Coach Jerry Kill's comments and responses on today's Sports Huddle:
1) Sid opened the show by asking about the difference of this year's team and last year's group at the end of the season: "It's kind of an amazing story," said Kill. "We came up short against a tough team . . . (Minnesota had possession time) 38 minutes to 21 minutes - 70 to 50 snaps - red zone three times . . . we didn't finish . . . did a lot of good things . . . give them credit, they stiffened up (when Minnesota got into the red zone)."
Kill finished up saying, "Played hard and continue to get better . . . (now) need to win the bowl game."
2) Sid asked if he knew where they'd be playing (bowl game): Kill quickly responded, "No idea . . BCS needs to be played out (conference championships) - Wisconsin got beat yesterday. Need to win bowl game . . . we're getting better and move forward."
3) Sid made a negative comment about the Gophers passing game: Kill quickly and tersely responded, "Played two good teams (Wisconsin and Michigan State)." Kill sounded pleased with the play of the team's young receivers, "Young receivers did a good job . . . missed some passes . . . whole team needs to get better."
Kill then turned his attention to the start of the second half when Minnesota was trailing 7-3, "Michigan State ran two picks," on their touchdown drive and went ahead 14-3. Kill said their second touchdown was big, especially against a very good defensive team as the Spartans.
Mona followed up by asking what the difference was between their picks and what was called against the Gophers in the Nebraska game. Kill's immediate response, "Sometimes they call it and sometimes they don't."
Kill reiterated an earlier comment by saying it's a tough game to lose when you possess the ball as the Gophers did - 38 minutes to 21 minutes. He also mentioned the turnovers and not finishing in the red zone. But he also was pleased with the team's effort and their toughness (physical play).
4) Sid then mentioned that the Gopher offense had gone 10 quarters without a touchdown: Kill's comeback, "We're 8 and 4 . . . (we're) playing a bowl game . . . had opportunities to make plays, didn't . . . kids playing hard." As to the missed opportunities, "You can blame me for that, not the kids," said Kill.
5) Sid mentioned seeing Kill talking to the Spartan head coach after the game: "Number one, he (Mark) has great respect for what we've done at Minnesota. He's done a great job at Michigan State . . . we've developed a great relationship." Kill said he received a text from Mark saying he appreciates the job Jerry and his staff are doing at Minnesota and how they do it. (Sorry, I wasn't sure of the spelling of MSU's head coach's last name.)
6) Sid mentioned the advantages that MSU has over Minnesota in recruiting: "Good players are what it comes down to to be successful," said Kill. He then said they'd be on the road the next two weeks recruiting. He also said winning programs start with defense and a good kicking game. He finished saying, "We're moving forward."
7) Sid asked about replacing the departing seniors: Kill's first response to Sid's question, "They've done a great job . . . there's a story on every one of them . . . they're all playing at a high level." He also mentioned the transition that they underwent with the coaching change and that they stuck it out and bought into the program. (You could tell by his voice that he has great respect for the departing seniors.) He finished the question, "We have to go out and replace them. Didn't finish the job yesterday, (we need to) finish the job in recruiting."
8) Sid asked what the players itinerary is now that the season has ended and they wait for a bowl invitation: "Depends on the next two weeks," Kill replied. (Bowl invitation will dictate their schedule in December.) Kill said the players will be focusing on academics - "always do." They'll also be lifting three times a week and other conditioning drills, "Physically we're a better team this year . . . we played physical."
Recruiting: the coaches will be out the next weeks on the road recruiting, "Need explosive play and that's what we're trying to find in our recruiting efforts." Recruits will be visiting this Friday and Saturday.
9) Mona asked about Minnesota's weather and recruiting - referencing last week's cold weather: Kill said it hasn't been a question with the recruits. He went on to thank the fans for their turn out last week and staying to the end of the game - made a positive impression on the recruits - and that he didn't see a lot of red in the stands.
He also mentioned the fact that Wisconsin and Michigan State are losing a lot of players. He said the recruits are positive about Minnesota's improvement and the direction of the program.
10) Sid said he hoped Coach Kill would be at an upcoming Dunkers meeting: Kill said it all depends on recruiting and where he's at . . . recruiting comes first.
11) Sid asked if any of the seniors would be in post season all-star games: Ra'Shede will be in the Senior Bowl and Brock Vereen is looking at a couple choices.
12) Mona had a question about the playing surface and the cause of Cobb's cut knee: Kill said David Cobb had a couple stitches, however, he didn't give a cause for the injury. He spoke highly of David Cobb and that he rushed for 100 yards against the stout Spartan defense. He cited Cobb as an example of a player staying with a program and growing up and good things coming your way.
13) Sid asked if any of the seniors were NFL material: Kill replied, "No question." He then cited Ra'Shede Hageman, Brock Vereen and Aaron Hill. He also said, "I'm probably leaving someone off."
He finished the question by talking about the importance of college football to the state and the university. Winning football makes a lot of things possible. (Possibly referring to financial support as well as public attention.)
14) Sid's final question was about redshirts that will help next year: Before he discussed redshirt players, Kill cited true freshman - defensive back - Jalen Myrick. He sounded pleased when he mentioned the Georgian, "Jalen Myrick played a lot yesterday."
Redshirts mentioned: Berkley Edwards ("lightening in a bottle"), Nate Wozniak (didn't mention his name specifically; however, he talked about his size), and Alex Mayes. He also sounded excited about defensive backs that are redshirts (no names given).
He concluded, "Our future looks bright."
