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Kathy was at BB game last night. Very calm and collected talking to dozens. One person she talked to indicated a "great hire" was coming. Take that for what its worth. All coaches are in Nashville. My hunch is she has nationwide interest. If you are a candidate you can't just leave the convention for a day or two or the school you currently coach get nervous. All these assistant hires this week are thru the convention.

One glaring thing that catches my eye is the Ringleader promoter PJ was absent at the ESPN round table. That opportunity can not be passed up at Minnesota which gets about the same exposure as Western nationwide when we win 8 games. I saw the coaches awards show and Fleck was nominated but never saw him on the screen. Is this guy out contacting B10 recruits nationwide under the chins of these guys stuck in Nashville. It's all a TMZ moment the last few days.

I was told Fleck was supposed to speak at the convention but was a no-show.

FWIW.

He was on schedule. I don't think he plays well with peers..

(01-11-2017 08:59 AM)fastbuicks Wrote:  He was on schedule. I don't think he plays well with peers..

I'd bet your new coach will be named today or tomorrow. Coaches convention is wrapped up and open recruiting period starts tomorrow. Not that long of a wait for you, all in all, just seems like it. It's a great situation for a new coach to walk into, with the one major caveat that in year one it's pretty hard to improve on your last year.

Fleck cancelled the ESPN title game roundtable because hiring his staff and getting things organized in MN had to be the higher priority, must be done by today. He did, however, speak at the convention yesterday (probably bc he was there anyway for staff interviews).

(01-11-2017 08:57 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  I was told Fleck was supposed to speak at the convention but was a no-show.

FWIW.

He wanted to speak at the convention, but he decided last minute to speak at a different slightly more prestigious convention. It was his "dream convention" and his calling, but he want's to thank the AFCA for all they were able to accomplish, he'll always be a fan.

(01-11-2017 08:57 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  I was told Fleck was supposed to speak at the convention but was a no-show.

FWIW.

No, this guy was live tweeting Fleck's speech

Fleck did speak yesterday. Its all over twitter. FYI. Also apparently talked a lot about RTB. Wonder if he is getting a bill from WMU today.

^ I was told incorrectly then. Not the first time.

(01-11-2017 09:58 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  ^ I was told incorrectly then. Not the first time.

you're killing me major, now my joke loses context

Hey, Fourth, do you really, really, really believe this guy when he states Minnesota was his DREAM job???????? In 4 years you'll be looking for another head coach

(01-11-2017 10:01 AM)broncojohnny Wrote:  Hey, Fourth, do you really, really, really believe this guy when he states Minnesota was his DREAM job???????? In 4 years you'll be looking for another head coach

I can't imagine Minnesota is anyone's dream job, but especially not a guy from Illinois who has never spoken of Minnesota when asked about his dream jobs in the past.

(01-11-2017 10:03 AM)Bronc33 Wrote:  

(01-11-2017 10:01 AM)broncojohnny Wrote:  Hey, Fourth, do you really, really, really believe this guy when he states Minnesota was his DREAM job???????? In 4 years you'll be looking for another head coach

I can't imagine Minnesota is anyone's dream job, but especially not a guy from Illinois who has never spoken of Minnesota when asked about his dream jobs in the past.

His tone was much the same when he landed the WMU gig... Hes going to say what he needs to say to get the supporters fired up and the recruits believing his longevity at the position... coach speak.

(01-11-2017 10:05 AM)flushtheherd Wrote:  

(01-11-2017 10:03 AM)Bronc33 Wrote:  

(01-11-2017 10:01 AM)broncojohnny Wrote:  Hey, Fourth, do you really, really, really believe this guy when he states Minnesota was his DREAM job???????? In 4 years you'll be looking for another head coach

I can't imagine Minnesota is anyone's dream job, but especially not a guy from Illinois who has never spoken of Minnesota when asked about his dream jobs in the past.

His tone was much the same when he landed the WMU gig... Hes going to say what he needs to say to get the supporters fired up and the recruits believing his longevity at the position... coach speak.

He's pretty good at that.

