Author: David Shama

Kill said at his news conference today that each player will have to “earn” playing time and there are no starters going into spring practice including quarterback MarQueis Gray.  “We will not give away playing time,” Kill said.

He acknowledged concern about academic performances of players, but didn’t specify the number of players who might be struggling, or identify anyone in particular.  He wants to learn which players can handle the challenges of school work and playing football this spring so that he knows who to count on in the fall.

Former Gophers and others are impressed with Kill and the reputation he earned turning out winning teams at other schools.  He has a record of 127-73 in 17 seasons as a head coach.

Bob Stein, a Gophers All-American defensive end in 1967, describes Kill as a “real football coach” and “real good guy.”  Kill has earned admirers for his work on and off the field.

“Everyone who has seen him, likes him,” Stein said.  “Everyone hears back the same reports from people throughout football.  He’s very respected as a person and as a coach.”

There’s no doubting the effort put in by Kill and his staff since coming to campus.  Some coaches are in the office before dawn, and everyone reports by 7 a.m. Dan O’Brien, the director of football operations under both Brewster and Kill, said the new staff drinks more coffee than the old, with an emphasis on 20 ounce containers, not 12.

New staff hire Mike Sherels, the former Gophers linebacker, has been organizing gatherings with Kill and former players.  Kill will also spend time with high school coaches at the Minnesota Football Coaches Association’s clinic during the weekend of March 31-April 2.

Kill’s former team, Northern Illinois, will play Wisconsin at Solider Field in Chicago on September 17.

Kill attended the funeral of former Gophers national championship coach Murray Warmath on Monday.  Also in attendance was Governor Mark Dayton.

Former Gophers coach Joe Salem, who attended the funeral, said his beginning salary in 1978 was $38,000.  Famous NFL coach Mike Shanahan was a young assistant to Salem but earned only $27,000 and Salem couldn’t afford to keep him.

A tribute to Warmath on April 30 is being planned by former players.

Local emcee Dick Jonckowski recalled a funny Warmath story. The coach was reviewing empty lockers and saw the names of various players he recognized.  Then he came upon a locker he thought was labeled “Bustad.”  He wanted to know who this Bustad was?  An aide replied, “That’s not Bustad.  It says ‘busted.’  That locker doesn’t work.”

Former Cretin-Derham Hall All-American tackle Seantrel Henderson is among six Miami players suspended for undisclosed reasons for the team’s opening game next season, according to multiple media reports.

Gophers’ athletics director Joel Maturi said on KSTP TV’s Sports Wrap on Sunday he expects basketball coach Tubby Smith, 59, will finish his career at Minnesota.  That’s what Smith told Maturi last week.  Maturi said negotiations for a Smith contract extension are ongoing.

The Twins website is reporting that Michael Cuddyer, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau will all play in tonight’s spring training game against Baltimore televised in this area by FOX Sports North beginning at 6:05 p.m.

Mauer ranked No. 2 behind Yankees superstar Derek Jeter in Majestic Athletic jersey sales during 2010, according to a story today by MLB.com.

Kevin Garnett, who turns 35 in May and is averaging only 15 points per game, could be making one of his last appearances ever at Target Center on Sunday when he and the Celtics play the Timberwolves.

Here are the five finalists for the prep Mr. Basketball award and their college choices: Lucas Brown (from Roseville), Wofford; Joe Coleman (Hopkins), Gophers; Shelby Moats (Waconia), Vanderbilt; Kyle Noreen (Minnesota Transitions), undecided on college to attend; Jake White (Chaska), Wichita State.

Ingrid Neel, the Rochester Mayo 12-year-old who is playing on the school’s boys’ team, attended John McEnroe’s tennis academy in New York last fall and impressed the legendary star, according to a New York Times story published in the Rochester Post Bulletin last week.

Murray Warmath made a difference in my life.  For that influence I offered a prayer on Thursday night after the news came by telephone that the 98-year-old former Golden Gophers coach passed away.

In a silent prayer I thanked Murray for being my friend and coaching the Gophers to the heights of college football.  God bless you, Murray.

Today his admirers will say goodbye at St. Stephen’s Church in Edina.  The funeral will be attended by many of his former players, men who have revered him for decades.

Warmath, who coached the Gophers from 1954-1971, was a survivor who outlived not only many of his players and assistant coaches, but most of his family.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Louise, daughter Carol and son Billy.  Another son, Murray Jr., was with the coach during his final hours last week.

In recent years Warmath’s memory declined but that didn’t stop a regular parade of visitors from going to his residence at Friendship Village in Bloomington.  I brought Tim Brewster out to meet the coach and also Brad Childress.  Chilly said: “Where do I sign up to be 95?”

Although Warmath was interested in the Vikings, his DNA was maroon and gold.  He coached the Vikings defensive line for two seasons in the late 1970s, several years after he was forced out as Gophers coach.  He sometimes attended Vikings practices at Winter Park, located just a few blocks from Friendship Village.

But it was at Gophers games that admirers could count on seeing the wheelchair- confined Warmath.  Even last fall, only weeks after old age seemed to have announced his passing was imminent, the former national championship coach was down on the field during a ceremony to recognize perhaps his greatest player, defensive tackle Bobby Bell.

During his lifetime Warmath saw the Gophers in three football homes: Memorial Stadium, the Metrodome and TCF Bank Stadium.  At the Bank the largest locker room in football is named after him.

In the five decades since he stopped coaching at the U, Warmath watched seven men try to replace him.  None of them has come close to accomplishing his national title, two Big Ten Championships and two Rose Bowl teams.  And that’s not to mention his longevity as Gophers coach.