A week that began with a firing which wasn't actually a firing finished with a major shake-up on the field. Rick Dennison's prerogative to not get the injection lead to him being transitioned to an offensive advisory role while Phil Rauscher was name OL coach & Ben Steele was hired as an assistant. Considering how long the line has been a liability it's not a bad thing to add more talent - as they have seemed to do - & setting the players up with as many experienced coaches possible.
The deflation came later when Olabisi Johnson tore his ACL & the quarterback depth chart was decimated for much of the next week by a "close contact." Fans just want the team to succeed, whatever that takes, so it's not surprising that reaction on the public platforms has not been positive. Minnesota will not be the only team that is affected by the exercise of personal-choice freedom this season. That a week of practice has been blasted by the shotgun is a problem but they will have time to get back on track & now may be able to avoid such mandated interruptions when the games are happening.
That possibility can't be ruled out at this time, so choosing to see what positives may come!
The "necessary" step of seasons nearing is preseason picks being announced. The Bunnies narrowly edged out the Bison for first place while 10 of the Dome's best were on the all-conference list, including six for the offense. It goes to show what we already knew - it's a luxury ship in need of the right captain. Whoever he is, it's the answer that will continue to be clamored for until a few games are in the books.
It was also announced that the 2023 season opener will be in the Purple Palace against Eastern Washington. With the college football landscape altering moves that are being made, who knows what will be two years from now. But there will not be a better experience for the Twin Cities-based players than that Saturday!
In a surprise development head softball coach Amanda Reckamp resigned Friday so as to "pursue other passions and pursuits."
Not one to criticise others for pursuing their passions but the timing of the decision in relation to the start of the school year has a foul odor. It's possible that the pieces all just came together so she couldn't have done it earlier in the Summer and was in a position not to wait until later to move on. But even so it's a raw deal for the university & the athletes which she helped bring to Moorhead.
The Cobbs week began with a nomination of Josie Herrmann for College Athletics Woman of the Year.
A day later it was announced that Terry Horan will be inducted into the Minnesota Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame on the 13th.
Two nuggets that hold as much weight as any that you'll see!
The draft came & went this week without Gersson Rosas being able to spin more magic. But he did find a suitor for Anthony Edwards favorite backup point guard in exchange for Taurean Prince. The move gives the team some much-needed financial flexibility while adding a small-ball PF who is a lifetime 37% three-point shooter while having an effective field goal percent above 50. They'll now need to amplify the lead guard group but depending how that - & other moves - shake out, they could be better off in the long term for the loss of the fan favorite.
The Twinks season for all intents & purposes is over. As the white flag was waved it's reasonable to doubt that next season will reach the level of recent successes but maybe they can limit it to one full season of non-competitiveness...
Prior to dealing Jose Berrios (& the others who were desired by different organizations) the team may have found the "bottom"
Historic ineptitude.
Might not be the last instance of that this season either...
Fargo began the week at home against Lincoln but it wasn't until they rolled to Milwaukee that they had favorable finishes. On Saturday they squeaked out a 5 - 4 W while Sunday afternoon concluded as a 4 - 2 victory with each team racking up 10 hits. They will be back home for three against KC starting Monday as the final five weeks of the regular season begin. 'Waukee still has a moderately-comfortable lead on Chicago & Fargo but those two are neck & neck for the second spot as the stretch run commences.
The Vaders ended the regular season with a bye as Bismarck opted to not make the trip but instead just accept the loss. That set up a playoff semifinal against St. Paul in two weeks.
State-week began with a championship by the West Fargo 14's team.
That set the stage for main events in North Dakota & Minnesota
Post 400 doubled-up P2, 10 - 5, in the opener while West Fargo rolled by Mandan 12 - 2. Post 2 rebounded with a 4 - 1 win over Dickinson but were then eliminated by Bismarck 6 - 4. 400 got by Minot 4 - 3 which set up a championship appetizer against West Fargo, after the Pats advanced with a 4 - 1 win. The Stars pulled it off 7 - 4 so that West Fargo had to win three times to take the title. WF bounced back by scoring 12 unanswered runs against Minot to win 14 - 6. Post 400 was beaten by Bismarck but advanced to the championship anyway, while West Fargo had to get by them to do the same. Their 2 - 0 win also proved to be a foreshadow as the Patriots took the title 3 - 1 over Post 400.
The two teams will begin the region tournament on Wednesday morning in Sioux Falls.
Moorhead began their state play against Foley with a 4 - 2 loss but finished pool play with a 19 - 6 decimation of Blaine/Ham Lake. Osseo ended their run with a 3 - 0 defeat in the next one.
One step beyond the rest, Fargo's 12U team is off to Indianapolis for their own regional tournament experience after winning North Dakota as well.
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