Kill on Paterno: "A sad day for football"

Gophers coach never faced Penn State, but "I'll never forget" meeting him

January 23, 2012 at 12:36PM

Minnesota coach Jerry Kill released the following statement Sunday afternoon on the death of former Penn State coach Joe Paterno:
"I got home last night from recruiting and my oldest daughter said she had just heard. Fifteen minutes later, my youngest daughter at Murray State called. That's two girls from a coach's family reacting to it. That really sums up his impact. It hits home. He coached for 60 yearswith more than 100 players per year. Think about how many lives he touched, how many good things he has done.
"From my family to the Paterno family, our prayers go out to them. It's a sad day for football, but a good day for the man upstairs.
"I would tell people not to forget what that guy has done. To coach for 60 years in one place, that just won't ever happen again. I didn't get to coach against him. But I got to coach in the Big Ten, sit next to him at a meeting and have my picture taken with him. That's something I will never forget."

about the writer

about the writer

Phil Miller

Reporter

Phil Miller has covered the Twins for the Minnesota Star Tribune since 2013. Previously, he covered the University of Minnesota football team, and from 2007-09, he covered the Twins for the Pioneer Press.

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