Brian Kelly Revisited (RIP BOZO)

[Bishop2b5]

He's 100% gonna be a CFB head coach again, there will absolutely be at least 1 program in the P4 that would take BK in a heartbeat without blinking.

Probably, but why? He's a good coach, nothing more. Was never in the Very Good category, let alone Great. He's lazy, and that's not his only flaw. He is never going to turn any program into an NC caliber one. He's just not that guy. He's more than just a warm body on a sideline, but not much more.

 

[stlnd01]

Probably, but why? He's a good coach, nothing more. Was never in the Very Good category, let alone Great. He's lazy, and that's not his only flaw. He is never going to turn any program into an NC caliber one. He's just not that guy. He's more than just a warm body on a sideline, but not much more.

To be fair he did bring Notre Dame from a decade-plus of mediocrity to the national title game in three years. He was that guy. Whether he still is is an interesting question.
But I could definitely see him coaching at a mid P4 where nine wins is considered a good-enough season. Someplace like Illinois or Minnesota. Or retiring to TV. Either way.

 

[Irish#1]

To be fair he did bring Notre Dame from a decade-plus of mediocrity to the national title game in three years. He was that guy. Whether he still is is an interesting question.
But I could definitely see him coaching at a mid P4 where nine wins is considered a good-enough season. Someplace like Illinois or Minnesota. Or retiring to TV. Either way.

Agree. Mid or lower P4 that is looking just to raise the bar a little, but I don't think it would be in the B1G or SEC.

 

[MeanGreenBeans]

To be fair he did bring Notre Dame from a decade-plus of mediocrity to the national title game in three years. He was that guy. Whether he still is is an interesting question.
But I could definitely see him coaching at a mid P4 where nine wins is considered a good-enough season. Someplace like Illinois or Minnesota. Or retiring to TV. Either way.

Nah he was never "that guy" and I'm not sure why anyone would think he was. I'll always appreciate what he did to move the program forward, but you can't tell me with a straight face we had any teams during his tenure that were national title caliber. It was flat out embarrassing any time we even got close under him. So I don't see, at his age and after what just happened at LSU, how he'll ever be "that guy" to be honest.

 

[Irish du Nord]

Nah he was never "that guy" and I'm not sure why anyone would think he was. I'll always appreciate what he did to move the program forward, but you can't tell me with a straight face we had any teams during his tenure that were national title caliber. It was flat out embarrassing any time we even got close under him. So I don't see, at his age and after what just happened at LSU, how he'll ever be "that guy" to be honest.

In 2018 we had the second best team in the country, we were just blown out by a phenomenal Clemson team (when our best defensive player got injured). 2020 and 2012 had teams that would challenge for titles as well. Does BK deserve all the credit for these teams? Of course not, but from time to time he did tap in to what ND as a program can do

 

[stlnd01]

Nah he was never "that guy" and I'm not sure why anyone would think he was. I'll always appreciate what he did to move the program forward, but you can't tell me with a straight face we had any teams during his tenure that were national title caliber. It was flat out embarrassing any time we even got close under him. So I don't see, at his age and after what just happened at LSU, how he'll ever be "that guy" to be honest.

Sure. But also three of his Notre Dame teams were among the top four in the country. 2015 and 2021 were also close to that.

Yes there's a difference between making the playoffs and truly being "title caliber," and I would agree that we feel closer to title caliber now than we did during the BK years (while also acknowledging that the Death Star Super Team era of the 2010s is largely over, which helps us). But at his best, BK was an excellent coach.

All that said, I think the game has probably passed him by, at least at the elite levels. If he ever was "that guy," he isn't any more. But if he wants to keep coaching, a lot of programs would be glad to have him.

 

[HouseofPain]

I can’t imagine anyone paying big money for him. Maybe a Mac level team, but I really wouldn’t think any P5 team with a brain on its head would bet money on him.

 

[ab2cmiller]

He's 100% gonna be a CFB head coach again, there will absolutely be at least 1 program in the P4 that would take BK in a heartbeat without blinking.

Strongly disagree.

Negative likeability.
Pretty well known that he's not been putting in the effort.
64 years old with eyes towards retirement.

Any potential schools would see those as huge red flags. Sure, if you offer him the job he would probably have to take it to make sure the golden parachute payments from LSU keep flowing. But he would likely put in even less effort than what he did at LSU. His mere presence would likely not elevate recruiting based upon his name alone given the negative likeability.

 

[KPENN]

Yikes

 

[Irish#1]

I wish I had a $99M decision to make.

