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P.J. Fleck on changing the expectation: ‘It’s going to take the entire state of Minnesota’

Dustin Schutte

By Dustin Schutte

Published:

Things are changing in Minneapolis. In case that wasn’t clear through the first eight games the Gophers played this season, it certainly became evident on Saturday.

No. 17 Minnesota improved to 9-0 this weekend after defeating No. 4 Penn State in Minneapolis. It was a defining moment in the early era of P.J. Fleck, as the Gophers have now proven they belong in the conversation with some of the big-time college football programs this season.

On Monday, coming off that huge win this weekend, Fleck joined the Pat McAfee Show to talk about the huge win, as well as the impact the whole state of Minnesota has had on the program. The head coach acknowledges that changing the culture in the Twin Cities requires the whole state.

“The day I got the job I said it’s going to take the entire state of Minnesota to restore the traditions of old,” Fleck said on the show. “It’s not just about the head football coach. It’s not just about our community. It’s not just about our players. It’s not just about our administration. It’s not just about our alum. It’s gonna take every single one of us.

“That’s what I love about this state. Everybody is all in for the Gophers. Everybody wants the success of the Gophers. And it’s just going to take all of us changing our thoughts, perceptions, ideas of possible past to be able to change our future.”

There’s a lot of interest in where the Gophers will be ranked on Tuesday during the College Football Playoff rankings show and whether they’ll creep into that top six. With three games left, Minnesota has a good chance to make some noise down the stretch.

Below is the full clip of Fleck talking with McAfee.

Dustin Schutte

Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB