Getty Image
The University of Minnesota football program was hit with some disturbing accusations surrounding what former players and staff called a “toxic culture.” Head coach PJ Fleck responded to those allegations at Big Ten Media Days.
The coach calls the report “baseless” as he defends the foundation built within his locker room.
On Wednesday, shocking news broke about the culture within the Golden Gophers locker room. Those reports stated that Fleck ran a cult-like program that used excessive exercise as a way of punishment to players.
It was the second worrisome story of the summer regarding a Big Ten football team as Northwestern continues to battle through a hazing scandal the led to the firing of Pat Fitzgerald.
While the Wildcats leader had his contract terminated, the situation doesn’t seem as severe at Minnesota. Still, it’s provided an unexpected distraction in the midst of conference media days.
On Thursday, PJ Fleck took to the stage to expand upon those allegations as well as the status of his team moving forward. He adamantly denies the accusations.
“Our athletic department has taken over our disciplinary type actions,” Fleck said about claims that workouts are used as punishment for players. “We do not use physical activity to discipline our players at the University of Minnesota. We have never done that.”
Fleck continued on to say, “These allegations are baseless.”
The head coach also spoke with ESPN while in Indianapolis, echoing what was said at the podium. He also believes there is a former staff member with a vendetta against his program.
Here are #Gophers head coach PJ Fleck’s comments on @ESPN_TriCities about recent allegations that he created a toxic culture at Minnesota.
“They’re baseless allegations.”#SkiUhMah / #B1GMediaDays pic.twitter.com/HMTfhqLzv1
— Michael Shively (@mshivelyNCN) July 27, 2023
“These claims have been looked at multiple times since 2017 [when I took over]… Up to this day, there have been zero claims with this issue. A former university staff member clearly has a personal vendetta against myself and our football program. Each year, he peddles out this similar story to numerous media outlets to see if someone will take it.
“The majority of these players [in the report] have been removed or dismissed from our football team and our program.”
PJ Fleck says that he’s focusing on the 2023 season as opposed to the allegations. The Golden Gophers will take on Nebraska in their opener as they look to build on a 9-4 campaign from a year ago.