Strange things are afoot at Minne

Mr. Clean from AMWAY HQ? Say it ain't so!
Over the last month, Front Office Sports interviewed several former players and staff members about Fleck’s six seasons as the Gophers’ head coach. They described an environment fraught with intimidation and toxicity and referenced the “Fleck Bank” — a system that allowed players with enough “coins” to get away with positive drug tests, and other violations of team rules.
...
Unprompted, the term “cult” was used by multiple former players and former staff members to describe Fleck’s “Row the Boat” culture spelled out in the so-called “Fleck Book” that players are given when they join the team.
Click to expand...

I just wish it had been called the "Book of Fleck."
 
Look, I think Fleck is a bit of a kook, but I also think he has always been pretty authentically himself and not tried to hide what he was about. The word "cult" actually seems about right, but my kids love for some guy named Mr. Beast seems about the same.

He has been a mildly successful coach for a while with his approach and philosophy. At the end of the day, coaches should be allowed to set the tone and culture for their programs, within the bounds of the rules. Being a bit weird should not be a legal matter. If Fleck is not your cup of tea, and he would not be my cup of tea, don't play football at Minnesota. Its a free country both ways.

Obviously, if there was actual rule breaking, that is a different matter and should be handled seriously. But, the article seems to blur the line between Fleck as a weird dude and Fleck as a rule breaker, and those are, IMHO, entirely separate considerations.
 
NorthKCHawk said:
Look, I think Fleck is a bit of a kook, but I also think he has always been pretty authentically himself and not tried to hide what he was about. The word "cult" actually seems about right, but my kids love for some guy named Mr. Beast seems about the same.

He has been a mildly successful coach for a while with his approach and philosophy. At the end of the day, coaches should be allowed to set the tone and culture for their programs, within the bounds of the rules. Being a bit weird should not be a legal matter. If Fleck is not your cup of tea, and he would not be my cup of tea, don't play football at Minnesota. Its a free country both ways.

Obviously, if there was actual rule breaking, that is a different matter and should be handled seriously. But, the article seems to blur the line between Fleck as a weird dude and Fleck as a rule breaker, and those are, IMHO, entirely separate considerations.
Click to expand...
That Fleck bank redemption for failed drug tests (if true) seems about as massive a rule violation as you can possibly have, outside of sex crimes. Does also seem like a really out there claim to me though. I don't think you'd want a paper trail of internal drug tests, and I'm not sure how you'd be able to buy your way out of an external drug test with Goopher Tokens.
 
There are some parallels here to what Iowa went through a few years back. I did not hear the word "cult" used, but the criticisms of the "Iowa Way" is not far off from this. This is not a critique of the younger generation per se, but coaching kids today is different than it was even 10-15 years ago. Kids are not shy about sharing their opinions of their elders and then social media runs with it. The line between setting a culture of discipline/accountability, and that of a dictator psychologically battering the 20 year old kids he is charged with developing, is becoming blurrier every year.
 
JoeyLabasForPresident said:
That Fleck bank redemption for failed drug tests (if true) seems about as massive a rule violation as you can possibly have, outside of sex crimes. Does also seem like a really out there claim to me though. I don't think you'd want a paper trail of internal drug tests, and I'm not sure how you'd be able to buy your way out of an external drug test with Goopher Tokens.
Click to expand...
If this is true, and man I agree it seems weird, then Fleck took "making a deposit" as part of your drug test to a whole new place.... :)
 
This does not rise to the level of the problems at Northwestern and the hazing allegations. But two things are potentially troubling, if true: 1) the Fleck Bank deposits that get a positive drug test forgiven and 2) if they are downplaying injuries and putting pressure on trainers and players to get back on the field before they are ready.

I'm sure they'll be an investigation of some sort by the University.
 
NorthKCHawk said:
There are some parallels here to what Iowa went through a few years back. I did not hear the word "cult" used, but the criticisms of the "Iowa Way" is not far off from this. This is not a critique of the younger generation per se, but coaching kids today is different than it was even 10-15 years ago. Kids are not shy about sharing their opinions of their elders and then social media runs with it. The line between setting a culture of discipline/accountability, and that of a dictator psychologically battering the 20 year old kids he is charged with developing, is becoming blurrier every year.
Click to expand...

