David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Purple Ouch: Game Stats and Score

Posted on September 12, 2011November 27, 2011 by David Shama

Seen through a Purple lens the post-game numbers were ugly.

In their season opening game in San Diego yesterday, the Vikings had 10 first downs and 28 yards passing. The Chargers had 31 first downs and 330 passing yards.

The worst numbers of all: Chargers 24 points, Vikings 17.

The Vikings’ offense was a second half no-show after Minnesota held a 17-7 halftime lead. Quarterback Donovan McNabb and his receivers never established a rhythm including late in the game when they trailed 24-17. When the Vikings had their last possession of the game with about five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, McNabb and friends went three and out.

Coach Leslie Frazier and coordinator Bill Musgrave took a conservative approach most of the day, seemingly trying to win the game against the favored Chargers with minimal offensive mistakes and a stout defense. Except for Adrian Peterson, who rushed 16 times for 98 yards including a 46 yard first half run, there wasn’t much life to the offense.

Even the team’s second best playmaker, receiver Percy Harvin, could only produce two receptions for seven yards. Harvin, though, returned the game’s opening kickoff 103 yards, providing an initial spark for a team that could be points challenged this season with an iffy offensive line, so-so receivers and a 34-year-old quarterback who is trying to become the Comeback Kid after last season’s disappointing season in Washington, D.C.

The Vikings’ defense, despite missing three starters from last year’s line, deserved better yesterday. The defense gave up one short touchdown to the Chargers in the first quarter after McNabb “completed” a pass to San Diego linebacker Saun Phillips at the Minnesota six yard line. In the second half the defense was on the field too long and although Vikings’ end Jared Allen killed one San Diego drive with a nifty running interception, the Chargers and quarterback Phillip Rivers established a rhythm and produced points.

McNabb and the Vikings had very little of each yesterday.

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Worth Noting

Posted on September 12, 2011October 9, 2011 by David Shama

The average NFL franchise is now worth $1.04 billion, according to Forbes.com. In its latest valuation of franchises, the magazine ranks the Vikings 28^th among 32 clubs at a value of $796 million. That value would increase dramatically with approval of a new stadium in Minnesota or relocation to Los Angeles.

Former Gophers and Vikings assistant coach Tony Dungy said Thursday night on NBC’s Green Bay-New Orleans game if he were starting a team he would choose the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers ahead of any quarterback in the NFL.

Enduring image from that game: Saints QB Drew Brees joining in the singing of the National Anthem while other players stood in silence.

The September 5 issue of Sports Illustrated reported that if Dungy had become president of the Seattle Seahawks, his first choice for coach was Leslie Frazier of the Vikings.

Former Gophers administrator McKinley Boston, who has been athletics director at New Mexico State since December of 2004, was elated with Saturday’s upset by the Aggies over Minnesota. He described the win as the biggest, “not even close,” during his time in Las Cruces. “We’ve been looking for that signature win. …I can see us having a great season based on this,” Boston said.

The Aggies are 6-21 in their last 27 games, but 1-1 so far this season and Boston was optimistic about his team earlier in the summer, although the Western Athletic Conference coaches poll projected a last place league finish for New Mexico State.

The Gophers athletic department gave away 7,000 free vouchers to University of Minnesota freshmen for Saturday’s game but the 10,000 seat student section still didn’t fill up at TCF Bank Stadium.

Athletic department marketing executive Jason LaFrenz said the student sale so far totals about 5,700. He hopes it will reach “8,000 to 10,000.” The Nebraska and North Dakota State games are sold out except for seats being held for sale to students, he said.

Gophers’ athletic director Joel Maturi meets with Dr. Eric Kaler this week, only the second time the two have met since the new University president assumed his duties on July 1.

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Twins Museum Talk & Other Notes

Posted on September 12, 2011November 27, 2011 by David Shama

Clyde Doepner, the only full-time curator employed by a major league baseball team, said there’s a possibility of opening a Twins museum. Club management has discussed a possible museum and perhaps locating it in the Ford Centre, the historic office building located near Target Field.

Doepner has been collecting Twins memorabilia dating back to when the ball club played at Met Stadium. He has more than 7,000 memorabilia items in his personal collection, including not only Twins items but also from the franchise’s days in Washington, D.C.

The former high school teacher and baseball coach was hired two years ago as the franchise prepared for its opening of Target Field in 2010. He credits team president Dave St. Peter with his hiring. St. Peter and other club leaders wanted Target Field to be a place that told the history of baseball in Minneapolis-St. Paul including the Twins.

Although Doepner has collected items ranging from the autographs of U.S. presidents to a Twins jersey that incorrectly spelled Minnesota, there is a memory he described as more special than anything else. “The day Harmon Killebrew knew my name,” Doepner said.

Call them the “Smash Boys.” Miguel Sano, 18, hit 20 home runs in 267 at bats for the Twins Elizabethton team in the Appalachian Rookie League. Eddie Rosario, 19, hit 21 balls out of the park in 270 at bats for Elizabethton.

Since the July All-Star break Twins first baseman Justin Morneau is hitting .235 in 14 games with no home runs and nine RBI. He has been unable to play since August 28.

The late Angelo Giuliani, a famous Twins scout, is among nine people being inducted into the Saint Thomas Academy Athletic Hall of Fame on September 30.

Glenn Caruso, football coach of nationally ranked St. Thomas, will be the featured speaker at the C.O.R.E.S luncheon on Thursday, November 10. C.O.R.E.S is an acronym for coaches, officials, educators, reporters and sports fans.

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