Just how big a turnaround has it been in Fleck’s two seasons? Check out these facts:
Last year, the Gophers closed the season by scoring zero points in their final two games.
This year, they closed the season by not needing to punt against Georgia Tech at all and punting zero times in the final 41:48 of their 37-15 walloping of Wisconsin in the regular-season finale.
That, folks, is progress.
Granted, the Gophers’ 7-6 overall record and 3-6 Big Ten mark are nowhere near the pinnacle Fleck wants his program to reach. The finish was, however, a step the team needed to take.