Fleck: I had a player walk in say, it's just business. I said it's not business here. There's a piece of business here, but this is not business.

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As a parent, I have no idea how a parent couldn't talk to Fleck and feel like they didn't want him to mentor their kid through college. He has the corner on the life program take in the current CFB market and I think it will continue to sell well, particularly among families of players who are good to excellent but understand the statistical odds of making it pro. And realistically, those are the types of kids we want. They come from families who leave egos at the door and want their kids to be prepared for the real world whether that's as a football player or anything else.
 

mngg11 said:
As a parent, I have no idea how a parent couldn't talk to Fleck and feel like they didn't want him to mentor their kid through college. He has the corner on the life program take in the current CFB market and I think it will continue to sell well, particularly among families of players who are good to excellent but understand the statistical odds of making it pro. And realistically, those are the types of kids we want. They come from families who leave egos at the door and want their kids to be prepared for the real world whether that's as a football player or anything else.
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I think you give parents too much credit. I maintain very few parents even know who their kid is.
When parents find out in a specific instance what PJ's view point is...because it is relayed back at some point in a family disagreement...then the fireworks begin. They disagree with PJ. In most cases I'm guessing PJ is right and it is all a big misunderstanding but conflict happens over life lessons with parents and coaches. Hence, you draw the line up front...I'm their coach, not their parent.

PJ emphatically stating he is not the parent of his players but their coach is in direct response to a parent telling him that...you are not the parent to my son. It's not easy being PJ or Nick Saban because it often crosses to religion....different faiths have different viewpoints on some pretty basic things...."That's not what we believe in our family."

Parents used to say: "Listen to your coach, he's right." It ain't like that anymore. It's a minefield.
Hooray for PJ to take on the tough conversations.
 




60's Guy said:
I think you give parents too much credit. I maintain very few parents even know who their kid is.
When parents find out in a specific instance what PJ's view point is...because it is relayed back at some point in a family disagreement...then the fireworks begin. They disagree with PJ. In most cases I'm guessing PJ is right and it is all a big misunderstanding but conflict happens over life lessons with parents and coaches. Hence, you draw the line up front...I'm their coach, not their parent.

PJ emphatically stating he is not the parent of his players but their coach is in direct response to a parent telling him that...you are not the parent to my son. It's not easy being PJ or Nick Saban because it often crosses to religion....different faiths have different viewpoints on some pretty basic things...."That's not what we believe in our family."

Parents used to say: "Listen to your coach, he's right." It ain't like that anymore. It's a minefield.
Hooray for PJ to take on the tough conversations.
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I think you overestimate how many parents aren't involved in their kids' development and push for them to be successful in life. There's a reason we've been so successful in gaining in the portal vs losing. We have the right kids in the program for the most part. Fleck recruits beyond the xs and os.
 


60's Guy said:
I think you give parents too much credit. I maintain very few parents even know who their kid is.
When parents find out in a specific instance what PJ's view point is...because it is relayed back at some point in a family disagreement...then the fireworks begin. They disagree with PJ. In most cases I'm guessing PJ is right and it is all a big misunderstanding but conflict happens over life lessons with parents and coaches. Hence, you draw the line up front...I'm their coach, not their parent.

PJ emphatically stating he is not the parent of his players but their coach is in direct response to a parent telling him that...you are not the parent to my son. It's not easy being PJ or Nick Saban because it often crosses to religion....different faiths have different viewpoints on some pretty basic things...."That's not what we believe in our family."

Parents used to say: "Listen to your coach, he's right." It ain't like that anymore. It's a minefield.
Hooray for PJ to take on the tough conversations.
Click to expand...
Get therapy

Your dad isn’t here to hurt you any more
 



mngg11 said:
I think you overestimate how many parents aren't involved in their kids' development and push for them to be successful in life. There's a reason we've been so successful in gaining in the portal vs losing. We have the right kids in the program for the most part. Fleck recruits beyond the xs and os.
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IMO the superstar players (5 stars) are selfish, not team players and want money. PJ will not recruit those type of players and im fine with that. Latrell Sprewell, Jimmy Butler, ring a bell??
 

PJ: I’m prepared to offer $2
Dad: The hell. I’ll take my chances
PJ: Then we have nothing more to talk about
Dad: $6?




 

I know some people that know Fleck really well on a personal level. They always say that people get way to caught up in his press conference "coach speak". He's not like that at all behind the scenes. He's as genuine as they come. I can say my brief interactions with him confirm it.
 

