All Things P.J. Fleck Rumor Mill Thread - Listed as Candidate for Other Jobs



How about prior six years...
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>Hayden Fry (1993-1998) = 38-31-1

>McClain/Hilles/Morton = 21-46-1
Dave McClain (1984-1985) = 12-10-1
Jim Hilles (1986) = 3-9
Don Morton (1987-1989) = 6-27

>Kill/Clayes = 40-37
Jerry Kill (2011-2015) = 31-33
Tracy Claeys (2016) = 9-4
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People are crazy if they think ND would ever hire a sleezeball like Meyer.
They may not hire him, but you’re just silly if you think they wouldn’t look the other way to ascend the Golden Dome to the promised land one more time.
 




They may not hire him, but you’re just silly if you think they wouldn’t look the other way to ascend the Golden Dome to the promised land one more time.

Meyer’s absolute dream job is ND, they could have had him at any point in the last decade if they really wanted him. We’ll see how things go but the decision makers in South Bend seem pretty set on maintaining their public image of being squeaky clean which is likely a big part of why Kelly left. They’re not willing to sacrifice to get over the hump.
 

Congratulations…but I like PJ’s foundation every bit as much.
And as it's been pointed out on this forum it's very hard to go to the Rose Bowl. There's no denying that the foundation, the thing most in our control, is very good.

Sometimes the ball doesn't bounce your way and sometimes it does. Our '19 squad could've easily been 8-4 and this years team could've very easily been 11-1. That's why they play the games. I'm optimistic that our time will come. Heck, Iowa got ridiculously lucky this season to go to B1G Championship game -- we'll get our break eventually.
 



And as it's been pointed out on this forum it's very hard to go to the Rose Bowl. There's no denying that the foundation, the thing most in our control, is very good.

Sometimes the ball doesn't bounce your way and sometimes it does. Our '19 squad could've easily been 8-4 and this years team could've very easily been 11-1. That's why they play the games. I'm optimistic that our time will come. Heck, Iowa got ridiculously lucky this season to go to B1G Championship game -- we'll get our break eventually.

Spot on.

The progress arrow for the Minnesota program is pointing up, unlike Iowa and Wisconsin. We're now positioned on the cusp of taking over the B1G West — whether certain people are willing to admit it or not.

Can we "close the deal"? TBD. Stay tuned!
 

Prior to Alvarez taking over Wisconsin was 9-36 in the prior 4 years

Prior to Ferentz taking over Iowa was 27-20 in the prior 4 years

Prior to Fleck taking over Minnesota was 31-21 in the prior 4 years
I’m actually shocked to remember that Iowa was that good at the end of the Fry era
 

Shama chimes in:

The surprise news yesterday that Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly is leaving for LSU prompts speculation Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck will be on the candidate list to become the next head football coach of the Fighting Irish. There are more prominent names than Fleck for Notre Dame to consider but his name could be top 10.

Several years ago Kelly was going through a difficult stretch at Notre Dame and Fleck—then at Western Michigan and among the hottest young coaching names in the country—was in the rumor mill as a successor in South Bend. Fleck’s energetic personality and success making the Broncos a national story had drawn impressive media coverage including in-depth features by the New York Times and Sports Illustrated.

Notre Dame’s legacy is all about rah-rah and few coaches can give a butt-kicking Friday night campus pep-talk better than the creative and passionate Fleck. Critics might scoff that his Row the Boat mantra wouldn’t be accepted by the conservative Catholic school in South Bend, but not so fast with that. Fleck could dump Row the Boat at “Touchdown Jesus,” explaining that program building at Western Michigan and Minnesota required cultural changes, but not at storied Notre Dame.

The Irish coaching history has often focused on leaders from the Midwest whose background and values fit the school and team. The list includes national championship coaches Ara Parseghian, Dan Devine (from Proctor, Minnesota), and another colorful personality who coached the Gophers, Lou Holtz. Fleck, an Illinois native who has made his coaching reputation in the Midwest, fits the Irish coaching profile in multiple ways from leading a faith-based life to relishing recruiting to demanding accountability from his players. And, oh yes, his conservative run-first offense, is a perfect fit on those snowy, sleeting Saturdays at Notre Dame Stadium.

Maybe Luke Fickell, Dave Aranda, Matt Campbell, Lane Kiffin or another headliner will be the next Notre Dame coach. Maybe Fleck, the 2019 Big Ten Coach of the Year, doesn’t even want the job if offered. “America’s team” is a pressure cooker assignment where every year the playoffs are the expectation. The annual schedule serves up few “cupcakes,” and the Notre Dame environment, with its emphasis on church and academics, isn’t a fit for certain recruits.

