Brian Kelly to LSU, per report

[Rudy89]

We still got a chance at the playoffs and you bolt…

 

[AlaskanIrish]

Regardless of what happens -- short of maybe hiring Freeman and him working some magic -- this is going to completely torpedo our '22 and '23 classes and potentially set ND back years from a talent standpoint.

What about Fickell though? Rekindle the Cincy magic with Freeman? Maybe I'm just looking for some optimism.

 

[Riddickulous]

Pipe dream scenario is we hire Fickell and Freeman stays on as DC. Will never happen but a man can dream.

 

[NDBoiler]

If Fickell is the next HC, what does Freeman do?

 

[ab2cmiller]

Allegedly getting $15mil/year at LSU. Highest paid coach in the country by far.

Then it’s likely all about the Benjamin’s. Locks in a huge contract knowing it’s his last and sails off into retirement. Any concern about his legacy must have paled in relation to his suitcases of money.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Are any of our kids talking about leaving? The site is too slow to go searching the recruiting threads.

 

[T Town Tommy]

A couple of weeks out from NSD is a big deal. It could hurt recruiting for a couple of cycles and that can come back to haunt the Irish for three to four years. Get the right hire and it stings a little less… miss on your top target and it could turn in to a long term cycle of failed coaching hires.

 

[317Irish]

Regardless of what happens -- short of maybe hiring Freeman and him working some magic -- this is going to completely torpedo our '22 and '23 classes and potentially set ND back years from a talent standpoint.

Yea, this is definitely a concern of mine right now. Feels very reactive at the moment, but idk how this won’t be damaging. Hopefully we hire someone that can keep it together.

 

[NDPhilly]

I just can't believe he would disregard his entire legacy like this. Regardless if he ever won a NC, he would have been beloved here for years for stabilizing the program.

Feel like a dumped teenage girl lmao.

 

[irishff1014]

This is going to set this program back at least 2 years. Ugh back to average football.

 

[GowerND11]

Remember at the start of COVID when LSU said they were broke and weren’t sure how they’d continue academic programs?

 

[Me2SouthBend]

Does this mean CJ Williams ain’t coming to South Bend? I’m sure he got a great visit by CBK.

 

[phork]

Urban Meyer isn't coming to ND.

 

[N_D_Fighting_Irish]

Promoting Freeman will be a disaster. Regardless who coaches next year, it will be a struggle. The powers that be need to step back and take their time searching for a coach.

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

Hope its not true, but apparently Kingsbury is a target.

 

[Ndaccountant]

I just can't believe he would disregard his entire legacy like this. Regardless if he ever won a NC, he would have been beloved here for years for stabilizing the program.

Feel like a dumped teenage girl lmao.

Ha. Props to LSU's AD, they really played BK well. BK thinks he is the best coach in the game. His ego is massive and that has always been the case. In his mind, ND is what held him back from being recognized as the best coach around. We'll see if he was right, but I just don't see it. He is a very good coach. Top 10. But not top 3 let alone #1.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Yeah but it's hard to make that hiring work when he's coaching his team into January.

SIAP but Bk literally just left ND while in the middle of coaching his team into January...

We haven't gotten the news that we aren't in and will likely get a NY6 bowl regardless. Fickell can absolutely leave if the pitch and $$$ is right.

 

[notredomer23]

Promote Freeman and let him hire the best staff ND has seen. Get Cutcliffe as an assistant HC to help mentor too. This will salvage recruiting and also mean ND doesn’t hire Matt Campbell.

 

[ohara831]

Totally blindsided. I'm ok with Fickell. Not really sure who else I'd want except maybe Joe Brady. Well respected young offensive mind.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

I'm really curious to see what assistants follow him.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Lane Train making a stop in south bend....J/K....kind of.

 

[Free Manera]

He wanted facilities upgrades and they wouldn’t do it. Whatever I’m kind of excited about it.

 

[pumpdog20]

I feel bad for a guy like Elston.

BK has now sold his soul. No time for nice guy assistants. He had better hire some damn good assistants.

Watch Elston become DC at LSU...

 

[Greenore]

Really too bad. I'm both devastated and shocked, Figured CBK would bring a Natty to South Bend and ride out into the sunset.

Appreciate all his efforts and dedication and had a lot of fun on a lot of Saturdays. I'm hopeful there won't be a serious lag but realistically?...

$15M per year? That's a lot of fine wine.

Cheers and Go Irish!!

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Irony:
1) BK leaves for LSU.
​2) Fickell distracted with contract negotiations
3) UC loses to Houston
4) ND backs into playoffs
5)Fickell coaches ND in playoffs and in his first game beats Michigan.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Pipe dream scenario is we hire Fickell and Freeman stays on as DC. Will never happen but a man can dream.

By far the best case scenario

 

[notredomer23]

Totally blindsided. I'm ok with Fickell. Not really sure who else I'd want except maybe Joe Brady. Well respected young offensive mind.

Joe Brady will be coaching in the NFL next season.

 

[NDMatt91]

Oh snap.

Get Fickell on the phone ASAP.

No thanks. Fickell is another "safe" hire that won't do much better than Kelly. Piling up wins against average teams and getting killed in the playoff. Administration needs to ditch the elitist mindset and get Urban on the phone and if he says no roll the dice on Freeman. Worst case we have an average coach who is a top-tier recruiter.

 

[GATTACA!]

This is perfect timing with USC hiring Riley and Michigan making the playoffs. What’s next? Pete out in Seattle and headed to Stanford?

 

[rtrn2glory]

Watch Elston become DC at LSU...

Stop!!!