David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

New Gophers Football Facility Set for 2015

Posted on December 28, 2014December 28, 2014 by David Shama

Ground breaking and construction on the much talked about and coveted new Gophers football facility will begin next year, according to a donor who is providing $15 million.

Although the Athletic Department has yet to make an announcement, Janis Larson told Sports Headliners Gophers football coach Jerry Kill will get the facility he says is needed to make his program competitive with others in the Big Ten. The building will be named the David and Janis Larson Football Performance Center.

Janis is the widow of David Larson who passed away unexpectedly at age 70 last fall. Her husband was a University of Minnesota regent and loyal Gophers football fan. He raved about Kill’s work in turning around the football program and praised the coach’s high character. “He had my back,” an appreciative Kill said last fall.

The two men became friends not long after Kill was named the Gophers coach in late 2010. Larson, who had been one of Cargill’s top executives, once gave $500,000 to the football program to pay for tutors, laptops and also enhancements to the weight room.

The new football performance center will make a lasting statement about the Larsons’ commitment to Gophers football. “We talked about it before he passed away,” Janis said. “He knew about it.”

The facility will be three stories high, Janis said, and with all its components—including much needed indoor practice space—will put the Gophers in a competitive recruiting situation with other Big Ten programs. The total cost for the building, according to another source, could be at least $25 million.

The Gophers’ present indoor facility was built in the 1980s at a cost of $5.5 million. It has many deficiencies including a roof so low punts bounce off the ceiling. The building is acknowledged to be at or near the bottom when compared with those of other Big Ten schools.

This year Kill reportedly told recruits the Gophers would start breaking ground on a new facility in 2015. He also voiced confidence about the building becoming a reality when talking with Howard Griffith from the Big Ten Network last August. “There’s no question I am looking forward to the new facility,” Kill said. “We have to have that. That’s been kind of a deal in recruiting, and so coach Kill has put a lot of pressure in that situation. That’s going to come through.”

But Gophers fans have rightfully fretted about whether the facility would become a reality for Kill’s 2015 timeline. The football building is part of an overall $190 million campaign to upgrade athletic department facilities. Department officials have been mostly quiet about fundraising progress—and regarding the football complex a spokesman recently said construction will start “as fast as humanly possible.”

The concern has been that if Kill doesn’t see the football facility become a reality he will leave Minnesota and find a program where resources are in place and winning is more of a priority. Gophers’ fans don’t want to lose a popular coach who delivered trophy game wins over Michigan and Iowa this season, and now is preparing his team for the school’s first January 1 bowl game since 1962.

“I can’t imagine him leaving now,” Janis said. “He is a genius.”

That’s how her husband thought of Kill, too. David and Janis have also been admirers of the coach and his wife Rebecca for their volunteerism and caring for others inside and outside of football.

The Larsons wanted to make sure their friends are here for a long time.

Worth Noting

Janis Larson will be the guest of University of Minnesota regents for Thursday’s Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl game in Orlando when the Gophers play Missouri. Buffalo Wild Wings is based in the Minneapolis area. Sally Smith, CEO and president, is expected to attend the game and present the bowl trophy to the winning team.

Sports handicapper Kelly Stewart made the Gophers her top pick against the spread in 38 college bowl games, according to the December 19 Reviewjournal.com. The Gophers have been a 5 to 5½ point underdog to Missouri but Minnesota has excelled this season at beating the spread.

Before the season the number was set at six by handicappers for the Vikings’ total wins this season. Gamblers who took the “over” six on wins are celebrating the Vikings’ victory today against the Bears and final season record of 7-9.

The Bears finished 5-11 and in last place in the NFC North Division. Rumors are Minneapolis-born Marc Trestman and his coaches will be dismissed soon.

Fox color commentator Brady Quinn had the understatement of the telecast today when he said this about Vikings rookie Teddy Bridgewater: “This is the quarterback of the future.”

First-year Vikings coach Mike Zimmer raved about Bridgewater after the game on KFAN Radio, but said the 22-year-old does need to improve during the offseason including becoming stronger. “I love this kid,” Zimmer said. “He’s got so much composure. He’s so accurate. …He’s everything you want your quarterback to be and he’s a winner.”

Bridgewater completed 17 of 25 passes for 209 yards. The 68 percent completion percentage was the first time in the last five games he has been under 70 percent.

Adam Thielen, the Detroit Lakes native who was bypassed by Division I schools coming out of high school and was on the Vikings practice squad last year, was all smiles after catching a 44-yard touchdown pass from Bridgewater. The reception was his first NFL touchdown catch and the Vikings lone TD in their 13-9 win today.

