P.J. Fleck's new Gophers contract is now official.

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents held a special meeting Thursday morning to approve the Gophers football coach's contract and did so in swift order. Four Regents were present in the board's chamber, with seven others and University President Joan Gabel joining via conference call.

The Regents repeatedly praised Fleck's coaching acumen, and when a vote was taken, there was no audible opposition to the contracts's approval.

"It's an incredibly exciting time to be a Gopher football fan," Gabel said. "I think it's fair to say Coach Fleck's record speaks for itself on the field but also in the classroom and the community."

Last week, Fleck signed the seven-year, $33.25 million contract, and then his Gophers proceeded to defeat then-No. 4 Penn State to improve to 9-0. Regents Michael Hsu and Mike Kenyanya acknowledged that they were among the thousands of Gophers fans who went on the field to celebrate the win.

"I think Coach Fleck and [wife] Heather have delivered on just about every promise they have made," Hsu said.

Joe Christensen