Not Forgotten - Korey Stringer

Korey Stringer 1974-2001

When it comes to weather, those of us who live in Minnesota are extremely familiar with a couple of "extended stats" numbers other than temperature and wind speed to determine how it feels outside. In the winter it's wind chill which measures the effect of wind on air temperature. Simply put, the windier it is, the colder it feels. In the summer heat index combines heat and humidity. The more the humidity we have, the warmer it feels.

The weather in Mankato today is what you would expect for this time of year.  It's the morning of August 1st and the temperature is heading toward 90 degrees and while the humidity stands at 87%, it's continuing to rise.  The air feels heavy and if you're outside for an extended period of time, without any exertion, you will sweat through your shirt.

It was like this ten years ago and the Vikings were in camp on campus.  Hot and humid with the heat index well into triple digits.

That night, my wife Lori was watching the six o'clock news and said "Hey, Perry (Dyke) just said that they took Korey Stringer to the hospital today."

Stringer was a 27-year old offensive tackle coming off of an All-Pro season. Checking in at 6-4 and 335 pounds, the former Ohio State Buckeye had suffered heat stroke after a full-pads, full-contact practice on a day when the heat index in Mankato was nearly 110 degrees.

I responded to Lori with a casual "No need to worry. Those big guys always struggle with the heat this time of year and one or two of them always end up in the hospital during camp.  They'll pump him full of fluids, cool him down and he'll be back on the field in a day or so." 

It seems so flippant now.

At about 4:00 a.m. the phone rang in our house.  I used to occasionally get calls at that time in the morning from my college buddies.  No so much anymore and in the rare times those calls come now, it's usually not good.  This was one of those times. It was Tom West from the Vikings media relations department. I can't remember his exact words, but he was calling to say that Korey Stringer had passed away and that the Vikings would need some assistance with the media attention the organization was expecting with the developing story.

And, obviously, it was a big story.  Stringer was one of the top young offensive linemen in the National Football League on a team that included high-profile players such as Duante Culpepper, Randy Moss and Cris Carter.  Later that day, the national media descended on Mankato and MSU and at a press conference held in the Centennial Ballroom (the largest room we had available to accommodate the large contingent of journalists), Denny Green, Carter and Moss all gave testimonials to Stringer. It was sad and gut-wrenching and I'll never forget Moss struggling through a tear-filled ten minutes at the podium in trying to convey his sentiments for his fallen teammate.

Things have changed since that day. 

Green and Culpepper are both out of the NFL, reunited with the United Football League's Sacramento Mountain Lions last fall.  Carter is an analyst for ESPN and Moss is a free agent, looking for a team to play for after spending the 2010 season with three different teams, including a short-lived four-game stint with Minnesota. 

Stringer's death brought about major changes to how NFL teams run training camp and, in particular, heat stroke prevention.

"The awareness has became greater, certainly (relative to heat stroke prevention and recognition)." said Jeff Chambers, MSU's director of sports medicine. "It changed our approach. We've became more acutely aware of signs of heat stroke. We were doing a lot before, but now there's much more stress on rehydration, monitoring weight loss, practice duration and timing, etc."
  

It's ten years today and, hopefully Korey Stringer's passing wasn't in vain with lessons learned and no Viking falling on the Blakeslee Stadium practice fields. 

Post post Note:  About an hour after I posted this, Randy Moss announced that he was retiring.  I also thought I might add these links -  Vikings honor 10th anniversary of Stringer's death & Vikings Remember Stringer.

Where or where.

MSU's Blakeslee Stadium & Highland Complex in 1962

Named for former athletic director and coach C. P. Blakeslee, who spent forty years at MSU (1921-1961), Minnesota State's iconic football field - Blakeslee Stadium - opened in 1962 and undoubtedly harkens back to a different era.

In response to its burgeoning enrollment during the late 1950s-early 1960s, the school was making the transition from its lower campus (Valley Campus) location to upper campus (initially known as Highland Campus).  In addition to the football stadium and spreading over 240 acres, new construction also included Crawford and McElroy dormitories, Wilson Campus School and the physical education complex, which included Highland Arena (renamed later in honor of Bob Otto), the Highland Pool complex and the Field House (later renamed in honor of Bud Myers). The student union and other buildings had yet to be constructed.

