David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

AD Boston: Aggies Can Upset U Again

Posted on September 4, 2013September 4, 2013 by David Shama

New Mexico State upset the Gophers two years ago in Minneapolis, winning 28-21 in the second game of Jerry Kill’s career as Minnesota head coach. McKinley Boston, the former Gophers athletic director who now holds the same position at New Mexico State, believes the Aggies can win again when the two teams meet on Saturday night in Las Cruces, although Minnesota may enter the game as a three touchdown favorite.

The Aggies are 4-20 since their big win in Minneapolis with the most recent loss a 56-7 pounding by Texas last Saturday night. “It’s obvious we’re struggling but (new head coach) Doug Martin has created a lot of enthusiasm,” Boston told Sports Headliners on Monday. “Now you and I know words and hype are one thing. You need a big win. I am very excited about the possibility (of defeating Minnesota).”

Martin was the offensive coordinator two years ago when the Aggies pulled off an upset that was big news in the Big Ten Conference and back in Las Cruces where football glory has been mostly absent through the years. The Aggies are using a no-huddle offense and are likely to fill the hot sky with footballs on Saturday night. Temps in Las Cruces on Saturday, including early evening, are likely to be in the 90s.

New Mexico State had 242 yards passing and only 104 yards rushing last Saturday against Texas in Austin. The Aggies trailed 14-7 at the half before the Longhorns scored 42 unanswered second half points on a field where the temperature was 110 degrees. “I think we just ran out of gas,” Boston said. “I think we’re improved (this season) on both sides of the ball.”

Among the Aggies’ issues in the past has been a defense that gave up over 40 points seven times last season. Against New Mexico State the Longhorns had 715 total yards in offense, 359 rushing and 356 passing.

But Texas has a talented roster and hopes for returning to the elite in college football this fall. The Gophers, who are 10-14 since their loss to the Aggies, are still building their resume.

Hosting the game in New Mexico plays a part in Boston’s optimism and excitement about Saturday. The game is being advertised as the first ever visit to Las Cruces by a Big Ten opponent and from a business perspective a win over the Gophers will mean more future ticket sales and revenues.

Boston said there’s “no ifs, ands or buts” about the total importance of the game. “The fact we beat them before, a lot of people believe we can win,” he said.

Worth Noting

Boston is predicting attendance in the mid-20,000 range for the game, about 5,000 short of capacity at Aggie Memorial Stadium (capacity 30,343). On Friday night and at the game he will entertain friends with Minnesota connections including Leon Trawick and Curt Wilson, both former teammates of Boston with the 1967 Big Ten champion football Gophers.

Boston said September 7 “will be the only Saturday of the year” he’s not cheering for the Gophers.

Twins president Dave St. Peter talking to Sports Headliners about Terry Ryan: “I wouldn’t trade him for any other general manager in the game.”

Ryan is closing in on 24 months since he took over the franchise’s general manager role for a second time in his career. Ryan’s desire for a less demanding lifestyle drove him away from the job in 2007. “I have no indication he won’t come back (for next season),” St. Peter said.

Although Twins phenoms Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano won’t be among the minor leaguers recalled in September, both will be in spring training camp with Minnesota next year, according to St. Peter. He also said Buxton will play in the Arizona Fall League and Sano will participate again in winter baseball in his native Dominican Republic.

Although former Gophers guard Al Nuness is a distant cousin of Tyus Jones, it was coincidence the two were in Waco, Texas last weekend. Nuness arrived last week and is still in Waco celebrating the first birthday (today) of granddaughter Jasmine Nuness. She is the daughter of Jared Nuness who is Al’s son and works as director of player development for the Baylor men’s basketball team that is recruiting Jones.

“I am not involved and have never been involved in Tyus’ recruiting process,” Al said.

Jones, rated by Rivals.com as the No. 2 prospect in the country for the class of 2014, made an official visit to Baylor a few days ago. Joining him in Waco was his friend Jahlil Okafor, the No. 1 rated prospect. It’s almost certain the two players, Jones a point guard from Apple Valley High School, and Okafor, the center from Whitney Young High in Chicago, will attend college together.

The Vikings won’t make the playoffs, according to the September 2 issue of Sports Illustrated. The magazine’s pro football issue predicts the Vikings will have a 9-7 record, finishing second in the NFC North behind the Packers, 10-6. The Vikings are ranked No. 8 among NFC teams, four listings behind the Packers, one ahead of the Bears and seven in front of the Lions.

The publication’s article on the Vikings (no surprise) focuses on quarterback Christian Ponder. “Ponder, 25, must prove he’s the club’s unquestioned No. 1 quarterback,” writes Don Banks.

