Weis out as Notre Dame coach... Who's your pick to replace him?

[Nukleopatra]

If ND had some balls, they'd grab Mike Martz.

[Sven Draconian]

Why would Brian Kelly want to go to ND? He has it made in cincy. BCS tie-in (in a laughably easy conference), tradition is poor (IE, he has a lot of slack) and he can just bide his time, winning his conference and getting raises until he can get a easy gig (Ohio State, Penn State, Miami ect....) where he doesn't have to rebuild or deal with admissions. Show up, win, collect big check.

Fuck dealing with the risk at ND. They f'd over Willingham now they can Weis (he did make a BCS game...just saying) there's no job security. We can argue back and forth whether they should have been fired, but it's pretty irrelevant, fact is people expect BCS every season or you gone. Good luck.

[NAHSTE]

FWIW, Adam Schefter is saying that Brian Kelly is not on Notre Dame's list.. and that the Irish want someone with a defensive mind.

Meyer, Stoops, and Patterson are already out of the race.

Skip Holtz is an interesting name

This is the same Adam Schefter who admitted in a mailbag two days ago that he doesn't watch college ball? I'll hold off on caring what he says will happen here.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Why the hell would Kelly or Paul Johnson want the ND job? Both are in better situations, IMO.

This isnt 1974. ND isnt the best job in the country anymore, and Kelly has a good thing going (and a better shot at BCS bowls and National Titles) in Cincy, same for someone like Paul Johnson (I doubt the powers that be at ND want to run triple option, anyway).

[FirstTimer]

FWIW, Adam Schefter is saying that Brian Kelly is not on Notre Dame's list.. and that the Irish want someone with a defensive mind.

Meyer, Stoops, and Patterson are already out of the race.

Skip Holtz is an interesting name

With all due respect.. I think Adam Schefter has better sources than you.

.

This is the same Adam Schefter that reported two days ago that Bob Stoops to ND was a "lock" according to his sources and the only thing holding it up was details of the contract.

From USA Today:

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday that Stoops was close to becoming Charlie Weis' successor and that contract details were all that stood in the way of him becoming coach of the Irish.

"One NFL source," Schefter reported, "goes so far as to say he believes an agreement is all but a formality, with some details, likely including the Oklahoma contract, still to be resolved."

After the report, Stoops told the Tulsa World via text that it was inaccurate: "You should know everything reported isn't true."

On Tuesday, Schefter posted an update on the Twitter account that took all of the report back: "People I listened to you yesterday about Bob Stoops were wrong. He is not leaving Oklahoma. I'll go back to sticking with NFL now."

Fuck dealing with the risk at ND. They f'd over Willingham now they can Weis (he did make a BCS game...just saying) there's no job security. We can argue back and forth whether they should have been fired, but it's pretty irrelevant, fact is people expect BCS every season or you gone. Good luck.

Willingham and Weis didn't get fucked over. If Willingham would have recruited at all and won football games he would still be the coach. If Weis could have won football games he'd still be the coach. When it comes down to it neither were very good college coaches and were fired for that reason. Weis did more for the program than Willingham did but at the end of the day they fucked them selves over by not being able to win football games.

(I doubt the powers that be at ND want to run triple option, anyway).

I'd support running the damn T-Formation if it would win National Championships.

BK probably won't be at Notre Dame. His political views aren't going to bode well at Notre Dame. I mean, it's one of BK's "dream jobs" along with Boston College, but the whole being pro-choice thing might make some people mad.

They invited Barack Obama to be last years speaker at the graduation...

Do you know what Weis' stance on abortion is?

[FirstTimer]

My biggest concern with Kelly will be his ability to recruit and have a defense.

[Sportsbuck]

Why the hell would Kelly or Paul Johnson want the ND job? Both are in better situations, IMO.

This isnt 1974. ND isnt the best job in the country anymore, and Kelly has a good thing going (and a better shot at BCS bowls and National Titles) in Cincy, same for someone like Paul Johnson (I doubt the powers that be at ND want to run triple option, anyway).

How does Kelly have a shot at a better BCS bowl with Cincy?

All he has to do to get to a BCS bowl at Notre Dame is finish in the top 12 or 14 I believe (And Virginia Tech is #12 with 3 losses so thats definately do-able for a team with a consistently weak schedule like ND)... Cincy has been undefeated all season and yet they will be shut out of the BCS if they lose to Pittsburgh this weekend.

[Sportsbuck]

My biggest concern with Kelly will be his ability to recruit and have a defense.

Kelly can definately recruit... he has great relationships specifically with HS coaches in Ohio, the thing is because he's at Cincy he's came in 2nd to Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, and other power schools for a lot of prospects.

They had a very good defense last year (Ranking in the 30s overall and 18th in rushing defense), but this year they are way down because they lost 10 starters and also switched to a 3-4 IIRC. Kelly has a background as a linebacker in college and also as a defensive coordinator as well.

[Warner2BruceTD]

How does Kelly have a shot at a better BCS bowl with Cincy?

All he has to do to get to a BCS bowl at Notre Dame is finish in the top 12 or 14 I believe (And Virginia Tech is #12 with 3 losses so thats definately do-able for a team with a consistently weak schedule like ND)... Cincy has been undefeated all season and yet they will be shut out of the BCS if they lose to Pittsburgh this weekend.

It's the top 12, and if it's so easy, why has Weis had so much trouble?

Kelly has already built up Cincy to the point they can contend in the weak Big East year after year. Why leave for a rebuilding project, with a ton more scrutiny, where you have no room for error or tolerance for a few down years?

All things being equal (um, $$$), Cincy is more stable and offers a better chance to win consistantly. It's already built.

