OT-ish: PJ Fleck gives Mike Hart and his family his best regards
https://twitter.com/CSayf23/status/1579609432925024260?s=20&t=JgEmnxfKiYUMQYsk63cXEw
Thought this was a classy move by Fleck to start his press conference off by wishing Hart and his family his best regards. It’s a little reminder of the stuff that is really important in life and thought it was worth sharing.
October 11th, 2022 at 9:18 AM ^
Fleck is a rah rah guy, but I don't get all the hate here for him.
I never hear about him doing anything wrong. I don't hear him whining. Maybe it's because we don't play Minnesota ever... But... I have no animosity towards them, yet I feel like I'm in the minority
October 11th, 2022 at 9:24 AM ^
The guy worships the ground reverend Tressel walks on. As a Michigan fan that’s a good starting point for not being his biggest fan. I personally admire him sticking with his team when could have bailed for a brinks truck of cash. But sending Hart his best shows there’s a hell of a lot more to life than a pigskin.
October 11th, 2022 at 10:59 AM ^
Worth noting Hart was a RB coach under Fleck for a couple years at WMU, so they have a personal relationship as well, similar to Tom Allen, when Hart was at IU.
October 11th, 2022 at 1:35 PM ^
This is the main takeaway here....the world of coaches and coaching circles is not that big.
There are a few notable coaching trees, some pretty raw and real bittenress amongst coaches (Harbaugh-Day, Saban-Jimbo) does exist, but even these are often related to competitive personalities and just seeing too much of each other on the field and in recruiting. The animosity also generally don't last a lifetime or even extend off the field.
Ultimately, coaches know how much work they all put into the job and have many shared if not direct relationships that ultimately lead to respect and concern for peers' well-being. And as all enveloping as the job probably feels at time, the rational coaches can manage to keep things like life and death in perspective.
Us fans are much more about loving ours and hating theirs. Of course, not many places are as disgusting as RCMB (where many were cheering Draymond punching Poole in the face or hoping for the worst for Mike Hart) but in general, even respectful fans are much less level headed towards opponents than those in the coaching circle. Coaching is their careers, after all, and many coach together and move around to new teams, etc. and who knows where their next opportunity or shared experience may lie.
October 11th, 2022 at 9:26 AM ^
I agree, maybe its another example of a vocal minority shouting out their opinions. But I have respected PJ since what he did at WMU.
Yes, his rah rah 100% go go attitude can rub some people the wrong way, but this right here is a better example of his character. There is no hidden agenda here, nothing to be gained from PJ for making such a nice gesture. Simply taking a nice moment to remember a fellow coach and wishing him well.
Since he has been at Minnesota, I have adopted them as a team to cheer for. Now a moment like this only further cements that feeling (except when we face them in the BIG TEN championship game this December, then I want to crush them on the field)
October 11th, 2022 at 9:29 AM ^
Agreed. I know last seasons game against OSU, I was a Michigan/Minnesota fan. So close.
October 11th, 2022 at 10:33 AM ^
I agree 100%. He is aType-A+ motormouth like Dabo and Jimbo, which is why many fans don't like him. BUT, unlike those two fraudulent phonies, PJ's energy and emotion is genuine and heartfelt. He's okay in my book. Classy move to shout out to Mike.
October 11th, 2022 at 9:30 AM ^
I believe it stems partially from being from the Tressel coaching tree, but from what I read about Fleck is that he is a class act even if a bit eccentric.
I read he makes his players sit in the front row of classes and prioritizes academics, makes them take off their hats in buildings, and makes them take stairs instead of elevators “for conditioning”.
I don’t have issues with him like I do Day, Urban, Franklin, or MSU coaches. He is a high energy, eccentric guy but seems to get what the game is really all about and I respect that.
October 11th, 2022 at 9:35 AM ^
Didn't realize the Tressel thing. That's fair, but we get over those things in time (Woody & Bo, etc..)
