Spring Practice Report: Day One in the Books

The University of Minnesota football team opened spring practice Thursday afternoon at the Gibson-Nagurski Football Complex indoor facility. There was a great deal of learning, a great deal of work and a great deal of learning how to work going on for the Gophers.

“The kids were trying to do what we asked them to do,” head coach Jerry Kill said of his first spring practice with the Gophers. “I thought they did OK. It was solid. I’d like to go a little faster as we go. It was OK today. I wasn’t disappointed. As they learn and get used to us and we get used to them and you work together, it’s about relationships and communication and things of that nature. They’re trying to do that, so I certainly wasn’t disappointed today. The kids responded to the coaches and the coaching very well.”

The challenge for the Gophers is to continue to give that sort of effort and concentration level throughout the next 14 practices. Coach Kill puts a premium on regularity of effort and performance.

“Anybody can do something for one day,” Kill said. “Anybody can do something for two or three months. You gotta do it play in, play out, play in, play out. All you’re asking for in a winning organization is something that is consistent all the time.”

With Coach Kill opening spring practices up to the public, it was estimated there were about 100 fans in attendance. Those who were there saw a head coach who was intense and involved throughout the brisk, nearly two-hour workout. When asked about his coaching style by a media member after practice, Coach Kill said that’s just who he is.

“I’ve been coaching for 28 years and I ain’t coached any different than when I was coaching high school football,” Kill said. “Shoot, I coached girls’ basketball that way a long time ago. That’s just who I am.”

With an up-tempo practice and many things going on at once in a confined space, it can sometimes be a bit hazardous. That goes for the head coach as well.

“I got hit in the head by a kicker today,” Kill said. “I survived that. I’ve had enough other things happen to me, I guess a ball bouncing off my head isn’t going to hurt me too much.”

Coach Kill will look to avoid being hit by any flying objects Friday afternoon when the second of Minnesota’s 15 spring practice sessions will commence at 2:30 p.m.