December 7th, 2009 at 4:33 PM ^
Neither. Send them RichRod, and we'll take Kelly or Harbaugh.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:35 PM ^
You tried it in the previous thread also. No sir, that is not going to happen. I am going to pos-bang every single post of yours. You just watch.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:38 PM ^
Maybe he is using reverse psychology and trying to lure you into pos-banging him up?
December 7th, 2009 at 5:50 PM ^
I can't handle these mind games.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:39 PM ^
I'm not vengeful, so I won't neg you back.
Like a lot of people, I'm just frustrated by the way that RichRod has worked out so far. Sure, there may or may not be good reasons, but it would be a hell of a dong punch if Notre Dame got themselves a guy who can hit the ground running.
December 7th, 2009 at 6:04 PM ^
If we could go back in time two years when Lloyd announced his retirement, how many of you would choose RichRod instead of Harbaugh or Kelly? (crickets chirping)
December 7th, 2009 at 6:12 PM ^
And I'm not saying that with the benefit of hindsight.
At the time, I really wanted us to go get our own version of Tressel. Brian Kelly and Chuck Martin seemed like some real hidden gems to me.
When I first saw the RichRod rumor, I was kind of annoyed because I thought he was a gimmick coach. The more I learned about him, however, the more I warmed up to him. He's definitely more than just a gimmick coach. I admit to jumping hardcore on the RichRod bandwagon, thinking that we'll stomp teams the way WVU did. I also bought all the Barwis hype.
Having said that, over the second half of this season I started to fade on him again. I mean, I'm "ALL IN" in the sense that I *want* him to do well...but undeniably we're not where we wanted to be.
We're only in year two, so I'm still kind of accepting the arguments that we just didn't have any talent and needed to learn a new system. But I think the pressure is starting to mount, for sure.
December 7th, 2009 at 8:27 PM ^
he is enjoying a lot of success in that department.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:33 PM ^
neither
Hopefully they take a look at Al Groh.... ;)
December 7th, 2009 at 4:34 PM ^
Looks like Stanford better build a more expensive bathroom for Harbaugh if they want to keep him...
December 7th, 2009 at 4:37 PM ^
I don't personally care who ND gets - I hope for the long term that they get a good coach so that when we play them every year, it has meaning. If I were a ND fan, however, I would probably want Harbaugh. Kelly would entail a revamping of ND's offense to run the spread, and we all know how easy those transitions are to accomplish.
That said, either coach would be a huge step up for ND.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:53 PM ^
Granted there'd be changes, but the revamping of ND's offense wouldn't be as great of an uphill battle as Richrod had in changing UM offense due to Kelly's version of the spread being more pass oriented and not as reliant on a true dual threat qb. I agree that either coach would be a step in the right direction, but I think it's splitting hairs as to who gets them up and running faster.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:54 PM ^
Although I don't want to see either, I'm not ready to permanently write of Harbaugh, which would happen if he bolted for the Domers. However, I expect Kelly to be the choice in the end, but don't expect an RR-like transition (read slow) to the spread. Kelly has a good track record of working with what he has. Do you think Dantonio was a spread guru while at Cincinnati? Tony Pike is a very good college quarterback, but no one is mistaking him for Michael Vick. If Notre Dame has talent anywhere, it's on offense and Kelly will likely transition them as a passing spread team, not a spread-option team. I would bet he would do pretty well, too. Also, as much as I love seeing Notre Dame mired in mediocrity, as long as RR gets it turned around I would also like to see that September match up mean a little more than it has in the past 10 years, minus just a couple of years. Go Blue!
December 8th, 2009 at 9:34 AM ^
The QB situation isn't very good in South Bend. Looks like the new coach will be starting all over at that position. That'll make the transition that much harder.
December 7th, 2009 at 5:09 PM ^
I really believe both have NFL aspirations. I seem to remember Kelly actually saying so and Harbaugh played in the league. So, if ND hires either they will be looking again in 5 years, because Kelly/Harbaugh were successful and left for the Houston Texans of the world or they were not successful and went the way of Weis, Willingham, Davie and Faust before them.
