David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

U Recruiting: Trending to Top 25 Class

Posted on December 14, 2020December 14, 2020 by David Shama

University of Minnesota football recruiting authority Ryan Burns believes Wednesday’s national Signing Day will be special for the Golden Gophers.

Burns is publisher of the popular GopherIllustrated.com website affiliated with 247Sports. In the latest 247Sports major college recruiting rankings for the class of 2021 Minnesota is No. 22. The rankings are not to be confused with the 247 composite rankings that average out multiple recruiting sources and have Minnesota at No. 26 nationally.

The Gophers’ class expected to sign Letters of Intent Wednesday totals 18. “They have seven four-star commits as of today on 247Sports, which would be the highest number of four-stars that Minnesota has signed in the Internet era,” Burns told Sports Headliners today.

The highest ranked of the four-star players by 247Sports is Omaha cornerback Avante Dickerson, the No. 1 senior in the state of Nebraska. He is also the highest ranked Gopher recruit since Washburn running back Jeff Jones committed to Minnesota in 2014. “He (Dickerson) is everything athletically you would ever want in a corner,” Burns said earlier this year.

Burns expects all of Minnesota’s verbal commits to sign on Wednesday, including Dickerson who is the target of rumors he might not become a Gopher. “I think some of that is fabricated on the Nebraska end because they know what it looks like for that type of kid to go elsewhere,” Burns said. “I do think there is some smoke there but I will tell you what I have told people for weeks and months now. I expect Avante Dickerson to sign with Minnesota in 48 hours.”

The six other four-stars recruited by head coach P.J. Fleck and his staff are: defensive end Deven Eastern, Shakopee; running back Mar’Keise Irving, Country Club Hills, Illinois; offensive tackle Cameron James, Chicago; quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, Antioch, Illinois; cornerback Steven Ortiz, Goodyear, Arizona; and defensive tackle Jacob Schuster, Washington.

The total of four-star players could reach eight before Wednesday night. Davon Townley, the defensive end from Minneapolis North High School, is a coveted four-star who the Gophers want as part of their 2021 recruiting class.

“I don’t know what that kid is going to do,” Burns said. “If you put a gun to my head, I would say Minnesota or Arizona State (for his college choice). But there’s a lot of things that have to be figured out on Davon Townley’s end in the next 48 hours or so if he’s going to be able to sign anywhere Wednesday.”

Jaydon Hood is a four-star inside linebacker from Fort Lauderdale who is verbally committed to Michigan but his name is rumored with Minnesota. “I don’t think he is going to sign in December,” Burns said. “I think he is going to sign in February…(the second 2021 signing period).”

Burns said the Gophers “badly” want Hood but he isn’t prepared to predict Hood will flip the Wolverines for Minnesota. Hood hasn’t visited the U campus, but in this pandemic era committing to a school without seeing it isn’t unusual. Burns estimated about half of the 18 commits for 2021 haven’t been to the Minnesota campus.

Eastern is one of only two native Minnesotans in the 2021 scholarship class as currently comprised. The other is offensive tackle Logan Purcell of Annandale. Small numbers of players signing on with the Gophers has been the norm for many years. Review the recruiting lists for the Gophers dating back to 2014, for example, and you will see mostly totals of two, three, or four Minnesotans annually in the various recruiting classes.

The state is hardly a hot spot for prep football talent but there are quality players available each year, just not in large numbers. It’s not been for lack of effort by Gopher coaches that some of the state’s best preps over the years have chosen other college programs. This year the three highest ranked Minnesotans, per 247Sports, are Lakeville South offensive tackle Riley Mahlman, Eden Prairie defensive end Justice Sullivan and North’s Townley. Mahlman is headed to Wisconsin, Sullivan to Iowa.

What can reverse the trend of the Gophers losing good and even great in-state players? Rival programs Wisconsin and Iowa have been more successful in keeping talent within their borders. Burns said Wisconsin and Iowa preps stay home because those players grow up rooting for their winning teams, while Minnesotans for decades have mostly watched the Gophers be mediocre, or worse, although last year’s team earned the state’s favor with an 11-2 season.

“…You get an offer from them (Badgers or Hawkeyes), it’s why the heck would you go anywhere else? Whereas here in the state of Minnesota, it’s why the heck would you play for the Gophers? They stink.

