PJ Fleck on Sports Huddle 6-3-18

short ornery norwegian

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 9, 2011
Messages
19,510
Reaction score
13,178
Points
113
PJ Fleck appeared on the Sports Huddle on WCCO Radio on Sunday, June 3.

Sid: are you Happy with the way the 2019 recruiting is going?
PJ: we are happy so far. trying to fill a lot of needs. we're in camp season right now, so coaches are travelling around country going to different camps, and running our own camps. June is a big recruiting month. got some Official Visits scheduled next month.

Sid: Vic V leaving - what's up with that?
PJ: I think it's a compliment in terms of Morgan and Annexstad. everybody got same amount of reps in spring camp, had an equal opportunity to win the starting job. I have not named a starter. but young people see they're at the bottom of the depth chart, want to go somewhere else where they have a chance to play. going into spring had 3 QBs, and they have not thrown a pass in a D1 game. we held an open spring battle. people got to see where they fit. if you don't see yourself as one of the top 2, then some people would rather go play somewhere else. we'll have 2 QB's on roster. Keep Seth at TE - he can be emergency QB. next year will add 2 more QB on scholarship. we're rebuilding the position. really excited about Tanner and Zach. Fans saw the spring game. we have two really good QBs. both very young. will be fun to watch them develop.

Sid: 9 Scholarship seniors on team.
PJ: that is very real. it's a race to maturity. we are young and inexperienced. that is not an excuse - just the way it is. most teams with success have upperclassmen leading the way. we have 15-16 total scholarship JR's. 24 total scholarship upperclassmen. we will need young players to play a lot. need to grow up faster. I like playing young players with a new culture, new program. guys are able to develop within the culture. then, they can help young guys as they come in with future classes.

Sid: what can players do now?
PJ: work out - strength and conditioning - summer program Monday thru Friday. players can run their own practices - coaches can't be a part. most players are in summer school, doing internships. proud of our academic progress, highest GPA in history of program. majority of players are all-in in terms of how we do things. making strides forward. I like the development of our team. when we get to training camp, we'll see what we have.

Sid: how do local fortune 500 companies play part in recruiting?
PJ: all of our businesses, our companies can really help with development of student-athletes. can get your pick of jobs right here in your own back yard. here, you can have all of that. one-stop shop for academics, football, future. never know how good you have it until you go different places. we need to show them how to use all the resources available to them.

Sid: what about 2 OL from IMG academy?
PJ: we're going to have to make some decisions going forward. both are special players. we saw that in the spring. I have to make decisions - to play them or red-shirt them. If I play them, will they be one of the best 5? or give them opportunity to come back next year as Red-shirt FR. with lack of depth we still have there at OL, I might be forced to play them. whatever I do, they'll be able to handle it. Also, tomorrow is reporting day for 19 true FR to join those who started early.

Sid: June class - are they all in summer school?
PJ: getting their feet wet, introduced to college life. it's a drastic change going from HS to college, and a drastic change getting into our culture, expectations, demands. learning how to do everything at an elite level. it's a fun time to be a gopher. have to get them adapted.

Max: In recruiting, is it different with being able to sell facilities?
PJ: they have made a difference. show them MN, they have an "aha" moment. cannot believe this is the U of MN. when I got job, one of the hardest part of job was changing other people's perceptions if you haven't been here. show them how it's changing. Athletes Village. one of top 15 facilities in America. doesn't mean you'll get 5* recruit - but help you get a better level of recruit. we have that. there are still other challenges in recruiting, but facilities, we don't hear that anymore. proud to be Gopher Coach. our players appreciate everyone's involvement in making that happen.

Sid: JUCO's will help this year. Are you recruiting more?
PJ: I want to do this with HS players. In 2019 will probably take 4-5 JUCOs. going forward, might not do it as much. lot of guys we bring in are 3 for 2 or 3 for 3, so they can have a RS year. that can go a long way in development. JUCO's are older, more mature, but it still takes time to adapt to a new culture. we have to evaluate all of that. but we will plug some holes with JUCO recruiting for 2019.

Max: transfers. we're seeing schools build programs with transfers in Basketball. do you get inquiries?
PJ: we get a lot more than I did in last 4-5 years. it's an opportunity for young people to take advantage of what's best for them. a young man transfers, that opens up a spot. players feel "I can be a starter somewhere else." the days of just being on one team, those are hard to find. grad transfers - won't see us take a lot. we've got to build our foundation 1st. then you can add a grad transfer once you've built the culture. get to the point where the players lead and take over - we're not at that point yet. players haven't mastered the program. probably won't see us do that (take grad transfers) for a year or two. but we get inquiries almost every day.

