Being PJ Fleck - Anybody else feel like it is a free infomercial?

[DG10]

Just curious...as I have pretty strong thoughts on the matter.

I admittedly enjoy the show and really enjoy PJ Fleck...but, at least in my mind, it is a HUGE recruiting tool and advantage...he is a master at finding loopholes and grey areas in which to operate, which is something likely necessary to try to achieve what he is trying to achieve at a place like Minnesota.

I am sure that a similar show could be done on/about/with other coaches certainly, and some may not be interested...and others may not even need to do it (to the extent that Peck may), but it is a potential significant advantage I feel and I am surprised that there has not been push back by other coaches (and I am SHOCKED that Harbaugh has not already done his own show in response).

He is one of the best in the business at "talking the talk"...and, he has been fairly good thus far at "walking the walk"...I almost wish there had been a "Being Darrell Hazell" show to display the significant difference...will be interesting to see what he does at Minnesota...no denying the guy has a pretty good background/backstory, and, that he is someone that has had some great opportunities and success as a result of his effort and drive.

 

[FearTheTrain]

Fleck does seem cool and he can definitely recruit/promote his schools brand. I wanted him to be our next coach. However, after the offseason and watching interviews I think Brohm is a much better fit for us and will be very successful in WL. Results will speak for themselves in a few years and Minnesota will improve faster than Purdue, but (if we are patient) we will have better long-term success. I cant wait to see our offense putting up a ton of points again.

 

[DG10]

Fleck does seem cool and he can definitely recruit/promote his schools brand. I wanted him to be our next coach. However, after the offseason and watching interviews I think Brohm is a much better fit for us and will be very successful in WL. Results will speak for themselves in a few years and Minnesota will improve faster than Purdue, but (if we are patient) we will have better long-term success. I cant wait to see our offense putting up a ton of points again.

I would agree that Brohm is a better fit for Purdue...although I don't know that he has the upside that Fleck does...that said, I see Fleck using Minnesota as a stepping stone opposed to looking to actually build a program, whereas I can see Brohm doing just that at Purdue and sticking around.

 

[boiler800]

Fleck does seem cool and he can definitely recruit/promote his schools brand. I wanted him to be our next coach. However, after the offseason and watching interviews I think Brohm is a much better fit for us and will be very successful in WL. Results will speak for themselves in a few years and Minnesota will improve faster than Purdue, but (if we are patient) we will have better long-term success. I cant wait to see our offense putting up a ton of points again.

Minnesota won 9 games last year. They will do worse this year. Mark it down. Take it to the bank that Minnesota does worse this year than last year, and Purdue does better.

 

[TwinDegrees2]

Minnesota won 9 games last year. They will do worse this year. Mark it down. Take it to the bank that Minnesota does worse this year than last year, and Purdue does better.

Pretty good odds for you 800.

 

[JohnnyDoeBoiler]

If Brohm wins and starts racking up recruits and more wins every year...the cameras and ESPN/Fox Sports will follow. That's why PJ has become a star...because he turned a traditional blah MAC program in to a two year star....

 

[purdue91]

I love how he is given credit his high school's first state championship. LOL

 

[boilerbusdriver]

If the tables were turned, I don't see Brohm fitting in Minnesota and Fleck not fitting in here. Brohm is a no nonsense, grinder, happy to go home to a nice quiet meal with family. Fleck I believe really likes the action and lights of the Twin cities, hitting up cool restaurants, being seen. Nothing wrong with either scenario, to whatever they choose.......I'm just glad we got Brohm and company, and soon enough will be kickin' little PJ's @$$!!

 

[Boiler Wolf]

I'm worried about Fleck at Minnie. We don't need another team not named Wisconsin or Nebraska being decent in the West at the same time as us.

 

[fentonboiler]

Fleck will do well @ Minnesota and eventually leave in the next 5-7 years for a BIGGER program.

For some reason, I see him winding up at ND.

 

[JohnnyDoeBoiler]

Fleck will do well @ Minnesota and eventually leave in the next 5-7 years for a BIGGER program.

For some reason, I see him winding up at ND.

Minnesota has the resources and the money to keep him around. They'll come up with the money if need be...they did just throw around over a 1/4 billion dollars in to new facilities and that's not counting TCF Bank Stadium which is still less than 10 years old.

My guess is the money from having the Vikings there for two years is helping pay for these things.

