Taken the next step?

[Gopher Warrior]

You're not a Gophers fan so you don't really understand the past.

It's still up in the air if he can take the next step to the 9-10 win level, but it's ridiculous to say we haven't taken the next step.

You continue to act like you're so much smarter than everyone else. It wasn't that long ago you told everyone Kill would be fired after the 2015 season. What do you have to say about that?

You don't know my history of following the Gophers. Your ignorance is sad.

It's not still up in the air - Kill can't.

What is the next step that has been taken? Win less than 2/3rd's of your games two years in a row? Wooo hooo! Great.

The "oooh! New Year's Day bowl! First since 1962!!" has been repeated ninety-million times this week... but there were FOUR Big Ten teams playing in them (Gophers had 0 wins against those teams, btw). Cripes. The bowl setups have changed - calm down.

Close wins squeaked out against NW, Nebraska; win at Michigan is historically great but they were historically bad. Both road wins against teams who fired their coaches.

Hats off to the team for winning the games they did. It was a job well done - I had them down for only 7 wins this year, not 8.

But this bland, conservative style of play and a head coach who won't change (and a HC who has never won an FBS bowl game) isn't going to recruit how he needs to in order to have a consistent product of excellence. The players kicked some butt this year and came away with some close wins. That can happen sometimes and all praise due to them. But what are the bricks that have been built? What about next year when the wins and losses again don't improve?

I have long said I think 2015 will be the end for Kill at Minnesota as head coach (didn't say "fired"). What do I have to say about that? I'd say, "there's still one season to go."

The recruiting hasn't been there and still isn't. Yes, guys can play better than their 'rankings', etc. But to consistently be what many would like to see - a team that can consistently be good in the Big Ten - and occasionally a 6 or 7 win conference season?? - you need the talent.

How is the recruiting going to improve? By telling the ABC audience at halftime that you're afraid to let your players play even though you're losing? By building a new practice facility?

Some parents believe their children can do no wrong. Everything they do is perfect and to be praised.
Some parents love their children more than anything in the world, but they are hard on them because they believe they can and should be better.

 

[patrick08]

Minor step? We played the SEC West champs in a Jan 1 bowl and the game was close. We are in year 4 of a major rebuild that our coach, who has been there before, thought would take 7. Our record has improved every year (I know this year and last are the same, but look at the previous two). We own the Pig, Jug, and Bell. Back to back wins over Nebraska. Gave TCU and Ohio State some of their toughest games of the year. Played for the B1G West title on the road and held our own. Prior to Kill, we lost to South Dakota. What would it take for you to see progress? National Championship?

 

[Pewterschmidt]

I'm concerned we peaked. I can't see the defense improving(not necessarily getting worse) and I can definitely seeing the offense regress. Not to mention I think we used up goodwill with losing the bowl game we finally travelled to and the empty seats because of the increased seat licenses. If the Gophs were a stock, I'd sell. Kill mentioned at least 3 times this week how important a win would be. Nobody mentioned how damaging a loss would be. I'm concerned we've seen the best of the Kill era. I'm not calling for his head at all but I'm concerned that this is the best we'll see, at least in the near future

 

[GophersInIowa]

You don't know my history of following the Gophers. Your ignorance is sad.

You're not a fan. Why would you follow a team so closely that you don't like?

It's not still up in the air - Kill can't.

I should just stop after this. It's obvious you think you're smarter than everyone else so your opinion is somehow a fact.

The "oooh! New Year's Day bowl! First since 1962!!" has been repeated ninety-million times this week... but there were FOUR Big Ten teams playing in them (Gophers had 0 wins against those teams, btw). Cripes. The bowl setups have changed - calm down.

While I agree the New Year's Day bowl is overblown, it is still a pretty good bowl game regardless of what day it is played on. Since you know so much about the history of the program, you'd think you'd understand the Gophers rarely play in good bowl games.

Close wins squeaked out against NW, Nebraska; win at Michigan is historically great but they were historically bad. Both road wins against teams who fired their coaches.

Hats off to the team for winning the games they did. It was a job well done - I had them down for only 7 wins this year, not 8.

And in past years we would have found ways to lose many of those. Again, would think you would understand that. Also, the Nebraska situation was not your normal "coach getting fired" situation.

But this bland, conservative style of play and a head coach who won't change (and a HC who has never won an FBS bowl game) isn't going to recruit how he needs to in order to have a consistent product of excellence. The players kicked some butt this year and came away with some close wins. That can happen sometimes and all praise due to them. But what are the bricks that have been built? What about next year when the wins and losses again don't improve?

I would say we're at least a consistently solid to good team and that is a solid foundation for the program. But you're right, if the recruiting doesn't pick up, we may never get to the next level (competing for conference championships year after year). You're dead set on that never happening, I think it still can.

I have long said I think 2015 will be the end for Kill at Minnesota as head coach (didn't say "fired"). What do I have to say about that? I'd say, "there's still one season to go."

You know you meant he would be gone by the end of 2015 because he wasn't good enough. If he leaves after next year because he gets a better job, that's not what you were saying would happen and you know it.

The recruiting hasn't been there and still isn't. Yes, guys can play better than their 'rankings', etc. But to consistently be what many would like to see - a team that can consistently be good in the Big Ten - and occasionally a 6 or 7 win conference season?? - you need the talent.

How is the recruiting going to improve? By telling the ABC audience at halftime that you're afraid to let your players play even though you're losing? By building a new practice facility?

I agree it isn't to that level yet but I don't know how anyone can expect it to be there at this point. I do know we are more talented than we have been in the past.

Some parents believe their children can do no wrong. Everything they do is perfect and to be praised.
Some parents love their children more than anything in the world, but they are hard on them because they believe they can and should be better.

Not sure what you're getting at here. I guess I am not as smart as you.

 

[MRJ]

They were one half away in the last game of the year from winning the B1G West. I'd call that a "realistic contender."

If you feel that way, fine. I don't. This is a team that dropped a game to Illinois, barely eked out a win over a bad Purdue team and came apart late against Wisconsin and Missouri after having a chance to take the next step. That's not a contender. That's a team that is trying to figure out how to consistently perform at a really high level, which is what a realistic contender does. They have plenty to prove.

 

[scools12]

IMO this is the ceiling for Jerry Kill and this staff. He can get the program where it's in the mix occasionally for the division title but simply will not be able to recruit the athletes needed to get it done in the end. Which isn't all his fault. This program has limitations no matter who is running it.

Ultimately Kill or the AD will have to decide if that is good enough for them or does either one of them want a change.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

IMO this is the ceiling for Jerry Kill and this staff. He can get the program where it's in the mix occasionally for the division title but simply will not be able to recruit the athletes needed to get it done in the end. Which isn't all his fault. This program has limitations no matter who is running it.

Ultimately Kill or the AD will have to decide if that is good enough for them or does either one of them want a change.

I don't want to believe that. However, if it's true and if Jerry wins us 7-8 games for the next 4 years, I will thank him for pulling us out of the gutter and hope we don't make another Brewster hire.