ND Coaching Search Megathread

drayer54

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That Zorich podcast was excellent. Good to get the perspective of ND legends on the program and some who are entertaining ex-players. Would suggest listening if you have the time today.
 

arrowryan

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The decisions that Swarbrick has already made (keeping coaches on the road, retaining Balis, etc) leads us to believe that a decision is already made. All signs point to Freeman.

I mean, what would be the point of retaining Balis if they went with an outside hire? Balis is awesome, but wouldn’t he want to hire his own strength coach?
 
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NDGOLDEN

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The decisions that Swarbrick has already made (keeping coaches on the road, retaining Balis, etc) leads us to believe that a decision is already made. All signs point to Freeman.

I mean, what would be the point of retaining Balis if they went with an outside hire. Balis is awesome, but wouldn’t he want to hire his own strength coach?

Well to your point LSU kept their S&C coach and got BK. Even tho he was trying to poach him away from ND. So ya that’s a good point maybe things are already in the works
 

IrishRazor82

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Was Balis true retained after an offer from LSU? Or did he just say "I want to die here". I only saw his video which to me wasn't confirmation, so I may be missing something more concrete.

If Balis true knows it'll be MF, it's going to be impossible to keep 90 players from asking Balis or anyone in his situation.

Jack needs to announce "Freeman to be annonced as HC soon" and work out the fine print after. This cannot go past today IMO without damage. Recruts are already talking to other schools and you never know if they get a bug in their ear. Even if ita MF in the end it may be too late.
 

arrowryan

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Well to your point LSU kept their S&C coach and got BK. Even tho he was trying to poach him away from ND. So ya that’s a good point maybe things are already in the works

It’s not just Balis. They’re trying to keep Rees in South Bend with a pay raise. You’re going to try to retain your OC without a HC? That doesn’t add up at all.
 

T Town Tommy

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So my thoughts… Jack isn’t naming an interim coach for one main reason. If Bama and Michigan lose on Saturday that puts Notre Dame in the playoffs. How would it look if an interim coach (Freeman) would beat the coach Jack really wants (Fickell)? I don’t think he could square hiring the coach that just got beat by the interim.
 

NDGOLDEN

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So my thoughts… Jack isn’t naming an interim coach for one main reason. If Bama and Michigan lose on Saturday that puts Notre Dame in the playoffs. How would it look if an interim coach (Freeman) would beat the coach Jack really wants (Fickell)? I don’t think he could square hiring the coach that just got beat by the interim.

Do we know that jack really wants fickell more than freeman?
 

IrishRazor82

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So my thoughts… Jack isn’t naming an interim coach for one main reason. If Bama and Michigan lose on Saturday that puts Notre Dame in the playoffs. How would it look if an interim coach (Freeman) would beat the coach Jack really wants (Fickell)? I don’t think he could square hiring the coach that just got beat by the interim.

This is logical. Interesting.
 

Irishman77

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So my thoughts… Jack isn’t naming an interim coach for one main reason. If Bama and Michigan lose on Saturday that puts Notre Dame in the playoffs. How would it look if an interim coach (Freeman) would beat the coach Jack really wants (Fickell)? I don’t think he could square hiring the coach that just got beat by the interim.

That makes sense , but it’s not that complicated. Freeman will be the man tonight.
 

NDdomer2

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If it is gonna be Freeman I think you def. want him to be named pre NY6/Playoff.

If they get smoked, it isnt anything that Kelly didnt do for us and blah blah coaching change blah blah great experience for Freeman.

But...if he wins - there's a new narrative and bravado about ND under Marcus Freeman.
 

NDFAN2008

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If it isn't announced Marcus Freeman by the end of the week, Jack Swarbrick needs to resign or be let go. You got every current player, past players (TIM BROWN, ROCKET, ECT, and alum, along with recruits and parents telling you they want Freeman not to mention many of the head recruiting experts are saying if it isn't Freeman they'll lose most of the recruiting class.
 

IHateMarkMay

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If it is gonna be Freeman I think you def. want him to be named pre NY6/Playoff.

If they get smoked, it isnt anything that Kelly didnt do for us and blah blah coaching change blah blah great experience for Freeman.

But...if he wins - there's a new narrative and bravado about ND under Marcus Freeman.

Honestly, if it is Freeman (and I hope it is), it should be announced prior to the CFP meeting on Sunday.

