"Ski U Mah" apparently has its origins in boat rowing.
U of M Rugby captain John Adams had heard Sioux boys yell "ski-yoo!" when they won canoe races on Lake Pepin. He incorrectly interpreted that phrase as the Sioux word for victory, or exultation and suggested it as a cheer for the University rugby team. A co-captain added the "mah" to make it rhyme with "rah" and created "Ski-U-Mah!" The slogan has been used to cheer on the Minnesota Golden Gophers athletics teams, and was written into the lyrics of University songs including the "Minnesota Rouser", "Go Gopher Victory", "Minnesota Fight" and "Minnesota March".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ski-U-Mah_(slogan)
Also fitting that its origins include misinterpreting victory.
Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir."
Scrooge-"Are there no prisons?". "Plenty of prisons..."
Scrooge-"And the Union workhouses." . "Are they still in operation?". "Both very busy, sir..."
"Those who are badly off must go there."
"Many can't go there; and many would rather die."
Scrooge- "If they would rather die," "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population."
Go more with a flood theme..... SANDBAG IT!!
Les Miles is an amazing recruiter. His coaching ability was always suspect. His win totals are a direct result of having the most talented teams on the field. That was what I find interesting about him and thought would put him at the top of any list for the gophers. The west is obviously the weaker of the two B10 divisions, talent will win you games in spite of coaching, and I don't know if he would have cost all that much more than Fleck. Miles has never gotten a program in trouble. The gopher administration would simply have to sit back and let him do his thing.
I really don't know enough about Fleck to know if he is the answer. Miles certainly would have not only been the safe choice, it probably would have been the best choice for where this program is at right now. I said it before, the gophers need seats filled, excitement in the stands, and hope. Miles would have delivered all of this. I am also guessing if there was any conversation between the gophers and any coach the gophers were saying they want a 6 year contract. Miles may not have been interested in that being a starting point. While his start was in the B10, maybe the only job he would ever take in the B10 is Michigan.
I wold have gone after Miles even knowing his coaching ability is questionable. His recruiting ability alone would be worth it. The stability of 10 win seasons on the back of superior talent would be worth it. The occasional flirtation with the CFP would be worth it. Miles could bring that. At some point, the gophers have to quit looking at themselves as a stepping stone program and actually just decide to be good. It could happen.