The Gophers basketball team was impressive again on Saturday, winning 108-82 over UNC Wilmington. The Seahawks lost at No. 4 ranked Louisville earlier this month by only 11 points but the Gophers used a 34-9 late first half run to easily win their eighth consecutive game. Minnesota now has an 11-2 record, finishing its nonconference schedule with wins by 28 points or more in five of the last six games.

Gophers senior point guard DeAndre Mathieu, who scored 13 points and had 11 assists against UNC, left the game late in the second half and didn’t return. He was hit on his right elbow and some fingers became numb. Both he and coach Richard Pitino said there are no concerns about Mathieu’s right hand as the Gophers prepare for Wednesday’s Big Ten opener at Purdue. “He likes attention,” Pitino teased.

Senior guard Andre Hollins said his right turf toe injury didn’t slow him down on Saturday. He doesn’t expect the toe, which he hurt in the Seattle game on December 10, to be a problem at Purdue.

The Gophers were outrebounded by UNC 39 to 27 and Pitino said if there is a concern going against Purdue it’s on the boards. He described the Boilermakers as a “very, very physical” team. Freshman forward Vince Edwards leads the Boilers in rebounds at 6.1 per game but they also have a pair of 7-footers in freshman center Isaac Haas and junior center A.J. Hammons. The 7-2 Haas and 7-foot Hammons are both averaging 5.2 rebounds.

WCHA commissioner and former Angels communications executive Billy Robertson is an avid baseball fan who predicts the Twins will be the “most improved team” in the American League in 2015. He believes the Twins will tie for third place in the AL Central with the Indians. He projects the Tigers will win the Central with the other AL division winners being the Angels and Red Sox. The A’s, Orioles and White Sox will be AL Wild Card entries for the playoffs. In the World Series it will be the Red Sox over the Dodgers in seven games.

Coach John Tauer’s St. Thomas men’s basketball team is 8-1 and ranked No. 6 nationally by D3hoops.com. No other men’s MIAC team is in the D3hoops top 25.

The Tommies are the only Division III men’s team in the country with six players averaging in double figures. Those players are Marcus Alipate, Bloomington, Jefferson; Taylor Montero, Cretin-Derham Hall; Conner Nord, Eden Prairie; Ryan Saarela, Lakeville North; Grant Shaeffer, Eden Prairie; and Cortez Tillman, Cretin-Derham Hall.

During the past six-plus years the Tommies’ 87 percent winning percentage is the best in the country among 417 Division III programs. UST has won nine consecutive MIAC titles, with nine straight NCAA tournament appearances and 20-plus wins during those years.

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Peterson Owes Vikings Fans in 2015

Posted on December 22, 2014December 22, 2014 by David Shama

Vikings and Gophers notes:

Sources believe Vikings decision makers want Adrian Peterson to play for their team next season. Assuming that’s accurate, where will Peterson want to play?

Peterson should decide he is not interested in playing for another NFL team, and offer a “make-good” to the Vikings franchise, his teammates and fans. His lost season in 2014 was of his making. He made a terrible mistake in mistreating one of his sons and he has paid for his actions in the legal system, court of public opinion and via suspension by the NFL.

The Vikings, unable to duplicate Peterson’s running production in 2014, would upgrade their offense next year with the All-Pro’s return. Peterson’s large salary, though, is something the Vikings will want to address because of his advanced age for a running back, 30 years old. He reportedly is to be paid $13 million in 2015, although the money is not guaranteed.

In the pass-happy NFL, where the role of the running back has been devalued, no team in the league is likely to pay the aging Peterson anywhere near $13 million. Those facts will be in the Vikings favor (or any other team) at the bargaining table.

After a career where Peterson has earned mega riches in salary and endorsements, he is at a place where money should be a secondary concern. Peterson should take the high road and show his character by accepting a significantly reduced salary for 2015. Such a decision is another way of expressing remorse, and also gratitude to the franchise, players and fans that have supported him over the years.

The Vikings, 6-9, end their season on Sunday at home against the Bears, 5-10. A win by the Bears would leave both teams tied for last in the NFC North final standings.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer was upset after yesterday’s 37-35 loss to the Dolphins in Miami. Greg Coleman asked Zimmer on KFAN’s postgame show what he told the players in the locker room about next Sunday. “I’ll keep that between us,” Zimmer said on the radio.

The Vikings, for the second consecutive game, couldn’t stop an opponent’s comeback. The game winning points came when the Dolphins got two points by blocking a Vikings punt and creating a safety.

