Minnesota’s Fleck got his start with Tressel, Buckeyes
Minnesota COLUMBUS — coach P.J. Fleck will return to Ohio Stadium on Saturday 12 years after getting his start in coaching as a graduate assistant on Jim Tressel’s staff.
The Golden Gophers (3-2, 0-2) play the third-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (6-0, 3-0) at noon.
“I got a chance to see Jim Tressel go 12-0, and every game we won, I was like, ‘Man, this coaching thing is easy,’” said Fleck, who also coached at Ohio Stadium with Western Michigan in 2015. “Playing was hard but coaching, this is a breeze. Every game we win by 30. This ain’t that hard. Just do what Jim does, and I’m sure they will do that when I become a head coach.”
While Ohio State was per- fect in the regular season in 2006, it lost 41-14 to Urban Meyer and the Florida Gators in the BCS title game.
“I remember we got into t he nat ional cha m pion- ship game, and you all saw how that went,” Fleck said. “Teddy Ginn scores the open- ing touchdown on a kickoff return and breaks his foot. The entire game plan is built around Teddy Ginn. And in the middle of the second quarter, we go for it on fourth down. Jim Tressel says into the headset — again I’m think- ing, he’s the closest thing to a higher power you can get — ‘Boys, if we don’t get this fourth down, it’s over.’ At that moment, I found out that anybody can get beat at any point, whether you’re looked at as a terrific coach, whether you’re looked at as a bad coach or whether you’re looked at anywhere in between.”
Quarterback connection: Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins and Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa share more than Heisman headlines and spots in the national rank- ings. They share a history that dates back to their high school days in the Elite 11 quarterback camp. They have stayed in touch. Haskins said they talk every week.
Before their games last Saturday, they texted each other scriptures.
“We send out blessings to each other,” Haskins said. “He did a great job last week. He’s an accurate guy who brings a lot to his offense. He’s really upbeat, spirited. I admire his game.”
Former Buckeye: Matthew Burrell, who played three seasons at Ohio State before transferring to Sam Houston State in April, shared a personal story about his battle with depression in an Instagram post Wednesday. He told of being bul- lied in fifth grade, standing up for himself and finding solace in football.
“I struggle weekly with my mental health,” Bur- rell wrote, “and I’ve been through more than I could ever explain.”
Big anniversary: The 1968 Buckeyes will hold a reunion this weekend 50 years after their 10-0 national championship season.
Local Gophers: Center- ville High School graduate Jared Weyler, a fifth-year senior, has started every game this season at center for Minnesota. He started six last season but missed six with an injury.
Weyler is one of eight Min- nesota players who have already earned their degrees. He completed a double major in accounting and entrepreneurial management with a minor in leadership.
Wayne graduate Alex Reigelsperger is a freshman defensive lineman for Minnesota.