Jerry Kill's press conference notes regarding AJ Barker

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GopherLady

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Here are the live notes I typed as he talked on the AJ Barker situation:

• I just wanted to make sure that we addressed AJ Barker leaving the team. I've always been honest, and wanted to do that. AJ didn't come in for training yesterday, and I received the email and reached out to him, and didn't receive a response. I feel bad for AJ, I feel bad that that's the way he feels about the situation, I'll do whatever I can to help him in the future.
• We have specific rules and guidelines, I've talked about discipline and how we do things - going to class, being on time, going to class, being respectful . I was coaching Thursday on the field, and AJ had a confrontation with one of our trainers. I let things go, but it got loud so I called AJ over, and I let him know that I wasn't very happy. I can't tell you my exact words, but I told him he need to follow procedure, and do all the things we ask everyone to do. Maybe that was the trigger, but that's who I am.
• We've open praticed since the days we've been here, so you see how we coach. I've done the same thing for 30 years. When you come into a new program, there are certain standards.
• I feel bad that I didn't do a good enough job of telling him what the expectations are. I do the best I can with what I have to work with. I don't treat our players any differently than I treat my 2 daughters, and when I need to be tough on them, I am. They' haven't turned out too bad, and I'm very proud of them. You respect your elders.
• The best thing that could happen to me was Brandon Kirskey calling me before I came in here today. I've gotten all over his tail end. He said "hey coach, I don't know what's going on man, but you changed my life."
• I love what I do, I love kids, I've seen kids change their whole life because of the game of football. My job as a coach, the wins and losses to me are how many kids you save and how many you couldn't.
• 50% of the people are going to like what you're doing, 50% aren't. When I got here, we had some issues and I addressed them. I've been consistent with that message. That's the same consistency I had at Northern IL, and everywhere I've gone.
• We need to get players excited about playing MSU. I didn't want to avoid anyone's questions today though.
• If there's one thing I've done wrong, I've spend more time visiting with AJ Barker, than with my own daughter who's headed to Mayo today.
• After practice on Thursday, we had our conversation. We needed to make sure everyone is on the same page. We're responsible for the health of these young people, and they have to get cleared to play. You need to spend time in the training room. You do not talk to someone of authority, on a Thursday, before the game, disrespectfully. I remember thinking he was a lot like me, a little bull headed, but didn't think anything of it.
• I talked to AJ during camp, and I know people will ask about the scholarship thing - when I came here, I didn't know much about AJ, he was a walk on player. He had some hamstring issues, didn't really get to see him, he struggled a bit during camp, I told him I'd get him the opportunity, and to stay healthy and he'd be in good shape. That day he went to practice and started repping with the 1st team, and played in the UNLV game, and did a good job there. You have to do that by the 1st day of school to give a scholarship out. You stay healthy and you play well, you'll be given a scholarship. He said something about us rewarding a kicker, but that kicker (Jordan) is a senior and we rewarded him. Between the scholarship, and my discipline on Thursday, that didn't sit well. I feel bad, I would have liked to had the opportunity to visit with him. An injury, that's awful, look at Connor Cosgrove and Beal - Beal had an MRI on his knee and it doesn't look good again.
• It's not true that he wouldn't get a scholarship
• I don't control who practices, the trainer does. We have a green shirt, and orange shirt, what they can and can't do. I'm on the other side, I'm more cautious about these things.
• As you come back, you have to work your way back in the line-up. My daughter torn her ACL and MCL, and I'm on her tail end to get back and play softball. You've got to work everyday. She came back, and she wasn't quite as good, and she got frustrated, but I told her, she needs to work her way back.
• It never really got into a scholarship talk on Thursday. We were getting ready for a game and had recruits right there. I never told him there was no chance at getting a scholarship.
• We sat there 3 weeks ago with him, we spend a lot of time with these kids. It's one of those things, I feel bad for the kid, I think it's a deal that he'll regret someday, but there's nothing I can do about that.
• My biggest job right now, is I have a group of young people, that want to be here, that have to get ready for MSU.
• You talk about scholarships, I gave Connor Cosgrove a scholarship, I care about people.
• You can't be having a conversation with an adult trainer, like that. I've been a lot tougher on other kids than I have with AJ. I wish he would have come and see him, you always do things face to face.
• Nobody has every done that (on an assistant coach calling Barker a gay slur)

I'm the same guy, when his brother hit a jump shot, I called him on the phone and congratulated him. I'd be lying if I said exactly what went on in that conversation about his family - but I never said anything like that. The communication from the training room has to be on the same page. It's no different than me, having epilepsy and going to 3 different neurologists (taking care of his health). When you are coaching and hear confrontation, you take care of it. If my oldest daughter was playing women's basketball, and she confronted a coach like that, she wouldn't be playing, and that would be my call.
 

