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Read below and see what a former Notre Dame player under Diaco has to say about him. It sounds so different from so much I have read on the Boneyard. Hope this helps some who have given up on Diaco so early in the process.
Fleming was a fifth-round draft pick by the 49ers in 2012, but he missed two seasons because of knee injuries and spent most of this season on the Patriots' practice squad. But he was active in the final five games of the regular season and in both playoffs games, seeing the field as a special teams player.
As he establishes himself in New England, Fleming expects to see his former college coach. Diaco came to Notre Dame in 2010 and Fleming wasn't sure what to make of him.
"As a young player, at first, you're thinking, 'Man, I don't like this style … he practices tough, he makes the defense run so much, he makes us practice like we're in a game,' " Fleming said. "But with him, it's all or nothing. You learn that he just wants you to be the best. When I left, I really appreciated it. You really appreciate him, because that's the kind of player you need to be at this level."
Fleming also learned that Diaco is the same on the field and off.
"He's just different," Fleming said. "He's a different coach, a different person. He's enthusiastic but he's that person every day and that's what I respect about him. Some guys, they try to be some way because they're a coach and outside of coaching they're different. But he's Bob Diaco every single moment of his life."
Fleming said he suspected Diaco would land a head coaching job, but he was just happy he remained at Notre Dame before Fleming left. When they chatted last week, the conversation turned to UConn's season. The Huskies were 2-10 in Diaco's debut season.
"It's early," Fleming said. "I don't think he recruited anyone there. Once those guys buy into what at he's coaching and his style, they'll be fine. It was a tough season, but he knows those guys are starting to believe in what he's coaching. Once that happens, it's going to be a whole different program. … I'm excited to see where it goes."
Fleming, a Chicago native, said he expects to visit Storrs and meet up with Diaco soon. Perhaps he'll be coming off a Super Bowl victory, which is unfathomable for a guy who lost so much time to injuries.
It was encouragement from Diaco that helped Fleming deal with the adversity.
"I owe him so much," Fleming said. "Me and Coach Diaco had a different kind of relationship. He coached the linebackers, I was a linebacker. He's the D-coordinator, I played defense. But we had a relationship off the field, too. We would all go over his house. I know all his kids, his wife, and, I mean, we were family. We continue to be after I left and he left. He's more than a coach to me. I love him."
Fleming was a fifth-round draft pick by the 49ers in 2012, but he missed two seasons because of knee injuries and spent most of this season on the Patriots' practice squad. But he was active in the final five games of the regular season and in both playoffs games, seeing the field as a special teams player.
As he establishes himself in New England, Fleming expects to see his former college coach. Diaco came to Notre Dame in 2010 and Fleming wasn't sure what to make of him.
"As a young player, at first, you're thinking, 'Man, I don't like this style … he practices tough, he makes the defense run so much, he makes us practice like we're in a game,' " Fleming said. "But with him, it's all or nothing. You learn that he just wants you to be the best. When I left, I really appreciated it. You really appreciate him, because that's the kind of player you need to be at this level."
Fleming also learned that Diaco is the same on the field and off.
"He's just different," Fleming said. "He's a different coach, a different person. He's enthusiastic but he's that person every day and that's what I respect about him. Some guys, they try to be some way because they're a coach and outside of coaching they're different. But he's Bob Diaco every single moment of his life."
Fleming said he suspected Diaco would land a head coaching job, but he was just happy he remained at Notre Dame before Fleming left. When they chatted last week, the conversation turned to UConn's season. The Huskies were 2-10 in Diaco's debut season.
"It's early," Fleming said. "I don't think he recruited anyone there. Once those guys buy into what at he's coaching and his style, they'll be fine. It was a tough season, but he knows those guys are starting to believe in what he's coaching. Once that happens, it's going to be a whole different program. … I'm excited to see where it goes."
Fleming, a Chicago native, said he expects to visit Storrs and meet up with Diaco soon. Perhaps he'll be coming off a Super Bowl victory, which is unfathomable for a guy who lost so much time to injuries.
It was encouragement from Diaco that helped Fleming deal with the adversity.
"I owe him so much," Fleming said. "Me and Coach Diaco had a different kind of relationship. He coached the linebackers, I was a linebacker. He's the D-coordinator, I played defense. But we had a relationship off the field, too. We would all go over his house. I know all his kids, his wife, and, I mean, we were family. We continue to be after I left and he left. He's more than a coach to me. I love him."
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