Does this push ND to join a conf?

[Chin Diesel]

I’ve had lots of contact with LSU—been to games, tailgates, practices—and have to agree with Giddyup that Kelly’s an odd cultural and personality fit. I’m friends with several boosters who’ve been chummy with several former coaches during their tenures. Last night I asked whether they were pleased or puzzled by the choice of Kelly. The answers were mostly he’s now my coach and has my full support. One said “ Not sure yet but try to imagine Ed Ogeron fitting in in South Bend. “

Well, I have a few much less connected friends who are still LSU fans and go to games every year. None of them are excited about this hire.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Do you think that they would have, or even that they could have?

Look at the airport in South Bend on any given home game. The "could have" is an easy answer.

 

[phillionaire]

Other than leaving out that awful "my love for you is limitless" line , what was he supposed to do? He was out of town and planned on telling the team the next day at 7 am. Then the news leaks at 8 pm. Ideally I guess he could've tried to quickly arrange a conference call, though that has potential to be even worse and was complicated by the fact that he was flying that night as well.

I simply wouldn't abandon my team that's on the verge of making the CFP but I guess I'm built different

 

[Nostical]

I simply wouldn't abandon my team that's on the verge of making the CFP but I guess I'm built different

It's always easy and noble to say that in a vacuum but if you're offered the LSU or USC job with all those perks and incredible $$$ and the issue is you either have to commit now and miss coaching your guys in the playoffs--or turn down the gig, it's not as easy is it?

 

[BlueandOG]

54-9 the last five years with two playoff berths in the past three years is sure one heck of a way to "slide to irrelevance in football".

If that is the case, then 125 or so other FBS programs are even more "irrelevant" than ND.

It's great, but it is a slide for ND. They are closer to a 6-5 record and invite to the Duke Mayo Bowl than to a National Championship.

 

[Vowelguy]

As of 2018 ND was ranked 10th among all US universities with an $11,000,000,000.00 endowment, so they certainly could have. "Would have" is in Swarbrick's head and/or the hands of the Board of Trustees. Based on Kelly's consistent success I believe they would have taken a swing at it. We'll never know.

Is endowment really the relevant metric? That money usually is very tightly budgeted and targeted for specific items. (Not to mention that the 10 FBS schools with the highest endowments largely stink at FB.)

Athletic department revenue seems like the more telling data point.

 

[Hoophound]

It's always easy and noble to say that in a vacuum but if you're offered the LSU or USC job with all those perks and incredible $$$ and the issue is you either have to commit now and miss coaching your guys in the playoffs--or turn down the gig, it's not as easy is it?

This. I’d take the money and a chance to win a title or more. The only place I’d stay for love of program and state is UConn. Even then, 15 mill would have my serious attention. Once you have a family, generational money is a huge factor.

 

[RioDog]

Is endowment really the relevant metric? That money usually is very tightly budgeted and targeted for specific items. (Not to mention that the 10 FBS schools with the highest endowments largely stink at FB.)

Athletic department revenue seems like the more telling data point.

Struggling to tease out total AD dept. revenues, but for football ND seems to compare favorably with LSU. Many data sources indicate that ND gross football revenue equal to or greater than LSU, and profitability is higher. So I think it's unlikely ND would struggle to match salaries with LSU if required or desired.

 

[NC_Uconn_Fan]

I simply wouldn't abandon my team that's on the verge of making the CFP but I guess I'm built different

I agree. I can see if the season is over, but ND has a shot at the CFP and you abandon your men like that. These coaches are all pieces of crap. At least Randy finished the season out before he bailed on UCONN. I guess thats the way it is now unfortunately.

 

[Uconnalliance]

I've never ever believed that ND would join a conference.

BUT, when another school can lure your HC away, you know you're no longer top dog. I presume Kelly is leaving for more $. I had been surprised to learn that ND's contract with NBC is not that lucrative. Does this tip some alums to be in favor of a conference?

Probably not. But gonna be a lot of soul searching in So Bend in the weeks ahead.

Aren’t they in the ACC?? Kelly left for SEC, he will win in 2 years

 

[billybud]

$9.5 million per year...a strong call...

 

[Kolumbo]

I don't care what happens at ND and I'm sure ND can match any salary proffered by any other program. Maybe ND understands that a HC position just isn't worth that kind of money. Although it is already paying an obscene amount as it is.

These guys must figure, take the highest paying job. If he wins a championship, great. If not, he's set for life.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

Nope he sent his team this text message last night, I guess it's not as bad as killing someone but it's up there in the Mt. Rushmore of his scumbag moves
View attachment 71458

Nope he sent his team this text message last night, I guess it's not as bad as killing someone but it's up there in the Mt. Rushmore of his scumbag moves
View attachment 71458

...class act...

