From The Barn » Historic Teams

Are you kidding me? Gophers win!

JF — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:16:01 +0000

Let me try this, but don’t expect much in the way of complete sentences or proper punctuation. We are officially in uncharted territory and I am as close to being at a loss for words as possible. It is a very good thing this is in writing, the facial cramp resulting from a giant smile the last several minutes has rendered me speechless. All I know is that the Gophers somehow, someway, with their backs against the wall and the season on the line knocked off Michigan State, who has dominated the Gophers in recent years, in over time of all things, with the season on the line.

Heartbreak after heartbreak, blown lead after blown lead, this has been the most frustrating, heart wrenching painfully predictable season that has summed up every Minnesota sports cliche/curse, until now.

The Hoffarber shot a few years ago was great, but it didn’t matter. It moved the Gophers from a 8 seed in the NIT up to a 4 seed. This win might have nudged the Gophers on the right side of the bubble. More importantly, it was the first win of the Tubby Smith era against Michigan State, the Big Ten standard bearer, and national runner-up a year ago.

It is almost impossible to count how many times the Gophers gave the game away, only to take it right back. Devoe Joseph nearly gave the game away in regulation with his refusal to pass, only to keep on not passing and knocking down a long clutch three pointer in overtime. Lawrence Westbrook was equal parts clutch and abhorrently reckless, only to put the game away with clutch free throws. Blake Hoffarber hit the threes, grabbed important rebounds, but it was his balance and strong pivot foot, found nowhere near a box score, that allowed him to get the ball to Paul Carter and Paul Carter to the line. And at the top of the list, a big kid from a small town. Colton Iverson played the best game of his career so far, and maybe ever (and I am expecting big things next year from him).

From dead in the water to floating on a bubble. This season hasn’t gone the way anyone expected. So why not continue to expect the unexpected. The Gophers might be dancing.

Gophers win at Illinois for the first time since 1996!

JF — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 23:19:52 +0000

More later, but now, belt it out with me!

Back by popular demand: “On Giving Thanks”

JF — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:48:00 +0000

I originally wrote this last Thanksgiving. My fiance thought I should resurrect it for today. She is in charge of the sweet potatoes today, which includes, of course, marshmallow distribution. Needless to say, this is a small sacrifice to make, infinitely smaller than giving up marshmallows on the sweet potatoes.

Luckily, everything that I wrote about a year ago seems to have staying power. I’m still thankful for the older Gopher fans at The Barn that have paid their dues, sat through some frankly terrible teams, and didn’t and won’t give up on the team. Kevin Payton has moved on, but he was more of a symbol of everything that is great about college sports. If I was redoing the list now Damian Johnson would take his place. The senior captain has already graduated, and never seems to stop smiling.

Obviously Tubby Smith should also be added to the list. He has done nothing but show infinite class and integrity leading the team, both on and off the court, and has shown that he more interested in producing world class citizens than a world-class basketball team, and yet he still wins.

This list is just a small sample. There’s plenty more to be thankful for.

As the nation pauses for a day to remember all that we have, we as Minnesotans, students, alumni, and Gopher fans also have plenty to be thankful for. However, instead of pointing out the obvious (except one exception), I’d like to draw your attention to unsung, rarely noticed people, places, and things that make attending Gopher basketball games a true delight.

1. “Hail Minnesota” is both Minnesota’s song and the school song of the University of Minnesota. Its epic drumroll and superfluous fanfares set the mood on game day perfectly. Unfortunately, when it is played about 45 minutes before tip off there are rarely more than 100 or so people in the arena, but the 11,000-14,000 others that attend games are missing out. It is really a shame the pep-band doesn’t play it when more people are around. If have the chance, get to the game early, and listen in on this great tradition.

2. The older gentleman with the striped shirt who sits about 15 rows behind the visitor’s bench. is a treat. I don’t know his name, how old he is, where he comes from, or what he does, but to see him wave his cane at the end of the rouser, or in anger when a referee makes a particularly bad call, should show the rest of the crowd that its ok to get into the game, even if you aren’t sitting in the cheap seats.

