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Gopher FB Coach PJ Fleck appeared on the Sports Huddle with Sid, Dave and Max on Sunday.
Sid: Did any of the incoming FR turn down scholarships?
PJ: Full 1st class coming in June. a lot will have to contribute this year. we'll have to red-shirt some for the future. we're excited to get them on campus. we'll need them in the fall.
Sid: will some of the FR play right away?
PJ: we need them to play. we're a very young and inexperienced team. only have 9 scholarship seniors. our depth chart will be full of young guys. need those guys to come in and play. it will be good for our FB team.
Sid: 3 Gophers working out with Vikings. I saw they (the Vikings) had an oar.
PJ: the Whole state of MN is RTB. not just fans of Gophers. we believe in the same vision of championships. we've got a long way to go on our end. (RTB) connects a lot of organizations. it's more than football - it's a way of life. we need to let other teams know we're there for them. we support everything we possibly can.
Sid: how many former Gophers have signed with NFL?
PJ: 8 have tryout or signed as a free-agent. (MN has had) only 11 or 12 draft picks in the last 12-13 years. we've got to improve that. haven't had an OL drafted in 13 years. got to fix that. it's going to take a while. we need to do it with recruiting and development. I'm proud of the 8 guys who got opportunities. You see some guys get drafted in the 1st round, and a few years later they aren't in the NFL. other guys may not be drafted but they go on to have long careers.
Sid: Health of players who didn't take part in spring game?
PJ: (Winfield, Cashman) they'll be fine for the fall.
Sid: are the players on campus right now?
PJ: finals start tomorrow. got to finish strong academically.
Mona: new trend of players announce commitments online. Can you talk about the JUCO's or does some paperwork need to be filed?
PJ: not allowed to comment until they sign NLI or they set foot on campus. we're having success in recruiting. 8 commits. where we want to be. need help in interior DL. focus there in future. trying to rebuild roster. only 9 seniors - got to build for future, even out our classes. we're off and running for 2019 with strong class so far.
Mona: are you the last place on earth that still uses fax machine? (for NLI's)
PJ: this is the 1st year I took the fax machine out. For years I would not let it go. wanted to hear dial-up. problem was, everyone was sending fax in at 7:01 and it backs up the fax machine. we had 3 machines, all wound up backed up. this year we did it the efficient way. gave it (fax) up.
Max: do all players spend summer on campus?
PJ: most take summer school. In Future, I want every one taking internships. balance academics, conditioning, workouts. player can do some 7-on-7's, team activities we're (coaches) not allowed to be part of. Big benefit in MN with Fortune 500 companies - resources for kids to take advantage of. connection to surrounding businesses. Are you applying that as a FB team? we want every FB player to have an internship. life's about being busy. at MN you get one of best degrees in country. college prepares you for real world.
Sid: new Facility help recruiting?
PJ: puts us in upper echelon. another thing we've crossed off list. people use to say "not going to MN because of facilities." that's out the door. recruiting bounces back and forth. if its not that, its another thing. facilities are some of best in country. everyone who gets on campus and sees them for the first time is shocked and floored at what they've seen. it's not what the stereotype was. changes the mindset about MN. we're seeing a big spring in recruiting.
Sid: ticket prices were not raised. good seats at good price. Murray's certificate.
PJ: RTB, Ski-U-Mah. Farmers Almanac says weather for every home game will be just like today. (laughs)
Sid: Did any of the incoming FR turn down scholarships?
PJ: Full 1st class coming in June. a lot will have to contribute this year. we'll have to red-shirt some for the future. we're excited to get them on campus. we'll need them in the fall.
Sid: will some of the FR play right away?
PJ: we need them to play. we're a very young and inexperienced team. only have 9 scholarship seniors. our depth chart will be full of young guys. need those guys to come in and play. it will be good for our FB team.
Sid: 3 Gophers working out with Vikings. I saw they (the Vikings) had an oar.
PJ: the Whole state of MN is RTB. not just fans of Gophers. we believe in the same vision of championships. we've got a long way to go on our end. (RTB) connects a lot of organizations. it's more than football - it's a way of life. we need to let other teams know we're there for them. we support everything we possibly can.
Sid: how many former Gophers have signed with NFL?
PJ: 8 have tryout or signed as a free-agent. (MN has had) only 11 or 12 draft picks in the last 12-13 years. we've got to improve that. haven't had an OL drafted in 13 years. got to fix that. it's going to take a while. we need to do it with recruiting and development. I'm proud of the 8 guys who got opportunities. You see some guys get drafted in the 1st round, and a few years later they aren't in the NFL. other guys may not be drafted but they go on to have long careers.
Sid: Health of players who didn't take part in spring game?
PJ: (Winfield, Cashman) they'll be fine for the fall.
Sid: are the players on campus right now?
PJ: finals start tomorrow. got to finish strong academically.
Mona: new trend of players announce commitments online. Can you talk about the JUCO's or does some paperwork need to be filed?
PJ: not allowed to comment until they sign NLI or they set foot on campus. we're having success in recruiting. 8 commits. where we want to be. need help in interior DL. focus there in future. trying to rebuild roster. only 9 seniors - got to build for future, even out our classes. we're off and running for 2019 with strong class so far.
Mona: are you the last place on earth that still uses fax machine? (for NLI's)
PJ: this is the 1st year I took the fax machine out. For years I would not let it go. wanted to hear dial-up. problem was, everyone was sending fax in at 7:01 and it backs up the fax machine. we had 3 machines, all wound up backed up. this year we did it the efficient way. gave it (fax) up.
Max: do all players spend summer on campus?
PJ: most take summer school. In Future, I want every one taking internships. balance academics, conditioning, workouts. player can do some 7-on-7's, team activities we're (coaches) not allowed to be part of. Big benefit in MN with Fortune 500 companies - resources for kids to take advantage of. connection to surrounding businesses. Are you applying that as a FB team? we want every FB player to have an internship. life's about being busy. at MN you get one of best degrees in country. college prepares you for real world.
Sid: new Facility help recruiting?
PJ: puts us in upper echelon. another thing we've crossed off list. people use to say "not going to MN because of facilities." that's out the door. recruiting bounces back and forth. if its not that, its another thing. facilities are some of best in country. everyone who gets on campus and sees them for the first time is shocked and floored at what they've seen. it's not what the stereotype was. changes the mindset about MN. we're seeing a big spring in recruiting.
Sid: ticket prices were not raised. good seats at good price. Murray's certificate.
PJ: RTB, Ski-U-Mah. Farmers Almanac says weather for every home game will be just like today. (laughs)