Will Brady Hoke be a finalist for the Gophers football coaching job?

There may be more common sense reasons why Hoke could be a finalist than anyone else the Gophers will seriously consider.  It’s not known whether San Diego State’s head coach is interested or if Minnesota is in pursuit but it is likely the answer to both questions is yes.

Hoke’s resume is appealing and presumably so is his availability.  It’s likely Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi prefers candidates with previous college head coaching experience and Hoke, 52, has impressed at San Diego State and previously at Ball State.

He’s in his second season coaching the Aztecs, now with a 7-3 record after last Saturday’s 40-35 loss to national title contender TCU in Fort Worth.  San Diego State also lost to nationally ranked Missouri by only three points in Columbia.  The Aztecs were 4-8 last season, a two game improvement over 2008.  With two games remaining on the schedule, the seven wins total surpasses the previous 11 seasons.

At Ball State Hoke’s last team was 12-1 and ranked in the national polls for the first time in school history, rising to No. 12 at one point.  Just like he’s doing at San Diego State, Hoke’s record improved at Ball State and in his last four seasons he won four, five, seven and then 12 games.

San Diego State and Ball State are difficult places to turn out winners.  At San Diego State the Aztecs draw miniscule crowds, the athletic department loses money and turmoil has sometimes characterized the department.

Hoke’s salary last year was $676,800, according to https://college-football-coaches.findthebest.com/detail/79/Brady-Hoke.  Mountain West Conference coaches can’t earn anything close to what those in the Big Ten make because of smaller school and league revenues.

Offering Hoke a salary of over $1 million per year looks like big money compared to San Diego State, yet would probably be far less than what other finalists for the Gophers job will demand.  But in addition to money, Hoke could be attracted to returning to the Midwest where he not only coached Ball State but also spent eight seasons at Michigan.

Maturi likes to talk about the “right fit” when he has coaching openings.  Hoke’s Midwestern and Big Ten background is attractive.  He was associate head coach at Michigan and knows the Big Ten area, a plus for coaching and recruiting.

Hoke is intriguing, too, because of the reputation he and his staff have for teaching.  Better instruction will improve the performance of players regardless of talent.  Hoke’s assistant coaches include former Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Sipe, offensive coordinator Al Borges and defensive coordinator Rocky Long.  Borges has over 20 years experience as an offensive coordinator and Long had a solid record as New Mexico’s head coach where his teams were exceptional in rushing defense.

A former high school coach in the San Diego area emailed Sports Headliners about Hoke, describing him as a “great candidate” for the Gophers job.  The ex-coach said Hoke’s priorities are the kicking game, defense, running the ball and then passing. A lot of people who know football believe that is the formula to win at Minnesota, a program which for the better part of 40 years has been subpar defensively.

Before coming to Minnesota, Maturi was athletic director at a Mid-American Conference school, Miami of Ohio, and a Ball State rival.  Maturi might have a pipeline of information from his MAC contacts that could further persuade him to pursue Hoke.  Maturi is under a lot pressure to make the right hire and the better his information about a candidate, the better his comfort level.  That all could be an edge for Hoke.

What Hoke has going against him, though, is he’s never been a head coach at a BCS conference school.  And that’s a detriment to his resume because the Gophers minimize the risk in who they hire if they can attract a proven winner from one of the six BCS conferences.

Not convinced?  Except for Jim Wacker, who came from TCU and the now defunct Southwest Conference, all of the Gophers most productive coaches for the last 50 years were previously head coaches at major programs.  The least successful included Joe Salem from Northern Arizona, John Gutekunst who had been Minnesota’s defensive coordinator and Tim Brewster, a former NFL and college assistant with no head coaching experience.

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Despite speculation last week, it’s very unlikely the Gophers will commit to an eight- year deal with a new coach.  That’s just too many years and too much risk unless Minnesota has the opportunity to land the highest of high profile coaches.

Minnesota’s Adam Weber made a record 49^th consecutive career start for a Big Ten quarterback last Saturday at Illinois.  The record has been verified by the Minnesota sports information department.  Department officials also said Weber will become one of three players in conference history to start 50 games when he plays his final game on November 27 at home against Iowa.  The two others are former defensive linemen, Ohio State’s Luke Fickell (1993-96) and Iowa’s Matt Kroul (2005-08).

The last three seasons have been difficult for the Gophers when they didn’t have wide receiver Eric Decker.  In Decker’s junior season, 2008, Minnesota didn’t win its last three games after he was injured.  Last year the Gophers won two of five games after he was injured, ending a disappointing senior season.  This year the Gophers have all kinds of problems even without Decker but he was so talented the argument could be made the Gophers might have won a few more games with their record setting receiver.  The Gophers are 4-15 in a three-year period without him.

The Minnesota State High School League continues to consider TCF Bank Stadium as a future site for the Prep Bowl but nothing is definitive, according to executive director Dave Stead. He said the challenge is finding dates that match the league’s needs with stadium availability. This year’s Prep Bowl will be at Mall of America Field November 26 and 27 (Minnesota-Iowa game, TCF Bank Stadium).

Last year the Prep Bowl and other tournament football games generated revenues of $832,792.  During the 2009-10 school year boys hockey tournament games generated the most money among all league activities, $1,352,025.  A large portion of revenues from league sponsored tournaments is used for tourney operating costs and also sent to participating schools to pay for expenses.

