Ask Merckxe525 aka Dear Abby

[Dale]

Only names on that list I think are realistic if it came to it are Dillingham and Dabo. Leipold Brohm and Klieman I respect but they are up there in age and are not the type to elevate an elite program in this day and age. Lea I get the connection but I question if he should even be the Vandy coach, much less ND.


Dillingham has that young energy and is just a winner, much like Marcus. Could stand to mature a bit.

Dabo I think could play at ND well, assuming he embraces the modern era. But I think his personality would absolutely play. Man people would hate that version of ND.

 

[BuaConstrictor]

Hey Merckxe, what are your thoughts on why Tommy Rees appeared to struggle recruiting top QBs throughout his ND tenure?

I reject this notion/premise.

It's no coincidence that once Rees got a HC who gave a shit about recruiting that you started to see real progress. Immedietely after Freeman is hired you see Rees landing Moore(silently), Carr, Minchey, Hartman. As I said, not a coincidence. You can disagree with some of Rees' evals. That's fair, but Rees worked his ass off as a recruiter and when he was properly supported by his HC people saw the fruits of his labor.

Anectdotal example: Carr came to a game for a visit during the last few months of the BK tenure. BK wouldn't even take the time to meet with him. Rees, and the rest of the recruiting staff, were rightly livid.

Freeman gets the job and within 60 days Carr is willing to publicly commit, but the staff asked him to hold off until Moore did...but that's a different story.

Rees can recruit. There's a reason that when he left there was real fear of him taking Carr wherever he went and why Hartman was so pissed off

 

[Kingbish01]

I reject this notion/premise.

It's no coincidence that once Rees got a HC who gave a shit about recruiting that you started to see real progress. Immedietely after Freeman is hired you see Rees landing Moore(silently), Carr, Minchey, Hartman. As I said, not a coincidence. You can disagree with some of Rees' evals. That's fair, but Rees worked his ass off as a recruiter and when he was properly supported by his HC people saw the fruits of his labor.

Anectdotal example: Carr came to a game for a visit during the last few months of the BK tenure. BK wouldn't even take the time to meet with him. Rees, and the rest of the recruiting staff, were rightly livid.

Freeman gets the job and within 60 days Carr is willing to publicly commit, but the staff asked him to hold off until Moore did...but that's a different story.

Rees can recruit. There's a reason that when he left there was real fear of him taking Carr wherever he went and why Hartman was so pissed off

Is Rees someone who we may see circle back around with a HC title at ND?

 

[BuaConstrictor]

I think he would have rather had Drew Allar vs. Steve Angeli

The entire reason we didn't get Allar is because BK refused to meet/talk with Allar's parents after Rees offered. This isn't even supposition by me, Allar's dad has openly said this to various beat reporters.

 

[BuaConstrictor]

Is Rees someone who we may see circle back around with a HC title at ND?

Yes.

 

[Irish5Saint]

I reject this notion/premise.

It's no coincidence that once Rees got a HC who gave a shit about recruiting that you started to see real progress. Immedietely after Freeman is hired you see Rees landing Moore(silently), Carr, Minchey, Hartman. As I said, not a coincidence. You can disagree with some of Rees' evals. That's fair, but Rees worked his ass off as a recruiter and when he was properly supported by his HC people saw the fruits of his labor.

Anectdotal example: Carr came to a game for a visit during the last few months of the BK tenure. BK wouldn't even take the time to meet with him. Rees, and the rest of the recruiting staff, were rightly livid.

Freeman gets the job and within 60 days Carr is willing to publicly commit, but the staff asked him to hold off until Moore did...but that's a different story.

Rees can recruit. There's a reason that when he left there was real fear of him taking Carr wherever he went and why Hartman was so pissed off

Rees is a much better coach than what boards give him credit for. Great playcaller, questionable QB developer, but a good coach.

 

[Katzenboyer]

The entire reason we didn't get Allar is because BK refused to meet/talk with Allar's parents after Rees offered. This isn't even supposition by me, Allar's dad has openly said this to various beat reporters.

This just boggles my mind, and we've seen it reported on this thread a few times (BK not meeting family, or certain recruits on visits).

Why? Did he completely stop giving a shit about recruiting? Is he just an insufferable dick? I mean I just can't imagine a football coach at a major program ignoring a Top 100 recruit and his family, especially at a position of such importance. What gives?

 

[NotKoon]

The entire reason we didn't get Allar is because BK refused to meet/talk with Allar's parents after Rees offered. This isn't even supposition by me, Allar's dad has openly said this to various beat reporters.

Whew the one time BKs laziness came in handy!

 

[BuaConstrictor]

Why? Did he completely stop giving a shit about recruiting? Is he just an insufferable dick?

Little of option A. Little of option B.

He just took the entire mindset of being a "CEO" type coach too far.

