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University of Minnesota Athletics
Kill, Gray Address Media On Big Ten Teleconference
4/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
University of Minnesota head football coach Jerry Kill and quarterback MarQueis Gray both took part in the Big Ten Conference's Spring Football Teleconference with members of the media from around the Big Ten and the nation Tuesday.
Kill said that a little more than halfway through spring ball, he is happy with the work being put in by his team. But he said that the Gophers aren't even taking baby steps right now.
"We're taking infant steps," Kill said. "We're trying to get better on a daily basis. We certainly have a long way to go. We're probably like everybody in spring ball. We have a lot of things to fix before we get into the season. We're trying to use every single practice to make sure they adjust to the new style and new things we're doing here."
The media seemed very interested in Coach Kill's plan to keep the Gophers accountable and responsible. In specific, there were a good number of questions about the brown "Minnesota Lophers" shirts that Coach Kill and the staff give out when a member of the team breaks a rule.
"The big thing is that we're making sure kids are accountable not only on the field, but off the field," Kill said. "If it's missing class or being late to class, things of that nature, we're going to make sure we take care of it immediately. Same on the field, I believe you lose more than you win because of turning the ball over, jumping offsides, dumb things. We're pretty tough on them when they make a mistake. So far this spring, I think the kids are starting to understand that."
While the brown shirts have been kept to a relative minimum, quarterback MarQueis Gray said he has no plans to have to don one of them.
"When I first heard of it, in my head, I was like I don't want to be a part of that," Gray said. "That brown shirt with pink letters doesn't look too good."
While Coach Kill said there were plenty of areas where he hopes to see improvement over the course of the spring and fall, he said he has been pleasantly surprised by the transition back to quarterback by Gray.
"I've always said coaches don't win games, players do and the team with the best players usually wins," Kill said. "I look at some things that haven't gone so well in spring football and I look at something that has gone well and he's certainly one of them. He's really surprised me for a kid who was hurt his high school senior year and hasn't played quarterback, he's learned very well. He's a quick learner. He doesn't make the same mistake twice. He's a tremendous athlete. There's no question about that. I'm very pleased with his progress and pleasantly surprised."
Gray said he was just happy to be back at the position he loves.
"It feels great," Gray said. "I haven't played quarterback for a whole year since my junior year (of high school). Unfortunately, I didn't get to play when I got up here. But I got a chance to learn from Adam Weber, who was a great guy and a leader on and off the field, a great guy in the film room. I'm looking forward to playing quarterback this year. "
Coach Kill also said that the way Minnesota ended last season, with two victories over teams which won their bowl games, should give the Gophers some momentum heading into this spring and the 2011 season. In mentioning the end of the 2010 season, Kill was also very complimentary of interim head coach Jeff Horton.
"I think Coach Horton did an outstanding job of holding things together," Kill said. "He certainly helped us out. He's a tremendous football coach and a guy I've known for a while. The last two games is certainly something we can build off and carry into the next season."
Kill and the Gophers are on the practice field for their 10th practice of the spring Tuesday afternoon.
-By Andy Seeley, Associate Director of Athletic Communications
