Vikings – Page 158 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Joe Mauer Decline Not Going Away

Posted on September 26, 2016September 27, 2016 by David Shama

Whatever is wrong with Joe Mauer isn’t changing. With the Twins season ending within days, the 33-year-old Mauer is finishing yet another dismal year at the plate.

The rumors about what ails Mauer have even included speculation he has a crippling disease. Truth could be the former three-time American League batting champion continues to deteriorate as a productive hitter because of concussions and aging.

A source with decades of experience in baseball told Sports Headliners he doesn’t know what’s wrong with Mauer but the causes might be the two factors mentioned immediately above.

Mauer’s well publicized concussion in 2013 led to him being moved from catching to first base.Dating back to high school who knows how many other concussions the Minnesota native may have experienced in athletics? Damage to the brain, the source speculated, could be impacting the response and effectiveness of Mauer’s body at the plate as he struggles to be the hitter he once was. Motor skills, the source reminded, are everything when trying to hit a baseball thrown at 95 miles per hour.

Mauer has a history of injuries and critics question how successfully he works through them. As of late, Mauer has been troubled by strained and sore quadriceps. With an aging body that turns 34 next April, injuries could be a continuing pattern for Mauer who no doubt will welcome the season’s end and the opportunity to rest.

Other than being supportive, the Twins don’t have much to say about the one-time superstar’s decline. Mauer thought before the season he was headed toward a better year after more time had gone by since his 2013 concussion. But the 2016 statistics tell a similar story to the last two seasons.

The lifetime .309 hitter, who won the 2009 league batting championship with a .365 average, is hitting .261 as the Twins approach the end of their schedule next Sunday. Mauer has 11 home runs and 49 RBI. Last year he hit .265 with 10 home runs and 66 RBI. In 2014 the numbers were .277, 4 homers and 55 RBI.

Mauer isn’t making contact with the ball like he did when he routinely hit over .300. He struck out a career high 112 times last season. This year, in about 100 fewer at bats, he has struck out 93 times.

Those are alarming numbers for a guy with Mauer’s past record of success. They also leave fans frustrated that the Twins are paying Mauer $23 million per season and receiving that kind of return. A lot more is expected from a hitter who bats high in the batting order earns mega compensation.

If the Twins were winning, Mauer would still be a sensitive subject with fans, but playing for a club that has lost more than 90 games in five of the last six years puts him in the eye of the storm. With two years left on his contract, Mauer is owed another $46 million.

Mauer and the Twins can only hope he can improve his production. He certainly isn’t finishing this season in that direction. In his last seven games he is batting .080, and in the last 30 games .196.

Worth Noting

At 100 losses and counting, there is still valid conversation that a contributing reason for the Twins’ awful record after finishing 83-79 last season is the absence of veteran outfielder Torii Hunter who retired. Hunter was a strong personality in the clubhouse who was willing to push underachieving teammates, and his leadership is still missed.

The Twins finished their 2016 home schedule drawing 1,963,912 fans—the lowest ever at Target Field and first time below 2 million.

Vikings guard Alex Boone suffered a reported hip injury in yesterday’s impressive win over the Panthers, and had an MRI today. “He should be okay, I think,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said this afternoon. Zimmer is unsure, though, if Boone will be able to play next Monday night against the Giants.

The 3-0 Vikings, who gave up just one touchdown in yesterday’s 22-10 win, are allowing an NFL-third best 13.3 points per game. Opponents have scored only 13 second half points this season.

Since Zimmer took over the team for the 2014 season, the Vikings have 99 sacks—second best in the NFL. During that period defensive end Everson Griffen, who had three sacks yesterday, has the fourth most sacks in the league with 26.5.

Zimmer stays in touch with his former boss and NFL Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells who is now retired. “He gives me advice on my team,” Zimmer said.

If pressed for a way-too-early prediction on who the Gophers quarterback will be next season, Ryan Burns guessed Mark Williams. The GopherIllustrated authority likes the athleticism and arm strength of the true freshman from Gainestown, Alabama, and believes Williams could replace Mitch Leidner as Minnesota’s starting quarterback in 2017.

