Al Golden

[irish4ever]

The only way I see Golden leaving is if he is offered an NFL job, I can't see him being a head college football coach.

Isn't Goldens contract for 3 years? I can see him honoring that contract, but if I were ND I'd offer an extension/pay raise to keep him here.

Damn right!!!

 

[stlnd01]

Golden's 54. He's coached a lot of football. He could retire in five years (or coach another 15).

If he wants to be a college HC again, Syracuse is probably as ideal a job as he's likely to get. P5 paycheck but low-pressure, his part of the country, yeah you need to recruit some but not like he does at Notre Dame. It's a much better fit for him than Miami was, and it's only a career "death wish" if you view it as a stepping stone rather than a capstone.

Or, if he doesn't like what college football is becoming, he can find his way back to the NFL. He should have a shot at a DC job there this year or next.

Or, he knows he's got a good thing where he's at, close enough to Cincy that his kids can go stay in high school there, and he hangs out with us another year or two. That's fine.

It's good to be Al.

 

[irish4ever]

I think it would be moronic to go to Syracuse.

Make $4-5M yearly, way more responsibility, likely to be unsuccessful. Stay at ND as DC and make $3M a year, have a clear consistent path of success, then look for the right gig if you really want to be HC. MSU isn't in great shape, but the pay increase there could be worth it. I just don't think he's a modern HC that will be successful.

As a middle-class income earner, it's hard for me to fathom that making $3m a year with job security is not worth it as opposed to leaving for a pay increase in pay and all the scrutiny and ulcers that would come with it. It's not like he can't afford any luxuries for his family!

 

[Hammer Of The Gods]

Its very early and Golden can't just sit and wait, but you need to monitor Lou Anarumo and the Bengals in general. Any shake up in Cincinnati (Lou being a head coach somewhere) and Al could go with him or be the DC in cincy.

 

[stlnd01]

Its very early and Golden can't just sit and wait, but you need to monitor Lou Anarumo and the Bengals in general. Any shake up in Cincinnati (Lou being a head coach somewhere) and Al could go with him or be the DC in cincy.

I saw his name on a list of potential HCs for Syracuse. FWIW if we do lose Golden it's better to lose him early (to a college job) than late (to the NFL) and risk a repeat of last year's OC fiasco.

 

[Katzenboyer]

I saw his name on a list of potential HCs for Syracuse. FWIW if we do lose Golden it's better to lose him early (to a college job) than late (to the NFL) and risk a repeat of last year's OC fiasco.

While I agree with you on timing, I think Golden's replacement is already in the building. The OC hire is the one where we need to look at an outside candidate.

 

[ThePiombino]

While I agree with you on timing, I think Golden's replacement is already in the building. The OC hire is the one where we need to look at an outside candidate.

Does Mickens get the promotion if Parker is still the OC? I don't see how that would be possible. Would almost assuredly be the end of Freeman if so.

 

[Katzenboyer]

Does Mickens get the promotion if Parker is still the OC? I don't see how that would be possible. Would almost assuredly be the end of Freeman if so.

I don't think it would be, as I think Mickens is going to be a very good coordinator.

 

[ThePiombino]

I don't think it would be, as I think Mickens is going to be a very good coordinator.

I don't doubt that, but I don't see how Freeman can afford to have two virtually brand new coordinators under him, while he himself is learning the job as a first time head coach. He needs the offensive version of Al Golden as coordinator if he's going to elevate Mickens.

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[NDohio]

I don't doubt that, but I don't see how Freeman can afford to have two virtually brand new coordinators under him, while he himself is learning the job as a first time head coach. He needs the offensive version of Al Golden as coordinator if he's going to elevate Mickens.

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I am not discounting what you are saying here however, when does this narrative end? Year 3? Year 4? Surely it doesn't go beyond that...

 

[ThePiombino]

I am not discounting what you are saying here however, when does this narrative end? Year 3? Year 4? Surely it doesn't go beyond that...

I don't disagree with you. I think a reasonable hope is that he gets better each year as he learns more and more on the job. But I also think it would be really disingenuous to assume a head coach in his third or fourth year would know as much as a coach who has been doing it for 10, 15, 20 years. Bottom line is he does not have decades of experience to lean on. Look at all the great coaches out there. They've all been doing it for at least 10 years, if not more. It's just something that comes with time, and it's hard to hone your own craft when you're worrying about honing someone else's. That's why this whole OC situation was a disaster waiting to happen.

