P.J. FLECK – Page 30 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

New NIL Collective Key to U Success

Posted on September 27, 2022September 27, 2022 by David Shama

Dinkytown Athletes, a name, image, and likeness (NIL) collective supporting student-athletes at the University of Minnesota, had its official launch yesterday. It may not be an exaggeration to say the collective’s success may determine whether P.J. Fleck wants to be the Golden Gophers football coach long-term.

Fleck has publicly acknowledged the importance of NIL for his program. If he sees a successful NIL in Minnesota it could be a game changer for Gophers football and other sports including men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball. Other major football programs are out in front of Minnesota with their collectives so the launch of Dinkytown Athletes, with co-founders Rob Gag and former U offensive lineman Derek Burns, is welcome news on campus including in Fleck’s office.

Per a news release yesterday,“Dinkytown Athletes (will) work with student-athletes at the U of M to connect them with the community, allowing them to earn compensation by using their name, image, and likeness. Fans, boosters, and local businesses can now directly support their favorite student-athletes through partnerships, fan-engagement events and exclusive content. Dinkytown Athlete’s mission is to build relationships with the community and further engage the passionate sports market in the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota, while creating opportunities for student athletes.”

Fleck, 41 and in his sixth season at Minnesota, acknowledged at his weekly news conference yesterday “how incredibly important” the new collective is to the U. As the only Power Five college sports program in the state, and with a vibrant business culture that includes a long list of Fortune 500 companies, NIL opportunities at Minnesota could translate into the Gophers consistently attracting high level athletes in the revenue sports of football and men’s basketball that support the Athletic Department.

Worth Noting

The Gophers are No. 21 in the AP college football poll but College Football News has Minnesota ranked No. 9 nationally. Only Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, Tennessee, Washington, Penn State and Clemson are ahead of Minnesota.

Here’s Sports Headliners’ Big Ten power rankings: Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Minnesota, Iowa, Maryland, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Purdue, Rutgers, Indiana, Nebraska and Northwestern.

The 4-0 Gophers play 2-2 Purdue Saturday. Under sixth-year coach Jeff Brohm the Boilermakers have been inconsistent and lost two games they could just as easily won. Brohm is known for his offensive acumen, with Fleck describing his rival as among the best with X’s and O’s.

Putting life into the offense is wide receiver Charlie Jones who leads the Big Ten in receptions with 533 yards and seven touchdowns. Fleck said Jones might be the best in the conference going after contested balls, and as a punt returner never fair catches the ball. “He can play running back,” Fleck said about Jones’ athleticism.

Brohm made waves last spring, per Sports Illustrated, signaling his interest in coaching at Louisville. Speaking at a gathering in his hometown of Louisville, the former Cardinals quarterback reportedly was asked about turning down his alma mater in 2018. He said the timing wasn’t right (just into the Purdue job) but he expressed his love for the Louisville area, SI said. “So anything can happen in the future,” the magazine quoted Brohm as saying.

Fleck said Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan, chosen Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after completing 23 of 26 passes and throwing for three touchdowns against Michigan State, has a “mindset” that there is always a need to get better.

Morgan is 31-12 as Minnesota’s starting quarterback.

The Purdue game is a possible first of the season sellout at 50,805 seat Huntington Bank Stadium. Ticket prices begin at $65 with singles only available in some sections.

Belated happy 26^th birthday wishes to football analytics expert Daniel House, publisher of Gophers Guru.

Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen had his 50^th career touchdown reception last Sunday. He is only the fourth undrafted NFL player since 1967 to achieve that milestone (Antonio Gates, Rod Smith and Wes Welker).

Sunday’s Vikings-Saints game from London starts at 8:30 a.m. Minnesota time and can be viewed on NFL Network, NFL+ and KSTP Ch. 5.

The Timberwolves begin training camp today with the biggest question whether in a league where the trend is to smaller and mobile players they can win with 7-1, 256-pound Rudy Gobert and 7-foot, 250-pound Karl-Anthony Towns on the floor together. How well can the two bigs defend against such opposition?