The Patriots will defeat the Seahawks, 30-23, in the Super Bowl, according to Peter King who leaves the Vikings’ Adrian Peterson off his list of predicted NFL individual award winners. The Patriots’ Tom Brady is the pick for MVP, the Titans’ Chris Johnson Offensive Player of the Year and the Packers’ Eddie Lacy Offensive Rookie of the Year.

The Vikings open the regular season in Detroit on Sunday against a franchise Minnesota has dominated historically and in more recent years. The Vikings are 68-33-2 all-time against Detroit. The Lions have only six wins versus the Vikings dating back to 1998.

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Rocky Marciano Lived a Knockout Life

Posted on September 2, 2013September 2, 2013 by David Shama

If Rocky Marciano were alive, he would have celebrated his 90^th birthday yesterday. Marciano died in a small airplane crash near Newton, Iowa on August 31, 1969 and although the former boxing great has been dead for a long time he is fondly remembered by many fans including Twin Cities public relations professional and fight fan Dennis McGrath.

One day back in 1969 McGrath was having lunch at a place called the Front Page in downtown Minneapolis when he saw a guy that looked like Marciano. McGrath recognized a man with the retired heavyweight champion, a local fighter named Joe Schmolze who he knew.

“What the hell is he (Marciano) doing in Minneapolis?” McGrath wondered.

The retired Champ was in town on business, representing a union involved with an insurance company. “I told Joe it would be great to meet Rocky,” McGrath recalled.

Marciano graciously introduced himself, as if McGrath didn’t know who the legendary fighter was. “He says, ‘Hi, I am Rocky Marciano.’ I am shaking the hand of the guy that knocked out Joe Louis.”

A few months later Marciano, who was born on September 1, 1923, was dead, just a day before his 46^th birthday. Ironically, about the same time Schmolze was killed in a car accident in Columbia Heights.

While Schmolze’s death was news locally, the passing of the Rock shook the nation. “This is the saddest news I ever heard,” Louis said.

That quote is from the 2002 book The Rock of His Times by Russell Sullivan. His Marciano biography is the story about one of America’s most beloved heroes during the 1950s and 1960s, a time when boxing was near the top of the entertainment charts in this country.

When you were the heavyweight champ, the nation was watching. With Marciano people liked what they saw — fans, sportswriters and even guys the Rock hurt in the ring including the incomparable Louis who to this day is considered by some historians to be the greatest heavyweight ever.

Louis was African-American while Marciano was Italian-American, but regardless of race other fighters and those associated with the sport liked Marciano. “The nicest guy (Marciano) you ever wanted to meet,” Angelo Dundee said in Sullivan’s book. “A gentleman.”

For years Dundee was Muhammad Ali’s trainer. Dundee ranks Marciano among the 10 best heavyweights of all time, according to Sullivan who also quotes writer Jimmy Breslin as saying, “I don’t know who was better.”

During a pro career that started in 1948 and ended in 1956, Marciano compiled a 49-0 record with 43 knockouts. From 1952-1956 he was the undisputed champion of the world and retired as the only undefeated and untied heavyweight champ ever.

In the early part of 1969 Marciano filmed a fake fight with Ali who was then only 27 years old. Marciano, 45, got in shape and wore a toupee for the filming. The two men worked out in the ring while cameras recorded their movements and blows. The purpose was to make a film for commercial profit but neither Marciano nor Ali knew at the time who a computer would judge the winner.

What fight fans ultimately saw when the “Super Fight” movie was released in 1970 was Marciano winning with a 13th round TKO. It was the Rock’s “last fight” and even in a film he remained undefeated. A disappointed Ali is said to have suggested the computer was from Alabama.

Marciano was a blood and guts fighter. He was a slugger, not a fancy boxer, and he often looked awkward in his movements. Only 5-11 and well under 200 pounds, Marciano didn’t have a long reach or more size than opponents but he hit with devastating power and was capable of even killing another man. He could weather a blow from foes like few others and was only knocked down twice in his career.

The Champ had something else, too. Incredible determination to succeed. A Depression era baby, a young Marciano wanted success and when he washed out as a pro baseball player he knew boxing was his last ticket to earning wealth in athletics.

Marciano’s will to succeed was evident in how hard and effectively he trained. Sullivan writes that supposedly even voluptuous movie star Jayne Mansfield couldn’t distract the Champ during training for one of his fights. “What is he, crazy?” Mansfield reportedly asked. “He didn’t want anything to do with me.”

After retiring from boxing, Marciano kept busy with business affairs including speeches. He didn’t want to lose his place among the famous and he also wanted to make sure the kid who grew up so poor in Brockton, Massachusetts always had plenty of cash.

Sullivan said it’s believed there are still places around the country that Marciano hid his money. It was a hunger for money, recognition and helping friends that had Marciano on the move after his boxing career ended. He often travelled by private airplane and was trying to fly from Chicago to Des Moines when he and two passengers were killed in 1969.

