Fleck on NIL, Season Results, Next Year, & Indiana

[MGGopher]

A recent Minneapolis Times article was linked in another thread about Perich leaving - and the staff knowing that during the season - but I wanted to start another thread because there were some other interesting nuggets within that got lost in that thread.

• He told the group that the 2025 year was “about what I expected” and a “pretty good season,” including an 8-5 win-loss record, regular season ending victory over arch-rival Wisconsin, culminating in a victory over New Mexico in the Guarantee Rate Bowl game, Fleck’s seventh consecutive post-season win here.
• the team may be better next season because “the majority of the team will be back” headed by three key players: quarterback, Drake Lindsey, running back Darius, Taylor, and edge defender Anthony Smith
• The team is fixing its “kicking situation” by bringing in through the portal Beckham Sunderland, described by Fleck as an “unreal kicker” who was a back-up at Michigan last year
• Fleck lamented the “dysfunctional” nature of college football due to Name Image & Likeness (NIL)…With “no policing” and money being a dominant factor for recruitment of incoming players, college football today is “like a soap opera.”
• Fleck deemed the success of Indiana University…“the greatest turnaround of an athletic team of all time” and “the greatest sports achievement in our lifetime.”
• While the Gophers are “striving” to reach similar heights, Fleck said he is “striving to make it happen in a different way,” referring to a much greater emphasis on recruiting and developing high school athletes, who comprise about 80% of the roster, compared to 20% of players coming through the portal.
• Despite rumors of his possible leaving for another school, Fleck expressed contentment with coaching and living here with his family, except for the cold winter weather. He appreciates the culture and academic environment…and he keeps his paddle in the academic waters of the institution by co-teaching a course in Leadership in the Carlson School of Business here.
• (President) Cunningham lauded Fleck’s nine-year tenure…for his dedication to academic integrity for the football team, noting the high-grade point averages throughout the roster and in other Gopher sports.

Thoughts and feelings?

 

[GoldRush]

Did some digging and just learned Sunderland was originally signed out of high school by MLS FC Cincinnati as a goalie.

 

[Spaulding!No!]

Danny B says no college will be as good as IU in anything.

 

[GopherTheJugular]

• Fleck deemed the success of Indiana University…“the greatest turnaround of an athletic team of all time” and “the greatest sports achievement in our lifetime.”

Kinda disagree here. Didn't the Florida Marlins pretty much buy their world series team? Granted, they gave up after one and went back to awful, but it's the same kinda turnaround.

Valvano and the Wolfpack beating Houston was head and shoulders above what Indiana did. Now if Indiana did what they did without NIL/transfers, then I'd agree with Fleck.

 

[BuiltFordTough]

Kinda disagree here. Didn't the Florida Marlins pretty much buy their world series team? Granted, they gave up after one and went back to awful, but it's the same kinda turnaround.

Valvano and the Wolfpack beating Houston was head and shoulders above what Indiana did. Now if Indiana did what they did without NIL/transfers, then I'd agree with Fleck.

Each example was accomplished within the current rules and guidelines. Each team had the opportunity to compete equally. I have to agree with PJ on this one.

 

[Pompous Elitist]

Kinda disagree here. Didn't the Florida Marlins pretty much buy their world series team? Granted, they gave up after one and went back to awful, but it's the same kinda turnaround.

Valvano and the Wolfpack beating Houston was head and shoulders above what Indiana did. Now if Indiana did what they did without NIL/transfers, then I'd agree with Fleck.

Not the case. The transfer class ratings were in the mid 20s or worse. High school classes were rated much worse than that.

 

[gopherbadgerman]

Thanks for the recap!

 

[ergopher]

He told the group that the 2025 year was “about what I expected” and a “pretty good season,”

What happened to the 2025 roster being the “best he’s ever seen” or whatever he said before the season started? Obviously Fleck is never gonna say that his team preseason will be mediocre to slightly above average, but if he truly never had insanely high hopes for the team this year I wonder why he opted for such strong language preseason. I guess that’s just who he is, but I don’t recall him saying anything that strong about other teams preseason. He usually goes for more standard “this is a really great football team” kind of talk.

 

[GopherTheJugular]

Each example was accomplished within the current rules and guidelines. Each team had the opportunity to compete equally. I have to agree with PJ on this one.

Ok then, so by your logic, what Dan Marino accomplished in 1984 wasn't that special because QB's today are easily hitting those numbers?

The rule change is the precise reason for the success of Indiana, and rules changes are the precise reason why it's no big deal to put up almost 50 TDs and 5000 yards passing nowadays.

Doing it the harder way, before the rules made it easier, is more impressive to me.

 

[GopherTheJugular]

Not the case. The transfer class ratings were in the mid 20s or worse. High school classes were rated much worse than that.

I'm not sure what you're disagreeing with? I never said they pulled in a top 20 class for transfers or high schoolers, so not sure why you thought that was relevant?

 

[Some guy]

Kinda disagree here. Didn't the Florida Marlins pretty much buy their world series team? Granted, they gave up after one and went back to awful, but it's the same kinda turnaround.

Valvano and the Wolfpack beating Houston was head and shoulders above what Indiana did. Now if Indiana did what they did without NIL/transfers, then I'd agree with Fleck.

Valvano and the Wolfpack finished 4th in an 8 team league

 

[Pompous Elitist]

I'm not sure what you're disagreeing with? I never said they pulled in a top 20 class for transfers or high schoolers, so not sure why you thought that was relevant?

You heavily implied Indiana bought their team? Maybe I’m misinterpreting the point of the post:

• Fleck deemed the success of Indiana University…“the greatest turnaround of an athletic team of all time” and “the greatest sports achievement in our lifetime.”

“Kinda disagree here. Didn't the Florida Marlins pretty much buy their world series team? Granted, they gave up after one and went back to awful, but it's the same kinda turnaround.

Valvano and the Wolfpack beating Houston was head and shoulders above what Indiana did. Now if Indiana did what they did without NIL/transfers, then I'd agree with Fleck.”

 

[MaxyJR1]

Fleck was 3 when NC State won and his players were -20.

Kinda disagree here. Didn't the Florida Marlins pretty much buy their world series team? Granted, they gave up after one and went back to awful, but it's the same kinda turnaround.

Valvano and the Wolfpack beating Houston was head and shoulders above what Indiana did. Now if Indiana did what they did without NIL/transfers, then I'd agree with Fleck

 

[beatles]

The Miracle on Ice is the correct answer to the greatest sports achievement in our lifetime.

 

[Some guy]

Fleck was 3 when NC State won and his players were -20.

Correct. And that NC State team was also 4th in an 8 team conference

 

[BTChamp]

The next Minnesota pro sports championship will be the greatest achievement, but I don't know whose lifetime that will be. Pretty sure not mine.

 

[btowngopher]

Not the case. The transfer class ratings were in the mid 20s or worse. High school classes were rated much worse than that.

Regardless of rank they plucked 55 players from the portal that they could plug in. Including one of the top qb transfers. It still took two years. In the old system I don’t even know what the equivalent turn around time would be, four or five years?