Five takeaways from P.J. Fleck’s news conference: Back to basics leads to win

A victory over a ranked opponent will do wonders for a football team, and that’s true for the Gophers after their 24-6 pounding of then-No. 25 Nebraska on Friday night at Huntington Bank Stadium.

The Gophers are 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten, one of seven teams logjammed into a tie for third place.

Coach P.J. Fleck addressed the media Monday ahead of Saturday’s game at Iowa, and here are five takeaways:

After averaging a Big Ten-low 44.3 rushing yards in conference play entering the Nebraska game, the Gophers had a breakthrough against the Cornhuskers, rushing 35 times for 186 yards.

It helped that Darius Taylor is back healthy, and he responded with 24 carries for 148 yards and a touchdown. It also helped that the Gophers offensive line put together its best game of the season.

“It was a mind-set, an attitude,” Fleck said. “The game plan helped dictate that. We weren’t down 14-0, we weren’t down 10-0. We were down 3-0. That’s manageable and definitely doable.”

Fleck and offensive line coach Brian Callahan emphasized a back-to-basics approach, returning to the season-opening lineup.

“For us to win that game, we were going to have to run the football,” Fleck said. “Our players knew that, and I thought they attacked the week really well.”

Fleck awarded a game ball Friday to defensive coordinator Danny Collins after the Gophers sacked Huskers quarterback Dylan Raiola nine times — a program record.

It was the Gophers’ best defensive performance of the season, coming against a team that entered the game averaging more than 40 points.

Fleck sees Collins putting his stamp on the defense after taking over for Corey Hetherman, who left for Miami (Fla.).

“We’re still really aggressive, but I thought last year we were ultra-aggressive, whether you want to talk about blitzing, or whether you want to talk about assignments,” Fleck said. “… Danny checks every single box and is really, really disciplined. … I have a ton of respect for Danny and what he’s been able to do. And listen, we’re only going to continue to get better."

For the season, Gronowski has rushed for 289 yards and a team-best 10 touchdowns and passed for 811 yards and three TDs with four interceptions. “He runs the ball like a running back, throws it like a quarterback,” Fleck said. “… He’s a winner. All he’s done is win."

Fleck played at Northern Illinois from 1999 to 2003 and found out firsthand how difficult it can be to play at Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium.

As a freshman in 1999, Fleck caught two passes as the Huskies lost 24-0 to the Hawkeyes. He still considers Kinnick the toughest place to play.

“It’s incredibly loud, it’s hostile, it’s got great tradition,” he said. “Their fans really care about Hawkeye football.”

Fleck was asked about the worst thing he’s heard from Iowa fans, such as being called a “bozo.”

“... I grew up on Bozo,” added Fleck, who watched the clown’s TV show in suburban Chicago. “I had my own Bozo buckets — red ones with the clown on them.”