STrib: Tyler Johnson boosts two football teams: Gophers and Minneapolis North

[BleedGopher]

per Joe:

Tyler Johnson was a standout quarterback, defensive back and basketball guard at Minneapolis North.

Now, he’s a magician.

How else to explain the impact he’s still having on that high school, three months after graduating?

Johnson has made a seamless transition to receiver for the Gophers, moving into a starting role as a true freshman, with an expanding highlight reel.

Meanwhile, the Minneapolis North program continues to blossom in Johnson’s wake. North football coach Charles Adams said he has about 60 players combined on the varsity and junior varsity rosters this year, up from about 40 last season.

“Tyler Johnson gives the whole side of North Minneapolis hope,” Adams said. “Those kids saw what he did, and now they want to be a part of it. The whole basketball team came out for football this year. I’ve seen the numbers drastically increase.”

http://www.startribune.com/tyler-jo...eams-gophers-and-minneapolis-north/394366001/

Go Gophers!!

 

[everybody knows my name]

Awesome. That school could sure use a boost! If it were to become a really desirable place to attend school and participate in extracurriculars, that's a rising tide that lifts a lot of boats.

 

[die hard gopher]

Thats really nice to see the affect he's had on North's participation numbers this year. I like seeing inner city kids like Tyler that stick it out in Minneapolis public schools do well later on. It also makes the Jeff Jones situation even more saddening to me as he was in the exact same position Tyler is in as an inner city kid who could have inspired a lot of hope for others.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

I certainly hope Johnson goes on to have a solid career with the Gophers. And, it's good to see one of the inner-city schools doing better at getting kids out for football.

But - I don't think I'm the only person with this opinion - I had some concerns/questions about Johnson going into this season. Johnson and his Mpls North teammates did not have a very good reputation for sportsmanship. I talked to a couple of coaches who played against North, and they said North was one of the least disciplined team they played. they also (in my opinion) did a lot of showboating during the basketball tournament. So, as I said, I was concerned about Johnson's level of maturity and commitment to the program. So far, I have been pleasantly surprised. I hope it stays this way. Maybe he is one of those kids who needed to get away from the HS crowd to grow up a little bit.

 

[rivergopher]

Complete bs, statement, you spoke to some anonymous "sources" who I would presume did not like getting their butts kicked. Kid volunteers in the community, and has done absolutely nothing but been a great kid. This is the type of crap that drives people nuts about message boards. He has done nothing to have his maturity level questioned. Obviously mature enough to handle starting in big 10 as evaluated by coaches who get paid a heck of a lot money to do so. Every article that comes out about him you come out with the same song and dance. Must have dunked on your kid or grandson, enough be happy he chose to stay home and as I said before is a great example for inner city kids.

I certainly hope Johnson goes on to have a solid career with the Gophers. And, it's good to see one of the inner-city schools doing better at getting kids out for football.

But - I don't think I'm the only person with this opinion - I had some concerns/questions about Johnson going into this season. Johnson and his Mpls North teammates did not have a very good reputation for sportsmanship. I talked to a couple of coaches who played against North, and they said North was one of the least disciplined team they played. they also (in my opinion) did a lot of showboating during the basketball tournament. So, as I said, I was concerned about Johnson's level of maturity and commitment to the program. So far, I have been pleasantly surprised. I hope it stays this way. Maybe he is one of those kids who needed to get away from the HS crowd to grow up a little bit.

 

[SJUgopher]

I certainly hope Johnson goes on to have a solid career with the Gophers. And, it's good to see one of the inner-city schools doing better at getting kids out for football.

But - I don't think I'm the only person with this opinion - I had some concerns/questions about Johnson going into this season. Johnson and his Mpls North teammates did not have a very good reputation for sportsmanship. I talked to a couple of coaches who played against North, and they said North was one of the least disciplined team they played. they also (in my opinion) did a lot of showboating during the basketball tournament. So, as I said, I was concerned about Johnson's level of maturity and commitment to the program. So far, I have been pleasantly surprised. I hope it stays this way. Maybe he is one of those kids who needed to get away from the HS crowd to grow up a little bit.

Sounds like thinly veiled racism.

 

[rivergopher]

Yep how it reads to me as well he trotted out the same crap during basketball season.

Sounds like thinly veiled racism.

 

[WorkingMyTailOff]

Complete bs, statement, you spoke to some anonymous "sources" who I would presume did not like getting their butts kicked. Kid volunteers in the community, and has done absolutely nothing but been a great kid. This is the type of crap that drives people nuts about message boards. He has done nothing to have his maturity level questioned. Obviously mature enough to handle starting in big 10 as evaluated by coaches who get paid a heck of a lot money to do so. Every article that comes out about him you come out with the same song and dance. Must have dunked on your kid or grandson, enough be happy he chose to stay home and as I said before is a great example for inner city kids.

