PiPress: Recruiting not hurt by Jerry Kill's seizures, AD says

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BleedGopher

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per Marcus:

"We've never had a kid say anything about it, whether it be last week or Saturday or in the past," Teague said. "I think if anything -- and I've said this before -- parents and prospective student-athletes really are inspired and impressed by his story."

"I know he and the staff have been through this," said Jones, who already has made an oral commitment to the Gophers, "but just thinking about him."

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_24108959/gophers-football-recruiting-not-hurt-by-jerry-kills

Go Gophers!!
 

I'd be lying if I said it didn't play a role in recruiting. However, I think that because he is so honest about it, and is taking it head on, it becomes a wash. Also, even if it does play a factor, I doubt it is a deciding factor by any means.
 

NT is trying to put a positive spin on it but the entire speculation about the affect of Kill's epilepsy on recruiting is pointless anyway because there is no way to know what if any impact it truly has. No recruit in their right mind is going to come out and say they are not coming to MN because the coach has epilepsy. On the same token I highly doubt there is a recruit out there that would come to the U of M specifically because the coach suffers from epilepsy.

If I had to guess I would say it is a non-issue or a negative. For most recruits they are aware of it and if they like Kill and the thought of playing for the U it is a non-issue. The one way I could see it as a potential negative would be for Kill to suffer a seizure in front of a recruit on gameday or during a visit. Even if you are aware of the condition it is still pretty shocking to see someone having a seizure up close (know from first hand experience).

I have a hard time picturing a lot of scenarios where Kill's condition would be a positive in recruiting, but I don't believe it is scaring recruits away either. Bottom line though we will never really know for sure one way or the other.
 

Guess any anti norwood posts are quickly deleted, however, I do know that recruiting is a dirty business, and all is fair in love and war.
 

Anyone that thinks, that Coach Kills epilepsy is affecting recruiting, is selling today's kids short. With the mainstreaming of kids with handicaps most kids today have dealt with it and understand. To quote Coach Kill " The problem isn't with the kids it's with the adults".
 


Bush kangaroo said:
Guess any anti norwood posts are quickly deleted, however, I do know that recruiting is a dirty business, and all is fair in love and war.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. Zero doubt there are some kids turned off by it. Zero doubt that there are some kids who couldn't care less.

Doubtful it's the deciding factor for many kids, but to think it has no impact on recruiting whatsoever is naive.
 

nsmike said:
Anyone that thinks, that Coach Kills epilepsy is affecting recruiting, is selling today's kids short. With the mainstreaming of kids with handicaps most kids today have dealt with it and understand. To quote Coach Kill " The problem isn't with the kids it's with the adults".
Click to expand...

I think you're selling kids short if this *isn't* something they consider.

If a coach is part of a selling point of a program, then it follows that kids come to play for a particular coach. If they are worried that for some reason that the coach might not be there for their college career, then that has to play into their decision, at least a little bit.

And I'm not saying he'll suffer a seizure that'll knock him out of commission physically. However, if he has another seizure during a game this season, I can see that the issue could easily get to a point where *he* feels it is best for him and the program that he step down. And I believe if I can see that, recruits can see that.
 

"Rivals recruiting expert Josh Helmholdt said he would be surprised if an opposing coach used Kill's epilepsy to recruit against the Gophers because it would reflect negatively upon their programs."

i hope he is right
 

it doesn't hurt recruiting. It is not a distraction. It doesn't hurt on gameday when he has to leave at halftime. I hope these are true reflections of reality but I really doubt it.
 



I think kids consider it, put in context, and go to the next issue. I've been fortunate to know several people with epilepsy, you quickly learn it's not a big deal, they have a seizure, come out of it, and are fine. If they have a major episode they need to have their blood checked. A diabetic getting their blood sugar messed up is more dangerous.
 

Gopher Warrior said:
Absolutely. Zero doubt there are some kids turned off by it. Zero doubt that there are some kids who couldn't care less.

Doubtful it's the deciding factor for many kids, but to think it has no impact on recruiting whatsoever is naive.
Click to expand...

Why can't it also be a positive for some? Why can't some people be impressed by the way the coaches and team got through the adversity of Kill going down the other day? Why can't they be impressed with his ability to overcome his disorder? Why can't they be turned off by other programs/coaches who try to use it against the U?

You're right that it could turn some kids off but I believe it could have the equally positive affect on others.
 

GophersInIowa said:
Why can't it also be a positive for some? Why can't some people be impressed by the way the coaches and team got through the adversity of Kill going down the other day? Why can't they be impressed with his ability to overcome his disorder? Why can't they be turned off by other programs/coaches who try to use it against the U?

You're right that it could turn some kids off but I believe it could have the equally positive affect on others.
Click to expand...

Oh absolutely, it might be a positive for some kids. And some schools might mention it.. "well, you know *some schools*.. you never know if a coach is going to be there... with the way contracts are and even **health issues**" and a kid is turned off by that talk. Absolutely.

Some stud may have a family member or friend who has epilepsy... and loves the idea of playing for Kill for that reason.

My point is I think calling it a non-issue is dumb. Also, on balance, I think kids are concerned with the future of their head coach... things change, contracts are made to be broken, etc... so there will always be that concern... but, a coaches health issues are going to add to that for *some* recruits.

If you had a choice from a recruiting standpoint only - your head coach has no health issues, or your head coach has a long history of health issues and missing time from practice and games - I think anyone would go for the head coach with no health issues.
 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>So annoyed by dumb reporters and Coach Kill's epilepsy, players don't think it's a problem, fans don't, recruits don't at all, only you do</p>— Frank Ragnow (@KNARFWONGAR) <a href="https://twitter.com/KNARFWONGAR/statuses/379809448295792640">September 17, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 



I expect the character Kill displays has been shaped to some extent by the adversity he has had to shoulder. So it may not be directly obvious but I think it could be argued that in some measure the program may benefit from it. Maybe not in your world, but in mine, truly quality people are in short supply.

I'm no doctor, but IMO if Kill actually is (?) the person he appears to be I'm not at all concerned about this health issue.
 

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