COUSINS SPENT TIME WITH FLECK, GOPHERS IN FEBRUARY
March 16, 2018
The Minnesota Vikings got the quarterback they wanted when they inked Kirk Cousins to a three-year deal this week.
At his introductory press conference, Cousins said he spent time during Super Bowl week acclimating himself with Minnesota and drove around the Twin Cities to get a feel for what could be his new home. He drove by the Vikings former headquarters – Winter Park in Eden Prairie – and their new facility in Eagan.
One place he also visited was the University of Minnesota’s David and Janis Larson Football Performance Center. There he spoke to the Golden Gophers and visited with head coach P.J. Fleck.
“Super Bowl week this year, I reached out to Coach Fleck and asked if I could sit with him for about an hour and learn from him about leadership and some of his culture building that he does,” said Cousins at his press conference this week. “He was kind enough to grant me that hour, so we sat in his office and I picked his brain.
“While I am a Spartan at heart, I am certainly excited to be in the Gophers’ backyard. I will be cheering them on as well because I have a great deal of respect for Coach Fleck and for his leadership abilities. I think there is plenty more where that one-hour conversation came from that I look forward to having with Coach Fleck in the future. I will enjoy being here in the Twin Cities and following them as well.”
Cousins and Fleck both have ties to Michigan, but their paths never crossed on the collegiate football field. Cousins played in 45 games at Michigan State from 2008-11, while Fleck coached Western Michigan – leading the Broncos to the Cotton Bowl in his last season – from 2013-17.
The duo have been on the same field one time during their football careers and that was during an NFL preseason game in 2012. Cousins and Washington played their fourth preseason game against Tampa Bay, where Fleck was coaching the wide receivers. Cousins passed for 222 yards as Washington won the exhibition.
Somewhere throughout the years, a bond was formed and Fleck and Cousins became acquaintances and that led to the recent February meeting.
“It was elite to have Kirk Cousins at our new facility a few weeks ago when Minnesota hosted the Super Bowl,” said Fleck. “I have known him for a few years and always appreciate spending time with him. I enjoyed sharing with him why Minnesota is such a special state and why our family loves living here.
“I appreciate him talking to our young men, and I know our team enjoyed his message. He is a winner in every sense of the word and exudes positivity and professionalism. He is exactly the kind of person you want around your program and leading a team. I am so excited he is a VIKING!”
Cousins played in three games against Minnesota in college and posted a 2-1 record against the Gophers. Two of the three games featured fantastic quarterback battles between Cousins and Minnesota’s Adam Weber and Marqueis Gray.
Minnesota topped the Spartans 42-34 on Halloween night at TCF Bank Stadium in 2009. Cousins passed for 236 yards and two scores, but Weber passed for 416 yards (one of Minnesota’s five 400-yard passing games ever) and five touchdowns (second-most in school history) to lead the Minnesota to a stirring victory.
In 2011, Cousins threw for two scores and 296 yards in a 31-24 win against Minnesota. Gray, not to be outdone, passed for three touchdowns and 295 yards in a gallant road effort.
March 16, 2018
The Minnesota Vikings got the quarterback they wanted when they inked Kirk Cousins to a three-year deal this week.
At his introductory press conference, Cousins said he spent time during Super Bowl week acclimating himself with Minnesota and drove around the Twin Cities to get a feel for what could be his new home. He drove by the Vikings former headquarters – Winter Park in Eden Prairie – and their new facility in Eagan.
One place he also visited was the University of Minnesota’s David and Janis Larson Football Performance Center. There he spoke to the Golden Gophers and visited with head coach P.J. Fleck.
“Super Bowl week this year, I reached out to Coach Fleck and asked if I could sit with him for about an hour and learn from him about leadership and some of his culture building that he does,” said Cousins at his press conference this week. “He was kind enough to grant me that hour, so we sat in his office and I picked his brain.
“While I am a Spartan at heart, I am certainly excited to be in the Gophers’ backyard. I will be cheering them on as well because I have a great deal of respect for Coach Fleck and for his leadership abilities. I think there is plenty more where that one-hour conversation came from that I look forward to having with Coach Fleck in the future. I will enjoy being here in the Twin Cities and following them as well.”
Cousins and Fleck both have ties to Michigan, but their paths never crossed on the collegiate football field. Cousins played in 45 games at Michigan State from 2008-11, while Fleck coached Western Michigan – leading the Broncos to the Cotton Bowl in his last season – from 2013-17.
The duo have been on the same field one time during their football careers and that was during an NFL preseason game in 2012. Cousins and Washington played their fourth preseason game against Tampa Bay, where Fleck was coaching the wide receivers. Cousins passed for 222 yards as Washington won the exhibition.
Somewhere throughout the years, a bond was formed and Fleck and Cousins became acquaintances and that led to the recent February meeting.
“It was elite to have Kirk Cousins at our new facility a few weeks ago when Minnesota hosted the Super Bowl,” said Fleck. “I have known him for a few years and always appreciate spending time with him. I enjoyed sharing with him why Minnesota is such a special state and why our family loves living here.
“I appreciate him talking to our young men, and I know our team enjoyed his message. He is a winner in every sense of the word and exudes positivity and professionalism. He is exactly the kind of person you want around your program and leading a team. I am so excited he is a VIKING!”
Cousins played in three games against Minnesota in college and posted a 2-1 record against the Gophers. Two of the three games featured fantastic quarterback battles between Cousins and Minnesota’s Adam Weber and Marqueis Gray.
Minnesota topped the Spartans 42-34 on Halloween night at TCF Bank Stadium in 2009. Cousins passed for 236 yards and two scores, but Weber passed for 416 yards (one of Minnesota’s five 400-yard passing games ever) and five touchdowns (second-most in school history) to lead the Minnesota to a stirring victory.
In 2011, Cousins threw for two scores and 296 yards in a 31-24 win against Minnesota. Gray, not to be outdone, passed for three touchdowns and 295 yards in a gallant road effort.