I have also heard nothing about good things about Tyler.
Also very happy for the North High community that was very close to having their school close about 6 years ago (when they were down to about 80 total students).
It's exciting having a hometown star on the team and performing well.

 

[Taji34]

Look, schools have reputations, valid or not, but we shouldn't judge a person based on that. Judge them based on their actions. Maybe North did act like that, but maybe he didn't participate. Maybe he did, and Claeys has straightened him out. Maybe the whole claim WAS bs and just someone being a sore loser. We don't know. All we know is Tyler plays well, he's been gracious and sportmanlike, and there is nothing to make us believe that that won't continue.

Good for Tyler, and good for Minneapolis North, end of discussion.

 

[Keyser Söze]

I certainly hope Johnson goes on to have a solid career with the Gophers. And, it's good to see one of the inner-city schools doing better at getting kids out for football.

But - I don't think I'm the only person with this opinion - I had some concerns/questions about Johnson going into this season. Johnson and his Mpls North teammates did not have a very good reputation for sportsmanship. I talked to a couple of coaches who played against North, and they said North was one of the least disciplined team they played. they also (in my opinion) did a lot of showboating during the basketball tournament. So, as I said, I was concerned about Johnson's level of maturity and commitment to the program. So far, I have been pleasantly surprised. I hope it stays this way. Maybe he is one of those kids who needed to get away from the HS crowd to grow up a little bit.

Not sure why you think he needed to grow up. I've watched him play basketball more time than I can count and have never questioned his maturity. Also seemed like a good kid to me and that's part of the reason I'm so excited about how well he has done so far. One of my favorite players already.

 

[MNfootballfan]

I work the state football tournament for the MSHSL every fall. I "met" Tyler last year, our meeting was very brief, but he was very kind and respectful.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Super excited about this kids potential. Could be big time.

 

[die hard gopher]

I watched them play Mayor-Lutheran last year and I do recall him getting a 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty. I didn't see what he did or said nor saw anything too egregious from the rest of North. I'm sure he'll be fine though.

 

[gopherdudepart2]

Tyler Johnson and Jeff Jones had completely different home situations.

Thats really nice to see the affect he's had on North's participation numbers this year. I like seeing inner city kids like Tyler that stick it out in Minneapolis public schools do well later on. It also makes the Jeff Jones situation even more saddening to me as he was in the exact same position Tyler is in as an inner city kid who could have inspired a lot of hope for others.

I would not compare Tyler Johnson's situation to Jeff Jones. Johnson by all account grew up with a home where his parents were in his life, and is a well squared away kid involved in a lot of sports, volunteered in his community and was a role model for kids at his school.

Jeff Jones struggled getting qualified, was an academic risk before being admitted to Minnesota, who was staying on the couch of friends, coaches, and grandparents, and had a disruptive home life not having parents to stay with or a solid place to stay at. That kind of displacement, and not having parental mentors to help lead and guide you, has a huge impact on a person and their ability to cope and succeed. He Jones had a different background, had a lot of talent, and unfortunately headed down a path of unfortunate circumstances.

 

[adchester]

I certainly think the "unsportsmanlike" accusations come from sore losers being entirely outmatched. Watched quite a few North basketball games over the years as well as in the tournament and there was nothing that could possibly be seen as unsportsmanlike other than continuing to play hard and dunking and alleyooping with the game in hand. No taunting or anything. That isn't unsportsmanlike to me, any team would do that if they could. I went to a metro school and I remember us trying to win by 40 when we played out-state teams in non-conference.

 

[MaxyJR1]

When you average 48 points a game and win each game by 37.5 you can be perceived as unsportsmanlike. Then when you get smashed in championship game and take it poorly, you may be labeled as unsportsmanlike.

From all accounts Johnson was never the problem.


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[Iceland12]

I have also heard nothing about good things about Tyler.
Also very happy for the North High community that was very close to having their school close about 6 years ago (when they were down to about 80 total students).
It's exciting having a hometown star on the team and performing well.

Yep.

 

[GoldenRodents]

Tyler is great, and he is OUR guy. Sky-U-Mah!

 

[Tim Riggins]

Tyler is great, and he is OUR guy. Ski-U-Mah!

FIFY

 

[Pompous Elitist]

Sounds like thinly veiled racism.

Kids these days...

 

[die hard gopher]

I would not compare Tyler Johnson's situation to Jeff Jones. Johnson by all account grew up with a home where his parents were in his life, and is a well squared away kid involved in a lot of sports, volunteered in his community and was a role model for kids at his school.

