Vikings – Page 252 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

U Markets but Student Sales Dip

Posted on September 7, 2012September 7, 2012 by David Shama

There will be a noon football pep rally today at Coffman Union that will include coach Jerry Kill, athletic director Norwood Teague and University of Minnesota president Eric Kaler. The event is part of a 2012 marketing plan to promote Gophers football to students. From student orientation to the pep rally to an email message from quarterback MarQueis Gray sent to 42,000 students, the athletic department has been reaching out to students in the days leading up to tomorrow’s opening home game against New Hampshire.

“It’s a pretty extensive plan (to reach students),” associate athletics director Jason LaFrenz told Sports Headliners. “We’re selling where they’re at.”

But when fans show up at TCF Bank Stadium tomorrow the most empty seats in the four-year-old facility could be in the bowl end—the student section. That’s sometimes been the reality in past seasons, including 2011 when student season ticket sales dropped to a TCF Bank Stadium low of 5,600.

Student season tickets ($84 for seven games) will be sold for awhile but it seems likely the final total will be 4,500 or less—way below the 10,000 in the stadium’s first season of 2009 that filled up the bowl end. The totals in 2010 and 2011 were 7,800 and 5,600.

This is the first week of classes for fall semester at Minnesota and 3,400 student season tickets had been sold as of this morning. “We all want to sell more season tickets,” LaFrenz said.

To help fill the student section tomorrow, the Gophers have distributed 5,500 free tickets to freshmen. “We’ve never done that before,” LaFrenz said. “We’re curious to see what happens.”

The athletic department is also selling a $25 ticket package to the public for the first two home games that includes a hot dog and coke. Those ticket holders will sit in the stadium’s bowl end.

Critics question the effectiveness of the athletic department’s marketing in selling student tickets. The opinion here is it’s easy to criticize but to market a product there has to be an attractive product and an audience that wants to buy the product.

During the last 20 seasons the Gophers football program has produced 50 wins and 110 losses in Big Ten Conference games. During that period the Gophers were mostly at or near the bottom of the league standings. Minnesota last won a conference championship in 1967. The Gophers haven’t been to a New Year’s Day bowl game since 1962.

Minnesota’s overall record the last two seasons is 6 wins, 18 losses. The Gophers are 19-31 overall and 10-30 in the Big Ten since 2007. The program hasn’t won a bowl game since 2005.

Students at Minnesota—if they grew up following football—are more likely to be Vikings fans than Gophers followers. That’s almost certainly a valid assumption about students who were raised in the state, surrounded by adults and peers who prefer the Vikings and the powerhouse image of the National Football League.

Most of Minnesota’s 50,000 students don’t reside on campus. That means a less captive audience for football games and other on-campus activities. And that’s been a problem for decades in drawing students to athletic events.

TCF Bank Stadium wasn’t sold out for a single game last season, despite the presence of an unusually attractive home schedule that included Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota State and Wisconsin. Those schools are box office attractions to many Minnesotans, including students, and the four programs brought thousands of rival fans to town.

Last season the Gophers averaged 47,714 in their 50,805 seat stadium—a facility that is among the newest and best in college football. Unless the Gophers contradict predictions of another unproductive season on the field, attendance is almost certain to be less than in 2011.

LaFrenz said public season tickets ($275 for seven games) renewed at 90 percent and new season buyers are being added. The public total as of this morning is 29,977, according to LaFrenz. Combine the near 30,000 with (maybe) 4,000 student season tickets, and (maybe) an average of 6,000 from single game attendees (including freebies) and the Gophers might average 40,000 fans in 2012.

That would be the lowest home average since 39,996 in 1993. Not so good, but remember part of the adult population in this town and state is as apathetic about Gophers football as the young academics in Dinkytown.

And not so bad when compared with the 16,013 who showed up in Henderson, Nevada to watch Minnesota defeat UNLV last week. That attendance was interesting and so too were the crowds involving some other Big Ten teams. Illinois, Indiana and Purdue—all programs that have produced plenty of heartache and indigestion for their fans during recent autumns—drew home crowds last Saturday of 43,441, 41,882 and 40,572.

