GH:Adam Kelly Responds to Criticism, Kill Hiring and Reaching out to Temple and Leach

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The recent hiring of Gopher coach Jerry Kill was a process full of twists and turns, rumors and speculation. It also brought some interesting plots including the public feuding between a group of former Gopher football players and school administration. Nowhere was this more intense and odd than former Gopher punter Adam Kelly reaching out to Temple officials warning them that Joel Maturi may be reaching out to contact Al Golden. This unique move by Kelly created a firestorm of criticism and threw another crazy twist in the coaching search.

Kelly’s actions created outrage amongst Gopher fans and administrators. Now that Kill is on board leading Gold Country, GopherHole caught up with Kelly to find out if he regrets his actions, what his intentions were and whether or not he supports the new Gopher coach.

http://www.forums.gopherhole.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1244
 

I can't imagine Joel Maturi is the only AD to ever meet with a coach without notifying that prospective coaches AD. Contacting Temple via email seems to be a little over the top to me. In the middle of the article the guy sounds like a total tool but by the end he doesn't sound quite as bad. I'm glad he will still support the team.
 

Really do not care for this guy.

Thanks for the interview.
 

Nice job. Fair and straight questioning. His responses, IMHO, revealed some misdirected angst.
 

I would like to commend Rob for this interview. Rob did not throw softball questions at Kelly, in fact, Rob's tough questions basically brought out the truth, what Kelly really is, a "jilted lover" who acted like a little baby because he didn't get any say, or the coach he wanted. I didn't think it was possible, but this interview makes Kelly look even more petty & childish than when the story first broke.

Great work, Rob.
 


SelectionSunday said:
I would like to commend Rob for this interview. Rob did not throw softball questions at Kelly, in fact, Rob's tough questions basically brought out the truth, what Kelly really is, a "jilted lover" who acted like a little baby because he didn't get any say, or the coach he wanted. I didn't think it was possible, but this interview makes Kelly look even more petty & childish than when the story first broke.

Great work, Rob.
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+1 Million. Outstanding, Rob.
 

Tricks said:
I can't imagine Joel Maturi is the only AD to ever meet with a coach without notifying that prospective coaches AD. Contacting Temple via email seems to be a little over the top to me. In the middle of the article the guy sounds like a total tool but by the end he doesn't sound quite as bad. I'm glad he will still support the team.
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He's not even close to the only one, this happens all the time, Maturi was just sloppy about it lol.

I wonder if Kelly is the one who pushed Leach to go all public about wanting the U job, knowing that he isn't a candidate for any job, really. It really put Maturi in a bad spot, and plus, gives Leach more ammo for his lawsuit.
 

I think the first sentence "The former players deserved a say in the process" kinda says it all. I agree with 97 on this. The interview sounds like someone full of his own self importance. It is one thing to have an opinion, and I can see where Maturi needs to be accountable, but "deserve a say" is not the same thing as controlling who is hired.

Leach has a whole lot of baggage that Kelly just blows off because they are friends. Maturi has one on Kelly then because Kelly would not hire Chryst for that very reason. There is a whole lot more to the coaching search then hiring a friend and who is to say Maturi was all that unethical. Search firms do their work and agents do theirs. And maybe the school did give permission. For a school to say they did may create unrest with the team so they want to hide that.
 

Good interview!

Should have asked him if he's responsible for helping to spread Petersen rumors. And if so, what were his motivations for that.
 



Monty519 said:
He's not even close to the only one, this happens all the time, Maturi was just sloppy about it lol.

I wonder if Kelly is the one who pushed Leach to go all public about wanting the U job, knowing that he isn't a candidate for any job, really. It really put Maturi in a bad spot, and plus, gives Leach more ammo for his lawsuit.
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Kelly does come across as a tool for Leach doesn't he?
 

I would have generally questioned against interviewing Kelly, just because he is no more than an immature, disgruntled player -- he has no position with the University, boosters, or even with Save Gopher Football -- but I think Rob Litt delivered some great questions that showed how much a crackpot Kelly is after all.

