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A&M’s Sumlin Didn’t Pursue U

Posted on November 16, 2012 by David Shama

On the college football beat including the Gophers:

Kevin Sumlin is the biggest name in college football coaching this week after his Texas A&M team upset undefeated and No. 1 ranked Alabama in Tuscaloosa last Saturday. Although Sumlin has Minnesota and Big Ten connections, the first-year A&M head coach reportedly wasn’t interested in coaching the Gophers before Minnesota hired Jerry Kill in December of 2010.

A trusted source with knowledge about Sumlin told Sports Headliners the then University of Houston coach didn’t want to be considered as a replacement for Gophers coach Tim Brewster. The source didn’t offer an explanation but it’s believed Sumlin was waiting for a head coaching opportunity at a program better positioned to win on the national stage.

Sumlin played college football at Purdue and his assistant coaching positions included five seasons with the Gophers, working for head coaches Jim Wacker and Glen Mason from 1993 to 1997. Sumlin met his wife Charlene in Minnesota, and now they have four children.

At Houston, Sumlin became the first African-American head coach of a major college football program in the state of Texas. In four seasons at Houston, Sumlin developed a reputation as an offensive wiz while leading the Cougars to a 35-17 record and three bowl games. Twice he was a finalist for national coach of the year before taking the A&M job where the Aggies are in their first season playing in the SEC. Texas A&M, 8-2, is No. 8 in the BCS rankings after defeating Alabama, 29-24.

The No. 1 team in the BCS rankings is Kansas State. The amazing history of Wildcats football under 73-year-old coach Bill Snyder should be a source of encouragement to Gophers fans that have seen Minnesota absent from national prominence since the 1960s.

Snyder’s record at Kansas State is 169-82-1 and in several weeks he could have the Wildcats playing in their first national championship game. His first season as Kansas State coach was in 1989 and in the previous 27 games the Wildcats were 0-26-1. From 1938-1988 Kansas State won only 130 games, an average of about 2.5 wins per season. For decades the Wildcats were quickly mentioned in any discussion of college football’s worst programs.

Snyder, who had been an assistant coach for Hayden Fry at Iowa before taking the Kansas State job, retired after the 2005 season only to become head coach again in 2009.

Gophers freshman quarterback Philip Nelson said “nobody expects” Minnesota, 6-4 overall and 2-4 in Big Ten games, to win tomorrow’s game in Lincoln against Nebraska. The Cornhuskers, 8-2 overall and 5-1 in the Big Ten, could finish the season after two more league games as Legends Division champions, advance to the conference championship game and eventually land in Pasadena for the Rose Bowl.

If that weren’t enough incentive to win, Nebraska has 29 seniors to be recognized tomorrow in the team’s last home game for 2012. And legendary former coach Tom Osborne, who is retiring as athletic director on January 1, 2013, will be honored at the game.

But Nelson said the Gophers, who defeated Illinois last Saturday for their first conference road win since 2010, are gaining confidence. “I think it’s a confidence builder knowing that we could go into somebody else’s place and pull out a victory. This is something (at Nebraska) where nobody expects us to win this game, and we’re back to where we always have been (underdog). It’s something that this team has to prove some people wrong…and in a big game like this we feel like we can surprise some people on the road.”

Nelson said the Illini “were catching on” to some of the Gophers’ offensive hand signals. The Gophers adjusted in mid-game but for awhile there was some confusion among Minnesota players, according to Nelson. “We have to switch up some things from game to game so film doesn’t give away too much what we’re trying to do,” he said.

Because of injuries, Zac Epping was the only center available to the Gophers in last Saturday’s game. Kill said earlier in the week a non-center will be taught the position to backup Epping. The major adjustment for a novice?

“Just being consistent, always getting the ball perfectly back there (on the snap) wherever it needs to be,” Epping said.

Worth Noting

Tartan High School defensive back Keelon Brookins, perhaps the best Division I senior prospect in the state, signed his letter of intent this week to attend Wisconsin. Brookins emailed he will be enrolled and attending classes in Madison in January.

