By David HaughBrian Kelly didn't interview today in New York to become Notre Dame's next football coach.
But then, Kelly already may know enough about the job to take it.
Kelly held a meeting last week about the opening with representatives of Notre Dame within days of Cincinnati's Big East championship game against Pittsburgh, the Tribune has learned.
Talks progressed well enough that the official announcement Kelly will be Charlie Weis' replacement could come as early as Friday -- anytime after Cincinnati's football banquet Thursday night.
Photo: Cincinnati's Brian Kelly met last week with Notre Dame officials. (Keith Srakovic/AP)
The informational session with Kelly was facilitated by the Parker
Executive Search firm out of Atlanta that Notre Dame used to gauge the
interest of potential candidates, a source said. The interest from both
sides was mutual, but Kelly didn't want his involvement to distract his
Bearcats before the biggest game of the season. And it didn't --
Cincinnati beat Pitt 45-44 to earn the school's second straight
BCS bowl berth.
It also was important to Kelly to delay any possible announcement until after he got a chance to talk to his Cincinnati players in person at Thursday's annual season-ending banquet. He informed his players at a team meeting Monday before leaving for New York that he planned to speak with Notre Dame about the job.
One player contacted by the Tribune said he sensed, from Kelly's tone and mannerisms, that Kelly's departure was imminent.
If things go as planned, Kelly is unlikely to coach Cincinnati, 12-0 and No. 3 in the BCS poll, in the Sugar Bowl against Florida. It is believed Kelly's replacement for the bowl would be associate head coach and defensive backs coach Kerry Combs.
Both Kelly and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick were in New York today for the National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame induction dinner, leading to speculation and a report they would interview. A message on Kelly's Twitter page Monday confirmed he would talk to Notre Dame.
Turns out he already had. This morning, he tweeted, "I'm just in NYC for the Hall of Fame dinner. No interview today -- Believe ME.''
ESPN.com reported "things are heating up" between Notre Dame and Kelly.
Final details over a contract remain, but the university had no plans to deviate from its traditional stance of signing new football coaches to five-year deals, a source said. Asked if Kelly would accept an official offer to coach Notre Dame, a coaching friend of Kelly's answered, "I have no doubt he'd take the job.''
Notre Dame representatives similarly discussed the job with Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz to see if he could be lured out of Iowa City, but that didn't materialize, according to a source. Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh, despite published reports, never was under serious consideration.
It also was important to Kelly to delay any possible announcement until after he got a chance to talk to his Cincinnati players in person at Thursday's annual season-ending banquet. He informed his players at a team meeting Monday before leaving for New York that he planned to speak with Notre Dame about the job.
One player contacted by the Tribune said he sensed, from Kelly's tone and mannerisms, that Kelly's departure was imminent.
If things go as planned, Kelly is unlikely to coach Cincinnati, 12-0 and No. 3 in the BCS poll, in the Sugar Bowl against Florida. It is believed Kelly's replacement for the bowl would be associate head coach and defensive backs coach Kerry Combs.
Both Kelly and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick were in New York today for the National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame induction dinner, leading to speculation and a report they would interview. A message on Kelly's Twitter page Monday confirmed he would talk to Notre Dame.
Turns out he already had. This morning, he tweeted, "I'm just in NYC for the Hall of Fame dinner. No interview today -- Believe ME.''
ESPN.com reported "things are heating up" between Notre Dame and Kelly.
Final details over a contract remain, but the university had no plans to deviate from its traditional stance of signing new football coaches to five-year deals, a source said. Asked if Kelly would accept an official offer to coach Notre Dame, a coaching friend of Kelly's answered, "I have no doubt he'd take the job.''
Notre Dame representatives similarly discussed the job with Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz to see if he could be lured out of Iowa City, but that didn't materialize, according to a source. Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh, despite published reports, never was under serious consideration.
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Brian Kelly is a good coach, and he will get the most out of the situation. Whether he is pro-choice or pro-life will matter little to the guys that he can recruit, who only want to go PRO. That said, he will have the same problems as any man who has stood in the mighty, but VERY dead shoes of Knute Rockne, since the 1990s--I predict, even with his coaching ability, that this will be his future history at ND:
2010: 4-8
2011: 6-7 (mid-level bowl loss)
2012: 8-5 (cotton bowl/gator bowl loss)
2013: 10-3 (BCS bowl loss)
2014: 8-5 (Champs bowl loss)
After five futile years, with a record of 36-28 (similar to the other three coaches before him), Kelly will resign, and he will become the defensive coordinator of Central Michigan. Footnote: Rich Rodriguez will be the offensive coordinator at Central Michigan, and between the two of them, lead the Chippawahs to the MAC title with a 10-2 title. Yeah, boys, let your agents continue guiding your career decisions. Meanwhile, Cincy and WVU will continue alternating going to BCS Bowls.