A team culture of accountability/discipline will always require team members to give up some individuality, and to some, that is always an affront. To make it work, it has to be more carrot than stick, and the leader needs to be genuine and likable. That is, the players need to believe the coach is as team-first as he/she is asking them to be. I think KF has survived because he is genuine and likable, and he has been willing to change (albeit slowly) over time.

I think Fleck has done a good job at MN, and while his persona is not for me, I do think he is authentic and understands the foundation of a good program. I think this blows over, but if not, his penchant for self-promotion will be his downfall. That can rub enough people the wrong way to tip the balance from "internal investigation then move on" to "this amount of bad publicity isn't worth it" territory.
 
How weird is the "elite" thing? Requiring everyone to respond, "I am elite!" to every query of, "How are you doing today?" is pretty weird and messed up. It seems like you would have to be a bit sociopathic to think that is a good way to establish culture.
 
I also don't think Fleck has the same level of goodwill "banked" at Minny as KF did when he faced similar adversity at Iowa. I agree KF survived because he is a good and genuine person, but he was also winning a lot of football games. Fleck has some goodwill and he has gotten Minny to respectability, but if this turns ugly, he won't get the same grace that KF did to make changes.
 
CP87 said:
How weird is the "elite" thing? Requiring everyone to respond, "I am elite!" to every query of, "How are you doing today?" is pretty weird and messed up. It seems like you would have to be a bit sociopathic to think that is a good way to establish culture.
Click to expand...
I remember my college track coach would use the mantra "All-American Attitude" to discuss everything. Even saying dumb shit like "sleep like an all American." Coaches are weird. They are like drill sergeants sometimes. They need gimmicks to drive home their message. Fleck is weirder than most, but I also think most coaches are weird. They kind of have to be.
 
NorthKCHawk said:
I remember my college track coach would use the mantra "All-American Attitude" to discuss everything. Even saying dumb shit like "sleep like an all American." Coaches are weird. They are like drill sergeants sometimes. They need gimmicks to drive home their message. Fleck is weirder than most, but I also think most coaches are weird. They kind of have to be.
Click to expand...
Sleep like an All American!
Breathe like an All American!
 
NorthKCHawk said:
I remember my college track coach would use the mantra "All-American Attitude" to discuss everything. Even saying dumb shit like "sleep like an all American." Coaches are weird. They are like drill sergeants sometimes. They need gimmicks to drive home their message. Fleck is weirder than most, but I also think most coaches are weird. They kind of have to be.
Click to expand...

I remember stuff like this from my college FB coach, as well. But I thought it was hokey then, and I still think it is now. There is a place for mantras and speaking things into existence...but when these things block authentic relationship building, and realistic grappling with the inevitable ups and downs of competitive sport, they are more problematic than helpful.
 
Fleck is definitely an eccentric kook and his "culture" is not for everybody.

That said, when peeling back the layers, there are some disturbing things here. Covering up positive drug tests can easily get a coach canned, as can punishment in the form of excessive physical exertion. Those of us that have played sports have all seen that, but the practice is generally considered barbaric and antiquated. In this day and age and current climate, forcing players to exert until the point that they puke is simply not going to fly.
 
I don't like Fleck but....

Man being a coach today in the social media/cancel and get you fired era.

It exists at all levels from elementary school, high school and now its made its way into college.

If someone doesn't get some playing time or whatever other ax to grind they have they will come after your ass.

Your racists, you intimidate, you are sexist.. you have a "toxic culture"

all someone has to do is basically put it out there and let it flow through the media system and quite often it will work.
 
NorthKCHawk said:
There are some parallels here to what Iowa went through a few years back. I did not hear the word "cult" used, but the criticisms of the "Iowa Way" is not far off from this. This is not a critique of the younger generation per se, but coaching kids today is different than it was even 10-15 years ago. Kids are not shy about sharing their opinions of their elders and then social media runs with it. The line between setting a culture of discipline/accountability, and that of a dictator psychologically battering the 20 year old kids he is charged with developing, is becoming blurrier every year.
Click to expand...

The "Iowa Way" was never about race. They tried to make it about that, but it never was. It was about presenting yourself as a player at Iowa and how you trained and prepared. Was never about the color of one's skin. The fact that that can be lost now due to the mentality of the young players now is telling. The fact that young men and women are not held to a certain standard to a program is disturbing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Share this page

Top