If Kill turns the Gophers into Big Ten winners, the athletic department won’t have any problem besting those crowds.

Football & Other Notes:

New Hampshire receives $375,000 for tomorrow’s game at TCF Bank Stadium. Oregon head coach Chip Kelly was New Hampshire’s offensive coordinator before joining the Ducks in 2007. The Wildcats run a spread offense with a 4-2-5 defensive alignment.

“They’re going to snap it 90 to 100 times a game,” Kill said. “They’re no‑huddle offense. They’re going to get up, boom, boom, boom, boom.”

New Hampshire receives a smaller financial payout from the Gophers because the Wildcats are an FCS school. Western Michigan, an FBS school that will play at TCF Bank Stadium a week from Saturday, will receive $750,000. Syracuse, the Gophers’ final 2012 nonconference opponent, will earn $250,000 for playing here. That amount is based on a home-and-home arrangement where Minnesota played at Syracuse in 2009.

New athletic director Norwood Teague talking about future football scheduling: “I think with scheduling, the way I feel about it is that I want Jerry and his staff to do it. I’ll monitor it. …I don’t micromanage that.”

Last month, before the Gophers opened their season, KFAN’s Dan Barreiro predicted Minnesota will start the season with a record 7-1.

In its initial NFL power rankings, espn.com has the Vikings No. 30 among 32 league teams. The Jaguars, the team that opens the season against the Vikings on Sunday at Mall of America Field, is ranked No. 29. The top five: Packers, Patriots, Giants, 49ers and Texans.

Vikings fan and supporter Larry Spooner will sound the Gjallarhorn before the game. He will represent fans and supporters who backed legislation for the new downtown stadium.

Ex-Vikings tight end Mike Mullarkey, now in his first season as head coach of the Jaguars, began his coaching career as an assistant at Concordia University, St. Paul. Mullarkey was head coach of the Bills from 2004-2005, compiling a 14-18 record.

The three Vikings quarterbacks have a total of 13 starts in NFL regular season games. Starter Christian Ponder, now in his second season, has 10 starts while third-year and No. 2 QB Joe Webb has three. McLeod-Bethel Thompson, signed as a free agent in January, has never played in an NFL regular season game.

Coach Leslie Frazier talking about Thompson: “I like his arm strength that shows up. He has accuracy, but his command is one thing that really got all of our attention. Going all the way back to OTAs and doing the things that we did back in April, he has some confidence and some swagger about him. And you like to see that in (a) young guy and he has some talent to go along with that. He has some things that you’d like to try to develop over time and see where he ends up going.”

St. Thomas and Saint John’s, both winners in their non-conference games last Saturday, have games against UW-RiverFalls and UW-Eau Claire tomorrow. Then on September 15 the Tommies play at Saint John’s in a much anticipated MIAC opener. (St. Thomas defeated UW-Eau Claire 27-24 last Saturday.)

MIAC football teams were 7-0 in nonconference openers last weekend.

Last week Becker High School coach Dwight Lundeen won his 300^th career game, while Adrian’s Randy Strand coached his 200^th win and Springfield’s Paul Dunn got career win No. 100.

The announcement about Rochester manager Gene Glynn joining the Twins in September prompts speculation about changes for next season. While it will be stunning if manager Ron Gardenhire doesn’t return, a shake-up in the coaching staff wouldn’t be surprising given the Twins’ on-field performance the last two years.

Glynn, the Waseca native, impressed at Rochester. So, too, did hitting coach Tom Brunansky, the former Twins outfielder.

While releasing its conference schedule last week, the Big Ten office noted that six league teams were included in the early preseason national top 25 ranking by Andy Katz from espn.com: No. 1 Indiana, No. 5 Michigan, No. 8 Ohio State, No. 9 Michigan State, No. 22 Wisconsin and No. 25 Minnesota.