So the majority of the stuff simply seems to be a matter of perspective.

What's interesting is the total denial of the comments about his family or the use of slurs. Those things aren't a matter of perspective; it was either said or it wasn't.
 

GopherLady said:
Here are the live notes I typed as he talked on the AJ Barker situation:

• I just wanted to make sure that we addressed AJ Barker leaving the team. I've always been honest, and wanted to do that. AJ didn't come in for training yesterday, and I received the email and reached out to him, and didn't receive a response. I feel bad for AJ, I feel bad that that's the way he feels about the situation, I'll do whatever I can to help him in the future.
• We have specific rules and guidelines, I've talked about discipline and how we do things - going to class, being on time, going to class, being respectful . I was coaching Thursday on the field, and AJ had a confrontation with one of our trainers. I let things go, but it got loud so I called AJ over, and I let him know that I wasn't very happy. I can't tell you my exact words, but I told him he need to follow procedure, and do all the things we ask everyone to do. Maybe that was the trigger, but that's who I am.
• We've open praticed since the days we've been here, so you see how we coach. I've done the same thing for 30 years. When you come into a new program, there are certain standards.
• I feel bad that I didn't do a good enough job of telling him what the expectations are. I do the best I can with what I have to work with. I don't treat our players any differently than I treat my 2 daughters, and when I need to be tough on them, I am. They' haven't turned out too bad, and I'm very proud of them. You respect your elders.
• The best thing that could happen to me was Brandon Kirskey calling me before I came in here today. I've gotten all over his tail end. He said "hey coach, I don't know what's going on man, but you changed my life."
• I love what I do, I love kids, I've seen kids change their whole life because of the game of football. My job as a coach, the wins and losses to me are how many kids you save and how many you couldn't.
• 50% of the people are going to like what you're doing, 50% aren't. When I got here, we had some issues and I addressed them. I've been consistent with that message. That's the same consistency I had at Northern IL, and everywhere I've gone.
• We need to get players excited about playing MSU. I didn't want to avoid anyone's questions today though.
• If there's one thing I've done wrong, I've spend more time visiting with AJ Barker, than with my own daughter who's headed to Mayo today.
• After practice on Thursday, we had our conversation. We needed to make sure everyone is on the same page. We're responsible for the health of these young people, and they have to get cleared to play. You need to spend time in the training room. You do not talk to someone of authority, on a Thursday, before the game, disrespectfully. I remember thinking he was a lot like me, a little bull headed, but didn't think anything of it.
• I talked to AJ during camp, and I know people will ask about the scholarship thing - when I came here, I didn't know much about AJ, he was a walk on player. He had some hamstring issues, didn't really get to see him, he struggled a bit during camp, I told him I'd get him the opportunity, and to stay healthy and he'd be in good shape. That day he went to practice and started repping with the 1st team, and played in the UNLV game, and did a good job there. You have to do that by the 1st day of school to give a scholarship out. You stay healthy and you play well, you'll be given a scholarship. He said something about us rewarding a kicker, but that kicker (Jordan) is a senior and we rewarded him. Between the scholarship, and my discipline on Thursday, that didn't sit well. I feel bad, I would have liked to had the opportunity to visit with him. An injury, that's awful, look at Connor Cosgrove and Beal - Beal had an MRI on his knee and it doesn't look good again.
• It's not true that he wouldn't get a scholarship
• I don't control who practices, the trainer does. We have a green shirt, and orange shirt, what they can and can't do. I'm on the other side, I'm more cautious about these things.
• As you come back, you have to work your way back in the line-up. My daughter torn her ACL and MCL, and I'm on her tail end to get back and play softball. You've got to work everyday. She came back, and she wasn't quite as good, and she got frustrated, but I told her, she needs to work her way back.
• It never really got into a scholarship talk on Thursday. We were getting ready for a game and had recruits right there. I never told him there was no chance at getting a scholarship.
• We sat there 3 weeks ago with him, we spend a lot of time with these kids. It's one of those things, I feel bad for the kid, I think it's a deal that he'll regret someday, but there's nothing I can do about that.
• My biggest job right now, is I have a group of young people, that want to be here, that have to get ready for MSU.
• You talk about scholarships, I gave Connor Cosgrove a scholarship, I care about people.
• You can't be having a conversation with an adult trainer, like that. I've been a lot tougher on other kids than I have with AJ. I wish he would have come and see him, you always do things face to face.
• Nobody has every done that (on an assistant coach calling Barker a gay slur)I'm the same guy, when his brother hit a jump shot, I called him on the phone and congratulated him. I'd be lying if I said exactly what went on in that conversation about his family - but I never said anything like that. The communication from the training room has to be on the same page. It's no different than me, having epilepsy and going to 3 different neurologists (taking care of his health). When you are coaching and hear confrontation, you take care of it. If my oldest daughter was playing women's basketball, and she confronted a coach like that, she wouldn't be playing, and that would be my call.
Click to expand...

