Jason Joyce: Fleck's culture change at Minnesota recalls Alvarez's early days at Wisconsin

[BleedGopher]

per Jason:

Mixed in with all of Fleck’s sloganeering is a lot of talk about building a culture of winning, which makes what he’s up to at Minnesota remarkably similar to what Barry Alvarez set out to do in Madison nearly 30 years ago.

“We are exactly where we are. That’s the reality,” Fleck said after his team lost, 31-0, to Wisconsin to finish his inaugural season in 2017 at 5-7. “And I’m hired to fix it and we’ll fix it. Recruiting, development, strength and conditioning, that’s what we’ll do within our program. The guys who stay will be champions.”

That “champions” bit has gotten a lot of eyes rolling, not just around the Big Ten, but in the Twin Cities, where fans long ago grew weary of fast-talking coaches like Lou Holtz, Jim Wacker and Tim Brewster, all of whom promised much and delivered little at the U of M.

But Fleck’s schtick isn’t that far away from promising, “They better get season tickets right now, because before long they probably won’t be able to.” Video of that boast from Alvarez is now played on the Camp Randall scoreboard before every Badgers game.

The confidence upfront with diligent attention to detail behind the scenes is right out of the Alvarez manual. Fleck admits as much.

“Compliments to Barry Alvarez and what he created back in 1990, and the vision and the dream he had and to be able to keep that culture continually, to sustain over the years has been pretty special to watch,” Fleck said in that same 2017 postgame press conference. “I know they’re our rival, I know we’re not supposed to talk about ‘em. But when you have a great team, an elite team like that, that’s what it’s all about and that’s what we’re working to get to. We gotta get there. We’ve got a long way to go.”

Jason Joyce: Fleck's culture change at Minnesota recalls Alvarez's early days at Wisconsin

The Gophers coach has proven this season that there’s some function to go along with his flash.

madison.com

Go Gophers!!

 

[dave444]

holtz was fixing a ship that was in horrible shape so he does not belong in this article. as I recall alvarez worked for holtz at notre dame. just sayin

 

[Sparlimb]

While the 37-15 victory was a big turning point for the Gophers, it was just one in a series of gut punches for a Wisconsin team that fell short of nearly every expectation. And even though Chryst barely addressed the Axe subject this week — “Our guys, they know the history of the rivalry, they understand what’s in it for this year,” he said Monday. “The biggest thing that matters is they focus on playing the game.” — he has to be aware of the signs that Minnesota is making a serious run at displacing the Badgers as the class of the Big Ten West.

Saturday will be an opportunity to forestall that surge from Fleck and his Gophers.

I said that in another thread. It should be their fear...

 

[PitinoFan]

holtz was fixing a ship that was in horrible shape so he does not belong in this article. as I recall alvarez worked for holtz at notre dame. just sayin

No, he belongs. He’s partially responsible for the trust issues and insecurities people have, as it relates to this program.

 

[hungan1]

IMHO, there has been a climate change that swept into the U with Prez Kaler hiring Mark Coyle who in turn hired P.J. Fleck. Coyle and Fleck both have shared visions. If you listened to P.J.Fleck's press conference as the new Gophers head coach, he wanted a culture change to one of giving and serving and he aimed high by stating an ultimate goal of winning national championships. He has said from Day One that recruiting will be very high on the agenda.

It is not too unfathomable that The Gophers will be the first team in the Big Ten West to become a national champion. No disrespect to the established coaches - Ferentz, Chryst, and Fritz. P.J. Fleck is a rare bird with all the right set of skills, leadership, and charisma. We are so lucky to have him.

Three years to reach the the Big Ten West championship game? We went from PJF getting Turkey Of The Year to the brink of a Big Ten West championship game in the blink of an eye. I am sorry folks. This takes getting used to after all the trials and disappointments over the years.

If this is the new normal, I can get used to this... Yeah!!! ?

 

[dave444]

No, he belongs. He’s partially responsible for the trust issues and insecurities people have, as it relates to this program.

I do not agree, holtz mess he inherited was a lot worse than what Brewster left. He sold out the Metrodome and showed we could get it going in Minnesota again.

 

[PitinoFan]

I do not agree, holtz mess he inherited was a lot worse than what Brewster left. He sold out the Metrodome and showed we could get it going in Minnesota again.

And...he pulled the rug out from everyone (before he really accomplished anything, let’s be honest), resulting in paranoia that still exists today. I fall victim to it too, at times.

 

[Gold Rush]

I do not agree, holtz mess he inherited was a lot worse than what Brewster left. He sold out the Metrodome and showed we could get it going in Minnesota again.

I think you two are both right - Holtz doesn't belong in this article in that he "promised much but delivered little." That is simply not true. He showed in two years time what kind of potential the U of M could have if things were done right. Pitino - u are right in that he is partially responsible for the trust issues that Gophers have, even 30 years later.

Fleck's biggest hurdle in trust issues here at the U of M was Tim Brewster, but it goes all the way back to Wacker and even Holtz where fans do not trust the positive coaches that can talk the talk. They want to see someone walk the walk and I think PJ Fleck is winning a lot of people over - they are starting to believe in him in a very big way.

 

[dave444]

And...he pulled the rug out from everyone (before he really accomplished anything, let’s be honest), resulting in paranoia that still exists today. I fall victim to it too, at times.
[/QUOTe and Holtz is a hall of fame coach who showed that you could get it goin here. On a completely different level than Wacky and Brew actually until Fleck they have not approached a coach of that standard. I know he left and it was tough but the guy could coach!