Penn State coach James Franklin and his players will attempt redemption in Saturday’s home game against the Gophers after being embarrassed 49-10 last weekend in Ann Arbor. Michigan led the Nittany Lions 28-0 in the third quarter when with fourth and two at the Wolverines’ goal line, Franklin decided on a field goal rather than pursue a touchdown.

Brandon Lingen, the Gophers tight end with All-Big Ten potential, is still about three weeks away from playing because of his broken clavicle, Minnesota coach Tracy Claeys said today (Tuesday). Other Gophers who won’t play Saturday are Carter Coughlin, Ta’yon Devers, Coney Durr, Nick Rallis, Ace Rogers, Alex Starks and Rashad Still.

Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson, a Redwood Falls native and University of Minnesota alum, attended Saturday’s Gophers-Colorado State game. Mountain West officials worked the game.

Former Gophers defensive coordinator Greg Hudson now has that title at Notre Dame after Irish coach Brian Kelly fired Brian VanGorder last weekend. Hudson, a former Notre Dame player and assistant coach, was let go at Purdue after last season and was available to replace VanGorder for the defensive-challenged and 1-3 Irish.

There continues to be no word from the Gophers on the contract status of hockey coach Don Lucia. The 2016-2017 season is his last under contract.

Lindy’s College Basketball Magazine predicts the Gophers will finish 13th in the Big Ten, ahead of only Rutgers in the conference standings. “Best case scenario: They’re at least a year away from postseason play,” the magazine forecast.

The Gophers open their Big Ten schedule December 27 at home against Michigan State. Lindy’s ranks the Spartans No. 11 nationally. The magazine’s top-rated Big Ten team nationally is sixth ranked Wisconsin.

A source from Rochester, Minnesota told Sports Headliners North Carolina coach Roy Williams was in town last week recruiting John Marshall High School’s Matthew Hurt. Kansas coach Bill Self visited Rochester recently too in pursuit of the sophomore forward who is already among the more highly recruited boys basketball players in state history.

While Matthew wants a pro basketball career, older brother Michael is a freshman with the Gophers and plans to be a doctor. The close relationship between the two brothers will help Minnesota’s chances of gaining a commitment from Matthew.

St. Paul Saints part owner Bill Murray is scheduled to be among the celebrities participating in a nine-hole scramble tomorrow from 2 to 5:45 p.m. at Hazeltine National Golf Club. The Ryder Cup Celebrity Match will have personalities from the United States and Europe playing against one another. Michael Phelps is expected to be among Murray’s U.S. teammates, and Europe’s roster includes Martina Navratilova.

Ryder Cup ceremonies on Thursday will feature business leaders holding flags including WCHA men’s commissioner Bill Robertson with the American flag.

Cal Franklin of the American Marshals will be making the “Let’s Play Hockey” call at the Wild-Hurricanes preseason game tomorrow night at Xcel Energy. The Wayzata businessman is part of the Marshals group of golf enthusiasts who are unofficial ambassadors of the U.S. Ryder Cup team. They have provided support at the last four Ryder Cups in Kentucky, Wales, Chicago and Scotland.

Most Ryder Cup players are renting homes on Lake Minnetonka or at Bearpath Golf and Country Club.

Comments Welcome

Speculating on U Basketball at Dome

Posted on September 23, 2016September 23, 2016 by David Shama

The basketball Gophers may play an elite opponent next year at U.S. Bank Stadium—and the game perhaps could be part of a doubleheader.

The NCAA mandates that facilities who will be hosting a Final Four must stage a trial game as part of preparations. The 2019 men’s Final Four will be at U.S. Bank Stadium and the Gophers will play a nonconference game in the facility in December of 2017. Although the exact date isn’t determined, a Saturday on a weekend when the Vikings are out of town is likely.

The Gophers and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority that runs the stadium are working together on details. It’s up to coach Richard Pitino and his staff to schedule the opponent. They are working on possibilities this fall and a famous basketball school like Duke, Kansas or Kentucky will no doubt be part of discussions.

