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Gopher FB Coach PJ Fleck appeared on the Sports Huddle on WCCO Radio.
Sid: When did you find out that Morgan could play?
PJ: 5-years ago when we started recruiting him. He's a Christian. values his life, values the opinions of a higher power. grounded. raised in a great family. he believed in himself. one of the brightest young men I've ever met. good person, selfless person. serve and give. type of person who makes everyone around you better.
Max: Sid means when did you find out this week that he could play with the concussion protocols.
PJ: I found out Weds morning he was able to take part in team activities, non-contact work. He practiced Weds. Non-contact. You have a series of things going through the week. He was cleared to play by the medical staff, trainers, doctors. The coaches are out of that decision on head injuries. Have to make sure players are 100% before they go back.
Sid: Did you work with the younger QB's in practice in case they had to play?
PJ: had a great practice Tues. they split reps. both are getting better. Credit to Kirk C. had more control, command. had to have more command, because they were possibly going to play. had to take that through practice.
Sid: how do you prepare for Taylor. Anyone who can run like him in practice?
PJ: not really. We're going to do what we can. rotate backs in. use bigger guys back there. he's one of the best players in college FB. great vision. Their line takes care of him. they're a special group. he's a special player.
Max: Douglas fumbled. he couldn't see guy coming from behind him. How do you hold guys accountable?
PJ: The Ball is the Program. Have a saying - the guy who knocks it loose is the guy you never see. he learned a valuable lesson. We're still a younger team. guys get burned by the stove, learn not to touch it again. he'll respond from that, be better because of it.
Sid: what did you think about your defense against NW?
PJ: they had one QB we hadn't seen. used more QB runs. We had to make in-game adjustments. We had game-planned for the other guy. He wasn't a runner like Marty. that changed the game plan. It took us a while to get things figured out. I thought we had two drives where we didn't get off the field on 3rd down. other than that I think we played solid.
Mona: thinking about using Winfield on return game?
PJ: he's willing to do anything. want to find a way to get play-makers the ball. But you don't want to overwhelm anyone. He's doing a lot on defense, getting in a lot of contact. Have to look at how much you put on his plate.
Sid: Did you know Bateman would be that good?
PJ: knew he was special. you sometimes recruit players, and they develop into something really great. You think, if he is who we think he is, he could develop into something really special. Unbelievable young man. Wants to serve and give to the community. came here to be a trail-blazer. he could have played it safe, gone somewhere familiar. but he wanted to be a trail-blazer here. just like a lot of the other guys who came here. find a way to get it done.
Max: when you go into game - do you say you want the RB's to get certain # of carries?
PJ: I'd like to have all 3 of them have the same amount of carries. after that, then it's based on situational things. who's fresher, who's running the ball better?
Mona: Smith looked like he was injured? Update on Paulson?
PJ: no word on Paulson. Rodney's fine.
Sid: WI scored 45 points. What do you think about them?
PJ: tough team. they run the football. use play-action. WR's good. QB playing at a high level. they have one of the best defenses in the country. I have a ton of respect for them. the rivalry is healthy and back. that's what's so fun. College Game Day is coming. it's one of the biggest rivalries in college football. two ranked opponents facing each other. playing for B1G West championship, a chance to go to Indy and maybe the Rose Bowl. We want to change MN forever. have this become the expectation. not just one year. the start of a new era. be in the fight every year. It's a credit to the state, fans, alums - its about everybody.
Mona: People saying you're going to lose so many players on defense. "Is there hope for the future?"
PJ: People have to stop thinking about the worst-case scenario and look at the positives. We'll lose 2-3 SR's on offense. We will lose some guys on defense. that's why you recruit. want to find guys to be trailblazers. we will lose some talented people. But we have guys behind them who are very capable. We want the program to go up. Try to out-recruit yourself. We're working every day toward that.
Sid: you should be B1G Coach of the Year. Nobody gave you a chance. Picked you 6th and 7th. Murray's.
PJ: RTB, Ski-U-Mah, Go Gophers. Really excited. haven't won 10+ regular-season games since 1905. haven't won 7 B1G games in history of Gopher football. bring your kids, your grand-kids. It's like going to the Super Bowl. bring people who aren't fans and make them fans. thanks to everyone for their support. look forward to seeing a sold-out crowd.
