Is Kill the right man for the job?

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Ski U Master said:
Currently contracted games will be played out, but you can't schedule/contract any more.
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While I can't say I look forward to watching games with FCS opponents, I think it is odd that the conference decided to eliminate those games and play 9 conference games while the number of bowl games has been expanded to a saturation level. I can see even more unfilled Big Ten bowl slots in the future.
 

Studwell55 said:
I support Kill.

Having said that, consider that after four years, he had a 13-19 conference record.

That got him a big raise.

Danny Hope had the same exact record (including wins over OSU and Michigan in the same year).

That got him canned.
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Conference records for Danny Hope:

Year 1: 4-4
Year 2: 2-6
Year 3: 4-4
Year 4: 3-5

Conference records for Jerry Kill:

Year 1: 2-6
Year 2: 2-6
Year 3: 4-4
Year 4: 5-3

Purdue may have pulled the trigger too quickly on Hope, but Kill’s conference record improved while Hope’s went sideways at best.

Kill had four years of clear improvement. This is the first year of regression. It’s not always going to be a straight shot up to the national championship; there will be bumps along the way. What matters now is keeping the recruits in line until signing day and getting back on the improvement track next year. If that doesn't happen, then Kill's seat gets hotter.
 

tikited said:
I almost don't believe there is anyone out there that really wants Kill gone. No one can be that dumb can they?
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That may not be your view, or even my view, but I wouldn't label it a "dumb" view and that view could be just as easily confirmed by future events as your view.
 

Hates Monikers said:
It’s not always going to be a straight shot up to the national championship; there will be bumps along the way.
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I don't have a certain vision of Kill's future success with this program, but I am 95% (at least) confident that future will not include a national championship.
 

Some people act like Kill is the 1st coach to have a winning season at the U. The fact is, the Gophers had a number of winning seasons under Mason, played in a number of bowl games, and even won some bowl games.

Look, when Mason left (got fired), I thought it was the right time to make a move.

But, at this point, we just don't know if Kill is going to be Mason part 2, or something better.

I like Kill as a person, but I'm not ready to anoint him as the savior of the program. Shoot - I don't know if that person even exists.
 



short ornery norwegian said:
Some people act like Kill is the 1st coach to have a winning season at the U. The fact is, the Gophers had a number of winning seasons under Mason, played in a number of bowl games, and even won some bowl games.

Look, when Mason left (got fired), I thought it was the right time to make a move.

But, at this point, we just don't know if Kill is going to be Mason part 2, or something better.

I like Kill as a person, but I'm not ready to anoint him as the savior of the program. Shoot - I don't know if that person even exists.
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I tend to agree with this.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
Some people act like Kill is the 1st coach to have a winning season at the U. The fact is, the Gophers had a number of winning seasons under Mason, played in a number of bowl games, and even won some bowl games.

Look, when Mason left (got fired), I thought it was the right time to make a move.

But, at this point, we just don't know if Kill is going to be Mason part 2, or something better.

I like Kill as a person, but I'm not ready to anoint him as the savior of the program. Shoot - I don't know if that person even exists.
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I agree with the above. Well Written, Short Angry.
 

I think we should all wait to see what happens the rest of this year. If we are competitive in our remaining games and even manage to win a couple, great. If the rest of the season is a disaster and problems are more than injuries, etc. then I think Kill needs to evaluate his coaching staff, etc. and make changes where necessary. His friend Gary Patterson evaluated his program a few years back and made necessary staff changes, while changing his offensive scheme and look what happened. Next year will also be a big year...easier schedule, talented freshman and sophomores getting valuable experience this year, a talented recruiting class coming in. If we can avoid the injury bug next year it will be Kill's chance, I believe, to proved he's the man for the job.
 



cjbfbp said:
That may not be your view, or even my view, but I wouldn't label it a "dumb" view and that view could be just as easily confirmed by future events as your view.
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It is a dumb view right now.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
Some people act like Kill is the 1st coach to have a winning season at the U. The fact is, the Gophers had a number of winning seasons under Mason, played in a number of bowl games, and even won some bowl games.

Look, when Mason left (got fired), I thought it was the right time to make a move.

But, at this point, we just don't know if Kill is going to be Mason part 2, or something better.

I like Kill as a person, but I'm not ready to anoint him as the savior of the program. Shoot - I don't know if that person even exists.
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The attitude you describe is common among sports fans. I liken it to what I call the amnesia of the serially monogamous romantic idealist. She goes through a number of suitors but dreams that each new one is finally "Mr. Right" after all those losers of the past. Rinse, repeat.

I don't have a firm number on this but I think it's fair to say that the substantial majority of the FBS coaches will not retire in their current positions. They will either be fired or move on if they are good enough to be snatched up by a better (or maybe just preferred at the time) program. The realistic view would be to see each new coach as a "temporary solution" rather than a "savior" but there's that amnesia thing kicking in again.
 





short ornery norwegian said:
Some people act like Kill is the 1st coach to have a winning season at the U. The fact is, the Gophers had a number of winning seasons under Mason, played in a number of bowl games, and even won some bowl games.