“We played so poor on defense today it was embarrassing,” Zimmer said on KFAN. “Allowed them five-for-five in the red zone, nine out of 12 or something on third downs (nine of 13). Offensively, I thought we did some good things, and then to get the punt blocked at the end for the safety is ridiculous.”

Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater impressed again yesterday, completing 19 of 26 passes including two touchdowns. His season completion percentage is 64.2 %. That is nearly an NFL record for a rookie but with one game remaining in the season odds are long that Bridgewater could break Ben Roethlisberger’s 66.4% mark set in 2004.

Vikings offensive tackle Mike Harris and wide receiver Charles Johnson have become friends, with the two sharing a room in hotels before Vikings games. Johnson dyes his hair blonde, and Harris described his roommate as a “fashion kind of a guy.”

“He’s a clean-cut guy—dresses nice,” Harris told Sports Headliners. “He’s a true pro.”

In Si.com’s December 18 college mock draft for 2015, the Vikings choose Washington outside linebacker Shaq Thompson with the No. 11 pick. Maybe the Vikings, with problems at offensive tackle, are better off selecting Texas A&M’s Cedric Ogbuehi—predicted to be drafted at No. 12 by the Rams.

Gophers football players Mitch Leidner, Tommy Olson and Maxx Williams will do the “Let’s Play Hockey” shout-out tomorrow night to start the Wild-Flyers game at Xcel Energy Center. Williams, by the way, wasn’t included in the Si.com mock draft (first round only). The redshirt sophomore tight end is eligible for the 2015 draft and may consider leaving the Gophers this winter.

Former Gophers tight end and accomplished singer Ben Utecht performed at a benefit concert earlier this month for the American Brain Foundation. The concert was held in the Gophers football locker room at TCF Bank Stadium and was by invitation only.

Utecht, 33, has experienced memory loss after a football career that included the NFL. He sang the national anthem on Friday night for the Eastview-Lakeville North boys’ basketball game at Eastview.

Gophers wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky hasn’t played since the Illinois game on October 25 because of a high ankle sprain but coach Jerry Kill said if Minnesota had a game yesterday the California sophomore would have been able to play. That means unless something unforeseen happens, Wolitarsky will play in Minnesota’s January 1 Citrus Bowl game against Missouri.

The Gophers are taking two charter airplanes and close to 300 people to the bowl game. They leave at 11 a.m. on Thursday (Christmas Day) and return after the game on January 1.

The Big Ten Network asked fans of the 14 Big Ten football schools to vote for their four “Mount Rushmore” favorites at each program. Minnesota fans got it right with Bobby Bell, Paul Giel, Bronko Nagurski and Bruce Smith selected as the four greatest Gophers ever.

Is it a challenge for coaches to win regular season Big Ten football games? Well, it is at most schools other than a couple of them like Ohio State who have the best resources including nearby high school talent. OSU coach Urban Meyer is 24-0 in three seasons of Big Ten games while the Gophers Jerry Kill is 13-19 in four seasons with a career best 5-3 in league play this fall. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, who reportedly earns $3.825 million, is 68-60 in 16 seasons while Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald is 30-42 in nine seasons. Wisconsin legend Barry Alvarez, who will leave his athletic director’s chair to coach the Badgers at the Outback Bowl, is 65-60-3 in 18 Big Ten seasons.

Ohio State’s quarterback depth and talent is indicative of how much skill the Buckeyes have. Senior quarterback Braxton Miller was a popular candidate to be Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and the Heisman Trophy winner before he was injured in August and lost for the season. Redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett replaced Miller and was recently named third-team Associated Press All-American quarterback. Barrett was injured late in the season and couldn’t play in the Big Ten Championship Game so redshirt sophomore Cardale Jones, the third string quarterback earlier this year, stepped in to lead a 59-0 win over the Badgers.

What will the Buckeyes do with all that talent at quarterback next season? A Big Ten insider told Sports Headliners Miller will be the starter.

The Seattle University basketball team the Gophers defeated last Friday night at Williams Arena has attracted a couple of miniscule crowds at home—554 for a December 1 game against Pacific Lutheran and 267 for the Northwest University game on December 15.

In the Seattle game Gophers senior center Mo Walker continued his efficient offense, scoring 15 points in 15 minutes on the floor. He made all six of his field goal attempts and three of four free throws. In 11 games Walker is averaging 11.5 points in only 19.7 minutes per game.

