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Ohio Football Topic
Topic: PJ Fleck First $1,000,000 MAC Coach?
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cbus cat fan
12/6/2016 7:51 PM
It seems PJ Fleck is trying to get a Power 5 job, or make MAC history. Very interesting!

According to this link, it seems P.J Fleck isn't interested in the Cincy job, only Power 5 jobs. It seems Western Michigan is trying to up P.J Fleck's $800,000 yearly contract in an attempt to get him to stay. Could this be the first $1,000,000 MAC Head Coach?

Wow, how things have changed. I remember when I was high school teacher and coach sometime in the late 80s or early 90s and a fellow high school coach was talked out of taking a MAC assistant coach job by another MAC assistant coach. The reason being; it seems my colleague would make more teaching and coaching in high school than in a MAC school. He didn't think he could support his family on an assistant's salary. How things have changed!

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/university... /
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colobobcat66
12/6/2016 8:11 PM
cbus cat fan wrote:expand_more
It seems PJ Fleck is trying to get a Power 5 job, or make MAC history. Very interesting!

According to this link, it seems P.J Fleck isn't interested in the Cincy job, only Power 5 jobs. It seems Western Michigan is trying to up P.J Fleck's $800,000 yearly contract in an attempt to get him to stay. Could this be the first $1,000,000 MAC Head Coach?

Wow, how things have changed. I remember when I was high school teacher and coach sometime in the late 80s or early 90s and a fellow high school coach was talked out of taking a MAC assistant coach job by another MAC assistant coach. The reason being; it seems my colleague would make more teaching and coaching in high school than in a MAC school. He didn't think he could support his family on an assistant's salary. How things have changed!

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/university... /
He's worth much more than $1 million to the program, but that amount is never going to get him to stay anyway. I don't think the right job has come up this year. He needs to be careful and not get too greedy, the profession is littered with coaches who should have jumped and didn't. He recruits so much better than the rest of the MAC so I don't think that's a problem, but who knows.
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cbus cat fan
12/6/2016 9:21 PM
Not sure if he has a big time agent or not, Colobobcat 66. You are right this whole thing is going to get very interesting and fast. Either he gets to be the MAC's first $1,000,000 man, or he goes to some, as of yet unannounced big time opening. We shall soon see!
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Buckeye to Bobcat
12/6/2016 9:38 PM
As I told you on another thread, I had heard from sources up in Michigan saying that Stryker Corp (multi-billion dollar company based in Kalamazoo) was going to make sure he didn't leave due to money.
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cbus cat fan
12/6/2016 10:30 PM
As I have said before, if a MAC coach could ever be persuaded to stay and build something, it could change the whole complexion of the conference. I would love to see it!
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catfan28
12/6/2016 11:09 PM
cbus cat fan wrote:expand_more
As I have said before, if a MAC coach could ever be persuaded to stay and build something, it could change the whole complexion of the conference. I would love to see it!
We've had it for 12 years!! But nothing earth-shattering here.
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OhioCatFan
12/7/2016 12:05 AM
I do know that a number of WMU fans in Detroit told me that they thought that if Fleck didn't go to Purdue, he wouldn't go anywhere. They also stressed how much he loved K-zoo. I think that there is an interesting dynamic going on here that I don't think I fully comprehend. One of my sisters once taught at WMU, and she says Kalamazoo is a strange place.
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Casper71
12/7/2016 12:10 AM
If Fleck stays is WMU the next Boise? They will certainly get the players necessary with him there. They could be in for a marshall or NIU type run.

And, I agree. Not sure he is going anywhere this year. So, we may have him and all his 3-star guys to look forward to again next year!
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Bcat2
12/7/2016 7:09 AM
Casper71 wrote:expand_more
If Fleck stays is WMU the next Boise? They will certainly get the players necessary with him there. They could be in for a marshall or NIU type run.

