Coach Kill didn't join the Sports Huddle until 10:06 a.m. He had just flown down to San Antonio for the annual National Coaches Conference. He was on the show for the half-hour segment. About midway through the segment Dave Mona asked questions that were raised in the GopherHole thread on the second page of this forum: "If you were Dave Mona what question would you ask coach Kill . . ?" (See questions and responses below and who raised the question.)
Coach Kill's responses and comments to Dave Mona and Sid Hartman's questions on today's Sports Huddle are as follows:
1) Sid asked if the Gopher coaching staff is connected with any recruiting service: Coach Kill said they belong to a couple (no names given). He then said recruiting has changed with the advent of the internet, social media, you-tube, twitter, etc. "You can get almost anything you want off the internet, social media . . . " He then talked about the volume of information that comes through his office daily. They often keep a couple coaches back home to screen and evaluate the information (tapes and other forms) that comes in, which then is evaluated by the coaches that come back off the road. "Look at as much as you can."
2) Improvement in academics: Coach Kill said when he took over the team's academics was a great concern . . . about 2.27 GPA. After the last semester it's been improved to 3.1 or a shade less than 3.1 GPA. He credited the student athletes for the turnaround as well as the academic counseling staff and the coaches that have kept after the players. The players now know the expectations and the importance of academics.
3) Sid asked how they decide to offer or take a player that may be marginal in academics: Kill responded by saying you "dig in" . . . meet with the player's coaches, teachers, advisers, parents . . . try to ascertain why they've struggeled in the classroom. Kill said, "I was a better student in college than I was in high school." . . . "Recruiting is an educated guess." . . . You've go to take some chances (recruiting a player that may appear as an academic risk) but not too many."
4) Sid referenced three players, J.D. Pride and two others (no names given) that have left the program: Kill immediately responded that three players have left, but not because of academics, to play football in a lower division. Again, no names provided.
5) Mona than began asking questions by referencing the internet and that he had questions from a message board. He didn't mention GopherHole by name; however, they're from the thread earlier this week:
a) station19 question: Do uniforms matter in recruiting? Kill said, "It's a part of it." The recruits talk amongst themselves about their numbers. Kill went on to say they and all colleges try to create a "wow factor." New facilities are a wow factor . . . for Minnesota, TCF Bank Stadium is a real "wow factor."
b) Mona then asked "What are you selling to recruits to attract them to the U?" Question was asked by mcsmitty12 and DL65: Kill referenced former Minnesota quarterback Tony Dungy and his book "Uncommon." He tells the recruits that the University of Minnesota is Uncommon. He then mentioned the school and state's diversity . . . academics . . . employment opportunities . . . Fortune 500 companies in the Twin Cities . . . the Twin Cities . . . lakes within the cities . . . outdoor activities and opportunities (hunting and fishing, etc) in the state . . . passionate and loyal fans of Gopher football, despite the lack of championships . . . the U of Minnesota is the state school . . . new president . . . direction of the athletic department and academics of the football team . . . Kill finished by saying he could go-on-and-on when it comes to selling the University of Minnesota.
c) Mona referenced DL65s question that's related to Paul "Bear" Bryant's reported comment that you need to sell the recruit's mother. Kill concurred and said it's extremely important to sell the mother and family as well as the recruit. "Through the years we've done very well recruiting the family."
d) Mona asked about negative recruiting, especially regarding his publicized health-related issues: Kill said his health issues are well known, but he said the coaches have respect and haven't raised it as an issue. He went onto say he's open about the issue with the recruits.
6) Sid asked if there are going to be any changes in the coaching staff: Kill said, "Not at this point, and that's a good thing."
7) Sid said the players come back to school on Tuesday and what will they be doing? Coach Kill said the players know what's expected and what needs to be done before spring ball (strength and conditioning and individual skill work). Again, he mentioned the importance and expectations of academics. They know now what's expected, whereas last year at this time they had no clue as to expectations and what to do and how to do it.
