Wild – Page 57 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Nanne: Zach Parise Timing to Come Fast

Posted on January 4, 2018January 4, 2018 by David Shama

A Thursday notes column:

Zach Parise made his season debut with the Wild Tuesday night after being sidelined following back surgery. How long will it take for the star forward to have his timing return to normal?

“Within 10 days he should be perfect,” Minnesota hockey authority Lou Nanne told Sports Headliners.

What contributions does Nanne see ahead for the Wild’s 33-year-old wing? “Well, I think that you’re going to see a guy that never stops working. He’s a leader on the team. He’s a guy that can score some goals and he should be a good addition to the lineup.”

Parise had back surgery on October 24 and played solidly on Tuesday night in his debut game. He is expected to play again tonight when Minnesota hosts the Sabres.

Parise scored 42 points in 69 games last season including six power goals and four game winners.

The Wild has been disappointing this season, lacking consistency and goal scoring. Minnesota might struggle to make the playoffs even though owner Craig Leipold said before the season that anything short of winning the Stanley Cup will be disappointing.

What kind of pressure does that put on individuals and the organization? “I don’t know what it does,” Nanne said. “It says he’s got high expectations.”

The Wild defeated the Sabres 5-4 November 22 in Buffalo—the only previous game this season between the two teams. Wild assistant coach Bob Woods was an assistant with the Sabres last season.

In January of 2015 the Wild shutout the Sabres 7-0, the largest margin of victory in franchise history.

The Gophers were able to defeat Illinois 77-67 last night because All-Big Ten point guard Nate Mason played after being sidelined for awhile with a sprained ankle. ESPN basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla told Sports Headliners the Gophers being without Mason is like the powerhouse Ohio State football team not having quarterback J.T. Barrett. Both are that kind of catalyst for their teams, Fraschilla said. Mason and forward Jordan Murphy scored team highs of 17 points last night.

Fraschilla believes it’s likely Duke freshman point guard Trevon Duvall will declare for the NBA Draft after this season, opening the way for Apple Valley senior Tre Jones to become a starter for the Blue Devils next fall.

Minnesota native Brian Dutcher is in his first season as San Diego State head basketball coach. Injuries have been a problem, although the Aztecs beat top 25 ranked Gonzaga in San Diego and defeated Georgia on a neutral court.

The Aztecs are 2-1 in Mountain West Conference games and 10-4 overall, while former Timberwolves assistant coach Eric Musselman has Nevada off to an even better start. Nevada is 2-0 in Mountain West games and 14-3 overall.

Gopher Deputy Athletics Director John Cunningham told Sports Headliners the $166 million University of Minnesota Athletes Village will be ready for use by mid-January. Approximately $105 million of the project is secured with fundraising ongoing. The construction cost is also being financed through bonds.

Bill Robertson, the men’s WCHA commissioner based in Bloomington, is excited about his league as the New Year begins including the Minnesota State team ranked No. 7 in the country in the latest USCHO poll. “I think they have a legitimate shot to end up in St. Paul (playing for the national title).”

Robertson is also enthusiastic about Bemidji State senior goalie Michael Bitzer, who has already played over 1,000 minutes and looks like a candidate for college awards recognizing both the player and goalie of the year. “He continues to do marvelous things,” Robertson said. “In my mind he will be a Hobey Baker contender as well as a Mike Richter contender this year, both awards.”

Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve recently signed a multiyear contract extension and also assumed the general manager’s title and role with the local WNBA franchise. Reeve speaks to the CORES lunch group January 11 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington, 1114 American Blvd. Lunch reservations must be made by January 8. More information is available by contacting Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net. CORES is an acronym for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans.

Players and others associated with the 1968, 1969 and 1970 Big Ten champion Gopher baseball teams will be recognized May 12 at Siebert Field when Minnesota plays Michigan State.

Jerry Kindall was an assistant coach to Dick Siebert on those teams. Kindall, a former Minnesota Twin before going into coaching, passed away late last month. The St. Paul native was also an assistant basketball coach for the Gophers and went on to become head baseball coach at Arizona where he won national titles.