It took until the 1970's, but eventually the entire campus shifted to the area atop the hill. Many of the buildings that used to make up the school's campus have been repurposed with Old Main now serving as an independent and assisted living option for choosy seniors and the Searing, Buck and Cooper dormitories now known as Cherry Ridge and Colonial Square apartments.

In the last ten years on the newer campus, change has also been afoot with Otto Arena retrofitted and now serving as the center piece to MSU's excellent campus recreation offerings. Myers Field House was torn down and totally rebuilt. Beautiful Taylor Center came online in 2000, but Blakeslee Stadium remains mainly untouched from its original state.

An earthen berm was added on the south end a few years ago, but the stadium still seats around 6,500 and the cramped press box still crowns the stands on the west side of the field.  The sight lines are unmatched. Unlike many football facilities from this era, Blakeslee was built with out a track so fans get an unusually close up view of the action and the original concessions, bathrooms and ticketing areas give the facility an old-timey feel.  The fields that MSU legends Bernie Maczuga, Jim Leitzke and Bob Bruer patrolled sported real grass, as does the Blakeslee turf of 2011.

So when you take a look at this list trumpeting the Top Six College Football Stadiums in NCAA Division II, remember this.  There's something to be said for character and charm.

Trending

All the evolution we know of proceeds from the vague to the definite.  Charles Sanders Peirce


Thought we might make it easy on you.  Lots of links listed below regarding the recent announcement by five current members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association - University of North Dakota, Nebraska Omaha, Minnesota Duluth, Denver, Colorado College, along with Miami University of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, that they would be forming a new men's college hockey league with a scheduled start-up set for 2013-14.

• National Collegiate Hockey Conference Announced - Brad Schlossman, GF Herald
• WCHA Statement Regarding Announcement of new league - wcha.com
• CCHA Intends to Be Viable - Paula Weston, uscho.com
• We Are Exciting to Secondary Six - Chris Dilks, Western College Hockey Blog
• National Sentiment - Shane Frederick, Mankato Free Press
• A few new league details emerge - Joe Paisley, CS Gazette
• New League - Kevin Pates, Duluth News Tribune
• Big Ten Schedule Link to New League Unlikely - Andy Baggott, Madison.com
• New League Officially Born - College Hockey Inc.
• NCHC Launched after intense build-up - Jack Connelly, uscho.com
• NCHC Unveiled - nhl.com
• Realignment could alter rivalries - Kevin Gorg, Fox Sports North  
• News:  A tough day for the WCHA - St. Cloud Times 
• New League Forms, WCHA Looking to Expand - Bemidji Pioneer

Carrying On

Thought we might take a look at this year's National Hockey League Draft, given the fact that it's taking place in St. Paul at Xcel Energy Center.  A place our Mavericks are familiar with having played a trio of WCHA Final Five games there (1999-00 vs. Minnesota and 2002-03 vs. Minnesota and Minnesota-Duluth), along with a regular-season game vs. Minnesota in 2004-05 and again vs. the Golden Gophers in Nov. of 2008 in the WCHA Minnesota College Hockey Showcase.

While no current Mavericks are expected to be selected this year, a total of 12 former and/or current members of the purple and gold have been chosen, beginning with defenseman Tom Anderson when he was picked in the seventh round, 111th overall by the California Golden Seals back in 1974.

A few notables regarding MSU's draft history.  Of the 12 selections, four have played in the NHL (Tim Jackman, David Backes, Travis Morin and Jon Kalinski). Forward Tyler Pitlick owns the distinction as the highest MSU draftee at #31 and in Justin Jokinen, one is a current Maverick. Ten of the draftees were native Minnesotans and two were Canadians (Chad Brownlee and John Kalinski).

SIDEBAR - Brownlee's recently-completed video for his new single Carried Away is available here.

Here's a look at MSU's draft history over the years.

