From early on in his first year at MN, Jerry Kill said it would take seven years to make the Gophers into a regular contender for Big 10 championships. We are now in what would have been Kill's seventh season.
The reason I mention this is that MN's talent after six years under Kill/Claeys is so far from being at a championship level in even the weaker, Big 10 West that it is almost laughable. Hiring Fleck was a miracle in light of where the program was likely headed under Claeys with respect to recruiting and player off-field discipline.
The only hope MN has for contending for Big 10 West championships is to significantly upgrade talent over that of Kill/Claeys at QB, OL (year in and year out), WR and DL. As far as DBs are concerned, MN had some good players but way too many bad citizens in that player group.
Everything that happened today is not Claeys' fault. But would anyone want him as the head coach today with what the Gophers face over the rest of the season? Would you want Claeys to be leading recruiting efforts today? What would the crowd size have been today with Claeys still being the head coach? With Fleck, there is hope for the future. With Claeys, there would not have been nearly as much.
The reason I mention this is that MN's talent after six years under Kill/Claeys is so far from being at a championship level in even the weaker, Big 10 West that it is almost laughable. Hiring Fleck was a miracle in light of where the program was likely headed under Claeys with respect to recruiting and player off-field discipline.
The only hope MN has for contending for Big 10 West championships is to significantly upgrade talent over that of Kill/Claeys at QB, OL (year in and year out), WR and DL. As far as DBs are concerned, MN had some good players but way too many bad citizens in that player group.
Everything that happened today is not Claeys' fault. But would anyone want him as the head coach today with what the Gophers face over the rest of the season? Would you want Claeys to be leading recruiting efforts today? What would the crowd size have been today with Claeys still being the head coach? With Fleck, there is hope for the future. With Claeys, there would not have been nearly as much.
