Chad Bowden to USC

[CrystalHead]

I think this is a good take. In retrospect, it was probably a miscalculation to give him the large pay bump and title bump to retain him. And USC may be making an even greater miscalculation. I’m not sure what on his resume suggests that he can be an ace personnel with tons of unchecked responsibility.

Ever since he flirted with Michigan you really haven't heard recruits praising Bowden like he was previously. Also heard Freeman was getting frustrated with his lack of closing on recruits. Also hearing Lake Dawson and Amir Carlisle being considered for GM. This is coming from someone who has some insider info. Not sure how reliable it is yet. Just passing it along

 

[Crazy Balki]

Considering we haven’t lost any starters to the portal and we locked down Devonta Smith, Malachi Fields, Jared Dawson, and Jalen Stroman without them even publicly entering the portal, I have a hard time believing our NIL is in bad shape for existing payers and transfers.

I get being annoyed with admissions + us not ponying up for big time high schoolers. I personally think paying Bryce underwood $13M is fucking insane, but if all our peers are doing it, then we need to adjust.

IIRC, ND was willing to match the NIL offers that Deuce was getting. It was reported that Deuce didn't flip because ND wasn't willing to throw cash at him.

 

[Dale]

ND had to stave off A&M before signing day for Love and Oregon this winter

 

[IrishWayDomer]

ND had to stave off A&M before signing day for Love and Oregon this winter

It was said at the time and again a couple weeks ago on one of the podcast, A&M and Oregon had way better offers but Love chose ND.

Which is great in that case. But how many Loves haven't we landed because we can't be on equal footing. The 2024 team was special but we need to seriously up the talent if we want more than a one time taste of the playoff pie.

 

[Dale]

It was said at the time and again a couple weeks ago on one of the podcast, A&M and Oregon had way better offers but Love chose ND.

Which is great in that case. But how many Loves haven't we landed because we can't be on equal footing. The 2024 team was special but we need to seriously up the talent if we want more than a one time taste of the playoff pie.

Doesn’t mean he didn’t get a hefty bump. They apparently raised his NIL mid season. OSU likely isn’t matching Oregon or Miami for Smith and Tate. But I’m sure they got raises. Saying the highest number constantly will never be what ND does. That doesn’t equate to uncompetitive NIL.

 

[IrishWayDomer]

Doesn’t mean he didn’t get a hefty bump. They apparently raised his NIL mid season. OSU likely isn’t matching Oregon or Miami for Smith and Tate. But I’m sure they got raises. Saying the highest number constantly will never be what ND does. That doesn’t equate to uncompetitive NIL.

Others may disagree but I trust John Brice and he recently said our NIL was half of the other 3 in the final 4. You don't have to be top dollar but that's not going to cut it.

 

[NotKoon]

It was said at the time and again a couple weeks ago on one of the podcast, A&M and Oregon had way better offers but Love chose ND.

Which is great in that case. But how many Loves haven't we landed because we can't be on equal footing. The 2024 team was special but we need to seriously up the talent if we want more than a one time taste of the playoff pie.

In the same vein though didn’t the podcasts also report that ND had the highest NIL offer to Meadows but he want the SEC?

 

[Hautian Domer]

It was said at the time and again a couple weeks ago on one of the podcast, A&M and Oregon had way better offers but Love chose ND.

Which is great in that case. But how many Loves haven't we landed because we can't be on equal footing. The 2024 team was special but we need to seriously up the talent if we want more than a one time taste of the playoff pie.

This. We had a ton of injuries, but others including Ohio St had notable injuries too. There was a notable talent gap between ND and Ohio St. You can’t deny it. We had to play our A+ game and had to have them play a very poor game to level the playing field.