And, I agree. Not sure he is going anywhere this year. So, we may have him and all his 3-star guys to look forward to again next year!
Fleck, was a big part of the NIU run. However, most of the difference makers he brought to NIU, were not three star recruits, like Zach Terrell, Corey Davis, Moton and Jarvion Franklin from their MACC team, all two star recruits. About the Bobcats looking forward to more Western, I would bet the players this year would have been up for a fifth quarter or a sixth quarter, thinking they were getting on top as the game went on.
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ShoreCat
12/7/2016 7:46 AM
The Oregon job is off the table. If Fleck doesn't want Cincy, I don't see a big time landing spot for him. I haven't seen his name linked to the Houston gig. Looking more and more likely that he's staying put for at least another year.
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Valley Cat
12/7/2016 7:56 AM
I kept hearing that Stryker Corp was very willing to help supplant his salary for the time being.
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SBH
12/7/2016 8:00 AM
OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
They also stressed how much he loved K-zoo.

But we Ohio fans said the same thing about OShea and Athens! :)
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The Optimist
12/7/2016 8:21 AM
As others have mentioned, the caliber of player PJ has recruited is in contrast to other coaches who have had success in the MAC and left for other jobs. His class this year is already looking great... He stays, Western remains a power. I think he stays.
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Ohio69
12/7/2016 8:49 AM
It would be nice for a MAC team to sit in the top 25 for a few years in a row and gain some more credibility for the conference. Million dollar salary or not.

Do people think WMU will have trouble consistently winning after Fleck leaves? So much of this seems to be built on a cult of personality.

Hopefully that area (300,000 people in the region) pack that stadium next year and keep this going for them regardless.
Last Edited: 12/7/2016 8:50:03 AM by Ohio69
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mf279801
12/7/2016 9:19 AM
SBH wrote:expand_more
They also stressed how much he loved K-zoo.

But we Ohio fans said the same thing about OShea and Athens! :)
Or Groce and Athens
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Mark Lembright '85
12/7/2016 9:25 AM
cbus cat fan wrote:expand_more
As I have said before, if a MAC coach could ever be persuaded to stay and build something, it could change the whole complexion of the conference. I would love to see it!
I wonder too where this takes the MAC. We will see. I'm still not convinced Fleck is staying long term at WMU.

However, let's pretend he is. What does this mean for the MAC? Is the arms race racheted up even more? Will any other schools pony up more $ for their head coach? I've said it before in another thread, in my opinion there's no way in the world Ohio University will pay that kind of money to a coach, at least not right now anyway. Are there any other MAC schools that would pay that kind of money? Miami perhaps?
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cbus cat fan
12/7/2016 10:00 AM
Mark, you never know who might come out of the woodwork to throw in some serious money to get a top notch coach to succeed Coach Solich (when he decides to retire) and it is apparent that the conference is on the rise. There are certainly Ohio alums and boosters who are flying under our radar (but not the alumni relations department's radar.) They wouldn't think twice to chip in that kind of money if they felt we had to go out an get a big time coach because the conference was on the rise. Coach PJ Fleck has brought in the kind of talent that most experts said would never go to the MAC. My guess is if he stays than places like Toledo, Miami etc might be able to land those type of players as well.

On the basketball side of the board, I have reminded folks of the famous Coach Danny Nee quote that the only reason he left Ohio to go to Nebraska was that he mistakenly thought he couldn't win a national title in the MAC. He made this reassessing statement a few years ago. The MAC is at a football crossroads, are we headed for something promising or just stuck in a roundabout? We shall soon see!
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Monroe Slavin
12/7/2016 10:00 AM
Bcat2: " About the Bobcats looking forward to more Western, I would bet the players this year would have been up for a fifth quarter or a sixth quarter, thinking they were getting on top as the game went on."


Everyonegetsatrophyforeverything.