 

[studed]

Minnesota won 9 games last year. They will do worse this year. Mark it down. Take it to the bank that Minnesota does worse this year than last year, and Purdue does better.

yes they wil win less. btn said it is the first time they have seen a coach take over a 9 win team and the team does not have 9 win talent on it. they said the only positions on the team with good talent and depth is rb and lb. the btn crew was shocked at the lack of talent.

 

[studed]

Fleck will do well @ Minnesota and eventually leave in the next 5-7 years for a BIGGER program.

For some reason, I see him winding up at ND.

if nd calls he would be gone in minute. he will leave if he gets the chance.

 

[Statey]

He is one of the best in the business at "talking the talk"...and, he has been fairly good thus far at "walking the walk"...I almost wish there had been a "Being Darrell Hazell" show to display the significant difference...

Well, there were those few in-office interviews that GBI did with Hazell where he would kick back in his leather chair and wax poetic on football, sharing knowledge with all of us (that's what it was in his mind anyway; to most people watching, it was total confusion as to how he struggled mightily to answer even the slowest pitched questions they gave him... when you know he had them in advance!?); I wish I'd saved those. Pure hilarity.

 

[SDBoiler1]

Fleck will do well @ Minnesota and eventually leave in the next 5-7 years for a BIGGER program.

For some reason, I see him winding up at ND.

Nope, he will fail at Minnesota. Book it.

Granted this is based on a snapshot in time, but on BTN, the commentators (from their roadshow visiting all the programs) said they were surprised at "how far behind Minnesota was as a team" under Fleck at this point in training camp. Much more than what they expected. They also said they were pleasantly surprised at what they saw from Purdue under Brohm already. They said they thought he team "looked ahead of schedule".

What this tells me, while Fleck is wasting time on his motivational stuff and running around like a madman in practice, Brohm is doing the hard work of getting his team ready to play. Brohm has chopped out the distractions - he's about winning and winning out-of-the-gate, in the middle of the season, and at the end of the season. He's about winning this year, next year, the year after, and every year.

Fleck and Hazell are cut from the same cloth in multiple ways. I just don't think Fleck and his staff are as good of coaches as Brohm and his staff.

 

[JohnnyDoeBoiler]

Nope, he will fail at Minnesota. Book it.

Granted this is based on a snapshot in time, but on BTN, the commentators (from their roadshow visiting all the programs) said they were surprised at "how far behind Minnesota was as a team" under Fleck at this point in training camp. Much more than what they expected. They also said they were pleasantly surprised at what they saw from Purdue under Brohm already. They said they thought he team "looked ahead of schedule".

What this tells me, while Fleck is wasting time on his motivational stuff and running around like a madman in practice, Brohm is doing the hard work of getting his team ready to play. Brohm has chopped out the distractions - he's about winning and winning out-of-the-gate, in the middle of the season, and at the end of the season. He's about winning this year, next year, the year after, and every year.

Fleck and Hazell are cut from the same cloth in multiple ways. I just don't think Fleck and his staff are as good of coaches as Brohm and his staff.

You are talking about a guy that totally blew up his program at WMU by shooting down all scholarship offers when he became HC and I believe he RS'd all those incoming freshman. That first season went 1-11 for WMU but we all know how everything went from there. I'll believe the pundits a little more about their analysis on Minny as I am not really knowledgeable about them...but I just can't believe Claeys was fired as he appeared to have the ability to take what Jerry Kill had done and sustain it.

 

[SDBoiler1]

You are talking about a guy that totally blew up his program at WMU by shooting down all scholarship offers when he became HC and I believe he RS'd all those incoming freshman. That first season went 1-11 for WMU but we all know how everything went from there. I'll believe the pundits a little more about their analysis on Minny as I am not really knowledgeable about them...but I just can't believe Claeys was fired as he appeared to have the ability to take what Jerry Kill had done and sustain it.

Claeys wasn't a sexy choice for HC but would have done a good job for them. After their scandal, the AD manufactured a reason to can Claeys. I think Minnesota is going to regret firing a guy who went 9-4 and won a bowl game against Washington State. The Gophers hadn't won 9 games since Glen Mason was coaching (circa 2004 or 2005).

 

[Indy_Rider]

Nope, he will fail at Minnesota. Book it.

Granted this is based on a snapshot in time, but on BTN, the commentators (from their roadshow visiting all the programs) said they were surprised at "how far behind Minnesota was as a team" under Fleck at this point in training camp. Much more than what they expected. They also said they were pleasantly surprised at what they saw from Purdue under Brohm already. They said they thought he team "looked ahead of schedule".