The Gophers, 6-4, have only one win over a team with a better than .500 record—a victory against Division I FCS New Hampshire (8-2). Minnesota’s other wins are over UNLV (2-9), Western Michigan (4-7), Syracuse (5-5), Purdue (4-6) and Illinois (2-8). Syracuse impressively defeated then No. 9 ranked Louisville last Saturday, 45-26.

The Vikings, 6-4, have six games remaining on the regular season schedule (two games each against the Bears and Packers, plus games with the Texans and Rams). In their first 10 games the Vikings have played nine different teams (twice defeating the Lions), and those clubs have a combined record of 39-43-1. Minnesota’s remaining opponents have a total record of 24-11-1.

The Vikings are playing three of the top six teams in espn.com’s NFL power rankings starting November 25 versus the Bears (7-2) in Chicago, and ending against the Packers (6-3) on December 30 in Minneapolis. The Bears are No. 3 in the rankings, the Packers No. 6. The Vikings play in Houston on December 23 versus the No. 1 ranked Texans (8-1). The Rams (3-5-1) are ranked No. 23.

The Richmond Spiders, the Gophers basketball opponents at home on Sunday night, are 3-0 with nonconference wins over Liberty, UNCW and Hampton. Although the Spiders are off to their best start since 2006-2007, they look like another warm-up game for 3-0 Minnesota before next Thursday’s test against nationally ranked Duke (2-0) in the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament in the Bahamas.

The college basketball issue of Athlon Sports now on newsstands includes a list of the top 25 coaches in the country. Michigan State’s Tom Izzo is No. 1 and other Big Ten coaches included are No. 9 Bo Ryan (Wisconsin), No. 14 Thad Matta (Ohio State), No. 17 Tom Crean (Indiana), No. 18 John Beilein (Michigan) and No. 24 Matt Painter (Purdue).

Kevin Love’s annual coat drive started earlier this week and continues until December 12. Partnering with the Salvation Army and Comcast, the public is invited to donate new and “gently used coats” at the Target Center box office, or at several Comcast service centers in the metro area. Coat donations can also be made on December 1 at the Best Buy in Inver Grove Heights when the Wolves’ All-Star forward will make an appearance and pose for photos. Call the store in late November for exact times.

There will be some grumbling coming from Mariucci Arena if the Gophers don’t sweep the Badgers tonight and tomorrow evening. Wisconsin, 1-4-1 overall and 1-2-1 in the WCHA, is off to a slow start and reportedly will be without the injured Mark Zengerle, a top point producer. Minnesota, ranked No. 3 in the nation in two different polls, is 6-2-1 and 3-2-1.

Wisconsin is celebrating the 50^th anniversary of Badgers hockey this season. The Badgers have won six national championships. The Gophers, who started playing hockey in 1921, have five titles. However, the NCAA’s major college hockey tournament didn’t begin until 1948, according to wikipedia.org.

St. Thomas has 10 fall or winter teams included in top 25 rankings. Football is No. 3 and 4 in the two national polls; volleyball is No. 8; and women’s and men’s golf are both ranked in coaches’ polls. Women’s basketball is No. 3; women’s hockey No. 10; men’s hockey No. 12; men’s basketball No. 11; men’s swimming and diving is No. 18 and women’s S&D No. 23.

Dick Jonckowski, the Shakopee-based banquet emcee and public address announcer for Gophers basketball and baseball, was inducted recently into the Minnesota High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. At the induction Jonckowski quipped: “Here’s a man who needs no introduction.”

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U Will Schedule BCS Teams

Posted on November 14, 2012November 14, 2012 by David Shama

Norwood Teague told Sports Headliners the Gophers want to schedule BCS opponents for nonconference games, but not for several years.

The Gophers’ new athletic director cancelled games with North Carolina for 2013 and 2014 earlier this fall. Now Minnesota doesn’t have a BCS opponent on the nonconference schedule until 2018 when Oregon State is scheduled to play in Minneapolis.

Teague and football coach Jerry Kill aren’t saying never to scheduling BCS non-conference foes—schools from the six conferences of the Big Ten, Atlantic Coast, Big East, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC . “Oh, yeah,” Teague said. “We want to do that.”

