David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

MWC Commissioner Gets U A.D. ‘Vote’

Posted on March 19, 2012March 19, 2012 by David Shama

It’s our understanding the University of Minnesota prefers athletic director candidates with previous experience as college athletic directors — or assistant directors — but the search committee is likely to consider Mountain West Conference Commissioner Craig Thompson.

Former Gophers basketball coach Jim Dutcher praises Thompson, a Minnesota native who graduated from the University. Thompson worked as a student assistant in the Gophers sports information department more than 30 years ago. His duties included working with Dutcher and the two have stayed in contact.

“He’s got a lot of passion for Minnesota,” Dutcher said. “…Grew up and went to high school in Redwood Falls. I don’t know all the candidates but I do know Craig and I think he would be a good choice.”

Thompson has been commissioner of the Mountain West since its inception in 1998, but he could be interested in the Minnesota A.D. job. Prior to joining the MWC he was commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference and his resume also includes working in the NBA. His accomplishments with the MWC include major growth of television revenues and he’s also served on many NCAA committees. Dutcher emphasized Thompson’s experience in working with college presidents and realigning the MWC membership.

It’s also believed former NFL executive Jim Steeg is interested in the Gophers athletic director position. Steeg is credited with transitioning the Super Bowl from just a championship game to a weeklong entertainment experience. His resume includes several years working as a business executive with the San Diego Chargers.

Local candidates who don’t have experience as athletic directors but might be interested in the Gophers job to replace Joel Maturi this spring could include former Minnesota football coach Glen Mason and ex-Minnesota Wild executive Bill Robertson. Mason has influential Gophers supporters who like him and he knows a lot about the athletic department having been the Minnesota coach from 1997-2006.

Robertson is working as a consultant with Tunheim Partners, the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Hockey. He was vice president of communications and broadcasting for the Wild’s parent company from 1998-2011. Prior to that the Cretin High School alum was an executive with the Walt Disney Company’s sports operations.

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Vikings Stadium Differs from MLS Model

Posted on March 19, 2012March 19, 2012 by David Shama

A new Vikings stadium could also be home to a Major League Soccer franchise. The Vikings owners have shown interest in owning a Minneapolis MLS team, although the proposed downtown fixed roof stadium doesn’t conform to the MLS facility model.

The MLS website states that in 2011 13 of the 18 franchises played in venues built for soccer. Those stadiums have capacities about one-third smaller than NFL facilities including the proposed stadium here with projected seating of more than 60,000. Then, too, none of the MLS franchises play in fixed roof stadiums.

But Djorn Buchholz, chief executive officer of the Minnesota Stars FC North American Soccer League franchise, doesn’t think a covered stadium is a deal breaker in acquiring a MLS franchise. “It’s not an ideal stadium for soccer, but we are in Minnesota, and we could (sometimes) have three feet of snow on the ground,” Buchholz told Sports Headliners.

The Stars will play their first game of the season at the Metrodome on April 7. The game was scheduled indoors because of weather concerns. The remaining regular season home schedule will be played outdoors at the National Sports Center in Blaine.

Buchholz said the MLS regards Minneapolis as a possible franchise location and he described this area as “one of the remaining top markets.” He hopes the Stars will be part of a cooperative venture with a new MLS team here, rather than a competitor.

Soccer in this area has seen highs and lows, ranging from the Minnesota Kicks tailgating phenomenon and capacity crowds at Met Stadium during the 1970s to the struggles of other franchises in more recent times. Although the Stars won the NASL playoffs last year, the franchise has sold only 300 season tickets for 2012 but Buchholz is optimistic about renewed interest in soccer here.

The franchise averaged about 1,800 fans last year, an increase of approximately 700 from the season prior, he said. This year he’s projecting an average of 3,000 and 5,000 in 2013.

Stars tickets are affordable including general admission seating available at $5 for the home opener on April 7 against the Carolina RailHawks.

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Tubby Smith Has South Carolina Ties

Posted on March 16, 2012March 16, 2012 by David Shama

Will South Carolina pursue Tubby Smith for its basketball opening?

The Gamecocks fired fourth-year coach Darrin Horn earlier this week after South Carolina finished with the worst record in the Southeastern Conference, 2-14. The Gamecocks were 10-21 overall, their third straight losing season under Horn.

Smith’s name is likely to come up as a successor to Horn. Smith was once an assistant coach at South Carolina. His agent, Ricky Lefft, is based in the state working as an attorney and assistant professor at South Carolina.

The Gophers coach and his agent could be restless after Smith’s five seasons in Minnesota. Smith has two years remaining on his contract but hasn’t been able to agree on an extension despite many months of speculation that a deal would get done. University of Minnesota president Eric Kaler told WCCO Radio’s Sports Huddle on Sunday that contract considerations need to wait until a new Gophers athletic director is hired in the coming months.

After winning a national championship at Kentucky and being an annual SEC power, Smith’s transition to Minnesota has been a challenge. His program has faced off court problems including numerous player transfers and on court he has never coached a Minnesota team to better than a 9-9 record in the Big Ten Conference, or gone beyond an opening game in the NCAA tournament. His last two teams have produced conference regular season records of 6-12. His Big Ten record, including conference tournament games is, 39-53.

Smith’s five year resume has been criticized by fans and media more so this year than ever before. That criticism and the lack of progress by the athletic department in developing funds to build a state-of-the-art practice facility could be factors — along with his contract situation — in convincing Smith to look elsewhere if he can find the right opportunity.

Smith will be 61 in June and wants to continue coaching. But his age and mediocre results at Minnesota don’t make him the hot coaching commodity he once was. Yet South Carolina is a basketball program that has fallen on tough times and might see the image Smith built winning SEC championships at Kentucky as a quick fix.

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