(01-11-2017 10:01 AM)broncojohnny Wrote:  Hey, Fourth, do you really, really, really believe this guy when he states Minnesota was his DREAM job???????? In 4 years you'll be looking for another head coach

LOL, of course not. I ask about the ND angle because for MN it would be replaying a very painful history (with Holtz) and because, like I said, moving within the conference would be unprecedented. Have heard Delaney has effectively forbidden that.

What's the story behind the custody situation and reports that he needs to stay in the midwest? Overblown, or some truth to that?

I'd add, I do believe him when he says it was his dream to coach in the B10. One reason it worked out for MN is that there were no other B10 jobs besides Purdue that looked to be opening in the next several years, so this was his shot to move. The discussions with MN (through Fleck's agent) appear to have been ongoing for some time, and interest expressed long before Claeys was fired. MN had a new AD this year and he had been working behind the scenes to find a new coach pretty much all year. Take it FWIW but on MN boards, rumors of Fleck's interest started popping up early in the season. A MN regent somewhat gave it away on twitter in mid-December.

(01-11-2017 10:40 AM)FourthandLong Wrote:  

(01-11-2017 10:01 AM)broncojohnny Wrote:  Hey, Fourth, do you really, really, really believe this guy when he states Minnesota was his DREAM job???????? In 4 years you'll be looking for another head coach

LOL, of course not, but the ND angle is interesting because like I said, moving within the conference would be pretty much unprecedented. Have heard Delaney has effectively forbidden that.

What's the story behind the custody situation and reports that he needs to stay in the midwest? Overblown, or some truth to that?

Overblown. PJ loves his kids, I'm sure he'll work out something with the ex-wife. Also, don't believe everything you read about why the marriage failed. PJ was a workaholic at a job he loves, the first wife couldn't abide the time and the travel. That's all there was to it.

(01-11-2017 10:42 AM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  

(01-11-2017 10:40 AM)FourthandLong Wrote:  

(01-11-2017 10:01 AM)broncojohnny Wrote:  Hey, Fourth, do you really, really, really believe this guy when he states Minnesota was his DREAM job???????? In 4 years you'll be looking for another head coach

LOL, of course not, but the ND angle is interesting because like I said, moving within the conference would be pretty much unprecedented. Have heard Delaney has effectively forbidden that.

What's the story behind the custody situation and reports that he needs to stay in the midwest? Overblown, or some truth to that?

Overblown. PJ loves his kids, I'm sure he'll work out something with the ex-wife. Also, don't believe everything you read about why the marriage failed. PJ was a workaholic at a job he loves, the first wife couldn't abide the time and the travel. That's all there was to it.

Not to mention his first wife likely getting a boost in alimony with his jump in salary! I'm sure that eased the conversation...

(01-11-2017 10:48 AM)flushtheherd Wrote:  

(01-11-2017 10:42 AM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  

(01-11-2017 10:40 AM)FourthandLong Wrote:  

(01-11-2017 10:01 AM)broncojohnny Wrote:  Hey, Fourth, do you really, really, really believe this guy when he states Minnesota was his DREAM job???????? In 4 years you'll be looking for another head coach

LOL, of course not, but the ND angle is interesting because like I said, moving within the conference would be pretty much unprecedented. Have heard Delaney has effectively forbidden that.

What's the story behind the custody situation and reports that he needs to stay in the midwest? Overblown, or some truth to that?

Overblown. PJ loves his kids, I'm sure he'll work out something with the ex-wife. Also, don't believe everything you read about why the marriage failed. PJ was a workaholic at a job he loves, the first wife couldn't abide the time and the travel. That's all there was to it.

Not to mention his first wife likely getting a boost in alimony with his jump in salary! I'm sure that eased the conversation...

PJ will be happy to discover that Alimony is tax deductible. When you're in that salary range every little bit helps.

Still so quiet... I wonder if we hear anything today... Need to start putting this thing back together!

(01-11-2017 11:22 AM)flushtheherd Wrote:  Still so quiet... I wonder if we hear anything today... Need to start putting this thing back together!

Expect to hear the hire of Les Miles in next 24 hours.

Darius Phillips put in his endorsement for Ed Pinkham on Twitter.