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Unlucky Vikings Feature Limping QBs

Posted on October 10, 2017October 10, 2017 by David Shama

What’s next for Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford?

A source close to the organization told Sports Headliners prior to kickoff last night against the Bears that Bradford had missed the previous three games because he tore scar tissue in his left knee causing soreness and swelling. The person said the hope was a knee brace would provide enough protection in Chicago to prevent re-injury, and that adrenaline would block out whatever pain Bradford experienced.

But Bradford didn’t look right from the beginning of the game, throwing off target and taking a safety in the end zone because he waited too long holding the ball. “I don’t like his body language,” ESPN’s Jon Gruden told a national TV audience watching the game.

Sam Bradford (photo courtesy of Minnesota Vikings)

Gruden speculated about Bradford not being able to throw properly off his left foot. Ben Leber, the former Viking working as a sideline reporter on the team’s radio network, wondered if the brace was limiting Bradford’s passing form.

Sometime during the first half Bradford took a blow that clearly re-injured the knee. He began limping, looked vulnerable and was an easy target for Bears tacklers. “Throw the damn towel,” Leber said from the sidelines.

With less than a minute to play in the second quarter, head coach Mike Zimmer finally replaced Bradford with Case Keenum. The Vikings led in the game 3-2 and Bradford had completed 5 of 11 passes for 36 yards.

The source referred to above said that when Bradford was sidelined earlier in the season there was “no structural damage” to a left knee that has been surgically repaired in past years. After the Vikings won last night’s game and improved their record to 3-2, there was no word that Bradford’s re-injury was serious enough to end his season. But today and in the days ahead there will be more definitive information—even if not details about the knee, at least an estimate about a timeline before a return to starting games.

The Vikings are also monitoring Teddy Bridgewater and his rehabilitation from his devastating knee injury suffered over a year ago. Currently on the physically unable to perform list, there is enough time remaining in the season for a Bridgewater return. Whether it will happen is something no one can know for sure but the source who talked with Sports Headliners about Bradford said Bridgewater “is still limping.”

Worth Noting

In Sports Illustrated’s NHL preview out last week the magazine predicted the Capitals will defeat the Wild for the Stanley Cup championship. While talking with Sports Headliners, Minnesota hockey icon Lou Nanne declined to make a prediction on the teams he believes will qualify for the NHL finals. “The league is so close you can go from making the playoffs on the last day to winning the Cup,” he said.

The Wild has never played in the finals. Asked about a major storyline for the Wild, Nanne brought up 33-year-old star Zach Parise who has health issues. “A key is Parise being healthy,” Nanne said. “That’s a big deal.”

Nanne also said Minnesota needs more production from young players Charlie Coyle, Matt Dumba, Mikael Granlund, Nino Niederreiter and Jason Zucker. He likes Alex Stalock as the team’s backup goalie and said the Wild need starter Devan Dubnyk to perform as he did last season.

The Wild has a postseason history characterized by disappointments. Only once has the team played in the final four, 2003. After an impressive regular season in 2016-2017, the Wild lost its opening playoff series to the Blues. But a late September Associated Press quoted owner Craig Leipold as saying “anything short of winning the Stanley Cup would be a disappointment” in 2018.

The team is winless in its first two games this season but plays in Chicago Thursday night where Minnesota is 4-1-0 in its last five games at the United Center.

Nanne is a regular at the newly renamed Tavern 23 sports bar and restaurant in Edina. He is an investor and said business is up “50 percent in the past month” and that 36 new items have been added to the menu. Happy Hour, with views of Centennial Lakes Park, is particularly popular at the location formerly known as Lou Nanne’s American Grill.

It will be a homecoming for Brad Salem, the Michigan State quarterbacks coach, when the Spartans come to Minneapolis for Saturday’s game against Minnesota. Brad was a Gophers ball boy when his father Joe was Minnesota’s head coach. Brad’s twin brother Brent is offensive coordinator at O’Gorman High School in Sioux Falls, while brother Tim, the former Gophers quarterback, is tight ends coach at Pitt.

