Skip to content

Ad Disclosure

P.J. Fleck says Gophers must embrace past failures to move forward: ‘We have to get better’

Scott Schultz

By Scott Schultz

Published:

Minnesota wasn’t much of a match for Michigan Saturday night as the Wolverines handed the Gophers a 49-24 defeat to take the Little Brown Jug.

Just prior to kickoff the Gophers announced they’d be without a number of key players, including starters in all three phases of the game. While the Gophers were able to strike first, taking a 7-0 lead after blocking a Michigan punt, that was about the end of the momentum for the hosts.

Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck did have some takeaways from the first week, including the need to make tackles when they present themselves. But mostly he emphasized the need to learn from the past to make the future better.

“We need to embrace our past to create our future,” Fleck said. “Some of these young players are going to need to keep failing and failing in order to succeed. That’s the only way they’re going to get better.

“The only way you can get better is you have to play.”

Fortunately for Fleck and the Gophers, the task should be a bit easier in Week 2. Maryland opened the season with a 43-3 loss to Northwestern with starting QB Taulia Tagovailoa throwing three interceptions. Hopefully Tanner Morgan and the Gophers can get on track against the Terrapins.

Scott Schultz

Scott Schultz covers Michigan State Football, along with Breaking News for B1G Football & Basketball for Saturday Tradition. He also serves as an Automotive News Editor & Writer, and Softball Writer elsewhere on the web. Follow him on Twitter @SRSchultz.