The Blue Devils, Jayhawks and Wildcats have the reputations to attract a large crowd to U.S. Bank Stadium. The Gophers have never played Duke in Minneapolis. Minnesota hasn’t hosted a game against Kansas since 1921 and Kentucky was last here to play the Gophers in 1951.

Schools that frequently earn their way to the Final Four could see a visit to Minneapolis and the experience of playing at U.S. Bank Stadium as beneficial. Becoming familiar with the basketball environment in the stadium, and other details about the facility and the city, presents an opportunity to gain an advantage at the 2019 Final Four.

Another benefit for elite programs to consider when asked about playing here is recruiting. The state of Minnesota has gained a reputation for producing four and five-star high school players. Next year Minnesota’s best prep players will include Apple Valley senior point guard Tre Jones and Rochester John Marshall junior forward Matthew Hurt. Players like that will want to attend a game matching the Gophers against a program often playing in Final Fours.

The trial run at U.S. Bank Stadium possibly could offer two games—perhaps even three. A source close to the Gophers suggested a billing like this: Kentucky-Minnesota; Kansas-Wisconsin; and a women’s game with the Gophers and Iowa State.

The advantage of a tripleheader like the example above is attendance of 40,000 or more would be possible. Kansas and Wisconsin fans will follow their teams to Minneapolis in large numbers. If there is only one game it could attract 15,000 to 30,000, depending on who the opponent is for Minnesota and how much excitement there is locally about the 2017-2018 Gophers.

Few details, including budgets, have yet to be made public about college basketball coming to U.S. Bank Stadium. Nothing, for example, has been announced about ticket pricing, including if the game will be part of the Gophers season ticket package. It’s anticipated a major TV network will televise the game (or games), but no deals have been made.

Worth Noting

The football Gophers need confidence and momentum when they begin the Big Ten portion of their schedule a week from Saturday at Penn State. That should be mission accomplished tomorrow in a nonconference game against Colorado State. The Rams don’t appear as formidable as the team that lost 23-20 in overtime to Minnesota last season.

Minnesota and Penn State look like middle of the pack teams in the Big Ten. In my power rankings of league teams the Gophers are No. 7, the Nittany Lions No. 8.

The league looks top heavy with No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Michigan and No. 3 Michigan State clearly superior to the conference’s other 11 teams. Here is how I rank the rest of the league: No. 4 Nebraska; No. 5 Iowa; No. 6 Wisconsin; No. 7 Minnesota; No. 8 Penn State; No. 9 Indiana; No. 10 Northwestern; No. 11 Maryland; No. 12 Illinois; No. 13 Rutgers and No. 14 Purdue.

The 2-0 Gophers are more than a two touchdown favorite tomorrow against the 2-1 Rams who lost their opener to Colorado, 44-7. That seems reasonable but it’s curious Michigan State is less than a touchdown favorite over Wisconsin at East Lansing. Both teams are undefeated and nationally ranked, but the Badgers have injuries and may have been given too much credit for their opening win over SEC power but offense-challenged LSU.

Gophers coach Tracy Claeys will have news next week on players who will be redshirted. “After this game (Colorado State) I think we’ll have a good idea on that going into the conference,” he said.

Today is the 60th birthday of Eric Kaler, University of Minnesota president.

Vikings backup quarterback Shaun Hill spoke like he couldn’t be more impressed with Sam Bradford’s performance last Sunday against the Packers. Bradford, who didn’t join the Vikings until Labor Day weekend, completed 22 of 31 passes for two touchdowns. He not only was accurate, he completed high risk passes, and he consistently stayed in the pocket.

“This isn’t like just walking into a new baseball team, and you’re a pitcher and you just go out there and throw the ball,” Hill said. “This is different. It’s very hard to come in and do what he did. Very, very impressive.”

It might be too much to expect Bradford to play at such a high level Sunday against the Panthers in Charlotte but after another week with the Vikings he will have more experience with the playbook and his receivers. Former Viking Bob Lurtsema said there are all kinds of details that a quarterback learns over time including the playbook, route running habits of receivers and who “tires in the fourth quarter.”