3. The ushers in the student section have a particularly ungrateful task. Not only do they need to put up with occasionally drunk and unruly college students, but they have to do so when they would rather be watching the game mere feet from the court. Instead, of being grumpy, they take up their task with a smile, always have a kind word or smile, and on more than one occasion have demonstrated infinite patience. Next time you are a game and you see the guy who looks like Alan Alda or the two ushers that look a little too much like Statler and Waldorf, say hi and thank them, they deserve it.

4. The student section gets a lot grief, some it deserved. They aren’t as roudy as Duke, but the aren’t as vulgar as the Badgers either. For every intoxicated student chanting something that is inappropriate (or very appropriate depending on the situation) there are plenty of very passionate and knowledgeable students that have been watching Gopher basketball for years. They are proud of the tradition and want to bring it back. The Barn Yard isn’t the best in the country, but the foundation is there, and they will be back.

5. The fans in the obstructed seats know they are playing the lottery when they buy a ticket. Some of the obstructed seats require fans to turn their heads slightly to the left or right, while others require them to have a great imagination, because the large post a foot in front of them is anything but transparent. But they come anyway, and are some of the loudest and most enthusiastic people in the building.

6. Dick Jonckowski has been been the public address announcer at Williams Arena since I started attending games when I was five years old, and probably long before that. He doesn’t always get the players name’s right, has never pronounced a name of African or Eastern European origin the same way twice. He also doesn’t try to be bigger of the game, or draw unnecessary attention to himself. He is an institution much like Williams Arena, traditional, unique, endearing, and irreplaceable.

7. Kevin Payton‘s basketball career hasn’t gone has hoped. He isn’t the versatile and tall point guard that was supposed to drive teams crazy on both end of the court. Instead he has had to be content with the equivalent of Thanksgiving left overs, playing most often at meaningless times and meaningless game. However, instead of sulking, complaining, and doing more harm than good, he has found a role on the team even more valuable the role he could have on the court. He has become a leader, leading the team on to the court at the beginning of each half, leaping off the bench celebrate and encourage his teammates, and spending more time standing on the bench and leading cheer than the cheer leaders. He is the kind of player that makes college athletics special.

8: If you leave Williams Arena from the University Avenue gate, the odds are you’ll be treated to a tuba mini-parade. As the tuba players head back to wherever they keep their tubas, you’ll hear them play the sweet sounds of “Hey Baby”. Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night nor bitterly cold temperatures that are enough to freeze lips to brass instruments keep them from playing outside after games, and the long walk back to Coffman wouldn’t be the same without them.

9. The Gophers are the only Division I team in the state. Some people think it is absolutely ridiculous that states like Montana, Idaho, and North Dakota have more than one Division I team in the state, and I agree, those states have too many. Minnesota is lucky though. There is something special that such a ethnically and geographically diverse state can all be cheering for the same team. On a January night, a Somali kid from Cedar-Riverside can have a whole lot in common with a Czech iron miner in Hibbing, a German beet farmer outside Moorehead, an Indian doctor in Rochester, a Hmong farmer outside of Marshall, and a fortune 500 CEO in downtown Minneapolis, if only for a few hours.

10. Williams Arena, The Barn, is unique in so many ways, and all too often under appreciated. Yes its old, and the pain is chipping and there is more than one rusty girder, but the elevated floor sets stage for drama, suspense, passion, and so much more. Its one of a kind, and its in our own back yard, and for that I am thankful.

Half-Time schedule announced

JF — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:39:10 +0000

I’m not sure why this showed up in our in-box this morning, but if the half-time show was going to determine which games you bought tickets for, you can make that decision now.

The best: The 20 year anniversary of the 1989-90 Elite 8 team will bring back lots of memories and make a lot of people feel old. It should also create a lot of “Where is Clem?” chatter.

The worst: Where is fly-ball? Do the powers that be not understand the undeniable entertainment of a fast moving puppy spinning out on a very slippery surface? Hopefully this glaring omission will be corrected by the end of the season.

