Recent content from Randy Johnson
Gophers men's hockey hires top assistant away from Ohio State
Steve Miller will serve as the Gophers men's hockey team's associate head coach after spending the past five years in that position at Ohio State.
Cooper star Howard tells college choice tonight; U among 4 finalists
Jaxon Howard, the No. 1 football recruit in Minnesota, will announce his college decision on Friday at 6 p.m., during an event at Cooper High School.
Big Ten stunner: USC, UCLA join in seismic shift for college sports
Big Ten presidents unanimously approved the move Thursday night. The two traditional sports powers who had been mainstays of the Pac-12 will start conference play in 2024-25.
Fans can get special access to U football players — but they'll pay
Gophers players are launching a fan-membership club with plans to split the money equally. Here are some of the things you can get by paying $199.
Gable Steveson named Big Ten Male Athlete of the Year
In addition to winning an Olympic gold medal winner, Steveson was undefeated for Gophers wrestling team and won his second straight NCAA championship.
Family, friends, fans gather to celebrate, mourn Marion Barber III
The former University of Minnesota running back, who died June 1 at his Frisco, Texas, apartment, was celebrated at a public memorial at Huntington Bank Stadium.
Former Owatonna goalie commits to Gophers men's hockey team
Zach Wiese has played the past two seasons in the Tier III NA3HL for the Rochester Grizzlies.
Memorial for Barber is Wednesday at Huntington Bank Stadium
The Barber family also has started a scholarship fund in the honor of Marion III at the University of Minnesota's College of Education in Human Development.
South Carolina receiver chooses Gophers over Ivies, HBCU
Tyler Brown had received 15 offers in recent weeks from schools. That list included Harvard, Penn and North Carolina A&T.
Gophers add two to 2023 recruiting class, get 1st commitment for 2024
A receiver from Florida and running back from Pennsylvania commited over the weekend, and so did Mason Carrier, a three-star linebacker from Detroit Lakes entering his junior year.
Gophers land Pennsylvania running back, 16th commitment in 2023 class
The three-star recruit rushed for 1,697 yards and scored 31 touchdowns last season.
Hockey star who committed to Gophers at age 13 flips to Badgers
Cruz Lucius played for Gentry Academy before joining the U.S. National Team Development Program. His brother left the U to turn pro in April.
Shakopee athlete Monroe commits to Gophers football program
Three-star recruit Garrison Monroe is the seventh Minnesotan to pledge to the U's 2023 class.
All-Black hockey team draws from all over U.S. for Richfield tourney
The Panthers — a team with 17 players from eight different states — competed in a Minnesota Showcase event last weekend.
Gophers football gets two more commitments from 'Summer Splash'
Karter Menz is the top-ranked player in North Dakota and became the fifth player to pledge after 'Summer Splash' recruiting weekend.
U adds Texas linebacker, Indiana tackle to 2023 football recruits
Latreveon McCutchin of Austin, Texas, and De'Eric Mister of Gary, Ind., pledged to coach P.J. Fleck's program after visiting campus during "Summer Splash'' weekend.
Maple Grove star first to commit to U on 'Summer Splash' weekend
Sam Peters, a 6-4, 225-pound tight end, helped the Crimson reach the Class 6A state championship game last season.
Smaller ice size coming to Gophers' 3M Arena at Mariucci
The home of Gophers men's hockey will drop from an Olympic-sized ice sheet to a hybrid size after the upcoming season as part of the university's capital improvement budget approved by the Board of Regents.
Hoping for a 'splash': Big recruiting weekend for Gophers football
The program's "Summer Splash'' weekend starts Friday and will bring in about 30 recruits, including Cooper star Jaxon Howard, and hopes to build on a solid 2023 class.
Gophers aiming to make splash pursuing national steeplechase title
Matt Wilkinson and Alec Basten took roundabout paths to become top contenders in a unique and physically challenging track event.
Gophers send 16 athletes to the National Track & Field Championships
The athletes will be competing this week in 11 events in Eugene, Ore.
Linebacker from Hutchinson commits to Gophers for 2023
Alex Elliott helped the Tigers win the Class 4A state championship last season and is the ninth player to commit to Minnesota's recruiting Class of 2023.
Gophers extend defensive coordinator Rossi's contract one year through 2024
The contract, pending Board of Regents approval, will pay Rossi $850,000 in 2023 and $900,000 in 2024, an increase of $50,000 both years. He'll make $800,000 in 2022.
Minnesota Duluth gives men's hockey coach Scott Sandelin two-year extension
The three-time national championship winner now has a contract that runs through 2026-27.