Lurtsema talking about his own experience in learning the playbook as a defensive lineman: “I played 12 years and never got the playbook down, and it wasn’t very big.”

The most anticipated MIAC regular season game of the year is tomorrow when undefeated Division III football powers Saint John’s and St. Thomas play in Collegeville. The last 10 Tommie-Johnnie games have averaged 12,300 in attendance, a figure that tops almost all Division II and III programs. An overflow crowd of 17,327 watched last year’s game, also in Collegeville. The attendance set a Division III record for a football game.

Among the outstanding players in the game will be Tommies running back Jordan Roberts. The transfer from FCS South Dakota started playing for St. Thomas last year, and since then the Tommies are 17-1 while averaging 51.7 points per game.

Saint John’s freshman quarterback Jackson Erdmann has thrown 12 touchdown passes in the first three games this season. No Johnnies quarterback has ever done that.

St. Thomas has won three consecutive games in Collegeville. The only time the Tommies won four straight at Saint John’s was 1937, 1941, 1946 and 1949.

The Johnnies won 12 consecutive games in the series from 1998-2009, but St. Thomas has won five of the last seven.

Saint John’s head coach Gary Fasching will speak to the C.O.R.E.S. lunch group Thursday, November 10. Luncheons are held at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington, 1114 American Blvd. C.O.R.E.S. is an acronym for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans.

Comments Welcome

Bison FBS Wins Draw Attention to U

Posted on September 21, 2016September 21, 2016 by David Shama

North Dakota State’s football team upset top-15 ranked Iowa in Iowa City last Saturday with a roster that includes 37 players from the state of Minnesota. The Bison have won five consecutive FCS national championships while going undefeated against FBS programs including the Gophers during that period.

The Gophers—who struggle every fall to win half of their Big Ten games—have 35 Minnesota natives on their roster. Do the Gophers need to recruit better and perhaps more players from Minnesota high schools?

Recruiting authority Ryan Burns annually evaluates Minnesota prep football players including when Gophers coaches look at prospective players during offseason camps. He doesn’t view the Bison’s success against FCS and FBS teams as reason to fault the Gophers for their home state recruiting. “Minnesota has made it a point to make sure they know of every kid in the state,” he told Sports Headliners.

NDSU has used Minnesota prep players in large numbers during its championship seasons and continues to do so. A lot of those players have provided depth, many have been starters, and a smaller number have been nationally recognized including junior defensive end Greg Menard who was an FCS All-American last season. He played for Lakeville North High School.

Burns, who has written extensively online about both the Bison and U programs, said many players who accept scholarships to North Dakota State aren’t offered by the Gophers. Minnesotans who become Bison may be judged a step slower, a couple inches shorter, or have less wingspan than what the Gophers and other Big Ten talent evaluators are searching for. North Dakota State coaches have repeatedly proven, though, they can take the “leftovers” and make them into players that now have the Bison ranked No. 27 in the Associated Press poll for FBS schools.

Burns said the Bison won last Saturday with 23 fewer scholarship players than the Hawkeyes. Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin reportedly earns $1.4 million—about three times more than Bison head coach Chris Klieman who has directed the last two NDSU national title teams. With fewer scholarship players and less money, the Bison defeat Power Five Conference teams, including two straight over Minnesota.

“They play with this big chip on their shoulders,” Burns said. “They know what they do well and try to play to their strengths.”

Burns said the Gophers didn’t think Menard was “explosive” enough when they evaluated him. Another Bison standout is safety Robbie Grimsley, a sophomore from Hutchinson. Burns described Grimsley as a player doing a “great job” as a Bison starter but the Gophers saw the former state Mr. Football as a little undersized at 6-feet.

Among the Gophers starters on their depth chart prior to their last game, only four were from Minnesota— safety Adekunle Ayinde, quarterback Mitch Leidner, offensive right tackle Jonah Pirsig and defensive tackle Andrew Stelter. Burns, though, points out the Gophers have since 2010 made a bigger commitment to recruiting Minnesota preps than previous coach Tim Brewster. He also said what contributes to a perception the Gophers haven’t received a lot of production from in-state players is that high profile recruits like running back Jeff Jones from Minneapolis and quarterback Phil Nelson from Mankato left the program early and without major success.