I really think these potential choices sell the school short. Back up the Brink's truck at Nick Saban's door and say "here it is!" If it's not enough we'll find you some more!
>>>BMN: Do you think that all those kids are dreaming of >>>playing in glamorous Cincinnati or beautiful >>>Tuscaloosa, Alabama?
Compared to South Bend? Yes. Yes I do.
Cincinnati is at least an urban area, they have some belief that they'll have something to do (I wouldn't exactly choose Cincy over most urban areas but I'd sure as heck choose it over South Bend).
Tuscaloosa? Maybe not. But it's a SEC school so they know they'll be playing with the big boys. And an SEC title is worth more than a BCS Bowl appearance by Notre Dame, IMO.
Notre Dame thinks they're high and mighty enough to circumvent the conferences which means that all you're playing for is a National Championship or bust.....and good luck with that post-Lou Holtz.
And no one hates Notre Dame for their national TV contract when they're winning. We hate them for the national TV contract now because it means precious national airspace being reserved for a team we couldn't give a rat's ass about to watch. Once Notre Dame loses once, they aren't playing for anything anymore and there's no point in watching. Whenever I'm channel-surfing looking for a college game and I get to NBC, I usually don't even see the screen, my brain just kicks in "oh right, Notre Dame, this game doesn't mean $#!+" and I move on to something else. Obviously they must have some audience or NBC wouldn't have renewed them, but for the life of me, I don't understand it. I would rather watch a Conference USA game with inferior teams because at least there's a tangible title at the end of the road for those teams.
If I want to watch better teams, I'll watch the SEC, Big 12 or the Pac-10 (you know that last one, right? The one with all the ranked teams at the top that you can't beat, so you get the worst teams at the bottom to round out your wins?). ND has lost 10 of their last 11 games to ranked teams, so why should I care to watch them now?
All in all, I never said that Kelly can't win at Notre Dame, I just said he'll have his work cut out for him.
What the HELL r u talking about graduations rates!!!
To quote Al Davis, "Just win, baby!"
UC has the second highest FBS graduate rate, but WHO CARES! We are going to the Sugar Bowl!!!
And u freakin Irish are going steal our coach.
Well, at least he's Catholic. Hopefully, the curse of having a Jewish coach at ND will be exoricised....
Just to show how people don't know how to carry on a discussion, someone posted something for me. The Irish1 comment about 4 other schools with lower academic standards is just ridiculous (and not me), but that is what you get for trying to discuss something with morons.
to all you num nuts who say kelly cant coach defense. UC graduated 10 defensive starters from last year and cincy still went undefeated. Thats strong
if you think that ivy league and patriot league dont have lower standards for their athletes youre a dumbass. they still have high standards like 4.0 gpa and 30 act but without sports thats not getting you into ivy league schools.
Hey "ND fan" - Bob Stoops would not demote himself to go to a second tier school! He was never interested, just like Urban Meyer was not interested last year!
ND is the rock of college football. Look at the interest in this little itty bitty school
Notre Dame does have the second most Football Academic All-Americans in the FBS. Second surprisingly to Nebraska. While the standards may be lower for the student-athletes then the regular student population there standards are still higher than many other schools.
I would think that anyone would understand that the NCAA has standards in place for student-athletes and that those are generally lower than the rest of the schools students. I am not saying that it is right I am just stating the facts. If you wee to look at the student-athletes at Notre Dame in comparison to many other NCAA D1 institutions you would find a difference.
And more:
"The qualifications for the regular student who 'fits' at Notre Dame have increased significantly over the past decade. According to statistics compiled by Lee Sigelman in a Social Science Quarterly article entitled "It's Academic - or Is It? Admissions Standards and Big-Time College Football," Notre Dame's average student SAT score in 1993 - the last year Notre Dame seriously contended for a national championship - was 1220, while the university's average SAT score for football players was 899."
...
"'The overall academic quality of the football players has not kept pace in terms of test scores, AP courses, overall curriculum and grades with the overall classes,' [Admissions Director] Saracino said. "We have not been any 'tougher' on the admissions of football players in recent years as we have with the overall applicants."
http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/2.2757/catch-22-admission-standards-and-football-1.272750
Here you go, Irish1:
"Though ESPN and popular press reports often make similarly mistaken assertions, the fact is Notre Dame still eagerly recruits and regularly admits football players with GPAs and SAT scores far lower than their classmates - 300 or more points below the Notre Dame average SAT score and nearly a full grade point below in GPA is not at all uncommon. Notre Dame's assistant provost and admissions director, Dan Saracino, has given several high-profile (eg, Sports Illustrated) interviews clarifying Notre Dame's admission policies relevant to this issue. Saracino has consistently noted on the record there has been no change in our approach to admissions for football players.
