Well, this is interesting.
Minnesota’s leading receiver, A.J. Barker, is leaving the football team with the Gophers bowl eligible and the season-finale against Michigan State coming up this weekend. Barker has missed the past three games with an ankle injury, but his departure appears to be linked directly to coach Jerry Kill. Barker made the announcement Sunday on his Twitter page.Well, its official. I am done playing football for the University of Minnesota and I will be looking to transfer next season for my final yr
— AJ Barker (@A_Barker_82) November 18, 2012
But Barker also wrote a lengthy blog post titled “My Letter to Jerry Kill” in which he accuses Kill of “pathetic, manipulative display of rage and love” in addition to other harsh words. The entire post is quite bizarre (and angry). That’s putting it lightly too.
Minnesota hasn’t responded to the post yet, but what Kill has to say about the accusations will be interesting.
Barker, a non-scholarship player, was far and away the best receiver for UM this year with 30 catches, 577 yards and seven touchdowns. His loss hurts -- the Gophers are 1-2 in his absence -- but this story has now taken a strange twist.
Updated 9:04 p.m. ET: Minnesota has released a response to the allegations from former wide receiver A.J. Barker regarding the accusations he made in a blog post directed at coach Jerry Kill:
“Coach Kill received an email from A.J. Barker today notifying the Coach that he has quit the team. Coach Kill tried reaching out to A.J. after receiving the email, but was unable to connect with him. We understand A.J.'s frustration with his injury, and we regret that he has chosen to leave the team on these terms. Our concern first and foremost is student athletes and we wish A.J. well.”
Updated 10: 11 p.m. ET: The Pioneer Press was able to catch up with Barker about the allegations of mistreatment he received from Jerry Kill. You can read the story HERE. Barker talks about his ankle injury and how it affected his standing (so to speak) with Kill. As for the decision to write a lengthy rant directed at his now-former head coach, Barker said “You’re allowed to have your own voice now, and people want the truth. I get that I’m going to look bad to a lot of people. But I believe in the idea that people should be honest about it.”