“Rocky lived life lately like it was the 15^th round and he was behind on points,” Los Angeles Times columnist Jim Murray wrote only days after Marciano’s death. “Every time I saw him of late he was on the dead run.”

For Dennis McGrath and others who met Marciano, they are now just grateful to have known him.

Happy birthday, Champ.

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Hageman Draws Comparisons with Suh

Posted on August 30, 2013August 30, 2013 by David Shama

When Darrell Thompson talks about Gophers defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman he mentions Ndamukong Suh. Playing at Nebraska a few years ago, Suh earned a reputation as one of college football’s most dominant defensive tackles ever.

Suh was a much more developed player going into this senior season at Nebraska than Hageman is now but Thompson sees similarities in skill sets and physical size. “I feel like they’re fairly similar,” Thompson told Sports Headliners. “He (Hageman) is not as compact (as Suh), but he’s rangier and might even be a hair more athletic.”

How dominant can Hageman be as a senior? “As dominant as he wants to be,” answered Thompson, the former Gophers record setting running back and now the game analyst on Minnesota radio broadcasts. “The only person that can hold him back is himself. He can do it. If he plays with leverage and comes off the ball the way he can, he can be an extremely disruptive force. You can’t ask for anything more than a disruptive force right in the middle of your defense.”

UNLV was introduced to Hageman last night including when the former Washburn High School all-state tight end not only blocked a field goal attempt but pushed the ball forward helping Minnesota’s Martez Shabazz scoop it up and run 51 yards for a touchdown. That score was among the biggest plays of the evening as Minnesota increased its third quarter lead to 30-13 before going on to win the opening game 51-23.

Thompson thought Hageman started slowly but became more effective as the game continued. Inconsistency has characterized Hageman’s career with the Gophers but Thompson said it’s understandable given the position switch to defense at Minnesota after being a tight end in high school and early in his college career.

Suh, by contrast, was a defensive tackle and a beast in that role back in high school in his hometown of Portland. Playing at Nebraska, his size, 6-4, 300 pounds, strength and agility made him a dreaded player for offensive linemen to block.

Hageman is 6-6 and 311 pounds. Thompson describes Hageman as a player with a vertical jump in the “mid-30’s” able to bench press over 400 pounds who is explosive and can run while playing with a “little bit of a mean streak in him.”

Thompson said the Gophers’ tackle is still in the “middle of the learning process.” Maximizing technique and learning all the ways of playing his position takes time. “But even this year if he takes the throttle off of himself and plays hard and plays smart and plays with leverage and runs to the ball I think he can be special,” Thompson said. “He can get away without actually having great technique when you’re bigger and stronger than everyone. …There’s not many people like him playing college football.”

Worth Noting

Sources told Sports Headliners this week that Roger Schipper will not return as Gophers athletic trainer. Schipper completed his 28^th season last March as the Minnesota trainer.

David Benedict, deputy athletic director for the Gophers, said last week that the public season ticket sale for football was about 29,000 including 1,800 new tickets. He also said student season tickets may total 5,000.

Gophers freshman Donohvan Jones, the quarterback turned wide receiver, has a 40 inch vertical jump.

Gophers athletic director Norwood Teague speaks to the C.O.R.E.S. group on Thursday, September 12 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington. Reservations for the luncheon and program should be made by Monday, September 9. For more information contact Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net.

Stillwater-based Creative Charters has sold-out its fan trips to New Mexico State for the Gophers and to London for the Vikings. Working with the University of Minnesota Alumni Association, Creative Charters has a discount price through next Wednesday on travel to the Gophers game at Northwestern on October 19.

The Seahawks, including Vikings alums Percy Harvin, Sidney Rice and Antoine Winfield, are among the most mentioned teams to win the NFC and the Super Bowl.

The Big Ten’s biggest game of the opening weekend is tomorrow night when Northwestern, an underdog pick to win the Legends Division, plays at California where pass-happy Golden Bears head coach Sonny Dykes makes his debut in Berkley.

Minneapolis attorney Bob Stein, the former Timberwolves president and ex-football player with the Gophers and NFL Chiefs, is part of the legal team representing retired NFL players who have filed a lawsuit against NFL Films regarding their publicity rights.

Twins president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners this morning not to expect phenoms Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton to be part of the team’s September 1 call ups of minor league players. Both will be in spring training, though, with the Twins next year.

Circle it date for prep football: Wayzata at Eden Prairie, 7 p.m. on October 11.

With the MIAC starting another school year, the conference hopes to build on its success in athletics that includes 43 NCAA team national championships and 243 individual national titles.

The Wild will introduce a new white road jersey at the Minnesota State Fair’s FAN Central building on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. The building is located at the intersection of Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street.

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