I know it's not the most popular opinion, but I am definitely on this train. There are several reasons, but the one you are stating here is a big one.
If Jack came down and instructed BK to make this decision, I am really curious how BK responds to that. He seems like the kind of guy that wouldn't take that well and it may be the beginning of a tumultuous relationship between Jack and BK.
Gonna be a long and interesting season...
I would bet damned near my bottom dollar, especially after the Post-Duke press conference, that Brian Kelly is on the same kind of probation that Charlie Weis was for the 2009 season.
That sort of show me the results kind of performance oriented management initiative.
I further believe that Brian Kelly will have to the end of the season to right the ship, full well knowing that discrete inquiries are currently being made.
Here is why this should be the case, whether it is or not :
Start with tight-end talent; You let a franchise talent become ineligible? Beyond the player's obvious responsibility, whose job is that? And is that the first good example of entitlement rearing its ugly head with this team?
ND has acquired some of the best assistant talent in the business, and have stocked the cupboards with administrative staff, non coaching assistants, scientists, etc., to provide a better more competitive team, but what do the results show?
ND has indicated that they are 100% pleased, and other than a few 'longshots' have inked every recruit they were after, including continually better (ratings) classes, with more young players being able to contribute earlier.
Joe Schmidt started last year. There is no excuse for that one fact. Any coach worth a shit should have gone on strike, before letting that happen. And that was the beginning, so after five humiliating wins Brian Kelly is going to let underclassmen have a shot at starting over those entrenched on the two deep?
So does that mean that the coach favorites played before?
Brian VanGorder and Keith Gilmore came to the point of blows on the sideline (at I believe the Nevada game.) During the MSU game, or just after there was a tremendous blow up between two or more of the coaches, which was really quieted down quickly. It caused ND to do less than a stellar job with the recruitment of a number of prospects that weekend. This is unacceptable.
I am a football idiot when it comes to the backend of defenses. Even I saw that everyone since Clemson last year would work their receiver patterns to draw down safety help over the top so a corner would be caught one on with a receiver that could go deep, or across the middle with no help. Play action cannot kill a brilliant defense so easily, and not have anyone that can do something about it, recognize it before almost a season of games transpires.
The head coach calls players out individually in a postgame press conference, with that all or nothing, (defeated kneejerk mentality.) Would you want to play for a guy like Saturday's Kelly?
The list goes on, but I am tired of compiling it. This is more than enough. Any competent senior manager would not put up with this for a minute and would have a performance plan smoking off the press and in place.
