SB Nation User Blog: PJS

Golden Nugz for 6.3.09

PJS — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:58:28 -0000

I hope many of you will join me in telling U President Robert Bruininks that it is NOT OK to sell alcohol only to patrons at TCF Bank Stadium who pay enough to be in "premium seating" areas.

The Minnesota Daily has the latest on the alochol debate here.

But no matter what one might think about alcohol at sporting events, I think it's unfathomable that we'd have two sets of rules for different types of fans. This is basically Bruininks giving those of a higher socio-economic status the opportunity to watch a game with a beer.

And don't think this impacts me. It doesn't. I live out of state. But having one set of rules for people who can afford a more expensice seat and another set of rules for everyone else, well, that strikes me as bullshit.

The Bleacker Report ranks Tim Brewster as the ninth best coach in the Big Ten. I'm not going to quibble with their rankings and think they had fair and honest things to say about Brewster.
Hockey News is looking forward to the NHL draft and has an item on Minnesota's Jordan Schroeder.
I mentioned the other day that Penn State coach Joe Paterno would like to see the Big Ten have a playoff and potentially expand. Well, SI's Andy Staples picks up on that and provides three potential scenarios for expansion. He suggests the scenarios are Missouri, Notre Dame or a Big East team join the conference. I'd still like Nebraska I think, but that's probably not happening.
In passing, Andy Katz suggests Dan Monson is "reviving" Long Beach State.
Perhaps Tim Brewster's first big recruit while in Minnesota, his son Clint, is now headed to Tennessee Tech.

Golden Nugz for 5.29.09

PJS — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:36:35 -0000

I really hope it's an accident. As noted in a fanpost to the right and at Mike Hlas' site here, it appears the Gophers' 2009-10 football media guide omits Iowa's 55-0 shellacking of our beloved rodents last year.

The Wizard of Odds has more here.

It'll be a matter of hours before the lads at Black Heart Gold Pants, in Triumph the Insult Comic Dog fashion, weigh in.

It's an accident, right?

RSIII getting some recognition. He'll be trying out with 16 others for the Team USA 19-and under team that will compete in New Zealand this summer. There's a great group of young collegiate players in the mix for spots on this team that will be coached by Pittsburgh's Jamie Dixon. More here.
And here we have the Washington Post basically smacking veteran Star Tribune scribe Sid Hartman. Grandpa Sid reported recently (based on an incorrect Rivals.com report) that Hyattsville, MD, running back Marcus Coker had committed to the Gophers. One problem. Coked didn't! Here's the Post: "So you're DeMatha running back Marcus Coker and you wake up one morning and learn that you've committed to play for Minnesota. Small problem omitted from various reports - included the one I linked, which includes no attribution - Coker didn't really accept a scholarship offer to play for the Golden Gophers."
Nice move here by Brewster and the U football folks to have Murray Warmath serve as honorary coach in the opener of the new stadium.
Why is it that perhaps the oldest man in Big Ten football is the only one with a vision? Joe Paterno is arguing for a 12th team in the conference and a conference championship game so the Big Ten isn't relegated to the sidelines in December. Paterno wants a 12th team to come from the East, and I think that's good if possible. It would give PSU a logical inter conference rival. And he's right about the six weeks off in between the last regular season game and the Rose Bowl. It's completely silly. Here's the Morning Call with a report from yesterday on Paterno's wish list.

Saul Smith Weighing In On UK Issues

PJS — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:15:05 -0000

So Saul Smith is apprarently weighing in on Kentucky basketball. Well, weighing in before he had apparently deleted his comments on his Facebook page.

Here's UK blogger Jerry Tipton quoted at length.

On his Facebook page, former Kentucky point guard Saul Smith cautioned the basketball program about running afoul of NCAA rules.

“Bad bad day for my alma mater,” Smith wrote on Thursday. “The UK athletic program will never regain its true champion nature with Businessmen running it. Never, no matter how many so called blue chip players you bring in. You can’t sacrifice your integrity for success. You just can’t do it. I’m an alum and I deserve a clean-ran program, plain and simple. Period, and if anyone disagrees, you, my friend, shouldn’t support the program I played 4.”

