MADISON, WIS. - P.J. Fleck celebrated his 44th birthday Friday. The Gophers football coach proved that a coach can change with age.
Fleck vowed to evolve his offensive philosophy this season, to make his scheme more balanced, to find a passing game after largely ignoring it.
Status quo wasn’t an option. Deep down, Fleck had to know it.
So he changed.
The evolution in approach was never more apparent or rewarding than what played out at Camp Randall Stadium on Fleck’s birthday.
The quarterback he entrusted shrugged off frigid temperatures and swirling winds to deliver an efficient, surgical performance in a 24-7 dismantling of the Wisconsin Badgers.
Afterward, Fleck and Max Brosmer shared a warm embrace in the middle of the victory lap celebration with Paul Bunyan’s Axe. Call it a Bro(smer) hug.
“I had to change,” Fleck said.