We’ve got to get better talent all over because there’s always going to be an Ohio St, Georgia, Texas, Michigan, USC, Tennessee ... whomever pushing all their chips in one season to load their roster and buy a championship

 

[stlnd01]

Personal opinion:
Something about him was off. That interview he did with Freeman was awkward as hell. I know Freeman has known him a while, but there was an strange power struggle there, and I got the feeling this dude resented the role he was in knowing Freeman was the lead.

He's basically been with Freeman his whole career since he started as a student intern in Cincinnati's football program. I'm sure at some point a guy wants to go carve his own path. Shitty he's doing to do it at USC of all places, but whatever.

 

[Hautian Domer]

He's basically been with Freeman his whole career since he started as a student intern in Cincinnati's football program. I'm sure at some point a guy wants to go carve his own path. Shitty he's doing to do it at USC of all places, but whatever.

According to Blue Gold Illustrated, head making approximately $250-$300k at Notre Dame. Can’t fault him for taking USC’s $1 million. We’d all do the same

 

[FDNYIrish1]

Hasn’t turned out so great for the last guy who walked out the door bitching about resources and facilities and commitment. Both guys had enough success here that other programs were willing to throw piles of cash at them for what they accomplished at ND. Personally I think it’s all bullshit and I’d respect guys more if they just admitted they left for more money. I hate the parting shots out the door while ND remains silent.

 

[GrangerIrish24]

I think this is a good take. In retrospect, it was probably a miscalculation to give him the large pay bump and title bump to retain him. And USC may be making an even greater miscalculation. I’m not sure what on his resume suggests that he can be an ace personnel with tons of unchecked responsibility.

He needs boundaries. Give him checks and balances and he will thrive. Autonomy will not end well here.

 

[INLaw]

only thing i know is LAX of IE is a professional. He told me they were reaching out to get a professional yo fix the IE problem. And her le we are back. I want to thank LAX and the owners of this site very earnestly for all they do.

 

[GATTACA!]

This. We had a ton of injuries, but others including Ohio St had notable injuries too. There was a notable talent gap between ND and Ohio St. You can’t deny it. We had to play our A+ game and had to have them play a very poor game to level the playing field.

We’ve got to get better talent all over because there’s always going to be an Ohio St, Georgia, Texas, Michigan, USC, Tennessee ... whomever pushing all their chips in one season to load their roster and buy a championship

This was also a bad QB year. We can neutralize the talent gap when our opponents are starting Drew Allar level QBs. If this is a more typical year and one of the top schools has a Burrow or a Lawrence I’m not so confident.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

This. We had a ton of injuries, but others including Ohio St had notable injuries too. There was a notable talent gap between ND and Ohio St. You can’t deny it. We had to play our A+ game and had to have them play a very poor game to level the playing field.

We’ve got to get better talent all over because there’s always going to be an Ohio St, Georgia, Texas, Michigan, USC, Tennessee ... whomever pushing all their chips in one season to load their roster and buy a championship

To be fair Oregon has an infinity money button and while they were very successfully this year they still got clobbered in the playoffs this year. OSU had a top 2 payroll but also the best pair of coordinators in the country.

We obviously have to be in the game money wise to be competitive, but CFB isn't just a money game and a lot of these teams are going to get burned on some of these contracts, particularly for paying HS students.

 

[greyhammer90]

No inside info whatsoever, but last year we heard that Michigan wanted him and there was a huge flurry of activity on our side to approve additional funds to keep him. This year when USC came calling it was over in 30 minutes. That could be because ND is cheap, but I think the total lack of effort on our end to keep him at that price is telling.

 

[TheProspector]

It was said at the time and again a couple weeks ago on one of the podcast, A&M and Oregon had way better offers but Love chose ND.

Which is great in that case. But how many Loves haven't we landed because we can't be on equal footing. The 2024 team was special but we need to seriously up the talent if we want more than a one time taste of the playoff pie.

I don’t know our NIL budget other than that Brice thinks it’s much lower while the plugged in II posters have disagreed.

