The Minnesota Golden Gophers football program has been a model of success on the field, averaging 10 wins over the last three full seasons.
Behind the scenes, however, a number of former players claimed they were subjected to strenuous workouts that violated NCAA rules, in a “cult-like” atmosphere.
Front Office Sports interviewed several former players and staff members, who “described an environment fraught with intimidation and toxicity …”
Head coach P.J. Fleck, who came to Minnesota in 2017 from Western Michigan, earned criticism for his “Row the Boat” culture. For example, the former players, all of whom were on scholarship, criticized the “Fleck Bank.” That system allows players to accumulate points for things such as community service, but players could also earn points by informing on teammates. And the players claimed that some team members used points to avoid punishment for violations, including positive drug tests.
Beyond that, the former players detailed specific incidents of what they described as abuse. One player told FOS that, “I had a teammate who was supposed to gain weight, and he would have to drink three protein shakes in front of [Golden Gophers staff] before he could leave. He started [defecating] pink liquid.”
Another player claimed that trainers approved players to return from injury before they were ready, under pressure from Fleck. “Those [athletic] trainers did a lot of things because Fleck forced their hand in that medical room,” the player alleged.
The report also interviews several supporters of Fleck’s actions and guidelines. Coney Durr, a defensive back who played five seasons under Fleck, said he’d recommend the program to anyone.
“We always did things by the book. I was on a leadership council and I was a captain,” Durr said. “It’s a great program and I highly recommend it to people who want to improve their life — on and off the field.”
Minnesota athletic director Mark Coyle likewise 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.”
