Mike Sanford, QB Whisperer (ESPN the Mag article)

[woolybug25]

Knute has that "do you even lift, bro" look going. lol

 

[pumpdog20]

You've got a point. Look at Lou from '86 to '96, and there were a lot of good seasons in that stretch.

Boggles my mind to think someone who's almost 50 would age in 10 years.

 

[IrishMoore1]

No way Sanford is promoted to head coach. Swarbrick has said before that one of the requirements for the job is prior head coaching experience.

 

[NDohio]

I hope this isn't true and, assuming Sanford is HC in waiting, that this is more of a 2-3 year transition so the players and recruits won't be blindsided by the change.

This. My gut tells me this year and then two more years and then BK's tenure is complete. That should give Sanford enough time to learn the politics of ND from BK as well as prove himself to Jack as the successor.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

BK in 2009:

BK today:

You can easily Google "President before after" for similar images showing the toll a high stress job can take on you. If he's not ready to punch out yet, he's gotta be close; especially after all the bad luck we've had recently.

Some of you are too young to actually understand this, but there is a certain age when things start to sag, or droop quicker. It rhymes with nifty.

People always say that of Presidents, and I am sure it takes its toll; but most Presidents are within spitting distance of that age, or are looking at it in the rearview mirror when they take office, and then at that changeable age they spend basically one tenth of their lives under tremendous public scrutiny.

Presidents that didn't follow the rules :

Nixon - really aged all within his last months of office. Duh.
HWBush - Only four years, and he was way past 50 so he already change, as well as the fact that at ninety he still has a "baby face."
Reagan - I am not sure why he didn't age, except for the fact for about the last six years of his administration, I am not sure he knew he actually was the President.

Seriously, back to Kelly. Some may be the pose, and some may be the sunburn, and lighting. And there are other differences; the camera is quite a bit closer in the second picture, it is from an entirely different view, and I bet the camera taking the "after" picture had much greater resolution. Without a lot of makeup, which I believe he had on in the first picture, and didn't in the second, any camera with greater resolution is going to spot blemishes and wrinkles much more easily.

 

[dwshade]

Not that it really matters, but I expect he loves ND as much or more than anywhere else he's ever coached. He's poured his best years into Irish football, and the foundation he's laid is rock solid. The table will truly be set for whomever his successor ends up being.

Head coaches don't last at ND for long. I'd bet he expected to come in and win a championship within 5 years, and then move onto the NFL. He came damned close to achieving that, too.



Never meant to imply otherwise. I'd just feel better if Kelly's departure had been planned for well in advance, instead of Jack having to hit the hiring trail again, regardless of how prepared he is.



You really think the smart money is on Kelly staying as ND's HC for 9-10 years? That's unheard of in modern CFB.

Yes I think Kelly is a ten year coach at ND like Ara and Lou. And it's not unheard of in cf. The following coaches have been at their schools as long as Kelly and some a lot longer:

Nick Saban
Mark Richt
Les Miles
Bob Stoops
Paul Johnson
Dabo Swinney
Jimbo Fisher
Steve Spurrier
Bill Snyder
David Cutcliffe
Are Briles
Frank Beamer
Dan Mullen
George O'Leary
Mike Gundy
Gary Patterson
Pat Fitzgerald
Kirk Ferentz
Gary Pinkel
Bronco Mendenhall
Troy Calhoun

And I know there are a few others. Bottom line if you have a great job and you like the job why leave?

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Yes I think Kelly is a ten year coach at ND like Ara and Lou. And it's not unheard of in cf. The following coaches have been at their schools as long as Kelly and some a lot longer:

Nick Saban
Mark Richt
Les Miles
Bob Stoops
Paul Johnson
Dabo Swinney
Jimbo Fisher
Steve Spurrier
Bill Snyder
David Cutcliffe
Are Briles
Frank Beamer
Dan Mullen
George O'Leary
Mike Gundy
Gary Patterson
Pat Fitzgerald
Kirk Ferentz
Gary Pinkel
Bronco Mendenhall
Troy Calhoun

With the sole exception of Richt, every one of those guys either: (1) doesn't coach at a blue-blood program; or (2) has won a national title at his current school, and basically has tenure.