"By one measure our admissions standards are somewhat demanding - we require a few more high school core courses than some competing schools. This supposedly helps demonstrate an interest in and capacity for college level academic work. By another measure our admissions standards are quite relaxed - few schools admit football players with test scores so far below the average of the student population. Whether one is in favor of keeping our policy the same or chaning it in either direction, we should all agree no blame for our football misfortunes is due to a change in our enrollment policies."
http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/2.2756/busting-the-admissions-standards-myth-1.270725
Mike, I would only need to provide evidence if you had some to present. Where is the evidence to say the football players at ND wouldn't get in if they did not play football? Oh that's right you have zero. I pointed out that ND uses stricter entrance requirements pertaining to all of their student-athletes, so there is some evidence, however you don't recognize it as such because it does not support your position.
I have 2 relatives with ND degrees (son and brother-in-law). ND academics are much like its athletics--living on a reputation that was made decades ago and no longer lives up to the image.
Didn't Kelly tell his team a week or so ago that he was not going anywhere? Not to ND or anywhere else?
If it is true that Kelly and his wife are pro-choice, where are the howls and screams of protest about hiring a football coach whose values are inconsistent with Catholic teachings?
if he leaves you can have the liar.http://www.webn.com/pages/onair_dawnpatrol.html?page=2
When Dantonio left UC fans screamed Oh no!Michigan State paid UC a lot of money to buy out his contract.Take the money from ND and run.BK made the UC coaching spot a hot commodity.We'll be fine.Collaros and our offense will be great.
Hey Irish1--
You didn't provide the evidence I asked for, to establish that the vast majority of ND football players would get into ND even if they didn't play football.
Keep trying!
My criticism still stands: ND football players are still minor league professionals that wouldn't be there if not for football. This is not the case at with the Patriot League, Ivies, or D-III.
What makes me laugh the most is that ND isn't really that great of a place, but all of its fans really think it is. Enjoy South Bend!
Well here we are again, you used part of your argument about Ivy and Patriot League schools and show my argument as only pertaining to that. The fact is your post starts off with arguments based on my comment about problem athletes. So the fact is I am trying to stay on a subject instead of, like you, looking for another argument once your argument has failed.
Mike also schools in the Ivy league give scholarships just not athletic scholarships. Many of them are getting compensated by scholarship outside of sports. Also ND has stricter entrance standards then the NCAA athletic requirements, so again you are misinformed and misrepresent the situation to fit your needs. Notre Dame haters think that if they spout enough BS for long enough that everyone will just fall in line. That is what makes me laugh at you guys the most, the fact that you guys cling to hollow arguments just because you hate the Fighting Irish
My main point doesn't concern Clausen or Tate. The fact is simply that "student-athletes" at ND are minor league professionals, as they are at any other scholarship-granting institution.
If you want real student-athletes, as I said, look to the Patriot League or Ivies. There, football players are considered on academic merit for admission, and they have to pay their own way.
Irish1--
Here's what I said:
"The fact is that they are compensated (by scholarship) football players who wouldn't have gotten in except that they play football."
And here's how you replied:
"You use baseless claims that you can only support by pointing out only situations that support you and ignore the evidence that overwhelmingly supports the opposite of your position."
What is your evidence that "overwhelmingly supports" the fact that the vast majority of ND football players would have been accepted to the university were they not student athletes?
Mike the problem is you can name one or two people like that. Jimmy and Golden tate are leaing what about all the others that get degrees. Talk about the majority of Notre dame athletes not he 10%. You use baseless claims that you can only support by pointing out only situations that support you and ignore the evidence that overwhelmingly supports the opposite of your position.
On this with ND football, I never thought one of these two fine athletes would ever consider leaving ND without a college degree and for one Jimmy Clausen, who has written new records over shadowing so many in just 3 seasons. It doesn't matter who your coach is, or what you stand for as as person, it's your leadership that you show to your football team for your senior year, and you make it your best shot to win one National Championship!!! Stay Jimmy and get your degree, show leadership, and acknowledge your fellow teamates and wait just one more year to go for the gold in the NFL. But for now, win one and stay, ND needs you as a leader!!! And as far as Golden Tate goes putting his name on the list of eligibity for the NFL, you should also stay at ND for one more year and lead your team to a National Championship with your leadership as well, don't yet go, let your stocks keep rising and wait one more year!!! Stay together and let something special happen next year for this prestigous University and for this new coach arriving, make things happen, and stay !!!!!
