In the preseason USA Today Coaches’ Poll, nine of the 11 Big Ten schools received at least one vote and two schools rank among the top 10. The Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC are the only conferences to feature multiple top-10 teams. Ohio State ranks No. 6, Penn State 8 and Iowa 21 in the 25 team listing. Michigan Sate, Illinois, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Michigan and the Gophers received at least one vote in the poll.
Within nine months Minneapolis will have two new outdoor stadiums, TCF Bank Stadium and Target Field, and it’s possible both will host winter hockey games in the near future. Speculation is TCF Bank Stadium could be the site for a game involving the Gophers, while the Wild might host an NHL game at Target Field.
Timberwolves president Chris Wright told Sports Headliners that both new president of basketball operations David Kahn and new coach Kurt Rambis are “incredible assets” to the franchise’s business operation. He said during Kahn’s first 30 days on the job earlier this year he attended 20 breakfasts and 15 lunches with “our stakeholders,” season ticket holders, sponsors and others who support the Wolves. Kahn and Rambis (named coach last week) have impressed with their intelligence and forthrightness.
Wolves’ CEO Rob Moor said Kahn talks daily with Ricky Rubio’s agent, Dan Fegan. Moor said he’s heard that the reception Rubio’s representatives are receiving from companies regarding potential endorsement deals is positive. Endorsement money is seen as potentially helping to buy out Rubio’s contract with his Spanish team and allowing him to join the Wolves.
Cory Joseph, the prep guard from Las Vegas, has been in Minneapolis this summer visiting brother and Gopher Devoe Joseph. Joseph, who will be a senior next season, has been pursued aggressively by Louisville and other elite basketball schools, according to https://www.courier-journal.com/blogs/demling/labels/Cory%20Joseph.html .
Former Wild goalie Manny Fernandez, 34, who played last season with Boston, remains an unsigned free agent. Last season he played in only 28 games.
Despite the success of past major tournaments like this month’s PGA Championship and also the 3M Championship for senior players, an annual PGA tournament might find support hard to come by here. The PGA’s biggest names like Tiger Woods don’t play in some of the PGA tournaments so an annual event wouldn’t have nearly the star power of past PGA and U.S. Opens at Hazeltine National Golf Club.
Friends and family are concerned and wishing the best for long time prep football coach and advocate Don Swanson who has cancer. https://www.mshsca.org/Football/.
Jockey Scott Stevens, who got career win No. 4,000 while riding recently at Canterbury Park, has a long history of success at the Shakopee race track. Stevens was second at Canterbury in wins 20 years ago, then had three straight years as the track’s top winner among jockeys.
For the sixth consecutive season, the Concordia University- St. Paul women’s volleyball team has been picked by NSIC coaches to win the league championship. Winners of the 2007 and 2008 NCAA titles, the Golden Bears received all 13 of the possible first place votes (coaches can’t vote for their own team). The Golden Bears return All-American senior and setter Maggie McNamara, the coaches’ choice for Preseason Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.