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Coach P.J. Fleck Calls Allegations in Critical Story ‘Baseless’

Posted on July 27, 2023July 27, 2023 by David Shama

A highly critical article of the Golden Gophers football program by Front Office was addressed this morning by head coach P.J. Fleck at Big Ten Media Day in Indianapolis.

The story by A.J. Perez sourced anonymous former Minnesota players accusing Fleck and the program of having a “toxic” environment. Allegations were made of physical and emotional harm in a program that supposedly encouraged players to tattle on one another and play to Fleck’s ego. https://frontofficesports.com/former-gophers-players-staff-reveal-troubling-allegations-of-toxic-culture-under-p-j-fleck/

“These allegations are baseless,” Fleck said about the Front Office story while speaking on the Big Ten Network. He added the accusations are similar to past stories about the program that he said are without merit.

Fleck, about to start his seventh season as head coach, said physical punishment is never used to discipline players. That practice is contrary to University of Minnesota Athletic Department policy for all sports at the school.

Fleck said there are multiple avenues in place allowing players to anonymously report issues at Minnesota. Athletic Director Mark Coyle also makes his cell phone available to Gopher athletes who may have concerns. But “zero claims” have been made, according to the coach.

“We’re one of the most transparent programs in the country,” Fleck said. “There are tons of testimonials from past, present and even future Gophers to support and prove that.”

Media and fans should be open-minded to potential further developments regarding problems in the program. The allegations are serious but one new story with anonymous sources will not prompt an investigation of a program that has been successful on the field, in the classroom and with community projects.

There are hundreds of players who have gone through Fleck’s program since he took over as coach in 2017. There have to be some who didn’t like their experience and probably a few who hold bad feelings and intentions.

A source close to the program texted this to Sports Headliners: “My nugget for you would be that at least a few of these unnamed sources are guys that all failed drug tests and didn’t make it more than a year with Fleck.”

The timing of the Front Office article is interesting, coming during Big Ten Media Days and close to the beginning of the Gophers opening of training camp. Tyler Nubin, the senior Gopher safety and team leader, reacted this way on Twitter: “Hilarious hit piece. Been a part of this program for 5 years and I’ve never seen anything except great people and great coaches who care about the PLAYERS. This program not for everyone. For obvious reasons…. I ain’t come back my 5th year for nothing.”

Former Gopher Casey O’Brien tweeted this: “Wouldn’t trade it. Proud alum of @Coach_Fleck and @GopherFootball. #RTB.”

College Football Notes

Fleck continues to receive recognition as a top 25 coach nationally. Stewart Mandell, The Athletic’s respected college football writer, ranked Fleck No. 21 in a listing early this year that had Alabama’s Nick Saban and Georgia’s Kirby Smart “1A and 1 B.”

Lindy’s Big Ten football magazine points out the Gophers’ winning record in Big Ten games the last two seasons is a first for the program since 1967-1968. “Over the past half century, the Gophers have won just 38 percent of their Big Ten games,” per Lindy’s.

The Gophers have no sellouts yet on their seven-game home schedule including the opener with Nebraska August 31. The athletic department’s website reports limited seating availability for the Big Ten rivalry game. Purchase of a ticket includes the option to buy a ticket to another home game starting at $10.

As in the past, the department is scaling ticket prices differently (sometimes dramatically) depending on the opponent. Gophersports.com reports tickets range from $115 to $305 for the Nebraska game. Prices range from $25 to $120 for the second home game of the season, September 9 against Eastern Michigan.

Minnesota’s most attractive road game to many fans will be October 21 in Iowa City against the Hawkeyes. Iowa’s athletic department website reports the first five home games of the season, including against the Gophers, are sold out. SeatGeek has tickets for the Minnesota game starting at $61 as of today.

Georgia tries for a third consecutive national championship this year, a feat no team has accomplished in post-World War II college football. The Gophers were the last to run off three in a row—1934-1936.

Rutgers isn’t on the Minnesota schedule, but no Big Ten program has a closer connection to the Gophers this fall. Former Gophers Curtis Dunlap and Michael Dixon are expected Rutgers starters at offensive guard and defensive back. Ex-Minnesota assistant coaches Kirk Ciarrocca and Joe Harasymiak are the Scarlet Knights offensive and defensive coordinators respectively.