Sid: When did you find out that Morgan could play?
PJ: 5-years ago when we started recruiting him. He's a Christian. values his life, values the opinions of a higher power. grounded. raised in a great family. he believed in himself. one of the brightest young men I've ever met. good person, selfless person. serve and give. type of person who makes everyone around you better.
Max: Sid means when did you find out this week that he could play with the concussion protocols.
PJ: I found out Weds morning he was able to take part in team activities, non-contact work. He practiced Weds. Non-contact. You have a series of things going through the week. He was cleared to play by the medical staff, trainers, doctors. The coaches are out of that decision on head injuries. Have to make sure players are 100% before they go back.
Sid: Did you work with the younger QB's in practice in case they had to play?
PJ: had a great practice Tues. they split reps. both are getting better. Credit to Kirk C. had more control, command. had to have more command, because they were possibly going to play. had to take that through practice.
Sid: how do you prepare for Taylor. Anyone who can run like him in practice?
PJ: not really. We're going to do what we can. rotate backs in. use bigger guys back there. he's one of the best players in college FB. great vision. Their line takes care of him. they're a special group. he's a special player.
Max: Douglas fumbled. he couldn't see guy coming from behind him. How do you hold guys accountable?
PJ: The Ball is the Program. Have a saying - the guy who knocks it loose is the guy you never see. he learned a valuable lesson. We're still a younger team. guys get burned by the stove, learn not to touch it again. he'll respond from that, be better because of it.
Sid: what did you think about your defense against NW?
PJ: they had one QB we hadn't seen. used more QB runs. We had to make in-game adjustments. We had game-planned for the other guy. He wasn't a runner like Marty. that changed the game plan. It took us a while to get things figured out. I thought we had two drives where we didn't get off the field on 3rd down. other than that I think we played solid.
Mona: thinking about using Winfield on return game?
PJ: he's willing to do anything. want to find a way to get play-makers the ball. But you don't want to overwhelm anyone. He's doing a lot on defense, getting in a lot of contact. Have to look at how much you put on his plate.
Sid: Did you know Bateman would be that good?
PJ: knew he was special. you sometimes recruit players, and they develop into something really great. You think, if he is who we think he is, he could develop into something really special. Unbelievable young man. Wants to serve and give to the community. came here to be a trail-blazer. he could have played it safe, gone somewhere familiar. but he wanted to be a trail-blazer here. just like a lot of the other guys who came here. find a way to get it done.
Max: when you go into game - do you say you want the RB's to get certain # of carries?
PJ: I'd like to have all 3 of them have the same amount of carries. after that, then it's based on situational things. who's fresher, who's running the ball better?
Mona: Smith looked like he was injured? Update on Paulson?
PJ: no word on Paulson. Rodney's fine.
Sid: WI scored 45 points. What do you think about them?
PJ: tough team. they run the football. use play-action. WR's good. QB playing at a high level. they have one of the best defenses in the country. I have a ton of respect for them. the rivalry is healthy and back. that's what's so fun. College Game Day is coming. it's one of the biggest rivalries in college football. two ranked opponents facing each other. playing for B1G West championship, a chance to go to Indy and maybe the Rose Bowl. We want to change MN forever. have this become the expectation. not just one year. the start of a new era. be in the fight every year. It's a credit to the state, fans, alums - its about everybody.
Mona: People saying you're going to lose so many players on defense. "Is there hope for the future?"
PJ: People have to stop thinking about the worst-case scenario and look at the positives. We'll lose 2-3 SR's on offense. We will lose some guys on defense. that's why you recruit. want to find guys to be trailblazers. we will lose some talented people. But we have guys behind them who are very capable. We want the program to go up. Try to out-recruit yourself. We're working every day toward that.
Sid: you should be B1G Coach of the Year. Nobody gave you a chance. Picked you 6th and 7th. Murray's.
PJ: RTB, Ski-U-Mah, Go Gophers. Really excited. haven't won 10+ regular-season games since 1905. haven't won 7 B1G games in history of Gopher football. bring your kids, your grand-kids. It's like going to the Super Bowl. bring people who aren't fans and make them fans. thanks to everyone for their support. look forward to seeing a sold-out crowd.
