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Social Media, Fans React To Jerry Kill's Sudden Retirement

/ CBS Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It had already been a tough sports week in Minnesota with the death of Flip Saunders and the retirement of Minnesota Twins outfielder Torii Hunter.

Another crushing blow was delivered Wednesday morning as University of Minnesota football coach Jerry Kill announced his retirement, effective immediately, due to health reasons. Kill delivered the news personally at a news conference, and fans were quick to share their thoughts.

"It's really clear that he just loves coaching and he loves the team and that's all he wants to do, so I just felt bad that that's the decision that he had to make," fan Anna Proell said.

"The Big Ten is a really solid conference and i can only imagine how hard that is normally for a coach. And just to manage your health and something as serious as epilepsy at the same time, i can only imagine it was really difficult for him and his family so i can appreciate that that was really hard," University of Minnesota scientist Dr. Luis Martinez said.

"I'm a senior and when I started here, I remember the games not being very full, not having that much student participation and now the games are selling out," student Savannah Huml said.

"Well he's obviously brought us from a 3-9 program to contending for Big Ten championships every year," freshman Thomas Meyer said. "I mean last year we almost beat Ohio State, so that was a big one."

There has also been plenty of reaction on social media Wednesday.

Here is a sampling of the reactions from fellow Gophers coaches, his players, national media and Gophers followers.

© 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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