The popular over-under for Timberwolves wins this season is 48.5. “I don’t think there is a ceiling for this team,” Gobert said yesterday.

New Wolves top executive Tim Connelly impresses with his authenticity. He is interested in developing relationships in the organization that are “organic,” not contrived.

The Twins might regroup next season but they will have to contend with a Guardians roster that made history in winning the AL Central. The Guardians are the first team ever to win a division or league title with at least 16 rookies making their debuts, per Mlb.com and the Elias Sports Bureau.

Startling numbers: the Twins’ Miguel Sano played in 20 games this season and hit .083.

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Gophers Prepared for MSU ‘Woodshed’

Posted on September 20, 2022September 24, 2022 by David Shama

Mel Tucker probably has a teddy bear personality inside but he looks like a man who growls at the walls when he gets out of bed every morning. The muscular head football coach of the Michigan State Spartans is an imposing dude who has a stern expression and expects ultimate effort from his players and coaches—or else.

Not surprisingly Tucker refers to Spartan Stadium as “The Woodshed.” It’s a nickname that suggests MSU fans should make the facility deafening in support of the Spartans. while creating an intimidating environment for visiting teams. The imposing name was first used at State over 20 years ago when Nick Saban coached there and Tucker was a grad assistant.

Since the 2021 season the Spartans are 8-0 in “The Woodshed,” including raucous victories against Michigan and Penn State a year ago. This season the Spartans hold home wins over Western Michigan and Akron. After the September 11 game against the Zips Tucker, who likes to use social media, took to Instagram thanking fans for their performance at the stadium.

On Saturday the Golden Gophers will be in the “The Woodshed” and it’s a visit Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck has prepared his team for. The Gophers have been readying themselves for difficult environments and situations since January. Fleck’s 3-0 group is going on the road for the first time this season.

“We know it’s going to be a hostile environment,” he said Monday. “…They’ve got a great fanbase. They’ve got a wonderful stadium. We know it will be loud. We’ll be prepared for that.”

Michigan State is a physical team as demanded by its coach. The Spartans will be a bigger challenge for the Gophers with their toughness and talent than they faced in dominating wins over New Mexico State, Western Illinois and Colorado. But Fleck, now coaching his sixth team at Minnesota, knows the Gophers have their own prowess. He said 2022 spring practice and training camp were the most physical of his years in Minneapolis.

“If you’re preparing for this—Michigan State now—it’s going to be a long day,” Fleck said. “You better be preparing for those types of teams back in spring ball, in training camp, and we did more good-on-good in training camp and spring ball than we ever did in our six years (previously); knowing what kind of slate we were going to have this year, especially once we get into Big Ten play.”

College football sources see the game this Saturday as a toss-up. The Spartans were No. 11 ranked nationally by the Association Press prior to last Saturday when they lost 39-28 to Washington in Seattle. A chronic issue surfaced again as the Spartans gave up 397 passing yards to the Huskies (507 total yards). Although MSU had an 11-2 season in 2021, the Spartans had a leaky pass defense giving up 324.8 yards per game—the worst in the country. As of today, State has the 101st ranked pass defense in the among 131 FBS teams, yielding 264.3 yards each game.

The Gophers are second nationally in total offense, averaging 554.7 yards per game. It’s been run-first for Minnesota, with the Gophers ranking No. 2 in rushing (312.7 yards per game). Minnesota’s All-American Mo Ibrahim is tied for second in the country with Nebraska’s Anthony Grant for most rushing yards (464).

How effectively the Gophers can throw the ball, though, may determine the outcome of a game that is the Big Ten opener for both programs. The Minnesota pass game ranks No. 77 nationally but has improved with the return of offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca.

Even though the season-ending injury to leading wide receiver Chris Autman-Bell last Saturday is a setback, the Gophers have other experienced targets. Fleck expressed confidence in his receivers. “Everybody can (potentially) be the focal point,” he said.

