Big Ten Media Day breakout session notes

[Matt Jessen-Howard]

Hey guys – I was in Chicago today for Big Ten Media Day but really haven’t had much time to write something up between not having much internet access while traveling and the Gabe Kalscheur commitment. Here are some notes from the afternoon breakout session, and I’ll have more content in the coming days.

Steven Richardson

• Josh Helmholdt asked him about his rating, and he said that he thought he was overlooked because of his height. Steven has never really seemed to care about his rating (believe me, some players do), but rather about schools not offering him (remember the Northwestern tweet last year). Steven seemed pretty indifferent about his old ratings when talking to Josh.
• More of the important stuff: he said there’s a debate on the team between whether or not a hot dog is a sandwich and he is in the vast majority that says it’s a sandwich. He even cited research (Google) that it was a sandwich.
• He said that PJ Fleck has helped him become a better leader. He used to be quieter than he is now, and he’s still more quiet than most leaders on the team. He said he used to be a little selfish and not necessarily go out of his way to help other players at practice.
• He said that Bryce Paup has taught him a lot more moves to add to his repertoire. Most of them he still needs a lot of practice on, and he’ll try and refine them in camp. He said Bryce Paup is much more hands on than Phelps and demonstrate things. He also said that Paup is quieter than Phelps.
• He said the R position (the stand-up defensive end) won’t really change his role. He likes it because it keeps more athleticism on the field.

Rodney Smith

• When Fleck first arrived, Rodney wanted to buy into all of the hype and his energy, but didn’t really put two feet in right away because of the hurt from losing the coaches he loved and that recruited him initially. He said there were a handful that kind of rejected Fleck and they’re no longer here, many in the camp that he was in, and many that bought in completely right away.
• He was asked about Jim Delaney getting a huge salary and if he thinks players should be paid, to which he seemed pretty indifferent. He said the “cost of attendance” stipend they get at Minnesota is pretty high so some players buy cars. He sends the money home, as do many others.
• He said that Fleck saw room for growth in him as a leader and since he’s an influential person on the team, that Fleck sought him out and took him under his wing to grow him as a leader.
• Jon Celestin’s father passed away recently. Rodney said that he was really sad and in shock when he heard about it, and that he’s always there for Jon. He’ll hug him and cry with him. The two are very close. He was asked if he’s seen a spark or increased in Celestin’s motivation since his father’s death and he said that Jon’s a natural go-getter and has always been very driven.
• He said that in one of the initial meetings Fleck told them that he chose them and that it was his team now. He felt for the team for losing their coaches, but that he made it clear that he was the head coach, even though that wasn’t fair to the players. Rodney said he did a good job of taking control of the team right away.
• He was asked if the team learned anything from the protest and he said “yeah” and when asked to elaborate, he paused for a while before saying, “that’s all I’m going to say.”
• Waka Flocka’s his favorite musician. They’re from the same county in Georgia.
• He said that Kenni Burns has been a phenomenal coach. He said Burns has helped them better understand run progressions, pass protection progressions, and mentioned several times how he’s helped the running backs improve their vision. There will always be an instinct component to running but he feels more knowledgeable and aware than ever before. He said that Burns’ experience working working with running backs has been very helpful and that he pays close attention to detail.
• He singled out Demetrius Douglas as the standout freshman that’s impressed him so far. “Quick, smooth, runs good routes, works hard. He’s a leader in his class.”
• He said Rashad Still and Tyler Johnson have shown improvement in captains’ practices and are learning how to lead.
• Mohamed Ibrahim was another freshman he said has stood out.

Jon Celestin

• Jon never thought he’d be at Big Ten Media Day before. He thought he’d be at Valdosta State because that was his only offer before Jerry Kill landed Rodney Smith and Smith told them about Celestin.
• He said Robb Smith and Jay Sawvel are very similar. They’re both aggressive and want to attack defensively. He said they have similar personalities too.
• He said that he hasn’t heard from Mike Sherels in a while.
• There’s been a lot of talk of Celestin growing as a leader the past year, and he said that’s just been a natural process as his role on the field has grown.
• He said that Demetrious Douglas and Kendarian Handy-Holly have stood out in captains’ practices. Handy-Holly has good technique and coverage skills.
• He said playing with an R position doesn’t change anything for him as a linebacker. Like we saw in spring practice, he said that Coughlin and Devers will play there, as well as Blake Cashman. Cash is back and healthy.

