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.