PJ Fleck returns to Michigan
Despite being in the same conference as Michigan and Michigan State, the Minnesota coach is making his second trip back to the Great Lakes State for a game since leaving Western Michigan to take over the Gophers two seasons ago. His first visit was a 33-10 loss to the Wolverines in Ann Arbor in 2017.
Some local spectators will be cheering on the 38-year-old coach, who turned WMU into a Midwestern power during his four years in Kalamazoo. Known for his "Row The Boat" mantra, the always-excitable Fleck won the Mid-American Conference championship to cap off a 13-0 regular season with the Broncos in 2016. That season ended, however, with Wisconsin topping WMU in the Cotton Bowl.
As he did at WMU, Fleck has Minnesota bowl eligible in only his second season.
Paul Johnson says farewell
The 61-year-old Georgia Tech coach will retire following the game. He's the fourth-winningest coach in school history, behind only three College Football Hall of Fame coaches in Bobby Dodd, Bill Alexander and John Heisman. The Yellow Jackets won the ACC in 2009 under Johnson and appeared in the conference title game four times during his 11 years. They won the Orange Bowl in 2014.
Before arriving in Atlanta, Johnson won back-to-back Division I-AA championships at Georgia Southern in 1999 and 2000. He spent 2002-07 at Navy, where the Midshipmen won eight games or more in five of his six years as head coach. That included a 10-2 season in 2004. He accepted the Georgia Tech job in 2008.
Probably the most notable player Johnson sent to the NFL was former Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson, who played three seasons at Georgia Tech from 2004-06, won Biletnikoff Award in 2006 and was selected No. 2 overall by the Lions in the 2007 NFL draft.
Triple-option bonanza
Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter have lulled fans at Ford Field to sleep with their lackluster offense this season. Expect a stadium-wide wake-up call from Georgia Tech during this bowl game.
Johnson has employed the triple-option flexbone offense since his days at Georgia Southern, and, boy, is it actually really fun to watch. The Yellow Jackets' rushing attack gashes teams left and right with their hidden-ball tricks and zany play calls. They rushed for 542 yards and eight touchdowns alone against Louisville this fall and have thrown for only 1,012 yards through 12 games — averaging just 85 yards passing per game.
Try your best to keep your eye on the ball. We triple dare you.
https://www.freep.com/story/sports/...-returns-michigan-quick-lane-bowl/2402252002/
Despite being in the same conference as Michigan and Michigan State, the Minnesota coach is making his second trip back to the Great Lakes State for a game since leaving Western Michigan to take over the Gophers two seasons ago. His first visit was a 33-10 loss to the Wolverines in Ann Arbor in 2017.
Some local spectators will be cheering on the 38-year-old coach, who turned WMU into a Midwestern power during his four years in Kalamazoo. Known for his "Row The Boat" mantra, the always-excitable Fleck won the Mid-American Conference championship to cap off a 13-0 regular season with the Broncos in 2016. That season ended, however, with Wisconsin topping WMU in the Cotton Bowl.
As he did at WMU, Fleck has Minnesota bowl eligible in only his second season.
Paul Johnson says farewell
The 61-year-old Georgia Tech coach will retire following the game. He's the fourth-winningest coach in school history, behind only three College Football Hall of Fame coaches in Bobby Dodd, Bill Alexander and John Heisman. The Yellow Jackets won the ACC in 2009 under Johnson and appeared in the conference title game four times during his 11 years. They won the Orange Bowl in 2014.
Before arriving in Atlanta, Johnson won back-to-back Division I-AA championships at Georgia Southern in 1999 and 2000. He spent 2002-07 at Navy, where the Midshipmen won eight games or more in five of his six years as head coach. That included a 10-2 season in 2004. He accepted the Georgia Tech job in 2008.
Probably the most notable player Johnson sent to the NFL was former Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson, who played three seasons at Georgia Tech from 2004-06, won Biletnikoff Award in 2006 and was selected No. 2 overall by the Lions in the 2007 NFL draft.
Triple-option bonanza
Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter have lulled fans at Ford Field to sleep with their lackluster offense this season. Expect a stadium-wide wake-up call from Georgia Tech during this bowl game.
Johnson has employed the triple-option flexbone offense since his days at Georgia Southern, and, boy, is it actually really fun to watch. The Yellow Jackets' rushing attack gashes teams left and right with their hidden-ball tricks and zany play calls. They rushed for 542 yards and eight touchdowns alone against Louisville this fall and have thrown for only 1,012 yards through 12 games — averaging just 85 yards passing per game.
Try your best to keep your eye on the ball. We triple dare you.
https://www.freep.com/story/sports/...-returns-michigan-quick-lane-bowl/2402252002/