The Gophers, 9-2, play Furman at home tonight and have scored over 80 points in five consecutive games. As of December 21, the Gophers lead the nation in assists per game, 20.1. They are second in steals, 12.1, and third in turnover margin, 7.0.

Mike Lukashewich, the walk-on guard from Appleton, Wisconsin, who joined the team last week, played four minutes in the Seattle game and made his college debut. His stat line was goose eggs except for a block. The 6-3 freshman likes to play defense and came to Minnesota because of the school’s sports management program. He tried out for the Gophers earlier in the fall, then was called back and finally added to the roster. “I am having a blast so far,” he said.

Gophers coach Richard Pitino said Lukashewich has “long arms” which can contribute to his defensive effectiveness. Lukashewich had considered attending St. Thomas and playing basketball there.

Gaston Diedhiou, the 6-9 freshman scholarship forward from Senegal, suited up for the first time on Friday night but didn’t play. Diedhiou became eligible recently after improving his English proficiency. Pitino noted that Diedhiou’s English is now superior to Bakary Konate, the Gophers 6-11 freshman center from Mali, who has been eligible and playing this fall.

Charles Buggs, the 6-9 redshirt sophomore counted on to play reserve minutes as a small forward, said the left knee he had surgery on last summer is still bothersome and he expects the discomfort to continue all season. The knee impacts mobility to his left. Buggs, who was a power forward, is learning the plays for the small forward position. His reverse dunk against Seattle will be among the most spectacular at Williams Arena this season and was included in the top plays on ESPN SportsCenter Friday night.

Gophers baseball coach John Anderson is working on dates for games in 2017 to be played in the new Vikings stadium. The Gophers are interested in a first game that year against a marquee college baseball program.

The foul pole distances for the baseball field configuration are expected to be 305 feet in right field and 330 in left. The distance to the right field power alley will only be 340 feet with a 30-foot high wall.

The Metrodome was used for over 400 amateur baseball games in a single year but that number will be reduced dramatically in the new enclosed Vikings stadium because the facility is expected to aggressively seek high revenue events.

WWE Raw is at Target Center tonight with Hulk Hogan, 61, performing in Minneapolis for the first time in over a decade.

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WR Johnson Finds a Home with Vikings

Posted on December 19, 2014December 19, 2014 by David Shama

Charles Johnson has travelled a varied route to Minneapolis, but he sure looks at home with the Vikings. The 25-year-old wide receiver was signed off the Browns’ practice squad on September 20 and despite not playing a snap for the Vikings until October 2 he has become one of the team’s most productive offensive players.

Johnson totaled 103 and 72 yards in receptions the last two Sundays. His 415 yards for the season ranks third on the team and his 16 yards per catch is best on the Vikings. He has become a big play receiver, taking over as a starter and pushing high potential-inconsistent Cordarrelle Patterson to the bench. Last Sunday his 72 yards on five catches against the Lions were better than Detroit’s All-World wide receiver Calvin Johnson who totaled four receptions and 53 yards.

“I’ve known I can do this my whole time,” Johnson told Sports Headliners. “It’s just that you’ve got to have opportunity. You wouldn’t know (Hall of Famer) Jerry Rice was the best receiver in the league until he got out there and played that day.”

Nobody is saying Johnson will have a career like Rice—perhaps the greatest wide receiver of all-time—but it’s interesting that the two played collegiately at small schools. While the 49ers chose Rice in the first round out of Mississippi Valley State, the Packers drafted Johnson on the seventh round in 2013 from Division II Grand Valley State in Michigan.

Johnson, who also attended two other colleges before Grand Valley, believes he was worthy of being selected higher. The 6-2, 220-pound native of Kentucky mentioned his 31 touchdowns in Division II, 40-inch vertical jump and 4.3 time in the 40-yard dash. “I know I am a D-II guy; they’re not going to give too much credit for that,” he said.

Johnson, though, isn’t focused week to week on statistics. He didn’t have much to say about his numbers being better than Johnson’s last Sunday. “Stats don’t really mean too much to me. I just like to win.”

The Packers—among the savviest of organizations in judging personnel—knew what they were doing in drafting Johnson. Problem was Johnson injured a knee and it slowed down his progress last year. That led to being placed on the Packers practice squad and then the Browns signed him. In Cleveland he was told of an ACL tear and didn’t play in any games during 2013. Norv Turner, the Vikings offensive coordinator, had the same role with the Browns last year so he became familiar with Johnson and thought he could help the Vikings.

