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Gophers Hope Grueling Practices Translate Into Wins

By Eric Nelson, WCCO-TV

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The University of Minnesota football team plays its spring game Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium, and the team is hoping that its demanding practices will lead to more wins this season.

This spring, the Golden Gophers have a bounce in their step. It's because new coach Jerry Kill is running them constantly. In fact, the tempo at practice is frantic.

"It's been a fast pace," said linebacker Mike Rallis. "You got two huddles going at one time. And then, you know, you get to the scrimmage portion where you only got one huddle and it feels like the game's really slowed down."

"I want practice to be as hard, and as tough and as a grind as it can be, because I do want the game to slow down," said Kill.

The go-go Gophers have quickly adapted to the hectic pace of camp Kill and seem to be in harmony with this non-stop approach to practice.

"I think it's a great deal for us and it allows us to condition even more," said running back Duane Bennett. "More practice film to watch and to learn from."

If the Gophers think this spring has been tough, wait until they get to the two a days in August. Their new coach promises those practices will be even more challenging. That means grueling workouts in the sauna-like heat of summer.

Kill's goal, of course, is to coax more wins out of a Gopher team that was 3 and 9 in 2010.

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