Strib Article on Old School Kill

[MaxyJR1]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/180071341.html

Chip gives some excellent examples of how Kill operates. I really have no problem with it because I feel that Kill is open with his recruits and they know what to expect.

I have taken in a number of practices over the years and have been to full practices under Mason, Brewster, and Kill. Kill is definately the most engaged of the three in practices.

I witnessed last year, Kill throw one of the Offensive linemen off the field and had some choice words for him. A couple minutes later Kill was standing next to him on the sideline and telling him how much talent he has and that he wouldn't get on him if he didn't think he could play. Kill slapped him on the back and sent him back on the field.

This is what we hired and this is the program we need to embrace. Remember there are about 120 division 1 programs out there, so if players are coming here they are well aware of what they are getting into and are turning down other options to do so.

 

[huntster17]

Great comments. Kill is a real guy not a media generation. I would want my child playingf for him over the $ss to the east!

 

[upnorthkid]

interesting article. seems to echo the opinion that many of us have that coach kill has a certain style about him. some kids can take the heat and use it to morph themselves and as fuel, some can't. it was bound to happen eventually.

 

[MNVCGUY]

Let me preface this by saying I think Kill is just like most BCS level head coaches. But reading all this stuff does anyone else pick up on the same dynamic as the battered spouse/abusive husband thing without the physical component of course. Coaches cut players down and then the next minute there is the whole, I'm sorry, I love you, your a great player thing. Why is that behavior viewed abusive in a relationship dynamic but not a coach/player dynamic?

Again Kill is just like 95% of the BCS level head coaches out there. Most guys at that level are ego maniacs and jerks....Kill is no different he is just being called on it at the moment by a player when in most cases guys are far to scared to come forward for fear of the negative repercusions.

Nothing should happen to Kill because of this an it should not be shocking for fans to find out their coach is not a nice guy, very few are.

 

[Schnauzer]

I thought there would be more of these situations last year. I get the feeling this is blowing over very quickly. No investigation. The U seems satisfied with the situation. Rutgers and Maryland news is everywhere. Gagliardi retires. It seems like this is quickly fading into a situation where it will just be Barker, his mom's friend, and the "wtf was I thinking" public letter for him to think about for decades.

It is sooooo sad. We all love the walk-on stories when kids make it. Here we have a genuine success story of a walk on who has battled through injuries and climbed the depth chart to get to the point where he is going to not only get a scholarship, but even be a star. Although this all happened under Kill, it is now a memory and the team is weaker because of it, and Barker has a lifetime to think about what might have been.

 

[50PoundHead]

I thought there would be more of these situations last year. I get the feeling this is blowing over very quickly. No investigation. The U seems satisfied with the situation. Rutgers and Maryland news is everywhere. Gagliardi retires. It seems like this is quickly fading into a situation where it will just be Barker, his mom's friend, and the "wtf was I thinking" public letter for him to think about for decades.

It is sooooo sad. We all love the walk-on stories when kids make it. Here we have a genuine success story of a walk on who has battled through injuries and climbed the depth chart to get to the point where he is going to not only get a scholarship, but even be a star. Although this all happened under Kill, it is now a memory and the team is weaker because of it, and Barker has a lifetime to think about what might have been.

The voice of reason has finally entered the building. Great post Schnauzer.

 

[Bryce Webster]

Anyone who has played sports whether it be college or high school has likely either been through, or at least seen a teammate go through some form of this "break you down, build you up" style of coaching. The key for a lot of coaches is to pinpoint which of his student athletes have thick enough skin, and more importantly, which student athletes RESPOND to this type of coaching in a positive way and take it as a challenge to better themselves. I believe you can't coach every kid the same, and to me it seems like in this instance Coach Kill thought AJ was the type of kid who would respond to this type of coaching and that was just not the case.

 

[Ron Johnson Super Fan]

Let me preface this by saying I think Kill is just like most BCS level head coaches. But reading all this stuff does anyone else pick up on the same dynamic as the battered spouse/abusive husband thing without the physical component of course. Coaches cut players down and then the next minute there is the whole, I'm sorry, I love you, your a great player thing. Why is that behavior viewed abusive in a relationship dynamic but not a coach/player dynamic?

Again Kill is just like 95% of the BCS level head coaches out there. Most guys at that level are ego maniacs and jerks....Kill is no different he is just being called on it at the moment by a player when in most cases guys are far to scared to come forward for fear of the negative repercusions.

Nothing should happen to Kill because of this an it should not be shocking for fans to find out their coach is not a nice guy, very few are.

You're talking about two different things. Coaches, military boot camp instructions, amongst others often tear down people so that they can build them back up stronger. Spouse abusers aren't beating up their victims for that purpose.

 

[50PoundHead]

You're talking about two different things. Coaches, military boot camp instructions, amongst others often tear down people so that they can build them back up stronger. Spouse abusers aren't beating up their victims for that purpose.

I agree that spouse abusers have no purpose in their abuse other than to create a power dynamic within the relationship that gives them primacy and I will excuse the military because their mission is certainly distinct, but I don't think that one can universally say that coaches are necessarily trying to build up the guys they break down.

There are some real nut job coaches out there, especially at the high school level. Please don't take that as a generalization through which I am indicting the coaching profession/vocation. I just think there are coaches at every level who could really give a sh*t about anything other than winning and their players are a vessel by which that goal is met. They are a distinct minority, but they are there. And to be clear, I am not insinuating that Kill is one of those guys.