 

[giddyup]

Is he supposed to stay there for life? God forbid someone makes a career change, especially with a giant amount of money involved.

Just shows what’s important and to whom. He has more $$ than he knows what to do with, but more money is better I suppose if you stand for nothing else.

 

[06029]

Maybe ND wants to give on of its former up and comers with a Broyles award a fresh chance?

 

[06029]

Just shows what’s important and to whom. He has more $$ than he knows what to do with, but more money is better I suppose if you stand for nothing else.

He wants to win a national championship or three. That may be all that is driving him right now. It was not happening at ND. He had his chances but he could not get it done there.

 

[metsfan2323]

If Notre Dame joins a conference,it loses what make it special.

Remember when Miami football left the Big East. They haven't been relevant since. Neither has FSU. The move made them both irrelevant.

Beg to differ.

The Notre Dame lore is about its winning tradition, not about being independent. They have some great rivalries, but they can continue to play Michigan, USC and a third rival if they joined the ACC, they already have a part time ACC schedule as is so their schedule wouldn't change too much. Nothing is lost if they no longer play Navy.

The famous quote is "Win one for the Gipper" not "stay independent for the Gipper"

You would be right if ND annually played an old Big East like cupcake schedule to finish undefeated and earn a bid, but to their credit they don't do that.

Even as an independent they have had downward swoons when they were poorly coached. (Weiss, Faust and others)

 

[LoyalFanCT]

ND to ACC, UConn to ACC after FB has winning season

 

[Waquoit]

At least Randy finished the season out before he bailed on UCONN.

If only he bailed! That way we would have had a UConn man coaching UConn instead of a Maryland man just waiting for the game to end.

 

[giddyup]

Anytime I think of Louisiana I think of this clip. It's not the heat, it's the humidity. I don't think I could take it down there, growing up in New England.

100% When I first moved there in August from undergrad up here I literally thought I walked into hell on earth. You can walk around at 10:00 at night and sweat is pouring out of you. But after a good few months you adjust.

 

[phillionaire]

The head of the CFP committee said that Brian Kelly not being there would impact their final playoff ranking lmao this dude is gonna cost his former players a potential playoff spot just so he can go 8-4 in the SEC. Absolute scumbag.

 

[RioDog]

Yeah, have to admit, stuff back in the day was horrible when it came to the NC. Even though it is not the best system yet, having the playoffs attempts to better clarify a winner. Expanding them should help even more.

Yeah it was a shameless beauty contest. One can only hope for a somewhat inclusive expansion.

 

[noeynox]

I don’t think money was the big factor. I think kelly wants access to better athletes that are more readily available in the SEC which will give him a better opportunity to win a national championship

Lol. Doubling his salary? Yeah the money played a small part.

 

[TerryD]

Do you think that they would have, or even that they could have?

ND could have, but would not have.

Kelly flirted with other jobs since 2012. ND stuck with him after the 4-8 2015 debacle.

They just renewed his contract last year and gave him a big raise. He was making $7 million a year at ND.

ND is relatively cheap with coaches' salaries. I don't think Swarbrick would have matched LSU's offer.

 

[uconndogs]

Just shows what’s important and to whom. He has more $$ than he knows what to do with, but more money is better I suppose if you stand for nothing else.

I don't get this. These universities have no loyalty to their coaches and fire them on a rotating basis once the boosters and fans get restless over some losses. Kelly is only secure at ND to the extent that he is in the playoff system just about every season. Absent that, the University will send him packing. The universities have no one to blame but themselves for this. They show no loyalty or patience. Consequently, the coaches want and get contracts with big guaranteed money.

This is pure speculation on my part, but it would not surprise me if ND is treading into NIL much more cautiously than LSU and the other SEC programs. Kelly is a smart guy and I have to believe he wants to be somewhere that can attract the best talent. I can only imagine the money that a place like LSU will throw at these kids.

Make no mistake about it, college football at this level is about one thing and on thing only......MONEY!

 

[giddyup]

Lol. Doubling his salary? Yeah the money played a small part.

Come on. Nobody can live on $8M a year these days… oh wait, my math is off by a few zeros.

 

[Waquoit]

I like what Kelly did while he was there. He showed that ND is just as greedy and corrupt as any SEC team.

 

[Stinger92860]

Aren’t they in the ACC?? Kelly left for SEC, he will win in 2 years

Or get fired

 

[regassert6]

Why is the ACC the only conference they would be able to join?

It's a clause that allows them the partial FB that other sports are ACC, if they ever join a conference, it has to be the ACC

 

[huskymedic]

Why is the ACC the only conference they would be able to join?

It's a clause that allows them the partial FB that other sports are ACC, if they ever join a conference, it has to be the ACC

Or @ least through 2036 (... but that's what lawyers are for):