2009-10 Halftime Shows

Old Dutch Little Chippers

Monday, November 16 vs. Stephen F. Austin

Tuesday, December 8 vs. Morgan State

Saturday, December 12 vs. St. Joseph’s University

Tuesday, December 15 vs. Northern Illinois

Premier Dance Team

Thursday, November 19 vs. Utah Valley University

U Can Danz

Saturday, December 5 vs. Brown

University of Minnesota Spirit Squad

Wednesday, December 23 vs. South Dakota State

1989-90 Elite 8 Team – 20th Anniversary Celebration

Tuesday, December 29 vs. Penn State

Gopher Dance Team

Saturday, January 9 vs. Ohio State

Alumni Day

Saturday, January 23 vs. Michigan State

Alexandria Aces

Thursday, February 11 vs. Michigan

Quick Change

Wednesday, February 24 vs. Purdue

Fargo-Moorhead Acro Team

Thursday, February 18 or Sunday, March 7

Mascot Game

Thursday, February 18 or Sunday, March 7

Kevin Payton playing profesionally in Austria

JF — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:18:11 +0000

Yes, clubs as in playing cards

Kevin Payton has signed a contract to play with Basketclubs Vienna in the Austrian Bundesliga, at least that’s what I was able to decipher from the amazingly not quite English google translation.

The most spectacular undertaking the Viennese certainly succeeded with that of coach Aaron Mitchell. In addition, the homecoming of the Minnesota University Kevin Payton to become a driving force. From Kapfenberger siding to a service provider will be indoor games Corey Hallett. Because of the large center Jure Lozancic 2.10 meters a second giant was taken, the Vienna game to be more controlled and not too quickly created.

On the website Payton is also mentioned as, and I am quoting here, “the second new hope”. God bless modern translating technology and/or excessively hopeful European basketball franchises, I guess.

It looks like Payton has only played in two games so far. In his best outing he scored 10 points in 33 minutes of action for his team which was picked to finish 11th in the league with 500-1 odds to win the championship.

I can write with a certain level of confidence that no Division 1 recruit plans on playing professionally in what is essentially the worst team in one of the worst leagues in Europe, but compared to what most people do right out of college, its a good gig, and sure beats working.

Click here to see video of Payton in Austria.

Williams Arena’s floor is for sale

JF — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:09:18 +0000

Not a bad thing to hang on the wall, but for historical purposes, I would strongly encourage you to mount it in a coffee table, just to be authentic. Unfortunately, the fine folks at the athletic department haven’t yet learned how to sell things on-line, so you’ll have to deal with an actual person. As anyone who has ever dealt with the ticket office knows, that is not a good thing. Best of luck!

Shane Schilling, still not living up to expectations

JF — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:29:11 +0000

This time the expectations involve not getting high on meth and causing a police stand-off. Unfortunately, this is not his first run-in with the law.

Shane Schilling, a former Gophers basketball player and the 1999 Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year at Minnetonka, is in the Carver County Jail, facing felony charges of making terroristic threats and drug possession.

Schilling, 28, was arrested Monday night after Chaska police responded to a call about a disturbance at an apartment on Clover Ridge Drive. The person who called 911 reported hearing a loud argument, glass breaking and someone mentioning “injections,” according to the criminal complaint.

When officers arrived, the complaint says, an “upset and agitated” man they later identified as Schilling demanded in profanity-laced language that the “pigs” leave.

Royce White grew up, now can he live up to expectations?

Ray Christensen, back for one night only

JF — Fri, 15 May 2009 14:30:37 +0000

The voice of the Gophers hasn’t quite hung up the headset for good.

Ray Christensen, the legendary 50-year radio voice of Gopher football, has agreed to be part of the play-by-play broadcast for the University of Minnesota’s inaugural game at TCF Bank Stadium on September 12, 2009, as announced today by Athletics Director Joel Maturi, in collaboration with Learfield Sports, University of Minnesota’s exclusive athletics partner and multimedia rights holder.

