Coaching Carousel

[Whiskeyjack]

Why on Earth would DJ follow Venables?

Yup. If there's one thing Sweeney has over a Riley-less OU now, it's elite QB development.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Supposedly smoke with lsu and BK

Scorching hot take: people know something's going on with Kelly and they're projecting... but he's actually getting ready to retire.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Scorching hot take: people know something's going on with Kelly and they're projecting... but he's actually getting ready to retire.

And handing off the reins to Marcus Freeman.

 

[TorontoGold]

Seems like it's a lot of people from A&M sites based on a Twitter search, wonder why A&M people are concerned? hmm

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

And handing off the reins to Marcus Freeman.

It makes sense, even if I thought he would spend one or two more years in the saddle. He took a very late and small extension with ND last time around and made that public slip that Freeman was going to be a head coach very soon.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

It makes sense, even if I thought he would spend one or two more years in the saddle. He took a very late and small extension with ND last time around and made that public slip that Freeman was going to be a head coach very soon.

I unironically believe this now, and am comforted by it.

 

[Free Manera]

This plus the recruits saying Freeman will be the coach by the time they arrive. Is Kelly retiring? Pretty weird stuff.

No chance in hell he’s going to LSU unless they like double his contract or something obscene.

 

[Dale]

Considering BK convinced Marcus that ND > LSU, would seem rather silly. BK deserves a raise and legacy contract anyways

 

[drayer54]

Seems like it's a lot of people from A&M sites based on a Twitter search, wonder why A&M people are concerned? hmm

A&M should not be concerned. They dumped enough cash as it is to lock down their 8-4 Captain. If he leaves and they don't have to pay him, so be it. Win-win really. They probably want to lock down Elko though.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Considering BK convinced Marcus that ND > LSU, would seem rather silly. BK deserves a raise and legacy contract anyways

Yes. It seems like Swarbrick sat down with BK within the last year and asked him about his legacy, how we wanted to handle his retirement, etc. If so, it was a smart thing to do. Both ND and Kelly are heavily invested in each other, so allowing him to step down on his terms is good for everyone.

 

[Free Manera]

If Kelly left after this season would you be happy with Freeman or would you want Fickell or someone else? I have been assuming Fickell is next unless Day leaves for the NFL before then. I wasn’t putting much stock in the coach in waiting stuff but now if it’s starting to feel real.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

What happens if Kelly retires, gives the keys to Freeman....and Freeman takes Ryan Day's spot in a couple of years??
Tommy Takeover time?

 

[Whiskeyjack]

If Kelly left after this season would you be happy with Freeman or would you want Fickell or someone else? I have been assuming Fickell is next unless Day leaves for the NFL before then. I wasn’t putting much stock in the coach in waiting stuff but now if it’s starting to feel real.

I'd love to have Fickell at HC and Freeman at DC, though given the big-time HCing gigs the latter is already being mentioned for, it seems extremely unlikely to happen. If you forced me to pick between them, I'd go with Freeman.

What happens if Kelly retires, gives the keys to Freeman....and Freeman takes Ryan Day's spot in a couple of years??
Tommy Takeover time?

A certain type of fan is constantly worried about this, but until ND actually loses a successful coach to a lateral transfer, I'm not going to sweat it. We're a destination job, one of a handful of true blue-blood programs, and Kelly has us stronger than we've been in decades. OSU looks to be trending in the opposite direction.

 

[ACamp1900]

I unironically believe this now, and am comforted by it.

Wait,… y’all are expecting BK to retire at the end of this bowl season?? Next year?? Which?? And we all think that MF is our next head coach??? Is this just spit balling or is there anything that points to this firmly??

 

[Wild Bill]

It makes sense, even if I thought he would spend one or two more years in the saddle. He took a very late and small extension with ND last time around and made that public slip that Freeman was going to be a head coach very soon.

White hot take: He's handing it off to Rees. Freeman, incensed, takes a HC job somewhere else so BK still correct. Would be a classic Kelly move - go with the 3 star QB you know over the 5 star with potential.

