David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Bowl Invite to Play Bison Would Be Humbling for U

Posted on November 8, 2026November 8, 2026 by David Shama

The University of Minnesota football team, 5-4 overall and 3-3 in Big Ten games, needs a sixth win to be bowl eligible.

In the Golden Gophers three remaining games they could be underdogs. All three opponents have winning records.

Minnesota is about a touchdown underdog at Penn State next Saturday. After that the Gophers could be underdogs at home against Northwestern and in the season finale at Wisconsin.

A three-game sweep by the Gophers sends them to a more prestigious postseason destination like the Music City Bowl in Nashville. A 7-5 or 6-6 record could find them back in a tier-2 destination like last year.

Minnesota won the Rate Bowl last December in Phoenix, defeating Mountain West member New Mexico, 20-17. That bowl is now the Cactus Bowl and will be played in Tempe on December 26.

Minnesota-Michigan football rivalry trophy — Photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

In a season where the Gophers have won back the Little Brown Jug (pictured) and Floyd of Rosedale rivalry trophies, ending up in the Cactus Bowl would be humbling. Even more so would be an invite to play North Dakota State.

The Cactus Bowl has agreements to match up Big Ten and Big 12 schools but if there isn’t enough inventory, then a team like New Mexico or North Dakota State could receive an invite. The Fargo-based Bison, 7-2 overall in the school’s first year of FBS competition, would be an intriguing opponent because of the school’s geographic proximity to Minneapolis and past success against Minnesota.

As an FCS powerhouse, the Bison won the last two games against the Gophers, winning 37-24 in 2011 and 27-21 in 2007. Those two upsets were humbling for a Big Ten school, but the Bison has long been a model for doing more with less.

North Dakota State has mastered identifying under the radar talent (including in Minnesota high schools) and how to combine promising personnel with savvy coaching. The Bison has won 10 FCS titles since 2011.

The Bison transitioned into more competitive FBS football this fall with hardly a hiccup. Among their wins are victories over Mountain West title contenders Air Force and Wyoming.

It’s a long shot, but you can bet that North Dakota State would welcome a bowl game against the Gophers to further elevate the Bison’s reputation. Even a competitive loss would be a “win” for the Bison who now more than ever can recruit against the Gophers.

Worth Noting

The acclaimed Vikings defense faces its most formidable 2026 quarterback challenge Monday night at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Bills’ Josh Allen ranks No. 1 in NFL.com’s QB Index with impressive numbers including 1,793 yards in seven games along with a completion percentage of 65.9 and 11 touchdowns. He has also rushed for 270 yards and nine touchdowns.

Allen leads all quarterbacks in NFL history with 88 rushing touchdowns. He has 4,991 career rushing yards and needs nine yards Monday to join Lamar Jackson (6,666 rushing yards), Michael Vick (6,109), Cam Newton (5,628) and Russell Wilson (5,568) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history with at least 5,000 rushing yards.

Adrian Peterson will be inducted into the Vikings Ring of Honor Monday night and will sound the Gjallarhorn prior to kickoff. In 10 years with the Vikings from 2007-16 he became and remains the team’s all-time leader in career rushing yards (11,747) and career rushing touchdowns (97). He holds the franchise record for single-game rushing yards, 296 yards in 2007 against the Chargers.

Craig Leipold’s ownership group of the Saint Paul Hotel has designated February as the start month for a renovation of the sleeping rooms with a summer of 2028 completion date targeted. Leipold also told Sports Headliners there will be other changes and “nobody will recognize the lobby” after renovation.

The historic hotel opened in 1910 and much of the public associates the building with the St. Paul Grill. “The grill is going to stay the same,” Leipold said. “That’s just an iconic restaurant and bar, and everybody loves it. The first thing people ask me is what are you going to do in the grill and I go nothing, and they go great.”

Leipold, well-known in sports circles as owner of the Wild and an investor in the Twins, could hardly be more familiar with the hotel. The Racine, Wisconsin resident has lived part of the last 16 years at the downtown landmark.

How many nights has he slept there? “Oh mercy, I would say on average 2 and a half times per week, so I’ll let you do the math when you have time.”

Leipold is majority owner of the new Minnesota Forge women’s pro volleyball team that begins play in Major League Volleyball in January. The Forge opens its inaugural season with a two-match road trip: January 7 at the Los Angeles Thunder and January 10, at the Vegas Thrill. The inaugural home opener will be January 16 against the Grand Rapids Rise at Grand Casino Arena, home of the Wild.