Well done.
 

Adam Kelly didn't just hurt Joel Maturi and the process by doing this. He most likely did cause some coaches to say no, but not for the reasons HE thinks. Say I am a prospective coach, and I have talked to the search firm or Joel about the job, before my season is over, without my AD's knowledge, and even agreed to the job despite all of this with the agreement with Joel being none of this comes out and we both talk about how there was no contact made.

Now, I see a former punter exposing people who talked to Joel mid season, (I doubt Joel flies to San Diego and surprises Hoke, I'm sure Hoke knew about it and just didn't tell anyone) Well now, Hoke looks bad for talking about taking a job mid season without telling his AD. And if I am that prospective coach (let's say Edsell) and I have this agreement with Maturi, well, I don't want to ruin my public image, image with my old school, image with my new fans, by being someone who does things in a "classless" way. I can't imagine an AD jumping at the chance to hire coaches with the reputation of negotiating deals during a season without informing anyone, or recruits wanting to play for a coach with that reputation.

I know it seems unlikely, but in college coaching where reputation is pretty much everything (ask Mike Leach) and no one wants their public perception ruined by Adam Kelly and therefore doesn't take the job, and starts talking about how they contacted me and I immediately told them no thanks! I swear I did! I wouldn't quit on me team! I would tell my AD if I were talking about other jobs, honest!
 

Thid chump needs to get off his high horse and realize he was a PUNTER.. move on with your life son quit reliving the glory days and remove your nose from places it shouldnt be
 



I wonder if Leach will return any of Adams calls now that he didn't get the job. :)

This guy has issues and sounds unstable. If this is who the former players have chosen as their champion I would suggest finding a new spokesperson.
 

This kid has no idea how these types of searches take place. It is common to contact coaches through agents, etc. during the regular season. His only involvement with the U since playing is having 4 season tickets, so do I, based on his logic I should have a vote too???
They didn't and shouldn't have a say in the matter - they are not affiliated with the school. Maturi is a dink, we all know that, but these guys are out of line and need to go away.
 

What credentials does Adam Kelly have to be a part of the hiring of the next Gopher football coach? This guy has to be one of the most arrogant PUNTERS I have ever heard of. I wish some former players would come out and say how against they are of Kelly's actions. I am a U graduate, just like he is, Maturi didn't ask me for my opinion. I also coach middle school football, and probably have more knowledge of the sport than this clown! I am just glad he isn't my insurance agent, I have more important things to do than look for a new agent.
 

Bleed

I agree with Selection Sunday above. You didnt pussy foot around with your questions as most journalists do. You went right at him. That was one excellent and pointed interview.
 

Some of his answers reminds me of when two kids get into a fight. One says "he hit me" and the other says "he hit me first". Just because the first kid hit the other one, doesn't make it right to retaliate. Even if Maturi should be fired, his actions are still embarrassing and did more harm than good.

I also now believe that Kelly probably did push for Leach to publicly say he is interested in the MN job. Kelly probably knew that Leach had no chance of being hired, so all that did was make fans even more mad at Maturi. Kelly has an agenda, no doubt about it.
 

Nice Job, Rob. Your questions helped us all see what this guy really is. An unrepentant, petulant child. Any idiot that would call an at best business acquaintance know for three or four weeks as a "friend" probably has no friends.

Maturi can be called many things accurately. I would not put "unethical" on that list.

Well done.
 


tjgesquire said:
This kid has no idea how these types of searches take place. It is common to contact coaches through agents, etc. during the regular season. His only involvement with the U since playing is having 4 season tickets, so do I, based on his logic I should have a vote too???
They didn't and shouldn't have a say in the matter - they are not affiliated with the school. Maturi is a dink, we all know that, but these guys are out of line and need to go away.
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I don't have the link, but I think one of the guys operating savegopherfootball.com did come out and say they were not a part of his efforts and did not endorse it.

Here is a statement from their website concerning the hiring of Kill anyway along with some info on him.