"So right the problem athletes who just want to go to the pros, and aren't worried about academics won't go to ND."
Jimmy Clausen came to ND to be molded by Charlie Weis into an NFL QB, and now he's leaving ND early.
ND fans love to think that athletes there are real student athletes. NO. The fact is that they are compensated (by scholarship) football players who wouldn't have gotten in except that they play football.
For real scholar-athletes, look to Patriot or Ivy football. Those are real amateur-level athletes, who pay their own way to attend school and get in on academic merit.
I LOVE seeing the pre-emptive excuses starting to come out: "Well, if Coach Kelly leaves, THEN Florida will demolish Cinci..." My foot. Kelly's hoping to rely on that same excuse when the ND AD inevitably asks why Florida beat Kelly's Cinci team by 200 points in the Sugar Bowl.
Let's face it - if Kelly thought he had a snowball's chance at even a respectable showing in the Sugar Bowl, he'd never pass it up. I mean, can you imagine a BCS Bowl victory over this historic Florida team - what coach wouldn't want that on his resume??? And talk about improving your stock! There's nothing but upside to that game....if you think you've got a chance.
Simple fact is that Kelly knows better than anyone that the Sugar Bowl is going to be an epic blowout. It's going to be a defeat that sets mid-major programs back a decade. He's probably already issued handwritten apologies to Boise State and TCU.
As far as claiming the Big East is legit by virtue of Pitt's and WV's ranking, you might note they've been matched with UNC and Florida State in the bowl games. So, the Big East's 2nd and 3rd teams are matched against the ACC's 6th and 7th teams? So much for legit.
By comparison, you might note that the Big Ten's 4th ranked team (Wisconsin) matched up with the ACC's 5th ranked team (Miami).
To NDWONBEFOREINTEGRATION,
Well, like many Notre Dame haters you have your facts wrong again. Notre Dame has won 11 titles and 6 of those after the first Black athlete came to campus. As far as the type of athletes that don't go to school at Notre Dame you are right the Percy Harvins of the world won't come to Notre Dame and they never have. Percy Harvin was not a student athlete, he was an athlete and that is it. Before Minnesota drafted him they went down to Florida to talk with Urban Meyer to get al the info on the many problem he had a t Florida. So right the problem athletes who just want to go to the pros, and aren't worried about academics won't go to ND.
I wonder how many of the posters here are ND alums.
For those of you that support ND but aren't alums, why do it?
The fact is that the vast majority of ND fans would be rejected if they applied for admission at ND. I would never support a school that wouldn't take me as a student.
This is exactly how Kelly left Central Michigan University...dumped the team whenever it best met his needs. He will win at ND as he has done everywhere he has been at, but at what cost? Loyalty, coach, should be a two-way street. You have no sense of honesty (read your absurdly untrue statements at the time you depart an institution) or integrity and for this reason alone, all players (even those from ND) deserve a better person to lead them. I hope before Kelly leaves this world he realizes what a self-serving rat he is.
I can remember growing up and knowing talent brought to Notre Dame every year, now there is still talent, yet used in everyway the wrong way, defense hurt us this year, but with talent given we can and still once again bring championships!! All we need is a coach who loves to challenge his players on both sides each week and every week, to see if they all want that national championship we seek as fans every year!!! All I ever wanted to see was some coach who seeks only the best out of his players on offense and defense, with a defensive coordinator who loves the game and goes for the gold with his players keeping the opposition under 20 points a game. That's a complete team that bears the logo of Notre Dame on their outfits every saturday both offense scoring 30 pts a game and defense that keeps that opposition under 20 a game. Give Lou Holtz credit he was the last to succeed in that venue, but not the last to hold it. All there is to hope for is that this next coach understands ND football and what it stands for to all of us across the US. If I know inside my heart, the players still there, and the one's that still are coming to ND, will indeed change the statue of ND football and bring us back to prominise!!!!
Sactamonious U. Do you really think that because Notre Dame is a Catholic University all that is taught there is Catholic. You are a moron and so many of you guys on here that hate Notre Dame because they were good enough to beat just about everyone for a very long time or because they do all this and have one of the highest graduation rate in the country. Maybe you hate them because they are on TV every week, for someone who is not a fan that could be hard to swallow. Notre Dame earned the right to the following they have, they don't slide guys in under the academic radar, they aren't just concerned with producing first rounders, and even with the down years there share of the ratings is still good enough to stay on every week. So take what ever BS reason you have for hating the Irish and blow.