The offensive line, of course, will have to give quarterback Tanner Morgan time to throw and be consistent with run blocking as well. Minnesota lost 181 game starts from last year’s offensive linemen who moved on, but line coach Brian Callahan and preseason All-American center John Michael Schmitz have helped the Gophers regroup.

“I love how they have jelled together,” Fleck said about the line while acknowledging more improvement is needed. “I love how connected they are.”

As expected, the Spartans are a resilient team. They trailed the Huskies 29-8 after two quarters but played a strong second half. Quarterback Payton Thorne, who Fleck calls the “heartbeat” of the Spartans, is a high level competitor and he threw for 323 yards and three touchdown passes against the Huskies.

The Spartans rank No. 60 in the country in total offense. Their rankings in running and passing are No. 66 and No. 44 respectively.

The Gophers are No. 2 nationally in total defense, giving up 170.3 yards per game. “We have a really smart defense,” Fleck said. “They understand the calls. They understand why the calls are that way. It helps having (linebacker) Mariano Sori-Marin in the middle who is basically a defensive coordinator on the field. He can make a lot of things right really quick. …”

On Saturday the Gophers hope to keep things right on the road, visiting “The Woodshed.” They haven’t played at Michigan State since 2013 and not won there since 2006 but the Gophers have been an impressive road team under Fleck. They are 14-4 in their last 18 away games including bowls. Only Ohio State, 17-3, has a better travel record among Big Ten teams.

Worth Noting

Fleck talking about Autman-Bell’s role now that he is sidelined for the season: “His leadership is second to none and we’re going to need that from him as we keep going through Big Ten play here.”

Fleck is impressed with the work ethic of his team. An hour after practice ended Sunday, 40 players were still on the field working on their own even though they were not required to do so.

The Athletic 131 ranks every FBS football team weekly and has the Gophers No. 39, with 3-0 Maryland No. 29. Not on board with that.

Vikings running back Alexander Mattison talks every Tuesday on KYCR AM 1440 on the “10,000 Takes” show with Eric Nelson and Wally Langfellow. The veteran sports journalists host their show from 5:05 to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday.

The Timberwolves, who have their first training camp practice September 27, host Fan Fest presented by Mayo Clinic October 1 at Target Center. Doors open at 2 p.m. and the team will take the court at 3 p.m. for a practice and scrimmage. Fan Fest tickets are complimentary with a $1 processing fee. https://www.Timberwolves.com/fan-fest

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Fleck Open to Playing Elite Teams

Posted on September 13, 2022September 13, 2022 by David Shama

The nature of big-time college football scheduling is to book opponents 10 years and further into the future. There is nothing in motion right now, but University of Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck is open to scheduling games against the biggest names in the country.

Asked Monday about taking on a prominent team from the Southeastern Conference or Notre Dame, Fleck said: “I think you always want to think that way—some of the best brands in college football. We’d love to have (them) come to Huntington Bank (Stadium) and also go to those places. But those are…decisions as you keep moving forward and seeing what slots are open, and what years are open. But definitely open to that.”

The Gophers are playing nonconference opponents now booked by previous athletic directors and head coaches. The Gopher media guide shows nonconference foes through 2028 with California, Mississippi State and North Carolina having the most box office power. The slate also includes the likes of Eastern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Louisiana and North Dakota.

Minnesota wraps up its nonconference schedule with Colorado at Huntington Bank Stadium on Saturday. The Buffaloes are the only Power Five team among the three opponents making up the nonconference schedule (all played at home). The Gophers handily defeated FBS lower tier New Mexico State and FCS level Western Illinois.

There is logic to the ho-hum nonconference schedules the Gophers and other Power Five programs have utilized for decades. Part of it is wanting to ensure a fast start to the season, playing opponents the Gophers are usually superior or at least equal to. Minnesota teams often go into the Big Ten schedule 3-0. Fleck’s nonconference record at Minnesota, including bowl games, is 16-1.