The hundreds of former players represented by Save Gopher Football would like to wish Gopher coach Kill, his staff and players the very best in the coming 2011 season. Our intentions are to assist him in every way to bring a new vision and direction to the Gopher Football program. We look forward to the opportunity to meet with him at his earliest convenience.

We want to see the Gold back in Gopher Football.
 

What a schmuck. He looks even more childish now than he did before. The level of unwarranted self-importance this guy has is positively mindboggling. You're a former punter - you aren't entitled to jack *&^!#*&^!#*&^!#*&^!#. So he's "known" Leach for 3-4 weeks and calls him a close friend? Apparently his definition of "close friend" differs from that of everyone else on the planet.

As much of a dink as Maturi is, I'm eternally grateful that this chucklehead had no say in the hiring process.
 

AuggieGopher said:
Thid chump needs to get off his high horse and realize he was a PUNTER.. move on with your life son quit reliving the glory days and remove your nose from places it shouldnt be
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Being a punter has no bearing on this discussion. He's an M Man, and this group COULD have been involved had Matrui and Bruininks reached out to them, which they did not. It is what it is, and it isn't or wasn't going to go away simply by ignoring it or trying to sweep it under the rug. The fact that these former players felt ignored is what, in my opinion, triggered this whole issue. It's ok to disagree, but to ignore them and just send them "form" emails in reply to their requests for a meeting is not acceptable. It needed to be addressed from the beginning of the process. I think one of the sports scribes in town said this best as well, Matrui does NOT like suggestions, period, which is a HUGE mistake. I've sent many many ideas to him over the years and not once did he ever come back to me and say "that's a great idea, i think we'll give it a try". He always just sent me an email explaing why it couldn't be done. The man has no vision or ability to think out of the box whatsoever.
 

go4rob said:
Being a punter has no bearing on this discussion. He's an M Man, and this group COULD have been involved had Matrui and Bruininks reached out to them, which they did not. It is what it is, and it isn't or wasn't going to go away simply by ignoring it or trying to sweep it under the rug. The fact that these former players felt ignored is what, in my opinion, triggered this whole issue. It's ok to disagree, but to ignore them and just send them "form" emails in reply to their requests for a meeting is not acceptable. It needed to be addressed from the beginning of the process. I think one of the sports scribes in town said this best as well, Matrui does NOT like suggestions, period, which is a HUGE mistake. I've sent many many ideas to him over the years and not once did he ever come back to me and say "that's a great idea, i think we'll give it a try". He always just sent me an email explaing why it couldn't be done. The man has no visionor ability to think out of the box whatsoever.
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It kinda depends on how they approached Bruinicks and Maturi as well. The whole attitude seemed like attack and discredit from the word go and in regard to the hiring process what were they really going to contribute anyway other then trying to pressure the U to hire their recommendation?

It is one thing to contribute information and question agendas, it is another thing to pressure the hiring process.
 



His political dodge of the Tubby/Kentucky AD question proves his selfishness. I would have liked to ask him "If the U did not contact UK's AD prior to talking to Tubby, would you want his contract be voided?" He would have choked on that... I'm sure he does want a great coach but is just trying to draw attention to himself for whatever reason.

Trying to re-live the 'glory days' when he was (mildly) relevant.
 

The Punter does come off sounding like a Poser...and the Temple thing was ridiculous. That said, I don't disagree with him or the savegopherfootball group for not wanting Maturi to lead this search. The man is a dope...and we just spent $200K plus to hire a coach that we could have hired with a free phone call from someones cell.

Here is how the call would have went...

(JM)Hi, is this Jerry?
(JK) Yes
(JM) Hi Jerry, this is Joel Maturi, the AD with the U of MN. How are you?
(JK)Yes I would love a 300% raise and to be the next head coach at the U!
(JM)Great, I'll send the plane.
 


Does anyone have a picture of this fool? It would be nice to know what he looks like if we cross paths at the stadium.

The fact that I have to ask this should be a hint that he should have no say in who our coach is.
 

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