Today’s notes/recap of the Sports Huddle with Jerry Kill:
1) Sid opened the segment talking about the recent NFL Draft. Minnesota had four players taken in the draft and Ohio State had five players selected for the next level:
Kill responded with pride when he answered Sid: “It was a good day for our kids, the state, and school . . . It’s good to see good things happen to good people.”
2) Sid asked if the Gopher coaches are recruiting now:
“Yeah. Right now guys out over the country and Minnesota (evaluating and watching high school spring practices and track meets). ” replied Kill. “Spend a lot of time on the phone.” Once again, Kill said, at this time, he’s allowed only one phone call with a recruit; however, a recruit can place a phone call as often as he wants.
Kill – referencing the success of the Gopher’s four players in the recent NFL Draft – said they need to continue to recruit players that will upgrade the team: “Need to get seven to eight in the draft.”
Kill’s final comment to Sid’s question was related to the importance of reaching out to Minnesota citizens and the coaches’ busy schedules during the off-season, “Getting involved in the community.”
3) Sid asked Coach Kill for his thoughts on Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delaney’s proposal that freshmen not being eligible for play during their freshmen year in college:
“I wish I had the answer . . . want to do what’s best for the athletes . . . everyone’s searching to do what is best for the kids . . . It’s more about the students,” said kill.
Kill said there are some that think the players need a year to get acclimated to the college environment and its academic rigors. However, Kill also quickly added that academics for the Gopher team has improved dramatically, “Our kids are doing well.” The team has a 3.0 APR.
4) Sid asked if the college players should be paid:
In his response, Kill mentioned the money that is coming in from college football. He said the players don’t have summer jobs and they’re very busy with “Captain Practices and their coursework during summer months. As a result, he believes the players need some money, “Getting a stipend is a good thing.”
5) Sid said a national publication spoke highly of the Gopher offensive line. According to Sid, they’re the third best offensive line in the Big Ten – behind Ohio State and Michigan State:
“We’ll see. You have to do it on the field,” answered Kill, “younger guys must step up.” Additionally, Kill said they need to have Jon Christenson “at hundred percent,” which he expects will be the case.
Kill, once again, emphasized that he does not put much stock in pre-season predictions. Nevertheless, they’ll let the players know about the positive statement made concerning their offensive line, and the importance of living up to expectations.
6) Sid asked if this year’s recruits are on campus:
Kill said most of the recruits will be on campus June 14 – start of summer school. However, Kill said there are a lot of variations in school schedules of closures and graduations. Also, having all the recruits successfully complete the required coursework in high school is a concern: “Always worry about a player getting senioritis (taking time off from his coursework).”
7) Dave Mona mentioned a successful epilepsy awareness event that occurred this past week:
“It was a great event . . . Rebecca got an award (for her work) . . . I’m proud of her,” responded Kill. One could hear in Kill’s voice his pride of his wife’s efforts in epilepsy awareness, and that he was pleased with the awareness event and recognition. Kill said his wife works harder and does more than he does in efforts to counteract epilepsy.
8) Dave Mona asked a follow-up question to Kill’s earlier comment about having only one phone call to recruits; whereas, there are no limitations on phone calls made to coaches by the recruits:
Social media has impacted the recruiting process greatly, according to Kill, especially facebook. In some cases, someone might use facebook as means of contacting a recruit and encouraging him to “call the coach.”
Kill said football needs to be like basketball in rules dealing with recruits and what they can do in recruiting and coaching wise with their players in the off season. Kill said the basketball coaches are more cohesive as a group “that get things done.”
9) Sid asked what the players are doing since the end of spring drills:
“They’re under our watch after spring (practices),” replied Kill. He said they’re busy in the weight room, speed training, and getting ready for finals.
At the end of the second semester, players will be off (vacation) until June 14. He said many of the players will be at their homes during the break; however, he added that some players are staying on campus in May – “that can be a good or bad thing.” The players need a break from football.
10) Dave Mona asked the final question, which was related to Philip Nelson’s transfer to South Alabama:
Kill was positive in his response to Dave’s’s question: “That’s a great place, South Alabama . . . (we) wish him luck . . . He’ll do well.”