The decision to exit from the North Carolina series and make the nonconference lineup of games in 2013 and 2014 more winnable was based on a belief by athletic department leaders that the Gophers program needs time to become more competitive.

The Gophers were 4-0 during non-conference games this season and without all four wins (three against non-BCS opponents) the program would still not be bowl eligible. Minnesota is 6-4 after earning its second Big Ten win last Saturday against Illinois but without its non-conference sweep, the Gophers would have to be hoping for a sixth win and bowl eligibility in their last two games—underdog assignments versus Nebraska and Michigan State.

Six wins and a bowl game can help a program in recruiting, and Kill highly values the extra 15 practices allowed to prepare his team for the post-season. Those bonus practices can be like a second spring practice, particularly helpful for a young roster of players like the Gophers.

Teague emphasized that in a difficult Big Ten, having a favorable nonleague schedule is a plus. “It’s where we are now (in scheduling philosophy),” he said. “I am not saying we’re going to be there in five years but it’s where we are now (needing nonleague wins).”

Teague acknowledged an outpouring of disappointment by fans about cancellation of the North Carolina series. Fans, including season ticket holders, have long been frustrated by the lack of BCS teams on Minnesota’s non-conference schedules. There’s no arguing that for many season ticket holders having the likes of Western Illinois and San Jose State as early games in 2013 detracts from the value of their purchases. Other nonconference home opponents on future schedules include Eastern Illinois, Middle Tennessee State and Indiana State.

“If I was a fan and we cancelled the North Carolina series, I would be frustrated too,” Teague said. “…It’s something Jerry felt like we needed to do and I wanted to support him and I agreed with him after we analyzed it.

“I can’t tell you how much we analyzed this over June and July. We met about it constantly. We ruminated on it constantly and decided to go ahead and do it.”

The Gophers Athletic Department paid $800,000 to North Carolina to cancel the games and the decision left Minnesota scrambling to fill open dates in 2013 and 2014 (Minnesota will likely play at New Mexico State on September 7, 2013). The $800,000 was a significant part of the public criticism.

Would Teague make the same decision again?

“I would. I regret that it struck such a chord with our fans, and I don’t want to anger anyone for reasons that seemed like we’re looking at it in a flippant way. The money is one thing. It’s a lot of money and it could be seen as being used for better and more needy situations.

“But it is an investment for the future. We’re trying to get momentum in the program. The Big Ten is tough. …”

Vikings Stadium & Other Notes

A construction management firm for the new Vikings stadium could be chosen within the next 30 days, according to Lester Bagley. The Vikings vice president of public affairs said the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority will issue a request for proposal, and a firm will be selected before year’s end.

That company will determine the cost of potential retractable features for the stadium. Retractable options for cost analysis are expected to include a moving roof, and doors that open to the stadium plaza.

Bagley said ground for the new stadium is likely to be broken next September. Although the facility will be built on the Metrodome site, the Vikings will be able to play the entire 2013 season at Mall of America Field. Before the expected new stadium opening in 2016, the Vikings will play some games at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings are close to announcing completion of an agreement with the University of Minnesota.

Bagley said details regarding the Gophers’ stadium include placement of heating coils beneath the playing field and expanding seating capacity (currently 50,805). The Vikings have more season ticket holders than TCF’s present capacity, and because the team plays more than a month after the Gophers’ season ends there are “weatherization” issues with the stadium, according to Bagley.

The Vikings don’t play again until Sunday, November 25 in Chicago against the Bears. Some players will use the bye week break to leave town including linebacker Chad Greenway who will be in his native South Dakota hunting pheasants.

Vikings reserve quarterback Joe Webb turns 26 today.

Although the Gophers’ bowl destination won’t be decided for awhile, an athletic department spokesman speculated the destination could be the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas in Houston on December 28, with Minnesota playing Iowa State, TCU or West Virginia from the Big 12 Conference.

With his team down to one healthy center, Gophers coach Jerry Kill said yesterday his staff will need to teach someone to be a backup to starter Zac Epping for Saturday’s game against Nebraska in Lincoln.

Here are Sports Headliners Big Ten football power rankings: Ohio State,Nebraska, Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan, Northwestern, Michigan State, Purdue, Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana and Illinois.

