Gopher Freshman Vannelli Leaves Hockey Program
Minnesota freshman Tommy Vannelli of Minnetonka has decided to leave the Golden Gophers' hockey program.
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Minnesota freshman Tommy Vannelli of Minnetonka has decided to leave the Golden Gophers' hockey program.
Big Ten football coaches say there aren't very many places where they can unload frustrations about fans, reporters or anyone else without paying a price. On Tuesday's weekly call with reporters, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said that about the only person a coach can vent to in confidence is his wife. And he joked that that isn't a sure thing.
Minnesota coach Jerry Kill has returned to his normal game-week routine three days after his latest epileptic seizure caused him to miss the second half of a win over Western Illinois.
The University of Minnesota men's hockey program released its television schedule Monday for the upcoming 2013-14 season, and 31 of its 36 regular season games will have a broadcast. It will be the first year for the Gophers and coach Don Lucia in the newly-formed Big Ten Conference.
Two days after his latest seizure on the sidelines, Gopher football coach Jerry Kill was back at work. And the U's athletic director said he supports the coach "100 percent." The coach was taken off the field at halftime of Saturday's game at TCF Bank Stadium. It was the third time in three years that he's had to miss part of a game because of his epilepsy. It's uncharted territory for a major college sports program, having this happen so frequently and so publicly.
Three seizures during three games in two years have Gopher fans like Margaret Swanson wondering if coach Jerry Kill's struggles with epilepsy are too much for the job. "I feel so bad because it seems to be happening a lot," Swanson said. "I wonder what happens in the locker room when he doesn't come in…I'm sure it takes a toll on them a little bit." Dr. Thaddeus Walczak is an epileptologist at the University of Minnesota. He says that although high-stress situations - like football games - could make seizures more likely to occur in someone with epilepsy, that's not a reason to change careers.
With Minnesota coach Jerry Kill at a hospital after a seizure at halftime, David Cobb and Rodrick Williams each rushed for two touchdowns to lead the Gophers past Western Illinois 29-12 on Saturday afternoon. Kill has epilepsy, and this is the fourth time in three seasons with the Gophers he's had an episode on game day. The scene of Kill writhing back and forth on the sideline is always jarring nonetheless, and the sluggish Gophers (3-0) found themselves trailing 12-7 until late in the third quarter.
Minnesota coach Jerry Kill suffered another game-day seizure, at halftime while the Gophers were playing Western Illinois on Saturday, and was taken to a local hospital as a precaution. The university said Kill was resting comfortably, after he was taken away on a stretcher following his latest episode. Kill was lying on the ground right after the Gophers left for the locker room with a 7-6 lead, writhing back and forth for several minutes with medical staff surrounding him in attempt to keep him as still as possible to prevent injury.
Minnesota has scored 95 points over the first two games, and the Gophers have barely mastered the forward pass so far. That could be a good sign. If sophomore quarterback Philip Nelson and the rest of the offense find a rhythm with the aerial attack to supplement what has the potential to be a rugged, productive running game, the Gophers will be in good shape.
Minnesota starting cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee that will keep him out for the rest of the season. Boddy-Calhoun was hurt last week at New Mexico State. Coach Jerry Kill revealed the injury on Tuesday. He said he expected Boddy-Calhoun to qualify for a medical redshirt from the NCAA, which would give him two more years of eligibility.
Minnesota had a pair of return touchdowns for the second week in a row and Roddrick Williams Jr. rushed for 148 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries to lead a 44-21 victory Saturday night at New Mexico State.
This is the week Minnesota was originally scheduled to play at North Carolina. Instead, the Gophers are going to New Mexico State, having spent $800,000 to get out of the two-game contract with the Tar Heels because coach Jerry Kill was concerned about the confidence of his young players on the road against a formidable nonconference opponent.
If all goes according to plan, the possibility of an FCS wins over one of the big boys of college football won't exist much longer in the Big Ten. The College Football Playoff is coming next season, and strength of schedule is part of the criteria the selection committee will use to determine the four teams. Playing FCS opponents wouldn't help the cause.
Marcus Jones is back for Minnesota, maybe faster than before. The junior cornerback has already recovered from two reconstructive knee surgeries in his college career, and he hasn't even turned 20. Jones returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown for the Gophers in their season-opening win against UNLV.
The State of Hockey has waited long enough to host a game outdoors. Minnesota announced on Tuesday that it will play Ohio State in a game at the football team's TCF Bank Stadium on Jan. 17 in the Hockey City Classic.
