tbeindit

November 18th, 2012 at 6:22 PM ^

The sad thing is that he would have gotten a lot of attention from big schools if he didn't post this rant and just quit the team.  Now there are going to be questions about his intangibles.

FreeKarl

November 18th, 2012 at 6:32 PM ^

I thought it was also a bit weird how he focused on how he felt he was being manipulated and included testimonial from his mom's friend. The fact that staff ridiculed his religious beliefs, made homophobic remarks towards him, and interfered with his medical treatment is damning enough. Finally, what is a "tyraid" and does it involve beanie babies?

ChopBlock

November 18th, 2012 at 7:00 PM ^

Which is strange, because usually the only side of the story we get is the coach announcing that the player has left the team for one reason or another. The coach doesn't usually say too much, but rumors and such leak out, and the player never really has a chance to tell their story.

FreeKarl

November 18th, 2012 at 6:26 PM ^

He wrote all of that without including a joke about Kill's mustache or gopher like appearance or creepiness in the B1G coaches video? And he decided to break his serious rant on tumblr?

FreeKarl

November 18th, 2012 at 6:28 PM ^

double post- But any way best of luck to Barker and I hope he has a successful career at another school. Funny how not getting a scholarship was a blessing in disguise. 

bluewave720

November 18th, 2012 at 6:30 PM ^

I gotta say, with the language that young man used, fuck Jerry Kill.  I know it's just one side of the story.  But it's hard to believe that kid (after reading what he had to say) is some meathead who has a problem with "the state of things" in the Minnesota program.  

I will probably always have the default setting of siding with the player in situations like this.  I mean, on one hand, who cares?  Right?  It's just football.  But on the other hand, it's everything 18-21 year olds absolutely cherish when they are capable of playing for a D1 program.

To be fair, fuck anyone who takes that away from a kid.  And yes, to me, 18-21 year olds are respectfully "kids."  

MichiganTeacher

November 18th, 2012 at 8:55 PM ^

Barker's is a pretty convincing side, though.

Even if you grant that there are two sides, that means that there is some legitimacy to what Barker's saying. And if even some of what he's saying is true, there is no way I'd ever let my son play for Coach Kill.

snarling wolverine

November 18th, 2012 at 6:33 PM ^

Wow.  Now maybe I can understand why Sparty is favored over them by so much.  Their locker room is going to be a mess this week.  This is going to be tough week to manage for the Minnesota coaching staff.

YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

November 18th, 2012 at 6:35 PM ^

1. College coaches yell and push kids to play with pain, even at lowly Minnesota.
2. Players should exit with class b/c the Internet never forgets (future employers, etc).

Back to our regularly scheduled program ...

Feat of Clay

November 18th, 2012 at 6:35 PM ^

This was uncomfortable to read, because it's a reminder that some part of what goes on in college football coaching and training is like sausage-making:  if you could actually see the process you would be less happy with the product.  I don't know how many coaches belittle their players, mess with their heads, and downplay injuries, but I'm sure it's not just Jerry Kill.  

Anyway, IMO Barker should not have published it.  I suspect the negative fallout it will generate will not be worth the catharsis he felt when he posted it.

Yeoman

November 18th, 2012 at 7:21 PM ^

It's dying, though. Professional athletes won't put up with it (see Carlesimo, P.J.). The parents of high school athletes are a threat to it if it goes too far. It's in college that it seems to be making its last stand--the players are finally away from home and they aren't yet making more money than their coaches.

Motivation doesn't have to involve humiliation. Even tearing down to build up doesn't have to involve humiliation. There are coaches that understand that; the future is theirs.

UMgradMSUdad

November 18th, 2012 at 6:38 PM ^

I read most of his tirade, and just couldn't help thinking it reflected more on Barker than on Kill.  He just came across sounding like a whiner who has convinced himself (with the help of his mother and father) that he's an indispensable star on the team (or as one of the readers of the article posted, he's "a special snowflake").