Smith now works as an assistant coach for his father, former UK coach Tubby Smith, at Minnesota.

Later in a follow-up interview, Smith said he did not mean to suggest new UK Coach John Calipari used questionable methods.

“Coach Cal is my guy,” Smith said. “I’m close to him.”

Smith said he interviewed for a spot on Calipari’s Memphis staff in 2007.

Of the Memphis allegations, Smith said of Calipari, “I don’t think he knew about it, so he says.”

Smith also said his father refused to “pay” for players as Kentucky coach.

“He had the opportunity to get great players,” Saul Smith said. “But the integrity wouldn’t be there. . . .

“I’m not saying Cal has done that. I’m just saying (Kentucky) can’t afford it. We’ve been down that road.”

Smith has apparently now taken down his comment on Facebook

On the face of it, I'm always for people saying what's on their mind. But this strikes me as Saul perhaps sticking himself into a situation that doesn't benefit his current situation. While Saul is an alum of UK and has as much right to weigh in as someone like Rajon Rando, I'd hope Saul would take a page from his father's book and stay above the fray.

There's more to Tipton's piece and please read it for full context.

And here's more Kentucky reaction to Saul inserting himself into this issue.

Golden Nugz for 5.26.09

PJS — Mon, 25 May 2009 20:45:51 -0000

As GN noted below, the Gophers drew Baylor in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Here's what UofM communication folks put out about the postseason berth.

This NCAA Tournament bid is the 29th for Minnesota, which is the most among any program in the Big Ten. It is also the 16th appearance for Golden Gopher head coach John Anderson, which is the most NCAA Tournament appearances by a Big Ten coach.

"I am extremely proud of this year's team," said Minnesota Head Coach John Anderson. "They played at a consistently high level week in and week out this year. Down the stretch this season, we were on the road for the final three weeks and our team continued to play well throughout that timeframe. This past week, we did a great job, after losing to a tough pitcher in our first game of the Big Ten Tournament, of battling back to get to the championship game. This team has worked hard all year, and deserves the opportunity to compete in the NCAA Tournament. I am excited for them that they will get a great opportunity to play in front of what is in my opinion one of the best college baseball atmospheres in the entire nation."

LSU enters the 2009 NCAA Tournament as the No. 3 overall seed in the tournament, and has a 46-16 record this season. The Tigers finished tied for first place in the SEC West with a 20-10 record, and won the SEC Tournament this past weekend. LSU defeated Minnesota 10-9 in an exciting NCAA Regional matchup in 2001.

Baylor brings a 29-24 overall record into the 2009 NCAA Tournament and is seeded No. 3 in the region. The Bears finished eighth in the Big Ten at 10-16, and went 2-1 in the Big 12 Tournament this past week.

And here's a link to the regionals and times for each game. It looks like the Gophers will face Baylor at 7 p.m. Friday night.

Football coach Tim Brewster is fired up about recruiting ..... for Gophers wrestling.
Sticking with Brewster, he spoke with Marcus Fuller of the PiPress and said the following, ""Recruiting is really going well," he said. "Going into your third year now, everything is in place. There's a lot of excitement. There's a lot of buzz out there about us. And you know what? We're going to have a good team."
On the recruiting front, Brewster continues to get high marks. In this RIvals Q&A with their analysts, Brewster is given plaudits for his recruiting and it's suggested that the Gophers could surprise this year.
Joel Maturi also talks to Marcus Fuller of the PiPress here about fundraising for a basketball practice facility and a new baseball stadium.
Random link..... Ienjoyed this set of feaerless weekend predictions. John Calipari, Jake Peavy and Lane Kiffin coverage.

What Should We Call TCF Bank Stadium?

PJS — Tue, 19 May 2009 02:42:13 -0000

Awhile back we had a contest to name our almost daily set of links to Gophers and other content of interest. You all did a good job coming up with Golden Nuggets, even if I preferred Rodent Droppings. We also had a session discussing possible nicknames for Gophers basketball players. Colt 45 was obvious. DJ Swat was fun. Absolute Zero accurately described the number of three pointers Al Nolen would hit during the Big Ten season!