 

[BuaConstrictor]

questionable QB developer,

I really wish we would have seen him as an OC/QB coach with better raw materials. For all the talk of not being great at QB development, he made Drew Pyne palatable. That has to count for something!

I really would have loved to seen him at ND with this stable of passers.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Did Chip Long help out with the QB recruiting at all when he was OC? With how little BK was willing to recruit, I'm surprised they even got Phil Jurko

 

[BuaConstrictor]

Did Chip Long help out with the QB recruiting at all when he was OC? With how little BK was willing to recruit, I'm surprised they even got Phil Jurko

Yeah, Chip Long, to my knowledge helped/was involved. He'd have to be as the OC just because he'd be looking at guys that can run his stuff. There is always a certain amount of collaboration on the staff.

So yeah, the kid would talk to someone like Rees the most but Rees wasn't out there recruiting, offering, and taking kids that the OC or HC didn't want. He didn't have autonomy just to take whoever.

 

[RealZibby]

@Merckxe525 @BuaConstrictor Thoughts on the recent promotion of Carter Auman to Director of Recruiting and how he will make an impact

 

[Katzenboyer]

Little of option A. Little of option B.

He just took the entire mindset of being a "CEO" type coach too far.

Isn't a huge of being a good "CEO coach" recruiting good players?!!?

(Not directed at you, Bua. Just can't wrap my head around it.)

 

[Old Man Mike]

re: coach Kelly. I think that finding that his old successful pattern of "program organizer and details manager and hands-on-everything top gun" didn't work at this final top level, really rattled his self image and view of his whole world. I don't think that he knew how to deal with that now that he realized he wasn't able to control all the complexities top-down. I know this will be unpopular, but I admire that he at least tried to get out of the way of some parts of the function. He never had to do that, so he wasn't very good at how to exactly do that; plus it must have been a somewhat depressing lower energy time. And I believe that by going to LSU he thought that he might be able to wiggle past his own limitations by being gifted (relatively speaking) with more high octane horses, that his style couldn't get here. Whether he was/is correct about any of that is not the point; it is what HE felt in my opinion.

 

[BuaConstrictor]

Isn't a huge of being a good "CEO coach" recruiting good players?!!?

BK felt it was about putting good recruiters on staff to recruit those good players into the program and culture he had built. BK just took that a little bit to the extreme. He was always a good "closer" when he'd get in front of kids at the end of the process, I'll give him that. He was just too disconnected from the process on the front end.

 

[irishnd31]

For all of those that fear that we could scare off the insiders, is there a way to limit the amount of questions posed each day? for those that were afraid that the occasional off-topic post/ humorous post was off putting to our knowledgeable friends, I will say that the amount of questions being posed are a bit overwhelming. Don't care either way and I appreciate the info being presented by our knowledgeable mates but gents, let's get your hands out of your shorts for a few moments and allow the fellas to catch up.

 

[BuaConstrictor]

And I believe that by going to LSU he thought that he might be able to wiggle past his own limitations by being gifted (relatively speaking) with more high octane horses, that his style couldn't get here. Whether he was/is correct about any of that is not the point; it is what HE felt in my opinion.

You're not far off here. Especially given some of the geographic advantages he now has at LSU. He's in a good place to cover up some of his issues on the recruiting side of things.

I still wouldn't be shocked to see him win a national title at LSU. Brian Kelly is a really damn good football coach. Might be unpopular around these parts, but it's true.

I also think the transfer portal helps him as by his nature he tends to connect with older players better than younger players and as the sport becomes more and more transactional from a relationships standpoint, his lack of relationship building as a HC might matter slightly less.

 

[SoIll]

re: coach Kelly. I think that finding that his old successful pattern of "program organizer and details manager and hands-on-everything top gun" didn't work at this final top level, really rattled his self image and view of his whole world. I don't think that he knew how to deal with that now that he realized he wasn't able to control all the complexities top-down. I know this will be unpopular, but I admire that he at least tried to get out of the way of some parts of the function. He never had to do that, so he wasn't very good at how to exactly do that; plus it must have been a somewhat depressing lower energy time. And I believe that by going to LSU he thought that he might be able to wiggle past his own limitations by being gifted (relatively speaking) with more high octane horses, that his style couldn't get here. Whether he was/is correct about any of that is not the point; it is what HE felt in my opinion.

Mike, You're an OG and I sincerely appreciate your insight and love for Notre Dame... But my guy, the excuses and infatuation for BK is stale....

 

[zelezo vlk]

Are there coaches of other programs that we as fans don't realize have a real affinity/affection for ND? It's easy to connect the dots w/r/t Urban or even Saban, but I'm curious about other names.

 

[BuaConstrictor]

Thoughts on the recent promotion of Carter Auman to Director of Recruiting and how he will make an impact

Overall, and Merckxe has somewhat alluded to this with other posts, I just think you'll see a more organized, analytical, and professional face for ND recruiting. I know it's fashionable to shit on Bowden right now and nothing I just said should be taken as a "shot" at him. Just different management styles now in that office and different visions.

