I caught bits of Fleck interviews with Dave Lee on CCO, and with Paul Allen on KFAN. both were very similar. Talked about the decision to fire Smith. But what caught my ear was this - Fleck said in both interviews that (paraphrasing) "this is where I expected us to be." he added he was not talking about wins and losses, but the general direction of the program - going with very young players, and potentially taking a step backwards. Fleck also said (again, paraphrasing) that "this is how I build a program."
So, if this is all part of the plan, then the question becomes, when can fans reasonably expect to see improvement? And when does that improvement translate into winning more games?
No matter how much Fleck believes in his system, he has to give fans a reason for hope, and a reason to buy tickets - or the Gophers could be playing in front of 20,000 fans by the end of next year.
I caught bits of Fleck interviews with Dave Lee on CCO, and with Paul Allen on KFAN. both were very similar. Talked about the decision to fire Smith. But what caught my ear was this - Fleck said in both interviews that (paraphrasing) "this is where I expected us to be." he added he was not talking about wins and losses, but the general direction of the program - going with very young players, and potentially taking a step backwards. Fleck also said (again, paraphrasing) that "this is how I build a program."
So, if this is all part of the plan, then the question becomes, when can fans reasonably expect to see improvement? And when does that improvement translate into winning more games?
No matter how much Fleck believes in his system, he has to give fans a reason for hope, and a reason to buy tickets - or the Gophers could be playing in front of 20,000 fans by the end of next year.
He also said in rough times you need to keep rowing.
Sometimes I wonder if many of the Gopherholers are really rowing or just yelling at others to row.
The "I told you it would get worse before it gets better" message is tiresome. You foresee problems and your solution to fixing those problems is to wait long enough and hope they go away?
Posted on another thread recently that in the last month or so he's basically added two years...moving his breakthrough year from 2020 to 2022, so Year Six...or is it Five*?
He and Kill I believe, also talked 7-8 years at times.
He and Kill I believe, also talked 7-8 years at times.
Most of the problems have been on the Defense whose starters are mostly upperclassman.
Someone educate me please
Most of the problems have been on the Defense whose starters are mostly upperclassmen.
Someone educate me please
Posted on another thread recently that in the last month or so he's basically added two years...moving his breakthrough year from 2020 to 2022, so Year Six...or is it Five*?
Depends what you define as a breakthrough. When Fleck lays out his plan for when the team arrives he is talking in terms of championships not just 8-9 win seasons. His goal is to build the program into something it hasn't been in a long long long long time which is a contender in the Big Ten.
He isn't a fool, he knows the win total is going to need to go up in the next few seasons in order for him to keep his job. He has never said the team won't be able to compete and win games but it is going to take time to get to where he wants the program to be where it can be a consistent contender year in and year out. That is the breakthrough he talks about.
Fleck doesn't want to maintain the Mason/Kill/Claeys levels of success he wants to take the team to a level that none of them could. Time will tell if he succeeds but I think there is a misconception of what he means when he talks about building the program.
Fleck has consistently said 2020 is the year to expect changes. This is why I chose not to purchase tickets this year and why I won't look to purchase next season. 2020...now that is the year I will think of penciling in the games.I caught bits of Fleck interviews with Dave Lee on CCO, and with Paul Allen on KFAN. both were very similar. Talked about the decision to fire Smith. But what caught my ear was this - Fleck said in both interviews that (paraphrasing) "this is where I expected us to be." he added he was not talking about wins and losses, but the general direction of the program - going with very young players, and potentially taking a step backwards. Fleck also said (again, paraphrasing) that "this is how I build a program."
So, if this is all part of the plan, then the question becomes, when can fans reasonably expect to see improvement? And when does that improvement translate into winning more games?
No matter how much Fleck believes in his system, he has to give fans a reason for hope, and a reason to buy tickets - or the Gophers could be playing in front of 20,000 fans by the end of next year.
Depends what you define as a breakthrough. When Fleck lays out his plan for when the team arrives he is talking in terms of championships not just 8-9 win seasons. His goal is to build the program into something it hasn't been in a long long long long time which is a contender in the Big Ten.
He isn't a fool, he knows the win total is going to need to go up in the next few seasons in order for him to keep his job. He has never said the team won't be able to compete and win games but it is going to take time to get to where he wants the program to be where it can be a consistent contender year in and year out. That is the breakthrough he talks about.
Fleck doesn't want to maintain the Mason/Kill/Claeys levels of success he wants to take the team to a level that none of them could. Time will tell if he succeeds but I think there is a misconception of what he means when he talks about building the program.
Here's what Barry Alvarez his first ten years at Wisconsin:
1990 Wisconsin 1–10-----------0–8------10th
1991 Wisconsin 5–6------------2–6-------T–8th
1992 Wisconsin 5–6------------3–5-------T–6th
1993 Wisconsin 10–1–1-------6–1–1-----T–1st W Rose 5 6
1994 Wisconsin 7–4–1---------4–3–1----4th W Hall of Fame
1995 Wisconsin 4–5–2---------3–4–1----T–7th
1996 Wisconsin 8–5------------3–5-------7th W Copper
1997 Wisconsin 8–5------------5–3-------5th L Outback
1998 Wisconsin 11–1----------7–1--------T–1st W Rose† 5 6
1999 Wisconsin 10–2----------7–1--------1st W Rose† 4 4
Barry took over a team that had won 9 games over the 4 previous years before his hire. Fleck took over a 9 win team.
That said, if Barry did not break through in year 4, he wouldn't have lasted.
If PJ Fleck has the same record at this time next year, there will be rumblings about his future. 1-7 or 2-6 in the Big next year likely gets him fired.
Barry took over a team that had won 9 games over the 4 previous years before his hire. Fleck took over a 9 win team.
That said, if Barry did not break through in year 4, he wouldn't have lasted.
If PJ Fleck has the same record at this time next year, there will be rumblings about his future. 1-7 or 2-6 in the Big next year likely gets him fired.
Says the team is young and inexperienced and they've had injuries.
These aren't excuses. They are reasons.
Won't be wholesale changes on D, but some changes.
Nothing stopping young players from learning though. Only size and speed can't be taught.
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Barry took over a team that had won 9 games over the 4 previous years before his hire. Fleck took over a 9 win team.
That said, if Barry did not break through in year 4, he wouldn't have lasted.
If PJ Fleck has the same record at this time next year, there will be rumblings about his future. 1-7 or 2-6 in the Big next year likely gets him fired.
I don't understand how people get so upset with Fleck...
.