The Gophers begin training camp today, and yesterday it was evident players want to end past frustrations, and surprise sportswriters who are predicting a fifth place finish in the Big Ten’s seven-team West Division.
Senior corner Jalen Myrick didn’t hold back expressing his feels about Minnesota border rivals Iowa and Wisconsin. “I hate Iowa. … I hate Wisconsin. I want to beat them at least one time. I didn’t get a chance (because of injury) to play against each one of them last year. I got a big statement to prove in each of those games.”
The Hawkeyes won the division last season, the Badgers the year before. Minnesota’s record against Iowa since 2000 is 5-11. Dating back to 1990, the Gophers are a dismal 5-21 against Wisconsin including 12 consecutive losses beginning in 2004.
Senior quarterback Mitch Leidner joined Myrick and several other teammates yesterday to talk with the media prior to practice opening. Leidner predicted the Gophers will play with an edge this season and added he wants a Big Ten title before his college career ends.
Leidner knows the Gophers need to end the drought against the Badgers, and Minnesota head coach Tracy Claeys talked about that during an interview with Sports Headliners in June. “It bothers the hell out of me,” Claeys said. “We’re on our way to try to get that back to where it’s a rivalry. We gotta win sooner or later for it even to be considered a rivalry anymore.”
Worth Noting
Myrick also returns kickoffs for the Gophers and is considered the team’s fastest player. A recent NFL.com story identified him as the Big Ten’s fastest player. Myrick said he’s faster than last year. How much? “We’ll see,” he replied.
Myrick intentionally lost a couple of pounds to bring his weight to about 200, and he has speed on his mind. “Anytime I can build my speed, that’s what I am trying to do,” he said.
Leidner said he’s healthy after playing injured the last couple of years. He even acknowledged that in a 2014 game ligaments attached to a big toe were so torn the toe was “floating around” in his shoe.
Leidner predicted yesterday that senior offensive tackle Jonah Pirsig might be named an All-American this fall. The 6-9, 325-pound Pirsig has played much of his career with injuries. “This is the healthiest I’ve felt since I’ve been here,” Pirsig said.
Both Leidner and Pirsig praised new offensive line coach Bart Miller and the impact he’s had on that unit. “He’s completely changed the mindset around,” Leidner said.
Coaching staff decisions about starters will be made after 18 practices. Claeys said starters need 10 days of practices to prepare for the first game.
Prior to their September 1 opener against Oregon State, the Gophers have five practices open to the public. Practices August 6, 9 and 12 begin at 10 a.m. at the Gibson-Nagurski Football Complex. Two practices August 13 are also open to the public—starting at 9:10 a.m. at Gibson-Nagurski and 4:45 p.m. at TCF Bank Stadium.
Retired Twins executive Jim Rantz has talked recently with Terry Ryan who owner Jim Pohlad let go as the club’s general manager last month. Rantz and Ryan worked with each other for decades. Rantz said the 62-year-old Ryan is “doing fine,” still has passion for baseball and watches the Twins on TV.
Rantz’s guess is his friend will eventually get back into baseball. “I don’t think he’s going to call it a career,” Rantz said. “I think he’s going to hang in there, and we’ll see what happens here. I am sure he’ll hang out until the end of the year and then go from there.”
The Thursday morning Go 96.3 radio show offered a few critical comments about U.S. Bank Stadium’s debut sports event Wednesday night between soccer teams AC Milan and Chelsea. Comments included too much congestion inside the stadium, “spotty Wi-Fi” and at least one or two concessionaires running out of menu items. A sausage for $7 that cost $2 more for peppers and onions also prompted comment.
General manager Rick Spielman said the Vikings’ new practice facility and team headquarters in Eagan (opening in 2018) will be the best in the NFL and can contribute to attracting free agents. “Just like the new stadium (downtown), I think was a big factor this year,” he said. “(But) it’s always going to come down to your football team, and it will come down to the financial commitment you’re willing to make to the player. I think a lot of it has to do (also) with your coaching staff and our head coach. …”
It will be interesting to watch the development of high-potential Vikings second-season defensive lineman Danielle Hunter. Could Hunter, who doesn’t turn 22 until October, replace 10-year veteran Brian Robison this season? Robison, 33, might one day finish his career as a situational pass rusher.
At 6-5 and over 250 pounds the Vikings 2015 third round draft choice is an intriguing prospect. He had 33 tackles and six sacks last year. Hunter’s NFL.com draft analysis in 2015 described him as having a “freakish combination of size, athleticism and explosiveness.”
The Minnesota Wild will offer single game regular season tickets starting at $35. Tickets go on sale September 24. Pricing for single game regular season tickets is based on demand factors like rivalries, day-of-week, marquee teams or superstar players.
Former Gophers, Olympics and North Stars coaching legend Herb Brooks, who was killed in a 2003 August car accident, would have been 79 today.