Tressel seems like a hate so long ago. We've had Day, Dantonio, Urban, Tucky Poo, etc... since.. feels SO long ago. Though still dislike him and his stupid sweaters. And his neat well-kept look that ignores the fact that he cheated and is revered for it. Guess I'm NOT over it!
October 11th, 2022 at 9:41 AM ^
Day looks like a jockhead douche who is eventually going to fry his synapses from seconhand beard dye fumes, but AFAIK hasn't done anything screamingly unethical, unlike Dantonio, Tressel, or Urbie
October 11th, 2022 at 11:12 AM ^
he's also been very supportive of his player's mental health and mental health awareness in general. As far as coaches at our rivals go, there's a lot worse out there than him.
October 11th, 2022 at 11:20 AM ^
Kehn, the key word in your comment, to me, is "screamingly".
I think it was the summer prior to the 2021 season, someone from OSU posted a video on social media - it may have been Twitter or IG. The video was of an OSU coach working with one of their players on a part of technique.
Now, the perspective might have been - "Hey, that's a great example of the OSU's coaching staff working with their players for individual needs." However, that interaction / coaching activity occurred during a period when coaches were prohibited from working with their players.
Harbaugh noted this activity and the social media posting in a press conference, and shortly thereafter Ryan Day mentioned "we're going to hang a hundred on them."
IMO, this was a violation of NCAA rules. And, of course, nothing ever arose from that.
Was it "screamingly unethical"? It depends on your definition - I wouldn't classify that as screamingly - but, I do view it as an NCAA infraction. Tressel and Urbie are in a class of their own.
October 11th, 2022 at 9:44 AM ^
I looked it up last week. I think part of it is that the "row the boat" thing came from EDIT: losing his newborn son to heart condition, not perservering through his wife's cancer. (Thanks DrJaws) Then he left his wife after she had another baby for a woman who may or may not be a former stripper. (only going by message boards.)
That said, the regards to Hart is a classy move.
October 11th, 2022 at 10:24 AM ^
Row the Boat came from the grieving process of losing his newborn son Colt to a heart condition.
His current wife worked at a car dealership (possible she was a stripper at some point in her life, but wasn't when she met him).
Other than that, the internet doesn't know why he and his first wife got divorced.
October 11th, 2022 at 10:32 AM ^
The reason for the divorce could very likely be that first sentence, it's very hard to get back to a normal life after the loss of a child like that.
October 11th, 2022 at 10:00 AM ^
Fleck is an odd case. I personally am way higher on his actual coaching abilities than most people on this board are. However, I think some people are jaded by some of his personality traits. Speaking of which…
I’ve lived in Kalamazoo for the last 8 years. 2 years ago I moved to a new neighborhood here in town. One of my neighbors runs in the same social circle as his ex. The message board rumors are predominantly true on that front. Another neighbor’s son played in the MAC and really wanted to play for his hometown team but one meeting with Fleck was enough to hate his guts for the rest of their lives.
There’s two sides to every story but he’s out there.
October 11th, 2022 at 10:34 AM ^
I lived in Kalamazoo for 12 years. his first year as head coach at WMU he rescinded a ton of scholarship offers just weeks before signing day ... then went 1-11. that rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. particularly since many of the kids WMU gets are local (Kalamazoo, Paw Paw etc.).
most of the "message board" stuff is total rumor.
the only thing we know is true is "row the boat" came from the grieving process of losing his son shortly after birth, that he met his current wife at a car dealership where she worked (no actual info she was a stripper or anything like that), and that they got married less than a year after the divorce was finalized from his first wife. the rest is 8-10 year old rumors and he said-she said.
October 11th, 2022 at 10:23 AM ^
This is perhaps unfair but I mostly do not like him because he receives way too much hype. I remember and article written about him when he was hired by Minnesota that essentially said "Fleck is Harbaugh but he is actually a good coach".
October 11th, 2022 at 10:43 AM ^
maybe the Vikings will hire PJ?