BK is 60 and has recruited well enough to field the most talented teams in his career over the next couple of years. He looks pretty healthy and genuinely happy the last couple of years. I'd be surprised if he walked away right now.

 

[Free Manera]

Wait,… y’all are expecting BK to retire at the end of this bowl season?? Next year?? Which?? And we all think that MF is our next head coach??? Is this just spit balling or is there anything that points to this firmly??

Yes.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Would be shocked if BK left ND now, especially for the rebuild at the meat grinder LSU is in the SEC. With that said, don't be surprised if his agent uses this as leverage for a raise. Captain Jack and the checkwriters should be ready.

 

[Free Manera]

No not really it’s just a bunch of weird rumors that kind of start to make sense together now. I don’t really think he’s leaving this year I think he wants another one or two.

But the Freeman as coach in waiting stuff doesn’t seem so crazy to me now.

 

[EvilleIrish]

Supposedly smoke with lsu and BK

Sampson just said it’s real.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Wait,… y’all are expecting BK to retire at the end of this bowl season?? Next year?? Which?? And we all think that MF is our next head coach??? Is this just spit balling or is there anything that points to this firmly??

Younger recruits are claiming that "BK will be retired and Freeman will be the HC" by the time they get to ND, and BK recently gave an interview in which he said ND's next HC will be black. It would also explain how we went toe-to-toe with LSU booster money and still managed to win the fight for Freeman.

I don't expect him to retire after this bowl season. But 1-2 years from now? Maybe.

It's all still rumor right now, but it's starting to add up.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Wait,… y’all are expecting BK to retire at the end of this bowl season?? Next year?? Which?? And we all think that MF is our next head coach??? Is this just spit balling or is there anything that points to this firmly??

Completely spitballing

 

[General Colon Bowel]

Sampson just said it’s real.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">LSU targeting Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly for vacancy.<br><br>Multiple sources tell the The Athletic that the Irish head coach is a person of serious interest for the SEC powerhouse. <a href="https://t.co/0ZgG1HvmSu">https://t.co/0ZgG1HvmSu</a></p>— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/1465445800557694980?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Here's the tweet
edit: embed didn't work, but here's the link: https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/1465445800557694980?s=20

 

[irishff1014]

Sampson just said it’s real.

Not sure what we are allowed to post here but Loy is trying to find out but hearing big money.

 

[ACamp1900]

Younger recruits are claiming that "BK will be retired and Freeman will be the HC" by the time they get to ND, and BK recently gave an interview in which he said ND's next HC will be black. It would also explain how we went toe-to-toe with LSU booster money and still managed to win the fight for Freeman.

I don't expect him to retire after this bowl season. 1-2 years from now? Maybe.

It's all still rumor right now, but it's starting to add up.

When did Bk say the next coach will be black,… I’d love to see that and what the full context was.

 

[Free Manera]

Haha this is wild. Is he just trying to leverage more assistant pay and a raise or are they making him a godfather offer?

 

[Whiskeyjack]

When did Bk say the next coach will be black,… I’d love to see that and what the full context was.

Here's an article about it. There's a link in it to the recording.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

As of now, The Athletic report (which is Sampson's tweet) is that LSU is interested in Kelly. There has not yet been a report that actual talks are taking place.

 

[Dale]

My extension searching theory missed one guy: BK! Lol.

given how the last blue blood to blue blood happened with Lincoln so quickly and unexpectedly, the odds every outlet would have the scoop on this would seem rather unlikely

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Haha this is wild. Is he just trying to leverage more assistant pay and a raise or are they making him a godfather offer?

Maybe both? LSU is in real danger of being left without a chair when the music stops during this unprecedentedly crazy coaching carousel. Mel Tucker just got $95 million guaranteed at MSU. LSU will likely be throwing out some truly stupid numbers to get a good hire.

I can't imagine Kelly would ruin his legacy here or the alleged succession plan we've been discussing by jumping to LSU for a larger paycheck, but he may feel duty-bound to pass it onto Swarbrick for the benefit of his assistants.

 

[BoredIrish]

Sampson is also saying that BK is looking for money out do the admin and that he is talking with ND.

BK is supposed to be in CJ Williams living room tomorrow as well FWIW.