P.J. FLECK – Page 76 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Intrigue May Last at U QB Position

Posted on August 17, 2017August 17, 2017 by David Shama

A Thursday Gophers notes column.

P.J. Fleck will soon announce his starting quarterback but the drama associated with the position could last all season. The new Gophers coach has gone through spring practices, the summer break, and now a couple weeks of practices leading up to the opening game August 31 without naming a starter.

Fleck is choosing between redshirt senior Conor Rhoda and redshirt sophomore Demry Croft. Rhoda is a former walk-on now on scholarship who has started one game with the Gophers, a win at Maryland last fall. Croft has no starts and played minimal minutes behind former starter Mitch Leidner who has graduated.

Based on past experience and reputation, neither player rates high with media who cover Big Ten Conference football. In its Big Ten football issue, Athlon Sports magazine ranks the Minnesota quarterback group or unit No. 13—ahead of only Rutgers in the 14-team league. Lindy’s in its college football publication wrote: “The options at quarterback lack experience and could be a season-long drag on the offense.”

Fleck, of course, is being positive. “What I love about both of them (Croft and Rhoda), is they’re both getting better,” he said after practice on Tuesday. “It hasn’t been an easy decision to say this guy has won the job, because they’re both playing at a high level.”

Fleck and his staff will implement details for the Buffalo game with players next week in preparation for the opener at TCF Bank Stadium. “I am not going to wait much longer,” Fleck said regarding the quarterback decision.

No doubt, though, whoever is named the starter for Buffalo won’t receive a guarantee to play quarterback for 12 games. Fleck and offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca know performance may dictate change—perhaps even more than once.

Before training camp started on August 1, probably no one guessed that among the players Fleck would praise the most halfway through practices are junior redshirt defensive tackle Gary Moore and freshman wide receiver Demetrius Douglas. Moore only played in four games and had two tackles last season but is now among Minnesota’s better defensive linemen. Douglas, the son of former Gophers receiver Omar Douglas, might already be the team’s best wide out after sophomore Tyler Johnson.

The Gophers impressed with their defense during the Jerry Kill and Tracy Claeys era from 2011-2016. Minnesota’s shutdown of pass crazy Washington State in the Holiday Bowl last December was one of the best defensive performances by Minnesota in a long while, but soon after the 17-12 win Claeys, who had been the defensive coordinator under Kill, was fired as head coach. It would have been understandable if the defensive players were anxious about the prospect of new leadership but senior linebacker Jonathan Celestin remembers taking a calm approach as he reached out to all his teammates after hearing about Claeys and the possibility that many or all of his assistants wouldn’t be retained.

“We (the players) were all at home and I made sure I texted everybody that (they should) have an open mind, no matter what happens,” Celestin said on Tuesday. “We’re still—at the end of the day—11 players on the field, offense, defense, special teams. Coaches won’t be out here with us on the field, no matter what.

“…I am sure (new) coach Smith will put us in the right position, but at the end of the day we have to execute. I just made sure that everybody was on the same page and had an open mind (when he texted to teammates).”

Celestin is impressed with the systems approach of new Gophers defensive coordinator Robb Smith and being able to disguise things with opponents. “He is very creative,” Celestin said. “He loves third down, I will tell you that. He knows how to make everything look the same, and you really won’t know what’s coming at you. You do a lot of crazy things on defense, I will tell you that.”

Gophers’ sophomore linebacker Thomas Barber is developing a reputation among teammates for physical play. “That’s always been part of my game,” said the former Robbinsdale Armstrong player.

Celestin is known as “Thumper” for his hard hitting. He’s impressed with Barber for his physical play—and more. “He can definitely help the team out a lot,” Celestin said. “Thomas has grown a lot over these past couple of months—seeing him develop into actually a leader vocally on the field. He’s trying to call plays out with me, and he can really get into the film room (for study).”

Barber’s older brothers, Dom and Marion III, both played for the Gophers and have emphasized the importance of stretching. They told Thomas to take care of his body now because “it benefits you in the future too.”

Sophomore linebacker and defensive end Carter Coughlin played at just 214 pounds last season. “But this year I am 228 and I am about to hit 230, and that’s my goal,” the 6-4 Coughlin said.

Coughlin will sometimes be positioned on the line of scrimmage, and strength is needed there to face bigger blockers than he may see at linebacker. Before Coughlin’s college career is complete, he wants to add as much as 15 pounds—with the caveat he doesn’t want to lose his signature speed. “If I am fast then, I’ll even try to get up higher (in weight),” said the former Eden Prairie High School All-American.

Playing part-time last season, Coughlin had two sacks. “Without a question, there is nothing better than getting a sack. Absolutely,” he said.

Coughlin ranks Celestin, Barber and senior redshirt defensive back Duke McGhee as three of the hardest hitting players on the Minnesota defense. “He is the highest out of the underclassmen—without a question,” Coughlin said of Barber.

True freshman tackle Blaise Andries, from Marshall, Minnesota, has been receiving reps with the first team offense. “People don’t understand how hard it is to play offensive line as a freshman,” said redshirt junior starting center Jared Weyler. “There’s not many that do it. The fact that he’s matured enough to take reps with the first team, I am really, really happy for him. He’s going to continue to develop.”