Fleck has a new seven-year contract with the Gophers. He likes working for his boss, athletic director Mark Coyle. He and wife Heather are genuine in their liking for the lifestyle here, including summer celebrations at Lake Minnetonka. They refer to Minnesota as home. Their commitment could also get a test in coming days and weeks.


Go Gophers!!
 

Shama chimes in:

The surprise news yesterday that Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly is leaving for LSU prompts speculation Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck will be on the candidate list to become the next head football coach of the Fighting Irish. There are more prominent names than Fleck for Notre Dame to consider but his name could be top 10.

Several years ago Kelly was going through a difficult stretch at Notre Dame and Fleck—then at Western Michigan and among the hottest young coaching names in the country—was in the rumor mill as a successor in South Bend. Fleck’s energetic personality and success making the Broncos a national story had drawn impressive media coverage including in-depth features by the New York Times and Sports Illustrated.

Notre Dame’s legacy is all about rah-rah and few coaches can give a butt-kicking Friday night campus pep-talk better than the creative and passionate Fleck. Critics might scoff that his Row the Boat mantra wouldn’t be accepted by the conservative Catholic school in South Bend, but not so fast with that. Fleck could dump Row the Boat at “Touchdown Jesus,” explaining that program building at Western Michigan and Minnesota required cultural changes, but not at storied Notre Dame.

The Irish coaching history has often focused on leaders from the Midwest whose background and values fit the school and team. The list includes national championship coaches Ara Parseghian, Dan Devine (from Proctor, Minnesota), and another colorful personality who coached the Gophers, Lou Holtz. Fleck, an Illinois native who has made his coaching reputation in the Midwest, fits the Irish coaching profile in multiple ways from leading a faith-based life to relishing recruiting to demanding accountability from his players. And, oh yes, his conservative run-first offense, is a perfect fit on those snowy, sleeting Saturdays at Notre Dame Stadium.

Maybe Luke Fickell, Dave Aranda, Matt Campbell, Lane Kiffin or another headliner will be the next Notre Dame coach. Maybe Fleck, the 2019 Big Ten Coach of the Year, doesn’t even want the job if offered. “America’s team” is a pressure cooker assignment where every year the playoffs are the expectation. The annual schedule serves up few “cupcakes,” and the Notre Dame environment, with its emphasis on church and academics, isn’t a fit for certain recruits.

Fleck has a new seven-year contract with the Gophers. He likes working for his boss, athletic director Mark Coyle. He and wife Heather are genuine in their liking for the lifestyle here, including summer celebrations at Lake Minnetonka. They refer to Minnesota as home. Their commitment could also get a test in coming days and weeks.


Go Gophers!!
Well that ends my speculation. If shama says it might happen, it isn’t happening
 



That's all very interesting...to the three people who read Shama's drivel.
 

Meyer’s absolute dream job is ND
Meyer could've had the Notre Dame job in 2005, and went to Florida instead, and then in 2009 he also could've left Florida for Notre Dame. No doubt they offered him the job both times.

Clearly never wanted to be ND head coach.


Also today it was reported that Meyer does not want another college job.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...leaving-nfl-college-football-jobs-source-says

Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer has no interest in taking another head-coaching job in college and remains committed to rebuilding the Jaguars, per a league source familiar with Meyer's thinking.

The source said Meyer, 57, does not want to reenter the college ranks at this point in his life. College football has changed significantly with the implementation of name, image and likeness rules, which were not in place when Meyer was coaching his final season at Ohio State (2018).
 

I don't doubt that PJ would jump for the ND job, but if they end up hiring him it will be because they were turned down by several others.
 

At a minimum, I have to think Campbell and Fickell are ahead of PJ for Notre Dame.

But Meyer is out.


Also Stoops at Kentucky signed on to stay, instead of go to OU. So that could also affect things down the line -- not that PJ would have any interest in OU.
 

Based on what Ive read, my guess is that PJs agent reaches out to these schools to gauge interest vs these top schools reaching out to PJs agent.

Until PJ wins the west or wins the B1G, hes not going to a blue blood
 

At a minimum, I have to think Campbell and Fickell are ahead of PJ for Notre Dame.

But Meyer is out.


