Lloyd: Is P.J. Fleck the most disrespected coach in America?

[BleedGopher]

per Lloyd:

The Golden Gophers have been a strong force in the Big Ten’s West division for the past several years, having won eight games or more six times since 2012. Half of those instances have been under current head coach P.J. Fleck.

Fleck took over in Minneapolis for the 2017-18 year, and so far, that’s been his only full season there to finish with a losing record. As for his best season with the Gophers, they managed to hit a spectacular 11-2 record just two years after the sorry debut. It gave the program the most wins it’s seen in a single run since 1904.

Most recently, Minnesota football has had back-to-back 9-4 seasons, which is also a level of excellence that hasn’t been seen since the early 1900s. In both years, they won a bowl game to keep their postseason win streak alive (six-straight bowl wins, a total of four have been obtained while under Fleck).

When you combine all of that with previous accomplishments from his time at Western Michigan—three of four seasons saw records of 8-5 or better, including the university’s greatest of all time (13-1 in its 2016-17 run)—Fleck appears to be one of the top HCs in America today. The only problem is that he gets next to no recognition for it.

Is P.J. Fleck the most disrespected coach in America?

Minnesota football head coach P.J. Fleck has built an outstanding résumé over the years. For whatever reason, it has been continuously overlooked. The Bi...

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Go Gophers!!

 

[jonnyganas]

He is certainly underrated, but unless he can get win the West and/or beat Iowa, he and MN won't be properly respected.

 

[fmlizard]

He is certainly underrated, but unless he can get win the West and/or beat Iowa, he and MN won't be properly respected.

Agree that "underrated" is a better descriptor than "disrespected"

Ever since the crescendo of the 2019 season where the Gophers got a ton of publicity, the national posture has been more "we're not paying close attention until you make us" than "the Gophers are trash and will get exposed"

 

[hungan1]

He is certainly underrated, but unless he can get win the West and/or beat Iowa, he and MN won't be properly respected.

The loss against Bowling Green in 2021 hurts. If they had beaten BGSU, they would have won their first title. The national perception of the program would have been better.

 

[Panthadad2]

The loss against Bowling Green in 2021 hurts. If they had beaten BGSU, they would have won their first title. The national perception of the program would have been better.

The BGSU loss had no impact on the Big Ten West race.

 

[West Fargo Gopher Fan]

Most disrespected? No way. His shtick isnt for everyone. He has even admitted that several times. Maybe underrated a little bit.

 

[UpAndUnder43]

The BGSU loss had no impact on the Big Ten West race.

Dont let those facts get in the way

 

[hungan1]

The BGSU loss had no impact on the Big Ten West race.

They would have to have beaten Iowa and BGSU. My mistake. The loss to Iowa was a heartbreaker 22-27.

WEST DIVISION
Iowa	7-2	.778	4-1	3-1	4-2	W4	10-4	.714	6-1	4-1	0-2	L2
Wisconsin	6-3	.667	3-2	3-1	5-1	L1	9-4	.692	5-2	3-1	1-1	W1
Minnesota	6-3	.667	3-2	3-1	4-2	W2	9-4	.692	4-3	4-1	1-0	W3
Purdue	6-3	.667	3-2	3-1	4-2	W2	9-4	.692	4-2	4-2	1-0	W3
Illinois	4-5	.444	2-3	2-2	3-3	W1	5-7	.417	3-4	2-3	0-0	W1
Nebraska	1-8	.111	1-4	0-4	1-5	L6	3-9	.250	3-4	0-5	0-0	L6
Northwestern	1-8	.111	1-4	0-4	0-6	L6	3-9	.250	3-4	0-5	0-0	L6

 

[gopherbadgerman]

The loss against Bowling Green in 2021 hurts. If they had beaten BGSU, they would have won their first title. The national perception of the program would have been better.

Agree. That and a lack of wins against Iowa and other ranked teams. Although if he had beaten Wisconsin in 2019 I think he might have been gone. He’s been good and I hope he stays a long time.

 

[FredCoxRocks]

I like that he annoys Badger and Hawkeye fans. It's fun when they get their panties in a bundle.

