BleedGopher
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per O'Gara:
Now, there has to at least be some fans wondering if Fleck was good enough for Minnesota. The Gophers did win at least eight games in three of the previous four seasons with Kill and the ever low-profile Tracy Claeys. Even if there was an inevitable step back in Year 1 of the Fleck era with all of Minnesota’s roster attrition, most probably assumed that Fleck would start off better than 2-11 in B1G play.
In each of Fleck’s first two seasons, his team started off with at least a three-game losing streak in conference play after a sweep of a weak non-conference slate. You could probably make the argument that Fleck, like Frost, lost a few games his team could’ve won in the first part of 2017. Heading into the final two weeks of the season in need of one win for bowl eligibility, only one team had beat the Gophers by more than 14 points.
Since that time, Minnesota lost six straight B1G games by a combined score of 243-86 (-26.2 per game). And every one of those losses was by more than 14 points. Just for a little perspective, Rutgers has been outscored 247-66 by B1G teams in that same stretch, and actually it has a smaller margin of defeat at 25.9 points per game.
That’s rowing the boat the wrong way.
Pardon the bad joke, but a high profile coach tends to become an easy target when he doesn’t win. Pre-2018 Jim Harbaugh could relate to that to in a certain way. Obviously Gopher fans would love it if eight wins was their floor. That doesn’t look like it’s happening anytime soon.
The reality is, Fleck’s team has looked significantly overmatched playing in one of the most favorable divisions in the country. Has anything that happened in conference play suggest that he’s ready to take the program to the next level? Hanging tight with Ohio State for awhile shouldn’t be the answer to that question.
In Fleck’s plan, I highly doubt that it consisted of struggling this much in Year 2. His idea of capitalizing on the university’s new $166 million Athletes Village was not looking like Rutgers West. His marketability has a shelf life, and unless he starts digging his way out of the B1G basement, it’ll get staler by the day.
On Tuesday, Fleck addressed the criticism he received in the wake of the Nebraska loss. He appreciated it, and admitted that criticism of his team’s performance was fair. He then ended his press conference with his usual “Row the Boat, Ski-U-Mah, Go Gophers,” which was said with a smile.
Fleck isn’t losing patience, but I can’t blame Minnesota fans if they are.
https://saturdaytradition.com/minnesota-football/fleck-minnesota-fans-second-thoughts-2018/
Go Gophers!!
Now, there has to at least be some fans wondering if Fleck was good enough for Minnesota. The Gophers did win at least eight games in three of the previous four seasons with Kill and the ever low-profile Tracy Claeys. Even if there was an inevitable step back in Year 1 of the Fleck era with all of Minnesota’s roster attrition, most probably assumed that Fleck would start off better than 2-11 in B1G play.
In each of Fleck’s first two seasons, his team started off with at least a three-game losing streak in conference play after a sweep of a weak non-conference slate. You could probably make the argument that Fleck, like Frost, lost a few games his team could’ve won in the first part of 2017. Heading into the final two weeks of the season in need of one win for bowl eligibility, only one team had beat the Gophers by more than 14 points.
Since that time, Minnesota lost six straight B1G games by a combined score of 243-86 (-26.2 per game). And every one of those losses was by more than 14 points. Just for a little perspective, Rutgers has been outscored 247-66 by B1G teams in that same stretch, and actually it has a smaller margin of defeat at 25.9 points per game.
That’s rowing the boat the wrong way.
Pardon the bad joke, but a high profile coach tends to become an easy target when he doesn’t win. Pre-2018 Jim Harbaugh could relate to that to in a certain way. Obviously Gopher fans would love it if eight wins was their floor. That doesn’t look like it’s happening anytime soon.
The reality is, Fleck’s team has looked significantly overmatched playing in one of the most favorable divisions in the country. Has anything that happened in conference play suggest that he’s ready to take the program to the next level? Hanging tight with Ohio State for awhile shouldn’t be the answer to that question.
In Fleck’s plan, I highly doubt that it consisted of struggling this much in Year 2. His idea of capitalizing on the university’s new $166 million Athletes Village was not looking like Rutgers West. His marketability has a shelf life, and unless he starts digging his way out of the B1G basement, it’ll get staler by the day.
On Tuesday, Fleck addressed the criticism he received in the wake of the Nebraska loss. He appreciated it, and admitted that criticism of his team’s performance was fair. He then ended his press conference with his usual “Row the Boat, Ski-U-Mah, Go Gophers,” which was said with a smile.
Fleck isn’t losing patience, but I can’t blame Minnesota fans if they are.
https://saturdaytradition.com/minnesota-football/fleck-minnesota-fans-second-thoughts-2018/
Go Gophers!!