(Picture from blogcdn.com)
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have a new coach, someone else who will lead them back to the promised land. Friday afternoon, Brian Kelly, former head coach at Cincinnati, was announced as the new head coach at Notre Dame University. He officially takes over as head coach today, but met with the team over the weekend. This leaves Cincinnati without a head coach for their January 1st Sugar Bowl showdown against Florida. In Kelly's stead, offensive coordinator Jeff Quinn will serve as interim head coach. The questions will be pouring about whether or not Kelly can restore the luster of Notre Dame and how he will do it. As usual, we have a few other questions we've been thinking about. Some of them have been voiced on ESPN, and others are still running around our little overactive minds. Questions like: Should college coaches have to stay with their current team through the end of the year if they sign a contract with another school? Should schools be able to contact coaches at other schools before the end of the bowl season? Should players be able to transfer without sitting out a season if the coach who recruited them leaves?
Jonah: In response to the first thought, I say certainly. I think leaving a program in the middle of the year, especially weeks before the biggest game of the year is completely disrespectful. Most of the players on the team more than likely came to Cincy because of Kelly. I mean, let's face it, the place doesn't have the best tradition, the best facilities or a great location. But players went there because they bought what Kelly was selling. Now, all those recruits are stuck holding the bill and Kelly is laughing all the way to the bank (conveniently enough, he is now banking in another state so getting a hold of him is unlikely). Those players worked hard for the guy to get to a BCS game and now they are facing Florida without the guy that helped get them there. I think it shows a lack of class both by Kelly for leaving and by Notre Dame for asking him to come before the bowl game. I think any coach with any sort of class or respect for the school he's at should stay there through the end of the season if he finds another job.
Similarly, I think colleges should be forced to wait until after the bowl season to contact coaches about openings. Coaches are well aware of the openings around the country, so it's not like they need reminded by all the schools calling. There is plenty of time at the end of the bowl season to get in touch, interview, and select the best available coach without leaving another school without their head coach for a bowl game. The only up side I see to making a change early is for recruits and transfers. However, recruits are only verbal commits at that point and can still make changes.
The final question (have you figured out my opinion yet?) addresses the issue of transfers. In my opinion, for this to be fair for players, I think they should have the option to transfer without penalty if their head coach leaves. In the current system, players cannot transfer between Division I-A programs without sitting a season out. I believe players should have the opportunity to transfer to another school without penalty one time during their career. I think this relates not only to coaches leaving, but also situations like we've seen in Kansas, where the coach sold kids on the system and then turned out to be a complete...well we'll try to keep this PG-13. I think athletes should have the opportunity to transfer without penalty if the arrive on campus and decide they just didn't get what they thought they would be getting (this coming from someone who transferred). In addition, if a coach leaves, I think athletes have every right to leave as well. While I don't think it would be appropriate for players to be able to accompany a coach to his next school, I don't think it's fair to force them to stay in a place they don't want to be. I do, however, see a potential problem with programs being left with little to work with as all their players leave when a coach moves on. Therefore, I think it would be appropriate to limit the transfers to underclassmen. What do you think Jerry?
Jerry: I completely agree with Jonah. This is sick on both Notre Dame's part and Brian Kelly's. Brian you have brought a team to one of the biggest if not THE biggest game Cincy has ever been a part of. Now the Bearcats are playing the Gators in the Sugar Bowl with the offensive coordinator at the helms. And what is your excuse Brian Kelly for not coaching them? You are trying to get Notre Dame back on track. Well good luck (seems like mission impossible to me). Your players, scratch that, your old players despise you and are calling you a liar. They are pissed that you would do this to them. You had people play their hearts out for you, gave up whatever ego they had for you. They don't get the luxury of playing for money or the luxury of leaving for a better situation without affecting them for an entire year. Where is the justice in that? This whole thing is outrageous. If I was a father of a recruit, I wouldn't want my son apart of any of this situation. I know it's Notre Dame, I know they are one of the most decorated schools in the nation. I know their alumni have so many strings they can pull for anybody, but I don't want my son playing for a coach that can quit on his team for a couple more dollars. But you don't need to worry about that do you Mr. Kelly? Not as the Notre Dame coach because of the fantasy land they build in your head.
Some of you might call me out, saying if I were Kelly I would have left for the money too. And that's fine, think what you will, but I am telling you honestly I wouldn't of. Kelly had two great seasons already at Cincy, and with such national exposure about his coaching ability he would have only been able to build on that. Instead he gets to rebuild a team with expectations higher than his and Charlie Weiss's pay check. You get to deal with some of the most egotistical football fans on the planet. You are a great coach Kelly, but I just don't respect you after some of the reports from your players. Why would they lie about you not being honest to them? What do they have to gain from it? IT surely isn't a paycheck. If I'm a high school junior or senior and I'm watching these players come out and say these things, why would I want to play for you over Florida, Texas, USC, Ohio State, Penn State, Alabama, or Iowa. There is a code between players and coaches, and you broke it.
After listening to a few radio hosts interview you, you say that you were the most honest man in the locker room, and that it is the transition that the players have to go through that are making them say these things. I just don't get why they would tell reporters about you lying, if it is only the transition that is bothering them.
Now Brian, you may be the answer to the Resurrection of Notre Dame, but no offense Irish fans, it's more fun to see you fall. You may be flying high right now, but I know I am not the only one that thinks that what you did, and what Notre Dame made you do, is simply selfish! But that is typical for those involved with Irish Nation.
0 comments:
Post a Comment