Tickets for the St. Thomas Division III home football playoff game against St.Norbert College on Saturday go on sale starting at 10:30 a.m. that day at O’Shaughnessy Stadium. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $4 for students. The game isn’t expected to sell out. The Tommies are 10-0 while the Green Knights are 8-2.

Bethel (8-2) is a second MIAC team advancing to the playoffs, and plays in Chicago on Saturday against Concordia-Chicago (10-0).

The Timberwolves, 5-2 and off to their best start since 2001-2002, didn’t have a player among the NBA’s top 25 for points, rebounds, assists or minutes through league games as of Monday. The Wolves, undefeated at home in three games, play the Bobcats at Target Center tonight.

Former Gophers center Colton Iverson had 18 points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes playing for Colorado State last week in the Rams’ opening game, a 72-65 win over Montana. The 6-10 Iverson is wearing jersey No. 45, the same number he had at Minnesota.

Rams coach Larry Eustachy praised Iverson in the college basketball issue of Athlon Sports now on newsstands. “Colton changes the whole team. He’s in a small pool of players around the country that have his size, his intelligence and his feel for the game. He passes the test.”

Former Gophers basketball player Keith Young emailed he has completed his first book of poetry. “This is a twenty year hobby that I have decided to turn into a business venture,” he wrote. Poems from an Unexpected Source is about “family, friendship, sports, hope and life.” yeltd@sbcglobal.net.

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‘Superman’ Inspires, Breaks Record

Posted on November 12, 2012November 12, 2012 by David Shama

Maybe it was fate that Adrian Peterson broke a Vikings’ rushing record yesterday against the Lions.

The All-Pro running back went over 1,000 yards for the fifth time in a season and broke a tie with Robert Smith for the franchise record of most 1,000 yard seasons. Peterson ran for 171 yards in a 34-24 win over the Lions, including a 61-yard touchdown run. It was the fourth consecutive game that Peterson, the NFL’s leading rusher, has totaled over 100 yards this season.

Peterson, now in his sixth pro season, is a clear choice as the franchise’s best running back ever. He plays in a division, the NFC North, that has three other franchises with legendary running backs. During their eras Barry Sanders (Lions), Walter Payton and Gale Sayers (Bears), and Jim Taylor (Packers) were superstar runners. Sanders is regarded by some historians as the greatest running back of all-time.

At 27 years old and healthy again after last season’s ACL injury, Peterson is on track to join Sanders, Payton and Taylor in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After yesterday’s win, Peterson’s teammates talked about him like he’s already a legend.

Yes, they described him as the “best back in the league” but the praise went beyond that. “Adrian is kind of a Superman,” left guard Charlie Johnson said. “He’s a freak. You would never think that an injury like that would happen to him. But it happened, and the way he fought back, it is inspiring to us.”

Peterson has been playing since the opening game of the season despite the brutal injury he suffered. He’s his old self running with power, making superlative cuts and possessing the straightaway speed to race past secondary defenders.

“He’s pretty darn good, huh? Best back in the league right now,” center John Sullivan said. “Those all-time discussions (best runner ever) are always going to be debatable. What he’s doing—especially in a pass happy league—is fantastic.”

Johnson agrees there’s no lasting impacting from the ACL injury. “He’s unbelievable. I really don’t think you can tell if he got hurt or not. It’s just the way that he’s running, and seeing the field well. It’s fun to block (for him).”

Johnson said Peterson’s ordeal of suffering the injury and then coming back so dramatically to reclaim his spot as the NFL’s premier running back set an example for the other Vikings. “He means a lot. For him to get hurt last year and for him to attack his rehab the way he did, that gets our attention. That the guy…had a major knee injury and he’s back way ahead of when everybody thought he was, that makes you work hard. It makes the whole locker room want to work hard and get better every day seeing that.”

The Vikings have a bye next week and for now they can celebrate being 6-4, ending a two-game losing streak. There were contributions from many Vikings on both offense and defense yesterday in beating the Lions (4-5) in a key division game but the main donor was No. 28.

