little run.”

Wolves forward Andrei Kirilenko, who played 10 seasons with the Jazz, returns to Salt Lake City for the first time in an opposing team’s uniform. Former Wolves starters with the Jazz are Jefferson and Randy Foye.

Adelman said he isn’t surprised by the back spasms that kept Rick Rubio out of Saturday’s game with the Suns, referring to his point guard having played only five games so far this season, and “this is his training camp.”

Kevin Love, whose setbacks have included a broken hand, made eight of 20 field goal attempts and had 23 points on Saturday night in the win over the Suns. He hasn’t been playing at the level of last season, and his field goal percentage of .358 compares with .450 for his career. His three point field goal percentage is .233 versus .355 for the career.

Prior to Saturday night’s game against the Suns, Adelman was asked when Love might return to last year’s form. “I don’t have a very good feel for that. Historically he’s been a very good shooter. He’s just down this year and he’s gotta stay with it. You’re going to go through tough periods and he’s going through one now.

“Sometimes you gotta experience that to understand what you have to do. Maybe try to do a little bit more, run the court…get some easy baskets. I don’t have much doubt that if he stays with it, if he does the extra shooting on the side, and he continues to just be aggressive in taking the shots he’ll be fine.”

Brent Haskins, pro personnel scout for the Suns, said his dad, former Gophers basketball coach Clem Haskins, remains active on his farm in Kentucky and was in Minnesota recently to have his knees examined. The older Haskins, now 69, had knee replacement surgery about 15 years ago.

In his position with the Suns, Brent Haskins scouts college, minor league and NBA talent, and offers possible trade scenarios for the franchise. He lives in Minnesota.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the Wolves are one of several NBA teams asked to play on Christmas Day in 2013 because of Love, a former Olympian and all-star, and the team has a roster of international players headlined by Rubio.

Comments Welcome

U Needs to Rock ‘The Barn’ Monday

Posted on December 30, 2012December 30, 2012 by David Shama

The Gophers open their Big Ten basketball season tomorrow afternoon in Williams Arena against Michigan State and the Minnesota players hope to have the “Barn” rocking with support.

“The Barnyard is always behind us come Big Ten play,” forward Rodney Williams told Sports Headliners earlier this month. “We’re ready. We’re gonna put on a show for them (the fans). Hopefully they can be that sixth man for us.”

Williams is one of college basketball’s dunk-masters. He knows his slams can ignite the crowd and figuratively shake the pillars in the 84-year-old arena.

“The louder they (fans) get, the more tough it’s going to be on other teams,” Williams said. “Let’s hope I can get a dunk (on Monday) that’s going to shake the pillars.”

Minnesota is 12-1 and ranked No. 11 in the country by the Associated Press. Michigan State, just like the Gophers, has thoughts of finishing near the top of the Big Ten standings. The Spartans, 11-2 and No. 19 in the A.P. poll, are 17-2 against the Gophers in the last 19 games. The last Minnesota win in Williams Arena came in 2006.

Tubby Smith, who began coaching the Gophers during the 2007-2008 season, has only one win over the Spartans (2010 Big Ten Tournament). But this year’s group could be his best team at Minnesota, and Williams said the Gophers believe in themselves.

“No team intimidates us,” Williams said. “We’re not worried about them (the Spartans). We’re worried about what we gotta do. …”

Williams predicts success against the Spartans despite past history between the two teams. “They got the best of us in past years but I think this year is a little different. We got a team that we can count on anybody on any given night. We got depth. I think we’re just more team oriented this year. I know we’re definitely ready for the 31^st.

The Gophers, who finished 10^th in the Big Ten last season but did win four games in the post-season NIT, have a talented starting five in Williams, forward Joe Coleman, center Trevor Mbakwe, and guards Andre Hollins and Austin Hollins. The reserves include players with starting experience. The Gophers are also an athletic bunch who can attack offensively, pressure defensively and swarm the boards for rebounds.

