Twins – Page 172 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

New Vikings Stadium Linked to US Bank?

Posted on August 5, 2013August 5, 2013 by David Shama

A pro sports industry source told Sports Headliners that US Bank will pay $15 million per year for the naming rights to the new Vikings stadium opening in 2016. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, believes the naming rights deal between the bank and the local NFL team could be seven to 10 years in length and an announcement about US Bank Stadium will come later this year.

However, Vikings executive Lester Bagley said there are no announcement plans about US Bank or any other company, and the naming rights project is a detailed ongoing process.

“There are 16 Fortune 500 companies in the state. We’re confident we will have a great Minnesota company (name) on the building,” Bagley told Sports Headliners.

A $15 million figure would compare favorably with reports of recent stadium naming rights fees at or approaching $20 million per year for the Cowboys and the 49ers. Both teams operate in larger population centers than Minneapolis-St. Paul, an area described by Bagley as a “modest Midwest market.”

The rights fee paid by Target for naming rights to Target Field has been reported in the $5 million range per year. The source estimated the annual rights fees at $2 million for Xcel Energy Center and $1.5 million for Target Field.

The University of Minnesota has a $35 million, 25 year deal for TCF Bank Stadium. That arrangement provides TCF Bank with benefits beyond the name on the Gophers football stadium and includes campus ATMs and other financial services.

A naming rights deal will be a major revenue source for the Vikings who by agreement with the state receive those monies. The source said US Bank is expected to receive a variety of benefits ranging from in-stadium presence to bank promotions, and from social media to community outreach.

Gophers & Other Notes

The Gophers were 3-9 in 2011, 6-7 last season. Coach Jerry Kill recently told Sports Headliners he is optimistic about continued improvement.

“I think we’ll have a better football team than we did a year ago,” Kill said. “I don’t know what that means (in wins and losses). I know we feel that way as a coaching staff.”

Strength and conditioning coach Eric Klein has voiced optimism after watching players become bigger and stronger during the offseason. He told Kill he feels this is the “first time” he has helped position the Gophers “for success.”

Kill has said the program needs more experienced players in the years ahead. The Gophers may only have four or five senior starters, and a dozen or fewer seniors who contribute during the season.

Compare that to what the Gophers encountered in Lincoln last year when on Senior Day Nebraska honored more than two dozen seniors. “That’s when you get good,” Kill said. “You can have a senior class of 20 kids, 25 kids every year, then you’ve got a program. We haven’t had that.”

Before the Gophers started official practices late last week there was the expected preseason optimism among players. “We’re comfortable in coach Kill’s system, and we’re a lot more confident,” said senior safety Brock Vereen.

Vereen, senior linebacker Aaron Hill and some others are under consideration by Kill to become captains. “This year we do expect to have a tremendous turnaround and to have my name as part of a leader of a team that made such a great stride compared to last year, it would mean a lot,” Vereen said.

If the Gophers are to improve over last season, they will need high performance years from at least a few players. Senior defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman is the most high profile player right now, and is being included on preseason watch lists like the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, recognizing the nation’s best defensive player.

How much does Hageman want to be named All-American after this season? “You’re gonna see to my actions. … Just give it my all,” he said.

But for the Gophers to exceed last year’s six win total they will need players to emerge from obscurity too. One of those players could be true freshman running back Berkley Edwards who back home in Michigan was among the nation’s fastest prep sprinters.

Quarterback Philip Nelson watched Edwards this summer in Minneapolis. “From day one we all knew that he was a speed demon. … I think he has the capability of really being able to really get through the defense and make some good plays for us.”

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier evaluating the team’s two-minute offense last season: “There were some missed opportunities, we could have did a little bit better in. We are trying to correct that. …There were times we did a real good job in our two-minute situations that we had, but we think we can be more productive.”

Concordia-St. Paul junior Tom Obarski is on the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List for the second-straight year. The award recognizes place-kickers for excellence on the field and in the community. Obarski, who has made field goals of over 50 yards including a 59 yarder, is one of 34 place-kickers on the list from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Division II, Division III, NAIA and NJCAA levels.

Glen Perkins, after his 27^th save of the year yesterday in a 3-2 Twins win over the Astros, now has the most single season saves by a Minnesota pitcher since 2009 when Joe Nathan had 47.

Twins rookie starting pitcher Kyle Gibson isn’t having much success lately. He lasted only three innings on Saturday night, the shortest start of his big league career, and he gave up four runs on nine hits. He has allowed a home run in each of his last three starts after yielding none in the first four outings.

The Twins play at Kansas City tomorrow night after being swept by the Royals at Target Field last week. The Twins have won three straight since winning yesterday against the Astros and sweeping them in a three game series.

Outfielder Byron Buxton, considered by many the best minor league prospect in baseball, has hit three home runs in his last 10 games playing for the Twins Class A Fort Myers team. He also has two triples.