 

[ACamp1900]

UTEP will almost certainly open up in about 8 months,………

 

[irishnd31]

UTEP will almost certainly open up in about 8 months,………

Kelly showing up at the basketball game to greet the UTEP fanbase…

 

[ACamp1900]

Kelly showing up at the basketball game to greet the UTEP fanbase…

In two completely different accents:

‘Me Familia just want to say,… YEE HAW! ‘

 

[IA4irish]

Whoever BK’s agent is, maybe politely try to tell him to talk less. BK just can’t help himself. Sorry, folks This thread is never going away!

 

[stlnd01]

Yikes

Who are "we" here? Feels like "we" is doing a lot of work.

I'm sure his wife was part of the process of "tearing down an apartment complex" (???) to build their "dream house," but the rest of it, the idea of building Notre Dame back to relevance but not necessarily title contention, there was one constant from 2010 through 2021 and it was Brian Kelly.

 

[Fbolt]

The rationalization

Yikes

 

[NDPhilly]

I’ve began to feel some sympathy for him crazy enough. He very obviously plateaued at ND, albeit at a top 10 level. He could see the writing on the wall that wasn’t going to get over the hump due to his mediocre recruiting classes and lack of QB development. In his last five years, where he won 10 games every single year, we never truly were close to the top of the sport.

I do admire him for going for it. Lots of guys his age would have just said “I’ve had a lot of success and will go down as the winningest coach as an incredible school, great career”. He wanted more. The ambition at his age was admirable.

I’m sure it’s also eating at him that he’ll never be loved and welcomed in retirement anywhere despite all his success, unlike most coaches that have had his career.

 

[greyhammer90]

I’ve began to feel some sympathy for him crazy enough. He very obviously plateaued at ND, albeit at a top 10 level. He could see the writing on the wall that wasn’t going to get over the hump due to his mediocre recruiting classes and lack of QB development. In his last five years, where he won 10 games every single year, we never truly were close to the top of the sport.

I do admire him for going for it. Lots of guys his age would have just said “I’ve had a lot of success and will go down as the winningest coach as an incredible school, great career”. He wanted more. The ambition at his age was admirable.

I’m sure it’s also eating at him that he’ll never be loved and welcomed in retirement anywhere despite all his success, unlike most coaches that have had his career.

I genuinely think it's almost the exact opposite. BK wasn't ever romantic about football or his legacy. Dude wanted to do enough to get a good paycheck hard stop. He realized that ND wasn't going to give him his godfather offer to tread water any longer and so he bounced to a place that would. I also don't think he gives a hoot about what ND fans or LSU fans think of him or his legacy or lack of a homecoming ticket when he's 70. He's got something better than a statue: 90 million and a lot of free time. Its actually what I respect about BK in a way. He's like a Floyd Mayweather who never let the "magic" of the sport distract him from the fact that the whole point of this is to get a bag. BK always struck me as the sort of guy who would retire one day and literally not watch a down of football ever again.

 

[stlnd01]

I genuinely think it's almost the exact opposite. BK wasn't ever romantic about football or his legacy. Dude wanted to do enough to get a good paycheck hard stop. He realized that ND wasn't going to give him his godfather offer to tread water any longer and so he bounced to a place that would. I also don't think he gives a hoot about what ND fans or LSU fans think of him or his legacy or lack of a homecoming ticket when he's 70. He's got something better than a statue: 90 million and a lot of free time. Its actually what I respect about BK in a way. He's like a Floyd Mayweather who never let the "magic" of the sport distract him from the fact that the whole point of this is to get a bag. BK always struck me as the sort of guy who would retire one day and literally not watch a down of football ever again.

He wasn't exactly making minimum wage at Notre Dame. Yes, LSU paid him more than we did (how much more we'll never quite know), but the guy had made a fuckload of money coaching college football for 25 years before he took the job. He could have easily coached another three years at Notre Dame and never worked another day in his life.
But there was one thing he hadn't done - win a title - and he thought it would be easier to do that at LSU. That's why he left. On that part I take him at his word in this video.

 

[greyhammer90]

He wasn't exactly making minimum wage at Notre Dame. Yes, LSU paid him more than we did (how much more we'll never quite know), but the guy had made a fuckload of money coaching college football for 25 years before he took the job. He could have easily coached another three years at Notre Dame and never worked another day in his life.
But there was one thing he hadn't done - win a title - and he thought it would be easier to do that at LSU. That's why he left. On that part I take him at his word in this video.

