Jerry Kill Suffers Seizure Late in Fourth Quarter of Golden Gophers Loss

On a steamy Saturday afternoon in Minneapolis, the Golden Gophers would fall to the New Mexico State Aggies 28-21, marking the team’s first 0-2 start since 1992.

The loss, however, seems almost meaningless at this point as a scary moment late in the fourth quarter put everything in perspective for the nearly 50,000 fans in attendance, as Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill collapsed due to seizure. Fortunately he is now in stable condition.

Things didn’t get off to the most spectacular of starts for Minnesota, as a short kickoff gave the Aggies a short field to work with. Six plays later the Gophers were in a 7-0 hole and suddenly gasping for air.

Momentum appeared to be heading in the Gophers’ direction after two consecutive defensive stands and a long offensive drive down to the New Mexico State goal line. After Gray overthrew a wide open receiver in the end zone, however, a sack for an eight-yard loss and interception on 3rd-and-goal would stop the Gophers in their tracks.

With freshman quarterback Max Shortell warming up on the sideline, MarQueis Gray buckled down as the first half came to a close, leading the Gophers 69 yards in just 43 seconds to claw within seven points heading into the half.

A big question coming into this week’s contest was not if, but more when Shortell would make his way into the game. When the second half got underway that question was answered.

Shortell led the Gophers offense downfield and gave the team a great opportunity to score, although the drive would stall at the 22-yard line and end in a missed field goal.

Gray made the most of his second stint in the game, leading the Gophers 68 yards in 10 plays to a touchdown on 4th-and-goal that would bring the Gophers within seven.

After an interception by sophomore defensive back Brock Vereen, the Gophers were back in business. After a MarQueis Gray touchdown run was called back to the five yard line via a booth review, the Gophers would fail to punch the ball into the end zone, getting stopped inside the one-yard line.

With 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the Gophers driving in New Mexico State territory, Kill went down on the Gopher sideline. Play was immediately halted, as medical staff and concerned players tended to the coach.

Kill has suffered from seizures in the past and during spring practices did acknowledge the fact that something of this matter could occur.

Team doctor Pat Smith addressed the media following the game:

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“He has a history of them since his cancer, which has been well controlled through medications. There is a history of trouble with dehydration and heat seems to kick that up. It was very hot and humid today, we have to do a better job as a medical staff keeping him hydrated.”

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The Gophers would ultimately end up failing to convert on their final play of the game, but that mattered little as the team knelt in prayer for their leader.

Close friend of Kill and offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover also addressed the media during the postgame:

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"Anytime you see something like that happen even if it's happened before it’s tough, it takes the wind out of you. Unfortunately that the biggest thing right now is for a lot of people it's a state of shock. For us coaches we kind of know what we need to get things done to make sure the ship stays on course so to speak.”

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Coming into the game as 21-point favorites, a loss like this certainly wouldn’t be taken well by any team, but an event like this is a terribly unfortunate way of putting the game of football in perspective and showing that it is truly just that—a game.