David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Tailgating Lot Planned for U Students

Posted on April 29, 2013April 29, 2013 by David Shama

Covering the Gophers’ spring football game on Saturday:

Gophers’ executive associate athletics director David Benedict told Sports Headliners the University of Minnesota will designate a parking lot just for students as an incentive to increase ticket sales for football games this season.

Last week athletic department officials met with 55 student leaders representing various groups to talk about the idea. Benedict also said the student season ticket sale will begin next month. Student season ticket totals have been declining in recent years despite the move of football to campus from the Metrodome.

Last year the department contracted with the Aspire Group to sell tickets. Benedict said Aspire has sold approximately $1 million in tickets since last September, including 600 new football season tickets.

He also said the department hosted 100 potential purchasers of premium football seating at Saturday’s spring game. Those seating areas include suites and outdoor locations.

The Gophers had a large turnout of high school prospects on Saturday but Washburn High School running back Jeff Jones, who has verbally committed to play for Minnesota, didn’t attend the game. The junior recruit was playing in a basketball tournament.

GopherIllustrated.com reported three-star quarterback Dimonic McKinzy from Kansas City, Kansas, committed to the Gophers on his unofficial visit to campus last weekend.

Among those in the crowd of several thousand spectators at the game were University president Eric Kaler and members of the Board of Regents. After being told the Gophers’ opening game at TCF Bank Stadium on August 29 will be played at the same time as the Vikings’ final preseason game at Mall of America Field, a regent said: “I am not happy about it.”

The Gophers’ game has long been scheduled for that date but the Vikings finalized their date earlier this spring.

Gophers coach Jerry Kill said he didn’t allow more than a dozen players to participate in the spring game including two of his best defensive players, senior tackle Ra’Shede Hageman and senior safety Brock Vereen. Hageman is a consensus pick as the team’s top NFL draft prospect. “Brock Vereen is, in my opinion, one of the better secondary players in the Big Ten,” Kill said.

Kill told his players after the game he was proud of their spring efforts and he “loved” them. He urged players to be accountable in their off-field activities including attending class.

Later he told the media: “You go to bed every night worrying about something. Nothing is ever perfect.”

This week the Gophers, who have now completed their 15 spring practices, will hear about mental toughness from motivational speakers Kill has asked to address the team.

A replay of the spring game will be shown on the Big Ten Network starting at 7 p.m. tonight.

Worth Noting

Jim Dutcher followed with interest the recent University of Minnesota hiring of assistant basketball coach Kimani Young who many years ago was arrested for possession of 96 pounds of marijuana. In 2007 the University wouldn’t allow the hiring of assistant coach Jimmy Williams who decades before had allegedly been involved with NCAA rules violations at Minnesota.

“That was a gutsy move (hiring Young) after the way they treated Jimmy Williams — and I fully support it because I always believe in giving people second chances,” said Dutcher who had Williams on his staff in the 1970s and 1980s when he was the Gophers’ head coach.

Dutcher expects Michigan State and Michigan to be favorites to win the Big Ten title next season. He also said the hiring of young head coaches at Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern and Rutgers could change the style of play in the league, moving away from the “grind it out” offenses to faster play.

Twins’ manager Ron Gardenhire has sold his home in Little Canada for $751,000.00, according to a Bizjournals.com story on Friday. Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal also reported the sales price was $1,100.00 more than the initial asking price in February.

After yesterday’s 5-0 win over the Rangers, the Twins are above .500 in both overall record (11-10) and at Target Field (7-6). Starting pitcher Kevin Correia shutout the Rangers for eight innings. He’s the only Twins’ pitcher in history to start his career with five straight outings of seven innings or more.

Twins’ second baseman Brian Dozier is batting .364 in eight games as the team’s leadoff hitter. He has reached base in 10 consecutive games.

Watch Twins’ farm players like Chris Colabello (six home runs) and Clete Thomas (.340 average) when Triple-A Rochester hosts Buffalo starting at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday in a MLB Network telecast.