I love how people act like ND has all the history in the world. Most of ND's titles were before African Americans played so they don't really matter. Pitt has 9 titles do we really care? No. ND is a better gig than a Cincy, but it is not in the league of Alabama, USC, FL or even LSU. This isn't 1920 people. Brian Kelly should wait until an SEC job opens up. Charlie Weis went to two BCS games and they fired him. Percy Harvin type players aren't getting into ND so dream on Domers you will never be a National Champ again.
Kelly talks out of both sides of his mouth.Would make a great politician.Takes Dantonio team and wins.Has not won with his own players.UC will take the buyout money and will be just fine.ND is investing about $40 million for a coach(settlement to Wies and now Kelly
Kelly or no Kelly-
Cincinnati is going to bury Florida in the Sugar Bowl.
-Kelly leaving Cincinnati for Notre Dame would be the biggest mistake in his coaching career.
Kelly has won at every level. The last three years his team has won 10 games. He is a good defensive coach. He is ready for the big time - no matter what you say about Cincy they are not big time. Notre Dame is. (duhhh!!)
Urban Meyer's last gig was at Utah, and they weren't big time but he became the hottest coach in the country when his last Utah team went undefeated - you work your way up the food chain. Notre Dame thought they could low-ball him and still get him so they fired Willingham and then Meyer went to Florida and Notre Dame had to settle for Weis.
Notre Dame signs Kelly and his Cincy team gets screwed, but that's the way it is. Notre Dame high muckety-mucks think their s... doesn't stink, ND students are SURE theirs doesn't - they are about as arrogant as they can be and even though I used to go there (didn't graduate) it does my heart good to see them get beat (especially by Navy) but I sure wish they would beat Southern Cal.
Us mackerel snappers don't handle success well - Notre Dame is case in point.
Ever heard the term RINO - Republican In Name Only -?
Try this - CINO.
Figure it out.
Kelly can pack his sh** and go.....
UC is on the map! Kerry Combs will pick up were Kelly left off. Kerry Combs is an Ohio Football GURU and will not be stopped.
Kelly didn't need an interview because he already had one - LAST YEAR! He was on the cusp of taking over the program last year, but Swarbrick fell victim to the promises from Charlie of a better year this year. Kelly's probably known all year this job was his if Charlie was cut loose. He's probably already got his full closet of ND spiritwear. All this, of course, is IMHO.
This hire is rediculous. the guy comes from the big east where his school, although prolific on offense, cant stop anybody.
if you are gonna hire someone like that, why not keep what you had? Now you lose Clausen, Tate, and whoever else and still have no defense. instead nd spends 18 million for what?
Glad to see him go. Combs has been doing all the coaching and recruiting anyway, it's about time he gets the title and the salary. Go Head Coach Combs!!!
Come on URBAN MEYER there is still time to call ND for the coaching job.
All you morons out there that believe the BIG East is a push over...Your living in the past. Wow the Long Horns are #2...and they barely got by Nebraska...AP poll had them rated # 21 wk 13 of this year. But UC beats Pit (BTW they were rated #14 that same week). You may not be smart enough to figure it out so maybe you should get a calculator and figure the difference. I'll give you a hint...21 - 13 = 8. That is Neb was rated 8 LOWER than Pitt. You get the direction of this post. Given that Neb just barely beat a 22 ranked team and UC just barely beat a 13 Ranked team...think UC wins based on those facts.
How many of these big teams play out of confrence (i.e., to good teams some examples are; TCU, Boise State, UC)? Not many. Why because if they lose then idiots like you can not say how much better the SEC (or what ever conference) is than the teams just mentioned.
Flordia has a great team. I think it will be a good game. I hate to see Brian Kelly go. The only thing I would not like is if he did not stay and coach the bowl game. I believe you start something you finish it. As for ND...I think it is really bad that they throw away money like they do. Many are hurting now and good old ND has money to burn. Aren't they religious...I mean isn't there some good they could do with that money. Typical religion shit.
See Ya Kelly and.....Welcome to guy who's been doing all the recuiting and coaching anyway - Head Coach Kerry Coombs! UC is lucky to get rid of Kely before giving him all the credit and money he doesnt deserve. ND just gets more of the same.
So BMN basically what your saying is that Notre Dame is like a Cincinatti, but with more money, national spotlight, and an actual history. Yea good point wonder i f he can turn it around.
Thanks for the memories, Brian Kelly! Now, don't let the door hit you in the ass!
Is it sanctimony to graduate your athletes? All you haters go look at your college's graduation records. It's not about Rudy, or awakening the echoes or shaking down the thunder. What makes ND stand out is that it gives a greater proportion of its athletes, including its football players, a degree they can use for the next 40 years of their lives.
That's why you'd choose Notre Dame, or frankly Stanford, or Northwestern, or Boston College or any of the academies.
