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Reaper97

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So I guess ND starts 0-1 next year?

Seriously, with a 12 team CFP, if ND simply won the opener at A&M, I think they coast to 10 wins & a playoff spot.

I looked at the schedule the other day, & 10 wins seemed a no-brainer if ND won the opener.
And I think 10-2 gets ND in.

So I honestly felt the opener would decide the entire season.

And playing the opener, in heat, with that crowd noise, with Elko coaching, I don’t see a win.
He already outcoached the ND staff this year with a mediocre roster.
I was hoping A&M would hire some young, up and comer, who would get things going down the road, after ND came in and won.
Instead, they hired a steadying force.
 
Luckylucci

Luckylucci

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ThePiombino said:
Except you know A&M will back him and won't nickel and dime their new HC.

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For perspective on this nickel and dime narrative.

MSU is buying out Jonathan Smith’s contract at $3M. Ludwig, an OC, was $2.8M. It’s utterly absurd to buyout a coordinator for $2.8M

OSU who doesn’t nickel and dime shit. Bought out Jim Knowles, who is leading arguably the best defense in college football this season, for less than 100k.

It is not a requirement to buyout $2M contracts to find good coordinators. Apparently, it only is if you are Marcus Freeman.
 
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Luckylucci

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NDPhilly said:
Jonathan Smith > Elko IMO. What he’s done at Oregon State hs been so impressive. Would be wild for Michigan State to end up with a better hire considering both team’s situations.
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Both are great options. Though it turns out that neither MSU or A&M had Elko at the top of the list.
 
ThePiombino

ThePiombino

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Luckylucci said:
For perspective on this nickel and dime narrative.

MSU is buying out Jonathan Smith’s contract at $3M. Ludwig, an OC, was over $2M. It’s utterly absurd to buyout a coordinator for $2M.

OSU who doesn’t nickel and dime shit. Bought out Jim Knowles, who is leading arguably the best defense in college football this season, for less than 100k.

It is not a requirement to buyout $2M contracts to find good coordinators. Apparently, it only is if you are Marcus Freeman.
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We get it. You don't like Freeman.

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BobbyMac

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FDNYIrish1 said:
Santucci leaving with Elko?
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You'd think. The HC jobs he could land right now are iffy and wouldn't pay anywhere near as much as DC for A&M. Plus, he's only been a full time coach for a few years. He was an analyst at College Station at first just like he was at ND.
 
Luckylucci

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ThePiombino said:
We get it. You don't like Freeman.

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Not in the slightest.

Though, I’m not surprised when pressed with actual information that doesn’t support this silly and played out narrative that this is the response.
 
Plankton

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Sources: Texas A&M, Elko agree on deal to make him new coach​

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    Pete Thamel, ESPNNov 26, 2023, 04:59 PM ET






Texas A&M and Duke's Mike Elko have reached an agreement to make him the school's next head coach, sources told ESPN on Sunday.

Elko addressed the potential move with his Duke team at a team meeting on Sunday. Sources told ESPN on Sunday afternoon that an official announcement was expected in next 24 hours.

Elko is a former Texas A&M defensive coordinator, who left there two years ago to take the Duke head coaching job. Elko was the coordinator for some of Texas A&M's best recent seasons, including the 9-1 season in 2020 that culminated with an Orange Bowl victory.

Since Elko's departure after the 2021 season, A&M's performance has dipped on the field. They went 12-12 the last two years, which is why the school paid a record $76 million buyout to fire coach Jimbo Fisher. That buyout is not subject to offset or mitigation and is by far the biggest in the history of the sport.
 
Kingbish01

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I'm not gonna crown Elko until I see what he can do on the offensive side of the ball. He walked into a good offensive situation and absolutely made the D better. We shall see, but there is a reason he was probably their 5th or 6th choice...almost has a "settled for" vibe to it.
 
ThePiombino

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Luckylucci said:
Not in the slightest.

Though, I’m not surprised when pressed with actual information that doesn’t support this silly and played out narrative that this is the response.
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Because you're not worth the effort. But since you insisted - it has been reported that ND would have ultimately paid the Ludwig buyout, but in dragging their feet 1st, Ludwig got cold feet. I get assistants shouldn't require that kind of buyout, but:

1.) Rees leaving as late in the coaching carousel cycle as he did (AND ND NOT GETTING A FUCKING BUYOUT IN RETURN) really put ND behind the 8-ball wrt what was available.

2.) ND already got Freeman at a discount. Surely they could afford out some of that savings towards a seasoned OC to help balance the staff and allow Freeman one less thing to worry about, esp with him being a defensive coach.

Unique circumstances. Not saying the should circle back on Ludwig NOW, given time is no longer working against ND. But I am saying that they should have done it at that time last season. We're looking at 10-2 and a "NY6" bowl at WORST. ROI on that alone justifies the move.

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Reaper97

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NDohio said:
Both Elko and A&M are being overrated IMO.
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Elko might only win 9 games a year, but with those athletes he will field a top 3 defense every year.
And more importantly, will give ND fits next year.
I think he beats one of Bama, UGA, LSU…a year. His defense will get him upsets.
That’s good for ND to have SEC teams getting upset & more 9-3 teams.
I just don’t want to face him with a new QB in the opener.
 
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