Gophers change pace, practice at Vikings' facility

EAGAN (FOX 9) - With spring practice winding down, the University of Minnesota football team and coach PJ Fleck changed things up in one of their final workouts before Saturday’s Spring Game.

The Gophers will hit the road in Week 2, when they head to Fresno State on Sept. 7. There’s no better way to prepare for it than simulating a road atmosphere five months early. So Fleck and the Gophers got on buses Tuesday and headed to TCO Performance Center in Eagan to workout at the new Vikings’ facility.

Fleck also traded in his Maroon and Gold “Row the Boat” gear for Vikings purple, and got the jumbotron at TCO to sport “Row the Boat” on the display.

“We’re doing everything we can to simulate every possible scenario and situation in the spring so we’re ready for it in the fall, and create that type of feel that we’re all one,” Fleck said. “Continue to create these types of experience that put our players in unique situations.”

For many players who are also Vikings’ fans, it was their first time being at the facility.

“It’s like getting on the bus and going to a stadium we haven’t been before, and we still have to perform our best and change our best on that given day,” offensive lineman Blaise Andries said.

It’s all in preparation for Saturday’s Spring Game at TCF Bank Stadium. Offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca will face off against defensive coordinator Joe Rossi, and team captains will hold a draft on Wednesday to determine who will wear Maroon and who wears Gold.

Fleck made on thing certain: There will be a Spring Game, and weather will not cancel it. Last year’s Spring Game had to be moved up a few days because heavy snow hit Minnesota on April 15, 2018.

A storm bringing heavy snow with it hit the Twin Cities Wednesday afternoon, and is expected to stick around until early Friday. The Gophers haven’t made any official announcements on possible changes to the game, but Fleck said it will be played.

Fans just might have to deal with some snow on their seats. The game is at 11 a.m. and is free and open to the public.

“Last year boom, 22 inches, and now we’re going to get this storm. We’ll have a plan, we’re definitely having a Spring Game,” Fleck said. “We’re not going to cancel it, it’s too fun not to. The kids deserve it, that’s what the spring is all about, it’s a reward.”

Fleck said they’ll have to get “creative” with the Gophers running back options on Saturday. Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks won’t play while they continue recovery from injuries. Mohamed Ibrahim will have limited touches, and Jason Williamson is out after suffering a knee injury earlier in spring practice. That leaves Bryce Williams and Presten Jelen as the other healthy running backs.

There’s at least one senior linebacker who is excited for Saturday’s Spring Game, even if it means it’s the end of his final spring session.

“I hope everybody treats it like a football game. I promise you the three series, four series, whatever it is, I’m going to be flying around,” Carter Coughlin said. “I know the rest of the defense will too and I’m sure the offense will too, they’ve been balling out.”

Saturday will be the last time the full roster and coaches are together before fall camp starts in August.