Due to a Gopher practice that was scheduled at 10:00 a.m., Coach Jerry Kill appeared on today’s Sports Huddle at 9:30. His responses and comments were primarily related to their preparations for the upcoming Citrus Bowl game with the Missouri Tigers and recruiting.
1) Sid opened the show by asking what Kill knows about the SEC opponent: Kill said, “(Missouri) Runs a no-huddle offense . . . (they) spread you out . . . (very) athletic . . . (good) special teams.” Later in the show, Kill said they match up well with the Tigers; however, he’s very impressed with their speed in the defensive line. He compared their speed in the defensive front with that of the TCU Horned Frogs.
2) Sid asked if the team’s injured players will be back for the bowl game: “We hope to get (Drew) Wolitarsky back; we really need him back . . . Ben Lauer is questionable . . . Antonio Johnson is back . . . We’re about healthy as we can be,” replied Kill.
As to the status of Ben Lauer being questionable for the bowl game, Ben Lauer has been nursing a high ankle sprain; however - apparently more problematic - Kill said on last week’s show that Ben has come down with and is battling the effects of “mono.”
3) Sid opined that the Gophers need to have a good passing game against the Tigers, if they want to keep Missouri’s defense on edge: Kill said without a doubt Mitch Leidner and the receivers need to step up and be consistent in the passing game. (As Kill has said frequently in past programs, a good, effective pass game aids and opens up the running game )
4) Sid referenced the Tigers early season loss to Indiana: “We (it’s human nature) always try to compare scores,” said Kill. However, he said teams improve as the season progresses and early season missteps take on a different appearance at season end. As an example, he cited Ohio State’s early season loss to Virginia Tech; however, at season end they were a vastly improved/different team.
5) Sid in a follow-up question that was related to Missouri’s speed in the defensive line, he said the Gopher offensive line needed a big game: Quickly focusing on the importance of line play on both sides of the ball, Kill said both the “offensive line and defensive line” must step up in order for the team to enjoy success on the playing field against the Tigers.
6) Responding to Sid’s question about Missouri’s team speed, Kill said, “They definitely have good speed . . . Defensive line is athletic, similar to TCU.”
7) Sid asked what their practice schedule looks like in preparing for the January 1 bowl game: The team is allotted fifteen practice days, and they’ve already completed three practices and will have their fourth practice today at 10 o’clock. The all-important academic finals are underway. As a result, the coaches will be busy preparing a game plan Monday through Wednesday - while final tests are taken - with practices on Thursday and Friday. The players will be on Christmas break beginning Saturday and will return for the team’s flight to Orlando on Christmas Eve and the resumption of the remaining practices for the Citrus Bowl.
8) Early in the program, Sid asked about injured players being back for the bowl game. In a follow-up question, Sid asked if the players that are “banged up” will be available for the January 1 game: Kill’s terse response, “Time off has helped them.” Kill acknowledged that there were a lot of players that had bumps and bruises at the end of the season - all teams experience the same thing.
9) Sid asked if he was surprised with the departure of Wisconsin’s head coach, Gary Anderson, for Oregon State University: “I was shocked!” replied Kill. He said he was in Florida recruiting when assistant coach Jay Sawvel gave him the news, which at first he thought was a joke. Once again, he said, “I was shocked, everybody was!”
10) Sid brought up the topic of ticket sales to the Citrus Bowl, and, in Sid’s estimation, there may be more Gopher fans than Missouri’s contingent: “Response has been fantastic,” exclaimed Kill. Kill said they’ve filled two buses for students and they’re “trying to get two more buses.” (You could tell by his voice that Kill is excited with the fan’s response in ticket purchases.) He also said a lot of tickets are being purchased through Citrus Bowl outlets by fans residing in Florida as well. “I’m glad fans are fired up.”
11) Dave Mona said the school was smart in giving the students a break in purchasing Citrus Bowl tickets and next year’s season package: “The more we can do for the students the better,” replied Kill.
12) Sid said it was great having the game on ABC (not ESPN) for national exposure: “Our kids are excited . . . (We’ve had) great practices.” Kill added, the team was discouraged after last year’s bowl game and they’ve been focused in their preparations for the Missouri game in Orlando.
13) Mona asked what the bowl game means to this year’s recruiting efforts: “Nine (recruits) are here this morning . . . eight are committed and (we’re) working on one.” Kill said the nine recruits will be at this morning’s practice. As to their bowl game and recruiting, “Has impacted our image and recruiting.” He went on to say being in a January bowl game means and helps a lot when they go into a recruits home. He concluded by saying that they are hearing a lot of positive comments when they’re on the recruiting trails this month, especially with the upcoming game against Missouri and the success that this year’s team has enjoyed.
