Dino Babers and P.J. Fleck got to know each other as up-and-coming head coaches in the Mid-American Conference, splitting their matchups in 2014 and 2015 before Babers left Bowling Green for Syracuse and Fleck departed Western Michigan for Minnesota.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers have won five straight bowl games, three under head coach P.J. Fleck, for the second-longest active streak behind Alabama.
Minnesota (8-4) plays Syracuse (7-5) in the 12th edition of the Pinstripe Bowl on Thursday, giving Babers and Fleck yet another opportunity to connect — and highlighting another tie between them. The athletic director who hired both of them was Mark Coyle.
The team took time to reflect on the 2001 tragedy Tuesday morning, as it continued preparations for Thursday s game against Syracuse at Yankee Stadium.