Recent content from Chip Scoggins
Giving Back: Simple lessons from company volunteers
Contributing to the community is a part of the job description at top workplaces.
Scoggins: New faces, external factors bring uncertainty to U defense
Defenses in college football already play on a slanted field. How quickly the Gophers' new-look unit matures will determine whether P.J. Fleck's program takes the next step and wins the Big Ten West.
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Chip Scoggins' 20 thoughts on the 2020 college football season
Welcome to the weirdest college football season on record.
Scoggins: What was Sid like? There's no simple way to answer
There is no adequate way to describe what it's like to work with Sid Hartman, but he was certainly a special colleague.
Vikings fans find their way to Indianapolis
Plenty of Colts season-ticket holders who were able to score tickets to Sunday's game vs. the Vikings sold them on the secondary market. At a premium, in some cases. Capacity was capped at 2,500
Scoggins: Zimmer's defense gets failing grade in opener
The overmatched Vikings defense was ill equipped in every way to stop Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense.
Scoggins: Moving football to spring hurts in football-crazy Hutchinson
Spring football won't have the same aura towns like Hutchinson have come to embrace. It's still football, and that's better than nothing, but you can understand the disappointment players felt Tuesday.
Scoggins: Can the NFL really get through season without a bubble?
This is how the NFL intends/hopes/prays to make pandemic football succeed, in the absence of a bubble: The honor system and self-policing. How realistic is that?
Scoggins: Most entertaining hitters? Look at oldest and youngest Twins
Born 17 years apart, Nelson Cruz and Luis Arraez are also very different hitters who consistently deliver in their own way; one mashes, the other slashes.
Scoggins: Looking for a sure thing this uncertain season? Twins can still hit
A familiar theme emerged on Opening Day of the strangest season in the 60 years of the Twins' existence that allows for one definitive statement that promises to hold up.
Scoggins: Twins would have to fall apart to miss just-expanded playoffs
A 60-game season magnifies every game, but MLB has eased the intensity by expanding the playoff field from 10 teams to 16 for this season.
Scoggins: Baldelli's Bomba Squad 2.0 is potent top to bottom, inside-out
Lineup options abound for the 2020 Twins. And it's a lineup that looks even more formidable than the one that launched an MLB-record 307 home runs and scored a franchise-record 939 runs.
Scoggins: Pandemic baseball is weird (but better than no baseball)
Chicago's Wrigley Field, a place revered for its rollicking party scene, was quieter than solitary confinement during Wednesday's game between the Twins and Cubs.
Live free, pitch free: Welcome to Sergio Romo's wacky Twins universe
Baseball scouts showed little interest in the Twins reliever out of high school or college because he's smallish in size with a fastball that lacks sizzle. Yet he's in his 13th MLB season with three World Series rings and an All-Star appearance on his résumé.
Scoggins: Canterbury Park offers sports fans a glimpse of the future
Temperature checks, blocked-off bathroom stalls, hand sanitizer stations and, of course, masks are all part of allowing people — a few, anyway — back to watch.
Scoggins: Positive tests dim hopes about the return to sports
The surge of COVID-19 cases in different states — including Florida, where the NBA, WNBA and MLS will be based — has cast new doubt about whether sports can pull this off.
Scoggins: Boxing gym on Lake Street fighting for its neighborhood
In boxing, the fundamental objective is to knock down your opponent. At Circle of Discipline, a boxing gym on E. Lake St., the mission was just the opposite last week after the killing of George Floyd.
Scoggins: Young people need mentors like North's coach McKenzie
The legendary North High boys' basketball coach keeps replaying the video of George Floyd in his mind. "That could've been me. That could've been my son. That could've been any of my players."
Former Wild defenseman Mitchell still driven to succeed
Willie Mitchell, the tough ex-Wild player who appeared in 900-plus games over 15 NHL seasons, is now part owner of a resort on Vancouver Island.
Scoggins: Strange-looking baseball? It's better than no baseball at all
Reading through baseball's 67-page manual for starting the season is a blunt reminder that "Game on!" will be far more complex than simply telling fans to stay home.
Scoggins: Can every Gophers sport survive the budget cutting ahead?
Pay reductions and hiring freezes already are in effect for the university's 25-team athletic department. But that's not going to be enough for the financial problems that are ahead.
Scoggins' mailbag: What's up with the U's softball coach leaving?