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Look-Alike Vikings & Jags Meet Sunday

Posted on September 4, 2012September 4, 2012 by David Shama

Two second-year quarterbacks trying to prove worthy of leading their teams compete on Sunday at Mall of America Field. The Vikings Christian Ponder and the Jaguars Blaine Gabbert, first round draft choices in 2011, will lead their offenses in the NFL opening game for both teams.

Vikings Nation knows Ponder’s story, a 2011 season in which he started 10 games and at times threw the ball to guys wearing a different color jersey. Sometimes lacking poise and showing his inexperience in reading defenses, Ponder threw 13 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. His passing rating was 70.1.

Gabbert’s critics “lampooned him for everything from his accuracy to questionable pocket presence,” according to an online story last Saturday in Jacksonville’s Florida Times-Union. Gabbert started 14 games for the Jags last season, threw 12 touchdown passes, 11 interceptions and had a rating of 65.4.

Not surprisingly in the quarterback-centric NFL, neither the Vikings (3-13) nor Jags (5-11) were winners last season. Better times in 2012? Most NFL authorities don’t think so including Sports Illustrated—predicting in its pro football preview issue both franchises will be 4-12, finishing last in their divisions (NFC North and AFC South).

Former Vikings tight end Mike Mularkey, the new Jags coach, has the assignment of helping make Gabbert effective enough to one day remove the 22-year-old’s training wheels. S.I. describes Gabbert as the NFL’s “most skittish” quarterback last season but reports Mularkey, the ex-Falcons offensive coordinator credited for some of quarterback Matt Ryan’s development in Atlanta, has stressed fundamentals with Gabbert.

That seems like a “duh” but the 2011 off-season NFL labor dispute didn’t allow normal preparation for the season. Included among the victims were Gabbert and Ponder, two first round draft choices trying to find their way playing the most demanding position in pro football as rookie starters.

Vikings, Gophers & Other Notes:

Sports Illustrated predicts the Bears will win the NFC North with the Packers, Lions and Vikings finishing second, third and fourth. But the publication picks the Pack to beat the Broncos in the Super Bowl.

Few Vikings observers probably thought that when the club signed McLeod Bethel-Thompson as a free agent last January he would make the team. The 24-year-old quarterback is on the final roster after previous pro football experience in the NFL (no regular season game action), Arena Football League and United Football League.

The strong-armed, strong-willed California native began his college career at UCLA and finished at Sacramento State. He’s interested in becoming a teacher and helping inner-city youth. His grandfather, Wilbur Thompson, was a gold medal winning shot putter for the United States in the 1948 Olympics. The younger Thompson said his grandfather has been a mentor in his life, reminding him “of the power of the mind on the body.”

The Gophers next three nonconference football opponents are New Hampshire, Western Michigan and Syracuse—all home games at TCF Bank Stadium. New Hampshire defeated Holy Cross 38-17 last week, while Western Michigan lost 24-7 to Illinois and Northwestern beat Syracuse 42-41.

Gophers coach Jerry Kill talking today about FCS member New Hampshire playing in Minneapolis on Saturday: “This is a bowl game for New Hampshire. …You’re going to get their best.”

Kill said Gophers freshman running back and receiver KJ Maye “is going to be a special player.”

Two years ago many Gophers fans were criticizing the choice of Adam Weber as the team’s starting quarterback, lobbying for MarQueis Gray. Weber ended his college career as a four-year starter in 2010. He is second only to Drew Brees in career Big Ten total offense. Gray took over as Minnesota’s starter last season, completing 50.7 percent of his passes while throwing eight touchdown passes and eight interceptions. In Minnesota’s first game this season an over anxious Gray missed open receivers and sure touchdown passes.

Ron Gardenhire said on his most recent Sunday morning 1500 ESPN show he accepts responsibility for his team that will finish with one of the worst records in baseball. “I haven’t been able to figure this thing out,” he said. But Gardenhire didn’t talk like he won’t return as manager, and general manager Terry Ryan has been a big admirer of Gardenhire’s managing that started in 2002.

