In the two days or so since Minnesota announced the hiring of Northern Illinois’ Jerry Kill as their new head coach, Gopher fans have lamented the fact that they did not get a bigger “name” to lead their program.
Of course, athletic director Joel Maturi did himself no favors by proclaiming the day Tim Brewster was officially fired that, in essence, he would look to hit a home run with his next coach. The perception, of course, is that the Kill hiring is a bunt single.
As it turns out, Maturi did indeed swing for the fences when it came to the hire.
In an interview with the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Maturi confirmed what was already known, that he had reached out to former Indianapolis Colts head coach -- and ex-Gopher quarterback -- Tony Dungy and was summarily turned down.
The A.D. also tossed out the following blockbuster: he offered the job to his counterpart at Wisconsin, former Badgers head coach Barry Alvarez. Alvarez, of course, turned Maturi down.
“I like what I’m doing. And my days of coaching are done,” Maturi said Alvarez told him.
While it might not assuage the anguish some/most Gopher fans are feeling, at least Maturi took a whack at the “big name” they were so desperately seeking. So they have that going for them, which is good. Right?