ND is an upgrade for 80% of the current HC's. I don't think it's an upgrade for Kelly, but money talks.

[Sportsbuck]

It's the top 12, and if it's so easy, why has Weis had so much trouble?

Weis was ranked 5th and 11th in the nation in the two years he went to BCS bowls, both of them with two losses. In both of Weis' regular seasons in which he finished with a record above .500, he went to a BCS bowl.

Notre Dame lost all 6 games this year by a touchdown or less, better coaching is the difference between them being in the Hawaii Bowl and them being in the Sugar Bowl.

Kelly has already built up Cincy to the point they can contend in the weak Big East year after year. Why leave for a rebuilding project, with a ton more scrutiny, where you have no room for error or tolerance for a few down years?

All things being equal (um, $$$), Cincy is more stable and offers a better chance to win consistantly. It's already built.

True, Cincinnati does offer a better chance to win consistently. I don't think Kelly is going to be turned off by a rebuilding project, especially one with so many open scholarships right off the bat. He can bring in his own guys quickly and can coach them up immediately.

Recruiting is big upgrade for Kelly as well. At Cincy he has consistently been the second place man, coming in behind teams like Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, etc. for recruits. Now, if there is one thing Weis proved its that Notre Dame can still recruit with the best of them, and Kelly is an excellent recruiter who would definately benefit from the Notre Dame name.

[FirstTimer]

How does Kelly have a shot at a better BCS bowl with Cincy?

All he has to do to get to a BCS bowl at Notre Dame is finish in the top 12 or 14 I believe (And Virginia Tech is #12 with 3 losses so thats definately do-able for a team with a consistently weak schedule like ND)... Cincy has been undefeated all season and yet they will be shut out of the BCS if they lose to Pittsburgh this weekend.

Agreed with part of this except for the consistently weak schedule stuff. At points this season ND's schedule ranked higher than most of the teams in the Top 10(and does right now). Yeah people can point to playing Navy or Tulsa or Central Michigan but those are all at least Div 1 teams and not directional FCS schools or the Chatanoogas of the worlds that other teams play. When Notre Dame's schedule is right with annual games against Michigan, USC, Mich St, etc they traditionally have a tough schedule but when those programs are down the schedule looks easier.

The Sagarin ratings say Notre Dame has the 24th ranked schedule in the nation right now. Ahead of teams like: Florida, Alabama, Texas, and Ohio State. Among others.

Kelly can definately recruit... he has great relationships specifically with HS coaches in Ohio, the thing is because he's at Cincy he's came in 2nd to Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, and other power schools for a lot of prospects.

They had a very good defense last year (Ranking in the 30s overall and 18th in rushing defense), but this year they are way down because they lost 10 starters and also switched to a 3-4 IIRC. Kelly has a background as a linebacker in college and also as a defensive coordinator as well.

That's the plus side and I see that point but it's also a big jump to recruiting for Notre Dame and being one of the big dogs on the block. In theory it should transition well but he hasn't proved he can at a big school yet. I'm all for Kelly, but I do have some fears about him...but there is never a perfect candidate.

[FirstTimer]

True, Cincinnati does offer a better chance to win consistently. I don't think Kelly is going to be turned off by a rebuilding project, especially one with so many open scholarships right off the bat. He can bring in his own guys quickly and can coach them up immediately.

PLus Notre Dame's cupboard is far from bare. They have pretty much their entire defense coming back. Even though they blew this year it was still a defense that was ranked in the top 40 in 2007 and 2008 so the potential is there. And Even with Clausen leaving and Tate possibly going you still have Floyd and Rudolph coming back and some talented WR's that Weis recruited recently plus Weis had a good recruiting class shaping up and it looks like most, if not all, those commits will be staying with Notre Dame. For a rebuilding process Kelly is going to have a hell of a lot of pieces to work with.

[FirstTimer]

At this point it almost seems like it HAS to be Kelly. Every other coach rumored to be in the running has either flat out denied it(Stoops, Meyer, Dungy, etc) Has gotten a contract extension(Patterson), or has fallen off the face of the map(Ferentz). Kelly won't deny the rumors, refuses to talk about it when he could simply say "I'm not going to Notre Dame" if he wasn't and that would be the end of it. He hasn't and it's very odd.....

[dave]

Mike Leach - Texas Tech

[Warner2BruceTD]

Now, if there is one thing Weis proved its that Notre Dame can still recruit with the best of them, and Kelly is an excellent recruiter who would definately benefit from the Notre Dame name.

People always say this, but I don't buy it.

No matter what the recruitnik dorks say, or where these "experts" rank these draft classes, it's pretty clear ND is not getting the top HS players anymore. How can you tell? Watch the games. Compare ND to some of these SEC teams, or Big 12 teams, or any top program, and you see a blatant lack of speed & size.

When is the last time ND had an athlete/playmaker the caliber of Dez Bryant or Tim Tebow or Percy Harvin? When was the last time ND could boast the type of depth in the trenches that you see from an LSU or Alabama? Where is the overall depth that teams like Florida & USC boast?

This is why I you cant take these recruiting dorks seriously. ND is always ranked near the top, yet they clearly don't have top talent. The get run off the field by fast teams, and pushed around by big teams. The caliber of athlete at ND these days is closer to Stanford or Navy than the top tier programs that they think they belong with.

If you disagree, explain to me why big coaches like Urban Meyer & Stoops & Dungy laugh off overtures, and explain how this team consistantly get mauled by the USC's and loses to scrapy teams like Navy & UConn? They don't have top talent, no matter what the geeks at rivals.com have to say.