ND Coaching Search Megathread

RDU Irish

Catholics vs. Cousins
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As shown with BK, Elko and the Gug, the admin's commitment to football has to be put in question. There really is no doubt that there is little interest in keeping up with the big boys. Swarbrick even said so a few years ago... That is a shame for ND football fans.

Not to rehash old debates... but just the insistence on independence and snubbing their nose at SEC TV money makes this a fait accompli. Even if you have a similar donor base, you cant keep up with teams that are making much more than you are.

We won the Marcus Freeman sweepstakes last year - by paying big boy dollars. Hopefully Freeman was being groomed and this is only accelerating the timeline. Details of BK's deal are not smelling like money was the primary factor, although we know he has gone to the "pay me more" well multiple times and probably wearing thin with JS and the board.

BK was getting the itch - not uncommon in coaching at all. I find it telling he quit with the team likely headed to the playoffs - shows lack of faith in this squad that is a bigger slap in the face than anything relating to how this is going down.
 

Kingbish01

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Fickell when asked about ND:
“I don’t know what there is to address? There is nothing. That’s the crazy thing. It’s all whatever is being said out there. There is no speculation... All I care about is the guys that sit in this room.”​
 

wizards8507

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[TWEET]https://twitter.com/MrKeithJenkins/status/1465732186611470343[/TWEET]

He gone.
 

Irish du Nord

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Mullen as OC would be pretty good. He wouldn't be here long, but he would help Freeman get his feet under him as HC.

I've been pushing the Mullen hire as an analyst for a bit, wouldn't mind him being OC if the position opens
 

IrishLax

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You can take this for what it’s worth, but I watched the Virginia game with someone with direct insight into the program/boosters line of thinking, and they told me that an actual plan was in place for Freeman to assume head coach in the next couple/few years, upon Kelly retiring. He said the thought was that Freeman would essentially train under Kelly for a while and then ascend to coach.

I don’t know if this is true, but I trust the guy. If it is, ND obviously thinks highly of Freeman. Maybe they just don’t like the way the timeline was abruptly abbreviated.

I actually do think it’s true, because the “HCIW” // mentor ship angle was reportedly a large part of how they landed Freeman over LSU in the first place. Basically told him “I’m not going to be here much longer, and you’ll get first consideration to be the successor if we do well.”

That’s what makes the timing even more problematic… but it seems like Kelly got the opportunity for a “second act” versus retirement and I understand him taking it.
 

Free Manera

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We won the Marcus Freeman sweepstakes last year - by paying big boy dollars. Hopefully Freeman was being groomed and this is only accelerating the timeline. Details of BK's deal are not smelling like money was the primary factor, although we know he has gone to the "pay me more" well multiple times and probably wearing thin with JS and the board.

BK was getting the itch - not uncommon in coaching at all. I find it telling he quit with the team likely headed to the playoffs - shows lack of faith in this squad that is a bigger slap in the face than anything relating to how this is going down.

That's the thing. The school will pay competitive salaries. The Shamrock pod actually talks about that too. It's not a money thing. It's an optics thing. Sampson said that someone on the "VP level" told him they won't improve the Gug because it looks bad for the university. Then Sampson goes, "You know what looks bad? Having a coach leave for LSU."

I feel like Charlie Brown kicking the football every time I think ND is bought in. These ivory tower knuckleheads are so out of touch it's embarrassing.
 

BoredIrish

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That's the thing. The school will pay competitive salaries. The Shamrock pod actually talks about that too. It's not a money thing. It's an optics thing. Sampson said that someone on the "VP level" told him they won't improve the Gug because it looks bad for the university. Then Sampson goes, "You know what looks bad? Having a coach leave for LSU."

I feel like Charlie Brown kicking the football every time I think ND is bought in. These ivory tower knuckleheads are so out of touch it's embarrassing.

Urban raised these objections... the admin didnt accept. They hired an up and comer in BK who was happy to be there.

BK raised these objections... the admin didnt accept. They hired an up and comer in ________ who was happy to be there.
 

IrishLax

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That's the thing. The school will pay competitive salaries. The Shamrock pod actually talks about that too. It's not a money thing. It's an optics thing. Sampson said that someone on the "VP level" told him they won't improve the Gug because it looks bad for the university. Then Sampson goes, "You know what looks bad? Having a coach leave for LSU."

I feel like Charlie Brown kicking the football every time I think ND is bought in. These ivory tower knuckleheads are so out of touch it's embarrassing.

Wait, can you explain how upgrading the Gug “looks bad for the University”? Is it the same uppity priests that refuse to allow for money to be spent on anything other God + academics?
 

NDPhilly

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That's the thing. The school will pay competitive salaries. The Shamrock pod actually talks about that too. It's not a money thing. It's an optics thing. Sampson said that someone on the "VP level" told him they won't improve the Gug because it looks bad for the university. Then Sampson goes, "You know what looks bad? Having a coach leave for LSU."

I feel like Charlie Brown kicking the football every time I think ND is bought in. These ivory tower knuckleheads are so out of touch it's embarrassing.

IDK if there's anything more embarrassing than having one your program's best coaches ever leave for a comparable (IMO Downgrade) program in the middle of the night. If that doesn't wake them tf up than nothing will.
 

Free Manera

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Wait, can you explain how upgrading the Gug “looks bad for the University”? Is it the same uppity priests that refuse to allow for money to be spent on anything other God + academics?

The way I took it is they don't want to spend millions of dollars on a football facility because then it will look like ND cares too much about football. And again Sampson said this was a VP level person that actually said this out loud.

Also, either Sampson or Fortuna said that the coaches tell them that it is used against them in recruiting all the time. Which makes recruiting harder. As does not having private transportation. At a school where recruiting is already hard. WTF are we doing here?
 

IrishLax

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Wait, can you explain how upgrading the Gug “looks bad for the University”? Is it the same uppity priests that refuse to allow for money to be spent on anything other God + academics?

I buy it. There is a “Board of Fellows” above the board of trustees that is like half priests and hates the ‘appearance’ of spending money on football. False idols, etc. One of the main reasons that the campus crossroads went down how it did was that they were able to say that they were turning an “athletics only” space into a multi-use space. Otherwise, never would’ve gotten the money approved for the renovation.
 

General Colon Bowel

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Yeah, I don't think Jack is concerned about a lineman coming back for one more year. He's concerned about getting the right head coach for the next 12 years. Same with the recruits.

There is a lot of interest in this position for a change.

Not just Foskey. Justin Ade, Lewis, Nana, Bothelo have all tweeted they want Freeman as well
 

Rogue219

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How much you want to be that Fickell’s agent called Jack last night and Jack is trying to see if he can keep Freeman as DC paired with Fickell.

This would be ideal and if he could pull it off it would be incredible. I highly doubt it happens though.

I don't want Dan Mullen anywhere near Notre Dame. I'm surprised to see his name on so many threads on so many boards and social media. Why?
 
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