It's time to get more specific about what would constitute a successful football program at MN under Coach Fleck. His interim goal (in four to seven years) should be to win a Big 10 West title. If he does not do so by at least his seventh year, he should be fired. If he is only making halting progress by year four or five, he should be fired. Why continue to live with mediocrity?
Coach Mason worked under the enormous handicap of having to win an outright Big 10 title against the likes of OSU, MI, WI and so forth. Winning the Big 10 West is more possible. Mason would have done it himself at least once under circumstances similar to those of today.
Although Fleck did not inherit a truly awful roster, it is a mediocre one. It will take him at least three recruiting classes to upgrade talent on the team. He has the coaching staff in place, his systems are being put in and the facilities he has to sell are outstanding. If he cannot recruit and develop the talent needed to win a Big 10 West championship with these assets, why keep him?
Coach Mason worked under the enormous handicap of having to win an outright Big 10 title against the likes of OSU, MI, WI and so forth. Winning the Big 10 West is more possible. Mason would have done it himself at least once under circumstances similar to those of today.
Although Fleck did not inherit a truly awful roster, it is a mediocre one. It will take him at least three recruiting classes to upgrade talent on the team. He has the coaching staff in place, his systems are being put in and the facilities he has to sell are outstanding. If he cannot recruit and develop the talent needed to win a Big 10 West championship with these assets, why keep him?
