weis replacement
It seems Spencer Tillman just reported on CBS that "Brian Billick is a strong and viable candidate for the head coaching job at Notre Dame" according to his sources "close to the situation".
Brian Billick? Honestly, I am familiar with his pro pedigree but have no idea how he would fit the morass that is ND nation. Further, with Big Charlie under contract for 5 more seasons (or so) how deep are the pockets over there, anyway?
For whatever reason, the mention of Billick, aside from being high profile, did not concern me that much as a Michigan fan.
What do you all think?
November 27th, 2009 at 4:30 PM ^
wow i just missed it
November 27th, 2009 at 4:33 PM ^
I cackled with knowing glee.
November 27th, 2009 at 4:33 PM ^
Kelly is choice number 1. If they don't get him then they would probably try Gruden next. Even though he said his is not a canidate.
November 27th, 2009 at 7:57 PM ^
Man, I didn't know that you were the adviser for this search.
November 27th, 2009 at 10:54 PM ^
Hey white tiger, this has been reported by (the often wrong) ESPN. So it must be true! DAMMIT!
November 27th, 2009 at 4:47 PM ^
Stoops is now number 1 according to espn.com insider via southbendtribune.com. Kelly is down the list, FWIW.
Link:
http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20091126/SPORTS13/911269975/113…
November 27th, 2009 at 4:48 PM ^
Probably because Kelly reportedly a dick.
November 27th, 2009 at 4:57 PM ^
to how well I'm sure his pro-choice stance will sit with the higher-up's and fan base of a catholic university.
November 27th, 2009 at 5:22 PM ^
Here in the great white north there are laws that would not allow exclusion for such beliefs; unsure if that's the case at ND.
Very interesting point though, I had not considered that at all.
Best wishes
November 27th, 2009 at 5:26 PM ^
institution. They can and will "discriminate" on the basis of religion/social beliefs.
November 27th, 2009 at 6:42 PM ^
up here in the GWN many institutions don't use the term "Christmas" any longer...you see a lot of signs that say "Holiday Season". Our regional, privately governed, Catholic hospital for one.
Well, the whole Billick hire takes on a different twist. Personally, I think it's them snake oiling some other coach with Billick's name and/or PR.
November 27th, 2009 at 4:54 PM ^
Bob Stoops will not be the ND coach. I don't care how badly the ND program wants him, he isn't leaving Norman.
November 27th, 2009 at 6:02 PM ^
Norman is the shittiest college town ever.
November 27th, 2009 at 6:31 PM ^
*cough* Pullman, WA *cough*
November 27th, 2009 at 6:38 PM ^
I may second that, but Bob Stoops doesn't. He has said it loudly and clearly that he likes the town of Norman, his kids are happy there and his wife is very connected to the area through her business. Oh yeah, Stoops also has a 30 million dollar contract through 2015. He isn't leaving Norman.
November 27th, 2009 at 7:03 PM ^
I literally laughed out loud when I read the part in that article that actually claimed that Mrs. Stoops' thriving Mary Kae business is a reason the Stoops won't leave Norman. Hahahaa, seriously? Yeah, I'm sure that's making all the difference in the world for their finances. I mean, if Mrs. Stoops wasn't a makeup mogul, how in the world would they ever manage to put food on the table?
That said, though, there's no way Stoops ends up in SB.
November 27th, 2009 at 7:15 PM ^
Orrrrrr, it could be that the Stoopses are happy in Oklahoma, and Mrs. Stoops has friends there that she doesn't want to leave. It's not always about the money, especially when it's a question of continuing to make millions in one place versus making a few more millions in another.
November 27th, 2009 at 10:50 PM ^
ESPN doesn't have a great track record in predicting coaching changes in college. I think we all need to wait and see what happens but it would appear that ND knows who they want and have landed that person. All will unfold after the Stanford game. Here's hoping that Stanford kicks the lucky charms outta Notre Dame tomorrow.
November 27th, 2009 at 4:50 PM ^
I would sooner want ND to take Billick over a proven college head coach.
November 27th, 2009 at 5:01 PM ^
"I would sooner want ND to take Billick over a proven college head coach."
Pun intended?
November 27th, 2009 at 7:18 PM ^
On the one hand, I could see Billick being hired as a way to try to keep Clausen there for another year. Billick would run a similar pro-style offense to Weis', so it wouldn't be a huge overhaul. But if Stoops or another spread-style coach comes in, Clausen would pull a Mallett and run to the NFL no matter what.
It'd be really short-sighted, but I could imagine that being the rationale. Especially since, I'm sure, Lou Holtz will declare ND to be national championship contenders again next year.
November 27th, 2009 at 7:23 PM ^
How is that pulling a Mallett?
November 28th, 2009 at 4:02 PM ^
Mallett was recruited for a pro-style passing offense where statue-esque QBs thrive. He left once RR came in with the spread, where small and quick QBs thrive.
Clausen was recruited for a pro-style passing offense where statue-esque QBs thrive. I'm guessing he'd be quick to leave (i.e., go to NFL v. transferring, what Mallett did, but for all intents and purposes is the same thing from ND's end) if someone like Kelly comes in with a spread offense. But if Billick comes in with a similar pro-style offense to Weis', it might convince Clausen to stay because the transition wouldn't be as drastic.
November 27th, 2009 at 10:04 PM ^
Actually Lou Holtz has already declared that ND will with a National Championship within 2 years regardless of if Weis stays or not.
November 27th, 2009 at 5:01 PM ^
Stoops??? Hahahahaha. ND would have to pay Stoops' staggering buyout, Weis' massive buyout, and pay Stoops at least $5 million a year. Not going to happen.
November 27th, 2009 at 5:24 PM ^
Maybe Nick Saban will jump.
November 27th, 2009 at 6:53 PM ^
Billick is a sound offense of mind and a great teacher. Depending on the guys he surrounds himself with, that could be a quality hire.
His workmen like attitude would fit in well there.
November 27th, 2009 at 8:28 PM ^
Why does everyone want ND to have a shitty head coach? We are locked in to playing them for the next century or two, doesn't it help Michigan more if they are a quality non-conference opponent?
Let them get a good coach and "wake the echos," or whatever they are always trying to do. Beating them should be on us.
November 27th, 2009 at 9:26 PM ^
It is true that beating a quality ND is better than beating a poor ND team from a BCS perspective. I think everyone would agree the names being tossed around: Billick, Chucky Gruden, Brian Kelly, Stoops etc. are all excellent coaches (and likely an improvement from one C. Weis). If they get a new coach he will be good and ND likely improved in time...I think people are parsing out what coaches might have more of a difficulty in transitioning to the ND job. If NFL like Gruden or Billick then that might be longer thinking of the Wannstache as an example.
November 27th, 2009 at 8:32 PM ^
WOTS seen boarding a plane bound for South Bend. easily fit in the ass groove Weis left in the seatNovember 27th, 2009 at 8:52 PM ^
ranked higher than they should be no matter what their record is so rest assured, they will always be a quality non-conf game on the schedule....
November 27th, 2009 at 10:31 PM ^
Billick would be likely to be very successful. Dude has a Super Bowl ring from his NFL HC days. No matter how you slice that, it's very rare air.
November 27th, 2009 at 10:53 PM ^
...will not have an easy time as many key players will most likely leave. Notre Dame will be starting from scratch all over again. The #2 QB, Crist is out. So no experienced QB. It will be exciting to watch Notre Dame suck donkey balls for the next few years.