Leipold said projected home attendance in 2027 will be 6,000 to 8,000 per date. He added the franchise is expected to lose money initially with perhaps a break-even season by year five and be profitable after that.

The Gophers have the third most NHL draft choices in the seven-member hockey Big Ten. Minnesota’s 15 trails Michigan State’s 17 and Michigan’s 16. The nationally No. 1 ranked Badgers, who won a shootout and a 6-0 follow up game last week against the Gophers, have nine NHL draft choices. That’s tied for lowest in the Big Ten with Notre Dame.

The Gophers are the only team in the league averaging over 10,000 fans per game.

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Wild Staying in the Now with Quinn Hughes Situation

Posted on November 4, 2026 by David Shama

Defenseman Quinn Hughes has been a dynamo for the Wild in the early weeks of the 2026-2027 schedule. He’s been a workhorse eating up minutes and his total points of 22 is tied for seventh best in the NHL and second among defensemen.

His overall play has been huge in helping the Wild to a successful start with a Central Division leading 25 points. The Wild’s acquisition of the 27-year-old from the Canucks last December was a home run move by general manager Bill Guerin.

Sports Headliners asked owner Craig Leipold on Monday if he, Guerin or coach John Hynes is surprised by Hughes’ performance this fall. “No, I don’t think we are surprised. He’s a special player. We knew that when we acquired him from Vancouver. He’s better than we probably thought he would be.

“He’s a game changer and you know as a result we want to sign him for as long as we can. And your next question is, well, what progress are you making?

“You know, honestly who knows? It will be his decision, and you know we certainly hope he stays here as long as possible.”

Hughes can become a free agent in July of next year. The Wild has made its desire to retain the superstar abundantly clear and hockey authorities believe he could command a league high $20.8 million per season in his next contract.

Hughes told The Athletic in an October 1 article he is happy playing in Minnesota and “I love the team.” He didn’t express urgency, though, to get a deal done.

Asked whether he would prefer to keep an unsigned Hughes when the NHL trade deadline in February approaches, Leipold said: “We’re not at that place. It’s not that time yet.”

Keeping Hughes, even if he tells the Wild he won’t sign an extension, could lead to a Stanley Cup championship next spring. Hughes reportedly said late last month a contract extension could happen soon.

Wild owner Craig Leipold — Craig Leipold

Leipold said conversations are ongoing and that Hughes is “very positive about the market and about the team.” The owner also believes Hughes knows the franchise is committed to winning and spending the money that goes with that.

An NHL insider, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the speculation about Hughes wanting to join his brothers, Jack and Luke, with the Devils could mean he will move on after this year. He added, though, if the Wild can acquire Red Wings disgruntled center Dylan Larkin that might “cinch” a Hughes commitment to Minnesota.

Larkin is currently suspended and wants to be traded. The 30-year-old former Red Wings captain is friends with Hughes. The star forward might transform the Wild into Stanley Cup favorites and create a three-to-five-year window where Minnesota is the place NHL titles are decided.

Leipold said that if Hughes decides he won’t do an extension the owner has confidence in Guerin making the most out of the circumstances. Nobody, though, with the Wild, or its fans, wish to see that development,

Leipold remains friends with former Wild star defenseman Ryan Suter, age 41. “He’s in great shape,” Leipold said. “I think he could play right now.”

Suter’s son Brooks is an elite prospect. He turns 16 later this month and is on the U.S. under 17 national team and plays junior hockey in the USHL. Leipold refers to Brooks as a “superstar” and predicts eventually he will go higher in the NHL Draft than his father who was selected at No. 7 by the Predators in 2003.

Ryan and another player with Minnesota ties, former Golden Gopher Phil Kessel, are part of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Inductions will be November 30 in Washington D.C. and Leipold said the Wild will have representation there.

Gophers and Tommies Hoops Preview

A men’s college basketball insider familiar with Minnesota and St. Thomas said the officials will be a major factor in Friday night’s game between the two teams at The Barn. The bigger Gophers will have an advantage if the officials allow a physical style of play as seen in the Big Ten.

The two schools are playing for the first time since 1934 with a projected attendance of around 10,000. Fans have clamored for the matchup for years between the mid-major Tommies and power conference Gophers. It’s kind of a David versus Goliath match up with the Tommies only in their sixth season of Division I and membership in the Summit League.