October 11th, 2022 at 10:43 AM ^
No animosity or hate. Just the things he does with his team can come off super cringey. Like how he has his staff and team sprint to the other side of the field after 1st and 3rd quarters. That seems like a cool thing to do when you’re coaching WMU to a 13-1 season but kinda weird when you’re getting your ass kicked at Minnesota by Michigan or Ohio State at the end of the 3rd quarter
October 11th, 2022 at 12:07 PM ^
Maybe i'm old, but that seems like the EXACT time to do it. Just because shit sucks or you're getting beat up, you don't need to tuck tail. I would agree on the holding up 4 fingers for the 4th quarter when youre down 90 pts and nobody cares.
But that seems like an effort/energy/LOE thing.
Reminds me of Nimmo on my beloved and forever f*ing losing Mets. He runs every grounder, HR, pop up, HARD. Never a hesitation. Never a jog. Doesnt matter if theyre down 10-0. I can appreciate that.
October 11th, 2022 at 12:29 PM ^
Mets hater here. But I do respect Nimmo for the reasons you mentioned. Fully committed. And Fleck appears to be the same. That doesn't mean Flecj is a great coach or a great man. But very few among us are truly great at anything.
October 11th, 2022 at 12:32 PM ^
Glad to see another long suffering Mets fan on this board…
October 11th, 2022 at 12:59 PM ^
completely agree. fleck isn’t my thing, generally, but i appreciate the “yeah, we’re getting beat but we work hard and don’t don’t hang our heads” approach. is it performative? sure. im okay with some of that stuff.
October 11th, 2022 at 1:28 PM ^
Ditto for Ichiro.
Loved watching those guys.
October 11th, 2022 at 11:22 AM ^
I didn't even really know there was animosity toward Fleck.
October 11th, 2022 at 12:09 PM ^
It's not animosity, more like not wanting to spend time with a try-hard football coach whose greatest accomplishment is one great season in the MAC and a catch phrase.
October 11th, 2022 at 1:27 PM ^
one great season in the MAC
Cumong man.
His second season at Minny Fleck went from 5-7 -> 7-6
At Minny.
Then followed that up with 11-2.
At Minny.
And threw in a 9-4 for good measure.
Fleck is also 3-0 in bowls.
Which is better than most of the B1G's recent bowl history.
Your opinion is certainly your right but Fleck can coach.
October 11th, 2022 at 1:55 PM ^
Fleck is also 3-0 in bowls.
Which is better than most of the B1G's recent bowl history.
He's done well, no doubt. But he's been aided by that fact that Minnesota has a terrible fanbase that doesn't travel, which causes them to regularly gets downgraded in bowl matchups - and thus get an easier opponent.
October 12th, 2022 at 10:49 AM ^
So the mantra around these parts lately is play your schedule...
But in your world, if it's Minny, that's a strike but if it's Michigan (ESPN Bottom 10 for OOC), that's okay.
Got it.
October 11th, 2022 at 4:55 PM ^
Congrats. Your boy dominates the B1G West. He's the Coldplay or Nickleback of P5 coaches.
October 12th, 2022 at 10:53 AM ^
Do you have a reasoned take -- like based on data or something?
October 12th, 2022 at 11:50 AM ^
What are we talking about exactly? That PJ Fleck is a transcendent coach or that he is under-appreciated by this board? I will reason that he is neither of these things. Nobody outside of a few posters on this thread thinks he will advance past this Minnesota position, let alone take Minnesota to Wisconsin levels of relevance.
October 11th, 2022 at 11:54 AM ^
He is the guy everyone else seems to dislike but if he was your coach you would like him, just like Harbaugh.
October 11th, 2022 at 1:23 PM ^
but I don't get all the hate here for him
100%
I wouldn't mind hearing some reasoned takes on it otherwise.
October 11th, 2022 at 3:31 PM ^
I'm with you... PJ is a good coach.... and he's had a few too many red bulls every day by 0900.... people just hate for the purpose of hating.