And I know there are a few others. Bottom line if you have a great job and you like the job why leave?

Being the HC of a top CFB program, especially one like Notre Dame, is an extremely stressful job. You're either building a team that can regularly compete for titles, or you're on your way out. Kelly's more likely in the latter category than the former.

 

[Dizzyphil]

With the sole exception of Richt, every one of those guys either: (1) doesn't coach at a blue-blood program; or (2) has won a national title at his current school, and basically has tenure.



Being the HC of a top CFB program, especially one like Notre Dame, is an extremely stressful job. You're either building a team that can regularly compete for titles, or you're on your way out. Kelly's more likely in the latter category than the former.

I can remember in the 80s and 90s there were some coaches that had a 'ND out clause' to break their contract and go coach if the HC came available. Does anyone know of any coach that has that written in their contract now?

 

[GowerND11]

I can remember in the 80s and 90s there were some coaches that had a 'ND out clause' to break their contract and go coach if the HC came available. Does anyone know of any coach that has that written in their contract now?

Urban Meyer

 

[Dizzyphil]

Urban Meyer

You Serious Clark????

 

[ulukinatme]

That one's Boob Davie's fault, otherwise Urban probably would have come to ND instead.

 

[tussin]

God damn Boob Davie.

 

[Dizzyphil]

That one's Boob Davie's fault, otherwise Urban probably would have come to ND instead.

Of all the coaching moves made, that one - outside of O'Leary's debacle - was hurtful to me. I never thought Davie was any good.

 

[dwshade]

With the sole exception of Richt, every one of those guys either: (1) doesn't coach at a blue-blood program; or (2) has won a national title at his current school, and basically has tenure.



Being the HC of a top CFB program, especially one like Notre Dame, is an extremely stressful job. You're either building a team that can regularly compete for titles, or you're on your way out. Kelly's more likely in the latter category than the former.

I'd put Kelly in the former category.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I'd put Kelly in the former category.

I hope you're right. I'm very pro-Kelly, but the guy looks haggard, and his tenure here has been snake-bitten. I couldn't blame him if he wants to move on.

 

[koonja]

Pro-Kelly people should be rooting against the Eagles. If Chip Kelly gets put on the hot seat after all of the criticism he's fielding, I think it'll make BK think twice. He's friends with and respects Chip as a football coach.

 

[gkIrish]

Pro-Kelly people should be rooting against the Eagles. If Chip Kelly gets put on the hot seat after all of the criticism he's fielding, I think it'll make BK think twice. He's friends with and looks up to Chip as a football coach.

Isn't BK older and more experienced? Idk if "looks up to" is the right phrase. Probably more like "respects."

 

[koonja]

Isn't BK older and more experienced? Idk if "looks up to" is the right phrase. Probably more like "respects."

Respects is a much better work - I didn't mean to make it seem like Chip is older and/or a superior. But I know BK has referenced Chip a few times early in his tenure at ND.

 

[MNIrishman]

Alternatively, if BK does move on, and Chip gets fired, how cool would it be for us to make a move on him? Imagine his offense at a blue blood.

 

[irishfanjho15]

Alternatively, if BK does move on, and Chip gets fired, how cool would it be for us to make a move on him? Imagine his offense at a blue blood.

Imagine his lack of defense

 

[wizards8507]

Alternatively, if BK does move on, and Chip gets fired, how cool would it be for us to make a move on him? Imagine his offense at a blue blood.

Gross.

 

[gkIrish]

Imagine his lack of defense

Alternatively, if BK does move on, and Chip gets fired, how cool would it be for us to make a move on him? Imagine his offense at a blue blood.

I think Chip would probably win 2 championships in 5 years at ND. My only question would be whether he can recruit without breaking rules.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I think Chip would probably win 2 championships in 5 years at ND. My only question would be whether he can recruit without breaking rules.

I'd be surprised if Jack targeted Chip, even after the Show Cause is over.

 

[Irish Insanity]

I think Chip would probably win 2 championships in 5 years at ND. My only question would be whether he can recruit without breaking rules.

A Championship is a Championship

 

[ickythump1225]

I'd be all on board with with Chip coming to ND. We have the QBs to run his system too.