After getting destroyed by ILLINOIS PJ fired his DC.
Called him a dear friend. Probably doesn’t go both ways anymore.
Will Lester change any of his dear friends?
He did what was necessary. He put his big boy pants on and fired a guy whose defense let the worst Big Ten team hang 50 on him.
You don’t get to keep your job when these types lapses happen when your jobs quantitative results only show 12-13 times per year.
If Daoust isn't gone after the bowl game / Northern Illinois game, we are in trouble.
(11-04-2018 09:27 PM)Bronco14 Wrote: [ -> ]If Daoust isn't gone after the bowl game / Northern Illinois game, we are in trouble.
Unfortunately, I don’t think he will be. If we get to a bowl game, especially not.
I just don’t see Tim axing a friend over this stuff, which is why I hate that he hired the old boys club to coach with him.
I don't know the exact circumstances of the Fleck firing of his DC, but that is what a Head Coach is supposed to do. At the end of the day it is his azz on the line of the program isn't successful, he can't afford to keep non-performers on his staff.
Cubit had a problem not terminating his underperforming assistant coaches. Hope Tim Lester is tough enough to do what is necessary. Being a head coach is not about X's and O's, at least not mainly.
(11-04-2018 10:37 PM)BroncoPhilly Wrote: [ -> ]I don't know the exact circumstances of the Fleck firing of his DC, but that is what a Head Coach is supposed to do. At the end of the day it is his azz on the line of the program isn't successful, he can't afford to keep non-performers on his staff.
Cubit had a problem not terminating his underperforming assistant coaches. Hope Tim Lester is tough enough to do what is necessary. Being a head coach is not about X's and O's, at least not mainly.
Well said
“It’s a lack of consistency that’s hurting us,” Fleck said. “And it’s all over the field, on offense, defense, special teams. This was just not a good football game for us. And that’s on me.”
The 55 points were the most for Illinois (4-5, 2-4) since Smith took over as head coach before the 2016 season.
“We didn’t tackle anyone,” Fleck said. “I think our speed got exposed on defense. They were running away from us.”
Maybe "row the boat" is falling on deaf ears
Although I enjoyed 2016 as much as anyone else and reveled in our success, I have never been fond of peejay. To say he is polarizing is an understatement.
My skepticism says he is looking for a scapegoat no matter what he says. However, I absolutely agree this is what the head coach has to do ... whether during the season or after.
Gophers:
Fumbles lost#121
Passes had Intercepted#111
Turnovers lost #124
(11-05-2018 11:49 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote: [ -> ]Gophers:
Fumbles lost#121
Passes had Intercepted#111
Turnovers lost #124
The ball isn't the program.
Firing a HC or a coordinator in-season rarely makes a difference in outcomes.
Pretty much just admits that whoever did the hiring made a mistake and buys them some time to bring in somebody new with mantra that this will make all the difference.
Which is 50-50 at best.
Minisoda fans (even the ones that wanted DC gone NOW) on "Gopher Hole" forum are already skeptical that Fleck will get it right and blaming Golden Boy as much as the ousted DC (Robb Smith).
i.e. he is "scapegoating" his "dear friend" as he called Smith.
Look at the immediate impact change made this week with Minn vs Purdue! Wow.
In Purdue’s last 4 games, they’ve beaten 2 ranked teams and lost to 2 unranked teams. Also recall they lost at home to EMU. The definition of a schizophrenic team.
I was flipping back and forth between the late Big Ten games (Michigan-Rutgers, Northwestern-Iowa, Minnesota-Purdue).
Have to give credit to Fleck, players-staff the way they played Saturday.
At same time PU, which has been a bad road team this year (see at MSU couple weeks ago) looked liked they'd rather be anywhere else than in Twin Cities (11 degree wind chill and intermittent snow).
We'll see how Gophers' defense does under interim DC final two weeks against Northwestern and Wisconsin.
That said, both NW and Wisky are struggling offensively because of injuries.
So not out of realm of possibility Fleck gets them to a bowl game this year.
(11-11-2018 03:55 PM)MajorHoople Wrote: [ -> ]I was flipping back and forth between the late Big Ten games (Michigan-Rutgers, Northwestern-Iowa, Minnesota-Purdue).
Have to give credit to Fleck, players-staff the way they played Saturday.
At same time PU, which has been a bad road team this year (see at MSU couple weeks ago) looked liked they'd rather be anywhere else than in Twin Cities (11 degree wind chill and intermittent snow).
We'll see how Gophers' defense does under interim DC final two weeks against Northwestern and Wisconsin.
That said, both NW and Wisky are struggling offensively because of injuries.
So not out of realm of possibility Fleck gets them to a bowl game this year.
Seems pretty much like he is on track.
Some of the fan base can't stand him, some love him. Always talking about how young they are, but you can see the improvement starting to happen despite the results not being the best all the time.
His issue is going to be that he is recruiting against guys that are recruiting better than he is. So all the motivation in the world may not make up for the talent disparity.
I have no doubt by next year they are going to be a physical, determined, football team that is going to force most teams week in and week out to play well to beat them.
If Fleck can somehow get Gophers to beat Badgers he'll be king of Minnesota.
He's in the right division. Doesn't have to tackle Harbaugh, Dantonio, Meyer or Franklin to get to the B1G championship game.
And their AD schedules their OOC pretty soft. No P5 opponents this year or next year.
PJ fireing his DC was weak, another HC ( see Wake) trying to pin blame on someone else other than himself doe team failure. If you are slow and weak you get 50 hung on your @$$.
Looks like that Purdue win was more about Purdue hearing the rumors about their coach going back home to Louisville. He's losing to NW's second string today. Fitz knew the game was in the bag when he sat them.
The real coach in this game was Pat Fitzgerald and his DC Mike Hank.
Despite a weak OOC schedule and being in the weak B1G West, the Gophers are 5-6 (2-6) and in last place in their division. Oof.