Name Yrs @ MSU Drafted By Year Round # Tom Anderson* 1975-77 California 1974 7th 111 Eric Burrill* 1990-92 NY Rangers 1987 9th 178 Dan Brettschneider* 1989-92 Washington 1987 12th 240 Tim Jackman 2000-02 Columbus 2001 2nd 38 Jake Brenk* 2000-05 Edmonton 2001 5th 154 David Backes* 2003-06 St. Louis 2003 2nd 62 Chad Brownlee* 2003-07 Vancouver 2003 6th 190 Travis Morin 2003-07 Washington 2004 9th 263 Jon Kalinski 2005-08 Philadelphia 2007 6th 152 Andrew Sackrison* 2007-11 St. Louis 2006 5th 124 Justin Jokinen* 2008-SA Buffalo 2008 4th 101 Tyler Pitlick 2009-10 Edmonton 2010 2nd 31 *selected while a member of high school or junior team

Lots of 2011 NHL Draft coverage available here.

Enjoy the weekend. It's great to be a Maverick!

Super Bowl Hardware

As mentioned in the previous post, former Maverick offensive lineman Adrian Battles received his Super Bowl ring today.  This is what it looks like.

Didja Know?

A few things about Minnesota State Athletics you might not have been aware of.

Elisha McSweeny

The National Basketball Association draft is slated for June 23rd.  And although no Minnesota State players will be selected this year, MSU has had one player chosen in the annual event, which has been held every year since 1947.  Center/foward Elisha McSweeney was picked in the tenth round (171st overall) by Cleveland in 1976. 

The Green Bay Packers are doling out Super Bowl championship rings tonight (Thursday, June 16) at a ring ceremony. Former Minnesota State offensive lineman Adrian Battles, who played for the Mavericks from 2005-09 and was a member of the Packers' practice squad during their 2011 championship run, will be a recipient of a ring.

The 1979-80 Maverick men's hockey team that captured the NCAA Division II national championship scored 293 goals in 40 games.  Turns out that's an all-division record with MSU's 293 besting the 292 goals scored by the University of Maine in 1992-93.  Plattsburgh State, with 290 goals in 1985-86, owns the Division III mark.

It's great to be a Maverick!

Maverick Minor League Update

Minnesota State has a pair of former righthanded pitchers and an outfielder on minor league professional rosters this summer.

Bret Mitchell, selected by the New York Mets in the 12th round of the 2010 Major League Draft, is on the roster of the Kingsport Mets of the Appalacian League (Rookie).  Kingsports starts its season June 21st.

Chris Odegaard, selected by the Diamondbacks in the 23rd round of the 2009 MLB draft, started the spring with Visalia of the California League (Advanced A), but was recently reassigned to South Bend of the Midwest League (A). Odegaard currently sports a 0-0 record and has a 0.00 earned run average and has eight Ks in 7.2 innings in six appearances with the Silver Hawks.

Mark Dolenc, who is in his sixth season of professional baseball after the Twins took him in the 15th round of the 2006 draft, is playing the outfield for New Britain of the Eastern League (AA).  Dolenc is currently hitting .275 in 40 games with the Rock Cats.

This year's MLB Draft is slated for June 6-7-8.

It's great to be a Maverick!

Vaulting To the Top

Athletic Director Kevin Buiman (left) women's track coach
Jen Blue and assistant coach Matt Kolb pose with Lauren Stelten
following her indoor title this past winter.

Some schools are synonymous with producing a certain athlete.  The University of Miami is known as “Running Back U” while Penn State has been called “Linebacker U”. 

In the track world, one can think of Adams State or Western State as the “Birthplace of Distance Runners” at the NCAA Division II level and believe it or not, MSU has quietly become “Pole Vaulters U”.

The Mavericks will look to continue their reign in pole vaulting dominance next weekend as senior pole vaulter Lauren Stelten heads to Turlock, Calif., to participate in the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships hosted by Cal State Stanislaus.