While talking about NDSU’s resume, Burns speculated that maybe the Gophers staff could take more chances on Minnesota preps. The conundrum, though, is if Gophers talent evaluators are convinced they have players from outside the state who are superior, they’re going to offer scholarships to them.

Over the years a lot of the Bison players, like Brainerd offensive tackle Joe Haeg who ended an All-American career last season, have come from outside the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Because players from small high schools don’t play against the same level of competition found in the metro area, there can be a perception and often a reality those players aren’t Big Ten worthy. But Burns insisted the Gophers coaches are looking for players even in the rural areas.

“Just because they’re from out of state, I don’t think there is a bias towards them at all,” Burns said. “If anything, they (the Gophers) want them more because they want to make sure they’re covering this entire state.”

Tracy Claeys was named Gophers head coach last November. Going back to 2011 he was Jerry Kill’s defensive coordinator. Claeys isn’t second-guessing Minnesota’s commitment to high school players in the state.

“I think we’ve done a good job evaluating kids since we’ve been here, and more and more have chosen to stay home,” Claeys said. “I don’t think you’ll ever bat a thousand and get everybody because there’s some kids that for whatever reason want to get away from home, or whatever.”

After North Dakota State’s six consecutive wins against FBS teams—including the last second 23-21 victory over then No. 13 ranked Iowa last Saturday—it’s legitimate speculation that the Bison could win the Big Ten West Division. What is fair to question, though, is whether the Bison have the roster depth to sustain success playing a more physical schedule than NDSU has in the Missouri Valley Conference.

NDSU has proven that in a small sample size the Bison can defeat Power Five conference teams. But playing week after week against FBS schools isn’t an opportunity coming to Fargo anytime soon.

Worth Noting

NFL.com is reporting Vikings running back Adrian Peterson will be out for an indefinite period after expected meniscus surgery later this week. Offensive tackle Matt Kalil has been placed on the injured reserve list because of a hip injury.

Variety’s website reported Monday that the Emmy’s had an all-time TV ratings low Sunday evening while matched against the national telecast of the Vikings-Packers game. NBC’s Sunday night NFL games are consistently the most watched weekly programming in the fall.

Tre Roberson, the former Indiana quarterback now on the Vikings practice squad as a cornerback, has never played defensive back in organized football including on the youth level.

Former Vikings wide receiver Mike Wallace, now with the Ravens, already has three touchdown receptions in two games and is averaging 18.9 yards per catch. In 16 games with the Vikings last season he had two touchdown catches and averaged 12.1 yards per reception.

NBC and the Golf Channel will provide about 25 hours of live coverage later this month for the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska.

As of last week the Minnesota Wild had renewed approximately 93 percent of its season tickets. The club sold about 15,000 season tickets in 2015-2016.

The late Herb Brooks enjoyed drinking a Moscow Mule cocktail. Promoters of Herbie’s On The Park claim the vodka-based drink was the famous hockey coach’s favorite adult beverage. The Moscow Mule is part of the offerings at Herbie’s On The Park, the new restaurant and bar opening Saturday in the historic Minnesota Club at 317 Washington Street in Saint Paul. Herbie’s will be open to the public seven days per week serving lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. More at Herbiesonthepark.com.

The Wild will hold a free, open practice from 9:45 to 11:15 a.m. at Xcel Energy Center on Saturday. Fans can enter through Gate 1 and concessions will be available.

Local author and historian Frank White speaks Thursday night starting at 7:30 p.m. for the Washington County Historical Society. At the Water Street Inn in Stillwater White will talk about his new book, “They Played for the Love of the Game—Untold Stories of Black Baseball in Minnesota.” Reservations available on the WCHS website.

Minneapolis-based Buffalo Wild Wings has renewed its partnership with the NCAA as the “Official Hangout for NCAA Sports.” This means marketing, media and activation rights involving 90 NCAA Championships (24 sports), including the men’s and women’s basketball Final Fours.

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