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Golden Gophers Football Record Trails Only 3 Rivals

Posted on July 18, 2023July 18, 2023 by David Shama

The University of Minnesota football team will take the field August 31 in its season opener against Nebraska hoping to continue the momentum of the last four years. Since 2019 the Golden Gophers have one of the best records among Big Ten programs.

Coach P.J. Fleck’s program has the fourth best winning percentages among league teams dating back to the 2019 season, as pointed out this summer by Lindy’s Sports in its Big Ten football preview. The Gophers trail only Ohio State, Michigan and Iowa with their .696 percentage in all games and .618 against Big Ten opponents.

Minnesota is 21-13 in league games during this stretch. The 21 Big Ten wins over four years is the most ever for the football program that began in 1882. The Gophers are 32-14 overall, including three consecutive bowl wins during the four-years.

Throw out Minnesota’s 3-4 record during the COVID season of 2020 when the Gophers played only conference games, and the winning percentages are even more impressive. That year was an outlier for many programs because of the pandemic challenges, including for the Gophers who were coming off a 2019 season with an 11-2 overall record and 7-2 Big Ten mark (tied with Wisconsin for best in the Big Ten West Division). Expectations in Dinkytown were not for 3-4.

The Gophers are having their best four-year stretch since 1960-1963 when the overall and Big Ten records were 25-12 and 19-9 respectively. In the four seasons before Fleck arrived in 2017, Minnesota was 16-17 in league games and 31-21 overall.

Historically, Minnesota ranks about in the middle of the 14-team Big Ten in winning games, so the past four years are out of the norm. Critics can point out the Gophers (and Iowa) are members of the Big Ten West Division and play a softer schedule than the more powerful East Division led by Ohio State and Michigan. Those same critics can fault Minnesota for not playing a more formidable nonconference schedule and may also point out that the modern day Big Ten plays more league and nonconference games than in the past, but for the Gophers to have the resume of the past four years is impressive.

Fleck is 44-27 in six seasons leading the program. He is fifth in program history in overall wins (44), games coached (71) and sixth in Big Ten wins (26). His .619 winning percentage is third best among the 11 Gopher head coaches who have at least 45 games leading the program. Ahead of Fleck are Dr. Henry L. Williams (.786, 1900-21) and Bernie Bierman (.716, 1932-41, ‘45-50).

Part of the program’s success has been built on a foundation of impressive defense. Joe Rossi was named defensive coordinator in November of 2018 and Minnesota’s record since then is 26-11. The Gophers had an outstanding defense last year and were even better in 2021. That season Minnesota ranked third in the nation in total defense, tied for sixth in scoring defense and eighth in the nation in rushing defense.

For all the program’s success, there are significant things remaining on the to-do list. Goals including winning the program’s first outright West Division title, first Big Ten championship since 1967, a return to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1962 and an initial entry into the playoffs which will have an expanded field starting in 2024.

This fall the Gophers are trying to win nine games or more for the third time in four seasons. If they do, the program will gain even more local and national recognition because the schedule includes games at Ohio State and Iowa, and home against Michigan. Fleck is winless against all three including 0-6 versus the Hawkeyes. Yes, throw in winning back Floyd of Rosedale on the priority list detailed above.

Remembering an Extraordinary Friend

This is a sobering week after learning Sunday of Mark Sheffert’s passing at age 76. I remember the mornings at the Hilltop restaurant in Edina when I would listen to his words of wisdom about the University of Minnesota including athletics. He was one of the most intelligent sources about business, education, community and politics that I have ever known.

Former regent Dave Larson suggested to me years ago that Mark would have been a superb athletic director at Minnesota. Couldn’t agree more because Mark knew how to collaborate with people, was a master at finding solutions to problems and strived for excellence.

In the mid-1960s Mark was on the Gophers freshman football team before an injury ended his career. Mark never lost his affection for the U including the football program.

My friend was a prominent businessman for decades in Minneapolis including as president of First Bank Systems and later his Manchester Companies where he was a nationally known advisor in financial, strategic, leadership and governance issues that challenge companies experiencing change, and even crisis. He was a member of the Minnesota Business Hall of Fame and loved teaching at the U’s Carlson School of Management where he could mentor future leaders.