A victory for Stelten would mark the school’s eighth national title in the pole vault – indoor or outdoor – since 2004. A victory would also break a tie between Minnesota State and Abilene Christian for the most titles in the pole vault since the event was added to the NCAA DII circuit in 1999. 

The meet for Stelten is also the opportunity to capture an outdoor title that has been just within her reach the last couple of years. 

Stelten – who won this year’s indoor crown – is looking for a  clean sweep as she looks to become the first Maverick to sweep the vault since Katelin Rains did so in 2009.

“I have been a little bit injured this outdoor season,” said Stelten, a native of Colgone, Minn.  “I haven’t been able to get as high as I have wanted to.  I can’t worry about that next weekend though, I just need to go out and do my best. If I win, great.”

But MSU’s dominance in the pole vault doesn’t begin with Stelten, she is simply just a chapter in  a story.

In fact, the first pole vault champion at Minnesota State wasn’t a female, but a member of the men’s track and field team in Charles Zheng who went 16’ 8 ¾” at the national championships.  Zheng’s assistant pole vault coach was a former Maverick, Matt Kolb, who was just cutting his teeth as a track coach.

Fast-forward the clock to 2004.  MSU junior Amanda Frame becomes MSU’s first female to win a national championship as she cleared 13’ 0 ¾” setting a meet and school record en route to the victory and much like Zheng, 12 years earlier, Frame was coached by Kolb. 

Frame laid the framework for the future at MSU as she would repeat as the indoor champion in 2005 with a height of 13’ 1 ½”.

Abilene Christian’s Angie Aguilar would win the title in 2006 only to be dethroned by Rains, then a sophomore who would win titles in 2007 (14’”), 2008 (14’ 1 ¼”) and 2009 (13’9 ¼”).  Rains is the only vaulter in the history of the Division II meet to surpass the 14-foot mark.

Truman State’s Katrina Biermann would claim the title last year only to hand the crown back over to a Maverick – this time Stelten – this past winter when she climbed 13’ 6 ½” en route to the title. 

The success isn’t limited to the indoor ranks however as Rains also won the outdoor title – MSU’s only outdoor title in 2009 with a vault of 13’7” – a height which still sits as the best at the national meet. 

Think about that information for a moment.  Six indoor titles in the last eight years.  Since the NCAA has added the pole vault to the women’s championships in 2009 MSU has six indoor national champions.  Fellow perennial power, Abilene Christian has three.

“Abilene Christian and Grand Valley State are always up there,” said MSU head coach Jen Blue in regards to the competition at the national level. “They may have more qualifiers but we have more national titles on the indoor level.”

When talking to both Blue and Stelten they say that the success starts at the same point – Kolb, a former MSU vaulter who was a seven-time North Central Conference champion and a three-time All-American for the Mavericks.

“Matt Kolb is by far the reason we have had success,” said Blue, who is in her 11^th year coaching the Mavericks.  “Recruiting and getting talented kids is important but you have to get the kids that fit in with your program.  Matt fine-tunes their skills and can challenge them to push themselves to the next level.”

Stelten echoes Blue’s sentiments.  “What some people don’t know or realize is that he (Kolb) is also the head coach at Mankato West,” said Stelten. “He is such a good coach and he juggles a lot for us.  He does a great job at making sure we are prepared and ready to go.”

Being able to coach themselves has proven key for the Mavericks as Kolb can’t make every meet due to his high school coaching and teaching responsibilities.

“A lot of times it's hard to believe that we can vault without him there,” said Stelten. “He trains us so we can coach ourselves."
Kolb, however, was quick to deflect the praise.

"It starts with the Jen Blue and Mark Shuck (MSU's men's track and field coach)," said Kolb. They have committed to make this event a signature event of MSU's and are bringing in talented athletes.

Though Stelten is a senior the vaulting cupboard isn’t bare at MSU.  Freshmen Aubrie Bowers and Leanna Rose each narrowly missed qualifying for this year’s outdoor championships.

“They (Aubrie and Leanna) have really come around and have kept progressing,” said Blue.  “Next year we should be ready to go in the vault again.  Bryann Sudman – a freshman who redshirted this year due to back problems – is ready and she was a state champion for Eden Prairie as a senior.  We have also signed Mankato East’s Alex Miller who is an all-state performer.”

