Coach Kill's comments and responses to Sid Hartman and Dave Mona's questions on 'CCOs Sports Huddle:
1) Sid opened the segment talking about the team's 3 plus GPA: Kill credited a lot of people - coaches, staff, academic counselors - for the dramatic turnaround in academics. He went onto say the kids have been held accountable, "We're here to get an education."
2) Mona asked a follow-up question related to academics and how it plays in their recruiting efforts: Coach Kill said the last of the allowable phone calls to recruits ended Friday. When they've talked to the recruits they've spent a lot of time "selling the university . . . education is important to parents." He went onto say that they look at the recruit and his ability (ability is important) but they also try to determine whether or not the person has "I want to" (education) attitude. He again stressed the importance of ability; however, he said 90% want to get an education, which is extremely important.
Coach Kill closed the question by saying playing smart goes a long way in determining who wins and loses - most teams lose and are not beaten - discipline and being accountable play large roles in a team's success: accountability and the resources (academic staff) to help the student athlete achieve success is vital to a team's success. (Academic success carries over to team success on the playing field.)
3) Mona then asked Coach Kill about the tornadoes that have ravaged the southwest (Oklahoma in particular) in the past couple weeks. Mona also said that Kill's hometown area appears to be on the northern edge of "tornado alley:" Kill said Mona was correct and that he had personally had experiences with tornadoes when he grew up in Kansas, "garage moved off its foundation by a tornado." He went onto say he feels terrible for the victims of the recent tornadoes, "Memories lost in the storms . . . it's a terrible thing . . . feel for the people (victims)."
4) Sid asked what the players will be doing now that summer school is about to commence: Kill said summertime is a critical period. The players will be in the weight room with Coach Klein "getting bigger and stronger." But it's what they do on their own that's important, too. It's a time the players "have to do things on their own - leadership." He went onto say, "We have to outwork people," and what they do during the summer will determine success in the fall - putting in the time on their own and then some (pushing themselves to improve).
Coach Kill said they had members of Special Forces meet with the team to discuss and understand the importance of leadership.
5) Sid asked about the upcoming summer camps: Kill's football camps will run June 9 through the 17th. He cited his coaches as doing a great job with the youth - "Try to cover all ages" - during the camps.
Kill then gave contact information about the camps: www.coachkillfbcamps.com; (612) 356-9761; and [email protected].
6) Sid asked about injured players and does he expect anyone not dressing for August 1 drills: Kill responded, "I've got confidence in our training staff." He went onto say he hopes to see those in rehab ready to suit up. However, he did sound one cautionary note. He said Jonah Pirsig's readiness is of some concern, "Hopefully he'll be ready . . . he's competitive."
7) The Coach Kill segment ended with a brief discussion about his public meetings: Coach Kill has been in Southern Illinois for a cancer awareness project. He flew into St. Louis (fortunately missed the tornado that struck the area) and then traveled east to southern Illinois. "I'm flying home within an hour." He's going to Rochester tomorrow for a fan/coaches outing (part of the outstate coaches caravan).
His final comment: "Looking forward to August 1st."
Go Gophers!!
1) Sid opened the segment talking about the team's 3 plus GPA: Kill credited a lot of people - coaches, staff, academic counselors - for the dramatic turnaround in academics. He went onto say the kids have been held accountable, "We're here to get an education."
2) Mona asked a follow-up question related to academics and how it plays in their recruiting efforts: Coach Kill said the last of the allowable phone calls to recruits ended Friday. When they've talked to the recruits they've spent a lot of time "selling the university . . . education is important to parents." He went onto say that they look at the recruit and his ability (ability is important) but they also try to determine whether or not the person has "I want to" (education) attitude. He again stressed the importance of ability; however, he said 90% want to get an education, which is extremely important.
Coach Kill closed the question by saying playing smart goes a long way in determining who wins and loses - most teams lose and are not beaten - discipline and being accountable play large roles in a team's success: accountability and the resources (academic staff) to help the student athlete achieve success is vital to a team's success. (Academic success carries over to team success on the playing field.)
3) Mona then asked Coach Kill about the tornadoes that have ravaged the southwest (Oklahoma in particular) in the past couple weeks. Mona also said that Kill's hometown area appears to be on the northern edge of "tornado alley:" Kill said Mona was correct and that he had personally had experiences with tornadoes when he grew up in Kansas, "garage moved off its foundation by a tornado." He went onto say he feels terrible for the victims of the recent tornadoes, "Memories lost in the storms . . . it's a terrible thing . . . feel for the people (victims)."
4) Sid asked what the players will be doing now that summer school is about to commence: Kill said summertime is a critical period. The players will be in the weight room with Coach Klein "getting bigger and stronger." But it's what they do on their own that's important, too. It's a time the players "have to do things on their own - leadership." He went onto say, "We have to outwork people," and what they do during the summer will determine success in the fall - putting in the time on their own and then some (pushing themselves to improve).
Coach Kill said they had members of Special Forces meet with the team to discuss and understand the importance of leadership.
5) Sid asked about the upcoming summer camps: Kill's football camps will run June 9 through the 17th. He cited his coaches as doing a great job with the youth - "Try to cover all ages" - during the camps.
Kill then gave contact information about the camps: www.coachkillfbcamps.com; (612) 356-9761; and [email protected].
6) Sid asked about injured players and does he expect anyone not dressing for August 1 drills: Kill responded, "I've got confidence in our training staff." He went onto say he hopes to see those in rehab ready to suit up. However, he did sound one cautionary note. He said Jonah Pirsig's readiness is of some concern, "Hopefully he'll be ready . . . he's competitive."
7) The Coach Kill segment ended with a brief discussion about his public meetings: Coach Kill has been in Southern Illinois for a cancer awareness project. He flew into St. Louis (fortunately missed the tornado that struck the area) and then traveled east to southern Illinois. "I'm flying home within an hour." He's going to Rochester tomorrow for a fan/coaches outing (part of the outstate coaches caravan).
His final comment: "Looking forward to August 1st."
Go Gophers!!