Paul Allen, the radio play-by-play voice of the Vikings, will speak to the C.O.R.E.S. group on Thursday, May 9 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington. Allen is also a radio talk show host on KFAN and track announcer at Canterbury Park. Anyone interested in attending the luncheon and program can contact Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net.

Canterbury Park is the only location in the state where there is legalized wagering for this Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. Admission is free at the Shakopee facility where live horse racing returns on Friday, May 17.

WCCO Radio’s Dave Lee has been honored with awards from both the Associated Press and the Northwest Broadcast News Association for his play-by-play broadcast of the St. Thomas and UW-Oshkosh football playoff game last year.

Dave Mona, public relations executive with Weber Shandwick-Minneapolis, was honored by Minnesota Business Magazine last week as part of its power 50 list. Mona is retiring from the international public relations agency on July 1 but will consult for the company.

Weber Shandwick announced this month that it has added the Big Ten Conference to its client list. Mona said much of the work will be done by Weber Shandwick in Chicago.

When the Blue Jackets didn’t qualify for the playoffs, it probably cost Columbus coach and former Wild coach Todd Richards a realistic opportunity to win the NHL Coach of the Year award.

Tim Leiweke, the former Timberwolves marketing executive, has been hired in Toronto to run Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. He will have NBA, NHL and facility responsibilities.

Comments Welcome

NFL Draft: Tough Night for Big Ten

Posted on April 26, 2013April 26, 2013 by David Shama

Covering the NFL Draft from the perspectives of the Big Ten Conference and the Vikings:

The Big Ten almost made history last night after being shutout during the first round of the draft until the Cowboys chose Wisconsin center Travis Frederick with the 31^st and next to last pick. Since 1953 the conference has had at least one player chosen in the first round, according to an online story on Monday by the Omaha–World–Herald. The World–Herald reported that in 29 of the 31 drafts going into last night the Big Ten had at least three players chosen in the first round.

In 2012 Big Ten teams had four players selected in the first round. The SEC had nine players drafted among the 32 picks, including six of the first 15. And last night the SEC had 12 players chosen among the 32 players selected including five of the first 11 picks.

It’s no wonder the SEC, winners of seven consecutive national championships, is known as the king of college football while the Big Ten’s reputation is that of commoners. But it’s not just the SEC that is showing superiority in talent as judged by the NFL. Last year the Big 12 had five players taken in the first round. This year the ACC had six players chosen and the Pac-12 five.

The last time a Gopher was selected in the first round was 2006 — running back Laurence Maroney. During the last 20 years the only other Gopher picked in the first round was cornerback Willie Middlebrooks in 2001.

Big Ten teams struggled in nonconference BCS games last season with the best win — honest — Northwestern’s victory over Vanderbilt. Big Ten schools also lost three games to MAC teams. The conference record in bowl games after last season was 2-5, another in a long list of mediocre (at best) postseason performances. In the final AP national poll the league had only two teams in the top 20, Ohio State (ineligible for a bowl game) at No. 3 and Northwestern, No. 17.

Except for Ohio State — and maybe Michigan — national expectations will be minimal for the Big Ten again next fall. Coach Urban Meyer is building an SEC caliber program at Ohio State but overall the league looks weak. It’s obvious that for now most Big Ten teams aren’t coming up with high impact talent worthy of national rankings and NFL first round draft choices.

But if football fans in Minnesota couldn’t thump their chests last night about the Big Ten, they certainly could strut over the Vikings who came into the draft with two first round picks and finished with three, thanks to a late night trade with the Patriots. Those three draft choices equaled the total of the Vikings’ NFC North rivals, the Lions, Bears and Packers who had one each.

