So, Fleck is supposedly generating a lot of excitement, but where exactly is that happening? Will student season tickets be full this year? Will the students come? Will they stay? Will we sell out a game without half the stands being a rival schools fans?
One of the real and valid reasons our AD failed to cite in relieving Claeys of his duties was that he was a part of a trend that had season tickets declining over the course of the time - even though some of what was going on was due more to Mega-Tongue's plan to raise revenue based on anticipated results that never materialized.
Coyle's approach has been typical for him. Confusing, unclear, and doesn't really make any sense, but we can't expect more there, so it's on PJ Fleck to fill the stands. This report on current sales suggests, like coaching, he has not delivered even an "average" grade in filling the stands yet. This is perhaps the biggest surprise to me given how much "attention, energy and excitement" he reportedly has generated for the Gophers.
Win and the stands will fill up, they say. The problem is that - to steal a simple phrase that one of our litany of incompetent athletic directors stole from another B1G school - "We are, Minnesota" - and even if we're in the midst of a good season, and are against a rival with the ball on the 2 and under a minute to go with a chance to win 1/4 to 1/2 of the crowd left early to "beat the traffic". I'm not sure winning will solve our problem. Nobody like a winner more than a Minnesotan. Nobody has as many excuses as to why not attend as a Minnesotan - and be proud of it. I will never understand it, but it's kind of hard to deny.
A massively fickle fan base, an consistently and repeatedly incompetent athletic department, and a coach whose style isn't exactly Minnesotan, we'll see if winning will cure all that ails us and fills the stands. We have to win first.