David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Worth Noting

Posted on September 19, 2011November 27, 2011 by David Shama

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said after yesterday’s game he expects defensive tackle Kevin Williams, suspended for the team’s first two games, to rejoin the club for meetings starting today.

The September 12 issue of Sporting News Magazine lists the 10 greatest college football teams of all time including the 1956 Oklahoma Sooners at No. 5. Those Sooners were coached by Minneapolis native Bud Wilkinson who played for the Gophers. The magazine identifies Wilkinson as the only man in college football history to win three national championships each as a player and coach. Sporting News chose the 1971 Nebraska team as the No. 1 all time team.

Saint John’s football boss John Gagliardi, who has been coaching in the MIAC since 1953, saw his team forced into overtime by Concordia on Saturday but managed to win its league opener, 28-21.

A.J. Hammons, a 7-foot center from Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, is interested in the Gophers and visited campus last weekend.

Former Gophers basketball captain Al Nuness transferred from Fort Dodge Junior College in Iowa to Minnesota in 1967. Nuness, now retired from an executive position with Jostens, has not only enjoyed an outstanding business career, but has also been involved with volunteer community work in Minneapolis for decades. On Saturday he will be inducted into not the sports hall of fame but the school hall of fame at Iowa Central Community College (formerly Fort Dodge). Nuness was a first team junior college All-American, the first player to earn that honor at Fort Dodge.

Magic Johnson comes to Minneapolis tomorrow for an event to promote Urban Ventures and Cristo Rey Jesuit High School. Johnson will be speaking at the Colin Powell Youth Leadership Center.

Wonder if Timberwolves-Lynx owner Glen Taylor has delayed the Rick Adelman introductory news conference so as to not draw media and public attention away from the Lynx playoff games.

The Wild purchased 500 tickets for tomorrow night’s Lynx playoff game that were made available this morning to the first 250 callers at 612-673-8400 with a limit of two per customer.

Former North Stars, Twins and Gophers marketing leader Pat Forciea is marketing director for the Hell’s Kitchen restaurant downtown, according to a column by Jon Tevlin in the Star Tribune last week.

Minneapolis businessman Bruce Lambrecht, long ago a proponent for a Twins stadium in the Warehouse District, continues to believe in a Farmers Market site for a new Vikings stadium.

The Wild are scheduled to practice today at Xcel Energy Center, then open the preseason schedule tomorrow night in Edmonton. First home exhibition game is Friday night against Columbus.

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A.P. in L.A. Might be California Dreamin’ But…

Posted on September 16, 2011November 27, 2011 by David Shama

With a Beverly Hills smile and Hall of Fame promise, Adrian Peterson would be a welcome addition to the Hollywood scene in southern California. The odds seem unlikely the Vikings will relocate to Los Angeles anytime soon, but an expiring lease at Mall of America Field and new stadium uncertainty in Minnesota encourages all kinds of speculation about the franchise’s future.

Peterson’s reputation as the NFL’s best running back and his personal charm would cast him perfectly as a celebrity in Los Angeles. Southern California thrives on the star system and has been entertained by some of the classic names in sports through the years, from Sandy Koufax to Kobe Bryant.

An L.A. NFL team would need a box office draw and even on a bad team Peterson will command adulation from fans and sponsors. A superstar like Peterson means butts in the seats and eyeballs on TV.

That’s part of the reason committing Peterson to a seven year contract that practically guarantees the 26-year-old running back will play his entire career in Purple was a smart move by the Vikings. So, too, was signing linebacker Chad Greenway, 28, to a new deal. Owner Zygi Wilf has committed over $140 million in contract money to Peterson and Greenway.

Savvy business decisions. The Vikings, 12-4 two years ago, appear to be rebuilding. Keeping Greenway and Peterson around sends a message the Vikings aren’t interested in fire sales. Just the contrary. Ownership wants to win and build a Super Bowl contender.

That’s a good mantra to send fans, business supporters and legislative backers for a new stadium. But the commitment to Greenway and Peterson, both of whom agreed to deals just last week, brings clout beyond the Minnesota constituency.

If the Wilf family wants to sell or relocate the team, player personnel assets add to value. Peterson and Greenway won’t have their names on the company year-end financial statements but their presence on the roster has value in determining the worth of this franchise ─ wherever it’s located.

Could it be L.A.? The NFL doesn’t like relocating existing franchises, and Los Angeles has been without a team since 1995 when the Rams left for St. Louis. Through the years it almost seems like a “flavor of the month” has been the norm regarding new stadium ideas in southern California. And still there’s nothing finalized on a new venue for a Los Angeles team.

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U Coordinator: ‘Don’t Blow Anybody Off’

Posted on September 16, 2011October 9, 2011 by David Shama

No doubt the Gophers football team would love a mulligan for last Saturday’s disappointing showing against New Mexico State. Minnesota was a three touchdown favorite against the Aggies, a program with no bowl appearances since 1960 and a combined 5-20 record during the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

The Gophers lost 28-21 in a game that looked like it could be the easiest on the 12 game schedule. Maybe the Aggies will turn out to be one of the surprise teams in college football but for now 1-1 New Mexico State has plenty to prove, just like Minnesota. Tomorrow the Gophers will be favored to win again but this time by only about a field goal playing against Miami (Ohio), a team that ranks with the favorites in the MAC to win the championship.

The Gophers didn’t look motivated against the Aggies and Minnesota defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys said players can be affected by what the outside world thinks about opponents. Did the Gophers not take the Aggies as seriously as they should have?

“I think it’s a struggle every week in college football now,” Claeys said. “With all the media and everything, I think kids compare scores. I think they try to make up their mind before the game is played. I believe that.

“So we harp all the time: It’s not who you play, it’s how you play. You got to go through that process every week. Everybody has scholarships so everybody has some decent players. You can’t blow anybody off.

“We’ve been in that situation, playing underdog on the road. The longer that game goes, the more confidence you get out of it. I don’t think there’s any question, that’s a part of learning how to win. You got to go through that process to prepare yourself no matter who you play or what the score was last week.

“So that’s all part of changing the culture (at Minnesota) and learning how to win. But, yeah, I think there’s a good possibility that’s what happened.”

Gophers’ linebacker Mike Rallis, though, said he and his teammates didn’t take the Aggies “lightly” or fail to prepare, but acknowledged Minnesota needs to play better. “We knew they were very capable of coming in and beating us. But we need to come out and play up to our abilities right from the start,” Rallis said.

The Gophers bandwagon hit a big pothole in the road last Saturday. A hope-filled offseason led by new coach Jerry Kill and the promise stirred by only a 19-17 loss to nationally ranked USC in the opener had almost everyone in town convinced the Gophers would win big against the Aggies.

Instead it looks like hold your breath mode tomorrow against a RedHawks team that was impressive in its opening game two weeks ago, losing 17-6 at Missouri. Miami hasn’t played since and the extra time to prepare for a game is a positive not found every month on a team’s college football schedule.

The RedHawks, like other teams in the MAC, have a roster filled with players that were passed over by Big Ten schools. It’s not a new motivation, but the RedHawks wouldn’t mind proving tomorrow that they can beat a Big Ten team.

Looking at the New Mexico State-Minnesota film all week won’t hurt the RedHawks confidence.

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