short ornery norwegian
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Gopher Football coach PJ Fleck appeared on the Sports Huddle on WCCO Radio. They were doing the show from the State Fair, but Fleck was unable to appear in person, so he was interviewed over the phone. BTW, Fleck was on at 10:05am for some reason. The Huddle went from 9:00am to Noon on Sunday.
Sid: what do you know about SDSU?
PJ: really good team. some people have picked them to win the National title. They have an all-american WR, an All-American LB. very well coached, lot of consistency in the program. they have a very good QB who is getting his 1st start. great specialists. really good team. we've got to worry about us.
Sid: Las Vegas only has you as 12.5 point favorites
PJ: (laughs) that's for you to talk about
Sid: talk about your team. are you ready to play?
PJ: we're working hard. still have a lot of work to do. still preparing. proud of our players. they're making progress, coming together. every season presents its own challenges. you really never know what kind of team you have until you play that 1st game.
Max: Thursday night - do you like it?
PJ: I like it. We have 2 bye weeks this year. Thursday night lets fans get to the game, kicks off a long weekend. it's like an extra bye week with the long weekend. Good to have that much time, because we're going out west the following week. It depends on what day it falls. Some years we can recruit over the weekend, but not this year. We use the extra time for better rest and preparation.
Mona: Who will be the backup QB? Status of Injured players?
PJ: backup QB - both guys have to be ready. Cole has done great job, comes from a winning tradition. our system is very different from their system. it's like he's had to learn to play all over again. Give him credit for developing. Jacob Clark - he has to be ready. both have to be able to help. Seth with the Wildcat stuff. need to get those guys more prepared. look forward to getting out there. Injured players - they're not injured any more. Winfield, Smith have been practicing. Shannon is still coming back. his injury was different. he's getting closer and closer.
Sid: will you play more than 1 QB Thursday night?
PJ: I cannot answer that question. we will be prepared for every situation.
Max: how is 1st game different than other games? change preparation when you don't know what other team is going to do?
PJ: got to focus on yourselves. play your style of football. you really don't know what they're going to put at you. no film to back it up have film from prior years, but that might not be much help. got to play sound - have to be able to adjust and adapt.
Mona: If you win the coin toss, what will you do?
PJ: (laughing) I can't tell you that.
Mona: you know, don't you?
PJ: Of course I know. (laughs)
Max: have you chosen your captains?
PJ: we just voted on our leadership council. we're developing leaders. we had to develop leaders. the leadership council is smaller this year - the players voted on it we have 28 players in the council. they are true leaders. we also have a board of directors - smaller groups with seniors and upperclassmen. the captains won't be picked until Wednesday.
Sid: Do you hope to play a lot of players on Thursday?
PJ: we'll do whatever it takes to win the game. SDSU is a really good team. In 2016 they put up 41 points against TCU. they're a dangerous team. we don't look at it as "FCS." they're another team on our schedule - we have to find a way to win.
Mona: who decides the Uniform combinations?
PJ: that involves the equipment staff, myself, the leadership council. the players are involved, I'm involved.
Max: I know this is game week. Thank you for adjusting your schedule.
PJ: enjoy those fried olives.
(no murray's. No RTB, Ski-U-Mah. abrupt end to interview. Sid was AWOL...)
Sid: what do you know about SDSU?
PJ: really good team. some people have picked them to win the National title. They have an all-american WR, an All-American LB. very well coached, lot of consistency in the program. they have a very good QB who is getting his 1st start. great specialists. really good team. we've got to worry about us.
Sid: Las Vegas only has you as 12.5 point favorites
PJ: (laughs) that's for you to talk about
Sid: talk about your team. are you ready to play?
PJ: we're working hard. still have a lot of work to do. still preparing. proud of our players. they're making progress, coming together. every season presents its own challenges. you really never know what kind of team you have until you play that 1st game.
Max: Thursday night - do you like it?
PJ: I like it. We have 2 bye weeks this year. Thursday night lets fans get to the game, kicks off a long weekend. it's like an extra bye week with the long weekend. Good to have that much time, because we're going out west the following week. It depends on what day it falls. Some years we can recruit over the weekend, but not this year. We use the extra time for better rest and preparation.
Mona: Who will be the backup QB? Status of Injured players?
PJ: backup QB - both guys have to be ready. Cole has done great job, comes from a winning tradition. our system is very different from their system. it's like he's had to learn to play all over again. Give him credit for developing. Jacob Clark - he has to be ready. both have to be able to help. Seth with the Wildcat stuff. need to get those guys more prepared. look forward to getting out there. Injured players - they're not injured any more. Winfield, Smith have been practicing. Shannon is still coming back. his injury was different. he's getting closer and closer.
Sid: will you play more than 1 QB Thursday night?
PJ: I cannot answer that question. we will be prepared for every situation.
Max: how is 1st game different than other games? change preparation when you don't know what other team is going to do?
PJ: got to focus on yourselves. play your style of football. you really don't know what they're going to put at you. no film to back it up have film from prior years, but that might not be much help. got to play sound - have to be able to adjust and adapt.
Mona: If you win the coin toss, what will you do?
PJ: (laughing) I can't tell you that.
Mona: you know, don't you?
PJ: Of course I know. (laughs)
Max: have you chosen your captains?
PJ: we just voted on our leadership council. we're developing leaders. we had to develop leaders. the leadership council is smaller this year - the players voted on it we have 28 players in the council. they are true leaders. we also have a board of directors - smaller groups with seniors and upperclassmen. the captains won't be picked until Wednesday.
Sid: Do you hope to play a lot of players on Thursday?
PJ: we'll do whatever it takes to win the game. SDSU is a really good team. In 2016 they put up 41 points against TCU. they're a dangerous team. we don't look at it as "FCS." they're another team on our schedule - we have to find a way to win.
Mona: who decides the Uniform combinations?
PJ: that involves the equipment staff, myself, the leadership council. the players are involved, I'm involved.
Max: I know this is game week. Thank you for adjusting your schedule.
PJ: enjoy those fried olives.
(no murray's. No RTB, Ski-U-Mah. abrupt end to interview. Sid was AWOL...)