“I think for the trend to change, the No. 1 thing that this Gopher football staff can do is…just win, and it’s not going to happen overnight. …You have to win this year and the next year and the year after that and you have to keep winning. And likely you’re going to have to do that with non-Minnesota players until the Minnesota kids can figure out maybe we should just stay here in-state and see what they can do in terms of developing me.”

James Laurinaitis from Wayzata was going to play for the Gophers and head coach Glen Mason until he changed his mind more than 15 years ago. He went on to become a three-time consensus All-American linebacker at Ohio State. By contrast the Gophers have five Minnesota natives who made All-American teams in the last 50 years.

The Gophers listed 116 players on their preseason roster, but only 36 were state natives including many walk-ons trying to earn scholarships. This year’s starters are pretty much players from beyond the state’s borders except the interior offensive line where most positions are filled by Minnesotans.

BTN will have Signing Day Big Ten Conference coverage starting at 1 p.m. Wednesday with a three-hour program.

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NFL Insider: Kendricks Vital to Vikings

Posted on December 10, 2020December 10, 2020 by David Shama

Vikings veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks didn’t play last Sunday because of a calf injury. Former NFL executive Jeff Diamond thinks it’s all-important for the Vikings to have him available against the Tampa Bay Bucs next Sunday in a vital game to the playoff chances for both teams. Kendricks didn’t participate in practice yesterday.

“They’ve gotta have Eric Kendricks this week,” Diamond told Sports Headliners. “They got by without him last week, barely. I know (sub) Todd Davis played pretty well, but you’re talking about one of your best defensive players, if not your best defensive player, in Eric Kendricks.”

Diamond was Vikings general manager in the late 1990s and after the team’s 15-1 season in 1998 was named NFL Executive of the Year. He later was president of the Tennessee Titans. While living in the Minneapolis area now, he is involved with varied work assignments including senior consultant with the Institute for Athletes sports management firm that represents NFL players such as Adam Thielen of the Vikings.

Diamond offered a prediction on the outcome between the 6-6 Vikings and 7-5 Bucs. “I think it’s going to be a close game, but if I had to make a pick, I would pick Tampa by three. …I think the key (for the Vikings) is they’ve gotta get some pressure on (quarterback Tom) Brady. The pass rush has been just so-so, and in order to get pressure they’ve had to blitz. Brady is not exactly the guy you want to blitz because he sees things so fast.”

Not only is the (arguably) GOAT a challenge Sunday, but so, too, are his outstanding receivers. Diamond predicted the inexperienced Vikings cornerbacks are going to be “severely” tested. Rookie corner Jeff Gladney sustained a reported calf injury in last Sunday’s close win over the 1-11 Jaguars, and Diamond said the Vikings need him in Tampa. Otherwise, he believes the team is reaching too deep into its cornerback pool and that will send reserve corners on the field who he describes as “shaky.” Gladney was limited in what he did in practice yesterday.

Diamond likes the improvement of Gladney and Cameron Dantzler, another rookie corner showing development. They are part of the reason why Diamond is bullish on the club’s future.

Diamond said: “A team that I think is going to be better next year when you get Danielle Hunter back. You have these young players, the rookie class, that is looking like it could be outstanding with (Justin) Jefferson, (Ezra) Cleveland, Gladney and Dantzler already starting. (Rookie reserve) D.J. Wonnum making big contributions as a pass rusher.

“This (2020 draft) could wind up being one of the great Viking drafts of all-time. You get all those players in their second year (2021) where they are going to continue to improve and have a full off-season. … You get back Michael Pierce (who) sat out this year for COVID, as a run-stopper inside. And Anthony Barr (injured vet not playing this season), we will see what happens there. I think they may free up some cap space with him, and I am not sure he is going to be here next year. I think the future is very bright for this team, so I am excited for the future.”

The opinion of fans on head coach Mike Zimmer is varied but Diamond credits ownership for being smart in giving Zimmer a contract extension earlier in the year. Zimmer has been the team’s head coach since 2014 with highlights that include two NFC North Division titles and a 13-3 regular season that saw the Vikings advance to the NFC championship game. His record is 63-44-1, with total wins and winning percentage ranking third in franchise history behind Bud Grant and Dennis Green.