Go Gophers!!
1) Sid opened the show by asking about the difference of this year's team and last year's group at the end of the season: "It's kind of an amazing story," said Kill. "We came up short against a tough team . . . (Minnesota had possession time) 38 minutes to 21 minutes - 70 to 50 snaps - red zone three times . . . we didn't finish . . . did a lot of good things . . . give them credit, they stiffened up (when Minnesota got into the red zone)."
Kill finished up saying, "Played hard and continue to get better . . . (now) need to win the bowl game."
2) Sid asked if he knew where they'd be playing (bowl game): Kill quickly responded, "No idea . . BCS needs to be played out (conference championships) - Wisconsin got beat yesterday. Need to win bowl game . . . we're getting better and move forward."
3) Sid made a negative comment about the Gophers passing game: Kill quickly and tersely responded, "Played two good teams (Wisconsin and Michigan State)." Kill sounded pleased with the play of the team's young receivers, "Young receivers did a good job . . . missed some passes . . . whole team needs to get better."
Kill then turned his attention to the start of the second half when Minnesota was trailing 7-3, "Michigan State ran two picks," on their touchdown drive and went ahead 14-3. Kill said their second touchdown was big, especially against a very good defensive team as the Spartans.
Mona followed up by asking what the difference was between their picks and what was called against the Gophers in the Nebraska game. Kill's immediate response, "Sometimes they call it and sometimes they don't."
Kill reiterated an earlier comment by saying it's a tough game to lose when you possess the ball as the Gophers did - 38 minutes to 21 minutes. He also mentioned the turnovers and not finishing in the red zone. But he also was pleased with the team's effort and their toughness (physical play).
4) Sid then mentioned that the Gopher offense had gone 10 quarters without a touchdown: Kill's comeback, "We're 8 and 4 . . . (we're) playing a bowl game . . . had opportunities to make plays, didn't . . . kids playing hard." As to the missed opportunities, "You can blame me for that, not the kids," said Kill.
5) Sid mentioned seeing Kill talking to the Spartan head coach after the game: "Number one, he (Mark) has great respect for what we've done at Minnesota. He's done a great job at Michigan State . . . we've developed a great relationship." Kill said he received a text from Mark saying he appreciates the job Jerry and his staff are doing at Minnesota and how they do it. (Sorry, I wasn't sure of the spelling of MSU's head coach's last name.)
6) Sid mentioned the advantages that MSU has over Minnesota in recruiting: "Good players are what it comes down to to be successful," said Kill. He then said they'd be on the road the next two weeks recruiting. He also said winning programs start with defense and a good kicking game. He finished saying, "We're moving forward."
7) Sid asked about replacing the departing seniors: Kill's first response to Sid's question, "They've done a great job . . . there's a story on every one of them . . . they're all playing at a high level." He also mentioned the transition that they underwent with the coaching change and that they stuck it out and bought into the program. (You could tell by his voice that he has great respect for the departing seniors.) He finished the question, "We have to go out and replace them. Didn't finish the job yesterday, (we need to) finish the job in recruiting."
8) Sid asked what the players itinerary is now that the season has ended and they wait for a bowl invitation: "Depends on the next two weeks," Kill replied. (Bowl invitation will dictate their schedule in December.) Kill said the players will be focusing on academics - "always do." They'll also be lifting three times a week and other conditioning drills, "Physically we're a better team this year . . . we played physical."
Recruiting: the coaches will be out the next weeks on the road recruiting, "Need explosive play and that's what we're trying to find in our recruiting efforts." Recruits will be visiting this Friday and Saturday.
9) Mona asked about Minnesota's weather and recruiting - referencing last week's cold weather: Kill said it hasn't been a question with the recruits. He went on to thank the fans for their turn out last week and staying to the end of the game - made a positive impression on the recruits - and that he didn't see a lot of red in the stands.
He also mentioned the fact that Wisconsin and Michigan State are losing a lot of players. He said the recruits are positive about Minnesota's improvement and the direction of the program.
10) Sid said he hoped Coach Kill would be at an upcoming Dunkers meeting: Kill said it all depends on recruiting and where he's at . . . recruiting comes first.
11) Sid asked if any of the seniors would be in post season all-star games: Ra'Shede will be in the Senior Bowl and Brock Vereen is looking at a couple choices.
12) Mona had a question about the playing surface and the cause of Cobb's cut knee: Kill said David Cobb had a couple stitches, however, he didn't give a cause for the injury. He spoke highly of David Cobb and that he rushed for 100 yards against the stout Spartan defense. He cited Cobb as an example of a player staying with a program and growing up and good things coming your way.
13) Sid asked if any of the seniors were NFL material: Kill replied, "No question." He then cited Ra'Shede Hageman, Brock Vereen and Aaron Hill. He also said, "I'm probably leaving someone off."
He finished the question by talking about the importance of college football to the state and the university. Winning football makes a lot of things possible. (Possibly referring to financial support as well as public attention.)
14) Sid's final question was about redshirts that will help next year: Before he discussed redshirt players, Kill cited true freshman - defensive back - Jalen Myrick. He sounded pleased when he mentioned the Georgian, "Jalen Myrick played a lot yesterday."
Redshirts mentioned: Berkley Edwards ("lightening in a bottle"), Nate Wozniak (didn't mention his name specifically; however, he talked about his size), and Alex Mayes. He also sounded excited about defensive backs that are redshirts (no names given).
He concluded, "Our future looks bright."
Go Gophers!!