Christensen, a member of the Minnesota Broadcast Hall of Fame, will call the first Gopher offensive series of the second half of the game against the visiting Air Force Academy.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of this historic evening,” said Christensen. “It will be a treat to slip in alongside Darrell Thompson and Dave Mona, with whom I had the privilege to work with in my final three years of play-by-play. I’m sure that one series will bring back scores of memories from my years calling the action for the Gophers and I’ll be happy to turn the microphone back over to Dave Lee.”

“It’s flattering to be remembered this way, and I appreciate the opportunity to be included in the inaugural broadcast from TCF Bank Stadium. Like others, I can’t wait to see the Gophers back on campus again in their beautiful new venue,” he added.

“We couldn’t be more pleased that Ray reacted so positively to our invitation to be part of our first radio broadcast from TCF Bank Stadium,” said Greg Gerlach, general manager of Gopher Sports Properties, the locally based property of Learfield Sports which manages the U of M radio rights and oversees the Gopher Radio Network. “Ray is so closely identified with the sound of Gopher football. Having broadcast the last game in Memorial Stadium and the first game in the Metrodome, it only made sense to see if he might be willing to take part in this broadcast milestone as well.”

Christensen began his broadcast career at KUOM on the University of Minnesota campus. He was program director and sports director at WLOL Radio and joined WCCO Radio in 1963, when his duties included news, interviewing, fine music and sportscasting.

He retired from full-time broadcasting in 1993, but continued doing Gopher football and basketball until 2001. He called approximately 510 Gopher football games and 1,309 basketball games. Thompson and Mona joined Christensen in the broadcast booth in 1998, and Lee took over play-by-play duties in 2001. The three of them will return for their ninth season of Gopher football together in 2009.

“As expected, our stadium opener will be sold out, and we anticipate a huge statewide and upper Midwest radio audience to tune in that evening,” said Maturi. “This is a memorable day in the history of Minnesota Athletics, and it will be great to once again hear Ray’s voice call the game as we usher in this new tradition of playing Gopher Football at TCF Bank Stadium. We’re grateful to the Gopher Sports Properties team for piecing this together for the enjoyment of our fans and alumni everywhere.”

In addition to Minnesota, Learfield Sports manages the multimedia rights for more than 50 collegiate institutions and associations including the Big Ten, and five other Big Ten member institutions (Indiana, Iowa, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin). In addition, it is the title partner for the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup, oversees marketing partnerships for the Black Coaches & Administrators (BCA) and provides exclusive sports programming to more than 1,000 radio stations nationwide.

Learfield Sports is an operating unit of Jefferson City, Mo.-based Learfield Communications, Inc., which made its initial foray into the world of sports marketing in 1975 as the radio rights holder for the University of Missouri, a client still today. Additionally, Team Services, LLC, a Learfield Sports company, specializes in venue naming rights, marketing research and sales consultation. To learn more about the company and its complete collegiate portfolio, visit www.learfieldsports.com.

If only he could do the first few minutes of a Gopher basketball game. I wouldn’t be ashamed to wear some headphones in The Barn if that ever happened.

As an eight year old sitting by the radio, I never knew how good we had it, listening to a legend twice each during those cold winter months. Now another generation will get to hear him, if only for a few minutes.

Missing Miles Tarver

JF — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:18:37 +0000

It is amazing what bored youtube browsing brings, like basketbrawls from the mid-90′s featuring everyone’s all-time favorite and the Philippines National team…really.

2001 Gophers featured on the Big Ten Network’s “Greatest Games”

JF — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:05:00 +0000

Looking for a little inspiration the night before the Big Ten season opener? Check out Minnesota’s 2001 victory over Indiana at The Barn, airing on the Big Ten network tomorrow at 5 pm central time.

1/20/2001 – Minnesota 78, Indiana 74 (OT)
Minnesota trailed 68-55 with 3:18 to play in regulation before going on a 14-1 run to tie the game and force overtime. Dusty Rychart scored 21 points, including two free throws with three seconds remaining in the extra period, to lead Minnesota past Indiana, 78-74. Kirk Haston had 17 points and 11 rebounds for Indiana.

It was a rough year for the Gophers, and this was probably the premier victory of that season, and who doesn’t love Dusty Rychart?