Coach Kill's appearance on the Sports Huddle was delayed a few minutes because Joe Mauer was available for a brief interview. Coach Kill's comments and responses to Sid Hartman and Dave Mona's questions are as follows:
1) Sid opened by asking if they were still recruiting: "Our coaches are on the road all over the place," replied Kill. He went onto say they'll be on the road for another week and then they'll get together to discuss their recruiting efforts and what they learned and then they'll make preparations for the school's summer camps. Kill stressed the importance of getting the recruits that they're looking at into the camps, especially players that don't have spring drills. Once again, Kill talked about the importance of evaluation and the camps play a big role in the recruiting process.
When asked if he can contact the players/recruits, Kill responded: "We're allowed so many calls with the recruit. I wait for them to call me." During the spring recruiting period the coaches fan out across the country and they meet with the high school coaches and school officials. If the recruit(s) have spring drills, they attend the practices and do much of their evaluation at the practices.
2) Sid asked Kill if the Gophers is a senior-laden team: "No. We're a very young team." Kill said this year's recruiting class will not be a big one; however, he wasn't exactly sure how many tenders will be available - always subject to change.
He sounded pleased with this year's recruiting. The coaches' reception by the recruits has been good and the players feel good about the Gopher team, its direction and progress.
3) Dave Mona asked about the summer camps: Kill said, "(We)Tell the players of the Midwest the camps are critical for evaluation." (Midwestern schools do not have spring practices as they do in the southern states.) He said they try to get kids in a 3-4 hour radius in the camps; however, he said they also have players from Florida, Alabama, Kansas City, etc. attend the camps.
Kill said it's more difficult to have recruits attend the Minnesota camps because of its northern location. As an example, he said it's much easier for a team such as Michigan State to get kids into their camps because of their location. He said being close to Ohio is a definite advantage for the Spartans.
Kill finished the question saying the Minnesota camps are fairly full and response by their recruits has been good. He sounded upbeat about the upcoming camps.
4) Mona asked about unknown players that come to the coaches attention at the camps (players that jump out): Kill said it happens all the time and then cited Jordan Lynch as being such a player at Northern Illinois Univesity. His high school coach sang the player's praises and about his ability to throw the ball, even though he was a tailback in high school. They were surprised and impressed with Lynch's ability that was displayed in camp. He was, quote, "A big time player." Lynch, of course, led the Huskies to the Orange Bowl in January 2013.
5) Kill was asked about his travels across the state in recent weeks: "Minnesota people are passionate," when he describes the fans that he meets in the communities that he visits. Whenever and wherever he stops, people want to know about the team and the upcoming season. He's impressed with the fans loyalty.
He finished the question by saying the fans frequently tell him they listen to his comments on the weekly Sports Huddle, "They're loyal listeners."
6) Mona asked a follow up question comparing Minnesota to his home state, Kansas: Kill replied, "(Minnesota) does remind me of home . . . people are down to earth, hard working . . . no issues with Minnesota people." The rural areas and its rich farmland reminds him of his homestate, too.
He went onto say that it's important that they put a winning product on the field and become user friendly for the fans.
7) Sid then asked about the 2014 conference schedule: Laughing, Kill said, that he's worried about the upcoming schedule. He did acknowledge, however, that the 2014 schedule will be a great challenge, "We need to work hard and fast . . . we're not where we need to be." (No whining allowed (about scheduling), if you're going play and coach in the Big 10.)
He closed the question by talking about the importance of recruiting, especially this year's class, "Need difference makers in this year's recruiting class." He also said next year's class will be critical as well, and once again they'll need to recruit difference makers. He sounded positive about their recruiting efforts and it sounded to me as though they're in on some difference makers.
Go Gophers!!
1) Sid opened by asking if they were still recruiting: "Our coaches are on the road all over the place," replied Kill. He went onto say they'll be on the road for another week and then they'll get together to discuss their recruiting efforts and what they learned and then they'll make preparations for the school's summer camps. Kill stressed the importance of getting the recruits that they're looking at into the camps, especially players that don't have spring drills. Once again, Kill talked about the importance of evaluation and the camps play a big role in the recruiting process.
When asked if he can contact the players/recruits, Kill responded: "We're allowed so many calls with the recruit. I wait for them to call me." During the spring recruiting period the coaches fan out across the country and they meet with the high school coaches and school officials. If the recruit(s) have spring drills, they attend the practices and do much of their evaluation at the practices.
2) Sid asked Kill if the Gophers is a senior-laden team: "No. We're a very young team." Kill said this year's recruiting class will not be a big one; however, he wasn't exactly sure how many tenders will be available - always subject to change.
He sounded pleased with this year's recruiting. The coaches' reception by the recruits has been good and the players feel good about the Gopher team, its direction and progress.
3) Dave Mona asked about the summer camps: Kill said, "(We)Tell the players of the Midwest the camps are critical for evaluation." (Midwestern schools do not have spring practices as they do in the southern states.) He said they try to get kids in a 3-4 hour radius in the camps; however, he said they also have players from Florida, Alabama, Kansas City, etc. attend the camps.
Kill said it's more difficult to have recruits attend the Minnesota camps because of its northern location. As an example, he said it's much easier for a team such as Michigan State to get kids into their camps because of their location. He said being close to Ohio is a definite advantage for the Spartans.
Kill finished the question saying the Minnesota camps are fairly full and response by their recruits has been good. He sounded upbeat about the upcoming camps.
4) Mona asked about unknown players that come to the coaches attention at the camps (players that jump out): Kill said it happens all the time and then cited Jordan Lynch as being such a player at Northern Illinois Univesity. His high school coach sang the player's praises and about his ability to throw the ball, even though he was a tailback in high school. They were surprised and impressed with Lynch's ability that was displayed in camp. He was, quote, "A big time player." Lynch, of course, led the Huskies to the Orange Bowl in January 2013.
5) Kill was asked about his travels across the state in recent weeks: "Minnesota people are passionate," when he describes the fans that he meets in the communities that he visits. Whenever and wherever he stops, people want to know about the team and the upcoming season. He's impressed with the fans loyalty.
He finished the question by saying the fans frequently tell him they listen to his comments on the weekly Sports Huddle, "They're loyal listeners."
6) Mona asked a follow up question comparing Minnesota to his home state, Kansas: Kill replied, "(Minnesota) does remind me of home . . . people are down to earth, hard working . . . no issues with Minnesota people." The rural areas and its rich farmland reminds him of his homestate, too.
He went onto say that it's important that they put a winning product on the field and become user friendly for the fans.
7) Sid then asked about the 2014 conference schedule: Laughing, Kill said, that he's worried about the upcoming schedule. He did acknowledge, however, that the 2014 schedule will be a great challenge, "We need to work hard and fast . . . we're not where we need to be." (No whining allowed (about scheduling), if you're going play and coach in the Big 10.)
He closed the question by talking about the importance of recruiting, especially this year's class, "Need difference makers in this year's recruiting class." He also said next year's class will be critical as well, and once again they'll need to recruit difference makers. He sounded positive about their recruiting efforts and it sounded to me as though they're in on some difference makers.
Go Gophers!!
