How did his star fade? He played a WI team and it looked like a directional MAC team belonged on the same field to me.

Since the Gopher's interests do not conflict with UC's interests, I wish Fleck well in Minnesota.

For a variety of reasons, I am very happy that we have Fickell.

(01-06-2017 09:22 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Since the Gopher's interests do not conflict with UC's interests, I wish Fleck well in Minnesota.

For a variety of reasons, I am very happy that we have Fickell.

Agreed. We've seen the Fleck show. Ambitious outsider comes in, we hope he does well, fully expecting him to leave at the first opportunity. Rinse, repeat. Fickell seems to be building something different. Do I expect him to stay? No. I'm setting my expectations low and won't be surprised if he bolts for Virginia or some other mediocre P5 program in a few years. But it's refreshing to see a guy come in here who understands how to build a program in Ohio. He has a vision that seems to go beyond the bullet points on his resume. Is it all smoke and mirrors? Maybe. Time will tell. But I'm more interested to see how the Fickell story plays out at UC than I would be for a guy like Fleck.

The list is long of failed coaching careers in both fball and bball for the Go-fers. Good luck in the frozen dearth that is Minnesota. Call Jerry Lundergard Fleck if you need anything.

(01-06-2017 08:37 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  We tend to turn on the gals who turned down our advances. He would have succeeded here under his current blueprint...a different method than CLF will. No way Fleck would have put together a staff like we are currently. He'll do as well as you can at MN.

This is fair. I honestly hope Fleck succeeds but I think he is doing what too many MAC guys do and take the first P5 job that comes along. I hope Minnesota is a good fit and he gets that program competing regularly with Wisconsin and Nebraska and it's a better job than the bottom feeder Big Ten East jobs (just due to competition in West), but I think a lot of talented coaches fail because they take an incredibly hard job that would take a few times a decade caliber coaches to succeed at. Maybe Fleck is one of the best coaches in football and can find a way to succeed at Minnesota in a big way, but I think it takes someone like that to turn the tide. Nobody succeeded at KState before Snyder. Indiana has been a trainwreck though they've had some moderate recent success. Only Tiller managed to get Purdue to a conference championship competing level. It's a slam dunk hire for Minnesota. He's built a program from bottom up and broke through with recruits above the school's normal level... that's what he'll need to do a Minnesota. I just know a lot of talented coaches go to die because the job they take is one where only a tiny percent of coaches can succeed.

I think most coaches would be wise to either hold out for safer jobs, or take an intermediate step to a program you can win big at and will attract better offers, but isn't P5.

(01-06-2017 09:57 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(01-06-2017 08:37 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  We tend to turn on the gals who turned down our advances. He would have succeeded here under his current blueprint...a different method than CLF will. No way Fleck would have put together a staff like we are currently. He'll do as well as you can at MN.

This is fair. I honestly hope Fleck succeeds but I think he is doing what too many MAC guys do and take the first P5 job that comes along. I hope Minnesota is a good fit and he gets that program competing regularly with Wisconsin and Nebraska and it's a better job than the bottom feeder Big Ten East jobs (just due to competition in West), but I think a lot of talented coaches fail because they take an incredibly hard job that would take a few times a decade caliber coaches to succeed at. Maybe Fleck is one of the best coaches in football and can find a way to succeed at Minnesota in a big way, but I think it takes someone like that to turn the tide. Nobody succeeded at KState before Snyder. Indiana has been a trainwreck though they've had some moderate recent success. Only Tiller managed to get Purdue to a conference championship competing level. It's a slam dunk hire for Minnesota. He's built a program from bottom up and broke through with recruits above the school's normal level... that's what he'll need to do a Minnesota. I just know a lot of talented coaches go to die because the job they take is one where only a tiny percent of coaches can succeed.

Very good points, but I think building something in the MAC is much easier than building something in the Big 10. The MAC has coaching turnover every 3 years where winning teams disappear and new contenders emerge. He will have to go up against Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa and the fighting Pat Fitzgerald's to sniff a conference title game where he will likely get beat by a juggernaut like OSU or Michigan.

I'm not sure if his oars can row through all of that.

Minnesota just fired a coach who went 9-4 with a bowl win because he sided with the players over the administration. Now you have players saying they don't care who the coach is they are not playing for the administration. That place is a cesspool right now. Fleck might need to clear the whole roster and start over. Or maybe he can row row row his boat to get everyone on board.

Can't believe how far Les Miles' stock has fallen. Fleck and Miles interview at Minnesota and they go with Fleck?

(01-06-2017 10:01 AM)Racinejake Wrote:  Minnesota just fired a coach who went 9-4 with a bowl win because he sided with the players over the administration. Now you have players saying they don't care who the coach is they are not playing for the administration. That place is a cesspool right now. Fleck might need to clear the whole roster and start over. Or maybe he can row row row his boat to get everyone on board.