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[PutuporShutup]

I am not discounting what you are saying here however, when does this narrative end? Year 3? Year 4? Surely it doesn't go beyond that...

First time head coach narrative should be done.... Does he become a great coach is TBD. He has a LONG ways to go still figuring out prep, consistency, and so many different game day decision making challenges, and i'll add working officials.

I don't see how he can improve like he needs to with two coordinators figuring out what the heck they are doing. Mickens very well be a great coordinator one day, but it's a MASSIVE jump at this level and he will need to lean on Freeman way more than freeman probably should be giving up. On top of that, an OC trying to figure out a QB position, where in 2023 he had the easiest QB to work with possibly ever at ND. 2024 is going to be a challenge to prepare the team offensively.

 

[PutuporShutup]

I don't disagree with you. I think a reasonable hope is that he gets better each year as he learns more and more on the job. But I also think it would be really disingenuous to assume a head coach in his third or fourth year would know as much as a coach who has been doing it for 10, 15, 20 years. Bottom line is he does not have decades of experience to lean on. Look at all the great coaches out there. They've all been doing it for at least 10 years, if not more. It's just something that comes with time, and it's hard to hone your own craft when you're worrying about honing someone else's. That's why this whole OC situation was a disaster waiting to happen.

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Plus, the OC next year is going to have way more challenges than this year, and we start out in as tough an atmosphere as you can almost have.

Freeman can't teach both the OC and DC like he would need to if it's Parker/Mickens. Freeman really needs someone to come in and own the offense and let freeman be hands off with the stuff in the weeds, and just focus more big picture.

 

[NDFAN2008]

If Golden is gone ND needs to up their offer to Utah DC and OC bring them both

 

[NDFAN2008]

Does Mickens get the promotion if Parker is still the OC? I don't see how that would be possible. Would almost assuredly be the end of Freeman if so.

Why would it be the end of Freeman!? Im more confident Mickens would be a great DC vs the later

 

[ThePiombino]

Why would it be the end of Freeman!? Im more confident Mickens would be a great DC vs the later

Can you imagine a scenario in which ND's HC, OC, DC have a combined 3 years exp in their respective current roles heading into next season? How is that good?

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[Jiggafini19Deux]

Just in case anyone forgot, this was 14 months ago.

 

[HouseofPain]

Not sure why Al would want a HC position. Going to a struggling school means a ton of work (he doesnt like recruiting) and a very good shot at failure. If he stays, he can get a pay raise, only worry about what he does best which is coach defenses and just let someone else be the punching bag.
Has anyone actually heard/read him say he would WANT to HC again?

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Can you imagine a scenario in which ND's HC, OC, DC have a combined 3 years exp in their respective current roles heading into next season? How is that good?

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Imagine it? I feel like it’s inevitable as an ND fan.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I like that Golden has taken a group of linebackers who are not necessarily NFL Day 1 or 2 draft picks and turned them into a very productive unit of athletic football players and leaders. He's proved that his system can work with very good football players who are smart on the field in addition to off of it.

Guys like Kahoun and Rezac can play at a very high level going forward even if Golden isn't here when their time comes.

 

[tko]

So Al is essentially gone?

 

[T-Boone]

Just in case anyone forgot, this was 14 months ago.

Same names different day

 

[T-Boone]

Yeah freeman should offer Al a pay ride and tell him he doesn’t have to recruit much.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

So Al is essentially gone?

No, but you have members of this board checking daily for the last couple of weeks to see if Gerad Parker has been fired yet.

Consume your college football however you see fit.

 

[arrowryan]

Hire Phil Parker or Joe Rossi and give Mickens a promotion/raise

 

[Blazers46]

If he leaves, great. Just leave early so we aren’t stuck at the bar at 2am with Porker part 2.

 

[notredomer23]

Hire Phil Parker or Joe Rossi and give Mickens a promotion/raise

No more Parkers

 

[Grahambo]

No more Parkers

We riot if another Parker is hired.

 

[SeekNDestroy]

We riot if another Parker is hired.

Are we gonna rush the administration building while shouting “hang Swarbrick,” and taking shits in the hallway?

 

[Grahambo]

Are we gonna rush the administration building while shouting “hang Swarbrick,” and taking shits in the hallway?