Minnesota’s Jerry Kill returns to work, won’t discuss health

Minnesota coach Jerry Kill returned to work this week after suffering his fourth game-day seizure in three seasons this past weekend against Western Illinois.

However, Kill refused to talk about his health at his weekly press conference, stressing the need to for his team to focus on the task at hand.

“I’ve done talked about all those other things enough,’' Kill said. “This game’s not about a head football coach. This game is about the players and that’s how we’ll approach it today.’'

Kill’s refusal to talk about his health came on the same day that the chairman of the Epilepsy Foundation wrote a public letter backing him. The letter, titled “We Stand With Coach Kill” cited Kill as an inspiration for those who live with epilepsy.

Coach Kill’s determination, courage and leadership have become an inspiration for his players, staff and school, college football and sports fans in the Twin Cities and the 60,000 Minnesotans -- and more than 2 million people in the U.S. -- who, like Coach Kill, live with epilepsy and seizures.

Kill also has the backing of the school’s athletic director, Norwood Teague. Meanwhile, the Gopher players seem to be getting used to Kill’s seizures and their 3-0 record attests to their ability to adapt on the fly.

“We’re used to the routine, as bad as that sounds,’' defensive back Brock Vereen said. “There’s a sense of confidence in our staff and knowing that as bad as it may look sometimes, he’s going to be fine.’'

Minnesota hosts San Jose State on Saturday.