BleedGopher
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per the Journal Sentinel:
The football rivalry between Wisconsin and Minnesota, which began in 1890 and spans 126 games, is as colorful off the field as it is between the goal lines.
Minnesota fans view their rivals across the state line as arrogant. They argue UW’s run of success that began with Barry Alvarez’s arrival in 1990 is evidence of a Johnny-come-lately program that lacks the rich tradition of their program, which boasts seven national titles.
UW fans argue most of the Gophers’ national titles were won when helmets were leather and that Minnesota’s last Big Ten title came 50 years ago in 1967. They chortle because the Gophers struggle to fill TCF Bank Stadium, which has a listed capacity of 50,805, and point to UW's 13-game winning streak in the series.
The current head coaches – UW’s Paul Chryst and Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck – could not be more disparate. Their differences will be on display when the Gophers (5-6, 2-6 Big Ten) host UW (11-0, 8-0) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
Fleck was 32 when he was named head coach at Western Michigan in 2013. Before that, he was an assistant with four teams, over a span of seven years.
Chryst was an assistant with nine teams, over a span of 23 years, before he was named head coach at Pittsburgh in 2011 at age 46.
Fleck promotes Minnesota’s program with the same zeal he did in his four seasons at Western Michigan.
He sprints down the sideline, seemingly trying to outrun his players, to celebrate big plays. Celebratory hip-bumps appear mandatory. He wears hand-painted, custom shoes the day of each game and his attire appears tailored to fit his lean frame.
His press briefings are high energy and he eagerly participated in a four-part miniseries – Being P.J. Fleck – on ESPNU earlier this year.
“A lot of people talk about self-promotion or self-promoters,” said Fleck, who acknowledges his personality isn't embraced by everyone. “Isn’t every head football coach in Division I, especially in this league, a self-promoter of their program, of their culture?
“That’s what we’re paid to do. We’re the front porch of the institution. We get paid a lot of money to be the face of the program.”
https://www.jsonline.com/story/spor...de-their-programs-different-styles/886896001/
Go Gophers!!
The football rivalry between Wisconsin and Minnesota, which began in 1890 and spans 126 games, is as colorful off the field as it is between the goal lines.
Minnesota fans view their rivals across the state line as arrogant. They argue UW’s run of success that began with Barry Alvarez’s arrival in 1990 is evidence of a Johnny-come-lately program that lacks the rich tradition of their program, which boasts seven national titles.
UW fans argue most of the Gophers’ national titles were won when helmets were leather and that Minnesota’s last Big Ten title came 50 years ago in 1967. They chortle because the Gophers struggle to fill TCF Bank Stadium, which has a listed capacity of 50,805, and point to UW's 13-game winning streak in the series.
The current head coaches – UW’s Paul Chryst and Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck – could not be more disparate. Their differences will be on display when the Gophers (5-6, 2-6 Big Ten) host UW (11-0, 8-0) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
Fleck was 32 when he was named head coach at Western Michigan in 2013. Before that, he was an assistant with four teams, over a span of seven years.
Chryst was an assistant with nine teams, over a span of 23 years, before he was named head coach at Pittsburgh in 2011 at age 46.
Fleck promotes Minnesota’s program with the same zeal he did in his four seasons at Western Michigan.
He sprints down the sideline, seemingly trying to outrun his players, to celebrate big plays. Celebratory hip-bumps appear mandatory. He wears hand-painted, custom shoes the day of each game and his attire appears tailored to fit his lean frame.
His press briefings are high energy and he eagerly participated in a four-part miniseries – Being P.J. Fleck – on ESPNU earlier this year.
“A lot of people talk about self-promotion or self-promoters,” said Fleck, who acknowledges his personality isn't embraced by everyone. “Isn’t every head football coach in Division I, especially in this league, a self-promoter of their program, of their culture?
“That’s what we’re paid to do. We’re the front porch of the institution. We get paid a lot of money to be the face of the program.”
https://www.jsonline.com/story/spor...de-their-programs-different-styles/886896001/
Go Gophers!!