PJ Fleck

• He was asked about having to compete with pro sports in the Twin Cities market, and he said that’s not at all a concern. He likes being in a city with pro sports and tries to talk to the teams. He said it’s about connecting with them and supporting them. He recently talked with Paul Molitor. He likes being in a city. “If you’re ever bored in the Twin Cities, you have a problem.”
• New facilities show a commitment to football from the University. He said the facilities are undeniably good and not just like other places. The amount that was spent is in the upper echelon of facilities projects and that they will be a phenomenal place for student-athletes in all four areas of their life (athletically, academically, socially, and spiritually).
• He has a lot of respect for Jim Harbaugh because he’s himself. Like Fleck, he just keeps being himself and he’s not for everybody.
• He was asked about what he meant by having players be elite socially, and he said that he works for a public university and he’s not out to tell players what to believe. He wants them to believe in something greater than themselves. He said there are people of many faiths on the team and some of the players aren’t religious at all, and in that case he wants them to believe that as a team there’s greater things that can be achieved when everyone works together.
• In his first year with Western Michigan, he lost to Iowa by 70 and said that Ferentz was very classy after the loss. He said “you’ll get better” and kept it short and respectful, but Fleck’s respected Ferentz since then.
• Social media is very important. He doesn’t care if the 55+ demographic doesn’t care about social media or row the boat because his demographic is 17-22 year olds, and everything he does, he does with them in mind. The graphics and back office staff have been an asset in strengthening the football program’s brand and what Fleck hopes to accomplish.
• When Celestin’s father passed away, he felt very bad for him, and it was hard for Fleck because he cared about Jon and respected him and hurt for him, but he wasn’t necessarily super close with Jon yet, even though there was mutual respect. He struggled because he wanted to be sure that Jon knew his support was authentic. The next day, Fleck took Celestin to the Masonic Children’s Hospital where he had Jon meet with sick kids. He said that those kids might not have the chance to grow up and be fathers or go to Disney World and that he hoped Jon gained some perspective on that visit.
• One of the most rewarding things for him as a coach has been to see Emmit Carpenter’s eagerness to learn. Emmit is on the Leadership Council, which is a group of 34 players that takes a class on leadership with Fleck, and Emmit is always coming to Fleck to learn more. He’s asked for books from Fleck.
• He got a GA position at Ohio State because the GA they hired couldn’t get through Ohio State’s admissions and Tressel’s fraternity brother recommended Fleck.
• He said he doesn’t drink a lot of coffee.
• He said college kids are “not even close to perfect” and that it’s rewarding to be with them as a part of they grow.
• He doesn’t understand the comparison to Brewster, and it’s frustrating that some fans want to group him with Brewster only because they’re somewhat similar in language and optimism. He sounded genuinely frustrated a little bit, which was one of the only times I’ve heard him be upset. Both Kill and Claeys were a little more sensitive and on edge about fan comparisons and expectations.
• He said Rodney has developed as a person more than anyone on the team the last six months. After the team date night at TCF, Rodney’s has texted Fleck before thanking him for being a part of Rodney’s growth as a man.
• When he coached at Northern Illinois, he emailed all the coaches in the Big Ten and offered to buy them a meal and learn from them. Only Pat Fitzgerald responded, which he appreciated, and the two met at a local burger joint in Evanston. He said that was an inspirational and impactful meeting for him. Fleck asked about what his path should be and what steps he needed to take as a coach, and Fitzgerald told him that there’s no right path but that Fleck should just always try to grow in his ability to empower and motivate people. He said you don’t need to be a coordinator to be a head coach because they’re very different roles.
• They’re recruiting almost all of the Midwest cities hard, and it’s important they establish their brand in the Midwest if they want it to really take off nationally. He admires how Mark Dantonio recruited mid-level Power 5 players in the Midwest at first and established Michigan State’s brand. Now they’re able to recruit on a national level and that has elevated their program.
• He said “It’s Your Ship” is his favorite leadership book.