Brian Kelly for COY

[BurningRiver]

Clearly Penn State's O'Brien should get the award for leading the Nittany Lions to an 8-4 record against a schedule of nobodies aside from Ohio State, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.

I know this was mean to be sarcastic and I do think Kelly deserves the award more than anybody, but what O'Brien has done at Penn State is very impressive. He lost some of his best players, including his top running back, and was surrounded by a cloud of doubt and off-the-field goings on that no coach has ever had to deal with in the history of college football. Plus, he lost his first two games. So going 8-2 down the stretch with what he had to deal with is nothing short of incredible.

 

[Yes]

Really???? 4 wins????
I live in PSU country and I told them they'd make 8 wins this year AFTER the exodus.
Look at the talent they held onto and the schedule. 7 or 8 should have been expected by anyone with an unbiased viewpoint.

Talent they held on to? A decent front seven and...? Their entire offense nearly graduated or transferred. If it wasn't for O'Brien and his offense they probably would've only won four games this year.

 

[IrishLax]

With all the crap that happened at PSU, most people (including me) thought they'd have around a 4-win season. O'Brien did an amazing job this year. But, Kelly deserves it just a bit more. Not even ND fans thought this would happen this year. BK = COY.

Vegas thought they'd win 7 soooooooo............... that's a direct reflection of public perception. Half thought they'd win less than 7, half thought they'd win more than 7. O'Brien did just a little bit better than the expected result.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Vegas thought they'd win 7 soooooooo............... that's a direct reflection of public perception. Half thought they'd win less than 7, half thought they'd win more than 7. O'Brien did just a little bit better than the expected result.

Seems high. I was sure taking the under. A nice coaching job, but not like BK.

 

[Junkhead]

Current coach's fault or not, PSU is not getting squat for awards. If Kelly doesn't win COY, the whole thing is a joke. That is, of course, by some miracle...Kiffin is robbed of it.

 

[Irish YJ]

BK, and won't be even close. It's so obvious, it doesn't deserve a thread LOL. But that's OK, we have like 6 weeks till the championship...

 

[AllGoldEverything]

Definitely a no brainer. Nobody gave us a chance all year and BK has us headed to the National Title.

 

[IrishLax]

Seems high. I was sure taking the under. A nice coaching job, but not like BK.

It is what it is. Three casinos set it at 6.5, three set it at 7. And Americans bet on it evenly like all things in Vegas.

The 6.5 seems about right, IMO. Maybe 6 even. I agree I would have taken the under. And lost my money.

 

[BGIF]

I've read recently that Notre Dame, at best, would be the 7th ranked team in the SEC.

But despite being ranked outside the Preseason Top 25 rather than plugged into the Top 25 because of a conference,

despite a tougher schedule than Alabama's,

despite playing No FCS schools,

despite playing a Top 20 opponent at least every third week,

despite having 2dozen fewer recruits than Alabama over the Kelly Era,

despite no plug in JUCOs,

despite strict admissions, strict code of conduct, real college courses and a high graduation rate,

Kelly's team has a perfect record which none of the SEC teams have,

AND his team made it to the NCG a week earlier than any team in the nation.


Doing more with less under difficult circumstances and doing it the Right Way, the Kelly way.

2012 COY is no contest.

 

[ulukinatme]

Yeah, if BK doesn't win it...I may have to give it to Kiffin for his masterful play calling last week alone.

 

[irishtrain]

We got a Manti for Heisman thread, but what about BK for Coach of the Year.

Do you think BK gets COY? Who's the biggest threat?

Bill King has been pimping BK hard for Coach of the Year the last couple of days. He considers it a "no-brainer". For him all the other candidates would be competing for 2nd behind BK.

Bill King had Mitch Light from Athlon Sports on this morning. They discussed the hypothetical of "If you could have any college coach in America to coach your team who would you pick?" They both picked Saban immediately, but then they said if you excluded Saban from the discussion, who would you pick. They both agreed they would choose BK.

