Minnesota's Fleck used 'The Dark Knight' to motivate team

Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck turned to Christian Bale's Batman for help motivating his players ahead of their season opener.

Fleck had the team study the 2008 film "The Dark Knight" and listen to the soundtrack during practice before Saturday's game against South Dakota State, according to Megan Ryan of the Minnesota Star Tribune. He also gave each player a Batman Pez dispenser.

"Whether people like (Batman) or don't like him, whether people consider him a hero or a villain, and whatever people's opinions of him are, he's him," Fleck said. "He always does the right thing. Our whole thing is, it doesn't matter who we play. We have to play our best, and we have to go do a job."

The Golden Gophers won the game 28-21, so it appears Fleck's strategy worked. Next up is a road matchup against Fresno State on Saturday.