Coach P.J. Fleck appeared on the Sports Huddle at 10:30. According to Dave Mona, Fleck will be appearing at the 10:30 time slot on future Sundays as well. Today’s interview was live. The past two Sunday interviews were taped by Sid Hartman.
1) Sid asked how the slogan Row the Boat came about:
P.J. Fleck gave some personal history about the phrase. On February 9, 2011 his son passed away due to a heart condition. “Never give up is the mantra.” He said even when great loss and adversity comes into one’s life you fight on.
Sid in a follow up asked about the slogan Row the Boat for the program:
Fleck said its part of the culture change that he’s bringing to the Gopher team
and fan base. He wants the program to connect with people who may not be
interested in football. They’ll be handing out colored oars that can represent
organizations who advocate the battle with adversity/illnesses, i.e., cancer,
autism, etc.
2) Sid asked what the players are doing now in the off season:
Fleck said the players are participating in winter conditioning, film study on their own. “They truly want to get better,” Fleck said. As a team connection exercise, Fleck said they played whiffle ball yesterday.
3) Sid asked if Fleck thought the nine recruits that had committed to Western Michigan and then Minnesota can play in the Big 10:
“Not any doubt in my mind,” Fleck quickly responded. He said the players had Big 10 offers. The bigger question, “Can they make us a better team?” Fleck sounded very confident in the players’ abilities.
4) Sid brought up the topic of a shortage of offensive linemen and defensive tackles for spring ball:
“We’re going to be short this spring . . . we don’t have a freshman or sophomore at defensive tackle . . . We’re going to fix (the problem/shortage) internally with high school athletes,” Fleck answered. The last part of his response pretty much answers the question about juco transfers to correct the depth problem.
5) Dave Mona asked about cooking classes and date night classes for the team:
Fleck said the classes are for life skills development, “We need to produce better husbands and fathers as possible.” The date night classes will be held in June and July. He didn’t say it, but the classes are probably a part of the culture change that he frequently mentions. He said the classes, for some, are probably new to them – how to ask a person out for a date.
6) Sid asked about recruiting and the three spots available for 2017 class:
Fleck’s first comment was related to the 2018 class. He said they’ve got three commits.
As to the three available scholarships, Fleck said they might see transfers after spring games or players who became academically eligible late in the recruiting process. If they don’t hand out the three available scholarships they’ll be carried forward to next year’s class.
7) The topic of morning practices was raised:
Fleck is a strong proponent of morning practices. He would like to start the practice in the fall and then spring. By having morning practices he wants the players to focus on academia and study hall and nothing else in the afternoon. Additionally, Fleck would like the practices to be motivational for the players – “set the day.”
8) Sid mentioned Lou Holtz packing the stadium for the spring game. He wanted to know if Fleck plans to do the same thing:
“We want it to be about everybody . . . celebrate the past and future . . . I’m here to bring new change . . . need everybody,” Fleck replied. He didn’t promise to fill the stadium for the spring game, however to be successful he said everyone has to be engaged in the program.
9) Dave Mona mentioned the number of recruits visiting Minnesota this weekend:
Fleck said, “We’re having a big Junior Day . . . about 100 young men . . . hope to get a few more commits in the next few days.” His tone was that he’s excited with the recruits that are visiting and that he’d be meeting the large group after he was finished with the Sports Huddle.