Minnesota Gophers coach P.J. Fleck addressed the media during Big Ten Media Days at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. He opened the session by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to lead Minnesota’s flagship university and for support from athletic director Mark Coyle and interim president Jeff Ettinger. Fleck spoke about their on-field successes, academic growth, players, and team culture and addressed questions from the media.
Allegations of “Toxic Culture”
Fleck addressed the recent report from Front Office Sports about allegations of a “toxic culture” within the Gopher football program in the Q&A session. He stated the claims are “Baseless,” and he has “Full support from Coyle and university leadership.” Fleck specifically addressed questions regarding a “Fleck Bank” and “Fleck Coins” allegedly used to violate team rules. He refuted these claims, explaining that the Fleck Bank was merely an analogy used to emphasize the importance of investing in the program.
A Mix of Experienced and Inexperienced Players
Fleck discussed the mix of experienced and inexperienced players. He noted the challenge of replacing Tanner Morgan, Mohamed Ibrahim, Mariano Sori-Marin, and Jordan Howden. He spoke about Chris Autman-Bell, Brevyn Spann-Ford, and Tyler Nubin, who have a combined 18 years of Gopher football experience, contributing to the team’s depth and leadership. Spann-Ford was recently named to the Preseason All-Big Ten First Team, and Autman-Bell and Nubin were named Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team.
Fleck said that Autman-Bell, who goes by the nickname CRAB, is getting close to 100 percent. He missed the final nine games of the 2022 season because of a torn anterior cruciate knee ligament.
Season Opener versus Nebraska
The season opener against Nebraska in a Thursday night prime-time matchup presents a tough challenge for the Gophers. Fleck acknowledged his respect for Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule and said he’s a phenomenal football coach with a phenomenal culture. Fleck looks forward to kicking off the season against Nebraska and anticipates an exciting environment at Huntington Bank Stadium.
Embracing the Schedule
Looking ahead to the 2023 season, Fleck said the Gophers have the second-hardest schedule in the country behind Old Miss. He said that he presented the challenging schedule as an opportunity for the team, emphasizing the importance of composure, balance, confidence, and poise. He called the schedule the “second most opportunistic” in America, and the team has embraced this challenge with enthusiasm.
Protecting Rivalry Games
Fleck stated that keeping rivalry games in the Big Ten is important. The conference will be moving forward with a new format, that eliminates division play as USC and UCLA join next year. Fleck praised the Big Ten for preserving rivalries because of the role they play in the pageantry of college football. He said playing for Paul Bunyan’s Axe and Floyd of Rosedale is an incredibly important tradition for Gophers fans.
Academic Growth
Fleck noted that academically, the Gophers have made significant strides. In the program’s history, the Gophers have had 27 Academic All-Americans, with nine of them achieved during Fleck’s tenure. He recognized the team’s dedication to success on the field and academic success in the classroom.
Photo courtesy: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
