Mike Max filled in for Dave Mona on the Sports Huddle. Coach Kill's responses to Sid and Mike's questions are as follows:
1) Coach Kill opened the show saying he was meeting with recruits and said they were continuing to talk about last night's exciting basketball victory over the Illini.
2) Max wanted to know how he'd rank this year's recruiting class: Kill immediately responded saying this is "Nerve-wracking time." (He repeated that feeling at other times during the interview.) Kill went onto say if everything works out, "We've improved ourselves athletically and skill-wise." He said, "We need to hold them in there."
3) Sid asked about the team's speed: There are eight early enrollees in this year's class and six of the 10 fastest players on the team are from the newly arrived group including 2 true-freshman. He said he's been locked-in in recruiting, but the strength and conditioning coaches have passed on the information. He said they were pleased with the results. "You've got to be able to run at all positions." He then said, "Speed runs you out of a lot a mistakes." He mentioned the team speed of the SEC and specifically LSU, Alabama and he mentioned West Virginia as a team with good speed.
4) Marquies Gray: "He's going to get better and better. We're looking forward to next year and spring." He's about 242 pounds and fast.
5) Alipate: They convinced him to move to TE, which he'll be experimenting with the move this spring. The strength and conditioning coaches are pleased with his effort at weight reduction. He's lost 30 pounds!
6) Recruiting style or method of replacing players: Put best athletes at certain positions. Can't fill all the positions of need because of numbers available. Focused on TE and DBs. He stressed it's extremely important you develop the players you recruit and sign. He also said they try to recruit a couple players that have been offered scholarships to 1AA (FCS) schools to the U. (I believe he was referring to walkons, a term he doesn't like.) He doesn't use the term walkon or preferred walkon, "I call them team members that will earn scholarships." Sid asked how many walkons received schollies last year: Kill responded by saying four scholarships were awarded. He plans to bring in 8-10 walkons in this year's class. "Every kid we recruit meets with me." He tries to ascertain if they can fit in and add to the team's chemistry. (Looks toward the recruits character, too.)
7) Once again Kill sang the praise of the academic center/staff. They put pressure on the players during the season so as not to neglect their coursework, which resulted in the team's academic success (3.01 GPA).
8) Signing day party at TCF Stadium starting at 6:00 p.m. Suggested the listeners check with the U's website (gophersports.com) for additional information.
9) "Dead period" Monday and Tuesday, They can make only one phone call per recruit tonight. "Hope we can keep all the players on board." He said again that this is the nerve-wrackng time in recruiting. Nothing is firm until the recruit signs on the dotted line.
10) Sid asked about Beal, Marcus Jones and Stoudermire and their phyiscal condition/status: Beal is continuing his rehab and will not participate in spring drills. Jones and Stoudermire will be available for spring practice.
Go Gophers!!
1) Coach Kill opened the show saying he was meeting with recruits and said they were continuing to talk about last night's exciting basketball victory over the Illini.
2) Max wanted to know how he'd rank this year's recruiting class: Kill immediately responded saying this is "Nerve-wracking time." (He repeated that feeling at other times during the interview.) Kill went onto say if everything works out, "We've improved ourselves athletically and skill-wise." He said, "We need to hold them in there."
3) Sid asked about the team's speed: There are eight early enrollees in this year's class and six of the 10 fastest players on the team are from the newly arrived group including 2 true-freshman. He said he's been locked-in in recruiting, but the strength and conditioning coaches have passed on the information. He said they were pleased with the results. "You've got to be able to run at all positions." He then said, "Speed runs you out of a lot a mistakes." He mentioned the team speed of the SEC and specifically LSU, Alabama and he mentioned West Virginia as a team with good speed.
4) Marquies Gray: "He's going to get better and better. We're looking forward to next year and spring." He's about 242 pounds and fast.
5) Alipate: They convinced him to move to TE, which he'll be experimenting with the move this spring. The strength and conditioning coaches are pleased with his effort at weight reduction. He's lost 30 pounds!
6) Recruiting style or method of replacing players: Put best athletes at certain positions. Can't fill all the positions of need because of numbers available. Focused on TE and DBs. He stressed it's extremely important you develop the players you recruit and sign. He also said they try to recruit a couple players that have been offered scholarships to 1AA (FCS) schools to the U. (I believe he was referring to walkons, a term he doesn't like.) He doesn't use the term walkon or preferred walkon, "I call them team members that will earn scholarships." Sid asked how many walkons received schollies last year: Kill responded by saying four scholarships were awarded. He plans to bring in 8-10 walkons in this year's class. "Every kid we recruit meets with me." He tries to ascertain if they can fit in and add to the team's chemistry. (Looks toward the recruits character, too.)
7) Once again Kill sang the praise of the academic center/staff. They put pressure on the players during the season so as not to neglect their coursework, which resulted in the team's academic success (3.01 GPA).
8) Signing day party at TCF Stadium starting at 6:00 p.m. Suggested the listeners check with the U's website (gophersports.com) for additional information.
9) "Dead period" Monday and Tuesday, They can make only one phone call per recruit tonight. "Hope we can keep all the players on board." He said again that this is the nerve-wrackng time in recruiting. Nothing is firm until the recruit signs on the dotted line.
10) Sid asked about Beal, Marcus Jones and Stoudermire and their phyiscal condition/status: Beal is continuing his rehab and will not participate in spring drills. Jones and Stoudermire will be available for spring practice.
Go Gophers!!