Former Gophers, Wayzata football star Marion Barber III found dead
A star running back for the Gophers from 2001-04 who later played six seasons for the Dallas Cowboys, Barber died at age 38 and struggled during his post-football life.
U softball faces steep climb, but thrilled to make NCAA tournament again
Minnesota opens Friday against Texas A&M and likely needs to beat Oklahoma, the tournament's No. 1 overall seed, to reach the Super Regionals.
NCAA softball schedule for Norman Regional
The Gophers will face Texas A&M at 4 p.m. Friday in the double-elimination tournament.
Olympic gold medalist Sidney Morin signs with Whitecaps
The former Minnetonka High School and Minnesota Duluth standout defenseman agreed to a two-year deal with the Premier Hockey Federation team. She won Olympic gold with Team USA in 2018.
NCAA relaxes rules on football conference title games
Leagues no longer must pit division winners against each other, and the Pac-12 quickly changed its format. How the Big Ten will react remains to be determined.
CCHA adding Augustana as ninth member when school starts hockey in 2023
The team will be coached by a former Gophers assistant and is joining the league that includes Minnesota State, St. Thomas and Bemidji State.
Banged-up Wild: Dumba's punctured lung, Eriksson Ek's missing teeth
Matt Dumba hesitated when asked about the injury that limited his effectiveness vs. the Blues; Joel Eriksson Ek lost three teeth to a teammate's stick.
Gophers among final four for Cooper football standout Jaxon Howard
The top football recruit in Minnesota for the 2023 class has Minnesota and three traditional football powers on his list of four schools.
Former Gophers, Patriots standout Cappelletti dies
Keewatin, Minn., native Gino Cappelletti starred for the Gophers in the 1950s and the Boston Patriots of the AFL in the 1960s. He was 89.
NCHC names St. Cloud State AD Weems as its new commissioner
She replaces Josh Fenton, who helped build the league and recently became commissioner of the Summit League.
Commissioner Flowers leaving WCHA to become AD at Southwest Minn. State
The Winona State graduate spent three years in charge of the successful women's hockey league.
Blues' injuries create time for former UMD star Scott Perunovich
Defenseman, who won the Hobey Baker Award, wins praise for his poise, and contributed again Tuesday.
Golden slugger: DenHartog looks to add to her Gophers home run record
Nobody in Gophers softball history has hit more than the 57 homers that the Hopkins High School graduate has in her four years on campus.
'Get used to it.' Gophers coaches revive caravan amid big changes
Since the last Coaches Caravan in 2019, college sports have undergone monumental changes. "There's no putting the genie back in the bottle," football coach P.J. Fleck told fans.
3 ex-Gophers among 5 Minnesotans on U.S. team for world championship
The U.S. national team leaves for Finland on Saturday, plays an exhibition game against Canada on Wednesday and opens the tournament on May 13 against Latvia.
All business on memory lane for Blues' Faulk
The former Minnesota Duluth defenseman has an excellent record with the St. Louis Blues.
Battle of special teams between Blues, Wild no contest in Game 1
St. Louis scored two power-play goals and the Wild was 0-for-6 with a man advantage despite having plenty of good chances.
Gophers get commitment from Prior Lake defensive tackle for Class of 2023
Martin Owusu, a three-star recruit, is the ninth-ranked recruit in Minnesota and the 141st-ranked defensive lineman nationally by 247Sports.
Gophers spring game: Five story lines
The backup quarterback battle, under returning offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca, will be among the things to watch.
Eden Prairie's Jermaine Johnson II drafted by Jets in first round
The defensive end for Florida State was among the top players at his position last season in college football. He was selected No. 26 overall.
Gophers spring football game moved indoors due to weather
The game will be played in the indoor practice facility at 1 p.m. Saturday, and it no longer will be open to the public because of space constraints.
2 freshman leave U hockey: Lucius signs with Jets; Broz plans to transfer
First-round draft pick Chaz Lucius signed a three-year, contract with Winnipeg and forward Tristan Broz put his name into the NCAA transfer portal.
Wild, Blues battle for home ice. What Minnesota needs to win it
The teams are tied with 109 points going into the final two days of the season. Here's a look at the schedule and possible outcomes.
Wild vs. Flames preview: The fight to claim home ice
The Wild have lost to the Calgary Flames in both previous games this season.
Former U holder O'Brien reveals he's battling cancer for 6th time
"It's not gonna let me off the hook that easy," said Casey O'Brien as he talked about facing lung surgery and another set of challenges.
