Remarks from head coach PJ Fleck as he reflects on the loss to #4 Penn State and looks ahead to the team’s final regular season game against the Wisconsin Badgers.
Opening Statement
Minnesota coach PJ Fleck: “Good morning, everyone.
We actually held a practice this morning, which is a bit unusual, but I want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving. This week is what football is all about. Tomorrow, we have our annual Row the Boat turkey drive, which our players are really looking forward to. Norries Wilson has done an excellent job organizing this with Cub Foods, a major supporter of our program and many local initiatives.
This drive will help numerous families in need, and Coach Wilson has worked hard to prepare nearly 500 turkeys this year. These turkeys represent complete meals, and many of our players will be out there helping distribute them, even though about half the team may have classes later. As we enter Thanksgiving week, there’s a lot to be thankful for.
So, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone out there!”
Question: Given the short week, how have you adjusted the schedule for the Friday game?
Minnesota coach PJ Fleck: “You have to be quite creative and really understand your team.
This morning, we had our players here by 6 a.m. for a practice similar to a first and second down Tuesday practice. The coaching staff came in right after the Penn State game to start preparing. After our morning practice, the team will return for meetings tonight. We’ll hold longer Tuesday-style meetings since today’s sessions were relatively brief. Then we’ll keep moving forward… and we travel on Thursday, which feels like a Friday for us.
It’s a very quick turnaround, but our players have adapted well and had a productive morning.”
Looking back, do you wish you had opted for a “punt safe” strategy on that 4th and 1 play?
Minnesota coach PJ Fleck: “You make decisions throughout the game, and if you look at any head coach, there are calls that, if they work out, are viewed as great decisions. If they don’t, then those calls come under scrutiny.
You make choices in the heat of the moment based on what you believe is right. Regardless, we still need to execute defensively. When it comes to going for a single yard, those are the kinds of decisions that have to be made. Ultimately, we have to execute, and we didn’t do that, which falls on me.”
With Signing Day approaching next week and plans to reduce the roster to 105 players ahead of the next season, how is the approach to roster building changing for you, Marcus, and Gerrit?
Minnesota coach PJ Fleck: “First off, Gerrit Chernoff (General Manager) and Marcus Hendrickson (Director of Player Personnel) are doing an outstanding job. Their roles have evolved; it’s not about adding more staff to help them. They have taken on additional responsibilities, and I have great trust in both of them.
Throughout the season, we have numerous discussions, especially as we approach Signing Day. It’s not only about the day itself; we’re also focused on future roster planning. I’ve met with many players during the bye week and will continue to do so after the Wisconsin game and into the next week. This helps gauge our retention.
Once we understand the retention and see who signs on Signing Day, we can then look at potential additions from the transfer portal.
This process is ongoing. It used to be a clear cutoff after high school recruiting ended, but now it flows continuously into summer. Adapting to this changing environment is crucial. Gerrit and Marcus are great at maintaining an open-minded approach, allowing us to navigate what we can control and what we can’t.
It’s all about how we respond and what we have ready to go. They excel at that.”
Do you prefer the Signing Day scheduled for next week, or would you rather return to the format from previous years?
Minnesota Coach PJ Fleck: “I prefer the current timing.
There are other aspects we could discuss regarding my feelings about it, but this particular timing isn’t significant to me. I like it being in early December, especially since it allows us to know who’s committing. The whole NLI aspect doesn’t really apply anymore, which is what makes it unique.
When people discuss college football nowadays, they often compare it to the NFL, suggesting it’s adopting an NFL model. However, it’s not like the NFL at all. The NFL has a collective bargaining agreement and a true salary cap designed to ensure all 32 teams have a chance to win the Super Bowl—perhaps once every 32 years.
While some teams win more frequently, the structure is meant to balance competition, unlike college football, which lacks a salary cap. With the introduction of NIL, there are no limitations, which complicates things. We need to continuously evaluate how to improve regulations for everyone involved as we move forward.
In the NFL, different elements are handled at various times, allowing a focused approach. In college football, everything happens simultaneously, especially leading up to the summer, which makes it distinct from the NFL.”
What stands out to you about this Wisconsin team?
