Dave Mona was back from a two-week break and joined Sid Hartman in asking questions of coach Jerry Kill. Not surprising, they opened the show talking about the untimely, unexpected death of Gary Tinsley. Saturday's practice was cancelled allowing the players and coaches to meet and grieve away from the practice field . . . coach kill said concerning their meeting/gathering yesterday, "Maybe our best practice."
1) Sid asked about Tinsley's death: "Tremendous tragedy. As a parent, you never want to bury a child." He related how he hated to call Gary Tinsley's mother with the tragic news. "It's a tough thing, he accomplished a lot here and in his life."
Sid then alluded to some early missteps: Kill responded, "Gary's been a tremendous young man." He then said the school administration awarded Gary his college degree Friday. Kill said it was Gary's goal to get a college degree from the University of Minnesota and be the first in the Tinsley family to earn a college degree. (Gary was scheduled to graduate from the U next month.)
Kill said: "Life's not easy, full of adversity." How the team responds to adversity is what's important. Yesterday, the team was broken down in to eight groups or teams and met with counselors, as well as a team when they gathered with the coaches at a restaurant away from the campus. Kill also thanked President Kaler for the support that he and his administration has shown during a most difficult time. He also said he was glad that he was able to call Gary's mother with the sad news without any news leaks having taken place. (He emphasized how sad it would have been to hear the news over the air waves.)
He also cited U of M lettermen for coming forward, reaching out and offering support to the team.
2) Sid then asked about the team's practice schedule: Kill immediately responded, "One day at a time." (A phrase that he used frequently during the telecast.) Kill then said that they would look at film of last Thursday's practice and would practice Tuesday. They'll also assist and support the Tinsley family in any way that they can. He then said: We'll be focusing on two important areas: the Gary Tinsley family and "our football team, the players."
3) Dave Mona asked a series of questions that had been submitted by GopherHole members. The first was by flatfoot on how the coaches keep in touch with the players and keep them sharp after spring drills . . . a long time from the end of spring drills until fall camp? Immediate response, "One day at a time." They'll meet with each player individually and provide them with their evaluation of spring ball . . . what they need to improve and work on during the off season and what they have to do to see the playing field, and where they're presently at as a player and team members . . . they'll stress the importance of staying focused on their academics. Kill stressed, again, that the team will be challenged because of the current adversity (death of Tinsley). They'll lift on their own during the month of May; however, the S&C coaches will meet and monitor the workouts in June and the summer months.
Kill then likened spring drills to the first quarter . . . the second quarter is the "dead" period frollowing spring drills . . . 3rd quarter is the summer months . . . 4th quarter start of fall drills.
All of the recently signed freshman will be in school during the summer months and will take six credit hours of school work . . . a time to adjust to college and being away from home.
Kill said the quarterbacks will organize the unmonitored (no coaches present) practices/drills during the summer.
Immediately following spring drills the assistant coaches will fan out across the country recruiting; coach Kill, however, will remain on the campus. Kill closed the question by saying he wish the NCAA would allow the coaches more contact with the team during the summer to support the players. I don't believe he was referencing practices but more of making sure the players focus on their academics and making sure that they do the right thing as well as being there for the players (again, during this most difficult time for the players).
4) DL65's question about the brown shirt and the words "I let the team down:" Kill said it's been a part of his program(s) for years and a way of holding the players and the players holding themselves accountable. It's not intended to embarrass a player . . . no yelling or screaming. It's discipline and holding a player accountable for a misstep, i.e,, being late to class, team meeting, practice, etc. He said if a player ends up having to wear the brown shirt 3 or 4 times "then we have a problem."
5) Bayfieldgopher's question about steps to improve the gameday atmosphere, besides winning: Kill said he met with some students before the start of spring drills and asked for their input in improving the gameday venue. We must become more user friendly and feature quality customer service, he related. He said the students and fans are the owners of the team, "We've got to do a better job." He mentioned marketing, and referenced the pro teams selling out their venues and the U needs to step up and meet the needs of the fans. In closing he said, "I'm a good listener . . . I get emails everyday on how we can get better." (No doubt coach Kill would like to see the atmosphere on gameday improve. He said he's talked to the school administration about the issue as well.)
6) Sid asked what 3 or 4 players that have surpised him during spring drills: Kill said briefly how Philip Nelson is mature and pushes himself . . . he mentioned Mitch Leidner and the three juco defensive backs. He spoke glowingly of Derrick Wells: he arrived weighing 168 pounds and now weighs 200 pounds, can run, and has moved to safety . . . "he has a tremendous upside and could be All-Big Ten." He mentioned Cediric Thomson and James Manuel. "Manuel has been a pleasant surprise," talking about his move to linebacker . . . "more speed on the field."
&) Mona asked about the offensive line (an old GopherHole question about line splits): There's (now) "confidence in the offensive line." They've been running normal splits during spring drills. He then said, this spring we're stronger and better as a team. "We've helped ourselves in the weight room." He closed the question by saying "Spring drills are for experimentation and fall drills (two-a-days) you determine what you will do."
Personal note or observation: I thought coach Kill was open and did a very good job answering today's questions under difficult circumstances. The death of Tinsley has shaken the team and coaches. He did a very good job handling the questions about Tinsley's passing and what they're doing to support the family and the players. All have been affected adversely with Tinley's unexpected death. As coach Kill said several times, "One day at a time."