Diamond said the more successful NFL franchises have stability and continuity. The Pittsburgh Steelers have employed three head coaches in the last 50 years. The Vikings have had five head coaches in the last 25 years, including Zimmer.

This season no team has a better record than the 11-1 Steelers. The Steelers head coach is Mike Tomlin, the former Vikings defensive coordinator, who took over in Pittsburgh in 2007. He has won a Super Bowl and might win another in 2021.

There have been ups and downs for Tomlin in Pittsburgh but Diamond said the African-American coach can lead his team without fear of losing his job. The organization has a culture prioritizing stability and valuing longevity. The Steelers have been owned for generations by the Rooney family. Diamond knew the late Dan Rooney and present boss Art Rooney II. “They’re just sold guys that are going to give their coaches a chance, and they select the right coaches in the first place,” Diamond said.

Worth Noting

Diamond’s varied activities include assignments for WCCO Radio, and speaking to college and business audiences about his NFL career and other subjects such as leadership, negotiation and sports management. He is working with Richfield native Michael Clements who is commissioner of the startup Minneapolis-based National Rugby Football League expected to be operational in two years.

Eric Kendricks is the Vikings’ nominee for the 2020 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. The award recognizes an NFL player for outstanding community service activities off the field, as well as excellence on the field. Each of the league’s 32 nominees were announced today.

In the last three weeks Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins ranks second in the NFL with nine touchdown passes. He ranks third with 926 passing yards. In each of his last three games, Cousins has produced at least 300 passing yards and three touchdown passes.

With at least 300 passing yards and three touchdown passes next Sunday against the Bucs, Cousins will tie Patrick Mahomes (four consecutive games in 2018) and Peyton Manning (four straight games in 2012) for the second-longest streak of games with those numbers in a single NFL season. Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Young (five consecutive games in 1998) has a longer streak.

Rumors persist that Twins DH extraordinaire Nelson Cruz might use his free agent status to join the White Sox who could emerge from the off-season as the favorite to win the AL Central. MLB.com named Cruz second team All-MLB today at DH. Twins pitcher Kenta Maeda also is on the second team.

As mentioned in this space recently, it could be multi-positional Kiké Hernández of the Dodgers remains a potential free agent signing by the Twins.

Hopkins is No. 1 in ESPN’s top 25 national rankings of girls high school basketball teams. ESPN has Royals junior forward Maya Nnaji as the No. 7 prep prospect in the class of 2022.

The Vikings and Minnesota Football Coaches Association sponsor the Mr. Football Award and the ten 2020 finalists are: Shea Albrecht, Orono; Joe Alt, Totino-Grace; Cameron Anderson, Blue Earth Area; Trey Feeney, Moorhead; Nick Flaskamp, Minneapolis Southwest; Marcus Hansen, Waseca; Eli Mau, Chanhassen; Jake Ratzlaff, Rosemount, Garrison Solliday, St. Thomas Academy; Adam Tonsfeldt, Barnesville. An announcement date disclosing the winner has yet to be made public.

Charley Walters, the newsy Pioneer Press columnist with thousands of sports world contacts, is the latest “Behind the Game” guest with co-hosts Patrick Klinger and Bill Robertson. The program is available for viewing on the “Behind the Game” YouTube Channel and via cable access throughout the state.

Klinger is organizer of the membership-only Capital Club that will hear from Vikings chief operating officer Andrew Miller via Zoom next Wednesday.

Sign of the times: the New Mexico Bowl is relocating for one year from Albuquerque to Frisco, Texas.

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Veteran Chain Crew Works U Sidelines

Posted on December 8, 2020December 8, 2020 by David Shama

Mark Lundgren, 71, just finished his 20^th year as boss of the Chain Gang for University of Minnesota home football games. His position as crew chief and that of other “gang” members is not paid, but people line up to fill openings.

Opportunities are rare. Since 2000 only one Chain Crew member decided to retire while in good health. “Unless someone dies, people don’t leave,” Lundgren told Sports Headliners this week. “People really enjoy it.”

Lundgren keeps a file with names of those expressing interest but he has only added a small number of people to the crew in 20 years. Four are guys who played for Lundgren when he was head football coach at Golden Valley High School decades ago. One of them is Brian Cosgriff, the former Hopkins girls basketball coach who turned the Royals into a national power.

