Today's Sports Huddle was live at the Minnesota State Fair and Duane Bennett, Kim Royston, and Marqueis Gray were guests with coach Kill. The players were staying after the first half-hour segment and would be interviewed further. Comments from first segment:
1) USC: Tremendous tradition, program with great athletes. The key to the game: Worry (focus on) about our youngsters and come prepared to play the game.
2) Team depth: Depth is always a problem for all teams. . . . long season . . . never know when an opportunity will come . . . our job is to prepare and grow the players so they are prepared when an opportunity to play arises.
3) Kill's comments related to Bennett, Royston and Gray: Duane Bennett and Marqueis have done a great job in leading the team through the summer. To great laughter when he talked about Royston, "We're about the same age." Kim has gone through adversity and we need his leadership and he's stepped up to provide that important team ingredient. Kim has gotten after people whenever he's needed to.
4) The players introduced themselves: Duane Bennett graduated last spring with a major in sociology. He's currently in graduate school. He's from St. Louis, Mo and is a fifth year senior.
Kim Royston is from MInneapolis. He graduated last spring and seeking his master's degree in Sports Management. Marqueis Gray is from Indianapolis, IN and is on course to graduate next spring with a degree in Youth Studies.
5) Overcoming adversity: Royston - went up for an interception in spring ball 2010 and when he came down a bone was sticking out his leg. He didn't want to become a victim . . . granted a sixth year . . . wants to be a leader and is not taking anything for granted.
Bennett - tore his ACL in a game against Bowling Green in his sophomore season. Didn't want to be a victim . . . has gained experience and insight because of the adversity (injury).
Gray - suffered an wrist injury in the second game of his senior season and didn't play until a playoff game. Grateful for the chance to lead the team as a QB. in response to Sid's question about next week's game with USC, is more anxious than pressure . . . loves to compete . . . feels that is how the team and coaching staff is looking toward the game with the Trojans. (President Kaler is going out with the team - was said in the second segment).
6) Kill comments: "It's Minnesota's (state) team." They support us, they come to the stadium . . . we have great fans and great passion. We have to give them a great team and product and play with passion.
7 We've had a tough training camp . . . day off today and then back on the field preparing for Saturday's game. Key to team's success is stability. The team has had too much of a revolving door syndrome. We have great assistant coaches that have been together for a long time. Successful programs/organizations don't have revolving door of leaders.
8) Next week's game: Kill said he is a follower of Paul "Bear" Bryant." Bryant said, "Sooner or later you've got throw them out there and see what we've got." That's how they're looking at the upcoming game. He went on to say that all the games are important and they are striving to get better each day.
Sid, during the segment, spoke positively about the team and players. He said they're kids, and then proceeded to criticize fellow sports writers (geniuses) that rip the kids. They're kids that struggle to meet the demands in the classroom and the practice fields. He held the three guests (Royston, Bennett, and Gray) up as what's good about college football.
Go Gophers!!
1) USC: Tremendous tradition, program with great athletes. The key to the game: Worry (focus on) about our youngsters and come prepared to play the game.
2) Team depth: Depth is always a problem for all teams. . . . long season . . . never know when an opportunity will come . . . our job is to prepare and grow the players so they are prepared when an opportunity to play arises.
3) Kill's comments related to Bennett, Royston and Gray: Duane Bennett and Marqueis have done a great job in leading the team through the summer. To great laughter when he talked about Royston, "We're about the same age." Kim has gone through adversity and we need his leadership and he's stepped up to provide that important team ingredient. Kim has gotten after people whenever he's needed to.
4) The players introduced themselves: Duane Bennett graduated last spring with a major in sociology. He's currently in graduate school. He's from St. Louis, Mo and is a fifth year senior.
Kim Royston is from MInneapolis. He graduated last spring and seeking his master's degree in Sports Management. Marqueis Gray is from Indianapolis, IN and is on course to graduate next spring with a degree in Youth Studies.
5) Overcoming adversity: Royston - went up for an interception in spring ball 2010 and when he came down a bone was sticking out his leg. He didn't want to become a victim . . . granted a sixth year . . . wants to be a leader and is not taking anything for granted.
Bennett - tore his ACL in a game against Bowling Green in his sophomore season. Didn't want to be a victim . . . has gained experience and insight because of the adversity (injury).
Gray - suffered an wrist injury in the second game of his senior season and didn't play until a playoff game. Grateful for the chance to lead the team as a QB. in response to Sid's question about next week's game with USC, is more anxious than pressure . . . loves to compete . . . feels that is how the team and coaching staff is looking toward the game with the Trojans. (President Kaler is going out with the team - was said in the second segment).
6) Kill comments: "It's Minnesota's (state) team." They support us, they come to the stadium . . . we have great fans and great passion. We have to give them a great team and product and play with passion.
7 We've had a tough training camp . . . day off today and then back on the field preparing for Saturday's game. Key to team's success is stability. The team has had too much of a revolving door syndrome. We have great assistant coaches that have been together for a long time. Successful programs/organizations don't have revolving door of leaders.
8) Next week's game: Kill said he is a follower of Paul "Bear" Bryant." Bryant said, "Sooner or later you've got throw them out there and see what we've got." That's how they're looking at the upcoming game. He went on to say that all the games are important and they are striving to get better each day.
Sid, during the segment, spoke positively about the team and players. He said they're kids, and then proceeded to criticize fellow sports writers (geniuses) that rip the kids. They're kids that struggle to meet the demands in the classroom and the practice fields. He held the three guests (Royston, Bennett, and Gray) up as what's good about college football.
Go Gophers!!
