Jack Swarbrick Press Conference Disaster

[phork]

My only hope, hanging by a mere thread, is that Jack has already planned for this. Has back channeled the coach he wants and now will wait until the weekend to reveal who it is.

 

[ACamp1900]

My only hope, hanging by a mere thread, is that Jack has already planned for this. Has back channeled the coach he wants and now will wait until the weekend to reveal who it is.

Explain why he would wait that long,...I'm missing something.

 

[phork]

Explain why he would wait that long,...I'm missing something.

Like I said, Hope. Hanging. By. A. Thread.

 

[ACamp1900]

If Jack f*<ked up the news conf. that bad and being so unprepared, it really makes you concerned on his decision process on hiring prick Kelly's replacement! DAMN!!!

I have to think he didn't F anything up,... he was working the best with what he had in that moment. So going with that I have to believe he had serious doubts about Freeman for one reason or another. Either the Admin forced his hand or he could sense the waters trending towards MF going with BK regardless.

 

[Irishbounty28]

I honestly don’t think Jack has a clue on what his next move should be. I have thought this for a while now, but I think through the recent success he has become complacent in his current position. Rather than continuing to make advancements there was a feeling that they have “made it” and the program will continue its ascension without any hiccup.

I’m not a believer that ND needs to do everything the factories do to win it all, but there needs to be some concessions. If Jack cannot accommodate some changes, this program will fall back, instead of forward.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Matt Fortuna in last night's podcast seemed as shocked as everyone else, but once he started talking about ND's failure to give BK the upgrades he's been asking for for years, it seemed the writing was on the wall all along. This is an epic failure by the shot callers at ND. This seems like BK was allowed to leave. Called his bluff and the joke is on them. If this is even remotely true (I'm still pissed at BK for leaving the way he did) but the powers that be need to be held responsible for the greatest coach since Lou Holtz walking out the door when the program was within arm's reach of achieving a goal no one thought possible for 30 years. They need to unfuck this asap.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Matt Fortuna in last night's podcast seemed as shocked as everyone else, but once he started talking about ND's failure to give BK the upgrades he's been asking for for years, it seemed the writing was on the wall all along. This is an epic failure by the shot callers at ND. This seems like BK was allowed to leave. Called his bluff and the joke is on them. If this is even remotely true (I'm still pissed at BK for leaving the way he did) but the powers that be need to be held responsible for the greatest coach since Lou Holtz walking out the door when the program was within arm's reach of achieving a goal no one thought possible for 30 years. They need to unfuck this asap.

They don't care. The admin is motivated by money and prestige (of the wine & cheese/ Ivy League variety, not the low-brow football variety). Until the alumni start hitting them where it hurts over this issue, they'll continue knee-capping the program whenever it suits their fancy.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

They don't care. The admin is motivated by money and prestige (of the wine & cheese/ Ivy League variety, not the low-brow football variety). Until the alumni start hitting them where it hurts over this issue, they'll continue knee-capping the program whenever it suits their fancy.

Didn't they just spend like half a billion dollars on the stadium renovation 4 or 5 years ago? Yet they won't update the Gug or implement any other changes he's been asking for? That seems silly.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Didn't they just spend like half a billion dollars on the stadium renovation 4 or 5 years ago? Yet they won't update the Gug or implement any other changes he's been asking for? That seems silly.

The stadium upgrade was sold to the admin as adding space used for things besides football.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Didn't they just spend like half a billion dollars on the stadium renovation 4 or 5 years ago? Yet they won't update the Gug or implement any other changes he's been asking for? That seems silly.

Right, but the Crossroads project only got the green light because it was a "multi-use" facility, and not strictly athletic. Money that only benefits the football program pisses off a lot of higher ups. Never mind that the program is the single best marketing platform the University has, and that the money is generates pays for itself and many other worthy programs at the school besides.

 

[GATTACA!]