First off Saban can only do it at a school like LSU/Alabama-where there is carte blanche at getting kids in. He could not do what he has done like Kelly if given the job at Notre Dame under present codes. Secondly O'Brian from Penn State is my choice although Kelly is certainly a clear choice . I would like to see Kelly get it but think about what Penn State has done. And they are clean.

 

[phgreek]

First off Saban can only do it at a school like LSU/Alabama-where there is carte blanche at getting kids in. He could not do what he has done like Kelly if given the job at Notre Dame under present codes. Secondly O'Brian from Penn State is my choice although Kelly is certainly a clear choice . I would like to see Kelly get it but think about what Penn State has done. And they are clean.

not going to argue about which mountain was higher...one made it to the top.

I think you start with the coach that sits at #1...is there a story that supports superb coaching...I think so. Coming from outside the top 25 to #1 has never been done.

Reality for O'brien is he did great work, but he didn't win the B1G, and he did about what the odds makers said he would. He did good work. But he'd have to be in tOSU's position w/ all the grief to overtake Kelly...ie he'd have had to go undefeated and sit atop the B1G to trump Kelly...why...again because Kelly sits at #1, and his is a compelling story...takes alot to trump that...I don't think O'brien gets there.

Now lets also introduce the Sandusky residual...it won't be said, but no one wants to be associated with rewarding anything PSU for a time...just my take.

Even without the Sandusky residual...I think Kelly wins this. Results surpassed anything ever done before and he sits at #1....to me its that simple.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

First time in BCS history a pre season unranked team is playing for the NC. This is an easy pick.

 

[WaveDomer]

First time in BCS history a pre season unranked team is playing for the NC. This is an easy pick.

Isn't it also the first time with top grad rate in the BCS Championship?

 

[ickythump1225]

I'm not understanding all the love for O'Brien. His team probably overachieved by two wins but to what end? They won 8 games. O'Brien didn't even do the best coaching job in his own conference, that would be Urban Meyer.

Brian Kelly took a team that was unranked and "irrelevant" to the National Championship. People said the schedule was too hard, it was the toughest in the country and 8 wins would be tough to get. We're undefeated. BK is the Coach of Year.

 

[drayer54]

BK would be a good pick. Snyder or Sumlin too. Angry Angry Muschamp too.

Any of those could be justified.

If this were in Vbook, I'd be waging on Sumlin.

 

[Chris P. Bacon]

I'm not understanding all the love for O'Brien. His team probably overachieved by two wins but to what end? They won 8 games. O'Brien didn't even do the best coaching job in his own conference, that would be Urban Meyer.

Brian Kelly took a team that was unranked and "irrelevant" to the National Championship. People said the schedule was too hard, it was the toughest in the country and 8 wins would be tough to get. We're undefeated. BK is the Coach of Year.

Agreed ^10

 

[ND_Dubb]

Although B1G had a down year, Penn State played far better than the expectations that we're set on them. Penn State finished the season 8-4 1 losses to a ranked Nebraska, 1 to a undefeated Ohio State. 2 early losses to out of conference opponents. I mean its an achievement for a team that months earlier were reading the same type of article spread all throughout my area (Southeastern Pennsylvania)

Lupica: Football at Penn State is officially dead - New York Daily News
NCAA was right to take dead aim on Penn State football - Sun Sentinel
(For Example)

Brian Kelly should be the hands down winner, taking a unranked team, one that the "experts" said would realistically finish the season 8-4. Well Brian Kelly took that mediocre irrelevant team and made them Title contenders. Damn Impressive.

2012 Notre Dame preseason predictions - Notre Dame Football Blog - ESPN

 

[rikkitikki08]

In my opinion this is a lock. BK wins this one easily

 

[drayer54]

In my opinion this is a lock. BK wins this one easily

Snyder is old and they love what he has done with little team in the prairie. AARP voter slant here.

Sumlin took a mediocre program and made them relevant in the preferred conference of God/Walt Disney.