Gardenhire also said on the show he’s seen growing confidence in Chris Parmelee, the first baseman, right fielder and designated hitter that has compiled some frequent flyer miles this season shuttling between AAA Rochester and Minneapolis. Gardenhire has “big plans” for the 24-year-old left-handed hitter who batted .338 at Rochester with 17 home runs and 49 RBI in 228 at bats.

Local businessman John Dovolis was a good friend of the late Dark Star, the former WCCO Radio talk show host and all-time Minnesota character. Star, who died from a heart attack last spring, didn’t have a healthy diet. Dovolis recalled that Star once told him that at his funeral he wanted an open bar and buffet, and “to make sure there was no salad, vegetables or fruit.”

Star’s suburban Minneapolis apartment was filled with sports memorabilia. “There was barely a pathway to go from the kitchen to the bathroom to the bedroom,” Dovolis said.

This Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. there will be an estate sale of Star’s memorabilia with part of the proceeds going to the new Gophers baseball stadium. Items will include a Michael Jordan signed jersey and basketball, Jim Brown and Dick Butkus autographed helmets, signed baseball bats and balls, model boats and airplanes, slot machines, coin operated games and a lot more. The sale will be at 212 Second Street Southeast in St. Anthony Main and conducted by Dennis Hagen Estate Sales. www.dennishagenestatesales.com. Dovolis said the sale will be advertised in Thursday’s Star Tribune classifieds.

Prep basketball authority Ken Lien emailed today that Edina basketball guard Graham Woodward will make a recruiting visit to Washington State this weekend.

The seventh annual Hockey Day Minnesota, celebrating the sport from the peewees to the pros, will be on Saturday, January 19. Three outdoor high school games will be played on Lake Pokegama in Grand Rapids: Eagan versus Hibbing (boys); Benilde-St. Margaret’s versus Grand Rapids (boys); Hibbing versus Grand Rapids (girls). The Gophers will play at home against North Dakota on Hockey Day while the Wild host the Penguins.

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Gophers Need to Make ‘Statement’

Posted on August 29, 2012August 29, 2012 by David Shama

The way Troy Stoudermire looks at things it’s time for the Gophers to break away from the past. The assignment starts tomorrow night on the road against UNLV in Minnesota’s 2012 opening game.

“It means a lot to go win this game,” Stoudermire told Sports Headliners. “Winning this game is just one step to what we’re trying to accomplish. We gotta come make a statement.

“Every year we’ve been having a team full of talent but we never could get that done. That’s the way we gotta look at it. But this year we’re gonna get that done.”

No player on Minnesota’s roster has more perspective about the program than Stoudermire, a senior cornerback and record-setting kickoff returner. He was a freshman on the 2008 team and was granted a fifth season of eligibility in 2012 by the NCAA because a broken arm limited him to four games last season.

Minnesota’s season records during the Stoudermire era are 7-6-, 6-7, 3-9 and 3-9. That adds up to 19 wins, 31 losses and the record of the last four years has a lot to do with why the college football world has low expectations again for the Gophers. Stoudermire said nobody outside the program gives the Gophers “a chance” to accomplish much in 2012 “but we gotta make a name for ourselves.”

He has been impressed with his teammates during August practices leading up to tomorrow night’s game when the Gophers are expected to win by a touchdown or more. He said the offense is “really good,” led by senior dual-threat quarterback MarQueis Gray who “can do anything.”

The defense?

“This has been the lowest penalty rated camp that I’ve been at on defense,” Stoudermire said. “…I’ve seen the defense improve way more than any other year I’ve been here. We’ve just been on point. Everyone is making calls. Everyone is in the right spot and doing what they’re supposed to do, and not trying to do a little extra, and that’s all you need to have a really good defense.”

Gophers, Vikings & Other Notes:

UNLV is a struggling program like the Gophers. The Rebels were 2-11 last season, winning games at home against New Mexico (45-10) and Wyoming (42-16). Third-year coach Bobby Hauck is 4-21 at UNLV.

