Dave Mona and coach Jerry Kill were back on the Sports Huddle. Kill was on for the full half-hour segment, and there were a lot of questions and areas covered:
1) Sid opened asking what the current routine is at the football offices: The team is divided into twelve groups with twelve captains. The team arrives at the weight room at 6:00 a.m. for strength and conditioning drills . . . the players are competing in the conditioning drills. Coaches in the afternoon have been breaking down films from last year's games (evaluating what went right and wrong). They're making preparations for upcoming Junior Days. Coaches from other teams are visiting the Gopher program and they're making plans to visit schools (see item #2). This past week coach Kill met with the coordinators and strength and conditioning staff, as they're looking at where the team is presently at and needed steps to improve the Gophers.
2) Kill listed some of the schools they're going visit and what they're looking at: Going to visit Tony Levine at Houston (talked about Levine's past and connection to the U), Baylor and Texas A&M for offensive material/infodrmation. On the defensive side, they're going to visit Boston College, TCU and Mississippi State. Additionally, Sonny Lubrick, former Colorado State coach will be visiting in February and will meet with the Minnesota staff and will focus the defensive side of the line. Tony Levine will be visiting Minnesota in February and will be a presenter at the Minnesota High School Clinic. The Minnesota Viking kicking coach (didn't get his name) will be visiting this week and discussing the kicking game.
3) Recruiting: "We're always on the hunt for good players." Presently evaluating and recruiting juniors for next years class. The recruiting coordinator receives 75-100 emails and video tapes daily for evaluation. Again, he mentioned that they're making preparations for a couple Junior Day events. They're still looking at possible recruits to fill out this year's class and 3 or 4 walkon recruits that can earn a scholarship, " . . . push for a scholarship."
4) Sid asked about Gray: Kill responded by saying that Gray showed great improvement from the USC game to Illinois . . . "He's getting better." He also mentioned Shortell, briefly. He said Ed Olson is up to 315 pounds. Offensive line "Getting bigger and better in the weight room." (It appears as though Kill doesn't like to focus or elaborate on individual players.)
5) When Sid asked about Stoudermire, Kill responded by saying it's good to have him back. He then said that they improved themselves in the secondary through this years recruiting class and that there are some real good players already on campus (referencing, I believe, redshirts and the young players that saw the field this past season).
6) Mona then asked a series of questions, including: Fans at spring practices - Kill doesn't see any changes - "This is Minnesota's team." The players practice better when there are fans present . . . puts pressure on the players to perform better.
7) UNLV game to Thursday night: "I've gotten one call from the UNLV head coach." He's had some discussion with the Minnesota administration about a possible change. A Thursday night game, if covered nationally would be a good thing. There's plus and minuses for having the game on a Thursday. May be a problem for those that have already or are in the process of making arrangements to attend the game. A Saturday game and subsequent late arrival back to the Twin Cities would hurt preparations for the next game . . . a Thursday game would provide an extra day of preparation. Kill said he would like the powers to do what is best for the players.
8) Sid asked another question about walkons: The recruiting of possible walkons is ongoing. If they have a couple schollies available (year to year) they'd like to reward players that start and contribute. This past year they gave out 4 or 5 scholarships to walkons that have contributed heavily to the team. "You play the best players (whether they're scholarship players or walkons)."
9) Mona, report via twitter, James Manuel being swtiched to linebacker: Kill said they've discussed the possiblity of a position change with Manuel; however, they'll study and evaluate his play at safety during spring ball. If he struggles at safety they may move him to outside linebacker. He then said the outside linebacker position and safety position are very similar in today's defenses. Kill then reiterated, saying they brought in a lot of good DBs (recruiting class) and they already have talent on campus.
10) Sid asked if there are anyother position changes in the near future and Kill said no. However, Sid then asked about Moses Alipate's switch to TE. Kill said he's been working on his receiving. Took him some time to convince Moses to make the switch from QB to TE.
11) Foster Bush: "Bush is upto 305 pounds . . . he's athletic and strong . . . we have a lot of those players." Joe Bjorkland weighs 298 pounds and grew an inch and is presently six foot six. There are nine offensive linemen that played last year. (Kill sounded excited about the offensive line.) "They're competing in the weight room and watching what they eat." S&C coach attends the meals and watches their food intake. "We've got to recruit and build them up."
12) Josh Campion: He's going through the workouts and will participate in spring ball. You have to be aware of the seriousness and ramifications of concussions . . . have to be careful.
13) Summer camps will start in June - 2 camps within 3 weeks - and a camp in July. Camps are important in the evaluation and recruiting process.