Also Stoops at Kentucky signed on to stay, instead of go to OU. So that could also affect things down the line -- not that PJ would have any interest in OU.
Marcus Freeman, their current DC, is also most likely near the top of the list.
 

Based on what Ive read, my guess is that PJs agent reaches out to these schools to gauge interest vs these top schools reaching out to PJs agent.

Until PJ wins the west or wins the B1G, hes not going to a blue blood
Plenty of coaches have gotten blue blood jobs without this level of accomplishment. You don't know this.
 

Meyer could've had the Notre Dame job in 2005, and went to Florida instead, and then in 2009 he also could've left Florida for Notre Dame. No doubt they offered him the job both times.

Clearly never wanted to be ND head coach.


Also today it was reported that Meyer does not want another college job.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...leaving-nfl-college-football-jobs-source-says

Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer has no interest in taking another head-coaching job in college and remains committed to rebuilding the Jaguars, per a league source familiar with Meyer's thinking.

The source said Meyer, 57, does not want to reenter the college ranks at this point in his life. College football has changed significantly with the implementation of name, image and likeness rules, which were not in place when Meyer was coaching his final season at Ohio State (2018).


it’s widely known that it’s his dream job. But like you said, committed to the NFL now.
 

Meyer could've had the Notre Dame job in 2005, and went to Florida instead, and then in 2009 he also could've left Florida for Notre Dame. No doubt they offered him the job both times.

Clearly never wanted to be ND head coach.


Also today it was reported that Meyer does not want another college job.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...leaving-nfl-college-football-jobs-source-says

Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer has no interest in taking another head-coaching job in college and remains committed to rebuilding the Jaguars, per a league source familiar with Meyer's thinking.

The source said Meyer, 57, does not want to reenter the college ranks at this point in his life. College football has changed significantly with the implementation of name, image and likeness rules, which were not in place when Meyer was coaching his final season at Ohio State (2018).
I am not saying Urban will or won't look at that job, but it's worth noting that the ND program is in much better shape today than it was in 2005 and 2009.
 


I am not saying Urban will or won't look at that job, but it's worth noting that the ND program is in much better shape today than it was in 2005 and 2009.
Sure. But if it's your "dream job", isn't it that no matter what? And a chance to build it back to glory yourself?

Arguing over if it was ever his "dream job" is pointless. He wants nothing to do with college football, going forward. Made that clear today.
 

Sure. But if it's your "dream job", isn't it that no matter what? And a chance to build it back to glory yourself?

Arguing over if it was ever his "dream job" is pointless. He wants nothing to do with college football, going forward. Made that clear today.
Could be. Also possible that his dream is winning a national championship and Florida was much more poised to do that at the time he jumped. I really have no idea, and these guys tend to be wired very differently than the rest of us, so I can't speculate.

Regardless, I agree with your last couple of sentences, it's all irrelevant.
 

Do we ever reach a point where enough "better" jobs have come and past that we no longer worry PJ will leave, or will people worry about this until it either happens or he retires?
 

Do we ever reach a point where enough "better" jobs have come and past that we no longer worry PJ will leave, or will people worry about this until it either happens or he retires?
The way I look at it, we don't know if he will leave. He probably will at some point, but that could be 2 years from now or 10 years from now, or never. I'm just going to enjoy the ride as long as I can.
 

Do we ever reach a point where enough "better" jobs have come and past that we no longer worry PJ will leave, or will people worry about this until it either happens or he retires?
No. It's the nature of college football. If you are at a blue blood, you're worried that they'll go to the NFL and now that they'll get an ENORMOUS deal from another blue blood. If you're at a blue blood, you'll worry about losing your coach to a blue blood.

It'll never end.
 

Do we ever reach a point where enough "better" jobs have come and past that we no longer worry PJ will leave, or will people worry about this until it either happens or he retires?
Sure the worry will never leave for some, especially with the stupid money getting tossed around at some of these top names right now.

Just have to keep taking Fleck at his word that he truly wants to be here and if at some point he decides to jump ship, hopefully the department will stay committed to football and go get g great replacement.
 

Do we ever reach a point where enough "better" jobs have come and past that we no longer worry PJ will leave, or will people worry about this until it either happens or he retires?
I think he's happy enough, that it's just going to be one of two things:

a) you just get "restless" and ready to try something new, like he's been here 12-15 years
b) there are probably a handful of truly "dream job, once in a lifetime chance" jobs for him that he would be willing to leave for in the next couple years (or this year)
 




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