With steely eyes, Gophers quarterback Mitch Leidner expressed how Jerry Kill stepping down as head coach Wednesday will motivate the team for the last five games this season.
Minnesota players learned of Kill’s sudden resignation during a morning team meeting. Midway through his fifth season, Kill stepped aside because of heath concerns tied to his epilepsy.
“I’d do anything for that guy,” Leidner said. “He’s done so much for me and my family, and I want to play as hard as I possibly can the rest of the season. I know the rest of the guys here do, too.”
Defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys has been named interim head coach, and he ran Wednesday’s practice. Claeys was the active head coach in 2013 when Kill briefly stepped aside to focus on his health.
“Out there at practice (Wednesday), the way we rallied around each other for Coach Kill is unbelievable,” Leidner said. “You can just feel it, feel it in the air. People are going to playing hard for him.”
Cornerback Eric Murray noted the example Kill set in trying to work through his health problems, which included two recent seizures.
“He just laid so much on the line for us,” Murray said. “It’s only right that we lay everything on the line for him as well.”
Before attending classes Wednesday, Leidner and Murray said they were startled by the news Kill told them.
“I think initially everybody had the same amount of shock,” Murray said. “Nobody had seen it coming, but you know, coach Kill has to do what’s best for him and we all have to respect his decision as a team.”
Leidner’s eyes grew red and watery later during Wednesday night’s news conference.
“It’s unfortunate because having him around sometimes you could take it for granted,” Leidner said.
During Big Ten media days in July, Kill said he hadn’t had a seizure in more than a year and a half, giving players and program supporters reason to believe the health issues were behind him.
“Guys don’t really realize it,” Leidner said. “Then all of a sudden this happens and you’re so sad because there’s never gonna be another day where you’re gonna go out to practice and you’ll have coach Kill behind you on every play, following you on the play, running the same play behind you or watching on film or even throwing an interception and getting yelled at by him.
“It’s just, you gotta love that stuff,” Leidner continued. “I love that part of the game, and its just so sad knowing that’s not going to happen anymore.”
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