ND needs a college coaching lifer. Nobody asked but I nominate any of the following three guys (assuming Gary Patterson is not available): Pat Fitzgerald, Bo Pelini or Mike (NOT Bob) Stoops.
December 7th, 2009 at 5:27 PM ^
While I mostly agree with you, I think you missed a couple of issues.
1) ND is not what it was 20 years ago - if someone comes in (e.g., Kelly or Harbaugh) and turns it around, then bolts - do you think the Domers would be complaining? Probably whining a little, but they'd probably be very happy with what transpired from 2010-2015.
2) If you want the "lifer", I think you also have to look at Skip Holtz.
December 7th, 2009 at 8:34 PM ^
the Domers reference the Holtz era, the Catholics vs. Convicts series, the Raghib Ismail period like it was yesterday...when they were relevant. While the national media cover the coaching search at ND with great attention (as you might for a school with its own tv deal) I suspect that coaches understand the inherent challenges that come with the job (i.e., prickly boosters, limited job security, academic/admission issues, schedule more beefy than the former USC, M and 7 sisters of the poor games. I the modern era ND fans would have to be happy with 4 or 5 years of 8 and 4 or greater.
I agree Skip Holtz might be the right call...definitely the right political "name" call in some circles.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:37 PM ^
Actually I think they should look at Mangino because their last coach wasn't fat enough.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:40 PM ^
Hey - let's draw the line somewhere. Say what you want about Charlie - he didn't know how to manage a clock, he couldn't recruit defense, he flat out sucked as a coach - but do not, my good man, ever say that Charlie Weis was not fat enough.
December 7th, 2009 at 8:00 PM ^
one Mgo Point per word.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:41 PM ^
Or enough of a jerk.
*thinks of Mangino taking personal shots at Jimmah for his hair*
Do it.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:39 PM ^
A little surprised they're interviewing Harbaugh. It seems he may be a little too much of a loose cannon for them, at least what I've heard from ND friends.
In the short term, probably rather see them take Harbaugh if its' one of those 2.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:45 PM ^
That's probably the point of the interview - to figure out if the guy will be controlable on a big stage.
I wonder if Harbaugh would ever ditch Notre Dame for Michigan? That would be a fun prank to play on those Irish!
December 7th, 2009 at 4:48 PM ^
as unrealistic as that is, it would be a-w-e-s-o-m-e.
December 7th, 2009 at 7:51 PM ^
I just got a boner.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:48 PM ^
I'm sure that I'm not alone at this point in believing that Kelly is ND's first choice so I'm sure ND wants to a) send him a message that there are other candidates out there and b) be able to negotiate more effectively on their own terms (Kelly can't coach the bowl game, etc.).
At least we'll hear something soon so we can all put up with a collective freak-out from the board and Michigan fans more generally and finally get on with it. I've said it before but I'll belabor the point again -- I welcome having Notre Dame, our only year-to-year top tier non-conference opponent, have the strongest possible program possible.
December 7th, 2009 at 5:00 PM ^
"ramverine79;" Kelly has plenty of negative pub in regards to fitting in as well, be it his pro-choice beliefs, his dealings with certain situations @ CMU etc. ND is more than likely coming to the realization that they've been tolling in mediocrity for 10+ years and for the most part will have to sacrifice a few character flaws to get back into contention IME.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:42 PM ^
I love RichRod, but you've got to have a contingency plan - And I ain't excited about Brady Hoke.
We'll know where out program is headed in about 10 months...after the MSU game. Beat ND and MSU and we'll be good.
Lose both, or god forbid even one, and RichRod's ass is going to be burning.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:42 PM ^
10 Hail Marys for every Tourette's outburst my son.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:47 PM ^
What the hell are yout talking about?
December 7th, 2009 at 4:52 PM ^
I think that was aimed at me, right?