The Vikings might have wanted to trade up for a top 10 selection, perhaps coveting elusive wide receiver Tavon Austin from West Virginia who was chosen at No. 8 by the Rams and might be Percy Harvin II. But instead the Vikings used the Patriots trade to take Tennessee wide receiver Cordarrella Patterson at No. 29 – a player who is raw in route running skills but is an explosive runner as a receiver and kick returner. “You’re talking about a 6-1, 215 pound receiver that runs 4.3, that is electric with the ball in his hands, and what he does after the catch and what he does as a returner,” Vikings’ general manager Rick Spielman said last night.

The Vikings used their selections at No. 23 and No. 25 to choose defensive players, tackle Shariff Floyd from Florida and cornerback Xavier Rhodes of Florida State. Floyd is considered a value pick, a strong inside presence who probably lasted deeper in the first round because so many offensive linemen were chosen before him. “I went through 1,000 scenarios and at (the) 23^rd and 25^th pick I can tell you honestly, he was not in one of those scenarios,” Spielman said about Floyd’s availability to Minnesota.

Mike Mayock’s mock draft Wednesday on NFL.com had Floyd being drafted No. 3 in the first round. “He is the best defensive player in the draft on my board,” Mayock wrote.

Rhodes, like Patterson, may initially be more of a project but his speed and size, 6-1, 210, are prized attributes in an NFL cornerback. The Vikings’ needs going into the draft included replacing depth and quality lost with veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield’s departure for the Seahawks. “Our defensive philosophy is to try to have size and speed because of the cornerbacks we have to face and the type of receivers in this division,” Spielman said.

The prevalent pre-draft speculation about the Vikings selecting Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o didn’t live up to the hype. The Vikings passed on Te’o three times in the first round, preferring other players. Te’o’s controversial past could be part of the reason but so, too, might his so-so speed, and on KFAN Radio last night former Viking Pete Bercich said he didn’t like the linebacker’s “flatline” personality.

Worth Noting

The Vikings will have their three first round draft choices in town today and will hold a news conference this afternoon to introduce them to the media.

The 2013 version of the NFL’s top 100 players debuts Saturday night at 7 p.m. Minneapolis time on the NFL Network. The initial show will reveal players 91-100 with the series continuing until June 27 when the top 10 are identified. The 100 list was determined by a vote of league players.

Approximately 100 University of St. Thomas football players and coaches will spend Saturday volunteering for a home building project as part of Habitat for Humanity, Twin Cities. The group will work at 652 Sims Avenue in St. Paul.

Coach Glenn Caruso will present a check to the organization for $10,000, part of his award for being named the 2012 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year for NCAA Division III — the third year in a row he received the award.

After last night’s 2-1 loss to the Rangers at Target Field, the Twins have lost seven of their last nine games against Texas. Twins’ catcher Joe Mauer threw out his fourth attempted base stealer of the season last night. The Twins have allowed only three stolen bases, the fewest in the majors this season.

The Twins, 9-9, have scored one run or less three times this season. Their only run last night came on Josh Willingham’s third home run of the season. He has hit 24 career home runs at Target Field, tying him with Jim Thome for the club record.

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Lurtsema Advice to Vikings: Avoid Te’o

Posted on April 23, 2013April 23, 2013 by David Shama

Bob Lurtsema, who has impressed with his past opinions on the NFL Draft, cautions the Vikings about selecting controversial Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o.

Lurtsema, who in 2011 labeled now Vikings’ tight end standout Kyle Rudolph as the “sleeper of the draft,” doesn’t hold back when talking about Te’o who several months ago was connected to a national story about a girlfriend hoax. “There is something wrong with the kid and I wish him well, but the Vikings don’t need those kinds of headaches,” the former Vikings’ defensive lineman said. “Distraction, distraction, distraction.”

Te’o has worked on restoring his reputation and mock draft writers have him being chosen during the first round, perhaps selected by the Bears at No. 20 or the Vikings at No. 23 or 25. But some observers like Lurtsema think having Te’o around will create locker room problems and bad press.