I see the hatred toward PJ the same as other fans hatred toward JH.... he's quirky and odd, so they hate on him... But he's OUR quirky and odd coach and we're 6-0, having gone nearly a full year without a conference loss.
October 11th, 2022 at 3:44 PM ^
The Rah Rah stuff rubs me the wrong way. In the Joe Milton game after Minny scored their first TD Fleck sprinted down the sideline like he just won the Super Bowl.
I guess I’m old school, I was taught to “act like you’ve been there before” and play it cool.
October 11th, 2022 at 4:10 PM ^
Supposedly, he rubs people the wrong way with his attitude and eccentricities. IIRC, Jerry Kill criticized him for how he went about settling in when he was hired.
October 11th, 2022 at 9:19 AM ^
Thanks for posting.
There are a lot of different perspectives about PJ. But, his taking a moment to do this, IMO, does reflect his nature and character. And, that is commendable.
You prepare and play to defeat your opponent - that's part of competition. But, you don't wish injury or ill on those you face.
Wishing the Gophers luck this weekend - it should be a good game in Champaign on Saturday (coincidentally) the same time as Michigan faces PSU, and on the Gophers trip to State College for that White Out next weekend.
October 11th, 2022 at 9:54 AM ^
I'm not an expert because we don't play them every year, but Fleck's teams don't seem to have the cheap shot mentality that his predecessors instilled. His self-promotion is a little cringey (imagine if Harbaugh's "who's got it better than us" was a decade-long mantra which got put on every piece of branding at every stop he made...), but I don't hold any real hate for the guy.
Bear with me for a second: I feel kinda the same way about Mel Tucker (/ducks). Sure he takes self-promotion to ridiculous levels. But. Guy takes over at MSU and INSTANTLY the Dantonio mentality vanishes. I haven't seen MSU try to injure opposing players. I haven't seen any kinds of stunts like making the team take the Spartan Walk later than scheduled in order to deliberately set up a physical confrontation with folks who are stretching. They've been a whole lot LESS Little Brother.
I'm frustrated that they've managed to beat us, but some of that falls on Harbaugh and staff for ANNUALLY rolling out some of the worst game planning ever conceived vs. MSU. But Mel Tucker doesn't seem like a very hatable coach.
October 11th, 2022 at 10:29 AM ^
I do not think many fans here dislike Tucker outside of the insane reality we live in where he is 2-0. Personally, I think he is a bad coach with a hilarious, damaging contract. I kind of pity him.
October 11th, 2022 at 10:48 AM ^
Really? A bad coach who wrangles a $95 million contract? I don't think he's the one to pity.
October 11th, 2022 at 12:46 PM ^
I pity his Sisyphean task but you are correct, he can cry himself to sleep on a giant pile of undeserved cash.
October 11th, 2022 at 10:46 AM ^
DP. Sorry.
October 11th, 2022 at 11:18 AM ^
October 11th, 2022 at 12:22 PM ^
I'm frustrated that they've managed to beat us, but some of that falls on Harbaugh and staff for ANNUALLY rolling out some of the worst game planning ever conceived vs. MSU
What was so bad about the gameplan last year? We had some issues getting set defensively against their tempo, but that was about it.
October 11th, 2022 at 3:33 PM ^
we should have hooked a few officials up with nicer hookers than lil' bro did....
October 11th, 2022 at 9:37 AM ^
Yes, a very classy thing for Fleck to do. And thanks for sharing that with this board. We can always use examples of laudable ways to think and behave.👍
October 11th, 2022 at 9:40 AM ^
Classy.
Minnesota knows a thing or two about seizures. Jerry Kill's struggles with epilepsy are well documented. He's a hell of a coach.
October 11th, 2022 at 9:48 AM ^
If you want to see what the alternative is, just head on over to RCMB and read the thread titled Bike Hart taken out on stretcher. Some good responses in there and some you'd expect from inbred mouth-breathers.