The insider joked that the Tommies, who will receive an unannounced financial guarantee for the game, would have played the game for “three cases of Coke.” He refers to Friday night as “a favor game” by Gopher coach Niko Medved and said there is little or no benefit to the matchup for Minnesota.

The Tommies are solid underdogs but could make the game competitive. John Tauer is a terrific coach, and his teams play with discipline and savvy. If the three-point focused Tommies are shooting bullseyes, and the Gophers are lethargic, the outcome could be interesting.

Graduate student 6-foot-9 forward Carter Bjerke, from Wayzata High School, is among the St. Thomas three-point producers. He is the program’s all-time leader in making threes and connected on a school record tying 10 last season against Kansas City.

The Tommies are predicted to finish second in their eight-team conference, per the Summit League official poll. The Gophers are projected to finish 10^th or lower in the 18-team Big Ten.

The Tommies are 1-0 in the regular season with a 87-78 road win over Presbyterian. Minnesota is 1-0 after defeating North Dakota at home, 85-50.

“It’s a big game for St. Thomas,” the source said.

Worth Noting

Timely meeting: Alex Rodriguez, Timberwolves and Lynx owner, and baseball legend, speaks to the Capital Club Thursday, November 12. The Wolves season has started, the Lynx’s recently concluded, and Rodriguez covered the World Series for Fox Sports. The breakfast program will be held at Mendakota Country Club. For more information on the breakfast and program, contact Patrick Klinger, patrick@agilemarketing.com

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Ludicrous to Call for Kevin O’Connell’s Job

Posted on November 2, 2026November 2, 2026 by David Shama

After Sunday’s first Vikings loss of the season there were fans calling for the head coach to be replaced. That irrational reaction is the result of a problem at quarterback and the frustration of watching the struggling offense through seven games.

The Wilf ownership isn’t going to part ways with Kevin O’Connell in the middle of a season where the team’s 6-1 record is at the top of the NFL along with the Bills and 49ers. That’s unthinkable to change leadership under such circumstances unless there was a headline making personal issue. Good citizen, personable and well-liked KOC isn’t going to have any off-field embarrassments.

O’Connell, in his fifth season as head coach, has two seasons when his teams won 13 and 14 games respectively. His overall record is 49-26 in regular season games. By all accounts he’s liked by ownership.

It’s a whimsical thought that defensive whiz Brian Flores should replace O’Connell this fall. Flores’ work over three-plus seasons with the Vikings as defensive coordinator is elite. Give O’Connell credit for hiring him and providing the authority to be successful.

A future where Flores has a head NFL job may not be far off, but he’ll have to prove he’s more capable than during his stretch from 2019-2021 as field boss of the Dolphins who produced a 24-25 regular season record. Brilliant coordinators don’t always succeed as head coaches.

A poor record and situation where the Vikings can’t find success with a quarterback will eventually threaten O’Connell’s job security. The 2026 record is the envy of most teams so far, but the Vikings are facing a competitive stretch of games that is a level up from earlier in the season. That started yesterday in their 19-15 loss to the 5-2 Lions and continues next Monday night at home against the Bills.

It looks like Minnesota will have to compete for a division title and postseason entry with subpar quarterback play. There’s repetition with Kyler Murray’s passing, forcing balls and fluttering them. His short stature (listed at a seemingly generous 5-foot-10) is an impediment to sometimes seeing his receivers. A gifted runner, he seems reluctant to be a more frequent ball carrier and add that element as a threat to defenses.

Fans are calling for 33-year-old Carson Wentz to replace Murray, 29. Wentz might be an upgrade but there’s a reason the 6-foot-5 and 237-pound North Dakota native is now with his sixth NFL team and is a backup in Minnesota where the Vikings have been trying to find an answer at quarterback since 2025 when Sam Darnold left to join the Seahawks. Wentz’s career has included top performances followed by duds, with inconsistent passing and some tendency for fumbling.

Turning up the heat on criticism is the September trade that sent quarterback J.J. McCarthy to the Giants in return for a 2027 fifth round future draft choice. The sample size is small after appearing in just three games and starting one, but he has earned the trust of the coaching staff in New York and become the starter. The Giants had a bye week last weekend but on October 25 McCarthy completed 20 of 25 passes, with no picks, and led the Giants to a 27-21 win in overtime against the Texans.