The first part is a reason this might work. Jerry Kill did some great work laying the foundation at Minnesota and it has continued since he left. If Fleck can hold the guys there and break through himself with some recruits, Minnesota could be a program that can compete in the West.

(01-06-2017 10:06 AM)AeroCat Wrote:  Can't believe how far Les Miles' stock has fallen. Fleck and Miles interview at Minnesota and they go with Fleck?

Les may be seen as Tommy Tuberville type at this point. Older guy, past his prime who may have trouble winning at a non-blue blood type school.

(01-06-2017 10:08 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(01-06-2017 10:06 AM)AeroCat Wrote:  Can't believe how far Les Miles' stock has fallen. Fleck and Miles interview at Minnesota and they go with Fleck?

Les may be seen as Tommy Tuberville type at this point. Older guy, past his prime who may have trouble winning at a non-blue blood type school.

Oddly enough they'll both be behind a desk on Saturday mornings this fall.

(01-06-2017 10:06 AM)AeroCat Wrote:  Can't believe how far Les Miles' stock has fallen. Fleck and Miles interview at Minnesota and they go with Fleck?

Reports came out stating Miles was at his daughters basketball game, and not interviewing for a job. Not sure which is true though.

Wish Fleck all the best and hope he succeeds up there in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Better than an Iowa St. or Kansas gig. He may need to change his "row the boat" to "break the ice" or "plow the snow" though.

(01-06-2017 10:48 AM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Wish Fleck all the best and hope he succeeds up there in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Better than an Iowa St. or Kansas gig. He may need to change his "row the boat" to "break the ice" or "plow the snow" though.

How about, "choke the Gopher"?

(01-06-2017 12:09 PM)JackieTreehorn Wrote:  

(01-06-2017 10:48 AM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Wish Fleck all the best and hope he succeeds up there in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Better than an Iowa St. or Kansas gig. He may need to change his "row the boat" to "break the ice" or "plow the snow" though.

How about, "choke the Gopher"?

Isn't that the game that got multiple players suspended?

(01-06-2017 12:32 PM)cpawfan Wrote:  

(01-06-2017 12:09 PM)JackieTreehorn Wrote:  

(01-06-2017 10:48 AM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Wish Fleck all the best and hope he succeeds up there in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Better than an Iowa St. or Kansas gig. He may need to change his "row the boat" to "break the ice" or "plow the snow" though.

How about, "choke the Gopher"?

Isn't that the game that got multiple players suspended?

(01-06-2017 12:09 PM)JackieTreehorn Wrote:  

(01-06-2017 10:48 AM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Wish Fleck all the best and hope he succeeds up there in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Better than an Iowa St. or Kansas gig. He may need to change his "row the boat" to "break the ice" or "plow the snow" though.

How about, "choke the Gopher"?

That can be interpreted in several ways...

(01-06-2017 12:09 PM)JackieTreehorn Wrote:  

(01-06-2017 10:48 AM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Wish Fleck all the best and hope he succeeds up there in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Better than an Iowa St. or Kansas gig. He may need to change his "row the boat" to "break the ice" or "plow the snow" though.

How about, "choke the Gopher"?

Hilarious. You are a clever but sick man Jackie. And a known pornographer.

(01-06-2017 09:39 AM)MickMack Wrote:  

(01-06-2017 09:22 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Since the Gopher's interests do not conflict with UC's interests, I wish Fleck well in Minnesota.

For a variety of reasons, I am very happy that we have Fickell.

Agreed. We've seen the Fleck show. Ambitious outsider comes in, we hope he does well, fully expecting him to leave at the first opportunity. Rinse, repeat. Fickell seems to be building something different. Do I expect him to stay? No. I'm setting my expectations low and won't be surprised if he bolts for Virginia or some other mediocre P5 program in a few years. But it's refreshing to see a guy come in here who understands how to build a program in Ohio. He has a vision that seems to go beyond the bullet points on his resume. Is it all smoke and mirrors? Maybe. Time will tell. But I'm more interested to see how the Fickell story plays out at UC than I would be for a guy like Fleck.

I watched the interview with Fickell, then saw the news about Fleck. I tried to imagine my reaction to a Fleck interview that would have been chock full of catch phrases and coach speak, and I became even more pleased with the guy we have leading our program.

(01-06-2017 01:51 PM)geef Wrote:  I watched the interview with Fickell, then saw the news about Fleck. I tried to imagine my reaction to a Fleck interview that would have been chock full of catch phrases and coach speak, and I became even more pleased with the guy we have leading our program.

Amen. I really appreciate how authentic Fickell is.