8) Sid asked about walk-ons: Kill responded, "We need to bring in 35 kids, scholarship and non-scholarships. They're all the same." (Briefly noted the importance of a strong walkon program.)
Go Gophers!!
Coach Kill's responses and comments to Dave Mona and Sid Hartman's questions on today's Sports Huddle are as follows:
1) Sid asked if the Gopher coaching staff is connected with any recruiting service: Coach Kill said they belong to a couple (no names given). He then said recruiting has changed with the advent of the internet, social media, you-tube, twitter, etc. "You can get almost anything you want off the internet, social media . . . " He then talked about the volume of information that comes through his office daily. They often keep a couple coaches back home to screen and evaluate the information (tapes and other forms) that comes in, which then is evaluated by the coaches that come back off the road. "Look at as much as you can."
2) Improvement in academics: Coach Kill said when he took over the team's academics was a great concern . . . about 2.27 GPA. After the last semester it's been improved to 3.1 or a shade less than 3.1 GPA. He credited the student athletes for the turnaround as well as the academic counseling staff and the coaches that have kept after the players. The players now know the expectations and the importance of academics.
3) Sid asked how they decide to offer or take a player that may be marginal in academics: Kill responded by saying you "dig in" . . . meet with the player's coaches, teachers, advisers, parents . . . try to ascertain why they've struggeled in the classroom. Kill said, "I was a better student in college than I was in high school." . . . "Recruiting is an educated guess." . . . You've go to take some chances (recruiting a player that may appear as an academic risk) but not too many."
4) Sid referenced three players, J.D. Pride and two others (no names given) that have left the program: Kill immediately responded that three players have left, but not because of academics, to play football in a lower division. Again, no names provided.
5) Mona than began asking questions by referencing the internet and that he had questions from a message board. He didn't mention GopherHole by name; however, they're from the thread earlier this week:
a) station19 question: Do uniforms matter in recruiting? Kill said, "It's a part of it." The recruits talk amongst themselves about their numbers. Kill went on to say they and all colleges try to create a "wow factor." New facilities are a wow factor . . . for Minnesota, TCF Bank Stadium is a real "wow factor."
b) Mona then asked "What are you selling to recruits to attract them to the U?" Question was asked by mcsmitty12 and DL65: Kill referenced former Minnesota quarterback Tony Dungy and his book "Uncommon." He tells the recruits that the University of Minnesota is Uncommon. He then mentioned the school and state's diversity . . . academics . . . employment opportunities . . . Fortune 500 companies in the Twin Cities . . . the Twin Cities . . . lakes within the cities . . . outdoor activities and opportunities (hunting and fishing, etc) in the state . . . passionate and loyal fans of Gopher football, despite the lack of championships . . . the U of Minnesota is the state school . . . new president . . . direction of the athletic department and academics of the football team . . . Kill finished by saying he could go-on-and-on when it comes to selling the University of Minnesota.
c) Mona referenced DL65s question that's related to Paul "Bear" Bryant's reported comment that you need to sell the recruit's mother. Kill concurred and said it's extremely important to sell the mother and family as well as the recruit. "Through the years we've done very well recruiting the family."
d) Mona asked about negative recruiting, especially regarding his publicized health-related issues: Kill said his health issues are well known, but he said the coaches have respect and haven't raised it as an issue. He went onto say he's open about the issue with the recruits.
6) Sid asked if there are going to be any changes in the coaching staff: Kill said, "Not at this point, and that's a good thing."
7) Sid said the players come back to school on Tuesday and what will they be doing? Coach Kill said the players know what's expected and what needs to be done before spring ball (strength and conditioning and individual skill work). Again, he mentioned the importance and expectations of academics. They know now what's expected, whereas last year at this time they had no clue as to expectations and what to do and how to do it.
8) Sid asked about walk-ons: Kill responded, "We need to bring in 35 kids, scholarship and non-scholarships. They're all the same." (Briefly noted the importance of a strong walkon program.)
Go Gophers!!
