By Andy Greder

Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.

CHICAGO  — Gophers coach P.J. Fleck was hoping for an emerging leader at quarterback heading into the start of training camp next Tuesday. Instead, the upcoming QB competition will be the top story line at Minnesota in August.

“I wish I had somebody in the spring that just took it and ran with it and just said, ‘It’s my job,’ “ Fleck said Tuesday at Big Ten media days. “We had guys that played very well in the spring game (and) maybe not so well. We had guys play really nice in practice and maybe not so well in practice.

“I want somebody to take this and say this is going to be my football team.”

Fleck said he’s not a big proponent of splitting time between two quarterbacks but will do it if no player wins the job outright. “I would like to home in on one,” he said.

Fleck shared where the position stacks up after spring practice.

“There are two guys that have kind of separated themselves a little bit and that would be (Conor) Rhoda and (Demry) Croft, but when you start to look at it, the guys aren’t far behind when you talk about Seth (Green) and when you start to talk about (Tanner) Morgan,” he said.
Fleck bats leadoff

In a gold sport coat, maroon pants and matching tie and pocket square, Fleck brought his trademark energy when he took the dais in the leadoff role among seven coaches Tuesday morning.

“I don’t know if it’s by design that I go first and wake everybody up,” said Fleck, wearing a “Row the Boat” pin on his lapel.

Fleck’s predecessor, Tracy Claeys, took the stage in the same 8 a.m. spot last year. Early in his remarks, Fleck said having three coaches in three years hasn’t been good for the program. “One of the challenges we face again at Minnesota is cultural sustainability,” he said.

Of his new reality TV show, “Being P.J. Fleck,” to air in August on ESPNU, Fleck said he wouldn’t have picked the title of the miniseries but acknowledged it the show fits his goal to bring national exposure to Minnesota.

“I don’t know if this is going to be like the Kardashians or they’re going to spin it that way or it’s going to be a little bit tamer,” Fleck said. “But it will be a little interesting to see what comes out of the reality show.”