McCarthy, just 23, was the Vikings No. 1 draft choice in 2024. He started 10 games in 2025 and was in a competition last off-season with Murray to be the team’s starter.

It seemed premature to part with McCarthy so soon, despite his injuries and inconsistency. Count former Vikings linebacker Pete Najarian among those believers.

Najarian, also a former Gopher, watched McCarthy in practice last summer and was impressed. He told Sports Headliners McCarthy throws the “long ball better than anybody.”

J.J. McCarthy, Vikings QB, image by David Shama — J.J. McCarthy

By that he meant anyone on the Vikings and that McCarthy ranks with the best in the NFL for arm strength and accuracy on the deep ball. Najarian also questions the wisdom of moving on from a prospect with a relatively inexpensive rookie contract and only receiving a fifth-round future draft choice from the Giants. (A contingency clause that had the Vikings receiving more if McCarthy achieved certain benchmarks makes sense.)

How ironic if the Giants, with McCarthy leading the offense, meet up in a playoff game against the Vikings in January?

Worth Noting

The Vikings had the possibility of not only retaining Darnold but before that Kirk Cousins. The strategy instead was to spend major payroll money not on them but to upgrade at other positions.

Darnold, 29, led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl win last February. And at 38, Cousins continues to excel.

Yesterday Cousins threw three touchdown passes and ran for another for the 4-4 Raiders who are in playoff contention. He is only the second NFL quarterback 38-or-older to have three touchdown passes, a rushing touchdown and a passer rating of 140-or-higher in a single game. The other QB is Drew Brees with the Saints in 2018.

Titans’ safety Amani Hooker, the Park Center and Iowa alum, had a career-high three interceptions yesterday.

Speaking of fans, Indiana patrons had the unmitigated gall to boo their Hoosiers during Saturday’s game with the Golden Gophers in Bloomington. With a history of dismal football, the Hoosiers miraculously turned around in 2024, won the national championship after the 2025 regular season and were ranked No. 4 in the nation when hosting Minnesota. Coach Curt Cignetti’s work in Bloomington is unprecedented in college football, yet ungrateful and spoiled fans had the audacity to boo their team in a game ultimately won by Indiana in overtime, 23-16.

Minnesota, 5-3, is somewhat a mirror image of the Vikings, with a struggling offense, often superb defense and lights out field goal kicker. The Gophers have three touchdowns in their last three games. Senior Luke Drzewiecki produced 24 of Minnesota’s 49 points in those games on field goals and extra points.

Drzewiecki, who is 15 of 15 on field goals including a 60-yarder that almost won the Indiana game, is the best at what he does in Gopher history based on his accuracy and range. Special teams coach Daniel Da Prado, so influential in bringing Drzewiecki to Dinkytown, might be the best assistant head coach hire by P.J. Fleck in his 10 seasons at Minnesota. His retention should be a top priority.

The Gopher defense, despite blowout losses to Mississippi State and Purdue, ranks No. 22 nationally in yards given up per game at 305. In trophy game wins over Michigan and Iowa Minnesota gave up a total of 24 points and held Indiana to 16 in regulation.

Saint John’s senior quarterback Trey Feeney, who has completed a MIAC single game record 51 passes for the unbeaten and No. 3 ranked Johnnies, is the son of Moorhead coach Kevin Feeney and older brother of Spuds quarterback and Gopher commit Jett Feeney.

Word is the Timberwolves and city of Minneapolis are still identifying a site for a new arena to replace Target Center. It’s believed that gubernatorial candidates Amy Klobuchar and Lisa Demuth would be at least somewhat supportive of discussing state financing for major arenas and stadiums. Private financing seems likely to pay for much of the new arena cost.

Today is the final day for MLB teams to extend one-year qualifying offers to eligible free agents. No word on the Twins and catcher Ryan Jeffers yet. The club has already declined to make a $10 million offer to Josh Bell.

William Tucker, son of former Gophers and NBA basketball player Trent Tucker, is a junior defenseman on the Eden Prairie High School hockey team and committed to play at Yale.

It is a busy week at the University of Minnesota with matchups that include men’s hockey No. 1 ranked Wisconsin in town for games Thursday and Saturday nights. The volleyball team hosts Penn State Friday night, and undefeated UCLA has a morning kickoff against the football Gophers on Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium. After the men’s basketball team plays at home tonight against North Dakota, the Gophers host St. Thomas Friday evening.

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