Go Gophers!!
1) Sid asked about Tinsley's death: "Tremendous tragedy. As a parent, you never want to bury a child." He related how he hated to call Gary Tinsley's mother with the tragic news. "It's a tough thing, he accomplished a lot here and in his life."
Sid then alluded to some early missteps: Kill responded, "Gary's been a tremendous young man." He then said the school administration awarded Gary his college degree Friday. Kill said it was Gary's goal to get a college degree from the University of Minnesota and be the first in the Tinsley family to earn a college degree. (Gary was scheduled to graduate from the U next month.)
Kill said: "Life's not easy, full of adversity." How the team responds to adversity is what's important. Yesterday, the team was broken down in to eight groups or teams and met with counselors, as well as a team when they gathered with the coaches at a restaurant away from the campus. Kill also thanked President Kaler for the support that he and his administration has shown during a most difficult time. He also said he was glad that he was able to call Gary's mother with the sad news without any news leaks having taken place. (He emphasized how sad it would have been to hear the news over the air waves.)
He also cited U of M lettermen for coming forward, reaching out and offering support to the team.
2) Sid then asked about the team's practice schedule: Kill immediately responded, "One day at a time." (A phrase that he used frequently during the telecast.) Kill then said that they would look at film of last Thursday's practice and would practice Tuesday. They'll also assist and support the Tinsley family in any way that they can. He then said: We'll be focusing on two important areas: the Gary Tinsley family and "our football team, the players."
3) Dave Mona asked a series of questions that had been submitted by GopherHole members. The first was by flatfoot on how the coaches keep in touch with the players and keep them sharp after spring drills . . . a long time from the end of spring drills until fall camp? Immediate response, "One day at a time." They'll meet with each player individually and provide them with their evaluation of spring ball . . . what they need to improve and work on during the off season and what they have to do to see the playing field, and where they're presently at as a player and team members . . . they'll stress the importance of staying focused on their academics. Kill stressed, again, that the team will be challenged because of the current adversity (death of Tinsley). They'll lift on their own during the month of May; however, the S&C coaches will meet and monitor the workouts in June and the summer months.
Kill then likened spring drills to the first quarter . . . the second quarter is the "dead" period frollowing spring drills . . . 3rd quarter is the summer months . . . 4th quarter start of fall drills.
All of the recently signed freshman will be in school during the summer months and will take six credit hours of school work . . . a time to adjust to college and being away from home.
Kill said the quarterbacks will organize the unmonitored (no coaches present) practices/drills during the summer.
Immediately following spring drills the assistant coaches will fan out across the country recruiting; coach Kill, however, will remain on the campus. Kill closed the question by saying he wish the NCAA would allow the coaches more contact with the team during the summer to support the players. I don't believe he was referencing practices but more of making sure the players focus on their academics and making sure that they do the right thing as well as being there for the players (again, during this most difficult time for the players).
4) DL65's question about the brown shirt and the words "I let the team down:" Kill said it's been a part of his program(s) for years and a way of holding the players and the players holding themselves accountable. It's not intended to embarrass a player . . . no yelling or screaming. It's discipline and holding a player accountable for a misstep, i.e,, being late to class, team meeting, practice, etc. He said if a player ends up having to wear the brown shirt 3 or 4 times "then we have a problem."
5) Bayfieldgopher's question about steps to improve the gameday atmosphere, besides winning: Kill said he met with some students before the start of spring drills and asked for their input in improving the gameday venue. We must become more user friendly and feature quality customer service, he related. He said the students and fans are the owners of the team, "We've got to do a better job." He mentioned marketing, and referenced the pro teams selling out their venues and the U needs to step up and meet the needs of the fans. In closing he said, "I'm a good listener . . . I get emails everyday on how we can get better." (No doubt coach Kill would like to see the atmosphere on gameday improve. He said he's talked to the school administration about the issue as well.)
6) Sid asked what 3 or 4 players that have surpised him during spring drills: Kill said briefly how Philip Nelson is mature and pushes himself . . . he mentioned Mitch Leidner and the three juco defensive backs. He spoke glowingly of Derrick Wells: he arrived weighing 168 pounds and now weighs 200 pounds, can run, and has moved to safety . . . "he has a tremendous upside and could be All-Big Ten." He mentioned Cediric Thomson and James Manuel. "Manuel has been a pleasant surprise," talking about his move to linebacker . . . "more speed on the field."
&) Mona asked about the offensive line (an old GopherHole question about line splits): There's (now) "confidence in the offensive line." They've been running normal splits during spring drills. He then said, this spring we're stronger and better as a team. "We've helped ourselves in the weight room." He closed the question by saying "Spring drills are for experimentation and fall drills (two-a-days) you determine what you will do."
Personal note or observation: I thought coach Kill was open and did a very good job answering today's questions under difficult circumstances. The death of Tinsley has shaken the team and coaches. He did a very good job handling the questions about Tinsley's passing and what they're doing to support the family and the players. All have been affected adversely with Tinley's unexpected death. As coach Kill said several times, "One day at a time."
Go Gophers!!
