Coach Kill’s responses and comments to the questions of Sid Hartman and Dave Mona on today’s Sports Huddle:
1) Sid opened the show asking how many injured players will be available for spring ball – those that underwent surgery: Kill replied, “No. They won’t be ready.” Then he said that maybe a couple or 3 or 4 would participate in practices. He listed that status of the following injured players:
a) Derrick Wells is out. Wells had shoulder surgery.
b) Jonah Pirsig had a wrist injury; however, he will participate in spring drills.
c) Alex Bisch is recovering from an ankle injury and will be withheld from spring ball.
d) Jon Christenson is recovering from his injury and will not participate this spring.
e) Kj Maye is recovering from a groin injury. He will practice this spring.
f) Coach mentioned a defensive back; however, I didn’t catch the name.
2) Sid asked about spring practices being held earlier this year: Kill said they’d have 5 or 6 practices before spring break and then finish up after spring break – Kill didn’t have the date for the spring game. Kill said having an earlier starting time for spring practices would allow some additional time in the weight room. More importantly, however, by starting and finishing spring drills early, players that are injured have a greater time period to get healed for the start of fall practices.
3) Sid asked if quarterback Chris Streveler would be moving to wide receiver: Kill quickly responded, “No, not right now.” He added that the best and most important thing is to see how he recovers from his wrist injury, “We’ll decide that later.” Kill then said it also depends on how this year’s recruiting ends up and evaluation of personnel by the coaching staff after the National Signing Day.
4) Sid asked Kill to compare Streveler with the 2 current quarterbacks – Nelson and Leidner: Kill quickly replied: “Not a fair question, hasn’t had the reps (that Nelson and Leidner have had) . . . We’re going to get our best on the field.”
5) Dave Mona asked about the recruiting “dead period” and how it’s going in recruiting: Coach Kill and his coaching staff are heading to Indianapolis today for the National Coaches Convention, which ends Wednesday. They’ll hit the road recruiting (end of dead period –can contact recruits) the following day. They’ll be on the road recruiting up to Signing Day. He finished the question: “Bring people here that fit what we do.”
6) Dave Mona asked if the coaching staff will be visiting other schools (coaching staffs) as they’ve done since their arrival at Minnesota: Kill confirmed they will and they’ll try to set some dates up during the National Coaches Convention. The visits occur after the National Signing Day – before and after spring drills. He said the convention is good for networking as there are more than 3,000 division one coaches at the assembly. He also said they’ll bring in some coaches as well, including NFL coaches. He specifically mentioned Auburn as a team that interests them because of their use of the fullback position.
7) Sid asked if they’re losing any players: Kill mentioned one player (didn’t catch his name) because he has graduated and is entering the corporate world. He sounded happy with the player’s good fortune – graduating and being employed. As to other players leaving the program, Kill said it’s too early to tell. They’ll know more when school resumes. He went onto say that they have a hundred players and playing time is a prime consideration for some of the players when it comes to staying or moving on to another school for a chance to play collegiate ball.
8) Sid asked if they have any walk-ons committed (knowing that he can’t give names at this time): “We’ll have several . . . we’re working on that now.” He also said they’re in the process of getting some of the walk-ons into school (paperwork). He said walk-ons are an integral part of their program and it’s important that they “treat them fairly.” He said they have a reputation of getting walk-ons that get to play and receive scholarships.
9) A caller asked if they receive calls from potential recruits: Kill said they receive information from recruits and others about potential recruits all the time, “50 to 60 emails a day.” Kill stressed that they receive a lot their information about recruits from high school coaches. (He said the most effective way of getting information about recruits is from the high school coaches.) He also stressed the importance of Junior Days, an opportunity to meet high school juniors and sophomores and show them around the campus. And, of course, she stressed, again, the importance of their summer camps (evaluation of high school players/recruits).
10) Mona followed up about getting players that fly under the radar: “Absolutely, once or twice a year.” Kill was referring to all the information that comes across their desks . . . one could work 24 hours a day on recruiting information, i.e. coaching tips, tapes, and even parents, As an example, when he was at NIU a father drove up from his home in St. Louis with a tape believing his son could play for the Huskies. The player from St. Louis could and did play for the Huskies.
11) Mona asked about the kicking game now that Chris Hawthorne has finished his career at Minnesota: Kill sounded quite positive about the kicking game. He said they redshirted 2 or 3 kickers that’ll compete for the kicking position. Additionally, they’re also looking for a long snapper and punter. They’re always on the lookout for the special team players to bring in: punters, kickers, and long snappers.
12) Sid asked if there would be any coaching position changes: “I don’t think so . . . do our best to keep staff intact.” He then said he’ll be busy trying to find jobs for departing graduate assistants (an important part of his job). He also said about coaches changes when they occur: “Can’t knock anybody trying to improve their lives . . . My job, help our own.” He added he’s excited that they’re excited that they were able to find a job for a staff member; however, he didn’t release his name (time not right), “We’re excited for him.”
13) Sid asked about the annual high school coaches’ clinic: Kill said he didn’t want to release any information – he preferred to leave disclosure information about the clinic to the high school coaches that are putting it together, “Don’t want to step on any toes.” He added, it’s their clinic not Kill’s. He did say, however, that Coach O’Brien, of his staff, works with the high school coaches. He mentioned coach Ron Stolski as playing pivotal role in organizing the clinic, as well as other coaches, “They do a great job . . . it continues to grow.”
Note: Next Sunday and up to National Signing Day, Coach Kill will be on the Sports Huddle at 10:05 a.m. (Mona called it “Ten to Ten.”) and will be on until 10:15 a.m. The Sunday following the National Signing Day for football recruits, Kill will be return to the 9:30 a.m. for the full half-hour.