What this tells me, while Fleck is wasting time on his motivational stuff and running around like a madman in practice, Brohm is doing the hard work of getting his team ready to play. Brohm has chopped out the distractions - he's about winning and winning out-of-the-gate, in the middle of the season, and at the end of the season. He's about winning this year, next year, the year after, and every year.

Fleck and Hazell are cut from the same cloth in multiple ways. I just don't think Fleck and his staff are as good of coaches as Brohm and his staff.

I think Fleck's methods have a definite ceiling and wondered how high he could go before his methods switched from motivational to just crazy and players start tuning him out.

 

[Indy_Rider]

You are talking about a guy that totally blew up his program at WMU by shooting down all scholarship offers when he became HC and I believe he RS'd all those incoming freshman. That first season went 1-11 for WMU but we all know how everything went from there. I'll believe the pundits a little more about their analysis on Minny as I am not really knowledgeable about them...but I just can't believe Claeys was fired as he appeared to have the ability to take what Jerry Kill had done and sustain it.

Fleck also lucked into the QB he had that was just steady and consistent. The QB was there when Fleck was hired, and his numbers were pretty consistent the entire time under Fleck. That's what flipped me from the Fleck to Brohm bandwagon, Brohm has had success with different QB's and has shown a definite track record of them improving under him.

 

[FirstDownB]

Fleck also lucked into the QB he had that was just steady and consistent. The QB was there when Fleck was hired, and his numbers were pretty consistent the entire time under Fleck. That's what flipped me from the Fleck to Brohm bandwagon, Brohm has had success with different QB's and has shown a definite track record of them improving under him.

And don't forget this year's fifth overall pick in the NFL draft.

 

[PurdueRx]

Just curious...as I have pretty strong thoughts on the matter.

I admittedly enjoy the show and really enjoy PJ Fleck...but, at least in my mind, it is a HUGE recruiting tool and advantage...he is a master at finding loopholes and grey areas in which to operate, which is something likely necessary to try to achieve what he is trying to achieve at a place like Minnesota.

I am sure that a similar show could be done on/about/with other coaches certainly, and some may not be interested...and others may not even need to do it (to the extent that Peck may), but it is a potential significant advantage I feel and I am surprised that there has not been push back by other coaches (and I am SHOCKED that Harbaugh has not already done his own show in response).

He is one of the best in the business at "talking the talk"...and, he has been fairly good thus far at "walking the walk"...I almost wish there had been a "Being Darrell Hazell" show to display the significant difference...will be interesting to see what he does at Minnesota...no denying the guy has a pretty good background/backstory, and, that he is someone that has had some great opportunities and success as a result of his effort and drive.

Just curious...as I have pretty strong thoughts on the matter.

I admittedly enjoy the show and really enjoy PJ Fleck...but, at least in my mind, it is a HUGE recruiting tool and advantage...he is a master at finding loopholes and grey areas in which to operate, which is something likely necessary to try to achieve what he is trying to achieve at a place like Minnesota.

I am sure that a similar show could be done on/about/with other coaches certainly, and some may not be interested...and others may not even need to do it (to the extent that Peck may), but it is a potential significant advantage I feel and I am surprised that there has not been push back by other coaches (and I am SHOCKED that Harbaugh has not already done his own show in response).

He is one of the best in the business at "talking the talk"...and, he has been fairly good thus far at "walking the walk"...I almost wish there had been a "Being Darrell Hazell" show to display the significant difference...will be interesting to see what he does at Minnesota...no denying the guy has a pretty good background/backstory, and, that he is someone that has had some great opportunities and success as a result of his effort and drive.

PJ is an ass, he wouldn't even

Just curious...as I have pretty strong thoughts on the matter.

I admittedly enjoy the show and really enjoy PJ Fleck...but, at least in my mind, it is a HUGE recruiting tool and advantage...he is a master at finding loopholes and grey areas in which to operate, which is something likely necessary to try to achieve what he is trying to achieve at a place like Minnesota.

I am sure that a similar show could be done on/about/with other coaches certainly, and some may not be interested...and others may not even need to do it (to the extent that Peck may), but it is a potential significant advantage I feel and I am surprised that there has not been push back by other coaches (and I am SHOCKED that Harbaugh has not already done his own show in response).

He is one of the best in the business at "talking the talk"...and, he has been fairly good thus far at "walking the walk"...I almost wish there had been a "Being Darrell Hazell" show to display the significant difference...will be interesting to see what he does at Minnesota...no denying the guy has a pretty good background/backstory, and, that he is someone that has had some great opportunities and success as a result of his effort and drive.

PJ is an ass. He wouldn't even talk to Purdue because he thought the job was beneath him.

