P.J. Fleck crosses the Mississippi with oar in hand
New Minnesota Golden Gophers football coach P.J. Fleck has brought his oar out on the Gophers Road Trip on their swing up north.
Every spring the University of Minnesota loads up a nice bus with a bunch of coaches and heads through the beautiful state of Minnesota. The Rouser is sung, maroon and gold is donned and Gopher cheer is felt by all. It’s been amped up even more this year.
On the trip, of course, are the headliners of men’s basketball coach Richard Pitino and freshly hired football coach P.J. Fleck. The young coaches have a lot of people fired up after the unexpected success of the basketball team and, I’d assume, people’s natural curiosity when it comes to the high energy Fleck.
The Gophers Road Trip is wrapping up its second leg which finds the bus in the northern reaches of the state of Minnesota. Found in that scenic part of the world is the headwaters of the Mississippi River. It is basically a rite of passage for Minnesotans to cross the little stream that is the beginning of the mighty Mississippi and Tuesday was the time for Pitino and Fleck to partake in that rite.
My favorite part is the fact that P.J. Fleck crossed the river with an oar in hand.
Oh you know, just @Coach_Fleck - oar in hand - and @MNCoachPitino crossing the headwaters of the Mississippi River. #GRT17 pic.twitter.com/Q2lbBVbJmX
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) June 6, 2017
What else are friends for? #GRT17 pic.twitter.com/P0WLYfnCSe
— Minnesota Golden Gophers (@GopherSports) June 6, 2017
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My second favorite part is how Pitino and Fleck look like they could be in a Minnesotan remake of ‘The Odd Couple’ with Fleck in a t-shirt and shorts and Pitino donning a polo shirt and slacks. You are very welcome for that idea, Gophers athletic department.
Wednesday is the final day of the Gophers Road Trip with stops in Hibbing and Sartell. Earlier this week on the Gold arm of the trip, the Gophers crew visited Spicer, Perham, Park Rapids, Bagley and Coleraine. The Maroon arm of the trip was held May 22-24 with stops in Winona, Rochester, Owatonna, Fairmont, New Ulm, Redwood Falls and Hutchinson.
Fleck and his Gopher football team are less than three months away from their first game. First game of the Fleck era is set for Thursday, August 31, at TCF Bank Stadium against Buffalo. Kickoff/boat launch is set for 6:00 Central.
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