When you consider at all the blue-chip high school talent being produced, this truly has become a basketball state. Chip Scoggins explains why and answers a bunch of other questions, too.
Scoggins: When the games come back, will you be there?
Sports executives are busy sorting through scenarios that would allow games to start again. They're trying to piece together timelines without an expiration date. How will ticket holders respond?
Scoggins: No Opening Day, but here's a Twins lineup anyway
On the day that would have been the Twins season opener, manager Rocco Baldelli declined to reveal the lineup he would have submitted. That's no fun.
Scoggins: Gym rats missing places where they could shoot in solitude
They know that staying home is necessary because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is something comforting about being alone in a basketball gym, shooting in silence.
Scoggins: Glamour moves made, fixing offensive line next Vikings challenge
If the Vikings don't have a mobile quarterback skilled at making something out of nothing, they'd better have a stalwart line that insulates him.
Scoggins: From Aruba to silence, a different kind of madness in March
Being in Aruba was like standing on Mars watching something deeply personal go from zero to warp speed in a blink of the eye.
Scoggins: Gophers looked like team without a clue about how to win
The Gophers failed to execute in a doomsday five-minute stretch that should be used as an instructional video on how not to handle crunch time.
Scoggins: With Wolves, there must be more moves coming, right?
The Wolves changed out a large chunk of their roster, but where did it get them? Is this it? There must be more moves coming because this is a mess.
Scoggins: Banham 'all over the place' as she remembers idol and friend Bryant
The former Gophers star became friends with the late Lakers great.
Scoggins: Before tackling anything else, Vikings must fix offensive line
Coach Mike Zimmer's nonnegotiable style of play, shortcomings in current personnel and a looming decision on running back Dalvin Cook's future. All are tied to the offensive line.
Scoggins: Gophers' frustration runs high following a blown opportunity
It was failure at the worst possible moments at Kinnick Stadium, and the U did not look like a team that started off 9-0.
Scoggins: 8-0 Gophers vs. 8-0 Penn State. Who could ask for anything more?
A legitimate big game under a national spotlight, which, for those new to Gophers football, happens every half-century or so. Or so it seems.
Scoggins: Vikings had everything in their favor, but blew it
Looking to assign blame for Sunday's loss? In all four phases of the game at Kansas City, the Vikings fell short.
Scoggins: Vikings' Stefanski makes his mark with masterful game plan
Vikings players deserve credit for feasting on an Eagles defense that had vulnerable areas, but offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski's plan was a winner by being both creative and aggressive.
Scoggins: This was a putrid Soldier Field loss, even by Vikings standards
The problems begin, but don't end, with frazzled quarterback Kirk Cousins, now 5-27 against teams with a winning record.
Scoggins: Two games in, Cousins plays himself into a corner
In Green Bay, Kirk Cousins had a chance to alter the narrative attached to his Vikings tenure, that he wilts in big games. Instead, he reinforced that line of thinking.
Scoggins: Rodgers overcomes error while Cousins makes inexcusable mistake
Aaron Rodgers' "what down is it?" blunder on Sunday was dumb. Kirk Cousins' "what was he thinking?" fourth-quarter throw was dumber.
Scoggins postgame: Cousins' gaffes decisive in Vikings' loss
A terrible start got the Vikings behind the 8-ball, but they rallied and could have stolen the victory in Green Bay.
Scoggins: 'Nightmares' could power a Vikings dream season
If the Vikings are able to climb back into the NFL's top tier, they'll do so on the shoulders of their terrific defensive line.
Scoggins: Despte injuries, don't expect Buxton to quit hitting walls
Byron Buxton is a marvelous outfielder who makes spectacular catches that often save runs … and endanger his health. His durability has become a problem without an obvious solution.
Father, son make for a Hoiberg homecoming in Minneapolis
Former Timberwolves guard Fred Hoiberg, recently named coach at Nebraska, is here to watch his son play for Spartans
Scoggins: Football steps aside for Auburn hoops
The football school has lost its mind of over basketball with the Tigers' unexpected romp to the first Final Four appearance in program history.
Why Virginia can win the national championship
The Virginia Cavaliers are the only No. 1 seed in the Final Four and perhaps the most well-rounded team left.The Cavs can win low-scoring games,…
Purdue's Edwards puts late-season slump behind him
Carsen Edwards endured a shooting slump and sore back late in the season but has regained his health and shooting touch in the tournament.
