not sure why the love for the
gophs with a new staff
I think the reasons are a little multifaceted.
1. I'll agree with what Badge said about the self-promotion. Fleck comes in with a wave of energy. All new coaches talk about revitalizing rosters, getting more out of kids, and I think he might be able to, to a degree. But yeah, hype matters in the love part.
2. The Gophers return a good bit. You lose a so-so QB, but return two good backs, a veteran tight end, big-play WR, and some solid front seven pieces. That's enough to be solid, and Minnesota is usually solid, often close to a but more.
The situation isn't far from his first WMU team, which had a lot of veterans, granted low-ceiling ones off a team that played better than its record. His first team ended up stripped down to the studs, while running the wrong offense for the MAC, but I can't recall if that was a purposeful youth movement or a devastating wave of injuries (I seem to recall the latter, but can't find a reference).
3. Minnesota hasn't been put off by challenging spots. They lost a coach and got better with his assistant. They lost half the team and had their head coach all but fire himself and win a bowl game, so perhaps a new staff won't hurt.
So that's the case why there's probably love. He could also have another year 0 and suck brutally, or the WMU thing could just be one instance and not a pattern.