Lurtsema said Te’o tried to rationalize his slow 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine this winter because he was under pressure. That makes Lurstema wonder how Te’o will respond to the pressure of game situations including when from his linebacker position he makes audible calls impacting teammates. “As a defensive lineman I don’t want to wonder, ‘Where did he get that?’ ”

Lurtsema believes in giving “guys second chances but there’s something wrong there.” The Vikings parted ways with problem players in the past including this winter sending Percy Harvin to the Seahawks. If the Vikings draft Te’o on Thursday night they “bring in the biggest PR problem in the world,” Lurstema said.

“I wouldn’t touch him with a two million foot pole,” he added about Te’o, a player who had a disappointing national championship game against Alabama in January.

With two draft picks in the first round and one in the second, the Vikings’ priority should be a cornerback, linebacker and defensive tackle, Lurtsema said. Veteran corner Antoine Winfield left the Vikings for the Seahawks during the offseason. “I don’t think they realize how much they will miss Winfield,” Lurtsema said. “I hope it doesn’t show up that much.”

Lurtsema does put an asterisk by his priorities for the Vikings and their early choices in the draft that continues Friday with rounds two and three, and Saturday with rounds four through seven. While he liked the improvement of the team’s offensive line last season, he would take a “slam dunk” offensive guard if that kind of talent were still available to the Vikings at No. 23 in the draft.

Between now and the draft Lurtsema doesn’t expect Vikings general manager Rick Spielman to reveal intentions. “I’ve never seen a guy with so many curveballs,” Lurtsema said in admiration.

Vikings & Other Notes

Spielman is enthused about this year’s draft. “I think this is one of the most interesting drafts because of the depth, and us (selecting) at No. 23 and 25,” he said at his news conference this afternoon.

The Vikings have 11 draft slots including those two first round opportunities. Spielman said the club has “8,000 different scenarios we can go in.”

He predicted an active trading week by NFL teams and the Vikings could be in the mix. With so much depth in the draft, the Vikings might move back in the order of selections believing they can still acquire players to help them and perhaps add draft choices for 2013 or 2014. “I don’t see us looking to move up but that could change,” Spielman said.

Spielman believes the quality and depth of the draft is such that he expects to acquire “significant players” even in round four. He projected acquiring players in the draft who will be a “major part” of the team in 2013.

Spielman said the club will sign Pat Williams to a contract on Thursday and release him Friday so he can officially retire as a Viking. The former defensive lineman, 40, left the Vikings after the 2010 season as a free agent.

Condolences to former Vikings’ defensive end Carl Eller regarding the death of his mother. Ernestine Eller, 87, passed away last week, and a memorial service will be held tomorrow starting at noon at Zion Baptist Church in Minneapolis, according to an obituary in today’s Star Tribune.

The Gophers announced today that Daquein McNeil has signed his National Letter of Intent and will be eligible to play as a freshman next fall. McNeil, who averaged 19 points per game playing for a New England prep school last season, had college offers from prominent basketball schools including Louisville.

Rookie Oswaldo Arcia, playing in his fourth major league game for the Twins this afternoon, hit his first career home run. His three run homer gave the Twins a 4-3 win over the Marlins. He hit three home runs in 33 at bats playing for Triple-A Rochester earlier in the year.

Admission to the Gophers’ spring football game on Saturday is free but donations to the Gary Tinsley Memorial Scholarship Fund are encouraged, according to Gophersports.com. Game time is 1 p.m. with preceding activities including a flag football event involving Gopher football alumni starting at 10:45 a.m. in TCF Bank Stadium.

The Wild is 1-1 in games this season against the Kings, the team Minnesota hosts tonight at Xcel Energy Center. Trying to solidify its position in the NHL playoffs, the Wild’s remaining games after tonight are with two teams Minnesota is undefeated against this season, the Oilers (3-0) and Avalanche (3-0-1).

Wild players will wear custom-designed camouflage jerseys during warm-ups tonight. The jerseys will be auctioned online (Wild.com) starting Thursday with proceeds going to the Minnesota Wild Foundation and Defending The Blue Line.

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