I know it isn't going to happen. But his reasons to pick UCONN over a USC/Texas/Florida would be:
- Coming home to New England. Sometime the family/friends and n0n-football reasons are overlooked in these decisions. He is a New England guy and he could come "home" and be THE KING.
- Job Security. If he goes 5-7 in his second year at a blue-blood program, his job is at risk. At UConn, he realistically doesn't have to worry about his job at all (barring any NCAA or legal issues). There is no room for a "hiccup" or bad year at a Blue Blood program when you are building. And the last thing he needs after short stints with the Eagles and 49ers, is to lose his next coaching job after a bad year in year 2 or 3.
- EGO. He was labeled an offensive genius and a coaching maestro when he was at Oregon. His reputation and legacy has taken a severe hit in the NFL. If he goes to a USC or Texas and does well--then it is a ho-hum, good job. But if he were to take a job like UConn and build up the team and program to huge success, P5, challenging for the post-season tournament--then he is back to being a football genius and legend. Don't underestimate the role of EGO and over-inflated self-importance with Kelly. He wants to be THE BEST.
- Control. If he comes to UConn, he has complete control of the program and all that is associated with it. He can build it as he pleases (I think Edsall underestimated and underappreciated that control he had at UConn). He will call all the shots and not have to answer to anyone. At a Texas/Florida/USC, he will always have the "important donors" and boosters who will be all over him and exert control/power in the program. He will not have that at UCONN.
- Potential. We all know the potential of UConn. If he had success and brought some MOJO to the program, there is a lot of upside. Get UConn in to the B1G and have some success. The Northeast has become a college football vacuum. Rutgers/BC/Syracuse/Penn St all suck. Get UConn going, and they could own the NYC and Boston/New England media landscape. If you are the "it program" and are attractive to kids with the Kelly "aura" along with NFL experience, there is unlimited potential for recruiting. If you get to a place where you "own" NJ/NY and New England recruiting, there is more than enough players to build a championship caliber program (never mind that Kelly would have huge National appeal to recruits given his success, offense. and NFL experience). If one program "owned" the Northeast, it could become a national powerhouse.
Again, I do not believe that it will ever happen. But those are some reasons that would be in the "Pro's" column of a Pros/Cons list if he was looking at a UConn. If he wants a real challenge, job security, the potential to be a true coaching legend, and is interested in coming back to New England--then UConn would be there for him with open arms.