Is it sanctimony to graduate your athletes? All you haters go look at your college's graduation records. It's not about Rudy, or awakening the echoes or shaking down the thunder. What makes ND stand out is that it gives a greater proportion of its athletes, including its football players, a degree they can use for the next 40 years of their lives.
That's why you'd choose Notre Dame, or frankly Stanford, or Northwestern, or Boston College or any of the academies.
Looking at the roster I don't think it's a problem to get kids to come to South Bend:
Jimmy Clausen's hometown: Westlake Village, CA
Armando Allen: Opa Locka, FL
Michael Floyd: St. Paul, MN
Golden Tate: Hendersonville, TN
Dayne Crist (possible QB in 2010): Thousand Oaks, CA
Manti Te'o: Laie, HI
Here's the rest of the roster if you want to be a little more informed: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/teams/roster?teamId=87
BMN:
Do you think that all those kids are dreaming of playing in glamorous Cincinnati or beautiful Tuscaloosa, Alabama?
Notre Dame thinks that a new coach will solve the problem. They neglect to acknowledge that we've got a whole generation of college recruits that were born in the 1990s and couldn't care less about "awakening echoes," "shaking down thunder" or the movie "Rudy." All they know about Notre Dame is that they're on national TV every week looking exceptionally mediocre. They don't know anything about the "illustrious history" and how Notre Dame is supposedly the college football equivalent of the New York Yankees and quite frankly, they don't care to know. If Notre Dame played in the SEC, you'd call them Vanderbilt. And everyone born after 1990 knows it.
Does Brian Kelly have a plan to address this? Does Brian Kelly have a plan to persuade kids to spend the formative years of their life in South Bend, Indiana: a place most of them have probably never heard of, to the shock of their parents? Do the parents of these children even buy into the prestige of Notre Dame anymore or do they visit the campus and go "well, why should I trust you with my kid, you'll probably get fired soon enough anyway?"
I don't begrudge Brian Kelly for going for where the money is, but he has his work cut out for him.
Very funny. The last post was not made by me (probably "I'm burning on") . I'm not that confident of a Florida victory.
@Don Quiote
If Kelly Stays Loyal to Cincinnati you just might be surprised at how well we can stick with Florida. Not saying we will win. But as long as we don't lose our head coach and keep the moral high. I strongly believe it will be a very good football game. If Kelly leaves. We will no doubt get our asses kicked
UC FAN:
You are dreaming if you think the Bearcats will do anything but embarrass themselves against the Gators and Tebow. Should you feel otherwise, please feel free to contact me, I will be happy to take all the action you would like to place on the game. And since you are so confident, we needed bother with a point spread.
who will be the next coach in 4 years ? i don't believe its the coaches, its the school who has created this mess.
Hey, I hope now that the cloud of doubt about Kelly leaving is gone, and with a little rest the defense can put it to Florida and finish up #2 with a convincing win over the over-rated Tim Tebow. Also, if you want to fault Kelly for leaving, don't, he's doing what you want to see people do; reach for the best. Notre Dame's storied past is second to none, Congrats to Coach Kelly for bringing a winning program, Congrats Coach Kelly for having one of the highest graduating rates in all of college football; (HINT why he was a good find for Notre Dame???).. and thanks for the memories you've given us Bearcat fans. May your grass roots efforts bring us to National prominence, and allow us to meet one day down the road and for the Bearcats to lay a lickin on the Irish!
Kelly just better hope ND signs his deal before the Gators get a piece of his overrated Bearcats. ND may reconsider otherwise. The Bearcats are going to get a good dose of what big-time, top tier football is all about. Kelly's team got their heads handed to them by Oklahoma last year and were beaten by 2 touchdowns by the number 19 ranked Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. Who have they beaten this year that justify speculation that they could have been worthy of playing Alabama for the National Championship should Texas have missed that field goal. I question ND's thinking and have doubts that they are as solid on Kelly as this article claims.
ND and its fans were very lucky that Brian Kelly showed an interest in them. He could have stayed in Cinci or coached anyplace else without the drama dished out by "the place coaches go to die". If ND didn't pay the big bucks they wouldn't be able to hire anybody at all. As it is, they got one of the best coaches in the business. I hope for Kelly's sake that he doesn't get chewed up and spat out by that dysfunctional mess in South Bend, but that's the recent history.
Jacob,
1. Cinci didn't win their bowl game last year. They got "dominated" (AP Headline) by VT. Sooo...if just winning counts, Cinci didn't. ND did.
2. Yes, ND didn't beat Pitt or UConn. Cinci beat them barely. Why would I get excited about a coach whose marquis moments are wins against really, really average teams?
3. Kelly isn't playing with his recruits. He's playing mostly with holdovers from previous years. And he's playing in the Big East. Lincoln Park High School's soccer team would be favored to win that conference.