Minnesota Coach PJ Fleck: “We’re still assessing them since it’s only Monday, but it feels more like Tuesday.
What stands out is their ability to score quickly. They have a very explosive offense, with their receivers performing exceptionally well. The quarterback excels at fitting the ball into tight spaces and is quite mobile. Their offensive line is large and athletic, and they run the ball effectively. They have two impressive running backs, with freshman #13 (Darrion Dupree) being particularly talented. #3 (Tawee Walker) is also noteworthy as he previously played with Marcus Major at Oklahoma and is adept at breaking tackles.
The quarterback not only makes precise throws but is also athletic and capable of running.
Defensively, they are big, strong, and physical—characteristics typical of a Wisconsin team. They swarm to the ball, create turnovers, and are well-coached.
We need to play our best game. That’s the key message for our team: to learn from our first 11 games and apply those lessons in this one.”
Dan Lanning took a unique approach to the “Jump Around” tradition earlier this year. Is this something you plan to adopt as well?
Minnesota coach PJ Fleck responded: “We’ll handle it the way we always have. Coach Lanning is certainly an entertaining guy, but I think his approach might reflect his unfamiliarity with the environment coming into the league.
We have the opportunity to experience it regularly. It’s part of our daily practice routine, so we’re always preparing for it. There will surely be plenty of people participating, but we’ll focus on preparing for the next drive.”
Regarding the left tackle throwback play, is there anything you wish you could change with the benefit of hindsight?
Fleck stated: “No, I don’t regret any decisions because you make those calls based on the information available at the time. We prepare all week for those situations.
Did we execute it? No.
Did Max make a wise choice to throw it away? Absolutely.
Sometimes calls don’t work out as planned. The lateral flea flicker was effective, and if it hadn’t worked, it would have been a poor call. But we scored a touchdown from it.
Facing Penn State’s red zone defense, one of the best in the nation, at the nine-yard line is challenging, so you need to have options. We believed it was a solid choice.
We still managed to score points, and we held them to field goals as well. We forced them into tough decisions; if they didn’t succeed, they would have had a lot of questions to answer.
I typically don’t have regrets. I learn from my experiences but don’t dwell on past decisions. The information you have at the moment guides your choices, and you can’t look back. The game unfolds naturally, and you lack the benefit of hindsight.
After every game, you might reflect and see a couple of calls that could have gone another way, but we got the look we wanted. It was a high-pressure situation, with man coverage, but they dropped #11 in a way they hadn’t done all season. They caught us off guard, and we threw it away, allowing us to see a third down, where we ultimately didn’t execute. It’s all about execution.”
Do you have a newfound appreciation for NFL general managers now that you’re discussing player retention with your own athletes and salary distribution with your staff regarding positions?
Minnesota coach PJ Fleck responded, “That’s a great question, Ryan. People have been asking me what has changed. The head coaching role has evolved; it’s not just about being a head coach anymore. While you used to wear many hats, it now includes responsibilities typical of a general manager and other roles, such as that of a president. Everything continues to pile on without anything being removed from the job.
It’s definitely added complexity. It’s not that I didn’t respect the role before, but these conversations in college football are different from what we’re having now. Everyone is adjusting to these changes. It’s not just a new respect for NFL GMs; those of us in this profession understand what their roles entail. However, when you have to manage those responsibilities along with everything else, that’s why roles in NFL organizations are specialized: the GM, head coach, and president of operations each have distinct functions.
In college football, we’re trying to implement various changes, and while some programs can afford to expand their staff or build new facilities, I’m not sure about the direction we’ll take moving forward. For instance, Gerrit Chernoff’s role has become more extensive, as has Marcus Hendrickson’s, and everyone in recruiting is taking on additional responsibilities. I want to emphasize that having these types of discussions is new for us this year. Just like with the introduction of NIL and the transfer portal, we’ll learn and adapt over the years. It’s a unique situation, that’s for sure.”
His closing remarks at the press conference included: “I never used to hear: ‘Coach, I think you should talk to my agent.’ Now I understand how Mark Coyle feels.
Row the Boat. Ski-U-Mah. Go Gophers and Happy Thanksgiving!”
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