Jeff Jones struggled getting qualified, was an academic risk before being admitted to Minnesota, who was staying on the couch of friends, coaches, and grandparents, and had a disruptive home life not having parents to stay with or a solid place to stay at. That kind of displacement, and not having parental mentors to help lead and guide you, has a huge impact on a person and their ability to cope and succeed. He Jones had a different background, had a lot of talent, and unfortunately headed down a path of
unfortunate circumstances.

There were some concerns a while ago that Tyler might not be academically eligible as well. Also Jeff did end up going to Washburn as opposed to North, a school where it would be harder to go down the path that he did.

I'm just saying that both guys had the opportunity to inspire hope to fellow inner city kids and impact their communities positively and it just seems unfortunate to me that Jeff, regardless of upbringing, was unable to do so considering what Tyler has done.

 

[alchemy2u]

Sounds like thinly veiled racism.

Sure seems like it to me. I don't recall you doubting the judgment of too many suburban or out state kids. It is the point I tried to make when you made a similar comment about him earlier.


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[Pompous Elitist]

Is it a full moon?

 

[Pompous Elitist]

Slandering the most level-headed poster on the site as a racist...

The World Health Organization's ICD-10 lists paranoid personality disorder as (F60.0) Paranoid personality disorder.

It is characterized by at least three of the following:
-excessive sensitivity to setbacks and rebuffs;
-tendency to bear grudges persistently, i.e. refusal to forgive insults and injuries or slights;
-suspiciousness and a pervasive tendency to distort experience by misconstruing the neutral or friendly actions of others as hostile or contemptuous;
-a combative and tenacious sense of personal rights out of keeping with the actual situation;
-recurrent suspicions, without justification, regarding sexual fidelity of spouse or sexual partner;
-tendency to experience excessive self-importance, manifest in a persistent self-referential attitude;
-preoccupation with unsubstantiated "conspiratorial" explanations of events both immediate to the patient and in the world at large.
Source: wiki

 

[WorkingMyTailOff]

Unbelievable how an article about a local kid who is doing well can turn into this conversation.

 

[jonnyganas]

Unbelievable how an article about a local kid who is doing well can turn into this conversation.

Agreed.

When the season is done, TJ6 will have had a dynamite B1G debut as a true freshman. Here's hoping that we won't have to keep asking who is going to step up at WR.

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[alchemy2u]

Unbelievable how an article about a local kid who is doing well can turn into this conversation.

+1000. Tyler is having a great start to his career and looks like he is going to be a great player. It is unfortunate when you have people raise unsubstantiated questions based upon where he lived!


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[atsgopher]

I certainly hope Johnson goes on to have a solid career with the Gophers. And, it's good to see one of the inner-city schools doing better at getting kids out for football.

But - I don't think I'm the only person with this opinion - I had some concerns/questions about Johnson going into this season. Johnson and his Mpls North teammates did not have a very good reputation for sportsmanship. I talked to a couple of coaches who played against North, and they said North was one of the least disciplined team they played. they also (in my opinion) did a lot of showboating during the basketball tournament. So, as I said, I was concerned about Johnson's level of maturity and commitment to the program. So far, I have been pleasantly surprised. I hope it stays this way. Maybe he is one of those kids who needed to get away from the HS crowd to grow up a little bit.

Your radar is off.

I had personal experience coaching Tyler (albeit briefly); and since his recruitment started, I've tried to convey that this kid has a great chance to be a captain, as long as he develops those skills (and I’d emphasize captain skills need to be practiced by anybody).

I can also attest to what has wow'd Claeys and the coaches; Tyler learns at an unbelievable rate. You can tell him something, and he can go do it. He will challenge a coach, because you'll run out of stuff to teach.

His dad deserves props too. He earned my respect right off the handshake, which is rare. Not many men have the courage to teach their kids the perseverance and honor that he taught his… 95% of Minnesota parents would have ran screaming from North High. Especially, 5 years ago. Tyler’s dad drew a line in the sand and helped bring it back from the dead (was slated to close). Tyler’s dad did it with someone that is more exceptional than anyone his age in the state. Yes, he could have been the best player at any school.

I'm not going to dismiss you as racist off hand. I generally give you props prior to this, but please consider some alternatives:

Maybe, Tyler was so mature, that he was able to propel his team to championships in multiple sports despite not having tons of disciplined teammates to rely upon….

Or just Maybe, you’re applying standards of behavior from a rather homogenized part of the state, to one that is much more culturally diverse.

Maybe you don’t quite understand the culture your writing about… In the City, it might get loud, but most times that means fun.
Some people revere disciplined systematic play and quiet confidence. You can count me as one of them. However, others like the spice and electricity within the game….. You know what, they’re not wrong, they’re able.

North won the State tourney and had fun doing it, Seems rather right to me.