MInnesota Beats Penn St and Destroys Trophy (w/bonus Jerry Kill Dancing)

So, Minnesota Golden Gophers, just a couple of years ago, you were won of college football's worst teams.

You then hired a coach with epileptic seizure issues and lo and behold, he's turned your program around.

That coach, Jerry Kill has struggled with his health to stay on the sidelines with his team. But he was in a booth over the field on Saturday as his Golden Gophers won their 4th straight Big 10 game, beating Penn State 24-10.

The win moved the Gophers to 8-2 on the season and 4-2 in the Big 10. A pretty big bowl game is in site for the team.

But the game was not without adventure. Well, okay, it's more like after the game, when the team went to celebrate with the Governor's Victory Bell Trophy.

That celebration didn't go so well. At least for the now-in-two-pieces trophy.

(Check out this GIF courtesy SBNation)

As for Coach Kill, well, aside from feeling good about how well his team is playing, he appears to be feeling better physically too.

Check out this video of him in the locker room after the game--very little else needs to be said about this dance….

Jerry Kill Taken From Minnesota Game on Stretcher

This is tough to keep reporting, and it keeps happening.

University of Minnesota Head Football Coach Jerry Kill was taken from the TCF Bank Stadium football field Saturday afternoon after suffering what appears to have been an epileptic seizure just before halftime.

The Gophers won Saturday's game 29-12 boosting their record to 3-0 this season, their best start in a long, long time.

Kill has a history of such seizures, in fact this is at least the third that he's had during a game. Most all have put him in the hospital.

No exception today as he was taken via ambulance to an area hospital where he's reported to be in good condition.

It will be interesting to see how Kill continues in his job with this periodic issue. He's reportedly done as many things as he can to improve his health and conditioning. The school's athletic department is happy with Kill's performance as the Gophers have steadily improved under his guidance beginning in 2011.

We're still searching for video of Saturday's incident, but here's some video posted by the school's athletic department on Friday, showing Kill meeting and greeting students as they return to campus.

Kill Suffers Another Seizure At Halftime Of MSU Game

((HT: BTN))

Minnesota Gophers coach Jerry Kill suffered a seizure at halftime of the Gophers' 26-10 loss to Michigan State but was not taken to the hospital. This is the second time he has suffered a seizure this season in a game situation- the first back in October in the game against Northwestern.

Kill was attended to by the team's medical staff and, according to Dawn Mitchell at MyFoxTwinCities and her Twitter, the coach's vital signs are good and he will be resting at home this evening.

He has suffered from seizures for the better part of the past two decades as a by-product of his fighting cancer.

Kill has never missed an entire game because of his seizures or their treatment, but he has had them on game days dating back over a decade to his time at Northern Illinois.

Here's Leveon Bell running for a touchdown in the 26-10 win over Minnesota


Bell finished with 266 yards on the ground as both teams finished 6-6

AJ Barker Leaves Gopher Football, Sends E-Mail To Coach Kill (UPDATED: Kill Responds))

((HT: Tumblr.com))

AJ Barker is, apparently, not one to mince words- especially when it comes to feeling slapped around verbally by his coaching staff at Minnesota...

So he quit...

Here's the Postscript... the whole letter is worth your time- including the Appendix...

The fact you think I think I have life “all figured out” just shows how fundamentally wrong you are about me. Learning is a life long hobby and I’m dedicated to the quest of figuring more and more things out untill the day I die. I’ve realized over time, like many others, the more I learn the less I know.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to apologize to my teammates and fans. This is extremely hard for me to do and I spent the last 4 years doing everything I could to make it work here. I understand that leaving you is a very hard thing to deal with. I’m not out to get you. Take this moment of betrayal I am forced to do to you and use it to fuel the team in your game against MSU and in our bowl game. I hope you kick their butts, I’ll be cheering for my teammates. The harsh reality is we all have a limited time to play college football. It goes by fast. 13 months from now I will be forced to move on from college football regardless of what I do. It breaks my heart to cut you off before that time, and it kills me I won’t give the U of M the legacy I had hoped to leave behind. This is life, however, and goes on with or without us. There’s no doubt that with you all in mind, this is a self serving response to a terrible situation, and I hope you can forgive me of that eventually.