Comments Welcome

Tim Brewster Recruits U Target

Posted on August 2, 2013August 2, 2013 by David Shama

Although former Gophers head coach Tim Brewster is recruiting Jeff Jones, the four-star Washburn High School running back remains committed to Minnesota, according to Giovan Jenkins.

Jenkins said Brewster, now an assistant coach at Florida State, started recruiting Jones early this summer. Jenkins, who starts his fifth season as Washburn head coach later this month, told Sports Headliners he doesn’t think Florida State will be where Jones attends college.

“He is still staying with his commitment to Minnesota as we speak,” Jenkins said. “He just wants to go through his senior year with an open mind (about other schools). Coach (Jerry) Kill has done a great job in developing a relationship with him. I think Minnesota is a good fit for him.”

Jenkins, who thinks chances are good Jones will ultimately choose the Gophers, said Iowa State is probably No. 2 on the list of possible college destinations.

Jones has been a starter for the Millers since ninth grade. He is the only Rivals.com four-star commit the Gophers have so far in their class of 2014.

Jenkins has another outstanding running back in Raymonte Maynard who has a scholarship offer from North Dakota. Other mid-major programs are interested too.

The Millers have won 12 consecutive City titles. “I expect to win our 13^th straight,” Jenkins said. Washburn, 8-3 overall last season, begins practice on August 12 and has its first game against St. Paul Highland Park August 30.

Worth Noting

Apple Valley’s Tyus Jones, along with Jahlil Okafor from Chicago, and Justise Winslow from Houston, are three of the best senior prep basketball players in the country and they will visit Baylor in Waco, Texas over Labor Day weekend. It’s been known for some time that Jones and Okafor will likely play at the same college but because Winslow is from Texas there is a possibility all three will be at Baylor for the 2014-15 season. Jones has a strong relationship with Baylor director of player development Jared Nuness who is a distant cousin.

The TPC Twin Cities, site of this weekend’s 3M Championship, has “27 bodies of water,” according to the golf course’s website. Asked about a make or break hole, Nick Price said: “Seventeen is probably a pivotal hole, especially when they put the pin in the back left-hand portion of the green, and you have any kind of wind.

“Those last two holes with the water; they’ll get your attention. The eighteenth hole is always very tempting. It’s like a carrot in front of the donkey. You know if you can get it over the water you have a good chance of making birdie.”

Price, who in the 1990s won more PGA Tour tournaments than anyone in the world, is among the name players competing at the Champions Tour event in Blaine. He’s a fan of the TCP Twin Cities. “This is a really, really good golf course. It’s almost a perfect venue for us, the seniors, because it’s the right length. The guys love the golf course. That’s why you always get such a good field.”

The 3M is only Price’s third tournament since having tennis elbow surgery to remove scar tissue. This will be the first tournament where he’s been able to practice in advance, hitting 150 balls per day.

Price said seniors enjoy the notoriety of the Champions Tour. “When you get to 45, 46, your tenure on the regular tour is done. You’ve past your sell-by date.”

New Vikings backup quarterback Matt Cassel played first and third base in high school in California, and was drafted by baseball’s Oakland A’s. His mother, Barbara, is a set director in Hollywood.

Ryan Santoso, the Gophers freshman punter and kicker who is on scholarship, had 46 touchbacks in 48 kickoffs at Pace High School in Pace, Florida. Walk-on freshman kicker Justin Juenemann made 80 percent of his career field goal attempts of between 40 and 50 yards at Phillipsburg High School in Phillipsburg, Kansas.

Gophers hockey coach Don Lucia plans to run in the Twin Cities Marathon on October 6 to benefit Defending the Blue Line, the nonprofit organization dedicated to financially helping children of military members participate in hockey.

Despite being in last place in the AL Central Division and losing four games in a row, the Twins are drawing near capacity crowds at Target Field. In yesterday’s 7-2 loss to the Royals, the Twins drew 35,448, their fifth crowd of over 35,000 in the last seven home games.

Twins batters struck out 30 times in the three-game series with the Royals. They have struck out 65 times in the last six games.

Scott Diamond, yesterday’s losing pitcher, is now 5-10 for the season and has lost four straight. After the game he and center fielder Aaron Hicks were optioned to Triple-A Rochester and outfielder Oswaldo Arcia was recalled from the Red Wings.

Justin Morneau hit his ninth home run of the season yesterday and No. 213 of his Twins career moving him within seven of Tony Oliva and No. 3 on the all-time Minnesota list.

The new Sanford Pentagon facility in Sioux Falls will host the preseason Timberwolves-Bucks game on October 10, and also a regular season college game between the Badgers and the St. John’s Red Storm on November 8.

The new Minnesota Poker Hall of Fame will be located at Canterbury Park. No inductees have been announced but the first honorees will be recognized on October 4 at the Shakopee gaming facility.