The Gophers are one of the youngest teams in the nation, with 50 of 111 players (45%) being freshmen or redshirt freshmen. There are 77 underclassmen (69.3%) on the roster. Minnesota has just 14 players (six on offense, eight on defense) who have started 10 games or more in their careers.

Defensive tackle Steven Richardson leads the team (not including specialists) in career starts with 37, while tight end Nate Wozniak has the most among offensive players with 29. Minnesota has used 65 players this season—13 freshmen, 21 sophomores, 16 juniors and 15 seniors.

The Gophers 2018 football recruiting class is No. 35 in the latest 247Sports composite rankings that have several Big Ten schools ahead of Minnesota, with Ohio State No. 1; Penn State No. 3; Michigan No. 14; Maryland No. 18; Michigan State No. 27; Nebraska No. 31; Wisconsin No. 32.

Amani Hooker, the Iowa sophomore safety from Minneapolis, had an impressive day last Saturday in the Hawkeyes’ win over Illinois. Hooker had a pass interception and ran for a first down on a fake punt to set up an Iowa touchdown.

In that game Jeff George Jr., the son of the former Vikings QB, made his first start of the season at quarterback for Illinois.

Sean Engel, the 6-5 redshirt freshman wide receiver from Chaska High School, has played in four of North Dakota State’s five games and has one catch for 15 yards. The 5-0 Bison are averaging 51.6 points game, while opponents are averaging 6.2.

October 10 sports birthdays include Brett Favre, 48, and former Gophers athletic director Mark Dienhart, 64.

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U Football Fate Looks Tied to Offense

Posted on September 1, 2017September 1, 2017 by David Shama

A Friday notes column with emphasis on last night’s opening nonconference win by the Gophers over Buffalo.

The Gophers have new coaches and quarterbacks but their defensive pedigree is still in place. The success of the Jerry Kill–Tracy Claeys coaching era from 2011 through last season was built on defense, often coming to the rescue of a sputtering offense with quarterback issues.

Minnesota was nearly a four touchdown favorite to defeat Buffalo but could only produce three points after a 14 point first quarter in coach P.J. Fleck’s debut game. Buffalo looked like an improved team after last season’s 2-10 record and had the best quarterback on the field in Tyree Jackson, but the Gophers should have done more offensively in their 17-7 win.

Minnesota’s offensive line was unimpressive and if they couldn’t push around a Mid-American Conference team, what lies ahead against Big Ten rivals, or even next week at Oregon State? Running the ball is supposed to be the Gophers’ strength but last night they had 239 yards passing and only 180 rushing.

The Gophers had a chance to go up 21-7 at halftime when redshirt senior quarterback Conor Rhoda threw an interception in the Bulls’ end zone late in the second quarter. After the game Fleck called it a “catastrophic mistake.”

Rhoda said the Bulls gave him an unexpected defensive look and that the error is something he can learn from. The emotional pain of the play was just the opposite of what he felt in the first quarter when he threw a 61-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Tyler Johnson.

Rhoda, a 22-year-old senior who Fleck had talked out of quitting football after last season, had never started a game before at home and it was the second touchdown pass of his career. The former Cretin-Derham Hall quarterback said he had a “ton of family” at the game and the touchdown pass was a fulfilling moment. His only other college career start was last season at Maryland when he also threw a touchdown pass.

After the game Fleck indicated the alternating quarterback system using both Rhoda and redshirt sophomore Demry Croft will continue.

Johnson caught six passes for 141 yards. He and another sophomore, safety Antoine Winfield Jr., were two of Minnesota’s biggest playmakers last night. Winfield knocked a ball away in the first half that might have gone for a Buffalo touchdown. He also blocked a field goal attempt and had five solo tackles, and assisted with two others. “That kid loves football,” Fleck said.

Winfield came into the game with the reputation of being an exceptional player on a promising defense. That unit held the Bulls to 61 yards rushing and 211 passing. Even though the score was close in the second half, the Gophers seemed likely to win because of the defense.