 

[gopherjay]

Agree. That and a lack of wins against Iowa and other ranked teams. Although if he had beaten Wisconsin in 2019 I think he might have been gone. He’s been good and I hope he stays a long time.

Gone where? He will be here as long as Coyle is AD.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

If you read the full article, it gets to the key issue here: Fleck's personality. Some people just don't like his personality, and that is held against him in these coaching rankings.

I happen to believe that if Fleck was a more 'traditional' coach with the same record, he would get more recognition. But, if he was a more traditional coach, would he get the same results? that's the catch-22 here. part of what makes Fleck unique is also what makes some people dislike him.

 

[#2Gopher]

If you read the full article, it gets to the key issue here: Fleck's personality. Some people just don't like his personality, and that is held against him in these coaching rankings.

I happen to believe that if Fleck was a more 'traditional' coach with the same record, he would get more recognition. But, if he was a more traditional coach, would he get the same results? that's the catch-22 here. part of what makes Fleck unique is also what makes some people dislike him.

Other coaches don't like the fact that he is always comes up activities etc., to reach out to his players. Kind of like someone who does the minimum with their job as opposed to someone who always working to get better in one way or another.

 

[Plato]

To me, the Texas A&M coach has to be the most disrespected because he has done less with more.
PJ rubs people the wrong way with his addiction for attention. Leading the team out, sprinting on the field at the end of a quarter, etc. are not necessary.
He needs to win the West before he is blended into the new schedule with the only chance for national recognition will be one of the three or four BIG teams to make the playoff games.

 

[Xerxes_]

Most disrespected? No way. His shtick isnt for everyone. He has even admitted that several times. Maybe underrated a little bit.

He's no different than many other successful coaches. His style makes him and he's not changing. As you said he's not for everyone.

 

[Word]

To me, the Texas A&M coach has to be the most disrespected because he has done less with more.
PJ rubs people the wrong way with his addiction for attention. Leading the team out, sprinting on the field at the end of a quarter, etc. are not necessary.
He needs to win the West before he is blended into the new schedule with the only chance for national recognition will be one of the three or four BIG teams to make the playoff games.

How would you feel about a coach putting his face all over billboards?

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

To me, the Texas A&M coach has to be the most disrespected because he has done less with more.
PJ rubs people the wrong way with his addiction for attention. Leading the team out, sprinting on the field at the end of a quarter, etc. are not necessary.
He needs to win the West before he is blended into the new schedule with the only chance for national recognition will be one of the three or four BIG teams to make the playoff games.

Being a creepy troll who live on another team's board rubs people the wrong way.

 

[Gophergrandpa]

I like that he annoys Badger and Hawkeye fans. It's fun when they get their panties in a bundle.

And Husker fans …

 

[Cayman]

They would have to have beaten Iowa and BGSU. My mistake. The loss to Iowa was a heartbreaker 22-27.

WEST DIVISION
Iowa	7-2	.778	4-1	3-1	4-2	W4	10-4	.714	6-1	4-1	0-2	L2
Wisconsin	6-3	.667	3-2	3-1	5-1	L1	9-4	.692	5-2	3-1	1-1	W1
Minnesota	6-3	.667	3-2	3-1	4-2	W2	9-4	.692	4-3	4-1	1-0	W3
Purdue	6-3	.667	3-2	3-1	4-2	W2	9-4	.692	4-2	4-2	1-0	W3
Illinois	4-5	.444	2-3	2-2	3-3	W1	5-7	.417	3-4	2-3	0-0	W1
Nebraska	1-8	.111	1-4	0-4	1-5	L6	3-9	.250	3-4	0-5	0-0	L6
Northwestern	1-8	.111	1-4	0-4	0-6	L6	3-9	.250	3-4	0-5	0-0	L6

Non-conference games do not affect conference standings, except as maybe like the 8th tiebreaker in a 3-way tie for first place in the division to decide who actually plays in the championship game. Beating Iowa alone in 2021 would have been enough to get us to Indianapolis.

Probably affected bowl placement though. Would have been tougher to select 7-5 Penn State, 8-4 Purdue, and 8-4 Wisconsin ahead of 9-3 Minnesota.