Will Muschamp is the longshot for turning the Gators back into a powerhouse team.

No locks here.

 

[Irishnuke]

Lane Kiffin, and it's not close.

If it keeps Kiffy in LA for a few more years, then I wholeheartedly agree.

 

[DomeX2 eNVy]

What was more impressive - 12-0 at ND this year or 12-0 at Cinncy 3 years ago? I say this year due to schedule and preseason rankings. If he won then, he should win now. However. . . Snyder will get the empathetic votes vs ND (see Bowden's 1st MNC in 1993). So that wouldn't surprise me.
Or any SEC coach, like Spurrier, because a just a couple losses ther with an injury to your star RB > 3 undefeated seasons anywhere else -lol.

 

[kmoose]

The bottom line is that there are a few deserving coaches, this year. Brian Kelly, Urban Meyer, Bill Snyder, Bill O'Brien, maybe Muschamp or Sumlin. All of these guys did outstanding jobs. And any one of them would be a worthy choice. I would obviously prefer that "they" select one Brian Kelly of Notre Dame, but it would be hard to complain about a number of different names making the final cut.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

The bottom line is that there are a few deserving coaches, this year. Brian Kelly, Urban Meyer, Bill Snyder, Bill O'Brien, maybe Muschamp or Sumlin. All of these guys did outstanding jobs. And any one of them would be a worthy choice. I would obviously prefer that "they" select one Brian Kelly of Notre Dame, but it would be hard to complain about a number of different names making the final cut.

I wouldn't complain that much if Manti didn't win the Heisman. I hope he does, but am generally just elated that he's in the conversation.

I would actually feel wronged if BK didn't win COY. Unranked to national championship game should be enough. Some other coaches have had excellent years, but this is incredible.

 

[kmoose]

I wouldn't complain that much if Manti didn't win the Heisman. I hope he does, but am generally just elated that he's in the conversation.

I would actually feel wronged if BK didn't win COY. Unranked to national championship game should be enough. Some other coaches have had excellent years, but this is incredible.

Only the sins of another coach, and the subsequent probation, are keeping Urban Meyer from being "unranked to national championship game" as well. Why shouldn't Meyer get it?

 

[ab2cmiller]

Only the sins of another coach, and the subsequent probation, are keeping Urban Meyer from being "unranked to national championship game" as well. Why shouldn't Meyer get it?

Ohio St. was ranked 18th in the preseason AP poll and excluded from the coaches poll due to the probation.

Notre Dame, while unranked in the preseason AP poll, was #24 in the preseason coaches poll.

Regardless, ND was not as highly regarded at the beginning of the year and went undefeated playing a tougher schedule.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Only the sins of another coach, and the subsequent probation, are keeping Urban Meyer from being "unranked to national championship game" as well. Why shouldn't Meyer get it?

I guess I think he should be excluded from consideration. But, with a tougher schedule and a lower rank coming into the year, I still think BK has a better claim. Especially with a brand new starting QB this year.

But, yes, Urban is a heck of a coach who had a heck of a year.

 

[kmoose]

I guess I think he should be excluded from consideration. But, with a tougher schedule and a lower rank coming into the year, I still think BK has a better claim. Especially with a brand new starting QB this year.

But, yes, Urban is a heck of a coach who had a heck of a year.

Yes, I was not trying to argue for Urban over Kelly, I was merely pointing out that there are others who are also deserving. Perhaps not as deserving as BK, but we shouldn't consider it a slam dunk.

 

[stlnd01]

The bottom line is that there are a few deserving coaches, this year. Brian Kelly, Urban Meyer, Bill Snyder, Bill O'Brien, maybe Muschamp or Sumlin. All of these guys did outstanding jobs. And any one of them would be a worthy choice. I would obviously prefer that "they" select one Brian Kelly of Notre Dame, but it would be hard to complain about a number of different names making the final cut.

Yup.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

Isn't it also the first time with top grad rate in the BCS Championship?

Indeed it is.