 

[NDpendent]

Yes.

I hope not, I feel that would be a big downgrade from a culture perspective and what Freeman has been building in that area

 

[BleedBlueGold]

This just boggles my mind, and we've seen it reported on this thread a few times (BK not meeting family, or certain recruits on visits).

Why? Did he completely stop giving a shit about recruiting? Is he just an insufferable dick? I mean I just can't imagine a football coach at a major program ignoring a Top 100 recruit and his family, especially at a position of such importance. What gives?

I will never understand how a head coach, who's job literally hinges on wins/losses, which is directly tied to evaluating, recruiting, and developing the players that will ultimately provide said wins/losses. Why on earth would you sacrifice your life's blood, that is recruiting elite talent, and just refuse to meet with these kids? Talk about ego.

Not to derail this thread, but Mike Woodson at IU has taken a ton of heat on this very topic. Seriously, head coaches, get off your ass and go say hi to a recruit. Some times that's all they want. Good grief.

 

[Huntr]

I know this will be unpopular, but I admire that he at least tried to get out of the way of some parts of the function. He never had to do that, so he wasn't very good at how to exactly do that;

I don't know about that. He's the HFC at The University of Notre Dame. That guy gets all the smoke and is well-paid to do so. And, he knows it coming in.

Further, Sampson has said many times in the past that Kelly was really good one on one, like he could sell a ketchup snowcone to a woman wearing white gloves.

He just... opted out of a more active role in recruiting.

 

[Old Man Mike]

SoIll: why try to police other people's beliefs, personally? Plus read the post just ahead of yours.

Get off the Thought Police box. I know you hate him. You know I don't hate him, and am irrationally loyal to old "colleagues."

Put me on ignore but quit with the personal. Jeez. Let me be me. Thanks.

p.s. no "infatuation" ... what the hell's THAT allusion all about?

 

[Kingbish01]

You're not far off here. Especially given some of the geographic advantages he now has at LSU. He's in a good place to cover up some of his issues on the recruiting side of things.

I still wouldn't be shocked to see him win a national title at LSU. Brian Kelly is a really damn good football coach. Might be unpopular around these parts, but it's true.

I also think the transfer portal helps him as by his nature he tends to connect with older players better than younger players and as the sport becomes more and more transactional from a relationships standpoint, his lack of relationship building as a HC might matter slightly less.

I think BK is a damn good football coach too, and LSU is a perfect place for him. But I really doubt he'll ever win a Natty. A.) He's proven over 15+ years he can't get his team up for big games. B.) As long as Kirby is at UGA, BK won't win one. Kirby and UGA is the perfect example of a team that BK will never be able to get past. He beats who he should, and pretty much loses all toss up games.

 

[BuaConstrictor]

I hope not, I feel that would be a big downgrade from a culture perspective and what Freeman has been building in that area

I disagree completely.

Rees and Freeman are a lot more similar than they are dissimilar. Tbh, it's where some of the tension in their relationship came from at times.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

I don't know about that. He's the HFC at The University of Notre Dame. That guy gets all the smoke and is well-paid to do so. And, he knows it coming in.

Further, Sampson has said many times in the past that Kelly was really good one on one, like he could sell a ketchup snowcone to a woman wearing white gloves.

He just... opted out of a more active role in recruiting.

The vibe I got was he felt he deserved zero restrictions or lack of facilities to finally reach the mountaintop & LSU was the ideal place for that. Plus, look at the two idiots that preceded him yet were still able to win a natty. Objectively, I think BK is a better overall HC than Miles & Orgeron. Some on here will vehemently disagree that BK > Lesticles but IMO he gravy trained off what Saban built w/ a program that should’ve won at least two Nattys. The one he actually won was when he backed into one b/c Rich Rod choked in the Backyard Brawl. They were the most talented team in 2006 IMO. But he always lost inexcusable games. His teams were loaded w/ elite talent but he was their weakest link.

 

[BuaConstrictor]

But I really doubt he'll ever win a Natty. A.) He's proven over 15+ years he can't get his team up for big games.

Counter: Les Miles and Ed O won national titles at LSU. If they can, BK can.

Re: Kirby....depending on how the SEC schedule and CFP falls, he may never even have to face him to win one.

I somewhat pushback against the "big game" stuff with BK. He has won a lot of "big games" in his career, but when he's at a clear talent disadvantage he doesn't do great at working around it. Another reason LSU is great for him. Less chances for that to happen.

It's tough to point to a "big game" that BK lost at ND where ND was expected to or should have won the game. Especially over the last..5 years of his tenure. The real exceptions to that are Miami '17 and Michigan in '19...but every great "big game" coach has warts too. Urban has been boat raced by Purdue and Iowa. Etc.

 

[NDPhilly]

I wish I never read the Manti stuff in here lol. Just delete it from my brain.