Would Michigan be satisfied with Brian Kelly’s coaching record?
Against my better judgment I’m posting this now, in the heat of our toughest moment.
If they beat a weakened Clemson team, Brian Kelly is in the National Title hunt for the second time in his career. Ignoring the 2012 season being vacated for academic issues(Or using it as a platform for academic barriers to on field success). I know we want to compare Harbaugh to Urban and Dabo and the Devil Saban, but Kelly at Notre Dame is a more realistic comparison due to the legacy, culture, tradition, expectations etc. that also needs to be managed
I know “to hell” with them, and yet, if you look at their history after Bo/Mo/Lo I mean Lou, it is a similar road to “Return to Glory”. Kelly’s record is actually worse than Harbaugh’s at this point in their tenure even including the 12-1 season. Also, Kelly survived a 4-8 record in year 7(not 6)
If we think Harbaugh can be Our “Kelly” and of we found him quicker than ND do we keep him? Or do we ditch him and gamble on who might be the next lightening on a bottle?
I personally would be pleased if Jim could be what he is now (a little better than Kelly with a much more difficult schedule) and I’d support giving him the opportunity to get us in the National Hunt every 5-6 years (I think we should seriously consider 2016 one of those years)
I know firing Jim would be the popular thing, but leaders need to do the best for the organization overall and oftentimes staying the course is significantly more difficult than changing. A truth one can never really know without alternate parallel universes
Commence meltdown below
November 8th, 2020 at 12:08 AM ^
You know what a great way to find that out would be? An interview and due diligence from whoever is running the hiring process.
And it's not like his contacts in Ohio disappear the minute he crosses the border.
I think Fickell is an interesting case because he actually has a year of experience as a head coach at a major program. He may have been in over his head, but I'm guessing he learned a metric ton of what not to do, which has probably served in well at Cincinnati. The case against him is that most coaches lately have done pretty damn well at Cincinnati.
November 8th, 2020 at 12:23 AM ^
Yeah, I mean I hope they interview him. I am just not as excited as others seem to be. (But, I would also prefer an offensive minded HC, so maybe my bias is dripping into my opinion). Those contacts don't disappear but their willingness to push guys his way might change.
November 8th, 2020 at 2:17 AM ^
TBH, Luke Fickell is probably the single most effective/experienced recruiter of Ohio in the whole world of college football.
Fickell was the recruiting coordinator that helped Jim Tressel put up a fence around the state and ushered in an unprecedented era monopoly of Ohio high school talent. Fickell's most impressive recruiting feat is keeping essentially the whole 2011 recruiting class intact even with the departure of Tressel. Under Urban, Fickell only continue to perform at a top-20 recruiter level.
That's essentially ~20 years of successfully recruiting the state of Ohio. Hard to imagine he'd lose that overnight.
November 8th, 2020 at 12:08 AM ^
I just can't get excited about a guy that lost to Hoke with the same players that Urban coached up to 12-0.
Fickell is only alluring because he's the shiniest turd out there at the moment.
November 8th, 2020 at 1:30 AM ^
November 7th, 2020 at 11:49 PM ^
When has Kelly’s cupboard been found bare? He gets better recruits out of our state than Harbaugh. Looks like he could be lining them up for a second shot at the playoffs and Harbaugh is probably not going to be bowl eligible so it’s basically a dumb question with an easy answer.
November 8th, 2020 at 7:19 AM ^
Thank you for your lazy reply without reading the post. This is basically a mindless reply that is easily discarded and proves the overly emotional nature of the board right now.
November 7th, 2020 at 11:54 PM ^
This has nothing to do with Brian Kelly or Notre Dame, but I just wanna throw it out there that Rutgers...that’s right, RUTGERS put up MORE points against Ohio State today than WE did against INDIANA.
Just let that one sink in...
#HarbaughMustGo
November 8th, 2020 at 12:01 AM ^
LOL is this a serious question?
November 8th, 2020 at 1:30 AM ^
LOl because the answer is obviously "no"? Or because you're not buying the Kelly/Harbaugh comp?
November 8th, 2020 at 12:05 AM ^
Hard to compare, because ND doesn't have a rival anywhere close to OSU caliber every year. Today's game with Clemson has a GIANT asterisk. ND is decent, but I can't see them staying within 2 scores of OSU. No way.
Harbaugh would have at least a similar record as BK if he coached ND.
November 8th, 2020 at 7:12 AM ^
This is the point. Harbaugh has a better overall W-L record than Kelly. They didn’t fire Kelly after his 4-8 season. I get Harbaugh doesn’t have the signature win over OSU so I get it either way. Glad the topic got good discussion.
November 8th, 2020 at 12:25 AM ^
I think it comes down to this for both Michigan and Notre Dame: do you think your current coaches can, more often than not, lead the program to 10-win seasons? If the answer is yes then keep them, if not then find someone who can.
I don't think any single coach can get Michigan or Notre Dame "over the hump" to compete routinely with Mama, Clemson, and Ohio State because of the perceived differences in culture. The only way that can happen, to me, is if ND/UM get lucky and hit a home run on a quarterback. Like if Milton or Book, for example, are Heisman guys.
You'd be bringing a new coach hoping they can do, more or less, what Kelly and Harbaugh are doing.
November 8th, 2020 at 12:41 AM ^
This is year 6 and we are no closer beating OSU. Unless we are happy with being perennial 8-4 or 9-3 team and always lose to OSU and play .500 against Sparty, then I guess we keep Harbaugh. IMO he is over paid for what he was brought here to do, beat OSU and wind B1G championships but this is something Harbaugh may never do unless he gets lucky in year 10.
November 8th, 2020 at 1:00 AM ^
Fuck 2020. That’s all.
November 8th, 2020 at 1:01 AM ^
I played for him. He is tough, but so is life. Dude, beat Clemson.
November 8th, 2020 at 1:21 AM ^
At least Brian Kelly has made the playoff twice and beat Clemson. Harbaugh hasn't come anywhere close to sniffing the playoff except for 2016.
November 8th, 2020 at 2:35 AM ^
100% agree OP.
November 8th, 2020 at 5:26 AM ^
The W-L comparison itself is deceiving because Kelly's had more highs and lows (like making the playoff and the title game; 4-8). I would rather have highs and lows than this good but not great plateau. I would rather beat OSU once in a while and then lose to them 45-0.
That said, I'm close to ND insiders who say Kelly is a polarizing figure. The academic issues with players keep leaking and the character issues are there for everyone to see. Apparently he's also pro-choice which doesn't go over well for some there. He has a lot of internal enemies. Do not want to see that type of culture here.
November 8th, 2020 at 7:50 AM ^
You might be over thinking this. Simply think back to 2014 and ask yourself would you be ok with 0-6 vs OSU
November 8th, 2020 at 10:03 AM ^
Well he beat Clemson last night so surely he's "cheating", many around here frown on that sort of thing.
November 8th, 2020 at 10:15 AM ^
This is really a question? Guy has been to the playoffs 2 times. Of course any sane UM fan would want his record.
November 8th, 2020 at 5:02 PM ^
Michigan fans will be satisfied with being a better program than Ohio St. and being competitive in CFP games.