Guest
|
http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/189938451.html Dakota schools lure Minnesota prep football stars After a junior year interrupted by injuries, Maple Grove wide receiver Jake Wieneke emerged on many Friday nights last fall as the best football player on the field. By season's end, the 6-4 senior had caught a metro-leading 68 passes for 1,330 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. Accolades poured in and postseason honors piled up, including a spot on the Star Tribune All-Metro first team, a testament to Wieneke's soft hands, remarkable body control and ability to catch passes in traffic. Wieneke, who said he "always wanted to be a Gopher," waited to hear from the University of Minnesota. The call never came. But out west, eyes watched keenly from Brookings, S.D. Soon South Dakota State came calling, amid silence from Minneapolis. The Jackrabbits turned Wieneke's head with a scholarship offer and a chance to stand out in a welcoming Division I program. While the Gophers search nationally to populate their roster and offer scholarships to relatively few in-state players, the four major universities across Minnesota's western border -- North Dakota, North Dakota State, South Dakota and South Dakota State -- are luring top players from what they have long considered a fertile college football breeding ground. end of the article Aiming for the Gophers Since 2007, the Dakota schools are 3-1 against Minnesota. North Dakota State defeated the Gophers in 2007 and again in 2011. South Dakota won in 2010. South Dakota State fell a field goal short, losing 16-13 in 2009. Those results are not lost on their Minnesota recruits. "We play them in 2015," Wieneke said. "If I can't go there to play, at least I can go there to try to beat them."
< Message edited by Miles K -- 2/6/2013 11:12:20 AM >
_____________________________
I am collecting for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in memory of my fiance who passed away on 9/9/2006. If anyone would like to donate just go to http://pages.lightthenight.org/mn/TwinCiti09/SMiller Any and all donations will be greatly appreciated.
|