MSU coach Tom Izzo has made a reputation for boot camp toughness including an obsession for rebounding. Derrick Nicks and Adreian Payne are among the Big Ten’s leading rebounders this season.

Williams said the Gophers will be ready to match effort with the Spartans on the boards. And Minnesota will need to impress defensively, too, since MSU is known for shutting down opponents.

Austin Hollins believes the Gophers made their defense better during the 13 nonconference games. “Our defense got a lot better. Keeping the same intensity on defense throughout the whole nonconference schedule is huge. We always stress that coming out (for the game), getting up in their face, making it hard for the offense to run their plays. Making it hard for them to do anything and just forcing turnovers, and I think that’s one of our strong points. We really improved there.”

Hollins said the Gophers are “not going to do everything right” but he thinks the team is ready for the Big Ten schedule. And Williams considers Monday’s game a first step for a team that includes among its goals winning the conference title and playing in the NCAA Tournament.

“It’s huge,” Williams said. “It’s the first game of the conference play. Rankings don’t usually mean much, but it’s two ranked teams going against each other. It’s gonna be huge for us to get that first win in the Big Ten so we can move forward and go on from there because we’ve got big goals for the season. Getting that first win is gonna be huge.”

Vikings & Other Notes

The loudest crowd of the season is almost a certainty at Mall of America Field this afternoon. The hometown Vikings can qualify for the playoffs by defeating the rival Packers in the final regular season game of the year for Minnesota, and Adrian Peterson needs 208 more yards to break Eric Dickerson’s single NFL rushing record of 2,105 yards. Mall of America Field is among the loudest stadiums in the NFL and “crowd noise can definitely throw off communication” for the opposing team, said Vikings running back Toby Gerhart.

The Vikings encourage fans to wear purple and will place “rally towels” on every seat in the stadium—the first for that promotion since a playoff game against the Cowboys in January of 2010. Target HQ Tower, the Lowry Avenue Bridge and the 35W Bridge are lit in purple at night this weekend as part of a Minneapolis show of support for the Vikings franchise.

Peterson was held to 86 yards rushing last week by the Texans. “Obviously they closed us down in the run game but then again I look at the film, it was several plays where I was just a tackle away from taking it to the house,” Peterson said. “Ultimately, when you look at it, it seems like they did a better job than I really feel like they did.”

Peterson talking about breaking Dickerson’s record today: “Deep down inside I feel like I’ll get it.”

In one word, how he describes his running style: “Vicious.”

Despite Peterson’s success, no players from the Vikings offensive line were chosen for the Pro Bowl. Selections for the post-season all-star game are made by fans, NFL players and coaches. There’s justifiable criticism that voters aren’t knowledgeable, and it’s a popular allegation in Minnesota after Vikings center John Sullivan was passed over for the Packers’ Jeff Saturday who hasn’t been starting for Green Bay. Sullivan was named a Pro Bowl alternate.

“He (Sullivan) had a heck of a year,” Gerhart said. “It’s a shame that we didn’t have any offensive line guys make it, especially Sully our leader. When Adrian puts up that type of a season—he’s a heck of a player—but it’s not all on him. Those guys up front are what’s gonna get a play going.”

Former Gophers national championship football coach Murray Warmath, who died in 2011, would have turned 100 last Wednesday.

The December 31 issue of Sports Illustrated predicts Alabama will defeat Notre Dame 23-16 in the BCS national championship game on January 7.

The Timberwolves have sold 10,000 season tickets, the franchise’s largest total since the 2004-2005 season, according to club executive Ted Johnson. A second consecutive Target Center sellout crowd watched the Wolves defeat the Suns last night, 111-107.

Ricky Rubio missed the game because of back spasms. Coach Rick Adelman is hopeful the point guard will return for Wednesday night’s game at Utah.

The Wolves, 14-13, are off to their best start since having the same record in 2005-2006.

The Tapemark Charity Pro-Am for women will be Tuesday, June 4 and Sunday, June 9. The men’s event will be June 7-9. The golf tournaments raise funds for Minnesota nonprofits serving people with developmental and learning disabilities.