Look, when Mason left (got fired), I thought it was the right time to make a move.

But, at this point, we just don't know if Kill is going to be Mason part 2, or something better.

I like Kill as a person, but I'm not ready to anoint him as the savior of the program. Shoot - I don't know if that person even exists.
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Coaches who can turn this program around exist. It's just that they aren't willing to come here. Urban Meyer isn't walking through the door and neither is Harbaugh. Heck, do we even have a Gopher Alum who is considered a great college coach? Dungy and Trestman are as close as you get off the top of my head. The new facilities will help get better recruits and may draw a higher level coach. However, I think Kill could do as much as a Petersen with 4* recruits. Look what he has done with 3* classes.
 

"Is Kill the man for the job"

Well, i would like to see someone compile a list of realistic candidates that
we could actually afford, that would actually consider coming here, that
would actually do better (following the gaffe that was Tim Brewster).

Please, i'll hang up and listen.
 

Hates Monikers said:
Conference records for Danny Hope:

Year 1: 4-4
Year 2: 2-6
Year 3: 4-4
Year 4: 3-5

Conference records for Jerry Kill:

Year 1: 2-6
Year 2: 2-6
Year 3: 4-4
Year 4: 5-3

Purdue may have pulled the trigger too quickly on Hope, but Kill’s conference record improved while Hope’s went sideways at best.

Kill had four years of clear improvement. This is the first year of regression. It’s not always going to be a straight shot up to the national championship; there will be bumps along the way. What matters now is keeping the recruits in line until signing day and getting back on the improvement track next year. If that doesn't happen, then Kill's seat gets hotter.
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Probably the most critical part of this year now if you want to be a realist.
 

MaxyJR1 said:
Kill said this was 7-8 year turn around. We are in year 5. He is 100% on course and the right man. We might disagree with in game calls and coaching, but he is truly building a program. It will be a shame if he is not allowed to reap the benefits of the updated facilities.

He took over a brutal program and has brought it to respectability mainly on his name alone. It's not easy recruiting here and he has shown that he can coach by coaching up players who chose to be Gophers. His highest average star class since coming here was 2.8 stars. He now has commitments from a 3.0 average star class for 2016. That's because he took lesser talent and won quickly with them. The program has hit a bump because it takes winning to get better talent in the program. The 2015 and 2016 classes are what we hope will get us over the hump. 9 of the 2015 class have already played.

Rivals Ranks
2016-27
2015-52
2014-52
2013-61
2012-73
2011-52

Bump in the road folks. Let's all remember the Mason went 6-6 in year 4 and 4-7 in year 5. He followed it up with three straight bowl wins, including a 10-3 season.
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Yep. You can generally only tell where the peak was in hindsight. For Mason it was the end of the 3rd quarter against Michigan 2003. For Brew, there never was one, save the mirage for 7 games in 2008. For Tubby it was a the opening scrimmage in 2009. None were clear at the time. Maybe the 2015 Citrus Bowl will be the pinnacle for Kill. But it's way too early to tell.
 

Mulligan said:
Probably the most critical part of this year now if you want to be a realist.
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This is absolutely the most critical, especially when our highest rated recruit tweets: "What is going on with MN right now?" Jerry is fine...we have been decimated with injuries this year. The TCU game set us back in a big way. Also, we still haven't played our most important game of our season yet which is at the end of the year for the axe. There are probably a handful of fans, myself included, who wouldn't mind a 2-10 or 3-9 season if one of those wins was for the axe. Let Jerry do his thing. 2015 was his best recruiting class in my opinion and 2016 is looking even better.
 

wait!what? said:
Cripes~!

This staff had almost every ounce of QB talent walk out the door on em- They still coached a TEQB led team to a Jan 1 bowl game and you guys are blaming the staff for what? a 1-2 record in the BT.
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Not sure if you are aware - but in the sport of college football the coaches are solely responsible for the players they have on the field.
 

Hates Monikers said:
Conference records for Danny Hope:

Year 1: 4-4
Year 2: 2-6
Year 3: 4-4
Year 4: 3-5

Conference records for Jerry Kill:

Year 1: 2-6
Year 2: 2-6
Year 3: 4-4
Year 4: 5-3

Purdue may have pulled the trigger too quickly on Hope, but Kill’s conference record improved while Hope’s went sideways at best.

Kill had four years of clear improvement. This is the first year of regression. It’s not always going to be a straight shot up to the national championship; there will be bumps along the way. What matters now is keeping the recruits in line until signing day and getting back on the improvement track next year. If that doesn't happen, then Kill's seat gets hotter.
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That and Hope replaced Tiller, who was Purdue's best coach in the last 50 years. I am sure at the time Purdue had the expectation they could still compete at the level that Tiller had them at. Kill replaced Brewster who was fired with a 1-6 record. Whoever replaces Henzel or whatever his name is will have a longer leash due to the mess they'll be cleaning up.
 

