P.J. Fleck looking for some payback as Gophers host Tar Heels
Minnesota Coach P.J. Fleck walks onto the field before game against Illinois Saturday October 15, 2022 at Memorial Stadium. (Lynn Harrington/stayaliveinpower5)
Minnesota will be hosting North Carolina this week, and the game is bound to draw national attention for many reasons, despite neither team appearing in the Preseason AP Poll.
After all, it’s the ACC against the Big Ten, and the only matchup of Power Four teams on Thursday night. Coach P.J. Fleck is attempting to win three-straight season-openers, but he’ll have to do that against a team that beat his Golden Gophers by 18 points last year.
That loss started a downward spiral to Fleck’s 2023 campaign, so he’s more prepared for his eighth season in Minneapolis. Fleck happens to have a great relationship with North Carolina Coach Mack Brown off the field, and they’re even golfing buddies. However, once they’re on the gridiron, the friendship goes out the door, and it’s all about securing a victory over the opposition.
Fleck wore a tie at Big Ten Media Days last month that combined the colors of both schools, in which he claimed was his way of promoting the game. The Illinois native also gave some insight on how he was going to game plan for the Tar Heels in fall camp.
“We’ll start working on them a little bit early, like we did in the offseason with some of their new hires,” Fleck said. “When you open with an opponent like that, we start it about two days earlier just because we have a Thursday game, and we have some extra time on the back end for the next opponent.”
Neither coach have exchanged depth charts, or announced who their starters are going to be. Fleck doesn’t plan on releasing his until two hours before kickoff.
Regardless, the Golden Gophers have enough skill and experience to score more than 13 points. New quarterback Max Brosmer led the FCS in passing yards per game at New Hampshire last season. Not to mention Brosmer will have Daniel Jackson as his top target, who led Minnesota in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches.
The cherry on top for the offense will be if running back Darius Taylor is fully healthy. He injured his leg in practice, and is uncertain for Thursday’s clash. Regardless, Taylor rushed for nearly 800 yards in six games, including 138 against the Tar Heels. Marcus Major, Sieh Bangura and Jordan Nubin are ready to step up if Taylor can’t go.
With those weapons in his arsenal, Fleck is feeling more confident going up against the Tar Heels.
There will be a Gold Out theme at Huntington Bank Stadium, and Fleck needs the home crowd to make life hard for North Carolina. Still, Brown keeps a roster full of talent, but will not have quarterback Drake Maye behind center when the Tar Heels invade Minneapolis. Fleck doesn’t know if Brown is going to start Max Johnson or Conner Harrell at quarterback, so he’s preparing for both.
Omarion Hampton has Fleck’s full attention though, considering he led the ACC in rushing yards last year, and is one of the nation’s most dynamic running backs.
“That’s why he (Brown) is so good, that’s why he got great players, they’re really talented, we went out there last year and they took it to us really good,” he said. “They’re a really good football team, got athletes everywhere and one of the best running backs in the country.”
Containing Hampton, and North Carolina’s offense will fall on the shoulders of new Defensive Coordinator Corey Hethermen. He was the Linebackers Coach for Rutgers over the past two seasons, but this is his first job leading a Power Four defense.
The fans are hoping Hethermen’s Big Ten experience will make a smooth transition with replacing Joe Rossi. It helps that Minnesota has eight returning starters on defense, including stud edge rusher Jah Joyner. From the outside looking in, it seems that Fleck has the ingredients for a successful recipe, but games aren’t played on paper.
It’s no mystery that Fleck is a jaw-dropping, 16-2 in non-conference play as the Golden Gophers’ coach. His impressive bowl record also proves that he knows how to prepare for teams outside of the Big Ten. Brown is a Hall of Famer, who knows football like the back of his hand, and Fleck expects him to bring his best to open the 2024 season.
“I have a ton of respect for Mack Brown, and I think he’s one of the best coaches in this country.”