Given the Price’s, Love’s, Sneed’s, etc. didn’t bolt to the portal, Occam’s razor would suggest that we’re compensating these guys just fine. If we had starters being poached, then I’d be more inclined to believe Brice’s reporting. That’s not happening so far.

 

[Terry Jillery]

If he was paid triple like some are saying we need to get with it. Not that we needed to keep this guy in particular but we just got paid an astounding amount of money winning in the playoffs. Get someone better.

 

[NDpendent]

First flirting with scum and then USC, two biggest rivals. F this guy, we deserve better.b

 

[thekid33]

If he was paid triple like some are saying we need to get with it. Not that we needed to keep this guy in particular but we just got paid an astounding amount of money winning in the playoffs. Get someone better.

I think the going rate at the top programs is in the 700K plus range.

Let's get someone better and pay market value.

 

[NDpendent]

If he was paid triple like some are saying we need to get with it. Not that we needed to keep this guy in particular but we just got paid an astounding amount of money winning in the playoffs. Get someone better.

We literally just had two of the highest paid coordinators in college football. We don't need to get with it. You simply don't pay a guy that kind of money who's claim to fame is having cool greetings for when recruits get on campus. Especially as he gets older it starts going from cool to cringy really fast

 

[Terry Jillery]

We literally just had two of the highest paid coordinators in college football. We don't need to get with it. You simply don't pay a guy that kind of money who's claim to fame is having cool greetings for when recruits get on campus. Especially as he gets older it starts going from cool to cringy really fast

Good point!

 

[arrowryan]

Bowden played this game last year with Michigan. So he has clearly been looking for a reason to leave. I honestly haven’t been too impressed with him over the past two cycles.

Someone on the II board, who is obviously very connected and probably more connected than anyone, said there’s a good chance Notre Dame will upgrade here.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

I remember when everyone was pissed we didn’t overpay for the Ludwig buyout. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. I’m sure there is a plan after his flirtation with Michigan last year.

 

[ThePiombino]

Freeman has proven a willingness and ability to upgrade vacancies at every opportunity, sans Parker. And I believe that can be written off based on really unfortunate timing. I believe he will absolutely upgrade the GM position as well.

EDIT: will also add that I firmly believe that if Notre Dame believed Bowden was worth $1 million a year, they would have matched the offer. He is not worth $1 million dollars a year, so here we are.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Bowden played this game last year with Michigan. So he has clearly been looking for a reason to leave. I honestly haven’t been too impressed with him over the past two cycles.

Someone on the II board, who is obviously very connected and probably more connected than anyone, said there’s a good chance Notre Dame will upgrade here.

I mean Bowden didn’t close in guys last cycle is that his fault or our own for not paying highschool kids? How good could are recruiting classes be if we start paying HS kids some money.

 

[NDRock]

I wouldn’t say that, I would say we should pay attention to the next couple years and see what kind of recruits ND is landing. Because IMO there is no doubt that someone like Freeman would be CRUSHING recruiting in a non-NIL era and if we aren’t the only rationale would be that we are getting out financed or there is some other obstacle. The fundraising numbers we know suggest ND has plenty of cash on hand to be competitive, but we’ll see.

I actually think this is the perfect time for a guy like Freeman to be crushing it. In the past, ND wasn't going to get into the bag game with the SEC schools, so you were always going to lose players to that. Now, everything is legal and Notre Dame has plenty of money. No excuses anymore for not landing top guys.

 

[Huntr]

It'd be hilarious if ND hired someone better and paid them a mill per.

Like, "Sure, we'll overpay. But not to that guy."

Giant middle finger to ND haters everywhere.

 

[ThePiombino]

Great. So Kelly was right in terms of ND’s lack of resources …

I think Freeman has proven in three short years that Kelly wasn't correct about a lot of things...

 

[arrowryan]

USC paying Bowden $1M is like the Giants drafting Daniel Jones in the top 10.

So if Bowden doesn’t want to work directly under Lincoln Riley, who will be held accountable when their roster sucks?