He wasn't getting 90 million more at ND doing what he was doing. That's a reported fact. It's weird to take him at his word on the backend but ignore what he said while he was here and all the actions he took during both tenures. I'm not suggesting that BK didn't try to win championships at LSU or ND. To quote Don Draper "that's what the money was for." But he had two straight big time jobs where when it was time for him to leave the conversation was largely about the fact that he was checked out and was more interested in his golf game then schmoozing the right people.

And regardless of whether he really believes what he's saying or not, I'm going to remain pleased at his misfortune at LSU. He left ND, tried to burn down everything he built on the way out by poaching the staff and admin, implied that you can't win a championship there, and repeatedly said you can't recruit a top 5 class consistently. Four years later we're the betting favorite to win it all and he's sipping Mai Tais on a beach at Louisiana taxpayer expense. Win-win as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Irish#1]

I genuinely think it's almost the exact opposite. BK wasn't ever romantic about football or his legacy. Dude wanted to do enough to get a good paycheck hard stop. He realized that ND wasn't going to give him his godfather offer to tread water any longer and so he bounced to a place that would. I also don't think he gives a hoot about what ND fans or LSU fans think of him or his legacy or lack of a homecoming ticket when he's 70. He's got something better than a statue: 90 million and a lot of free time. Its actually what I respect about BK in a way. He's like a Floyd Mayweather who never let the "magic" of the sport distract him from the fact that the whole point of this is to get a bag. BK always struck me as the sort of guy who would retire one day and literally not watch a down of football ever again.

I think you're pretty spot on, except I disagree with the homecoming ticket. He would love it. He has an ego and I doubt he would admit it publicly, but I think that will gnaw on him a little bit given he's the winningest coach at ND.

 

[Huntr]

Yikes

Yeah, ok Brian. You weren't fired and left of your own volition. Nobody forced you into fleecing LSU.


He asked for more money, Swarbrick said not right now, so he looked elsewhere. He may not have "intended" to leave, but only because he expected to keep getting a raise from ND every time he asked.

 

[GowerND11]

Can't wait for the recruiting video of UTEP Head Coach Brian Kelly doing a cover of El Paso by Marty Robbins in front of the 2* recruits and their families.

 

[ab2cmiller]

If it truly was about chasing a title, BK would've been busting his ass at LSU. He wasn't. There's nothing anybody could say to convince me unless they could prove that the "lazy BK" stories (that started early in his tenure ) coming out of Baton Rouge were lies.

In my opinion it was primarily a money grab with a side order of protecting his ego.

The truth of the matter is this. BK had pretty much peaked at ND. He had already been at ND a long time, but didn't do enough during that time to make him unfireable. What were the chances that BK would've survived even another 5 years at ND? Virtually zero. ND would've eventually moved on from BK during the next 3 or so years unless he elevated the program even more. BK knew that as well. This is why he didn't even attempt to get Swarbrick to match. He knew Jack couldn't even guarantee another 3 years let alone 10.

Along came LSU with a 10 year contract for huge money that would see him into retirement. A contract that would get him to age 70. Maybe he thought he could still coast to a National Championship. But the real driver was money and getting one final golden parachute contract to get him to retirement.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

If it truly was about chasing a title, BK would've been busting his ass at LSU. He wasn't. There's nothing anybody could say to convince me unless they could prove that the "lazy BK" stories (that started early in his tenure ) coming out of Baton Rouge were lies.

In my opinion it was primarily a money grab with a side order of protecting his ego.

The truth of the matter is this. BK had pretty much peaked at ND. He had already been at ND a long time, but didn't do enough during that time to make him unfireable. What were the chances that BK would've survived even another 5 years at ND? Virtually zero. ND would've eventually moved on from BK during the next 3 or so years unless he elevated the program even more. BK knew that as well. This is why he didn't even attempt to get Swarbrick to match. He knew Jack couldn't even guarantee another 3 years let alone 10.

Along came LSU with a 10 year contract for huge money that would see him into retirement. A contract that would get him to age 70. Maybe he thought he could still coast to a National Championship. But the real driver was money and getting one final golden parachute contract to get him to retirement.

And he looked at the two idiots (Miles & Orgeron) that able to win a NC by just having a pulse. Miles rode Saban’s coattails & still almost screwed it up when he backed into the BCS NC game w/ two losses. Coach O had all the stars align w/ Burrow & Brady being the linchpins. Had BK been able to summon his 2017 reboot for a multiple seasons, he may have won one. Instead, he’ll have to settle for beating Bama in year one (same night ND blew out Clemson) and having the Heisman Trophy winner at QB on a team that was NC level if the defense had a pulse.