BleedGopher
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2008
- Messages
- 62,125
- Reaction score
- 18,623
- Points
- 113
Per Shama:
Fleck’s dynamo personality, endless energy and constant preaching about culture caused a lot of people to question whether he is genuine. More and more have come to find out who he is, including friends like Cal Simmons, a Minneapolis area insurance executive. The two play golf together at Interlachen Country Club. (BTW, Fleck likes to joke he’s “the perfect member” who pays his dues but seldom plays golf because of his demanding schedule.)
What was Simmons’ initial take about the Gopher coach? “I think like everybody’s first impression it was questioning how much of this is just an act and how much is real? I quickly came to realize that everything he says is what he believes,” Simmons said.
“He walks the talk. He’s committed to his kids. He’s committed to sending young men out into the world so that they can be successful.”
Fleck is a master of not only the big picture but also the details. His players are even schooled in how to properly shake hands. “…You know a lot of these kids have come from kind of tough backgrounds and they leave after four years ready to contribute to the world and it’s because of P.J. Fleck,” Simmons said.
How quickly did Fleck validate to Simmons who he really is? “I think immediately when I started to be around him. He’s unchanged. He’s the same way all the time. He is who he is.
“I’ll play golf with him, and we’ll talk about things. We’ll talk about football maybe a little bit, not a lot. But then I’ll hear a press conference…and he says the same thing to the press that he says to me the day before when we’re playing golf. He doesn’t tell me one thing and mask it over with a different story to the press.”
What is Simmons’ reaction to Fleck’s non-stop energy? “He’s different. His engine runs at a very high level. He’s just wound kind of tight. …I used to play a lot of golf with (former U coach) Lou Holtz. In some ways, the overall personality is somewhat the same. But you know, we’re all different and he is who he is.”
Go Gophers!!
Fleck’s dynamo personality, endless energy and constant preaching about culture caused a lot of people to question whether he is genuine. More and more have come to find out who he is, including friends like Cal Simmons, a Minneapolis area insurance executive. The two play golf together at Interlachen Country Club. (BTW, Fleck likes to joke he’s “the perfect member” who pays his dues but seldom plays golf because of his demanding schedule.)
What was Simmons’ initial take about the Gopher coach? “I think like everybody’s first impression it was questioning how much of this is just an act and how much is real? I quickly came to realize that everything he says is what he believes,” Simmons said.
“He walks the talk. He’s committed to his kids. He’s committed to sending young men out into the world so that they can be successful.”
Fleck is a master of not only the big picture but also the details. His players are even schooled in how to properly shake hands. “…You know a lot of these kids have come from kind of tough backgrounds and they leave after four years ready to contribute to the world and it’s because of P.J. Fleck,” Simmons said.
How quickly did Fleck validate to Simmons who he really is? “I think immediately when I started to be around him. He’s unchanged. He’s the same way all the time. He is who he is.
“I’ll play golf with him, and we’ll talk about things. We’ll talk about football maybe a little bit, not a lot. But then I’ll hear a press conference…and he says the same thing to the press that he says to me the day before when we’re playing golf. He doesn’t tell me one thing and mask it over with a different story to the press.”
What is Simmons’ reaction to Fleck’s non-stop energy? “He’s different. His engine runs at a very high level. He’s just wound kind of tight. …I used to play a lot of golf with (former U coach) Lou Holtz. In some ways, the overall personality is somewhat the same. But you know, we’re all different and he is who he is.”
Go Gophers!!