They could dock us for having a coach come in from somewhere else, but if it's Freeman and Rees stays, there is little the CFP committee can say/do to drop us.

The committee has done more stupid things though...
 

ACamp1900

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Honestly, if it is Freeman (and I hope it is), it should be announced prior to the CFP meeting on Sunday.

They could dock us for having a coach come in from somewhere else, but if it's Freeman and Rees stays, there is little the CFP committee can say/do to drop us.

The committee has done more stupid things though...

Lol,… ransoms thoughts with acamp1900:

Swarbrick has everything in place, it’s done,… but he doesn’t want another playoff blowout so he’s purposely waiting until after the final selection to make sure we get left out,… 3D chess lol
 

WildMan80

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It’s wild to see the power of social media in relation to this HC position. Back when Kelly replaced Weis this incredible force of pressure wasn’t around.

I’m very active on Twitter & there is massive support & desire from current players, recruits, former players, fans and alums to hire Marcus.

I love the energy around it all & it feels like there’d be an overwhelmingly positive response if Jack did just that.. It’s just such a strong presence & one that Jack has never really had to deal with in such an open forum.. he’s obviously dealt with alums, former players calling & hearing current players thoughts..

But this is on another level.. we’ve got unsigned recruits calling for Freeman to be the HC.. Ex players from decades ago.. Hundreds and thousands of fans.

It’s just an interesting time..
 

mango4

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I have a really hard time believing it’s anyone but Freeman. The social media campaign feels way too organized for it to be just the players and recruits running it. Most of the players are using basically the same exact picture.
 

wizards8507

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That feels like the opposite of saving face. Letting your #1 or #2 candidate, who is already IN the house, leave before you've made a decision. That's a pie to the face.

"We think extremely highly of Coach Freeman but we weren't in the position to rush this process for him or any other candidate. We're certainly disappointed that he has chosen to pursue another opportunity, but we wish him the best of luck."
 

Free Manera

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At this point it would be shocking if it's not Freeman with Rees as OC. The most interesting thing will be filling out the rest of the staff. I think Mickens, Taylor, McNulty, and O'Leary all stay.

Therefore the likely openings will be:

O line
WR
DC (Elston?)
Special Teams
 

rtrn2glory

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In my head if we want any chance for the committee to choose us, we need to have our guy in place by the weekend and it needs to be Freeman if that's going to happen.
 

EvilleIrish

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At this point it would be shocking if it's not Freeman with Rees as OC. The most interesting thing will be filling out the rest of the staff. I think Mickens, Taylor, McNulty, and O'Leary all stay.

Therefore the likely openings will be:

O line
WR
DC (Elston?)
Special Teams

It's so easy and simple that I'm convinced ND will screw it up.
 

Wild Bill

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It's so easy and simple that I'm convinced ND will screw it up.

Swarbrick may think Freeman has potential but he's just not ready yet. That's going to make this not simple at all. All the outside pressure only makes it more difficult.
 

EvilleIrish

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Swarbrick may think Freeman has potential but he's just not ready yet. That's going to make this not simple at all. All the outside pressure only makes it more difficult.

I think the timing of this whole thing is what makes it have to be Freeman. If we go with anybody else we will essentially lose two recruiting classes. Does a new coach really want to start from scratch like that?
 

InKellyWeTrust

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Sometimes you just know when someone is going to be great - Freeman has to be the hire. If we let him get away and he turns out to be what most believe...

And give my Freeman over Fickell all day. This is definitely a gamble worth taking.
 

rtrn2glory

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Swarbrick may think Freeman has potential but he's just not ready yet. That's going to make this not simple at all. All the outside pressure only makes it more difficult.

part of me wonders if this is simply the holdup as well. Freeman may be the guy and he wants to be paid like he's a proven head coach, when he's not. JS may be low balling him into a cheaper contract. That's simply going to be really hard to do right now with all of these astronomical contracts and salaries.
 

Rogue219

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Marcus Freeman is not Faust, Davie, or Weis. He would be stepping into a completely different situation in 2022 than all three of them did. We have seen, very recently, coordinators get handed the keys as first time head coaches (Riley, Day) and those hires have yielded positive results on the field.

Head coaching experience is without a doubt a plus, but it should not be a deal breaker any longer. Freeman has been at ND for a year, so he's had that benefit and I think his heart and mind are in it (Davie's wasn't).

They need to do this. There is an element of risk, but there is always going to be that no matter who you hire.
 
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