Go Gophers!!
1) Sid opened the show by asking what Kill knows about the SEC opponent: Kill said, “(Missouri) Runs a no-huddle offense . . . (they) spread you out . . . (very) athletic . . . (good) special teams.” Later in the show, Kill said they match up well with the Tigers; however, he’s very impressed with their speed in the defensive line. He compared their speed in the defensive front with that of the TCU Horned Frogs.
2) Sid asked if the team’s injured players will be back for the bowl game: “We hope to get (Drew) Wolitarsky back; we really need him back . . . Ben Lauer is questionable . . . Antonio Johnson is back . . . We’re about healthy as we can be,” replied Kill.
As to the status of Ben Lauer being questionable for the bowl game, Ben Lauer has been nursing a high ankle sprain; however - apparently more problematic - Kill said on last week’s show that Ben has come down with and is battling the effects of “mono.”
3) Sid opined that the Gophers need to have a good passing game against the Tigers, if they want to keep Missouri’s defense on edge: Kill said without a doubt Mitch Leidner and the receivers need to step up and be consistent in the passing game. (As Kill has said frequently in past programs, a good, effective pass game aids and opens up the running game )
4) Sid referenced the Tigers early season loss to Indiana: “We (it’s human nature) always try to compare scores,” said Kill. However, he said teams improve as the season progresses and early season missteps take on a different appearance at season end. As an example, he cited Ohio State’s early season loss to Virginia Tech; however, at season end they were a vastly improved/different team.
5) Sid in a follow-up question that was related to Missouri’s speed in the defensive line, he said the Gopher offensive line needed a big game: Quickly focusing on the importance of line play on both sides of the ball, Kill said both the “offensive line and defensive line” must step up in order for the team to enjoy success on the playing field against the Tigers.
6) Responding to Sid’s question about Missouri’s team speed, Kill said, “They definitely have good speed . . . Defensive line is athletic, similar to TCU.”
7) Sid asked what their practice schedule looks like in preparing for the January 1 bowl game: The team is allotted fifteen practice days, and they’ve already completed three practices and will have their fourth practice today at 10 o’clock. The all-important academic finals are underway. As a result, the coaches will be busy preparing a game plan Monday through Wednesday - while final tests are taken - with practices on Thursday and Friday. The players will be on Christmas break beginning Saturday and will return for the team’s flight to Orlando on Christmas Eve and the resumption of the remaining practices for the Citrus Bowl.
8) Early in the program, Sid asked about injured players being back for the bowl game. In a follow-up question, Sid asked if the players that are “banged up” will be available for the January 1 game: Kill’s terse response, “Time off has helped them.” Kill acknowledged that there were a lot of players that had bumps and bruises at the end of the season - all teams experience the same thing.
9) Sid asked if he was surprised with the departure of Wisconsin’s head coach, Gary Anderson, for Oregon State University: “I was shocked!” replied Kill. He said he was in Florida recruiting when assistant coach Jay Sawvel gave him the news, which at first he thought was a joke. Once again, he said, “I was shocked, everybody was!”
10) Sid brought up the topic of ticket sales to the Citrus Bowl, and, in Sid’s estimation, there may be more Gopher fans than Missouri’s contingent: “Response has been fantastic,” exclaimed Kill. Kill said they’ve filled two buses for students and they’re “trying to get two more buses.” (You could tell by his voice that Kill is excited with the fan’s response in ticket purchases.) He also said a lot of tickets are being purchased through Citrus Bowl outlets by fans residing in Florida as well. “I’m glad fans are fired up.”
11) Dave Mona said the school was smart in giving the students a break in purchasing Citrus Bowl tickets and next year’s season package: “The more we can do for the students the better,” replied Kill.
12) Sid said it was great having the game on ABC (not ESPN) for national exposure: “Our kids are excited . . . (We’ve had) great practices.” Kill added, the team was discouraged after last year’s bowl game and they’ve been focused in their preparations for the Missouri game in Orlando.
13) Mona asked what the bowl game means to this year’s recruiting efforts: “Nine (recruits) are here this morning . . . eight are committed and (we’re) working on one.” Kill said the nine recruits will be at this morning’s practice. As to their bowl game and recruiting, “Has impacted our image and recruiting.” He went on to say being in a January bowl game means and helps a lot when they go into a recruits home. He concluded by saying that they are hearing a lot of positive comments when they’re on the recruiting trails this month, especially with the upcoming game against Missouri and the success that this year’s team has enjoyed.
Go Gophers!!
