Jerry Kill retires suddenly

[ArrowheadBlue]

this is one of the most bizarre football seasons I can remember -- three firings mid-season; two resignations:

MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota coach Jerry Kill says he is retiring because of health reasons.

Kill made the surprise announcement on Wednesday morning, one day after missing a scheduled meeting with the media. Kill has epilepsy, and had to take a leave of absence from the team in 2013 while dealing with seizures.

Kill was 156-102 in coaching career and 29-29 at Minnesota.

Defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys, who has worked with Kill for the last 21 years, has been named interim head coach.

The Golden Gophers host Michigan on Saturday night.

 

[anon_sg4bgyiuileo1]

A couple of things:
1) Not too terribly surprised. Kill has health issues up the wazoo and being a D1 HC wasn't doing him any favors.
2) Gophers are going to be amped on Saturday. We better bring it.

 

[michigangoblue999]

Too bad Kill's health sidelined him. He's a good man and a good coach. Hopefully Minny finds a good replacement.

 

[St. Joe Blue 3]

Too bad Kill's health sidelined him. He's a good man and a good coach. Hopefully Minny finds a good replacement.

AGP

 

[detroitjohn]

Too bad Kill's health sidelined him. He's a good man and a good coach. Hopefully Minny finds a good replacement.

He did a great job at Minnesota of reviving them back to Glen Mason levels of respectability. Really sorry to see him have to bow out.

 

[STPGopherfan]

Too bad Kill's health sidelined him. He's a good man and a good coach. Hopefully Minny finds a good replacement.

Thanks to all for the posts. Hard week in Gopherland. First Flip Saunders(former Gopher player and T-Wolves/ Pistons coach passes, then, Coach Kill.

Sad day, sad week.

 

[DrCorona]

Best of luck to Coach Kill & good health to him going forward. He put Saginaw Valley State University on the map back in the day & we know he is a good respected man!

 

[PogeyKahn]

Well, regardless there should be a good environment for this Halloween night game, at least on par with the TCU video linked.

Home attendance has been over capacity all year, with the return of the Glen Mason era 11K student section finally occurring.

As a Minnesota fan I had modest hopes for this game, but now with the team rallying around DC Claeys as HC and some injured players returning, this might be a really good game.

I was tempted to sit at home an watch this game on TV while pausing and checking out the Temple/ ND game in between, but now I am not going to miss it.

It is fun to see Michigan back with Jim H in charge, though.

 

[PharmD Blue]

A real shame with Kill. Wish him nothing but the best and hope he can get back to good health.

As for the game, this should be a pretty good game for the first quarter, even the first half. But as the game goes on Michigan should pull away by about three scores.

 

[detroitjohn]

Well, regardless there should be a good environment for this Halloween night game, at least on par with the TCU video linked.

Home attendance has been over capacity all year, with the return of the Glen Mason era 11K student section finally occurring.

As a Minnesota fan I had modest hopes for this game, but now with the team rallying around DC Claeys as HC and some injured players returning, this might be a really good game.

I was tempted to sit at home an watch this game on TV while pausing and checking out the Temple/ ND game in between, but now I am not going to miss it.

It is fun to see Michigan back with Jim H in charge, though.

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HEY, you guys still high step, that's way cool! I really miss Michigan's band using the high step, Minny's band looks fantastic doing it.

 

[PogeyKahn]

A real shame with Kill. Wish him nothing but the best and hope he can get back to good health.

As for the game, this should be a pretty good game for the first quarter, even the first half. But as the game goes on Michigan should pull away by about three scores.

Three scores... okey dokey!

Well at least Minnesota's defense and O line will be reasonably healthy for the first time in weeks so maybe that will help in keeping the Michigan winning margin under 20.

I am sure the 18 Minnesota starters that beat Michigan soundly last year will put up a good fight for about 15 minutes before they mail it in early in the second quarter.

Those 3,000 visiting Michigan fans, all wound up after the Malbec and fine imported cheese tailgate at the Weismann Museum will probably drown out the students and non geriatric fans who will be out in the 55 degree, sunny tailgate lots all day and ready for a cathartic event Saturday night. No doubt the Minnesota players will be very flat and weakly turn over the jug and forget all about what just happened to their former coach.

The Big Ten might as well just cancel the game an replay the 1975 or 1993 game on the BTN and record the Michigan win, right?