Another major element driving Minnesota football scheduling is financial. The athletic department budgets for seven home games. The department wants the revenue from seven games in Minneapolis, not six. With the Big Ten’s unbalanced schedule of nine games for each league team, the Gophers only travel to a nonconference opponent in alternate years when they have five home league games (in 2022 they have four).

Financially important, too, is Minnesota can pay revenue-hungry programs like New Mexico State and Western Illinois modest guarantees compared with what the Gophers would shell out to host powerhouses Alabama, Clemson, Georgia or LSU. Minnesota has never played any of those teams in Minneapolis. Notre Dame was last here in 1937, Texas in 1936.

But while nothing is on the horizon for scheduling marquee opponents, that’s not to say it’s out of the question. Schedules can change on short notice. If Fleck’s program continues to progress the Gophers will command more of a presence on the national stage. That could lead to a high profile nonleague game arranged in the next several years, not 15 or 20 years out.

How? Well, possibly a home-and-home series where the Gophers are sure of a sellout at the Bank and scale the ticket pricing as if it is a Justin Bieber concert.

Another possibility could be the Gophers, if they reach elite status, will draw an invite to a kickoff classic in Dallas or Atlanta where they face a formidable SEC or ACC team. If you’re willing to think way out of the box, how about Minneapolis hosting such a game at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Mill City Classic?

Worth Noting

Since Fleck started his career at Minnesota in 2017 only Alabama at 23-1, Georgia, 22-1 and Oklahoma State 19-1 have better nonconference records than he does at 16-1.

If the Gophers defeat Michigan State September 24 on the road they will receive the attention of national media. Today The Athletic ranks Minnesota No. 43 in the country with West Division rivals Wisconsin No. 35 and Purdue No. 37. The Badgers are the highest ranked of the seven division teams with Iowa No. 48, Illinois No. 58, Northwestern No. 71 and Nebraska No. 81.

Colorado coach Karl Dorrell is on the hot seat, with a 0-2 record and coming off last season’s 4-8. If he is fired Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters, a former Colorado player, could be a target.

Among the benefits of Minnesota’s lopsided 62-10 win over Western Illinois, is the Gophers were able to use so many reserves including senior redshirt running back Preston Jelen from Lakeville. He scored his first Gopher TD on a 30-yard run.

Jelen plans to become an orthopedic doctor. Fleck, a former college and pro player, figures a day will come when he needs shoulder and knee surgeries. “I said put me down for four surgeries…,” Fleck said Monday.

Fleck liked watching four reserves on his defensive line in the second half last Saturday–Deven Eastern, Logan Richter, Anthony Smith and Hayden Schwartz. “I mean that was a good-looking D-line that’s going to be around for a long time,” Fleck said.

Richter is a redshirt junior, Eastern a redshirt freshman, and Smith and Schwartz true freshmen.

The Gophers shut out New Mexico State and held Western Illinois to 10 points. Last year Minnesota was No. 3 in the country in total defense, allowing 278.8 yards per game. “In this league (the Big Ten) you gotta play incredible defense,” said Fleck who refers to defensive coordinator Joe Rossi as a “stud.”

Gophers’ kickoff specialist Dragan Kesich has booted 15 touchbacks in 17 attempts in the first two games. “He’s very talented,” Fleck said. “He kicked one off his toe, and he miss hit it badly, and he kicked it to the six-yard line. I mean I would have prayed for the six-yard line a few years ago.”

The Vikings’ Justin Jefferson, who had 184 yards in receptions in Sunday’s win over the Packers, is keeping good company at the start of his third NFL season. Jefferson’s fifth career game with at least 150 receiving yards and a touchdown reception tied him with Hall of Famer Randy Moss and Victor Cruz for the second-most by a player in his first three NFL seasons. Only Lance Alworth, another Hall of Famer, has done better with six.

Among anniversaries noted by the NFL is 130 years ago Minneapolis-born William “Pudge” Heffelfinger became the first pro football player in 1892. Following a playing career at Yale, Heffelfinger was the first football player to receive a paycheck as a pro.

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