EG#9 said:
Not sure. The win at Nebraska last year felt like the biggest win the program has had in a long time (and another thread seems to back that up), but things have been pretty awful since that win. Was last year an aberration where a number of close games went the Gophers way (and they still lost to Illinois) or was it a sign of things to come?

My biggest concern is with the offense as there is still is not a quarterback nor is there a fully developed passing game. Strangely, this team hasn't shown itself to be anywhere near a dominant running team either. There has not been a season yet where you could say the Gophers were "really good" at any aspect of offensive football.

I guess my answer depends largely on what happens this off season as something drastic needs to happen in the way this staff approaches offensive football. Coach Kill's friend Patterson made some big changes at TCU and completely jump started his program...is Coach Kill willing/able to make such adjustments? I think the answer to that question will go a long way to answering the original question.
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David Cobb ran for more yards last year than any player in Gopher history. I'd say that's pretty f-ing good.
 

Even with the injuries, this year has been a disappointment. There's really no way to sugar coat it.

That said, even good coaches have down years. Please let the thread die now.
 

MaxyJR1 said:
Kill said this was 7-8 year turn around. We are in year 5. He is 100% on course and the right man. We might disagree with in game calls and coaching, but he is truly building a program. It will be a shame if he is not allowed to reap the benefits of the updated facilities.

He took over a brutal program and has brought it to respectability mainly on his name alone. It's not easy recruiting here and he has shown that he can coach by coaching up players who chose to be Gophers. His highest average star class since coming here was 2.8 stars. He now has commitments from a 3.0 average star class for 2016. That's because he took lesser talent and won quickly with them. The program has hit a bump because it takes winning to get better talent in the program. The 2015 and 2016 classes are what we hope will get us over the hump. 9 of the 2015 class have already played.

Rivals Ranks
2016-27
2015-52
2014-52
2013-61
2012-73
2011-52

Bump in the road folks. Let's all remember the Mason went 6-6 in year 4 and 4-7 in year 5. He followed it up with three straight bowl wins, including a 10-3 season.
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way to early to count the 2016 class before signing day. The other years are pathetic-- top year being 52nd-- not sure how you crack the top half of the conference with that. I think we need to go after the JC's more-- we can see in real time what college age kids can contribute as we have too many swings and misses with 25 hs kids coming in each year. It sure would help depth and if you miss on one they are only in your program 2-3 years before their spot opens up.
 

John Galt said:
David Cobb ran for more yards last year than any player in Gopher history. I'd say that's pretty f-ing good.
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The Gophers were 6th in the Conference in rushing offense last year (13th in passing), so you would be wrong.
 

Maroon92 said:
way to early to count the 2016 class before signing day. The other years are pathetic-- top year being 52nd-- not sure how you crack the top half of the conference with that. I think we need to go after the JC's more-- we can see in real time what college age kids can contribute as we have too many swings and misses with 25 hs kids coming in each year. It sure would help depth and if you miss on one they are only in your program 2-3 years before their spot opens up.
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Are you talking about top half in the standings? Well, they did it the last two years so it looks like they found a way. 6th out of 12 teams in 2013 and 4th out of 14 last year.
 

EG#9 said:
The Gophers were 6th in the Conference in rushing offense last year (13th in passing), so you would be wrong.
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Lack of turnovers is an area the Gophers offense has been very good at the past two seasons. Finished 2nd in least amount of turnovers lost per game in each of 2013 and 2014. Only behind Michigan St. each season.
 

GophersInIowa said:
Lack of turnovers is an area the Gophers offense has been very good at the past two seasons. Finished 2nd in least amount of turnovers lost per game in each of 2013 and 2014. Only behind Michigan St. each season.
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we get it having a TEQB is not good. leave him alone.
 

This is basically the type of season I expected (being negative) or feared (being positive). The Gophers were never going to be on an upward trajectory to the National Championship, so Kill was always destined to have a "step back" year. That's not to completely excuse this year - because it is disappointing...but it's only one year. Now, if we have another disappointing year in 2016 I think it is fair to START questioning Kill. We are not Alabama - we will have 'down' years. The facilities being passed has made all of this season a success and in a couple years we can finally start evaluating the Gophers on an 'apples-to-apples' basis with the rest of our peers in the conference (uw, iowa, etc). Right now, we should only judge ourselves against Purdue.
 

Maroon92 said:
way to early to count the 2016 class before signing day. The other years are pathetic-- top year being 52nd-- not sure how you crack the top half of the conference with that. I think we need to go after the JC's more-- we can see in real time what college age kids can contribute as we have too many swings and misses with 25 hs kids coming in each year. It sure would help depth and if you miss on one they are only in your program 2-3 years before their spot opens up.
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Wisconsin and Iowa have done it for years, plus we did it the past two years
 


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