Well, I for one will show up and see who wins by three scores. This may be a the night the proverbial buzzsaw is brought out of the shed. Poor, poor Minnesota.....

 

[PharmD Blue]

Three scores... okey dokey!

Well at least Minnesota's defense and O line will be reasonably healthy for the first time in weeks so maybe that will help in keeping the Michigan winning margin under 20.

I am sure the 18 Minnesota starters that beat Michigan soundly last year will put up a good fight for about 15 minutes before they mail it in early in the second quarter.

Those 3,000 visiting Michigan fans, all wound up after the Malbec and fine imported cheese tailgate at the Weismann Museum will probably drown out the students and non geriatric fans who will be out in the 55 degree, sunny tailgate lots all day and ready for a cathartic event Saturday night. No doubt the Minnesota players will be very flat and weakly turn over the jug and forget all about what just happened to their former coach.

The Big Ten might as well just cancel the game an replay the 1975 or 1993 game on the BTN and record the Michigan win, right?

Well, I for one will show up and see who wins by three scores. This may be a the night the proverbial buzzsaw is brought out of the shed. Poor, poor Minnesota.....

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Well hopefully your team takes the same mindset that you do. Hopefully they think they are playing the same team as last year. Hopefully they think Hoke is still coaching the team (Or was Harbaugh the coach last year then?).

The Minny offense definitely strikes fear into opposing defenses everywhere. They really looked elite even when they had all of their starters in the lineup. Their defense definitely looked superb against the mighty offenses of northwestern and Nebraska.

And I forgot how "big" of a home field advantage Minnesota has. Their fans really make it a "tough" place to play. Hopefully they bring their A-game as "always." When was the last time Michigan was able to handle the buzz saw of the Minnesota home filed advantage?

Sure, the Minny players will be fired up. But that only lasts for a little bit. Once the game settles in its all about making plays...not who has the most emotion. But, if you think that is such a huge factor, don't think that the Michigan players forgot what happened last year. And don't think the coaches wont have a game plan in place (unlike Hoke ever did) to take advantage of the opponents weaknesses.

 

[detroitjohn]

Well hopefully your team takes the same mindset that you do. Hopefully they think they are playing the same team as last year. Hopefully they think Hoke is still coaching the team (Or was Harbaugh the coach last year then?).

The Minny offense definitely strikes fear into opposing defenses everywhere. They really looked elite even when they had all of their starters in the lineup. Their defense definitely looked superb against the mighty offenses of northwestern and Nebraska.

And I forgot how "big" of a home field advantage Minnesota has. Their fans really make it a "tough" place to play. Hopefully they bring their A-game as "always." When was the last time Michigan was able to handle the buzz saw of the Minnesota home filed advantage?

Sure, the Minny players will be fired up. But that only lasts for a little bit. Once the game settles in its all about making plays...not who has the most emotion. But, if you think that is such a huge factor, don't think that the Michigan players forgot what happened last year. And don't think the coaches wont have a game plan in place (unlike Hoke ever did) to take advantage of the opponents weaknesses.

Psst, Pogey hasn't seen UM play this year and has no idea that Hoke is gone. Let's keep it a secret and see if he notices anything different on Saturday

 

[ChicagoBlueFan]

Three scores... okey dokey!

Well at least Minnesota's defense and O line will be reasonably healthy for the first time in weeks so maybe that will help in keeping the Michigan winning margin under 20.

I am sure the 18 Minnesota starters that beat Michigan soundly last year will put up a good fight for about 15 minutes before they mail it in early in the second quarter.

Those 3,000 visiting Michigan fans, all wound up after the Malbec and fine imported cheese tailgate at the Weismann Museum will probably drown out the students and non geriatric fans who will be out in the 55 degree, sunny tailgate lots all day and ready for a cathartic event Saturday night. No doubt the Minnesota players will be very flat and weakly turn over the jug and forget all about what just happened to their former coach.

The Big Ten might as well just cancel the game an replay the 1975 or 1993 game on the BTN and record the Michigan win, right?

Well, I for one will show up and see who wins by three scores. This may be a the night the proverbial buzzsaw is brought out of the shed. Poor, poor Minnesota.....

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You did hold Nebraska to about 50, so clearly the defense is elite. Great post.