Over the years Cosgriff has made time, despite a busy schedule of coaching, teaching and family, to be at TCF Bank Stadium for Gopher games because he enjoys the experience of being a crew member so much. “It’s unbelievable,” he said. “It’s definitely a crew. I call it the Chain Gang Mafia. Half the fun of working the games is getting there early so you can shoot the bull with the guys in the locker room beforehand. We got games on the TV, we got food, and afterwards we tailgate.”

Crew members receive complimentary parking and game tickets from the U Athletic Department. They are provided with a pregame meal, shoes and apparel. “What I’ve got is a lot of guys that maybe have coached, or been in football, or played, and just kind of want to keep up with it,” Lundgren said. “It is a fun job, I will say that.”

Lundgren has 14 people at his call to work games, although the official crew on gameday totals a couple fewer. Alternates have to be in place in case someone is unable to show up at the stadium. There are varied assignments for crew members ranging from managing yardage markers to writing and charting every penalty, and down, distance and time. The mission is to work with officials (the “zebras”) to ensure the game is supervised with accuracy and fairness.

Lundgren joined the Chain Crew in 1993. He had known longtime Gopher football trainer Jim Marshall for awhile and it was Marshall who connected him to Peter Deanovic, the crew chief. Lundgren was part of a crew that included Tom Mahoney, the legendary Fairmont football coach. The two became close friends and Lundgren was a pallbearer at Mahoney’s funeral. Matt Mahoney, Tom’s grandson and now the head coach at Fairmont, is on the current crew working for Lundgren.

Because of the pandemic, this year has been like no other for Chain Crew workers. They had to be tested the day before a game, and the day of, for COVID. That meant it just didn’t make sense for crew member Ken Baumann, another prep coaching icon, to attempt a four-hour drive between Mahnomen and Minneapolis. Lundgren hired alternates to replace any crew member who tested negative one day, but came up positive on gameday.

Because of COVID, fans were not allowed to attend home Gopher games. “It’s just like a morgue compared to a normal gameday,” Lundgren said.

The revised Big Ten schedule had the Gophers playing four games in Minneapolis, but last Saturday’s regular season home finale against Northwestern was cancelled because of COVID. The pre-COVID Gopher schedule consisted of seven home games so ending up with three was a downer, plus Lundgren wouldn’t be seeing coach Pat Fitzgerald.

“Fitzgerald from Northwestern is one of the finest people you’ll ever meet,” Lundgren said. “He’s just very kind. It’s not like you are friends, but he will come out and he will greet you. He will tell you to have a good game.”

Lundgren also offered praise for longtime Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz. “Ferentz, ironically, as much as people hate Iowa, is a nice guy to work a sideline with.”

While meeting coaches and interacting with game officials can be a pleasant part of the job, Lundgren knows he isn’t on the field to be a spectator. “I learned that you have to pay attention. Everybody says, ‘Boy, you’ve got the best seat to watch the game. You’re right there.’

”Well, you can’t really watch the game and do your job. I end up taping all the games and then watching them when I get home (where he can be a fan). We have to remain intent on our duty as opposed to a fan watching the game.”

Part of being focused while on the field is to avoid being run over on the sidelines by a wayward player. Lundgren calls it “getting the hell out of the way.”

Cosgriff said Lundgren expects crew members to be alert in doing their jobs, focusing on both their work and safety. “Believe me, if you’re not paying attention he’s going to let you know,” Cosgriff said. “He’s definitely the godfather of the Chain Crew, that’s for sure.”

Lundgren reflects on his 20 years as crew chief and acknowledges he has enjoyed the experience including the relationships and fair treatment he has received from the U. He will also be anticipating 2021. “You build up for the season. You’re excited for the scrimmages (to prep for games). You’re excited for football to start, and for the games to come. This year with the COVID and the cancelling of the games, it’s been a real disappointment for everybody on the crew. There’s no doubt about it.”

For Cosgriff, being part of the Chain Crew has provided time to be with Lundgren, a person with whom he is so close. “He is the reason I got into coaching because I wanted to be just like him. Since my parents have passed away, he has kind of become my surrogate father. Anyone who played for him has kind of felt that way.

“When there’s health problems with the family, or you are struggling with something, you call coach Lundgren. Everyone does. He is that kind of guy. He is totally supportive. You know he’s going to be there in the drop of a minute for you.”

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