Among NCAA teams last season the Gophers ranked 110^th in total offense, UNLV 117^th. In total defense Minnesota ranked No. 77 with the Rebels at No. 105.

Kickoff for the Minnesota-UNLV game is 10:04 p.m. tomorrow. A daytime high of 102 degrees and overnight low of 79 in Las Vegas is forecast by weather.com. Gophers coach Jerry Kill will “play a lot of kids” and the players were told starting last week to consume plenty of fluids.

Quarterback MarQueis Gray had to leave the opening game at USC last year because of heat-induced arm cramps. That’s something Kill expects Gray to avoid tomorrow night. “We’ll take care of that,” Kill said. “MarQueis sweats a ton so we’ll have to make sure he takes plenty of fluid in.”

Kill plans to redshirt all his freshmen offensive linemen including Isaac Hayes and Jonah Pirsig, the two highly publicized Minnesota natives. He will also redshirt former Lakeville South High School quarterback Mitch Leidner.

That means Philip Nelson, the freshman from Mankato West, along with sophomore Max Shortell will be the backup quarterbacks to Gray for the UNLV game. Kill didn’t say so but he probably hopes to redshirt Nelson too.

Kill brought in outside speakers to address the team during August practices including former Gophers All-American safety Tyrone Carter. Don Banham, former Minneapolis police officer and father of Gophers football player Cole Banham and Gophers women’s basketball star Rachel Banham, also spoke to the team.

The Big Ten Network is celebrating its fifth anniversary this month.

The Vikings need a win tomorrow night in Houston over the Texans to finish the preseason at 2-2. Last Friday night at Mall of America Field the Vikings lost 12-10 to the Chargers and it looked like about 65 percent of the seats were filled.

With new automated parking meters near the stadium, the city was charging a Vikings game night rate of $3 per hour Friday. Unless you pay by credit card, that’s 48 quarters to park for four hours.

Merchandise sold in the stadium concourse Friday night included a Christian Ponder jersey for $115 and a limited edition Adrian Peterson jersey for $155.

Former Vikings linebacker Ben Leber, who has been doing TV-radio sideline reporting during the team’s preseason games, told Sports Headliners he will be a game analyst for Conference USA football games on Fox. He will also provide game analysis on two Western Michigan games for ESPNU.

Red McCombs, who sold the Vikings in 2005, has mixed feelings about not having the franchise anymore, according to Chad Ostlund who worked for McCombs and remains a friend. Ostlund said McCombs was “frustrated” about the team’s new stadium efforts when he, McCombs, owned the team.

The Twins, who lost a second consecutive game last night to Seattle at home, haven’t hit a home run in 10 of their last 11 games. They have been out scored 47-19 in their last eight games (seven losses).

Joe Mauer has now caught 833 games for the Twins, surpassing Earl Battey’s franchise record for a catcher of 831.

The St. Thomas football team, recently ranked No. 4 nationally by Lindy’s Sports and No. 7 by USA Today, begins its season on Saturday at UW-Eau Claire. The Division III Tommies are coming off consecutive 10-0 regular seasons.

St. Thomas’ Curtis James, Riley Dombek, Chinni Oji, Harry Pitera and Garrett Maloney, Augsburg’s Adam Carl, Saint John’s Bobby Fischer, Bethel’s Josh Wolfe and Concordia’s Tom Knowlton were selected preseason Division III All-Americans by various sources. Saint John’s kicker Jimmie Mattson was named to the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List for the second consecutive season. The award is annually presented to the nation’s top collegiate kicker, regardless of division.

Schools and other non-profit organizations serving youth located within a 50 mile radius of Target Center can enter a contest to win a $10,000 donation for basketball court renovation. www.timberwolves.com/community

Lindsey Berg, who helped the USA volleyball team to the silver medal in the 2012 Olympics, is among nine women and men who will be inducted into the Gophers Sports Hall of Fame on September 20 at TCF Bank Stadium. Ticket information about the event is available by calling 1-800-U-Gopher.

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