Mona: # of scholarships in 2019 class?
PJ: this will be a full class. bring in 24-25. kind of starting over - that's what we're doing. when 2020 comes in, a few of those players might play right away, but I'd like to be able to red-shirt a lot of those 20's. there's a philosophy we want to follow when you're going from year 1, year 2, year 3 and so forth.

Sid: didn't raise ticket prices. Murray's certificate.
PJ: RTB, Ski-U-Mah.
 

Oh - forgot to mention this. Dave Mona was down in Cedar Rapids, Iowa doing some interviews with the Twins Class A farm club, and he mentioned that he met DL65 and his wife. I think he said they went to a concert together? Anyway, Dave mentioned DL and his role in transcribing the Gopher FB Coaches' interviews on the Hole. (maybe me some day..........?)
 

Thank you for doing this ! I really appreciate it since I don't get a chance to listen.
 

Oh - forgot to mention this. Dave Mona was down in Cedar Rapids, Iowa doing some interviews with the Twins Class A farm club, and he mentioned that he met DL65 and his wife. I think he said they went to a concert together? Anyway, Dave mentioned DL and his role in transcribing the Gopher FB Coaches' interviews on the Hole. (maybe me some day..........?)

SON, you are the heir apparent to DL65. Thanks for doing this service for the GH community. It takes a lot of commitment. We appreciate it greatly!
 

Oh PJ, my OCD irritation with you grows daily. I count 18 JRs if we lump in Brooks as a JR this year. So that's 11 scholarship seniors + 18 scholarship juniors = ?
 


Oh - forgot to mention this. Dave Mona was down in Cedar Rapids, Iowa doing some interviews with the Twins Class A farm club, and he mentioned that he met DL65 and his wife. I think he said they went to a concert together? Anyway, Dave mentioned DL and his role in transcribing the Gopher FB Coaches' interviews on the Hole. (maybe me some day..........?)

Yes, my Man! You are on the radar! You already have the radio experience, bring the view from the other side occasionally, are a hard worker, etc.
 

Oh - forgot to mention this. Dave Mona was down in Cedar Rapids, Iowa doing some interviews with the Twins Class A farm club, and he mentioned that he met DL65 and his wife. I think he said they went to a concert together? Anyway, Dave mentioned DL and his role in transcribing the Gopher FB Coaches' interviews on the Hole. (maybe me some day..........?)

We had dinner together before we left for the Jimmy Fortune Concert at the Knoxville Performing Arts Center. Had a great time visiting and enjoying an outstanding concert. FYI, the Mona's are having Jimmy Fortune appear at their annual charity fundraiser later this summer, Camden's Concert, in the Twin Cities. Money raised is for cystic fibrosis research. Tickets are available - check the website via Google.

Congratulations and kudos to you, SON. You're doing a great job covering PJ Fleck on the Sports Huddle! I look forward to your recaps!




Go Gophers!!
 

Thanks SON for doing this! DL65 has big shoes to fill but you're getting there very nicely! What you do and DL65 did is a commitment and we all recognize that. Summer is coming, don't burn yourself out. If you got something going during the upcoming slow times do what you would rather do. We all would understand.
 

Thanks, SON! Does Fleck now have a consistent time that he appears on the show? I tuned it at 11am, which is what I thought was his new time slot, but he was not on. Thank you.
 



Thanks Son. I get very frustrated hearing every question repeated to Sid and then every answer repeated for him. Starkey hearing aids must be very effective.
 

Thanks SON for doing this! DL65 has big shoes to fill but you're getting there very nicely! What you do and DL65 did is a commitment and we all recognize that. Summer is coming, don't burn yourself out. If you got something going during the upcoming slow times do what you would rather do. We all would understand.
Plus 1000 oars...!
 

Thanks Son. I get very frustrated hearing every question repeated to Sid and then every answer repeated for him. Starkey hearing aids must be very effective.

As one who has worked with many people who are hearing impaired and very familiar with this field. I should point out that the brand of the Hearing Aid cannot always overcome other issues. You have to realize that his age plays a factor along with other things. He actually does do quite well with what hearing he has left. You have to remember that a hearing aid works with what hearing is left. A cochlear implant is something he should be looking at except that his age comes into play at times with these decisions. Sid has a choice to curl up in a ball and not do nothing or get involved in life and do the best you can. He has chosen to do the best he can. Not a shot at you Halsey, but hopefully an educational lesson for you and others who have made comments about his hearing.
 







Top Bottom