The show opened asking questions about the background of PJ Fleck. He stated he is a country music fan, and is excited for the Guns N Roses concert coming up here.
Fleck very much likes Minneapolis so far, said everyone is very nice. He said, “the hardest part with only 2 weeks to recruit is 2 weeks to build a relationship, it’s almost convincing them to come here, as in this is why you should be with us, since there’s no true relationship built.” He said with the players they brought in in only a couple weeks is monumental.
Outside of recruiting, PJ said one big deal is when you’ve been somewhere for a while, you know who to go to fix things or to get answers. In a new city, half of his time is spent trying to figure out who can help him with what he needs help with, and by that time, more problems have come.
On players switching from Western Michigan to Minnesota, Fleck said that in 2017 and beyond players now follow coaches quite a bit, and that coaches move places quite a bit. Additionally, he mentioned the culture that he built that recruits have bought in to. “Players are buying coaches, buying culture.”
Mark Rosen asked about his culture, Coach stated, “One because I have failed more than probably anybody else has. We define failure as growth in our culture. I was the king of ‘too’s’, too small, too slow, etc…my tree includes Jim Tressel and Jerry Kill, seen what they’ve done and made it my own. People who are truly confident are people who have failed, and they truly are confident because they’ve failed and are comfortable in their own skin.”
Ben Leber inquired if there was a common trait among all of the coaches that Fleck has learned from throughout the years. PJ responded that they all do things the right way, and are incredible men. They respected the game. “On all the great teams, everyone has bought in on one message. They come out of the locker room with one common message.”
Cory Cove said that typically Gophers sports have an older fan base, and wondered if him and Richard Pitino’s age would bring in a younger crowd. Coach Fleck responded that he doesn’t think it’s age, but more so energy that will bring younger people to the games. When he took the job, he said he heard all the reasons why he shouldn’t take it, but he wanted that challenge. “I had no problem going 1-11 at Western Michigan in my first year, because I had to do what I had to do to get there and be a champion down the road.”
Fleck considers himself a cultural, motivational coach. He’s very involved in the offense, defense, and special teams, but he hired an elite coaching staff for that reason. “If a person isn’t right, the X’s and O’s don’t matter. The coaches will handle the X’s and O’s, but I have to be there for them to find and recruit the right people.” He loves situational football, and at times the crowd may question what he is doing, but says he is doing it for a specific reason.
Today was the six-year anniversary of his son passing away. He called it the best day of his life, because although it was very hard, it has helped and affected so many people in the community. Also, talked a bit about how when people are real, there is a lot of information about a person out there, and people choose to attack you. Talked about his divorce briefly, and people losing their jobs.
“Elite is a mindset. We all fit into one of those categories. When we talk about Navy Seals and Army Rangers, they are different. Different mindset, and the results have become different.” He’s happy that the Minnesota fan base has bought in to the “Elite” mindset.
Rosen again questioned the idea of “coaching up” players, and that some players come in with two or three star rankings. “If you have to coach a player to work, I don’t care if he’s a 10 star, you’re not going to get the most out of him.” Fleck brought up Corey Davis as an example who was a two star with no offers, and will now be a potential top 10 pick in the upcoming draft.
Fleck said he won the conditioning test his first day of rookie minicamp in the NFL, because he had to find a way to get noticed. “I was a negative two star, I had no business being on an NFL roster. But I found a way to stay on the roster for three years.”
In 2017, we will play a lot of seniors as a team, but after that we will get a lot younger. Mentioned that we do not have any freshmen or sophomores, and one junior at defensive tackle. PJ started 18 true freshmen in his second year of coaching, and said he won’t be afraid to do it here.
The last few minutes the Power Trip guys were joking around about running marathons, since Fleck has run a few. Said around mile 18-21 is the gut check time.
Row the Boat we should find out today if we have the rights, and he hopes to get it rolling by Monday.
Fleck very much likes Minneapolis so far, said everyone is very nice. He said, “the hardest part with only 2 weeks to recruit is 2 weeks to build a relationship, it’s almost convincing them to come here, as in this is why you should be with us, since there’s no true relationship built.” He said with the players they brought in in only a couple weeks is monumental.
Outside of recruiting, PJ said one big deal is when you’ve been somewhere for a while, you know who to go to fix things or to get answers. In a new city, half of his time is spent trying to figure out who can help him with what he needs help with, and by that time, more problems have come.
On players switching from Western Michigan to Minnesota, Fleck said that in 2017 and beyond players now follow coaches quite a bit, and that coaches move places quite a bit. Additionally, he mentioned the culture that he built that recruits have bought in to. “Players are buying coaches, buying culture.”
Mark Rosen asked about his culture, Coach stated, “One because I have failed more than probably anybody else has. We define failure as growth in our culture. I was the king of ‘too’s’, too small, too slow, etc…my tree includes Jim Tressel and Jerry Kill, seen what they’ve done and made it my own. People who are truly confident are people who have failed, and they truly are confident because they’ve failed and are comfortable in their own skin.”
Ben Leber inquired if there was a common trait among all of the coaches that Fleck has learned from throughout the years. PJ responded that they all do things the right way, and are incredible men. They respected the game. “On all the great teams, everyone has bought in on one message. They come out of the locker room with one common message.”
Cory Cove said that typically Gophers sports have an older fan base, and wondered if him and Richard Pitino’s age would bring in a younger crowd. Coach Fleck responded that he doesn’t think it’s age, but more so energy that will bring younger people to the games. When he took the job, he said he heard all the reasons why he shouldn’t take it, but he wanted that challenge. “I had no problem going 1-11 at Western Michigan in my first year, because I had to do what I had to do to get there and be a champion down the road.”
Fleck considers himself a cultural, motivational coach. He’s very involved in the offense, defense, and special teams, but he hired an elite coaching staff for that reason. “If a person isn’t right, the X’s and O’s don’t matter. The coaches will handle the X’s and O’s, but I have to be there for them to find and recruit the right people.” He loves situational football, and at times the crowd may question what he is doing, but says he is doing it for a specific reason.
Today was the six-year anniversary of his son passing away. He called it the best day of his life, because although it was very hard, it has helped and affected so many people in the community. Also, talked a bit about how when people are real, there is a lot of information about a person out there, and people choose to attack you. Talked about his divorce briefly, and people losing their jobs.
“Elite is a mindset. We all fit into one of those categories. When we talk about Navy Seals and Army Rangers, they are different. Different mindset, and the results have become different.” He’s happy that the Minnesota fan base has bought in to the “Elite” mindset.
Rosen again questioned the idea of “coaching up” players, and that some players come in with two or three star rankings. “If you have to coach a player to work, I don’t care if he’s a 10 star, you’re not going to get the most out of him.” Fleck brought up Corey Davis as an example who was a two star with no offers, and will now be a potential top 10 pick in the upcoming draft.
Fleck said he won the conditioning test his first day of rookie minicamp in the NFL, because he had to find a way to get noticed. “I was a negative two star, I had no business being on an NFL roster. But I found a way to stay on the roster for three years.”
In 2017, we will play a lot of seniors as a team, but after that we will get a lot younger. Mentioned that we do not have any freshmen or sophomores, and one junior at defensive tackle. PJ started 18 true freshmen in his second year of coaching, and said he won’t be afraid to do it here.
The last few minutes the Power Trip guys were joking around about running marathons, since Fleck has run a few. Said around mile 18-21 is the gut check time.
Row the Boat we should find out today if we have the rights, and he hopes to get it rolling by Monday.