Purdue's Painter reflects on being recruited by Gophers
Purdue coach Matt Painter made four official visits as a senior in high school – Purdue, Michigan State, Minnesota and Evansville. He said he gave serious consideration to the Gophers over the Boilermakers but opted to stay close to home.
Scoggins: Cline's sparkling second half helps Purdue advance in OT
Ryan Cline's childhood dreams of being a hero became the Boilermakers' reality against Tennessee.
Three-ball prevails in Purdue's overtime victory over Tennessee
The Boilermakers made 15 three-pointers to advance to their first Elite Eight since 2000.
More than one shining moment: How March got its Madness
The NCAA basketball tournament has a history full of games with heart-stopping, buzzer-beating endings. Here's a look back at six of the most memorable ones:
Washington's defense tougher than Utah State anticipated
The No. 9 seed Huskies suffocated Sam Merrill and Utah State's offense with a hard-nosed defensive performance in a 78-61 win at Nationwide Arena.
Scoggins: Iowa player could be on court today, baseball diamond tonight
Iowa freshman Connor McCaffery, son of basketball coach Fran McCaffery, plays two sports for the Hawkeyes.
Scoggins: Dayton home to annual smaller opening to the Big Dance
Technically, they already are in the tournament, but eight teams begin with an annual quirky soft launch before the grand party really commences.
Scoggins: Zimmer and DeFilippo still not on same page after dozen games
Are we seeing growing pains in a new relationship or a fundamental divide that creates an unsustainable situation between the head coach and a top assistant?
Scoggins: Thibodeau must repair damage from Butler's trade request
Tom Thibodeau took a risk and got burned. And now his future as Timberwolves coach and basketball czar appears very much uncertain.
Scoggins: Young Twins' struggles leave organization at a crossroads
Those who gazed into the Twins future and saw up-and-coming stars have received another blunt reminder that baseball development cannot be scripted or predicted with ironclad certainty.
Scoggins: Vikings turn to cap guru with 3 key players due for new deals
The team has handed out many big checks over the past two years in trying to keep intact its stars but still hopes to sign Anthony Barr, Danielle Hunter and Stefon Diggs to lucrative deals.
Scoggins: Bringing sports betting out of shadows is long overdue
An individual's freedom to make choices should not be restricted out of fear that a small percentage will not act responsibly.
Scoggins: Romero's fastballs just what ice-cold Twins needed
Fernando Romero's MLB debut showed why his stuff gives the Twins organization hope he can become a top-of-the-rotation flamethrower.
Scoggins: Leipold should let new GM make big changes as needed
The Wild isn't on the cusp of hoisting the Stanley Cup, so why prevent a general manager from making necessary changes, even if they are grand in scope?
Scoggins: Leipold must respond to Wild's latest early exit
Wild owner Craig Leipold has two choices: Stay the course and hope things will be different next season, or make major changes in management and/or roster construction.
Scoggins: 'Mean' Nick Seeler brings fight to Wild's defense
Devan Dubnyk described rookie defenseman Nick Seeler as "mean," praise that underscores the former Eden Prairie high school star's impact only 25 games into his NHL career.
Scoggins: Wild needs to show some fight, but not the chippy kind
Punching an opponent in the head after being so thoroughly dominated such as the Wild in Game 2 doesn't send a message. That's called blowing off steam.
Scoggins: Meter is running on Wild during these NHL playoffs
A successful regular season was always an assumption, fair or not, because the Wild is built to be a playoff force. Is the team ready for that challenge?
Scoggins: Wild, Wolves show far separate approaches in playoff pushes
Both teams are jockeying for playoff positioning in this critical week, but things have become a little harried for each one for different reasons.
Scoggins: Adversity has arrived for Twins before the games do
News of Jorge Polanco's 80-game drug suspension as a result of a failed drug test serves as a reminder that best-laid plans can change in a blink of an eye.
Scoggins: Back-up Foles gives Eagles an ending that didn't seem possible
A backup quarterback went nose-to-nose against the greatest quarterback in NFL history on the biggest stage, and came out victorious.
Scoggins: Foles might not be the Eagles' weak link after all
Nick Foles, the Eagles' backup most of the season was near perfect Sunday. He completed 26 of 33 passes for 352 yards and three touchdowns with a 141.4 rating.