Stelten has done what Frame and Rains have down before her – laid the groundwork for the underclassman on what it takes to be a champion at Minnesota State.

“I am a lead by example type of captain,” said Stelten.  “When I vault, I tell the underclassmen to watch me and see what they can do.  I had someone to look up to and by me showing them, it is my way to motivate them.”

One can only assume the motivation of a pair of fourth-place finishes (2008 and 2009) along with a second-place finish (2010) coupled with the opportunity to join Rains as MSU’s only outdoor pole vaulting champions is all that Stelten needs next weekend.

"I think she has a good chance," said Kolb.  "I believe that she is the vaulter to beat.  She has the mental toughness and experience that will be in her favor."

NCAA DII Indoor/Outdoor Pole Vault Individual Titles Since 1999
School	Titles
Minnesota State	7
Abilene Christian	7
Cal State Stanislaus	2
Cal State Chico	2
MSU Moorhead	2
UC Davis	1
South Dakota State	1
South Dakota	1
Truman State	1
Northwest Missouri State	1

Got 'em right where we want 'em

John Belushi as Bluto

"Did you say over? Nothing is over until we decide it is!"  - Bluto from Animal House.

There's been alot to celebrate during the course of the past quarter century for Minnesota State Athletics.

National championships in women's basketball in 2008-09 and men's cross country in 1988.  A total of 26 individual national championships, including four by high jumper Jim Dilling from 2004-07 and dominance in the women's pole vault led by the triumvirate of Amanda Frame, Katelin Rains and Lauren Stelten that began in 2003-04 and has totalled seven NCAA titles to date.

MSU reaffiliated its men's hockey program to Division I in the mid-1990s and in addition to a national tournament appearance in 2002-03 on a team featuring All-American forwards Shane Joseph and Grant Stevenson, the Mavericks have produced six National Hockey League performers, a Stanley Cup champion in Ryan Carter (Anaheim in 2007) and an Olympian in David Backes.  The MSU women's program boasts a Patty Kazmeier finalist in goaltender Shari Vogt and Olympians in Nina Tikkinen and Emilia Andersson.

The football team broke through to win a North Central Conference championship in 1987 and during the span of the last 25 seasons has made six NCAA postseason appearances.

Gorgeous Taylor Center opened 2000 and in addition to the aforementioned success of the women's program basketball program, the men's program has become a Division II powerhouse with its litany of league titles and NCAA appearances.  The wrestling program competes annually for a spot in the top five in the nation.  The baseball, softball, track and cross country, soccer and golf teams have captured more than 50 league titles between them over the course of this period.

So, that being said, and given the success of MSU teams during this time, surely we can point to situations where Mavericks teams have had to battle back from what would have appeared to be an unwinnable situation to win games.

Well, yes we can.  There are many, as a matter of fact, with a quartet of these situations immediately come to mind.

Feb. 2, 1991, St. Cloud, Minn. (Halenbeck Hall). The MSU men's basketball team trailed North Central Conference rival St. Cloud by ten (93-83) with 1:27 left in the game on SCSU's home court.  With the Mavericks surging, guard Bryon Lindsey scored eight points in the final 39 seconds as MSU fought back to tie the game, 97-97, at the end of regulation.  MSU eventually won in overtime, 108-106.

Oct. 2, 1993, Mankato, Minn. (Blakeslee Stadium). The Mavericks trailed #1-rated North Dakota State 21-0 in its annual Homecoming game, but MSU scored near the end of the third quarter and then twice more in the fourth to make it 21-21.  The Bison, who had never lost to the Mavericks in Mankato, scored with 1:55 left in the game, but a missed PAT left the score at 27-21.  Following the kick-off, the Mavericks lost the ball on downs, but got it back when NDSU fumbled on its next possession.  Jamie Pass hit diminutive receiver Jeff Spikner on a 23-yard strike with :22 left and Kenny Navitsky's successful kick gave the Mavericks an incredible 28-27 win in front of 6,100 rollicking fans.