Teammates like offensive tackle Mike Harris are happy to have Johnson on their side. He and Johnson room together in hotels on Saturday nights before Sunday games. Harris described Johnson’s journey to the Vikings as an “underdog story.”

“The guy is a beast,” Harris said. “He’s a playmaker.”

Whatever success Johnson has achieved so far doesn’t surprise him. “If you’re willing to work hard you can do anything you want. Like I always say, ‘When hard work meets opportunity, you create your own success.’ ”

Worth Noting

Turner, who likes the ability of Johnson to get separation from defenders and thinks he has “very good upside,” also talked yesterday about how despite all the changes on the team’s offense including Adrian Peterson’s suspension and injuries to linemen, rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has demonstrated considerable promise. “We’ve kind of had an interesting group and the people we’ve played on offense have been wide ranging and to do the things he’s done (Bridgewater), it just tells you something about the type of person he is. …

“The thing that excites me is he can make any throw you need to make. He does it with people around him. He does it with people hitting him. He does it when he has to slide in the pocket. He knows how to play football and that’s the starting point of the quarterback position. He’s got the intangibles you need and he’s going to continue to get better and better.”

If the Vikings defeat the Dolphins in Miami on Sunday and win their last game at home on December 28 against the Bears, Mike Zimmer will finish the season 8-8. The franchise has never had a first-year coach with a .500 record. Jerry Burns and Dennis Green had winning first seasons while Norm Van Brocklin, Bud Grant, Brad Childress, Leslie Frazier, Les Steckel and Mike Tice all had losing records.

Before the season Bob Lurtsema predicted his ex-team would finish at 8-8, as reported previously in Sports Headliners.

The Twins announced today 18 players on minor league contracts have been invited to major league spring training camp. The players are right-handed pitchers Jose Berrios, Tyler Duffey, Mark Hamburger and Adrian Salcedo; left-handers Ryan O’Rourke and Taylor Rogers; catchers Mitch Garver, Tyler Grimes, Dan Rohfling and Stuart Turner; infielders James Beresford, Doug Bernier, Argenis Diaz and Heiker Meneses; outfielders Byron Buxton, Eric Farris, Danny Ortiz and Shane Robinson.

The Gophers’ offense had little success against TCU’s fast defense when the Horned Frogs defeated Minnesota 30-7 last September. The Gophers will face a similarly fast defense against Missouri in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl on January 1 in Orlando. The Tigers tied Alabama with seven selections each on the coaches All-SEC first and second offensive, defensive and special teams. Among those honored were defensive linemen Shane Ray, a first team choice; and second team selection Markus Golden.

Sun Country Airlines sent e-mails to potential customers earlier this week notifying them the Minnesota-based airline has added flights to Orlando from Minneapolis that depart December 31 and January 1, and return January 1, 3 and 4.

It appears the Gophers Athletic Department will sell all of its 9,000 tickets allotment for the Citrus Bowl. Figuring in other ticket sources, the Gophers might have between 12,000 and 15,000 fans cheering for them at the game. That would be the largest bowl game number for the Gophers since they played in the Rose Bowl more than 50 years ago.

Among the speculated reasons Gary Andersen left Wisconsin for the Oregon State job is the Badgers don’t competitively pay assistant coaches. The Badgers rank ninth in total salaries for assistants at $2,368,600 among 12 (of 14) Big Ten schools that disclosed information, according to data released by USA Today on December 10. The Gophers rank fifth in the Big Ten at $2,757,000 and just ahead of Nebraska.

The top paid assistant coach in college football is believed to be newly hired Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp at $1.6 million. According to USA Today, MSU defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi is the highest paid assistant in the Big Ten at $905,033. Gophers defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys ranked No. 33 in USA Today‘s listings at $600,000 while offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover ranked No. 47 at $550,000. Former Gophers head coach Tim Brewster, now tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Florida State, makes $340,000 and is ranked No 159.

Last minute Christmas shoppers looking for an entertaining and inspiring true story about dog ownership and spiritual faith will want to consider David Wheaton’s new book, “My Boy, Ben.” The Minnesota native and former professional tennis star writes with passion and provoking thought about his daily journey with Ben, an extraordinary yellow lab. More at Davidwheaton.com.

Twins outfielder Torii Hunter, and ex-Twins Dave Winfield and LaTroy Hawkins, are among the scheduled baseball celebrities to be in Las Vegas in January for a poker tournament and golf tournament to benefit the Players Trust, a charitable foundation.

When the Star Tribune relocates its offices to the Capella Tower complex, the company may have an exterior news ticker similar to that in Times Square in New York.

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