Coach Kill was on the Sports Huddle for nearly a half-hour today. He fielded a lot of good questions by Sid Hartman and Dave Mona:
1) Sid said Kill sounded optimistic in Chicago: "Didn't say anything outlandish . . . we're a young team . . . they (coaches and players) work hard to do well . . . we'll se how it goes." He did sound optimistic and excited for two-a-days to start. He said the players and coaches have worked hard and that there's a big difference this year as opposed to where they were at last year at this time.
2) Sid asked about the coaching staff, and that Kill was able to hold on to a couple coaches that were pursued by other teams: "I've been fortunate . . . we've got good people." He said a couple of his coaches had been head coaches before and would like an opportunity again to be a head coach. Kill also said for the first time all of the coaching staff and support personnel are back. You could hear pride in his voice about the staff that he's assembled at Minnesota.
3) Sid asked about the reaction of the 15 players that won't be invited to the two-a-days: Kill said that decision has not been made yet. They'll make that determination tomorrow. Said Nebraska has 45 players that they'll have to notify that won't join the team until fall. Kill said they'll look at positions and the depth of the positions in making the final detrmination. He also said injuries will play a part in who is invited and that frequently injuries will result in players being called up to join the team.
4) Sid asked about position changes: "No, we did that in the spring (returning players) . . . the biggest thing is getting the freshemen in the right positions."
5) Sid asked about the JC players that signed last February (all but Roland Johnson were available for spring drills): "We lost seven seniors in the secondary and couldn't afford to go with freshmen."
He then cited the following JC players:
a) Briean Boddy - Athletic with the ability to play WR . . . has three years left to play.
b) Martez Shabazz - Has tremendous speed at CB . . . second or third fastest player on the team.
c) Jeremy Baltazar - Big and physical at the corner . . . weighs 205 -210 pounds.
d) Isaac Fruechte - 6-2, 210 pound WR. Looks for him to excel and the team needs him to do well. Grateful to the Rochester coach that allowed him to sit out last year to retain a year of eligibility.
e) James Gillum - RB . . . has done a good job at pass protection and in the transition to D! football and in the classroom.
f) Roland Johnson - DL . . . joined the team this summer and is going through the transition to D! football and the classroom. Two-a-days wil be important for Roland Johnson.
Coach Kill sounded very positive about the JC players and said all have done well in the classroom.
6) Sid asked about Beal, Gjere, and Campion: All are good to go. Campion participated in spring drills. He's eagerly looking forward to see Beal and Gjere on the practice field. He hopes they enjoy success and remain healthy. He said they deserve some good luck . . . they've endured hardships, especially Beal who has had enough adversity.
7) Sid asked about the runningback position: Kill sounded positive about the talent at the position and especially its depth. He then cited the following:
"Kirkwood and Cobb have to remain healthy."
"Devon Wriight has tremendous speed and knows the system."
He mentioned Gillum.
K.J. Maye - "Could play farely soon" Have to figure where to put him - Tailback or Wide Receiver - he sounded very high on the Alabama athlete.
He also mentioned Rodrick Williams Jr.
He sounded excited about the runningback position, "We'll have great competition." He also said he likes to run a two back offense.
8) Penn State players as potential Gophers: "Sensitive situation . . . we're 4 or 5 days from camp." He said if a young man from PSU contacted them they would approach the situation in an appropriate way and with integrity. They'd call coach O'Brien. He said they're not going to talk to PSU player (as some coaches of other teams have). "There's a right and wrong ways to do things - integrity."
9) Sid then asked about Gerald Young, Carleton College athletic director that was visiting Kill last week: The two were college roommates. Young is one of the few African-American athletic directors. He met strength coach Eric Klein through his friendship with Gerald Young. Klein had been at the Northfield school as its strength coach.
10) Sid spoke excitedly and glowingly about Kill: Kill responded, "We're looking forward to the upcoming season . . it's an exciting time."
11) Dave asked about open practices: Kill said they'll have the first 5 or 6 practices open to the public as well as the first scrimmage. As the practices proceed, they'll close the practices as they get closer to the opener with UNLV.
Next week coach Kill will return to the 9:30 a.m. time slot on the Sports Huddle.
FYI, I have another family commitment next Sunday. So I'll not cover next week's show, however, I'll be back the following Sunday.