In 2018 Mark told me he had served on 56 boards for public, private and nonprofit entities including Minneapolis-based Bolder Options that mentors youth. He lived a life dedicated to giving back and helping others. Bolder Options stirred memories of his own upbringing.

“We lived on welfare in Lincoln, Nebraska so I know what it’s like to be poor,” Sheffert told Sports Headliners in 2018. “I know what it’s like to have kids make fun of you when you’re poor. It’s probably why I am as tough as I am.”

Tough, yet compassionate. That was Mark who died way too soon. He had been battling health issues for years but was a champion to Bolder Options to the end. Memorials can be directed to the organization at https://bolderoptions.salsalabs.org/webdonationpage0copy1/index.html

Here is a link to the 2018 Sports Headliners column about Mark and Bolder Options. https://shamasportsheadliners.com/ex-gophers-help-kids-at-risk/

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95-Year-Old ‘Barn’ Still Special to Golden Gophers

Posted on July 16, 2023 by David Shama

Williams Arena is only five years away from its 100^th birthday. The home of Golden Gophers basketball turned 95 last February and if you ask Ben Johnson the facility, despite its age, is still special.

Johnson’s opinion counts and not just because he is Minnesota’s head men’s coach. He played in the building for the Gophers for two seasons, from 2002-2004, and was an assistant at Minnesota from 2013-2018. Before he was in college the Minneapolis native also watched the hometown team in the iconic building that features intimate seating and a raised floor.

Johnson, 42, told Sports Headliners he remembers his first game in Williams Arana like this: “You can get 13,000 people in here being wild and being loud cheering for their team. I thought that was pretty cool.”

Williams Arena. Photo credit University of Minnesota

Looking like an airplane hangar or barn on the outside, the revered building is the oldest arena in the Big Ten and among the most ancient college basketball venues in America. Named for former Gophers’ football coach Dr. Henry Williams, the arena once had the largest seating capacity in the country for college basketball, 18,025. With a wink to the fire marshal, the Gophers and Iowa packed “the Barn” in 1955 with a record crowd of over 20,000.

Renovations over the years, including partial replacement of bench seating, have brought capacity now to 14,625. Filling the building with fans was on Johnson’s mind the other day. His team is practicing this summer with the goal of major improvement from the last two seasons when the Gophers finished at the bottom of the Big Ten standings. Last winter the Gophers didn’t sell out a home game, not even against border rivals Iowa and Wisconsin. Johnson knows a packed house with delirious fans can create an electric atmosphere helping his team win games that otherwise might end in losses.

“We have to do our job and have a really good product and get people excited to come out, but they definitely make a difference,” he said. “And if you can win your home games in this league you set yourself up really well for post season play…and to have a successful Big Ten league season, and that’s what we want to do.

“We want to have every advantage we can to put our players in a position to have that special year. …I’ve seen it as a player and a coach that when Williams Arena is full—and it’s packed and there’s juice and energy in there –that for sure is two, three, four wins without a doubt. “

When a facility is 95 and has limited glitz and fan amenities compared to state-of-the-art buildings, speculation surfaces about the building’s future. Johnson acknowledged “people are always asking and wondering” but he isn’t aware of any major renovations or tear down planned for the arena.

Fans may also wonder what impressionable 17-year-old recruits think of the facility that is older than their great grandparents. Does the arena’s age present Johnson and his staff with a challenge in recruiting?

“It’s never come up as an issue,” Johnson said. “If anything, I think they really like it because it’s historic. It’s a venue that’s different with the elevated floor…makes it unique. Our guys actually love it and look forward to competing on it (the floor and venue). And I know our new players that haven’t played there think it’s pretty cool and have heard stories and are really looking forward to this year.”

“The Barn” is not for everyone, though. With no windows in the interior, the building relies only on artificial light. There are still bench seats that are uncomfortable for older fans. There are also seats where patrons crane their necks around poles to see the action. Concourse space is cozy, and the building won’t win any design prizes for the size or feel of its bathrooms.

But when the old building is filled and rocking with fans, there is an atmosphere to rival any in college basketball.

Because of Johnson’s roots here he has long appreciated the venue. “You see new arenas that don’t have that home feeling. I think that is what separates us. I’ve been in a couple (of other) older arenas and there’s a mystique to it. Kind of a magical feeling…there’s a history.”