Weyler had limited game experience last season at center, playing more at guard. The difference in the two positions includes having the other’s team’s nose guard only about two inches away from the center, and things happen faster than at guard.

Weyler said he’s fortunate to practice against Minnesota senior Steven Richardson, who is among the top defensive linemen in the Big Ten. “…He’s probably one of the best noses in the country,” Weyler said. “The fact that I get to work with him each and every day, that’s really, really helped my progress too.”

Condolences to families and friends following the recent deaths of former Gophers defensive linemen Ron Kamzelski and Keith Simons. Kamzelski was second team All-Big Ten in 1968, while Simons made first-team All-Big Ten in 1974.

Still no opponent and specific date determined yet for the Gophers basketball game in December of 2018 at U.S. Bank Stadium, but details will be finalized soon.

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P.J. Fleck Talks QB, Team Record

Posted on August 1, 2017August 1, 2017 by David Shama

A Tuesday notes column kicking off with Gophers football.

The Gophers start practices today without a No. 1 quarterback but redshirt senior Conor Rhoda and junior Demry Croft are the presumed leading candidates to win the job sometime before Minnesota’s opening game August 31. A quarterback question was the first one asked during a media Q&A session with head coach P.J. Fleck yesterday.

“The quarterback question is one I’m sure you all have on your minds,” Fleck said. “I have it on my mind—I’ll be honest with you—every single day, every single night.

“What I’m looking for is somebody to take ownership of our football team. (Florida State coach) Jimbo Fisher had a question from ACC Media Days, (and said) you have a tough quarterback, you have a tough team.

“We have to find out how tough the quarterbacks are. They both played minimum snaps, the minimum of one game. So you have to put them through rigorous, high-stress, high-pressure—(and also) easy, relaxed, type of situations—all throughout the spectrum to see how they respond to that. Decisive decision-making in everything that they do.”

Fleck won’t put a deadline on naming a quarterback this month. He said “…eventually we have to make a decision and be able to train that quarterback, so he gets a little bit more reps than everybody else.”

The Gophers were 9-4 last season but most media don’t see that many wins for Minnesota this fall. The team not only has uncertainty at quarterback but in the offensive line and other areas including lack of depth at key spots on defense. The program’s strongest unit on either side of the ball is the linebackers.

Fleck isn’t predicting the team’s final record this season. “I think we have 42, 43 lettermen coming back, which makes us one of the least experienced teams in the country,” he said. “We have a new offense, new defense, new special teams, completely new culture, new way of doing things. Twenty-two (injured) guys who (can) have an impact that are out and we still haven’t seen what they can do, or how they implement with our system.

“Those aren’t excuses, those are just facts. We could go 12-0, or 0-12. I’m not worried about the ‘W’ or the ‘L’—what that looks like. I’m worried about this team doing everything they can to become their best and reach their maximum potential.”

Fleck and the staff take a comprehensive approach to educating their players in subjects that go far beyond the fundamentals of football. Those topics range from dating to yoga to Pilates.

True to his energetic style, Fleck stood at a podium when he talked to the media yesterday. Former Gophers head coaches Jerry Kill and Tracy Claeys sat at a table as they made remarks and answered questions.

Fans can attend six practices scheduled at the Gibson-Nagurski Football Complex: August 4, 6 p.m.; August 5, 3:30 p.m.; August 8, 3:30 p.m.; August 11, 4:15 p.m.; August 15, 3:30 p.m.; August 17, 3:30 p.m. (Practice dates, times and locations are subject to change).

Jeff Jones, the 2013 prep Mr. Football in Minnesota and ex-Gopher running back and wide receiver, is headed to Fullerton College, a California community college, according to Giovan Jenkins who was his head coach at Washburn High School. Jenkins told Sports Headliners he spoke to Jones recently about his plan.

Casey O’Brien, son of former Gophers defensive backfield coach and athletic department administrator Dan O’Brien, is a freshman walk-on holder for Minnesota. Casey, who beat cancer twice in his teen years, was a holder and golfer at Cretin-Derham Hall, and won the 2016 Minnesota Football Honors Courage Award.

The Twin Cities Pro Am basketball league has four teams remaining in the playoffs. Tonight’s games at DeLaSalle High School include Team Jones against Diggs Team starting at 5:45 p.m. The Team Jones roster features Jones brothers Tyus, Tre and Jadee. Finer Way Inc. plays EC Playaz at 7 p.m.

Gophers sophomore forward Michael Hurt will play overseas this month on a amateur team for legendary coach Larry Brown. Hurt will be one of 12 players, mostly from Power Five conferences, who will play for the East Coast Team against squads from Japan, Mexico, Senegal and Venezuela in Madrid, Spain. The American team will have games against those countries on August 8, 9, 10 and 11.

The Twins acquired relief pitcher Gabriel Moya from the Diamondbacks last week and he could be a name to watch for in 2018. Twins president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners Moya is expected to go with the big league club to spring training, with an opportunity to make the team.