Four of the Vikings’ six remaining games are on the road. Vikings marketing executive Steve LaCroix said small numbers of tickets are still available for the team’s last two home games, December 9 versus the Bears and December 30 against the Packers. Both games will sellout. Information on tickets: www.vikings.com.

Gophers, Wolves & Other Notes

The Gophers are bowl eligible for the first time since 2009 with their 17-3 win over Illinois on Saturday, winning the game with a reshuffled offensive line and using several true freshmen including quarterback Philip Nelson who had a difficult day facing Illini blitzes that seemed to have him and his receivers off balance.

Nelson passed for 78 yards. It didn’t help that two of his most reliable receivers, A.J. Barker and Derrick Engel, were injured and didn’t play.

Coach Jerry Kill has been shuffling personnel on the offensive line all season including having to replace starting left tackle Ed Olson and left guard Tommy Olson. At Illinois, injuries forced the Gophers to play three different centers.

In addition to Nelson, the Gophers received significant minutes from these true freshmen: defensive tackle Scott Ekpe, defensive end Alex Keith, wide receiver Andre McDonald, tight end Lincoln Plsek and running back Rodrick Williams.

Much of the Timberwolves’ fast start this season can be attributed to the team’s defensive play. The Wolves, despite a run of injuries that has sidelined multiple players, have a 4-2 record. They rank fifth among NBA teams in fewest points given up per game, 89.5, and third best in lowest field goal percentage allowed, .415.

But on Friday night before the Wolves earned their fourth win of the season, forward Andrei Kirilenko told Sports Headliners there’s much potential for improvement. “I still think we’re far from playing great defense but I think we’re doing a very good job in the mental effort. Everybody (is) trying to play defense. A lot of things when you play on defense, comes from the state of mind. …”

Kirilenko is a former all-NBA defense first and second team selection. He said it can take years for teams to maximize their defensive effectiveness as they learn assignments, how to help each other and develop the required work ethic.

Kirilenko said his wife, former Russian pop singer Marina Masha Lopatova, is living with him in Minnesota. Can Kirilenko sing? “I can sing in the shower,” he said.

The Wolves other Russian player, 23-year-old rookie guard Alexey Shved, has improved his English in the last few months. “I tell them you’re in America now, you have to speak English,” teammate Chase Budinger joked.

Budinger suffered a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee on Saturday night against the Bulls in Chicago. Surgery will be scheduled later this week.

The November 12 issue of Sports Illustrated includes the magazine’s annual college basketball preview. The Gophers are ranked No. 31 in the country and forecast to earn a win in the NCAA Tournament. Indiana is No. 1, with two other Big Ten Conference schools in the top 10, No. 6 Michigan and No. 7 Ohio State.

The magazine includes former St. Cloud Tech High School guard Nate Wolters among its three players who are potential “game changers”—players from lesser known schools that could make a big impact this season. S.I. reports the South Dakota State point guard is a potential NBA draft choice, and last season accounted for 27.2 percent of his team’s field goals and 33 percent of the free throws.

The NHL lockout could end soon as players feel the pressure of continued lost paychecks. Meanwhile, players from the Wild work out at rinks in Edina, Orono and Wayzata knowing they have to be in shape and keep their skills sharp, or they will be at a competitive disadvantage if training camp and the season starts. It’s presumed NHL training camps will last only seven to 14 days.

The 2013 NHL Winter Classic scheduled for Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor has been cancelled but look for the site to host the game in 2014. The 2015 game? It’s worth a bet Target Field will be the site.

Gophers hockey reunions are planned for February 23 and March 2 recognizing the 10^th anniversary of the 2003 national championship team and the 30^th anniversary of the 1983 WCHA title team. The Gophers athletic department is inviting former team members, coaches and staff to receptions prior to Minnesota’s home games on those dates with Minnesota-Duluth and Denver. There will also be on-ice recognition of the anniversary teams during the games.

Twins president Dave St. Peter will speak at the Minnesota Minute Men Holiday Event on December 3 at Jax Café. The Minute Men welcome prospective new members at the 6 to 8 p.m. event that will include complimentary beverages and appetizers. RSVP at www.minnesotaminutemen.com.

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