Former Gophers standout Boye Mafe burnishes his resume for NFL Draft
Mafe dominated in the Senior Bowl and performed well in several areas at the NFL Combine, opening first-round possibilities.
Ending a drought: U to have first offensive lineman drafted in 16 years
Sixteen years, 185 games and six head coaches later, a long drought for the U is about to end. Daniel Faalele is certain to be drafted and one of his teammates could get taken, too.
Illinois prep tight end fifth to commit to Gophers football for 2023
The three-star recruit from Benet Academy in Lisle, Ill., will be part of Minnesota's Class of 2023.
Nine from Minnesota to watch out for in the NFL draft
A half-dozen Gophers and three former Minnesota high school stars are among those who could be taken during the seven rounds of the draft.
Gophers spring football practice puts emphasis on improving passing game
Return of offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca has quarterback Tanner Morgan feeling confident in early going.
Gophers receive commitment from Georgia prep CB Zaquan Bryan
The 5-11, 180-pounder helped lead Benedictine Military School to the Georgia Class 4A state championship last year.
Olympian Knies returning to U men's hockey for another season
Matthew Knies was a second-team All-Big Ten selection this past season as a freshman.
Wild's Hartman fined $4,250 by NHL after Tuesday's actions vs. Edmonton
Ryan Hartman made a hand gesture toward Evander Kane that resulted in an unsportsmanlike conduct fine.
Wild's camaraderie on display when Hartman sticks up for Kaprizov
Ryan Hartman saluted his teammates for sticking up for one another after Kirill Kaprizov and Edmonton's Evander Kane mixed it up. Hartman said the fine for his role was 'well worth it.'
Gophers co-captain Ben Meyers signs with Colorado Avalanche
Meyers, a native of Delano, Minn., was highly sought after as an NHL free agent. He can play for Colorado right away but won't be eligible for the NHL playoffs.
Despite departures, Gophers look promising at running back
Mo Ibrahim and Trey Potts are making progress coming back from injuries.
Gophers defenseman Brock Faber announces he's coming back
Faber, a Los Angeles Kings draftee, is staying put, while Grant Cruikshank, Jonny Sorenson and Ben Brinkman have entered the transfer portal.
A hockey title slips away, making more heartbreak for Mankato
A dominant two periods of hockey at the NCAA men's Frozen Four had produced a 1-0 lead for Minnesota State Mankato. Then everything went wrong.
Minnesota State Mankato sees NCAA hockey title dream disappear
Denver abruptly turned around the game, after trailing 1-0 to the Mavericks through two periods, with five goals in the third period, including two empty-netters.
NCAA men's hockey title game recap
Denver goalie Magnus Chrona goalie made 24 saves and kept his team in the game against Minnesota State Mankato.
Transfers helped both Mavericks, Pioneers reach NCAA title game
Three transfers at Minnesota State Mankato had a goal or an assist, or both in the national semifinals, while Denver had one transfer with a goal in the Pioneers' semifinal.
MSU Mankato's Sandelin savors rare chance to show off for his dad
Scott Sandelin, three-time winner of the men's hockey national title as Minnesota Duluth's coach, will see his son Ryan try for his first.
MSU Mankato goaltender McKay snags Hobey Baker Award
A senior from Illinois, Dryden McKay beat out a couple of Minnesotans, Ben Meyers of the Gophers and Bobby Brink of Denver.
MSU Mankato's hockey success spins from stealthy chat, pizza buffet
It began at a Pizza Ranch in Iowa, where coach Mike Hastings convinced school officials he knew the answer to "Why not us?"
Frozen Four final preview: Minnesota State Mankato vs. Denver
The Pioneers are playing for their ninth NCAA title, the Mavericks for their first.
Gophers overwhelmed by Mavericks; Mankato to meet Denver for title
Minnesota State Mankato gave up an early goal, then tightened up its defense and unleashed its offense on the Gophers to win its 18th game in a row and reached the Frozen Four title game for the first time.
Grief stays with Motzko as Gophers season helps him heal
Gophers men's hockey coach Bob Motzko thanked his team after it clinched a Frozen Four berth for all it has done to help him cope with the death of his 20-year-old son last summer.
Denver overcomes Michigan in overtime, advances to Frozen Four championship
A goal by Carter Savoie on an assist from Bobby Brink propelled the Pioneers, seeking their ninth national title.
Game 2 recap: Minnesota State Mankato 5, Gophers 1
A pair of centers and a sturdy goaltender made up the three stars.
Goalie coach Poderzay went from Mavericks to Gophers
He trained Minnesota State Mankato's goalies for six years before he joined the Gophers for this season.