60s Guy is 100% correct. Parents don't listen to coaches anymore. Or teachers. Or really any figure that is tasked with developing their kid in one way or the other unless that parent happens to agree with what that coach/teacher/mentor is saying. Once it gets any from total agreement things tend to go sideways. It's the main reason kids just don't develop a lot of grit these days.
 



mngg11 said:
As a parent, I have no idea how a parent couldn't talk to Fleck and feel like they didn't want him to mentor their kid through college. He has the corner on the life program take in the current CFB market and I think it will continue to sell well, particularly among families of players who are good to excellent but understand the statistical odds of making it pro. And realistically, those are the types of kids we want. They come from families who leave egos at the door and want their kids to be prepared for the real world whether that's as a football player or anything else.
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100%.
Moral fiber and dignity really stands out in PJs program. It baffles me how outsiders still look at him and think hes fake.

Regarding football, yes, he has flaws as a coach. If we ever become competitive w NIL money, I feel PJ will rise to the top.

His teams are bonded very very tightly. The idea life is more than about you is so distant from every other D1 program as opposed to ego centric, self serving D1 athletes.

The ppl that want PJ to leave are insane. Who are we going to get? Are we going to have to deal w character or behavioral issues again like during Brew or Claeys? I feel if we get PJ even in the middle of b1g $$ wise we can become a force
 

60's Guy said:
I think you give parents too much credit. I maintain very few parents even know who their kid is.
When parents find out in a specific instance what PJ's view point is...because it is relayed back at some point in a family disagreement...then the fireworks begin. They disagree with PJ. In most cases I'm guessing PJ is right and it is all a big misunderstanding but conflict happens over life lessons with parents and coaches. Hence, you draw the line up front...I'm their coach, not their parent.

PJ emphatically stating he is not the parent of his players but their coach is in direct response to a parent telling him that...you are not the parent to my son. It's not easy being PJ or Nick Saban because it often crosses to religion....different faiths have different viewpoints on some pretty basic things...."That's not what we believe in our family."

Parents used to say: "Listen to your coach, he's right." It ain't like that anymore. It's a minefield.
Hooray for PJ to take on the tough conversations.
Click to expand...
This is definitely a take.

Not saying it's good or bad...but it's definitely a take
 

mngg11 said:
As a parent, I have no idea how a parent couldn't talk to Fleck and feel like they didn't want him to mentor their kid through college. He has the corner on the life program take in the current CFB market and I think it will continue to sell well, particularly among families of players who are good to excellent but understand the statistical odds of making it pro. And realistically, those are the types of kids we want. They come from families who leave egos at the door and want their kids to be prepared for the real world whether that's as a football player or anything else.
Click to expand...
I am a PJ fan and believer. I like the messages he puts on the table, and I believe he is genuine which is why we have minimal major transfers each year. However, I work with a guy who's kid was recruited by the Gophers and other D1 schools. His experience was very negative with PJ. I don't remember the exact things he said but it was almost like PJ was saying that the kid wouldn't make it/or do well in college. He ended up going to a different Big 10 school and transferred down to FCS later on. It could have been a scenario where PJ was trying to motivate the kid and choose the wrong communication path. But either way the parent did not appreciate how PJ approached it and is anti U of M now.
 

Beerculees said:
I am a PJ fan and believer. I like the messages he puts on the table, and I believe he is genuine which is why we have minimal major transfers each year. However, I work with a guy who's kid was recruited by the Gophers and other D1 schools. His experience was very negative with PJ. I don't remember the exact things he said but it was almost like PJ was saying that the kid wouldn't make it/or do well in college. He ended up going to a different Big 10 school and transferred down to FCS later on. It could have been a scenario where PJ was trying to motivate the kid and choose the wrong communication path. But either way the parent did not appreciate how PJ approached it and is anti U of M now.
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PJ may have been right by the way you describe he transferred down to the FCS later. (I realize it's a fine line) There are going to be a ton of different approaches and PJ is not for everyone. These coaches recruit so many players and they are only going to take 20-30 each year. They have to be real and test kids and families if they are going to invest in them.
 



It is a fine line that coaches have to walk now. With Fleck's approach we are unlikely to have the instant success a team like Indiana has had where the coach only cares about winning at all costs.

We are also unlikely to have a lot of off the field issues because the staff is unlikely to target the kind of players that are going to be more selfish and likely to get in trouble.