Dec. 20, 2003, Mankato, Minn. (Midwest Wireless Civic Center). The eventual national champions from Denver built a 7-1 lead before a goal by defenseman Lucas Fransen midway through the second period started the ball rolling for the Mavericks. Travis Morin tallied on the power play and Shane Joseph scored two more power play goals before the end of the period to make it 7-5. Then after Adam Gerlach and Brad Thompson scored to tie it up, Joseph completed his hat trick with the game-winner with five minutes left.  The Mavericks, by the way, used three goaltenders in the game and Chris Clark, who was making his first varsity appearance, stopped all 13 shots he faced to get the win.

May 4, 2011, Sioux Falls, S.D. (Bowden Field). In its opening game of the 2011 NSIC softball tournament, #12 Minnesota State trailed #19 Winona State 7-1 heading into its last at bats.  Abby Sonner lit the fuse after her two-run homer made it 7-3.  Infielder Amanda Umhoefer's solo shot cut the deficit to three and after Melanie Upchurch and Lauryn Morris singled, Natalie Spicer's three-run homer tied the game.  Julie O'Neal then singled and came around to score after Kelly Wood's drive to right was misplayed to end the game.

As mentioned, there are several other instances in which the Mavericks found a way to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.  And as Greg Marmalard said in Animal House in reference to the fraternities at Faber College - "They're each outstanding in their own way."

See you at the ballpark this weekend with MSU hosting the 2011 NSIC baseball tournament at Franklin Rogers and the 2011 NCAA Softball Central Subregional on campus.

It's great to be a Maverick!

Drafthouse

Jeff Reinke

The 2011 National Football League Draft started with the first round selections taking place Friday night.

While those who follow the Minnesota Vikings were left to ponder whether Christian Ponder was right or wrong with the twelfth overall pick, for some it led to a question such as "when was the last time a Minnesota State (or if you come from a different era - Mankato State) was selected in the NFL Draft?"

While he's not one to dwell on the import of such things, Jeff Reinke is a person who can shed some light on the subject.

An All-North Central Conference offensive lineman as a senior for the Mavericks in 1985, Reinke was selected in the tenth round (275th overall) by the Los Angeles Raiders in the 1986 NFL Draft and as such, owns the distinction as the last MSU player to have picked in the NFL Draft.

A native of Sacred Heart, Minn., and now living with his family in New Prague, where he runs his own small welding business, Reinke is one of three former MSU players to have been taken in the annual NFL lottery.  Tight end Bob Bruer, who went on to play five years with the Vikings, was picked by the Houston Oilers in the ninth round (221st overall) by the Houston Oilers in 1976 and defensive lineman Phil Driscoll went to the Miami Dolphins in the 11th round (279th overall) in the 1980 draft.

Reinke, who was drafted and played in the NFL as a defensive lineman, also saw action with Cincinnati in 1987.

"I had been told that I would go a little higher in the draft then I did, so I remember being disappointed on draft day," recalled Reinke.  "But once I got the call, which I think came around 10:00 p.m. that night, it was pretty cool.  I believe we went over to the Albatross to celebrate."

Things happened fairly quickly following that, said the former Maverick lineman. "They brought us to Los Angeles for physicals and then after mini-camp it wasn't long before camp started."

Reinke went to a Raiders team that, while loaded with familiar names such as Lyle Alzado, Marcus Allen, Howie Long, Matt Millen and Jim Plunklett, was a few years removed from the Super Bowl-winning teams from 1981 and 1984.  He then spent the 1987 campaign with the Cincinnati Bengals which went 4-11-0 and finished fourth in the AFC Central.

"Yes, it's something that I'm proud of," said Reinke.  "But to tell you the truth, it's not something I think of a whole lot.  The people who know me will tell you that I'm not one to talk about those things."

Reinke's son, Jay, is continuing on the family football tradition and was a freshman with Bemidji State this past fall.  An AP All-State selection as a high school senior at New Prague, Jay, like his dad, is a defensive lineman.