In five years, Williams Arena will be feted with a birthday celebration like no other in its history. Johnson wants to be around then and have an outstanding team worthy of that milestone. “Without question, that would be pretty special,” he said.

Worth Noting

Kirk Cousins is known as a polarizing figure and that comes through when reading Twitter comments about him prompted by the just released NetFlix docuseries “Quarterback” that chronicles the lives of NFL QBs Cousins, Patrick Mahomes and Marcus Mariota. Tweeters offer Cousins love, dislike and everything in between.

Odds seem likely 85-year-old Jim Marshall, known for his Iron Man playing streak of never missing a game in 19 seasons with the Vikings, will finally be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024. Marshall is up for consideration again and his peers, including the late Bud Grant, think the former defensive end who is in the Vikings Ring of Honor is overdue for induction.

Speculation continues as to where defenseman Matt Dumba will play next season, but it seems all but certain the free agent won’t return to the Wild.

Congratulations to family, friends and former teammates of the late “Miracle on Ice” hockey hero Mark Pavelich who contributed to the new mental health facility in Sauk Centre, The Ranch. Pavelich, the great 1980 hockey Olympian and former Minnesota North Star, committed suicide in 2021.

Fired Northwestern football coach Pat Fitzgerald uses the same agent (Bryan Harlan) as the Gophers’ P.J. Fleck. Harlan BTW is the brother of Kevin Harlan, the original broadcast voice of the Timberwolves and a national sportscaster icon for years.

MLB.com speculated yesterday that if the Mets make 35-year-old left fielder Tommy Pham available in a trade this summer the Twins could be interested. A right-handed bat, Pham is batting .301 in his last 30 games.

Don’t expect the Twins to part with manager Rocco Baldelli any time soon, even if the club slumps during the second half of the season. If it’s a rough finish Baldelli might well have reason to worry about his job security.

Bill Robertson, former WCHA and USHL commissioner, is reviewing consulting opportunities from sports and entertainment entities as he makes his transition into semi-retirement and relocation from Eagan to Buffington, South Carolina.

Gopher pitcher George Klassen, who can throw over 100 miles per hour, and Gopher second team All-Big Ten outfielder Brett Bateman have signed contracts with the Phillies and Cubs respectively. Klassen was taken in the sixth round of the MLB Draft earlier this month and Bateman was drafted in the eighth, with both reporting now to minor league operations.

Sorry to learn of Joe Pung’s recent passing. He was captain of the 1964 football Gophers and a second team All-Big Ten center that year.

Popular emcee and former Gopher football and basketball public address announcer Dick Jonckowski reports he is cancer free since last September. He will be a celebrity host starting on September 7 for the Jay Buckley Baseball Tour to Boston, New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh.

The CORES lunch programs featuring prominent speakers, mostly from Minnesota sports, has been in place since 1985 but now there is a transition with long time organizers Jim Dotseth and Phil Ferek unable to continue their leadership. CORES speakers over the years have included Bud Grant, Rick Spielman, Jerry Kill, Mike Veeck, Pete Najarian and John Gagliardi who drew a record turnout of 216 attendees. Anyone interested in potentially stepping forward to assume leadership in the volunteer-based organization should email dotsethj@comcast.net. CORES is an acronym for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans.

Sam Bennett, who finished as the 2023 Masters Tournament low amateur, speaks to the Twin Cities Dunkers Tuesday, July 25. Bennett is one of four young pros who have been given sponsor exemptions for the 3M Open scheduled July 24-30 at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine. The others are Brazilian Fred Biondi, and Minnesotans Derek Hitchner and Frankie Capan III who were state champions at Blake and Stillwater respectively.

The Minneapolis Aquatennial begins Wednesday with the Torchlight Parade. Three Grand Marshals for the parade will represent the Lynx in recognition of the franchise’s 25^th anniversary: coach Cheryl Reeve, GM Clare Duwelius, and Carley Knox, president of business operations.

Longtime Twin Cities TV news and sports anchor Jeff Passolt is retired living in Florida but spending summers at his lake home in Wisconsin. A native of Minnesotan, Passolt’s knowledge and recall of the state’s sports history is impressive.

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