Anyway, with thos past nickname successes behind us, we again want to ask you to weigh in. This time, we desperately need something creative to call the soon to be operational new football stadium on campus. There's no getting around corporate sponsorships these days, but this is the blogosphere where we can call things whatever we like.

So, what should we call TCF Bank Stadium? GN and I will keep this post up top for a day or two and collect responses and then have a vote as we've done in the past. Winner gets a prize of some sort (GN and I haven't decided what that is yet, but there'll be something).

Let your creative juices flow ........

Golden Nugz for 5.13.09

PJS — Wed, 13 May 2009 01:32:53 -0000

I went by Maize and Brew last night and found some inspiration. This post called Players We Love to Watch, Even if They Aren't That Good focuses on Wolverine Zack Gibson. While I have no particular fondness or dislike for Gibson, it made me start thinking about who fits that category in the Minnesota sports world.

Logically, I went first to our Golden Gophers basketball players. A few names come to mind from recent years. Miles Tarver endeared himself to me for his grittiness. Jeff Hagen was more effective in the post than his he should have been. Imagine Hagen with more athleticism. As many of you know my old site was called Paging Jim Shikenjanski, after perhaps the guy I enjoyed watching the most growing up, even if he wasn't the best player on his Minnesota teams.

So, I throw it out there to all of you. What Gophers basketball or football palyers did you love watching despite perhaps a lack of talent?

Scout's Chris Monter has a conversation with a potential 2011 basketball recruit in Missouri product Ricky Kreklow.
I agree with Sid Hartman. He writes: Talk about some of the crazy rules of the NCAA. Some of the best high school basketball players in the country were here to participate in the Sabes Invitational tournament at Bloomington Jefferson High School, but Gophers coach Tubby Smith and his staff were not allowed to watch the action because all coaches are barred from watching such tournaments.
After being away for awhile I had some catching up to do and this was one of the better reads. It's our friend at the Daily Norseman taking the mainstream media to task for creating the Brett Favre monster media monster.

Golden Nuggets for 5.11.09

PJS — Sun, 10 May 2009 22:49:28 -0000

Many thanks to GN for keeping this site fresh the last couple weeks during my hiatus.

And during my time away, the men's baseball team really picked up their play. This weekend against Michigan the Gophers took two out of three and moved into first place in the conference by .5 games. And that's a nice place to be, on top of the conference that is, with one week left in the regular season. Though as you can see here it's tight atop the conference.

The Gophers finish with three games at State College, Pa next Thursday-Saturday against the ninth place Nittany Lions.

An All Big Ten NFL team looks pretty good to me, though it'd be nice to see more than one Gophers on the squad.
Marcus Fuller of the PiPress has a nice story from Sunday's paper about Jacob Thomas and Chad Calceterra, arguably Minnesota's two top prospects in the basketball class of 2010. Thomas hasn't been offered yet by Tubby Smith because of apparent concerns about academic standing and Calcaterra has an offer but is keeping his options open.
Marcus Fuller also has an interview with Harrison Barnes, Scout.com's #1 recruit in the country for the 2010 class. Barnes recently narrowed his list of schools to 12 and the Gophers made the cut. It looks like Barnes is impressed with Royce White and Rodney Williams. Good stuff from Fuller.
Congratulations to former Gopher Jack Simmons for earning a contract with the New York Jets after being signed as a free agent after the NFL Draft. (HT-Shooter).

Golden Nugz for 4-29-09

PJS — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:37:04 -0000

Sweet, a law named after Tubby Smith.

MInnesota state legislators are debating a so-called Tubby Smith Act. From the rag that still thinks it's print version is the key to surviving in a dying industry.

Inspired by a college newspaper's efforts to publicize the Gophers basketball coach's side deals on things such as shoe contracts and summer camps, government agencies and public unions are pushing for changes in public information laws that would keep everything from police officers' off-duty moonlighting to U researchers' contracts with drug companies out of public view.