Go Gophers!!
1) Sid said Kill sounded optimistic in Chicago: "Didn't say anything outlandish . . . we're a young team . . . they (coaches and players) work hard to do well . . . we'll se how it goes." He did sound optimistic and excited for two-a-days to start. He said the players and coaches have worked hard and that there's a big difference this year as opposed to where they were at last year at this time.
2) Sid asked about the coaching staff, and that Kill was able to hold on to a couple coaches that were pursued by other teams: "I've been fortunate . . . we've got good people." He said a couple of his coaches had been head coaches before and would like an opportunity again to be a head coach. Kill also said for the first time all of the coaching staff and support personnel are back. You could hear pride in his voice about the staff that he's assembled at Minnesota.
3) Sid asked about the reaction of the 15 players that won't be invited to the two-a-days: Kill said that decision has not been made yet. They'll make that determination tomorrow. Said Nebraska has 45 players that they'll have to notify that won't join the team until fall. Kill said they'll look at positions and the depth of the positions in making the final detrmination. He also said injuries will play a part in who is invited and that frequently injuries will result in players being called up to join the team.
4) Sid asked about position changes: "No, we did that in the spring (returning players) . . . the biggest thing is getting the freshemen in the right positions."
5) Sid asked about the JC players that signed last February (all but Roland Johnson were available for spring drills): "We lost seven seniors in the secondary and couldn't afford to go with freshmen."
He then cited the following JC players:
a) Briean Boddy - Athletic with the ability to play WR . . . has three years left to play.
b) Martez Shabazz - Has tremendous speed at CB . . . second or third fastest player on the team.
c) Jeremy Baltazar - Big and physical at the corner . . . weighs 205 -210 pounds.
d) Isaac Fruechte - 6-2, 210 pound WR. Looks for him to excel and the team needs him to do well. Grateful to the Rochester coach that allowed him to sit out last year to retain a year of eligibility.
e) James Gillum - RB . . . has done a good job at pass protection and in the transition to D! football and in the classroom.
f) Roland Johnson - DL . . . joined the team this summer and is going through the transition to D! football and the classroom. Two-a-days wil be important for Roland Johnson.
Coach Kill sounded very positive about the JC players and said all have done well in the classroom.
6) Sid asked about Beal, Gjere, and Campion: All are good to go. Campion participated in spring drills. He's eagerly looking forward to see Beal and Gjere on the practice field. He hopes they enjoy success and remain healthy. He said they deserve some good luck . . . they've endured hardships, especially Beal who has had enough adversity.
7) Sid asked about the runningback position: Kill sounded positive about the talent at the position and especially its depth. He then cited the following:
"Kirkwood and Cobb have to remain healthy."
"Devon Wriight has tremendous speed and knows the system."
He mentioned Gillum.
K.J. Maye - "Could play farely soon" Have to figure where to put him - Tailback or Wide Receiver - he sounded very high on the Alabama athlete.
He also mentioned Rodrick Williams Jr.
He sounded excited about the runningback position, "We'll have great competition." He also said he likes to run a two back offense.
8) Penn State players as potential Gophers: "Sensitive situation . . . we're 4 or 5 days from camp." He said if a young man from PSU contacted them they would approach the situation in an appropriate way and with integrity. They'd call coach O'Brien. He said they're not going to talk to PSU player (as some coaches of other teams have). "There's a right and wrong ways to do things - integrity."
9) Sid then asked about Gerald Young, Carleton College athletic director that was visiting Kill last week: The two were college roommates. Young is one of the few African-American athletic directors. He met strength coach Eric Klein through his friendship with Gerald Young. Klein had been at the Northfield school as its strength coach.
10) Sid spoke excitedly and glowingly about Kill: Kill responded, "We're looking forward to the upcoming season . . it's an exciting time."
11) Dave asked about open practices: Kill said they'll have the first 5 or 6 practices open to the public as well as the first scrimmage. As the practices proceed, they'll close the practices as they get closer to the opener with UNLV.
Next week coach Kill will return to the 9:30 a.m. time slot on the Sports Huddle.
FYI, I have another family commitment next Sunday. So I'll not cover next week's show, however, I'll be back the following Sunday.
Go Gophers!!