Stead spoke in Bloomington last week to the C.O.R.E.S group that includes many former educators and coaches.  C.O.R.E.S. is an abbreviation for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans.   The group’s next meeting is January 13.

Jessica Aney not only excels in tennis, but also hockey. The diminutive 12-year-old seventh grader finished second this fall to Rochester Century teammate Kelsey Frechette in the Class AA singles championship.  Aney is also expected to have an outstanding season playing for Century’s girls hockey team.  She was recently named the 2010 Sports Illustrated Kids Sports Kid of the Year.

Dick Jonckowski is starting his 25^th year as Gophers public address announcer for men’s basketball.  His niece is Michelle Beisner, sideline reporter for the NFL Network.

Chicago’s Joakim Noah is no longer a fan of former Timberwolves superstar Kevin Garnett now in his fourth season with Boston. https://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nba/news/story?id=5789761

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The 3-5 Vikings are halfway through their 16-game regular schedule and it’s time for “report cards.”  Considered among the most talented teams in the NFC, the Vikings would be the most disappointing so far if not for the collapse of Jerry Jones’ empire in Dallas where the Cowboys have fired coach Wade Phillips following a 1-7 start.

The Vikings deserved an “A-” last year after a 12-4 record, NFC North title and near miss on their march to the Super Bowl.  This season has been characterized by close losses, lack of clutch plays, injuries, under achievement, controversy and off-field drama.

Last Sunday’s near miracle rally, coming up with two touchdowns in the closing minutes to send the game into overtime and then winning 27-24 against Arizona, takes some sting out of the report card, but not enough to approach even “B” status.  Sports Headliners gives the Vikings a “D+” grade after eight games.

For more detailed grading a former NFL coach agreed to pass out report cards if his name wasn’t used.  Here are the grades starting with the Vikings coaches.

Head coach Brad Childress.  Ouch! Our source gives Childress an “F.”  “There’s too much talent on the roster to be struggling,” he said.  The ex-coach said there have been too many distractions including the (Randy) “Moss debacle” and clashes with top players.

Assistant coaches: “B+.”  His evaluation improved after the Vikings rallied to beat Arizona last Sunday using a hurry-up offense and blitzes on defense. “The assistant coaches have helped keep the ship together,” the source said.

Quarterbacks: “B-.”  Prior to Sunday he would have handed out a “near failing grade.”  The ex-coach said Brett Favre helped rejuvenate teammates and fans with two late fourth quarter touchdown passes.  (He looked more like the Favre of old than the quarterback who has often struggled this season with his accuracy.)  “T-Jack (Tarvaris Jackson) and (rookie) Joe Webb have proven they’re not ready,” the source said.

Tight ends and fullbacks: “B-.”  He lumps these players together because of their role as blockers.  He questions having the fullback position because of the limited opportunities the offense provides Naufahu Tahi for running and receiving.  Tight ends Visanthe Shiancoe, Jeff Dugan and Jim Kleinsasser win praise.  He particularly likes Shiancoe’s “productivity and explosiveness.”

Receivers: “C.”  Percy Harvin has the former coach’s admiration. This is a player who continues to improve in his second season and who shows explosiveness, making him one of the NFL’s most dangerous wide receivers.  The absence of Sidney Rice has been “impactful” and Moss wasn’t here long enough to make much of a contribution but the source said extra coverage on Moss created opportunities for others. Bernard Berrian had a breakout game last Sunday catching nine passes but before that was a “really negative contributor.”

Running backs: “B-.”  The ex-coach said Adrian Peterson has had an “excellent” season.  What concerns him, though, is rookie running back Toby Gerhart hasn’t given the team depth and replaced the highly regarded Chester Taylor who left for Chicago during the off-season.  If Taylor were still here he would give this unit an “A” grade.  “What makes me scratch my head is when they substitute for Peterson after a big play,” the source said. “Let him get a rhythm.”

Offensive line: “D.”  “The line has had a bad year (and) not lived up to its capabilities,” the source said.  “The tackle play has been awful.  The guard play has been solid with (Steve) Hutchinson and (Anthony) Herrera.  The center position is a mess, not playing well.”

Kicking game: “A.”  Punter Chris Kluwe has “added control” to his distance, according to the former coach.  Place kicker Ryan Longwell is “rock solid.”  Fans seldom hear about Cullen Loeffler and that’s the best testimony to a long snapper’s reliability.

Special teams coverage and returns: “C”.  Coverage has ranged from “brilliance” to “awful,” according to our evaluator.  He likes the “big plays” of Harvin on kickoff returns.

Defensive line: “B” to “B+.”  This is still an “upper echelon” group, although the sack production has often been missing and sometimes the unit hasn’t stopped the run when it most needed to.  But remember, the ex-coach said, the line has had its moments including earlier in the season when it was the defense that kept the Vikings in games.

Linebackers: “B+” or “A-.”  The unit is one of the best and most underrated in the NFL, the source said.  E.J. Henderson has had a “miraculous turnaround,” after missing time last season because of a broken leg.  He said Chad Greenway is a “tremendous athlete.”

The safeties grade out at a “D” while the cornerbacks earn a “B-.”  “The safety play has been average at best (in the past) and been slipping even further,” according to our evaluator.  Players have been in and out with injuries.  He is critical of the preseason trade where the Vikings gave up defensive back Benny Sapp, a good contributor in the past, for wide receiver Greg Camarillo.

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