4. ND spent $18M just to get to offer this very mediocre coach a job.
5. All of this will become obvious when Cinci loses by about 150 to Florida. Of course, Kelly will have cut and run to avoid being revealed as a total fraud (like VT did to Cinci in the Orange Bowl last year).
I think its a bit easier to recruit for notre dame than cincinnati. BTW look how he recruited quite well with instate players as he recruited against OU OSU and Miami(oh).
Also - Thats how coaching works - there are stepping stones till you get to a nationally recognized program. Its part of the game and always has been. You think Urban Meyer is dissapointed Charlie Strongs leaving his DC post to go to Louisville, Sure, but its part of the system to continually advance until you're on top.
ND Philes is clueless...
Seriously, Kelly took a program that's previous top bowl appearance was the Humanitarian Bowl to now three bowls in a row, including two consecutive BCS appearances. No, the Big East isn't the SEC, but UC's schedule featured more currently ranked opponents (3) than ND's patsy schedule custom made to ensure annual BCS appearances.
Even more impressive about this season is that he goes undefeated after replacing 10 of 11 starters on defense (six of which were drafted by the NFL this year) and having his starting QB out for 3 games. Who cares how many points you give up a game, if at the end of each game your team outscores the opponent to get the "W".
ND would be more than lucky to get Kelly!
If so, another five years down the drain.
Kelly is a driven carpetbagger who is on an ego trip that will necessitate he take the ND job. He started at Grand Valley State, then Central Michigan, then Cincinnati, as stepping stones. No matter what he says, he walked over his players at each school on his ego trip, and I would be wary of sending my kid to play for him. But then again, dedicated, genuine people like Joe Paterno are relics to a glorious past that are unfortunately gone. ND has sold out their soul.
Ditka!
I hate ND and everything that they stand for.
Why would Notre Dame have to stoop to this level to get a great coach? Kelly has yet to field a D1 team with his own recruits and then win with them. And he certainly isn't in California, Texas or Florida getting the top recruits. As a matter of fact, the Cincinnati recruiting class is ranked 44th after an Orange Bowl appearance! Mistake...
I don't know why you are saying he hasn't beaten anyone or has any marquis wins. Everyone wants Urban Meyer, but Brian Kelly is Urban Meyer five years ago. Urban had success at Bowling Green and Utah, yet he still got the Florida job. Having success at UC makes him even more reputable than Meyer coming out of Utah.
ND Phile -
I wouldn't compare bowl wins from last year, Hawaii is not impressive compared to VT.
Also - regarding points and wins against other teams.
1. Did ND beat Pitt? No -
2. Who cares how many points he gave up to Uconn - Cincy beat them and ND didn't.
When you look at generalizations you have to remember the caliber player as well. Giving up points to lesser teams isn't always reflective of the head coach but also the staff and also important is the caliber of player.
As an ND fan you should be happy that we can get this done with and start focusing on putting a program building system in place and starting to talk to the right type of recruits. He's proven he can do both
Why does everyone care so much about coaches of minor league professional teams?
ND-philes:
Why on Earth would ND pay $18M simply for the opportunity to buy a coach with 2 winning seasons....in the Big East!?! Seriously? Kelly's "marquis" win is either against Wannstadt's Pitt (totally unimpressive) or against a Rodriguez-less WV team (even less impressive).
Further, when Cinci went out of conference in bowl play last year, they got absolutely worked (20-7) by a pretty ordinary VT team. (Comparatively, at least ND won it's bowl game last year.)
And to the individual raving about Kelly's "defense" - did you SEE his team give up 36 to Illinois and 45 to Connecticut??? For real, even Weis didn't give up 45 to Connecticut this season.
I hate to break it to you, but this is a very, very ordinary coach. You ND-philes are going to be back here on this board in a few years, reciting the same things I just recited, and wondering why you ever spent $18M just for the chance to pick this guy.
Brian, every time ND has a coaching vacancy, its fans start naming the top coaches in the country as replacements, as if the AD could just pick up the phone and call anyone. Brian Kelly is as good as you're going to get and better than you deserve. Welcome to the world of college football 2009.
This guy is a great coach. ND will, after 16 years of trying, return to GLORY!
HughJones, But because of Kelly our school is starting to sway from a stepping stone. We already have plans for a very nice practice field that Kelly requested. Plans are in the making to increase our stadium by at least 10,000 fans. If Kelly Stays or we keep getting good coaches Cincy will not be a stepping stone for much longer.
so they are all phonies and Swarbick/Kelly the worst of the worst. Faust #2 now coming to the Golden Dome. not the best ND could pick. not even close. standards are sinking enough thatWeis really seems like a class act now. a lot of good coaches w/standards out there never thought ND would go this low. officially a fan who will take a pass, success or not. TK
Whoa KOfan.