 

[DG10]

PJ is an ass, he wouldn't even

PJ is an ass. He wouldn't even talk to Purdue because he thought the job was beneath him.

And, it may prove to have been true...there was absolutely nothing at all appealing about the Purdue job, never mind to someone looking to do the things that he is looking to do...whether those are realistic or not is an entirely different matter.

Fleck was not in it for the long haul...at least not at Purdue (or Minnesota for that matter).

PJ would have talked to Purdue if Purdue had been willing to pay him to do so...not saying that was right or wrong...if he was THE guy in their mind, then, they should have paid him...if not, then so be it...if he turns out to be near as good as he expects and some others as well, then it may prove to have not been a great decision.

Brohm is a better fit for Purdue...but that has more to do with Purdue in a lot of ways than it does Brohm. Fleck may have been great for Purdue as well though.

It will be interesting to see what happens for him at Minnesota.

 

[DG10]

Nope, he will fail at Minnesota. Book it.

Granted this is based on a snapshot in time, but on BTN, the commentators (from their roadshow visiting all the programs) said they were surprised at "how far behind Minnesota was as a team" under Fleck at this point in training camp. Much more than what they expected. They also said they were pleasantly surprised at what they saw from Purdue under Brohm already. They said they thought he team "looked ahead of schedule".

What this tells me, while Fleck is wasting time on his motivational stuff and running around like a madman in practice, Brohm is doing the hard work of getting his team ready to play. Brohm has chopped out the distractions - he's about winning and winning out-of-the-gate, in the middle of the season, and at the end of the season. He's about winning this year, next year, the year after, and every year.

Fleck and Hazell are cut from the same cloth in multiple ways. I just don't think Fleck and his staff are as good of coaches as Brohm and his staff.

A couple of things.

First, and foremost, the same commentators raved about the hiring of Hazell and what he had done...and the same for Hope for that matter...so, it is not exactly the gospel.

Second, Brohm being ahead of schedule has more to do with the failures of the clown that preceded him than Brohm...the bar is SO low for Purdue, the mere fact that there is some signs of anything other than complete ineptitude is advancement and progress.

Finally, I know those close to the program and around the program and that cover the program (never mind follow the program) do not appear to share the same sentiment regarding Fleck.

 

[SDBoiler1]

And, it may prove to have been true...there was absolutely nothing at all appealing about the Purdue job, never mind to someone looking to do the things that he is looking to do...whether those are realistic or not is an entirely different matter.

Fleck was not in it for the long haul...at least not at Purdue (or Minnesota for that matter).

PJ would have talked to Purdue if Purdue had been willing to pay him to do so...not saying that was right or wrong...if he was THE guy in their mind, then, they should have paid him...if not, then so be it...if he turns out to be near as good as he expects and some others as well, then it may prove to have not been a great decision.

Brohm is a better fit for Purdue...but that has more to do with Purdue in a lot of ways than it does Brohm. Fleck may have been great for Purdue as well though.

It will be interesting to see what happens for him at Minnesota.

Fleck would have been a disaster for Purdue.

Your assertion that PJ wouldn't talk to Purdue is fallacious. The search committee did talk to Fleck and they didn't like what he had to say - the interview did not go well at all - Bobinski and Berghoff backed off on Fleck, not the other way around.

 

[PurdueRx]

And, it may prove to have been true...there was absolutely nothing at all appealing about the Purdue job, never mind to someone looking to do the things that he is looking to do...whether those are realistic or not is an entirely different matter.

Fleck was not in it for the long haul...at least not at Purdue (or Minnesota for that matter).

PJ would have talked to Purdue if Purdue had been willing to pay him to do so...not saying that was right or wrong...if he was THE guy in their mind, then, they should have paid him...if not, then so be it...if he turns out to be near as good as he expects and some others as well, then it may prove to have not been a great decision.

Brohm is a better fit for Purdue...but that has more to do with Purdue in a lot of ways than it does Brohm. Fleck may have been great for Purdue as well though.

It will be interesting to see what happens for him at Minnesota.

According to Bobinski, PJ would not talk to anyone until after the bowl game, & Bobinski did not want to wait that long. And I disagree with the Purdue job not being appealing. It is a Big Ten school & Purdue was willing to pay about the same money that PJ ended up with at Minnesota. PJ ended up there because both Oregon & Baylor decided to pass on him. I think Minnesota was the last power 5 team to hire a new coach, so it was that or stay another year at Western Michigan. I do agree that Brohm is a better fit for Purdue, so I am kind of glad that PJ thought he was too good for Purdue.