I also hope this can motivate other players on the team that have been mistreated and other collegiate athletes to stand up against unreasonable psychological abuse and manipulation by their coaches/superiors.

The bottom line was that the emerging receiver claims he was abused by head coach Jerry Kill and his coaching staff after Barker suffered an ankle injury last month. Barker was the team's leading receiver in catches and touchdowns...

Evidence below...
((HT: GopherAthletics))


Minnesota has responded with the standard "released statement..."
Here's an interview Barker did with KARE-TV in the Twin Cities...
And Kill responded this afternoon... ((HT: KARE-TV))

Gophers' Kill Suffers Post-Game Seizure (SUNDAY UPDATE)

Minnesota coach Jerry Kill suffered another seizure- this time after Saturday's loss to Northwestern. He was taken to an undisclosed, local hospital.

Kill has had a seizure disorder since being diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2005.

He also suffered a seizure on the sideline during a game last September and had to be hospitalized. He returned the following week.

Here was that event as it aired on Big Ten Network...


Here's the release from the University of Minnesota:

“Kill was immediately attended to by team medical personnel before being transported to a local hospital by ambulance as a precaution. He is currently alert and resting comfortably.

To respect Kill’s privacy during this time, the name of the hospital where he is receiving care will not be released.

University officials said that they do not anticipate further information on Coach Kill’s condition being available Saturday night, but are hopeful about being able to provide an update on Sunday.”

The school hopes to have an update tomorrow.

SUNDAY UPDATE: They do have an update...

Thankfully, Kill was released from the hospital. Gophers DC Tracy Claeys told local reporters that were assembled for a quick, day-after press conference that the seizure was "minor" and that Kill could be with the team as early as this afternoon for team activities.

TWTW: Long Day For Golden Gophers- On And Off The Field

((HT: KARE-TV))

First and foremost, the HQ will keep head coach Jerry Kill in its collective thoughts as he re-admits himself to the Mayo Clinic to continually monitor his body after the latest round of seizures he had a few weeks ago.

He has had multiple episodes since...

"The seizures continue to be a concern for me and my family," Kill said in a released statement. "Rebecca and I have made the decision to do what it takes to find a solution. I hope to be back to work soon, but we believe that taking some time away to get a handle on this is the right thing to do."

According to Gopher football team physician Dr. Pat Smith, Kill suffered another seizure Sunday morning.

Smith said that Kill is in good condition and his vitals are good...

On the field, two defensive TD's by hometowner Marcus Williams led to a 37-24 win over the Gophers by North Dakota State. It's not the first time in recent memory that the home team lost to a Division I-AA FCS school...

But it still doesn't look good... and, apparently, close to 20,000 Bison fans made the trip... Dave Berggren tells the story...

Gophers Coach Kill Collapses Near End Of Game

((HT: Big10Network/youtube))

Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill suffered a seizure on the sidelines with 20 seconds left in today's game against New Mexico State- rolling around on the ground as paramedics tried to hold him down.

The Gophers were down 28-21 and driving for what could have been a game-tying score when Kill collapsed. Kill's wife Rebecca was by his side as doctors worked on the coach.

The game ended after a delay of approximately 15 minutes on an incomplete pass, after Kill was taken off the field on a cart.

Here's the play...we think...


Kill missed a week as head coach at Northern Illinois after suffering another episode like today's...

Obviously, the HQ's thoughts are with the Kills and the Gophers...

More when we know more...

2015 UPDATE: Minnesota's team doctor says Kill is in stable condition at a local hospital. Team doctor Pat Smith says Kill "was at no time under any risk in any way."

Smith says the temperature coupled with dehydration might have played a role in the seizure.