December 7th, 2009 at 5:37 PM ^
Pretty sure it's a reference to Harbaugh's recent outburst (can't remember the game in which it occurred, maybe ND) that combined a word that rhymes with 'duck' with another word that rhymes with 'maggot'
December 7th, 2009 at 4:46 PM ^
had to choose. Having to play a Harbaugh-coached ND team every year would grind me. I know he's not the most popular guy around AA right now, and he's a bit of a jerk, but he's one of our jerks, dammit.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:46 PM ^
How could they justify it to their fan base to NOT interview Harbaugh? I'm pretty sure that every NFL team that is hiring a new coach this year will call Mike Shanahan whether he's interested or not, because they have to ask.
There aren't many great experienced candidates this season. Harbaugh and Kelly are all that's there.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:46 PM ^
Kelly. Period.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:46 PM ^
he can kiss them goodbye if he ever coaches at ND.
They can have Kelly. Yes, he wins everywhere he goes, but there are definite reasons UM didn't touch Kelly.
I think ND goes to Edsall at UConn, Kelly or even Skip Holtz at ECU. Butch Davis at UNC is a possibility.
Harbaugh is interviewing to slow down the process to hopefully steal away a recruit or two while ND sways in the wind.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:51 PM ^
What are the reasons behind us not touching Kelly? Care to elaborate?
RichRod's made quite a mess here in AA...I'm still behind him, but it's hard to imagine a worse outcome over the past two years (both on and off the field.)
I'm just being brutally honest, because we all know it's true.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:59 PM ^
I'm surprised you haven't figured out Kelly's problem. Aside from zero victories against non-MAC Plus Big East opponents, Kelly fields questionable defenses. Any defense relinquishing 40+ to Pitt and UConn is undeserving of praise.
Do these idiots over at South Bend learn any lessons? Do they not see what's going on here (good offensive transition being negated by bad defense)? The problem is staring them in the face and they just keep going after the next flavor of the week.
December 7th, 2009 at 7:31 PM ^
FYI, Cincinnati was 25th in scoring defense last year. Then they lost a starting DE, DT, 3 CBs, and an OLB to the NFL and plummetted. To 24th. You're just thinking of the UConn, Pitt, and to a lesser extent, Illinois.
BOOM, NCAA.ORG'D
December 7th, 2009 at 7:41 PM ^
Actual Stats > Some guy's memory
+1 to you sir.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:53 PM ^
No sarcasm here...why didn't we go after Kelly? Were there serious concerns about...something?
December 7th, 2009 at 4:58 PM ^
At that point, he hadn't quite* proved himself at Cinci/in the Big East.
He had pnwd the GLIAC and MAC tho. But, not a "BCS" school.
Also, maybe your memory is a bit fuzzy. But, there were certainly people asking for him to be interviewed.
*I mean, in the past two seasons, he has certainly proved it. But, there was still some questions 2 years ago.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:59 PM ^
this
Wouldn't this jeopardize his own current recruits at Stanford--i.e., leave him exposed to other coaches interested in a guy like Torrian Wilson, for example?
I doubt this is Harbaugh strategy if he does interview.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:49 PM ^
I think it would be pretty cool to see a Michigan product coaching ND. We taught them football once long, long ago and we'll do it again - on the field (RR) and off the field (Harbaugh).
December 7th, 2009 at 4:53 PM ^
Corwin Brown
December 7th, 2009 at 5:16 PM ^
This would be like Mike Hart coaching MSU or Charles Woodson coaching Ohio St...just horrendous.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:50 PM ^
I'd much rather deal with Kelly. The prospects of Harbaugh bringing "enthusiasm unknown to mankind" to South Bend don't excite me.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:54 PM ^
I would feel a lot less betrayed if Kelly got the job over Harbaugh.
That being said, I think Kelly is probably a superior coach. Ugh..
December 7th, 2009 at 4:59 PM ^
In his defense, I don't think you could blame him for taking the job. He's a head coach now, and looking to make a career out of being a head coach. He can't exactly allow Michigan's rivalries to dictate his future as a coach, can he?
December 7th, 2009 at 5:07 PM ^
...if the logic goes 'Harbaugh went to Michigan so he shouldn't consider coaching for one of their rivals,' then you should already feel betrayed. Why wait for him to get the job? He's obviously interested. If offered, he'd seriously consider taking the job, at the very least...otherwise he wouldn't be interviewing, right?