Kelly is pro choice. Nobody is "pro abortion."
Obviously not Joe, thats why there's been 100 posts in the last few minutes.
NOBODY CARES.. this is Breaking news?
GoCats!, don't kid yourself. If it wasn't ND this year, it'd be some other school more prestigious than UC.
This is what happens to programs like UC. They get a good coach, and that good coach gets snatched up by someone higher on the food chain.
It happened with Dantonio, it's happening with Kelly, it'll happen with your next coach (assuming he's any good.)
You play in a stadium of 36,000 people. It's not exactly the jewel program of college football. It's merely a stepping stone.
Can everyone please stop saying Kelly has had ONE good season? He's 34-6 in 3 seasons at freaking CINCINNATI?????
I dunno, as an ND fan this potential move just doesn't get me all that jacked up. Seems very "flavor of the week" to me. Hope I'm wrong, but am completely preparing myself for another 5 years like we just had. Oh well, I guess it just is an indication of how far ND football has fallen since Lou left.
Kelly and his wife are big pro abortion supporters. They will fit right in at Notre Dame that's for sure. Good job Father Jenkins!
I live in Michigan, and all of the hundreds of Michigan fans that I know are worried sick about the potential Kelly hiring at ND. I live in Grand Rapids, where BK won 2 national champs. at GVSU. The ND nation should be excited about this hire if it happens. Potential to be the next Lou Holtz.
For Kelly to even interview with ND before the season is completely over, including the Florida game, is a slap in the face to UC's players and fans, and I hope he's yet another in a long line of failed coaches at ND. He could have built something in Cincinnati, instead it looks like he's decided to move to a has-been program with more Monday-morning quarterbacks looking over his shoulder than a fantasy football league.
One great year from the Cincy coach in the "tough" Big East conference and ND gets all excited. More of the same for ND which is fine with me. Mercifully m*ch^g#n kept their coach.
Anyone who knows a lick about kelly would be happy to have his defense. He started 10 new players on defense this year and went undefeated. He was a very successful D Coordinator at GVSU before his first head coaching experience. His superiour at GVSU from 1985 to 1990 said this of Kelly: "Brian's a very good defensive coach who has come to truly understand offenses"
As an ND hater, you should be scared that a proven winner, at all levels of collegiate football, is likely headed to ND. He has won multiple national championships, has 3 10-win seasons in a row with previously terrible team, and is 1 second away from playing Alabama in the NC game. Despite his impressive resume, he proved last year that he can coach players to excellence by using 4 different QBs as they all got hurt (still managed to go to a BCS game). We will see how happy you are when does some serious damage next season.
I understand that ND can give Kelly a much higher pay than cincy right now. But as a UC student it would atleast be nice for kelly to stick around to see through all the changes the school is putting into affect only because kelly had said he would stay only if they were given to him. He has done nothing but succeed since he set food in nippert. If the man is after money he will go to ND. If he wants a name. He can be forever remembered as the one that took Cincinnati from a no name to a National Championship contender.
All Kelly has done is win, which is more than I can say for the last three hires.
As far as ND Hater, you can discuss Div 1 football once you actually attend a 4 year university or college. Until then, get back to cooking my burger.
HA, ha, ha... love the haters!
Give me a break Grave concerns? Really? he replaced his whole D and yet they win EVERY game!!! Would your grave concerns be because he does not regurgitate the catholic mantra on abortion rights? Hmmmmm. Oh my Our ladies University is under attack!Bring on a winner!!!!!!!
"There are two kinds of people in this world, Notre Dame fans and Notre Dame haters. Quite frankly, they're both a pain in the ass."- Dan Devine.
Great hire with a great record, finally a head coach who has a history of success, first one since Lou Holtz! Welcome Coach Kelly!!
geez why doesn't he just hand Cincy's bowl game to Florida.
talk about a downer but having your coach split on you before the season's even over.
couldn't ND have waited to bring in their next bad coaching hire?
This is a great hire. ND Hater, you are a loser, don't waste you're time commenting.
This is really no surprise that Notre Dame would hire Brian Kelly. Anybody that thought Bob Stoops, Urban Meyer and Nick Saban would leave their very successful programs at Oklahoma, Florida and Alabama for South Bend were really living in a dreamworld.
As an ND fan, this is the coach I as hoping they'd hire if Bobby Stoops stayed in Oklahoma. Tentatively: well done ND.
I have grave concerns about this guy with respect to the defensive side of the ball. ND needs a serious upgrade in defensive talent and coaching.