The sluggish offense, though, did little to dispel the preseason predictions Minnesota will have challenges scoring and the team will produce a mediocre season. Pick a record like 5-7, 6-6 or maybe 7-5. It’s only one game after last night, but so far expectations haven’t changed.

Announced attendance was 43,224 but there weren’t nearly that many fans in TCF Bank Stadium. Empty seats between the goal lines were numerous including some on the 50-yard line.

The Gophers are working to improve the fan experience at games. At the McNamara Alumni Center late yesterday afternoon food and beverage items were on sale, but “I’m a Fleck Fan” hats were free.

A person with the Bulls’ travel party said Buffalo draws about 20,000 fans per game, with a public season ticket base of around 10,000.

Fleck said the value is “priceless” of the reality TV series that is airing this summer about he and his family. During the month of August the NCAA doesn’t allow the recruiting of high school players, so the show placed attention on Fleck and his program in a way rivals couldn’t match. The series “Being P.J. Fleck” aired more than 100 times on ESPNU, ESPN2 and BTN prior to the end of August.

“…There was one team that wasn’t dead on national television in August and that was the University of Minnesota, four times for 30 minutes in people’s living rooms,” Fleck said. “You make sure people know that we’re going to be on TV at this time, and now dad, mom, brother, sister, uncle, (and) recruits are sitting in that room watching it while no one else can really have the contact with them.”

Fleck said the value of the series extended beyond recruiting. He heard from people who had been part of his life more than 10 years ago, and was also contacted by strangers. Some people shared stories about illness and the loss of relatives.

“…They say how you’ve influenced their life,” Fleck said. “That’s more than (the importance of) any money, that’s more than any win. That’s more than anything, and that’s the purpose of having the show is to make sure that our culture gets out to as many people as it possibly can, to serve and give through television.”

University of Minnesota alum and New York Times best selling author Harvey Mackay counted the late Muhammad Ali among his close friends. Mackay leaves for Rome next week to participate in the “Celebrity Fight Night” charity effort that Ali headlined for years with other celebrities. Among the events over several days will be a concert at the Roman Coliseum with Andrea Bocelli, Elton John and other entertainers.

Mackay played golf for the Gophers and coach Les Bolstad. He remembers Bolstad as being among the influential mentors in his life.

Glenn Caruso (photo courtesy of University of St. Thomas)

Glenn Caruso will pursue his 100th win as St. Thomas football coach when the Tommies open the season at home tomorrow against the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. His overall record is 99-15, including 59-5 at home and 17-7 in the NCAA playoffs.

The Tommies are ranked No. 5 in the Division3football.com preseason national poll. MIAC rival Saint John’s is No. 10.

Fans at tonight’s Twins-Royals game will see a video tribute to Joe Nathan who meets with media this afternoon to announce his official retirement from baseball. Among the franchise’s greatest closers ever, Nathan came to the Twins in November of 2003 in a trade with the Giants. It was a terrific deal for the Twins. The Giants received catcher A.J. Pierzynski and cash, while the Twins added Nathan, Francisco Liriano and Boof Bonser.

The August 28 issue of Sports Illustrated lists the top NFL broadcasting teams and ranks former Timberwolves play-by-play man Kevin Harlan No. 5 along with his TV partner Rich Gannon, the former Vikings quarterback. “Best pipes in all of broadcasting,” S.I. wrote about Harlan.

The No. 1 pair in the listings is NBC’s Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth.

Big Ten Basketball Media Day, including the Gophers Richard Pitino and the Big Ten Conference’s other 13 coaches, will be held for the first time ever in New York’s famous Madison Square Garden on October 19.

The NHL Centennial Fan Arena, honoring 100 years of teams, players, and other memories in the National Hockey League, is travelling to various markets and will be at the Minnesota State Fair today through Monday. The Stanley Cup will be on display from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today as part of the centennial celebration, plus Minnesota Wild players Tyler Ennis and Jared Spurgeon will sign autographs from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m..

The NHL Centennial Fan Arena location is Expo Place at the corner of Cooper Street and Murphy Avenue on the northern end of the Fairgrounds, near Gate 2. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The attraction is free with paid admission to the State Fair.

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