Comments Welcome

Lurtsema Predicts 11-5 Record for Vikes

Posted on July 31, 2013July 31, 2013 by David Shama

Former Viking Bob Lurtsema, who remains close to the team, predicts Minnesota will finish 11-5 this season after a 10-6 record in 2012. Even rosier is Lurtsema’s opinion that before the Metrodome is demolished next winter, the last football event there could be the NFC Championship Game hosted by the Vikings who might need to win more than 11 regular season games to play in Minneapolis.

“That’s very realistic (hosting the title game),” Lurtsema told Sports Headliners. “You gotta realize when they were 6-6 last year they (the players) came together. That’s only the second time in Minnesota Viking history that they won the last four games.”

The Vikings won those regular season games before losing to the Packers in the playoffs, and giving Lurtsema confidence about continued improvement by Minnesota is the attitude of the players. “A lot of times you can preach and preach and nobody listens. But they’re listening now and they came together, and they believe in themselves. …They have that self-motivation.”

Two years ago Lurstema predicted the Vikings would win “five or six” games. They won three. Last July he told Sports Headliners 10-6 was going to be the record and the team’s first playoff appearance in three years was possible.

Now, Lurtsema said, the Vikings could not only finish with an 11-5 or better record but have at least a share of the NFC North title. “Yup. I know I bleed purple…but I am a realist.”

Lurtsema almost gushes about the team’s offense, “There’s not a negative.” He said fans are down on quarterback Christian Ponder but criticism was too harsh last season because “he didn’t have any receivers to throw to.” That situation changes now with a healthy Jerome Simpson and the acquisition of Greg Jennings, both talented veteran wide receivers.

Lurtsema likes the total package of the offense including tight end Kyle Rudolph, running back Adrian Peterson and an offensive line that impressed last season, but on defense he thinks the Vikings are more suspect. He frets about how effective both the defensive line and secondary will be.

Worth Noting

Lurtsema believes it’s time for starting cornerback Chris Cook, now 26 and heading into his fourth NFL season, to reward the Vikings for their patience with him. Two years ago Cook missed much of the season because of domestic violence charges. Although he was later acquitted, the incident was a setback to his career.

“Chris Cook has got to be awful, awful good,” Lurtsema said. “They (the organization) stuck with him. The players didn’t like that a couple years ago, when they paid his salary and (he) took up a roster spot. Players weren’t real happy about that at all. …I think all the coaches saw how good he really is.”

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier joins Steve Forbes, Rudy Giuliani, Larry King and other speakers on August 27 at the Minneapolis Convention Center for the “Success 2013 Minneapolis” motivational event, according to full page ads appearing in the Star Tribune. Frazier’s talk is titled “How to Lead Your Team to Victory.”

As a group the Gophers linebackers roster is inexperienced with only two seniors, one junior and 10 freshmen and sophomores but coach Jerry Kill is “optimistic” about the potential. “Athletically we’re gifted there,” Kill told the media yesterday.

Kill said on WCCO Radio’s “Sports Huddle” on Sunday that junior college transfer linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, who will have three seasons of eligibility with the Gophers, turned down offers from Texas and Kansas State after deciding not to attend Tennessee following a coaching change there last fall.

Kill said yesterday that highly publicized freshman quarterback Chris Streveler will work at wide receiver and QB when practices begin later this week. “Chris is a pretty intelligent guy,” Kill said about learning both positions.

Sophomore quarterback Philip Nelson thinks wide receivers Isaac Fruechte and Derrick Engle could be two of his best targets in the deep passing game. The Gophers’ first practice will be on Friday in preparation for their opening game against UNLV August 29 at TCF Bank Stadium.

Marcus Fuller, the Pioneer Press Gophers basketball writer, said on 1500 ESPN Monday he believes Rashad Vaughn is the most likely to attend Minnesota of the 2014 prep big three of Tyus Jones, Travis Reid and Vaughn. My opinion: there is no better than a 25 percent chance the Gophers will have one of the three commit to Minnesota.

As of now there is no Upper Midwest plan to televise the Gophers game at New Mexico State in Las Cruces on September 7. The game is scheduled to be televised in parts of the Southwest including Comcast in New Mexico and Fox Sports Net Houston.

In its updated rankings of prospects, MLB.com has Twins minor leaguers Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano ranked No. 1 and 3 among all players in major league systems. But Twins fans may want to hold back the enthusiasm for awhile because becoming successful in the big leagues takes time. Before the season Oswaldo Arcia was rated the organization’s fifth best prospect while Aaron Hicks was No. 6. Arcia, after two trials with the Twins, is back at Triple-A Rochester while Hicks is hitting .194 for Minnesota despite being the regular center fielder.

Nice to see Minneapolis receive attention in the 2014 MLB All-Star Game Logo unveiled yesterday depicting the downtown skyline. Hennepin County made the public financing possible to build Target Field.

The economic impact of the All-Star Game was $191.5 million in New York this year and $60 million in Kansas City in 2012, according to Rhett Bollinger’s 2014 logo story yesterday on Mlb.com.

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