Go Gophers!!
1) Sid opened asking what the current routine is at the football offices: The team is divided into twelve groups with twelve captains. The team arrives at the weight room at 6:00 a.m. for strength and conditioning drills . . . the players are competing in the conditioning drills. Coaches in the afternoon have been breaking down films from last year's games (evaluating what went right and wrong). They're making preparations for upcoming Junior Days. Coaches from other teams are visiting the Gopher program and they're making plans to visit schools (see item #2). This past week coach Kill met with the coordinators and strength and conditioning staff, as they're looking at where the team is presently at and needed steps to improve the Gophers.
2) Kill listed some of the schools they're going visit and what they're looking at: Going to visit Tony Levine at Houston (talked about Levine's past and connection to the U), Baylor and Texas A&M for offensive material/infodrmation. On the defensive side, they're going to visit Boston College, TCU and Mississippi State. Additionally, Sonny Lubrick, former Colorado State coach will be visiting in February and will meet with the Minnesota staff and will focus the defensive side of the line. Tony Levine will be visiting Minnesota in February and will be a presenter at the Minnesota High School Clinic. The Minnesota Viking kicking coach (didn't get his name) will be visiting this week and discussing the kicking game.
3) Recruiting: "We're always on the hunt for good players." Presently evaluating and recruiting juniors for next years class. The recruiting coordinator receives 75-100 emails and video tapes daily for evaluation. Again, he mentioned that they're making preparations for a couple Junior Day events. They're still looking at possible recruits to fill out this year's class and 3 or 4 walkon recruits that can earn a scholarship, " . . . push for a scholarship."
4) Sid asked about Gray: Kill responded by saying that Gray showed great improvement from the USC game to Illinois . . . "He's getting better." He also mentioned Shortell, briefly. He said Ed Olson is up to 315 pounds. Offensive line "Getting bigger and better in the weight room." (It appears as though Kill doesn't like to focus or elaborate on individual players.)
5) When Sid asked about Stoudermire, Kill responded by saying it's good to have him back. He then said that they improved themselves in the secondary through this years recruiting class and that there are some real good players already on campus (referencing, I believe, redshirts and the young players that saw the field this past season).
6) Mona then asked a series of questions, including: Fans at spring practices - Kill doesn't see any changes - "This is Minnesota's team." The players practice better when there are fans present . . . puts pressure on the players to perform better.
7) UNLV game to Thursday night: "I've gotten one call from the UNLV head coach." He's had some discussion with the Minnesota administration about a possible change. A Thursday night game, if covered nationally would be a good thing. There's plus and minuses for having the game on a Thursday. May be a problem for those that have already or are in the process of making arrangements to attend the game. A Saturday game and subsequent late arrival back to the Twin Cities would hurt preparations for the next game . . . a Thursday game would provide an extra day of preparation. Kill said he would like the powers to do what is best for the players.
8) Sid asked another question about walkons: The recruiting of possible walkons is ongoing. If they have a couple schollies available (year to year) they'd like to reward players that start and contribute. This past year they gave out 4 or 5 scholarships to walkons that have contributed heavily to the team. "You play the best players (whether they're scholarship players or walkons)."
9) Mona, report via twitter, James Manuel being swtiched to linebacker: Kill said they've discussed the possiblity of a position change with Manuel; however, they'll study and evaluate his play at safety during spring ball. If he struggles at safety they may move him to outside linebacker. He then said the outside linebacker position and safety position are very similar in today's defenses. Kill then reiterated, saying they brought in a lot of good DBs (recruiting class) and they already have talent on campus.
10) Sid asked if there are anyother position changes in the near future and Kill said no. However, Sid then asked about Moses Alipate's switch to TE. Kill said he's been working on his receiving. Took him some time to convince Moses to make the switch from QB to TE.
11) Foster Bush: "Bush is upto 305 pounds . . . he's athletic and strong . . . we have a lot of those players." Joe Bjorkland weighs 298 pounds and grew an inch and is presently six foot six. There are nine offensive linemen that played last year. (Kill sounded excited about the offensive line.) "They're competing in the weight room and watching what they eat." S&C coach attends the meals and watches their food intake. "We've got to recruit and build them up."
12) Josh Campion: He's going through the workouts and will participate in spring ball. You have to be aware of the seriousness and ramifications of concussions . . . have to be careful.
13) Summer camps will start in June - 2 camps within 3 weeks - and a camp in July. Camps are important in the evaluation and recruiting process.
Go Gophers!!