Comments Welcome

2006 Tech Game Changed U History

Posted on December 28, 2012December 30, 2012 by David Shama

The Gophers have their rematch against Texas Tech tonight in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Houston. Even the casual Gophers fan recalls the first game played between the two schools—the 44-41 Insight Bowl overtime win by Tech on December 29, 2006 featuring the largest comeback by one team in bowl game history.

“We (Gophers fans) were all happy at halftime,” former Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi told Sports Headliners on Wednesday.

Minnesota led the Red Raiders 35-7 after two quarters. The Gophers scored first in the third quarter, using a 20-yard field goal to create a presumably safe 38-7 lead. Trailing 38-14 going into the fourth quarter, Tech outscored Minnesota 24-0 in the period and sent the game into overtime.

The pass-happy Red Raiders exploited Minnesota’s pass prevent defense late in the game, and the comeback is still a nightmare for Gophers fans who witnessed other painful meltdowns during the Glen Mason coaching era. Maturi admitted the game’s outcome was a factor in firing Mason soon after the 10-year coach arrived back in Minneapolis.

“Had we won the game, things may have been different,” Maturi said. “There was a lot of unhappiness and unrest (with the program). Lots of factors going into the decision. We were in need of energy to help with tickets and the (new) stadium.”

The Gophers’ record in 2006 was 6-7 including 3-5 in the Big Ten Conference. Following a breakout year of 10-3 in 2003, the Gophers had slipped to consecutive 7-5 seasons before the even more difficult 2006 season. Mason, whose first season at Minnesota was in 1997, had a career record of 32-48 in Big Ten games and criticism of the program had been developing for awhile before his dismissal. Maturi was concerned about selling tickets to games in 2007 and developing enthusiasm for the new on-campus stadium that would open in 2009.

Maturi said Mason did a “good job” overall as Gophers coach. “We’re not better now than then on the field,” Maturi said. “I do feel the future is bright with coach (Jerry) Kill.”

The Gophers, in their second year under Kill, are about a two touchdown underdog to the Red Raiders who are still a pass-happy bunch. The Gophers’ 2012 pass defense is better than the 2006 version, and Kill might have some surprises for the Red Raiders offensively.

Win or lose, it’s hard to imagine a more painful ending for Minnesota followers than in 2006. The Tech defeat started a current streak of four consecutive bowl game losses by the Gophers.

Worth Noting

Maturi is a Notre Dame graduate but doesn’t plan to attend the Irish’s national championship game against Alabama on January 7 in suburban Miami. He will cheer on both the Irish and Gophers from home in Minneapolis.

Maturi said since retiring as Gophers athletic director earlier this year he turned down offers from other schools to work full time but wouldn’t identify the interested parties.

The 9-6 Vikings, with one game remaining, have won six more games than last season when the record was 3-13. That improvement matches the franchise record of 1998 when the Vikings pushed their win total to 15 after winning nine games in 1997.

If the Vikings can defeat the Packers on Sunday at Mall of America Field, they will finish with a 7-1 home record—the best in Minneapolis since 2009 when Minnesota was also 8-0.

Adrian Peterson not only leads the NFL in rushing with 1,898 yards, but the Vikings have a team total of 2,417 and need 208 more yards to break the franchise record of 2,624 set in 2007.

Vikings offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave talking about Peterson who could break Eric Dickerson’s single season NFL rushing record of 2,105 yards on Sunday: “He’s just so determined. You can see it in his eyes, not only on game day but throughout the week in his preparation. He’s our pacesetter. …”

Former Wolves players Wes Johnson and Michael Beasley, both of whom left Minnesota after last season, have been unimpressive playing for the Suns team that comes to Target Center for a game tomorrow night. Johnson has participated in only 12 of 29 games, averaging 5.9 minutes per game and 2.3 points while making 33 percent of his field goals.

Beasley has started 20 games and been on court in eight more but is only playing 24.4 minutes per game. He’s averaging 10.5 points per game while making .378 percent of his field goals.

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