At the time of the trade, Moya had pitched in 34 games for Double-A Jackson, with a 4-1 record and 0.82 ERA. He was 17-for-17 in save opportunities. With the Twins Double-A Chattanooga team he is 1-0, pitching 2.1 innings and allowing one hit and no runs.

The Twins gave up minor league catcher John Ryan Murphy who had been a disappointment offensively since the Twins acquired him from the Yankees in 2015 for centerfielder Aaron Hicks. Murphy is exceptional defensively.

VSAauctions.com is offering sports memorabilia including a Ted Harris-signed early 1970s era North Stars jersey, and a team signed 1980 U.S. Olympic jersey.

The late Herb Brooks, who coached that Olympic team to the gold medal and won three national titles leading the Gophers, would have turned 80 this Saturday.

The “Breakfast with Leroy” group will have former Gophers All-American basketball player and now Minneapolis Director of Athletics Trent Tucker as its speaker September 9 at the Bloomington Knights of Columbus, 1114 American Blvd. West. The public is welcome, with more information available by contacting Pat Rickert at 612-861-3981.

The local Wood Bat Little League Baseball Tournament is August 3-6 and will raise funds to assist youth baseball in Benin, a small and impoverished nation in West Africa. More at Baseballinbenin.org.

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Fleck Didn’t Pursue TV Reality Show

Posted on July 25, 2017July 25, 2017 by David Shama

Gophers football coach P.J. Fleck said the reality TV show that is billed with his name and debuts next week on ESPNU wasn’t his idea. Speaking at Big Ten Media Days this morning in Chicago, Fleck was asked about the show along with several other questions during a session with reporters televised by the Big Ten Network.

“This wasn’t something that we said, ‘We’re going to have a reality show,’ let’s go find somebody to air it,” Fleck said. “They approached us, which was an honor.

“One thing I am hired to do is bring national exposure, national attention to the University of Minnesota, and that’s what we’re going to do. And the title, I don’t get to pick. You know, ‘Being P.J. Fleck,’ that’s not a title that I would necessarily pick, but I think it’s every head coach’s job and responsibility to bring attention to their institution. That’s not self-promoting, but I think every head football coach in America is self-promoting at some point.

“We’re all selling ourselves. We’re all showing what we’re like. We’re all selling our cultures. We’re all recruiting our cultures. We’re all developing our cultures.

“You’re the front porch of the institution. You’re not the most important thing on campus, but you’re the front porch of nationally of what everybody sees, and you’re representing a ton of people. …

“I have not seen the show. I’ve lived life, so I kind of know what that’s like. But I don’t know what the show is going to be like, so I don’t know if it’s going to be like the Kardashians—if they’re going to spin it that way, or it’s going to be a little bit tamer.

“It will be interesting to see what kind of comes out of the reality show. But…it’s about the University of Minnesota. It’s about ‘Rowing the Boat.’ It’s about our culture and our new program that we brought into the Twin Cities.”

“Being P.J. Fleck” debuts on ESPNU August 2 at 8 p.m. Minneapolis time, and three other 30-minute episodes will air August 9, 16 and 23. Each show will be available on demand via ESPN streaming devices.

Hired as Gophers coach last January, the series follows the 36-year-old Fleck throughout the offseason, and covers him in various settings, including team meetings, hospital visits and motivational speeches around the country. Viewers will have a look at Fleck’s upbringing, including his hometown and hearing from his family, and understanding the impact of two major coaching influences—Mike Nolan (New Orleans Saints linebackers coach) and Jim Tressel (Youngstown State president and former Ohio State coach).

Fleck is the second youngest major college head football coach in the country and a 24-7 package of non-stop energy. “To no surprise, P.J. is all heart, all the time,” said co-executive producer Bo Mattingly in a news release last week from the Gophers. A trailer about the series is available on YouTube.

Fleck was the first of seven Big Ten head football coaches to address the media today. He talked for approximately four minutes with prepared remarks before taking questions, longer than many coaches speak in Chicago but shorter than Indiana’s Tom Allen at five minutes yesterday. Reporters don’t always fill all the time allotted to ask questions of the Big Ten coaches, but this morning there were no gaps or cutting the Q&A short with Fleck.

After Fleck spoke, Big Ten Network studio host Mike Pizzo said to co-host Glen Mason, “If you didn’t have your coffee this morning, ‘Mase,’ before you got to Big Ten Media Day, I think you’re still okay energy wise now.”

“Well, most coaches want to get off the podium,” Mason said. “You get the feeling he’d like to be there all day.”

The Gophers start practices next week and Fleck meets with Minnesota media on Monday. Training camp begins Tuesday.

The Gophers are a popular media choice to finish fifth in the seven-team Big Ten West Division. Among the team’s expected strengths is running the football and Fleck brought Rodney Smith, last season’s top rusher, to Chicago to meet with media.

“He’s kind of the personality of our football team,” Fleck said. “Huge smile. Ton of energy, (and) very charismatic.”

While the Gophers had more than 20 offseason surgeries to players, they had good news in the classroom. Fleck said the team had the highest collective GPA in 25 years of documenting that number.

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