Very definitive.
 

Thanks for the notes GopherLady! As always, much appriciated!
 

I am a lot more relaxed than 99.49% of the population on this whole fiasco.

I am having a pork chop in a glass.
 


Glad Jerry addressed the situation.

Hopefully the media will move along too, instead of regurgitating this fiasco forever.

The U and the team can reinforce their policies, do a retrospective on what happened, and insure this type of thing doesn't happen again ... or at least gain as much publicity!
 

Gopherprof said:
So the majority of the stuff simply seems to be a matter of perspective.

What's interesting is the total denial of the comments about his family or the use of slurs. Those things aren't a matter of perspective; it was either said or it wasn't.
Click to expand...

So here are the possibilities:
1) Kill knows the slur was said and is lying to save face about the slur.
2) Kill doesn't really know if a slur was said or not, but is saying it wasn't said to save face.
3) Barker is making it up.

All 3 are equally likely and there are probably only 2 people that really know the answer. I do doubt that Kill knows everything that every assistant coach has ever said though, so I wouldn't be shocked if he just didn't know about it. I have been an assistant coach before and it's not like I reported everything I said every day to our head coach.
 

Word said:
So here are the possibilities:
1) Kill knows the slur was said and is lying to save face about the slur.
2) Kill doesn't really know if a slur was said or not, but is saying it wasn't said to save face.
3) Barker is making it up.

All 3 are equally likely and there are probably only 2 people that really know the answer. I do doubt that Kill knows everything that every assistant coach has ever said though, so I wouldn't be shocked if he just didn't know about it. I have been an assistant coach before and it's not like I reported everything I said every day to our head coach.
Click to expand...

You would hope Kill asked Poore whether he said it prior to categorically denying it to the media.
 

This was a good move by Coach Kill and the U of M. Hopefully ends it. Tomorrow I'm sure the media will be told that the topic will not be discussed and to discuss MSU and Senior Week.
 



2 stories and somewhere in between is the truth. Personally, I think Kill has proven to be a stand up guy and think that Barker is kinda being a baby about the whole thing. I wish him well and good luck.
 

The next 48 hours are crucial for Kill and his staff...If any other players come forward and corroborate Barker's accusations, I'm afraid Kill will be gone. I'd be on the look out for Adrian Wojikowski on the campus trying to dig up dirt.
 

Moses87 said:
The next 48 hours are crucial for Kill and his staff...If any other players come forward and corroborate Barker's accusations, I'm afraid Kill will be gone. I'd be on the look out for Adrian Wojikowski on the campus trying to dig up dirt.
Click to expand...

In the twitter age, we would have already had people come forward. This will be on the downfall starting tomorrow.
 

John Galt said:
You would hope Kill asked Poore whether he said it prior to categorically denying it to the media.
Click to expand...

It is also quite possible that if he were the type of person that throws around that slur, he may not recall saying it in retrospect because it has no meaning to him. Now if every coach categorically denied to Kill that they've ever said that to a player, then he can comfortably go to the media with it.
 



I think anyone that might want to speak up will be silenced by the fact AJ looks like a whiny bitch. Others will see there is a more productive way to go about issues like this. Talk to the coach, then the AD, then the President. No need to do what AJ did.
 

Word said:
So here are the possibilities:
1) Kill knows the slur was said and is lying to save face about the slur.
2) Kill doesn't really know if a slur was said or not, but is saying it wasn't said to save face.
3) Barker is making it up.

kid is bringing up too many arguments and making a big effort to win public opinion. compare his stories and note the strings...he got angry and made a decision on his own. nothin more to it.
Click to expand...
 

The big problem I have with his childish reaction is that he quit via email and then went on an internet rant.

You don't quit anything by email, not a relationship or a job or a football team.

Its pretty obvious that he is a thin skinned kid who couldn't handle being dressed down. That is fine, if you don't like it, quit like a man and play for a player's coach that will coddle you. I don't have a problem with quitting, but you can't do it that way.
 

MaxyJR1 said:
This was a good move by Coach Kill and the U of M. Hopefully ends it. Tomorrow I'm sure the media will be told that the topic will not be discussed and to discuss MSU and Senior Week.
Click to expand...