Essentially,wewontheMACC--theyjustcutthegamesshortbeforewecouldgetthere.
Last Edited: 12/7/2016 10:02:09 AM by Monroe Slavin
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LuckySparrow
12/7/2016 10:13 AM
Fleck could be bluffing. I'm guessing he takes the Houston or Cincy job unless something else opens up. He seems brash enough to take any job with a new challenge and a raise to get him to that next level.
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Mark Lembright '85
12/7/2016 10:46 AM
cbus cat fan wrote:expand_more
Mark, you never know who might come out of the woodwork to throw in some serious money to get a top notch coach to succeed Coach Solich (when he decides to retire) and it is apparent that the conference is on the rise. There are certainly Ohio alums and boosters who are flying under our radar (but not the alumni relations department's radar.) They wouldn't think twice to chip in that kind of money if they felt we had to go out an get a big time coach because the conference was on the rise. Coach PJ Fleck has brought in the kind of talent that most experts said would never go to the MAC. My guess is if he stays than places like Toledo, Miami etc might be able to land those type of players as well.

On the basketball side of the board, I have reminded folks of the famous Coach Danny Nee quote that the only reason he left Ohio to go to Nebraska was that he mistakenly thought he couldn't win a national title in the MAC. He made this reassessing statement a few years ago. The MAC is at a football crossroads, are we headed for something promising or just stuck in a roundabout? We shall soon see!
Thank you cbus cat fan and that is good to know! Ohio University, with the moniker "Ohio" can be a marquee draw and here's to hoping we get a top notch successor to Coach Solich!
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BillyTheCat
12/7/2016 10:52 AM
cbus cat fan wrote:expand_more
It seems PJ Fleck is trying to get a Power 5 job, or make MAC history. Very interesting!

According to this link, it seems P.J Fleck isn't interested in the Cincy job, only Power 5 jobs. It seems Western Michigan is trying to up P.J Fleck's $800,000 yearly contract in an attempt to get him to stay. Could this be the first $1,000,000 MAC Head Coach?

Wow, how things have changed. I remember when I was high school teacher and coach sometime in the late 80s or early 90s and a fellow high school coach was talked out of taking a MAC assistant coach job by another MAC assistant coach. The reason being; it seems my colleague would make more teaching and coaching in high school than in a MAC school. He didn't think he could support his family on an assistant's salary. How things have changed!

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/university... /

the concept of our assistant coaches making more money than a teacher is within the past 8-10 years.
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OhioCatFan
12/7/2016 11:08 AM
SBH wrote:expand_more
They also stressed how much he loved K-zoo.

But we Ohio fans said the same thing about OShea and Athens! :)
What planet are you living on? It was clear from almost day one that TOS wanted out of here. His constant applications to any job east of the Alleghenies is what led the now-famous "TOS to" threads every time there's a job vacancy. Now, in fairness to TOS, the stories were that his wife was the driving force behind his desire to move, but I can't recall anyone truly believing he loved Athens. Now, it was a difference story with Groce and with Grobe. They both seemed comfortable in Athens and might have stayed longer if circumstances had been different.
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SBH
12/7/2016 11:55 AM
Um...it was sarcasm.
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OhioCatFan
12/7/2016 12:02 PM
SBH wrote:expand_more
Um...it was sarcasm.
Sorry, we all miss those emoticons. ;-)
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Brian Smith (No, not that one)
12/7/2016 12:22 PM
The scene: A newly-minted millionaire named P.J. Fleck is standing with a close friend on a Lake Michigan beach. He's driven a dune buggy to this place and it sits idling, a giant oar strapped across the front. It's 31 degrees. Fleck is wearing a tasteful shirt, tie and sweater. And brown wetsuit shorts and webbed water shoes. He has a look in his eyes.


"I wanna buy a million whistles with the money."

"P.J., what are you gonna do with a million whistles?"

"Can never have enough 5 Hour Energies or whistles, that's what I say. Row the Boat!"

"P.J.? Where are you going? P.J.?"

[P.J. Fleck makes his rowing motion, making his way out onto Lake Michigan like a fully-powered electric hedger in a bathtub]
Last Edited: 12/9/2016 12:38:13 PM by Brian Smith (No, not that one)
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