P.J. Fleck deserves a chance - and ridicule

Given all that's in front of him, P.J. Fleck should win more in years to come. But the Gophers' 2017 football season still deserves to be judged.

December 2, 2017 at 11:51PM
Minnesota coach P. J. Fleck led the team down the tunnel before Minnesota took on Wisconsin at TCF Bank Stadium
Minnesota coach P. J. Fleck led the team down the tunnel before Minnesota took on Wisconsin at TCF Bank Stadium (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Phillip John Fleck was introduced as Gophers football coach on Jan. 6, 2017. As an aside in his rapid-fire remarks, Fleck admitted that he was "not for everybody" with his over-the-top style of salesmanship.

Some of us cringed at the barrage of buzzwords and phrases, and silly acronyms, and fell into the "not for everybody" group. When this was followed later by Fleck's tributes to his wonderfulness and then relentless excuse-making, that group seemed to become larger.

Those that found themselves in this group — one that Fleck acknowledged would exist during his first cascade of words as Gophers coach — soon were accused of being "haters," followed by this addendum:

"You have to give him more than one year."

There's the true overreaction in the aftermath of Fleck's first season: Anyone pointing out the failure of 5-7 or making light of the inconsistencies in those word cascades therefore wants Fleck to be the Gophers' second straight one-and-done as a full-time football coach.

No one of right mind is even hinting at this. We all understand Fleck gets four years, minimum. We also understand no Gophers football coach has walked into the advantages that bless him:

Opulent football facilities opening in January, an academic system at the U that now emphasizes generous grading, and being located in the Big Ten West. Unless Fleck's all bluster and no substance, he should win more consistently than the nine coaches that have preceded him dating to 1972.

The 2017 season still deserves to be judged. Large publicity was offered in advance. Tickets were sold (although not in numbers imagined).

It was a season of football, all being precious to some, and it ended with a coach sending his team to face the ancient rival with this motivation:

Not to throw caution to the November winds in the search for a monumental upset; instead, with tactics that implied, "Let's get out there and do everything we can to hold down the score, boys."

Ridiculing Fleck for that did not make anyone a "hater," or serve as a call for him to be fired after one year. It was simply ridicule that was deserved.

PATRICK'S PLUS THREE

A variety of opinions:

• The Big Ten has three strong basketball teams. Assuming health for all, the Gophers' depth issue will land them third behind Michigan State and Purdue.

• Jimbo Fisher is an egomaniac of endless demands. Texas A&M will be regretting that ridiculous $75 million contract by the time it's $22.5 million (three years) into it.

• It's D-II and doesn't get much attention, but Todd Hoffner's ongoing success as MSU Mankato football coach is a remarkable comeback story.

about the writer

Patrick Reusse

Columnist

Patrick Reusse is a sports columnist who writes three columns per week.

See More

More from Gophers

card image

Jackson Kollock was devastated by the loss of his sister, Catalina Raine, but football helped him through the pain. He’s now a top prospect in Laguna Beach (Calif.) and committed to the Gophers.

card image