Golden Gophers players are excited to play on the same turf outside that they play on in their indoor practice facility. They wanted to make sure AD Mark Coyle knew just how much they appreciated the upgrade, so they presented the athletic director with hand-written thank you notes for installing the outdoor Field Turf.

“It’s pretty cool,” Coyle told Andy Greder of the Pioneer Press. “I’ve been an AD for seven years and I’ve never gotten a thank-you note from a student-athlete saying thank you for a new practice field.”

It’s not the only sincere gesture P.J. Fleck’s squad has made. Coyle revealed the Gophers sent an oar to the Washington State Cougars after learning of the suicide of Wazzu QB Tyler Hilinski.

Coyle’s conversation with Greder also touched on attendance and expectations for the 2018. Those quotes can be found here.