The tradeoff is that a lot of the high end players come with baggage and issues.

Me personally, I am ok with the kind of program Fleck runs, but I know that is not the case for everyone.
 



Beerculees said:
I am a PJ fan and believer. I like the messages he puts on the table, and I believe he is genuine which is why we have minimal major transfers each year. However, I work with a guy who's kid was recruited by the Gophers and other D1 schools. His experience was very negative with PJ. I don't remember the exact things he said but it was almost like PJ was saying that the kid wouldn't make it/or do well in college. He ended up going to a different Big 10 school and transferred down to FCS later on. It could have been a scenario where PJ was trying to motivate the kid and choose the wrong communication path. But either way the parent did not appreciate how PJ approached it and is anti U of M now.
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You're also only getting one side of the story. I have a feeling there's an axe to grind beyond "he told my kid he wouldn't do well" if that's even what was said or posited. Particularly considering his kid went to another school and then transferred down, yet he still carries a grudge. Why?
 

Xerxes_ said:
60s Guy is 100% correct. Parents don't listen to coaches anymore. Or teachers. Or really any figure that is tasked with developing their kid in one way or the other unless that parent happens to agree with what that coach/teacher/mentor is saying. Once it gets any from total agreement things tend to go sideways. It's the main reason kids just don't develop a lot of grit these days.
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What's your source? I see a ton of kids who listen to both teachers and coaches because their parents encourage it. Many direct examples are within our football program, but if you look closer in your own community, you see it in the high school sports teams, clubs, community organizations, etc.

I tend to think that most of the detractors focus too much on the doom and gloom of 24 hour news networks and forget that there's a world of their own right outside their door, and there are a lot of people and things out in that fresh air that will renew their value in society. They just need to step away from a screen for a few days and have the volition to be honest with themselves and take a good, real look. Yep, some things are shitty, but life and the people within it are generally pretty damn good. It's just easier to bitch and moan about how the old days were better (protip: they're generally the same and your quality of life is exponentially better than it ever has been).
 
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I like PJ as a program leader and a role model in a lot of cases. I do believe he has the best intentions for his players at the forefront. I do disagree with some in game decisions, and I think he is a middle of the pack B10 in game coach, but a top 1/3 program leader.

I do understand how nonfans and fans of other schools make fun of his press conferences and catch phrases, because that's what fans do.
 

MNVCGUY said:
It is a fine line that coaches have to walk now. With Fleck's approach we are unlikely to have the instant success a team like Indiana has had where the coach only cares about winning at all costs.

We are also unlikely to have a lot of off the field issues because the staff is unlikely to target the kind of players that are going to be more selfish and likely to get in trouble.

The tradeoff is that a lot of the high end players come with baggage and issues.

Me personally, I am ok with the kind of program Fleck runs, but I know that is not the case for everyone.
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You know this how?
 

mngg11 said:
You're also only getting one side of the story. I have a feeling there's an axe to grind beyond "he told my kid he wouldn't do well" if that's even what was said or posited. Particularly considering his kid went to another school and then transferred down, yet he still carries a grudge. Why?
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1000% and I recognize that. There was more to the story but I am don't quite remember it word for word so I won't put it out there. Just making the point that, as a parent his recruiting style may not always resonate (and that is okay).

I also have perspective of knowing this person and how they think. Like I said, I am still a PJ Fleck fan.
 

MaxyJR1 said:
PJ may have been right by the way you describe he transferred down to the FCS later. (I realize it's a fine line) There are going to be a ton of different approaches and PJ is not for everyone. These coaches recruit so many players and they are only going to take 20-30 each year. They have to be real and test kids and families if they are going to invest in them.
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I don't disagree there either. When he explained it to me, I thought the same thing.
 

gopherbadgerman said:
I like PJ as a program leader and a role model in a lot of cases. I do believe he has the best intentions for his players at the forefront. I do disagree with some in game decisions, and I think he is a middle of the pack B10 in game coach, but a top 1/3 program leader.

I do understand how nonfans and fans of other schools make fun of his press conferences and catch phrases, because that's what fans do.
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I get that part too. But it's those that continue to call him fake or a used car salesmen that is just lazy IMO. Either he's one of the best actors around or that's just who he is. The latter is much more realistic.

People can dislike his sayings, personality, etc but it's ridiculous to say it's all fake.
 

I'm all for what if being said here, but it also comes across as managing on field expectations for his program never being anything more than a perennial C-tier bowl team.
 

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