 

[PurdueRx]

Fleck would have been a disaster for Purdue.

Your assertion that PJ wouldn't talk to Purdue is fallacious. The search committee did talk to Fleck and they didn't like what he had to say - the interview did not go well at all - Bobinski and Berghoff backed off on Fleck, not the other way around.

Mike Bobinski told me to my face that he did not talk to PJ. I pulled him aside at a Purdue fund raiser in South Bend.

 

[Indy_Rider]

Mike Bobinski told me to my face that he did not talk to PJ. I pulled him aside at a Purdue fund raiser in South Bend.

Well technically, you both could be right. As Bobinski wouldn't have had to talk to PJ for the search committee to have talked to him as we used a search firm.

 

[SDBoiler1]

Well technically, you both could be right. As Bobinski wouldn't have had to talk to PJ for the search committee to have talked to him as we used a search firm.

This is true.

 

[Indy_Rider]

I haven't heard though, has Minnesota officially changed from the Golden Gophers to the Rowing Flecks yet?

That was always one of my biggest concerns with Fleck, he's a bigger than the University guy. WMU, if you didn't know better you would've swore their mascot were oars man or something and it seems like Minnesota is heading down that river too now. From a University marketing and branding standpoint, it has to be a nightmare and if Fleck moves on again, he again takes the brand with him and you end up having to rebuild your identity.

 

[JohnnyDoeBoiler]

I am glad that Fleck didn't come to Purdue for a multitude of reasons but number one being this:

In the event that either Fleck or Brohm has success at Purdue, they will likely get some offers to go some where else to coach at a larger program. I am much more confident in the program that Brohm would leave rather than Fleck mainly due to Fleck's antics and BS he does. Brohm's stable and traditional approach is much more likely to be followed with success by the next coach rather than Fleck.

 

[SDBoiler1]

I am glad that Fleck didn't come to Purdue for a multitude of reasons but number one being this:

In the event that either Fleck or Brohm has success at Purdue, they will likely get some offers to go some where else to coach at a larger program. I am much more confident in the program that Brohm would leave rather than Fleck mainly due to Fleck's antics and BS he does. Brohm's stable and traditional approach is much more likely to be followed with success by the next coach rather than Fleck.

Brohm has young children and seems to want to set down roots. Here's hoping that they're in West Lafayette. He's come into a good situation. A school known for QBs and passing. A new AD determined to turn FB around. New facilities and more to come. A fanbase hungry for a winner. His brothers get to coach with him. Friends and family in Louisville aren't that far away. School is in the BIG, but is in the "easier" West Division. Great academics to sell recruits...

 

[Indy_Rider]

Brohm has young children and seems to want to set down roots. Here's hoping that they're in West Lafayette. He's come into a good situation. A school known for QBs and passing. A new AD determined to turn FB around. New facilities and more to come. A fanbase hungry for a winner. His brothers get to coach with him. Friends and family in Louisville aren't that far away. School is in the BIG, but is in the "easier" West Division. Great academics to sell recruits...

I agree and think Brohm is a pretty no nonsense coach, he says what he means and not going to bs you. He said turning around the program was a big draw for him. He followed Petrino so he probably feels like he doesn't get full credit for WKU success, at Purdue he has the opportunity to build it himself and not be in anyone's shadow anymore. I think that would be tough for him to walk away from.

 

[PurdueRx]

I am glad that Fleck didn't come to Purdue for a multitude of reasons but number one being this:

In the event that either Fleck or Brohm has success at Purdue, they will likely get some offers to go some where else to coach at a larger program. I am much more confident in the program that Brohm would leave rather than Fleck mainly due to Fleck's antics and BS he does. Brohm's stable and traditional approach is much more likely to be followed with success by the next coach rather than Fleck.

Hopefully, even with success, Purdue can do whatever it takes to keep Brohm. Some day, I would like to see Purdue talked about like people talk about Michigan & Ohio State. Look at Wisconsin, they were a door mat before Alvarez took over, & now they are a perennial power. What would Michigan State look like if they could have kept Saban?

 

[SDBoiler1]

Hopefully, even with success, Purdue can do whatever it takes to keep Brohm. Some day, I would like to see Purdue talked about like people talk about Michigan & Ohio State. Look at Wisconsin, they were a door mat before Alvarez took over, & now they are a perennial power. What would Michigan State look like if they could have kept Saban?

Good question, but Saint Nick wasn't a guy who would have stayed in East Lansing regardless. He went to the bigger name programs and won multiple NCs.