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A second Big Ten football program has been accused of creating a “toxic culture” by former players. The Minnesota Golden Gophers are the target of the most recent claims with those players citing strenuous workouts being used as punishment, among other things.
The news breaks as Big Ten Media Days begin with head coach PJ Fleck set to speak on Thursday. It comes in the wake of Northwestern’s recent scandal, which led to the firing of Pat Fitzgerald.
The report comes from Front Office Sports, who says that multiple former Gopher football players describe a toxic culture in Minneapolis.
Here’s more:
Over the last month, Front Office Sports interviewed several former players and staff members about Fleck’s six seasons as the Gophers’ head coach. They described an environment fraught with intimidation and toxicity and referenced the “Fleck Bank” — a system that allowed players with enough “coins” to get away with positive drug tests, and other violations of team rules.
Unprompted, the term “cult” was used by multiple former players and former staff members to describe Fleck’s “Row the Boat” culture spelled out in the so-called “Fleck Book” that players are given when they join the team.
“We had to [practice giving Fleck ovations] multiple times — the first time, because some other people in the back were not moving as quick as he wanted,” a player told FOS.
Two other former players said that Fleck would reenter a room if he didn’t like the ovation he received.
Outside of the cult-like environment, players claim that strenuous practices were used as punishment for things like minor drinking.
When an athletic medical staff member grew concerned about student-athlete treatment, a review was reportedly opened. That investigation found that there had been “incidents where exercise was used as punishment for student-athletes.”
Another employee recalled being uncomfortable with the excessive exercises, while a former player said the workouts consisted of “400-yard bear crawls [on hands and knees moving up and down the practice field] or having to do burpees until you threw up.”
The Minnesota athletic department denies the “toxic culture,” instead showing support of their coach.
AD Mark Coyle defended Fleck in a statement to FOS.
“P.J. and our program are unique,” Coyle said. “They put themselves out there in new and different ways — but always in a first-class manner — and after nearly seven years, it is clear to me, that is what makes P.J. and our program so successful.
“I always encourage all of our student-athletes, including every member of our football team, to reach out to me directly if they encounter any issues. To date, I have not heard from a single football student-athlete about the allegations raised.”
The rest of the report details how Minnesota players felt rushed to return from injury or that the injuries weren’t treated appropriately. Much of what led to this culture, they say, revolved around “PJ Fleck’s ego.”
Fleck has been with the university since 2017, posting a 71-44 overall record. He’s led the Golden Gophers to four bowl games, winning each. While successful at the university, it’s not the first time that he’s been criticized by former players.
The report comes on the heels of Northwestern’s hazing investigation, which led Wildcat players to pull out of the Big Ten Media Day event. It will be interesting to see what Fleck has to say about the accusations on Thursday.