Coach Kill and the Gopher football team are in Houston for Friday's Meineke Car Care Bowl. Because of a staff meeting, coach Kill was not on the Sports Huddle until 11:05 a.m. and was only on for about 10 minutes.
1) Sid opened the segment asking if the starting lineup would look like the one that opened the season (He was trying to see if Marquies Gray would be the starting quarterback (Sid discussed the possibility at 9:30 a.m. at length, which I'll cover at the end of this report)): Coach Kill said the team is the healthiest it's been all season. He said the Olson brothers and Jon Christenson will be back for the bowl game and Drew Goodger and John Rabe are healthy and ready. Kill sounded upbeat about the offense and having the players back that were injured during the season.
2) Sid asked about Texas Tech (scouting report): Coach Kill once again talked about Tech's ability to spread the defenses out with their spread offense. He likened Tech to Syracuse; however, he said Tech's skill players are better than Syracuse's. On defense, Tech is very good against the pass because they practice all the time against their offense and their skill players.
3) Recruiting: "Recruiting has gone very well." However, he again said it's a long time until signing day. He was referring to the fact that players commit and decommit with greater frequency in this day and age. He also acknowledged the fact that this year's bowl game has been a positive in recruiting.
4) Sid asked about the team's practice schedule: Kill said he wants to keep the team fresh for the game. Therefore, practices are held to once a day with some team meetings thrown in. The heaviest practices were conducted in Minnesota. This afternoon's practice will focus on the kicking game. They'll practice today and tomorrow at noon.
5) Sid asked how the practices have been going: Kill sounded pleased with the bowl game practices; however, he said the team looked tired last Friday, which he attributed to final exams, practices and changes for some of the players (seniors) moving from their housing facilities.
The team arrived at Houston last night at about 8:30 and had a meeting at 9:30 p.m.
6) Dave asked about weather conditions and referenced a report for Friday's game; temperatures will be in the sixties with a chance of rain showers: Kill said current temperatures are in the 60s, may be cooler on Wednesday and Thursday. Spoke positively about the stadium and said the roof could be closed if necessary.
7) Dave asked if they expect some JUCO and high school recruits to enroll for the spring semester: Kill said he expects 3-4 recruits/players to enroll in January.
8) Coach Kill and Tech's interim coach will participate in today's coin toss prior to the Viking-Texan game.
The following report occurred at 9:30 a.m. (discussion between Dave and Sid):
1) Sid does not expect the Gophers to defeat Texas Tech in Friday's game: "Very big upset if they beat Texas tech." (Sid said the Gophers only chance of winning the game is if Marquies Gray is the starting quarterback.) Sid sounded down on the Gophers chances against the Red Raiders because of Tech's high scoring offense.
Sid said Gray is at 100% now and it only makes sense that he's the quarterback for the Gophers: He went on to say Nelson had a good game against Purdue but hasn't done a thing since.
Sid also acknowledged that the team is the healthiest it's been this season. He, too, talked about the offensive line being healthy and having many of the injured back for the bowl game.
2) Dave mentioned a positive report on recruiting in Sid's column, and, yet, the comments in the paper were extremely negative. Sid defended his report by saying Gopher recruiting is going well. Although he didn't mention name(s), Sid said they got a commitment from a recruit that LSU wants (Duke Riley?). He also said Alabama wants a Minnesota recruit (Nate Andrews).
There was discussion about next year's quarterback and that Nelson is not assured of the starting position at quarterback. In fact, Sid spoke at length in glowing terms about Chris Streveler of Marian Central Catholic at Woodstock, Il. Streveler's team was 11-1 and he was all-state. Sid said the competition that Streveler performed and competed against is much better than the best in Minnesota.
Go Gophers!!
1) Sid opened the segment asking if the starting lineup would look like the one that opened the season (He was trying to see if Marquies Gray would be the starting quarterback (Sid discussed the possibility at 9:30 a.m. at length, which I'll cover at the end of this report)): Coach Kill said the team is the healthiest it's been all season. He said the Olson brothers and Jon Christenson will be back for the bowl game and Drew Goodger and John Rabe are healthy and ready. Kill sounded upbeat about the offense and having the players back that were injured during the season.
2) Sid asked about Texas Tech (scouting report): Coach Kill once again talked about Tech's ability to spread the defenses out with their spread offense. He likened Tech to Syracuse; however, he said Tech's skill players are better than Syracuse's. On defense, Tech is very good against the pass because they practice all the time against their offense and their skill players.
3) Recruiting: "Recruiting has gone very well." However, he again said it's a long time until signing day. He was referring to the fact that players commit and decommit with greater frequency in this day and age. He also acknowledged the fact that this year's bowl game has been a positive in recruiting.
4) Sid asked about the team's practice schedule: Kill said he wants to keep the team fresh for the game. Therefore, practices are held to once a day with some team meetings thrown in. The heaviest practices were conducted in Minnesota. This afternoon's practice will focus on the kicking game. They'll practice today and tomorrow at noon.
5) Sid asked how the practices have been going: Kill sounded pleased with the bowl game practices; however, he said the team looked tired last Friday, which he attributed to final exams, practices and changes for some of the players (seniors) moving from their housing facilities.
The team arrived at Houston last night at about 8:30 and had a meeting at 9:30 p.m.
6) Dave asked about weather conditions and referenced a report for Friday's game; temperatures will be in the sixties with a chance of rain showers: Kill said current temperatures are in the 60s, may be cooler on Wednesday and Thursday. Spoke positively about the stadium and said the roof could be closed if necessary.
7) Dave asked if they expect some JUCO and high school recruits to enroll for the spring semester: Kill said he expects 3-4 recruits/players to enroll in January.
8) Coach Kill and Tech's interim coach will participate in today's coin toss prior to the Viking-Texan game.
The following report occurred at 9:30 a.m. (discussion between Dave and Sid):
1) Sid does not expect the Gophers to defeat Texas Tech in Friday's game: "Very big upset if they beat Texas tech." (Sid said the Gophers only chance of winning the game is if Marquies Gray is the starting quarterback.) Sid sounded down on the Gophers chances against the Red Raiders because of Tech's high scoring offense.
Sid said Gray is at 100% now and it only makes sense that he's the quarterback for the Gophers: He went on to say Nelson had a good game against Purdue but hasn't done a thing since.
Sid also acknowledged that the team is the healthiest it's been this season. He, too, talked about the offensive line being healthy and having many of the injured back for the bowl game.
2) Dave mentioned a positive report on recruiting in Sid's column, and, yet, the comments in the paper were extremely negative. Sid defended his report by saying Gopher recruiting is going well. Although he didn't mention name(s), Sid said they got a commitment from a recruit that LSU wants (Duke Riley?). He also said Alabama wants a Minnesota recruit (Nate Andrews).
There was discussion about next year's quarterback and that Nelson is not assured of the starting position at quarterback. In fact, Sid spoke at length in glowing terms about Chris Streveler of Marian Central Catholic at Woodstock, Il. Streveler's team was 11-1 and he was all-state. Sid said the competition that Streveler performed and competed against is much better than the best in Minnesota.
Go Gophers!!
