Edsall asked Chip Kelly to join UConn

[The Viking]

Listened to Dennis and Callahan this morning on WEEI (Boston sports talk show) and they were talking about college football.
Someone from NH calls up and said he played for Kelly at UNH. He also mentioned that he had to write a paper while working on his masters, ad he had decided to interview Kelly as a part of it. Of the many things the caller discussed, one that jumped out was that Randy Edsall asked Kelly to join his staff and Kelly eventually declined the offer.

Didn't specify what year this was, but Kelly was on the UNH staff from 1994 to 2006, most prominently as the offensive coordinator from 1999-2006. In 2007 he joined Oregon. I would assume it was after UConn went to Div 1 so somewhere in the 2003-2006 range.

They went on to talk about the NFL openings and the caller said that one thing that Kelly stressed back then was that he would only move if he felt he was going to a place where he had all the ingredients necessary to succeed (facilities, ability to bring in the right recruits, etc).

Must not have thought the UConn situation fit his prerequisites at the time. Unless he only wanted to move for a head coaching job, caller didn't specify..

 

[UConnSportsGuy]

Must not have thought the UConn situation fit his prerequisites at the time.

Or maybe he felt he had already mastered the art of the RB draw between the guards and the WR screen play call?!

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

He turned down a UConn job to stay at UNH? I knew Edsall sucked at recruiting but Jesus........

 

[sportsart]

The caller was M.Hv.e.r.3

 

[The Viking]

He turned down a UConn job to stay at UNH? I knew Edsall sucked at recruiting but Jesus........

Is it possible that Edsall gave him certain guidelines within the job that he didn't like? Either the type of athlete brought in grade-wise, or the type of offensive system?
Burton's facility didn't open til 2006. Maybe after the conversation with Chip.

Sorry that the caller didn't offer more specifics (the year, etc). but figured it's worthy enough to post especially with all the DeLeone stuff swirling.

 

[The Viking]

The caller was M.Hv.e.r.3

Haha...that would be something.

This guy sounded pretty legit (as legit as you could "sound" anyway).

This was the first time the show was carried in parts of NH so that's why they got some NH callers this morning. he was one of them.

 

[Nostical]

One of Edsall's best friends is Sean McDonnell, HC at UNH. Lots of recruits Edsall didn't think would fit here were referred to Sean.

 

[The Viking]

Oh, the caller also mentioned that Leary or O'leary (the coach who lied about transcipts) asked Chip to join his staff (the guy had ties to UNH) and the NYG has also asked him to join as some kind of consultant. He ended up turning all 3 down.

So he's not the only offensive coordinator who didn't end up with the Giants

What could have been though.....holy

 

[SubbaBub]

Somewhere...at a school like UNH, there is a coach like Chip Kelly waiting for a shot. Warde's job is to find him or a reasonable facsimile within the next 12 months.

 

[Nostical]

For OC, I agree. But for HC we really need (are you ready) a rock star.

 

[Dann]

For OC, I agree. But for HC we really need (are you ready) a rock star.

ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, there u have it. warde has defined his vision. hes going to wreck the poop out of the football program for 3 years, then name himself HC. just frucking great!

 

[J187Money]

Lou Holtz got turned down at SCSU.

 

[Nostical]

HFD, that was funny. Not clown funny, really funny.

 

[Dann]

HFD, that was funny. Not clown funny, really funny.

why is that funny? for all i know it could be true, he hasn't given fans any vision yet so maybe this his his vision and hes hiding it from the fans becuase of how bad it is...not funny to me

wardes vision so far:
-play poopy football and enjoy a washed staff making things worse
-lose seaosn tix holders
-mess with our prize bball program and not support it in trying times
-not improve media or marketing at all
-many other things all failures or not touching

thats one hell of a job in the last 5 months. how much does he get paid? i could do all those things 2moro for u and only charge a burito from the gas station.

 

[BlueDogs]

Whatever. Just one of a thousand missed opportunities, bad decisions, etc. I'd bet it was money.

 

[noeynox]

Whatever. Just one of a thousand missed opportunities, bad decisions, etc. I'd bet it was money.

Edsall had a reputation for handcuffing OCs. Think that had anything to do with it?

 

[The Viking]

well for what it's worth, Chip is about to take the Cleveland job. Best of luck to him, should be fun to see if he can translate his offensive mind to the NFL level.

 

[The Viking]

Edsall had a reputation for handcuffing OCs. Think that had anything to do with it?

I had that thought as well.

the caller did say though that Chip wanted to wait til everything was right. He mentioned facilities and recruiting and something else, can't recall.

But at least give credit to Edsall for recognizing his talent I guess and at least trying to make a move. Damn, would have been fun to watch him here for 2-3 years before he moved on (or got Randy's job)

 

[Dann]

the nfl was the only move for chip. he could never top what he did at oregon becuase nike was half of the hard work made easy for him. he wouldn't suceed anywhere else in college like he did at oregon. now we will see if his offense is the real deal or not in the pros. he wont need to recruit and babysit.

 

[uconNYC]

Chip Kelly and Brian Kelly are why I have no issues going for a FCS or MAC coach when we decide to hire another coach.

 

[The Viking]

Chip Kelly and Brian Kelly are why I have no issues going for a FCS or MAC coach when we decide to hire another coach.

Well that's our best bet right now unless you want to get some retread from some BCS school who's been hired/fired 2 or 3 times. not sure I see the positives in that.
You could always remind the new young coach that in a couple years when he proves himself the recruits will start rolling in once we join the B1G and he'll get a big contract extension at that point.

 

[BlueDogs]

Edsall had a reputation for handcuffing OCs. Think that had anything to do with it?

Yeah, I could see that as a real possibility.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

To be fair (I know, that isn't allowed on this board) we have no idea of the when or what on the offer to Kelly. For all we know it was for a position (not coordinator) job, it could have happened after Norries Wilson left (when Kelly knew something very bog was imminent) or it could have coincided with either not knowing if we were going to be able to move up (the first 45+ days of RE's tenure).

 

[SAMCRO]

Somewhere...at a school like UNH, there is a coach like Chip Kelly waiting for a shot. Warde's job is to find him or a reasonable facsimile within the next 12 months.

He's the head coach at ODU right now.

 

[ZooCougar]

Anyone remember New Hampshire's QB Ricky Santos. I think he was a Chip Kelly product. He made Santos look as good as Steve McNair.