PJ FLECK
*** PJ Fleck repeatedly praised the people around him when talking about his contract: "Head coaches are only as good as the people surrounding them. Period... We have elite people here." Fleck said he wants his assistants to be rewarded.
He said he loved coaching the players everyday and that they were "a huge part" of the his decision. "Heather and I take incredible responsibility to be parents to (the players). Couldn't ask for a better group of kids... These are very, very special people."
He thanked Heather for her sacrifices and her energy and how much she pours into the program and community. "She's the ultimate teammate."
He also praised Mark Coyle: "(Mark Coyle) is a man of his word. I love working for Mark Coyle. I mean that whole-heartedly... He's one of the main reasons why I didn't want to leave... Never occurred to me to leave."
*** Fleck said the deal has been a few weeks in the making. Always wants his agent to take care of it so he can focus on game weeks. Having your name thrown out in coaching searches creates negative recruiting.
*** Fleck said that he and Heather love Minnesota. He complimented the general community around the program, his neighborhood, and said they've always been "Midwest people." He said he loves the mix of the lakes, country, and city, and that lifestyle matters to them. "You have to be really happy where you live. You can make a living or you can make a life."
*** Fleck said it's hard to keep secrets in 2019 and that he unfortunately couldn't tell the team before the news got out. The deal happened on the way from doing his radio show at Joe Sensor's to the press conference. He said the players knew it was coming, so there was no surprise. He said he'll send out a text to them since legally he can't call them in for another meeting today.
*** Fleck said that PSU star receiver KJ Hamler "reminds you of a Rondale Moore. He can change the game instantly." He said PSU at the skill positions are more than just Hamler and that you can contain talented players when there's just one of them on the outside, but that "Penn State has world-class sprinters" at the skill positions, so there's a lot of talent to defend.
*** Penn State's defensive line can all stop the run and all rush the passer. "It's very rare that they can all do both... and then they have three or four guys behind them." Said Penn State is a "blue blood program...gets the top recruits in the country." Said watching their second and third string, the underclassman are very impressive and that they'll re-load not re-build.
*** The team had a health and wellness week internally. Had an educational class on Tuesday. Wednesday Dr. Carly came in and taught the players how to meditate. Dr. Howell talked about sleep. Thursday got massages. Added a lift and did a longer walkthrough. Friday added a lift too.
Notes from the players
*** Thomas Barber said Penn State runs more QB draws than anytime they've seen all year and that Clifford will also run if the pocket breaks down on pass plays.
*** Tanner Morgan said called Penn State's defensive line "incredibly athletic" multiple times and that they rotate 8-9 players.
*** Both players were asked about the enormity of the game multiple times. They both talked about Minnesota being 0-0 this week. "You guys have probably heard this a lot, but it's the most important game because it's the next one... That's how we view every week," Morgan said.
*** Morgan said Penn State will blitz on first and second down. "They can blitz and they blitz at a high level. They're very good when they blitz."
*** Morgan complimented his QB coaches in the offseason that help him with his mechanics. He said they've helped make his motion more compact and help him get his feet set under him. He's used coaches to help him both through video as well as in-person. He said obviously Ciarrocca has been key to his development as well.
*** PJ Fleck repeatedly praised the people around him when talking about his contract: "Head coaches are only as good as the people surrounding them. Period... We have elite people here." Fleck said he wants his assistants to be rewarded.
He said he loved coaching the players everyday and that they were "a huge part" of the his decision. "Heather and I take incredible responsibility to be parents to (the players). Couldn't ask for a better group of kids... These are very, very special people."
He thanked Heather for her sacrifices and her energy and how much she pours into the program and community. "She's the ultimate teammate."
He also praised Mark Coyle: "(Mark Coyle) is a man of his word. I love working for Mark Coyle. I mean that whole-heartedly... He's one of the main reasons why I didn't want to leave... Never occurred to me to leave."
*** Fleck said the deal has been a few weeks in the making. Always wants his agent to take care of it so he can focus on game weeks. Having your name thrown out in coaching searches creates negative recruiting.
*** Fleck said that he and Heather love Minnesota. He complimented the general community around the program, his neighborhood, and said they've always been "Midwest people." He said he loves the mix of the lakes, country, and city, and that lifestyle matters to them. "You have to be really happy where you live. You can make a living or you can make a life."
*** Fleck said it's hard to keep secrets in 2019 and that he unfortunately couldn't tell the team before the news got out. The deal happened on the way from doing his radio show at Joe Sensor's to the press conference. He said the players knew it was coming, so there was no surprise. He said he'll send out a text to them since legally he can't call them in for another meeting today.
*** Fleck said that PSU star receiver KJ Hamler "reminds you of a Rondale Moore. He can change the game instantly." He said PSU at the skill positions are more than just Hamler and that you can contain talented players when there's just one of them on the outside, but that "Penn State has world-class sprinters" at the skill positions, so there's a lot of talent to defend.
*** Penn State's defensive line can all stop the run and all rush the passer. "It's very rare that they can all do both... and then they have three or four guys behind them." Said Penn State is a "blue blood program...gets the top recruits in the country." Said watching their second and third string, the underclassman are very impressive and that they'll re-load not re-build.
*** The team had a health and wellness week internally. Had an educational class on Tuesday. Wednesday Dr. Carly came in and taught the players how to meditate. Dr. Howell talked about sleep. Thursday got massages. Added a lift and did a longer walkthrough. Friday added a lift too.
Notes from the players
*** Thomas Barber said Penn State runs more QB draws than anytime they've seen all year and that Clifford will also run if the pocket breaks down on pass plays.
*** Tanner Morgan said called Penn State's defensive line "incredibly athletic" multiple times and that they rotate 8-9 players.
*** Both players were asked about the enormity of the game multiple times. They both talked about Minnesota being 0-0 this week. "You guys have probably heard this a lot, but it's the most important game because it's the next one... That's how we view every week," Morgan said.
*** Morgan said Penn State will blitz on first and second down. "They can blitz and they blitz at a high level. They're very good when they blitz."
*** Morgan complimented his QB coaches in the offseason that help him with his mechanics. He said they've helped make his motion more compact and help him get his feet set under him. He's used coaches to help him both through video as well as in-person. He said obviously Ciarrocca has been key to his development as well.