Public employee unions and other groups, particularly the Minneapolis Police Officers Federation, are lobbying for the change. Opponents, who have offered a competing proposal that would keep the information open, say the public has a right to know about potential conflicts of interest among workers in often sensitive positions of public trust.

I think I absolutely agree with the view of the opponents. Not because I think Tubby Simth or any other coach has a potential conflict of interest with shoe contracts, but I worry about a slippery slope with other public officials in more tenuous positions.

Travis Busch may have played his last game as a Gopher, but the What Else? Shoe continues. I'm relieved, too. For more Travis Busch coverage, turn to From the Barn where the blogger takes a thorough look at Busch's stint as a Gopher.
The MInnesota Daily focuses on the quarterback situation for the Gophers and quotes Brewster talking about having plays in for MarQueis Gray. I'm really looking forwarding to seeing Gray play. Also, the Daily notes that Willie VanDeSteeg has signed a contract with the Baltimore Ravens and Jack Simmons has signed a free agent deal with the New York Jets.
SpartyMSU has a post up comparing attendence at Big Ten college spring football games. The Gophers finished about where you'd expect.
Doogie Wolfson of KFAN fame takes an opportunity at the Star Tribune to disagree with Sid Hartman. Wolfson predicts a 7-5 record for Brewster's Gophers this season.

Champions! Tubby's Gophers Claim BOTL Title

PJS — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:39:15 -0000

Champions! Tubby's Gophers Claim BOTL Title

Sparked by a 43-28 second half spurt, Tubby's Gophers win the simulated BOTL title over West Virginia. Blake Hoffarber, Ralph Sampson III and Lawrence Westbrook lead the way. And I'm starting to develop a fondness for simulated sports!

Golden Nugz for 4-21-09

PJS — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:32:25 -0000

This weekend marks the beginning of the upcoming football season in a couple ways.

First, ESPN will overhype the NFL Draft. There will be watch parties, incessant blog coverage, talk radio chatter and endless coversage. Out here in the DC area I tend to listen to ESPN980 a hybrid local-national sports talk radio station. Just last week they had an hour segment breaking down the Redskins' schedule. Wow.

For those of us who like the college game and are Minnesota fans, we'll get the first glimpse at the Golden Gophers as the team takes the field at St. Thomas University for its annual Spring Game. You can attend if you like for free. Kickoff is 1:30 p.m. on April 25 at O'Shaughnessy Stadium.

I obviously will not be attending, and I'm frankly not ready yet for the football season to be upon us. But I will be interested in seeing how the offense in general is operating. Have we done a complete 180 from the spread fo a Glen Mason-esque power game? Perhaps more importantly, does our offensive line look like a cohesive enough unit to be able to protect Adam Weber or provide holes for a ground game?

So, if you go, I'd love a report on the offense and the offensive line.

And, as a little teaser, I believe GN is working on a way-too-early preview of the football team's season opener against Syracuse.

A number of Gophers made the All-Weekend Team list over at Big Ten Hardball. If you're a baseball fan and follow the Gophers, I encourage you to get on this team's bandwagon. We'll try to provide you access to coverage like this as well. Big Ten Hardball is a great resource if you haven't checked it out.
Two more stories on Twittering Tim. Here's the Minnesota Daily taking a broad approach and looking at Brewster's use of new media. In this aritcle Brewster denies that he published the Tweet about "Fat Pat." There's been a lot of this going on, mysterious Tweets that show up and then vanish. And then we have Cedar Rapids Gazette blogger Mike Hlas writing "Gophers coach briefly uses twitter for evil, not good."
I've been slightly out of the college sports news circle the last week or so, but this made me shake my head over what Rick Pitino has been dealing with.
Non-Gophers related shout-out here. .... if you're a Twins fan like I am, do check out our friends over at Twinkie Town. They do a great job of covering all things Twins. And now that baseball season is heaeting up, I plan to spend some game nights over there following the Twins as I was too cheap this year to get the MLB package.