Go Gophers
1) Sid opened the show asking how many injured players will be available for spring ball – those that underwent surgery: Kill replied, “No. They won’t be ready.” Then he said that maybe a couple or 3 or 4 would participate in practices. He listed that status of the following injured players:
a) Derrick Wells is out. Wells had shoulder surgery.
b) Jonah Pirsig had a wrist injury; however, he will participate in spring drills.
c) Alex Bisch is recovering from an ankle injury and will be withheld from spring ball.
d) Jon Christenson is recovering from his injury and will not participate this spring.
e) Kj Maye is recovering from a groin injury. He will practice this spring.
f) Coach mentioned a defensive back; however, I didn’t catch the name.
2) Sid asked about spring practices being held earlier this year: Kill said they’d have 5 or 6 practices before spring break and then finish up after spring break – Kill didn’t have the date for the spring game. Kill said having an earlier starting time for spring practices would allow some additional time in the weight room. More importantly, however, by starting and finishing spring drills early, players that are injured have a greater time period to get healed for the start of fall practices.
3) Sid asked if quarterback Chris Streveler would be moving to wide receiver: Kill quickly responded, “No, not right now.” He added that the best and most important thing is to see how he recovers from his wrist injury, “We’ll decide that later.” Kill then said it also depends on how this year’s recruiting ends up and evaluation of personnel by the coaching staff after the National Signing Day.
4) Sid asked Kill to compare Streveler with the 2 current quarterbacks – Nelson and Leidner: Kill quickly replied: “Not a fair question, hasn’t had the reps (that Nelson and Leidner have had) . . . We’re going to get our best on the field.”
5) Dave Mona asked about the recruiting “dead period” and how it’s going in recruiting: Coach Kill and his coaching staff are heading to Indianapolis today for the National Coaches Convention, which ends Wednesday. They’ll hit the road recruiting (end of dead period –can contact recruits) the following day. They’ll be on the road recruiting up to Signing Day. He finished the question: “Bring people here that fit what we do.”
6) Dave Mona asked if the coaching staff will be visiting other schools (coaching staffs) as they’ve done since their arrival at Minnesota: Kill confirmed they will and they’ll try to set some dates up during the National Coaches Convention. The visits occur after the National Signing Day – before and after spring drills. He said the convention is good for networking as there are more than 3,000 division one coaches at the assembly. He also said they’ll bring in some coaches as well, including NFL coaches. He specifically mentioned Auburn as a team that interests them because of their use of the fullback position.
7) Sid asked if they’re losing any players: Kill mentioned one player (didn’t catch his name) because he has graduated and is entering the corporate world. He sounded happy with the player’s good fortune – graduating and being employed. As to other players leaving the program, Kill said it’s too early to tell. They’ll know more when school resumes. He went onto say that they have a hundred players and playing time is a prime consideration for some of the players when it comes to staying or moving on to another school for a chance to play collegiate ball.
8) Sid asked if they have any walk-ons committed (knowing that he can’t give names at this time): “We’ll have several . . . we’re working on that now.” He also said they’re in the process of getting some of the walk-ons into school (paperwork). He said walk-ons are an integral part of their program and it’s important that they “treat them fairly.” He said they have a reputation of getting walk-ons that get to play and receive scholarships.
9) A caller asked if they receive calls from potential recruits: Kill said they receive information from recruits and others about potential recruits all the time, “50 to 60 emails a day.” Kill stressed that they receive a lot their information about recruits from high school coaches. (He said the most effective way of getting information about recruits is from the high school coaches.) He also stressed the importance of Junior Days, an opportunity to meet high school juniors and sophomores and show them around the campus. And, of course, she stressed, again, the importance of their summer camps (evaluation of high school players/recruits).
10) Mona followed up about getting players that fly under the radar: “Absolutely, once or twice a year.” Kill was referring to all the information that comes across their desks . . . one could work 24 hours a day on recruiting information, i.e. coaching tips, tapes, and even parents, As an example, when he was at NIU a father drove up from his home in St. Louis with a tape believing his son could play for the Huskies. The player from St. Louis could and did play for the Huskies.
11) Mona asked about the kicking game now that Chris Hawthorne has finished his career at Minnesota: Kill sounded quite positive about the kicking game. He said they redshirted 2 or 3 kickers that’ll compete for the kicking position. Additionally, they’re also looking for a long snapper and punter. They’re always on the lookout for the special team players to bring in: punters, kickers, and long snappers.
12) Sid asked if there would be any coaching position changes: “I don’t think so . . . do our best to keep staff intact.” He then said he’ll be busy trying to find jobs for departing graduate assistants (an important part of his job). He also said about coaches changes when they occur: “Can’t knock anybody trying to improve their lives . . . My job, help our own.” He added he’s excited that they’re excited that they were able to find a job for a staff member; however, he didn’t release his name (time not right), “We’re excited for him.”
13) Sid asked about the annual high school coaches’ clinic: Kill said he didn’t want to release any information – he preferred to leave disclosure information about the clinic to the high school coaches that are putting it together, “Don’t want to step on any toes.” He added, it’s their clinic not Kill’s. He did say, however, that Coach O’Brien, of his staff, works with the high school coaches. He mentioned coach Ron Stolski as playing pivotal role in organizing the clinic, as well as other coaches, “They do a great job . . . it continues to grow.”
Note: Next Sunday and up to National Signing Day, Coach Kill will be on the Sports Huddle at 10:05 a.m. (Mona called it “Ten to Ten.”) and will be on until 10:15 a.m. The Sunday following the National Signing Day for football recruits, Kill will be return to the 9:30 a.m. for the full half-hour.
Go Gophers
