Posted April 6, 2011    

•Eric Kaler

•Justin Morneau

•Lamonte Edwards

•All-Star Football

•Zach Parise

Maturi & New U President Already in Discussions 

Joel Maturi told Sports Headliners that his future as Gophers athletics director is likely to be determined by year’s end. 

Although incoming University of Minnesota president Eric Kaler doesn’t officially take over until July 1, Maturi and Kaler have been communicating on various subjects.  Maturi’s contract ends next year and he’s expressed interest in remaining in the job he’s held since 2002. 

“Last time we spoke about this topic − a couple months ago − I think we both decided that late next fall, once he got to know me and once I got to know him, we both could assess the environment and what would be best for the University of Minnesota,” Maturi said last week.  “We’ll probably decide whether I would go beyond next year at that time.” 

Maturi, 66, has also talked to Kaler about the athletics department budget.  Funding is an ongoing challenge for the 25-sport department that is almost entirely self-supporting from ticket, TV and other revenues.   

He has told Kaler that funding support for the department from the University has decreased in recent years.  Maturi shared similar information in an e-mail to Gophers supporters in February when he wrote that money from the University has declined from $6.8 million in 2002-2003 to $2.3 million in 2010-2011. 

Those figures represent a decrease from 14 percent to 3 percent of the total department budget.  But Maturi wrote in the e-mail that the department has “operated with a balanced budget since my arrival in 2002.”

Contributing to the budget challenge is a situation for the last two years involving the state legislature.  Lawmakers have said the Gophers can’t serve alcohol exclusively in suites and other preferred seating areas at TCF Bank Stadium, Williams Arena and Mariucci Arena.  Some legislators argue that if alcohol is made available at U sports venues it should be sold to all adults in attendance, not just those in premium seating areas.  

The Gophers have lost premium seating customers because of the policy, but the University hopes to persuade lawmakers during this legislative session to make a change (other major college programs sell alcohol in suites and other special areas).  It’s obviously a change Maturi would welcome.

“We’re talking millions of dollars being lost by intercollegiate athletics and we could use that money,” he said.  “I am hopeful that considering the financial challenges that all of us face, they (legislators) allow us that opportunity to generate the revenues that we have been losing the last two years.”

 

Twins Can High-Five about Morneau 

Justin Morneau has played in all five Twins regular season games this season.  For the local franchise that’s cause for celebration during an otherwise mediocre start to the 2010 season.   

Morneau didn’t play most of last summer because of a concussion and his slow recovery during the off-season resulted in a cautious spring training for the Twins first baseman.  But so far the former All-Star has had no symptoms that have sidelined him. 

Morneau had one hit in 10 at-bats during the team’s first three games in Toronto.  After two games in New York against the Yankees, he’s 2-6. 

“He’ll get his swing there and you will start seeing the ball flying into the seats,” manager Ron Gardenhire said on Monday night during his post-game TV press conference on FOX Sports North.  “He’s a strong young man who has been an MVP in this league.  He knows how to hit.  It’s just a matter of getting his timing.” 

Morneau, who turns 30 next month, is now in his peak career years.  He played in 81 games last season, hitting .345 with 18 home runs and 56 RBI.  Double the home runs and RBI totals over a 162 game schedule and see how impressive those numbers are,  and how similar the totals are to 2009 when he slugged 30 home runs and had 100 RBI.                  

The Twins would struggle to make the playoffs without Morneau and catcher Joe Mauer who had off-season knee surgery but is among the most valuable players in baseball.  For now both are on the field and able to provide the Twins with a better chance of improving their 2-3 start to the season.

 

Worth Noting 

A year ago running backs Lamonte Edwards, Donnell Kirkwood and Devron Wright were among the most anticipated recruits in the Gophers’ class of 2010.  Last season Edwards redshirted, Krikwood played in four games gaining 127 yards, and Wright was a nonqualifier, not eligible even this spring to practice.  Gophers’ offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover told Sports Headliners that Edwards and Kirkwood have a “tremendous amount of potential,” and he expects Wright to be eligible this fall.   

“Everybody says he (Wright) could very well be the best of all of them," Limegrover said.

The annual Minnesota High School All-Star Football Game will be played for the first time at TCF Bank Stadium. The June 25 7 p.m. game will use a North-South format for the first time since 1980 when teams were organized into Metro and Outstate squads.  The North and South rosters will include players from the metro and outstate areas. 

The North head coach will be Brainerd’s Ron Stolski, while Minnetonka’s Dave Nelson will coach the South.  Each coaching staff will include a former high school head coach and member of the association’s Hall of Fame, Dave Nigon (Totino-Grace) for the North and Mal Scanlan (Cretin-Derham Hall) for the South.  

Gophers’ fundraiser Bob McNamara said $4 million has been raised for the new baseball stadium, but another $3 million is needed.  

New Ulm native and former major leaguer Terry Steinbach is coaching baseball at Wayzata High School.  

Pat Williams, at about 320 pounds, clogged up the line of scrimmage six seasons for the Vikings, but at 38 he isn’t mobile enough to be an attacking nose guard if that’s what the team’s coaches want.  

Ross Bernstein, local author of nearly 50 books including works on Herb Brooks and Brett Favre, will be the speaker at the C.O.R.E.S. luncheon in Bloomington on Thursday, May 12.  C.O.R.E.S. members can make reservations by contacting Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net.  C.O.R.E.S. is an acronym for coaches, officials, educators, reporters and sports fans. 

Zach Parise, who has only played in three games for New Jersey this season because of injury, would boost box office interest and on ice production for the slumping Wild franchise.  The Minneapolis-born Parise, 26, scored 82 and 94 points in his previous two seasons with the Devils.  He has yet to settle on a contract extension with New Jersey and will become a restricted free agent soon.          

Minnesota’s Tobias Wernet is the Big Ten Men’s Tennis Athlete of the Week after helping the No. 24 ranked Gophers to wins against No. 22 Michigan and No. 53 Michigan State last weekend. 

 

Pat Williams

Ross Bernstein