USA Today: P.J. Fleck never takes a win for granted after Minnesota grinds out win

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per USA Today:

P.J. Fleck, at 36 the second-youngest head football coach at a Power Five school, brought his “row the boat” enthusiasm and intensity to a Minnesota program that last tasted a Big Ten title in 1967.

Already, he has done something the previous six Gophers’ coaches could not do — win his opener. And make no mistake Thursday night’s often-sluggish 17-7 victory against Buffalo was all about him. Despite a team that has been to five consecutive bowls and is coming off a nine-win season, the focus was on a man who emphasizes “why we can, not why we can’t” and talks as if every sentence is a race.

His energy showed even before the game when he led the team out of its tunnel in a full sprint, looking much like the college and NFL receiver he once was. It might not be good news that only one or two of his players passed him.

To underscore his importance Thursday, Fleck was awarded a game ball by athletic director Mark Coyle, a moment he called “emotional.”

“Usually it’s me giving out the game balls,” he said.

“I was very honored. But that game ball was not for me. That game ball was for our players. That game ball was for our boosters. That game ball was for our fans, our student section, 10,000 strong are chanting ‘row the boat.’ … That’s for everybody who believed in what we’re doing, not that it’s guaranteed to happen right now or this year. But that’s for that vision, and I just appreciated it and accepted it on behalf of everybody.”

https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...in-granted-minnesota-beats-buffalo/623895001/

Go Gophers!!
 




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