It's senior week for goodness sake! Let's focus on those people that have given everything they have to this program for the past four years and to this point haven't had much to show for it. I'm thinking about guys like Q, Rallis, Wilhite, Stoudemire, Grant and on and on. These are they guys that show up everyday, don't act like they are owed something and show respect for the game, teammates, coaches, trainers and fans - none of which can be said about Barker. Without question Barker earned a scholarship this season and would have received it in January, but it's clear that he is not a team player and appears to be one of those guys that always thinks he's the smartest person in the room. Kill is an old school coach, think Bud Grant, Coughlin, Woody Hayes, etc, he is not about to put up with a player going ballistic on a trainer or even a student manager.
 

MadtownGopher said:
I think anyone that might want to speak up will be silenced by the fact AJ looks like a whiny bitch. Others will see there is a more productive way to go about issues like this. Talk to the coach, then the AD, then the President. No need to do what AJ did.
Click to expand...

Adding to this. I think most of the guys are pretty pumped about going to a Bowl game down south. I don't think we have too much to worry about as far as more backlash. The upper classmen that contribute on the roster are all on scholarship and Kill's recruits apparently respect him unlike little boy, AJ.
 

afurry91 said:
In the twitter age, we would have already had people come forward. This will be on the downfall starting tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Regarding the twitter thing, I completely agree. I looked at a couple players accounts to see if anyone was commenting on this, and nobody was. However, Kill may have put a twitter ban on his players (which I believe is within the rules to do)...regarding this thing going away, I dont think it will go away any time soon. Barker is in high demand with the local media right now, and he has already made it known that he wants his voice to be heard. I do not find much substance to Barker's rant, but I believe that he believes himself, and that that belief will continue to grow stronger.

The only factual things that Barker has brought up in his rant, er, I mean his email, was that he was not offered a scholarship after the UNLV game, a scholarship was given to a senior, and that he had a high ankle sprain. The first two facts that he brought up, are within Kill's rights as a coach to decide...the third fact, is just a fact that should have no outcome on anything.
 

John Galt said:
You would hope Kill asked Poore whether he said it prior to categorically denying it to the media.
Click to expand...

It was allegedly Reeves, not Poore. Just so names aren't drug through the mud any more than they already have been.
 


GopherInPittsburgh said:
Correct. Coach Poore allegedly said that Barker can't handle the "bright lights" before the UNLV game.
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and I am not sure why Barker took such offense to this alleged comment...I mean, he had a breakthrough game against UNLV, but why take such offense to that alleged comment?
 

After the presser, I'm firm in my confidence in Kill with regard to this situation. Straightforward, blunt and respectful. AJ has every right to feel hard done by. But frankly the way he handled this, he's a spoiled twat and the faster he effs off, the better. Later dude.
 

skauma said:
and I am not sure why Barker took such offense to this alleged comment...I mean, he had a breakthrough game against UNLV, but why take such offense to that alleged comment?
Click to expand...

Not sure. Maybe he's mad that Poore didn't kiss him on his neck and tell him everything is great.
 


How an adult conversation would go...

AJ - "Coach Kill, I am pretty upset that I do not have a scholarship right now. I feel I have done enough as a football player to deserve that."

Kill - "AJ, we don't have any scholarships to give right now. I gave the last one to Jordan, partly because he is a senior, and has just this year of eligibility left, and partly because prior to last night (UNLV game) you only had 1 career reception. Next year, we should have a couple sholarships available, and you should be receiving one if you continue to do well in school, and on the team."

AJ - "Okay coach, I will hold you to that, and will hold myself to being valuable on the field, and in the classroom...I guess one game does not entitle me to anything."

Coach - "Alright AJ, don't bother me with such trivial things anymore."

AJ - "Sorry coach, there is nothing manipulative about you telling me this, I was just an idiot to think that one game against a terrible team would earn me a scholarship."
 

skauma said:
How an adult conversation would go...

AJ - "Coach Kill, I am pretty upset that I do not have a scholarship right now. I feel I have done enough as a football player to deserve that."

Kill - "AJ, we don't have any scholarships to give right now. I gave the last one to Jordan, partly because he is a senior, and has just this year of eligibility left, and partly because prior to last night (UNLV game) you only had 1 career reception. Next year, we should have a couple sholarships available, and you should be receiving one if you continue to do well in school, and on the team."

AJ - "Okay coach, I will hold you to that, and will hold myself to being valuable on the field, and in the classroom...I guess one game does not entitle me to anything."

Coach - "Alright AJ, don't bother me with such trivial things anymore."

AJ - "Sorry coach, there is nothing manipulative about you telling me this, I was just an idiot to think that one game against a terrible team would earn me a scholarship."
Click to expand...

The last part made me laugh. Thank you
 

GopherInPittsburgh said:
Correct. Coach Poore allegedly said that Barker can't handle the "bright lights" before the UNLV game.
Click to expand...

These assistant coaches make me laugh. I find it hard to believe that Coach Poore ever saw any bright lights during his career at Fort Hays State.
 



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