Right, but the Crossroads project only got the green light because it was a "multi-use" facility, and not strictly athletic. Money that only benefits the football program pisses off a lot of higher ups. Never mind that the program is the single best marketing platform the University has, and that the money is generates pays for itself and many other worthy programs at the school besides.

Which is odd because reportedly one of the big things the staff wanted was expansion of the gug to house more study space for players. I forget where I heard it but apparently it was a common sight to see players being stepped over as they were trying to study laid out on the floor in the gug because there was no other free space.

That seems like a no brained for the administration.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Remind me why I cheer for a football program that will always be capped at the knees by admin....?

I get not being like the football factories. But ND doesn't have to sell its soul to at least close the gap. Cutting off your nose to spite your face is never a good move.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Remind me why I cheer for a football program that will always be capped at the knees by admin....?

I get not being like the football factories. But ND doesn't have to sell its soul to at least close the gap. Cutting off your nose to spite your face is never a good move.

I'm right there with you. Feel like a chump for caring more about the program than the people entrusted with managing it.

 

[bkess8]

If we go with LF instead of FREEMAN then I know who is making the decisions and we don’t really care about winning!

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

If we go with LF instead of FREEMAN then I know who is making the decisions and we don’t really care about winning!

See I believe the exact opposite. Freeman is an unknown as a HC. That is about as big of a gamble you can take. Fickell has history.

 

[Luckylucci]

I'm right there with you. Feel like a chump for caring more about the program than the people entrusted with managing it.

Quote this because it's so true.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

See I believe the exact opposite. Freeman is an unknown as a HC. That is about as big of a gamble you can take. Fickell has history.

Fickell is the safe pick. He's the most Kelly-like replacement available. Higher floor for sure, but lower ceiling as well. I also think we could lose him to OSU at any point just like we lost Kelly to LSU.

Freeman has a lower floor, but also a higher ceiling. All the players want him, and I think he'd be here a long time if we gave him a chance. But he's the clear choice for ND "taking the next step" and truly competing for championships. And if the BoF isn't interested in doing that, then they aren't going to gamble on him. We'll have to wait for Fickell until Cinci loses in the playoff, which means our '22 and '23 classes will fall apart, setting the program back years. It'll be like resetting back to 2011, except without the chance of regaining national relevance again.

 

[MNIrishman]

Fickell is the safe pick. He's the most Kelly-like replacement available. Higher floor for sure, but lower ceiling as well. I also think we could lose him to OSU at any point just like we lost Kelly to LSU.

Freeman has a lower floor, but also a higher ceiling. All the players want him, and I think he'd be here a long time if we gave him a chance. But he's the clear choice for ND "taking the next step" and truly competing for championships. And if the BoF isn't interested in doing that, then they aren't going to gamble on him. We'll have to wait for Fickell until Cinci loses in the playoff, which means our '22 and '23 classes will fall apart, setting the program back years. It'll be like resetting back to 2011, except without the chance of regaining national relevance again.

I don't understand---how does Fickell have a lower ceiling if he's taking Cinci to the playoff and we're worried that OSU might snipe him? I know that's not an asset, but OSU is arguably the most consistent program in history with successful coach hires. If they want a guy, it probably means the guy is good.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I don't understand---how does Fickell have a lower ceiling if he's taking Cinci to the playoff and we're worried that OSU might snipe him? I know that's not an asset, but OSU is arguably the most consistent program in history with successful coach hires. If they want a guy, it probably means the guy is good.

Lower ceiling than Freeman for ND. We need next-level recruiting to be competitive in the CFB Playoff. Freeman gets us there, but I'm not sure that Fickell does.

So I see him either failing and getting fired in 3-5 years, or replicating something like Kelly's tenure, but I don't see him winning a title here. And if he replicates Kelly's tenure, then he's a flight risk for OSU, whereas that seems like less of a risk for Freeman. Though I assume a lot of that comes down to the admin paying competitively and getting out of the program's way.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

People are afraid that Fickell could bounce for OSU in the future...

Y'all realize Freeman could do just the same if her were hired? lol

 

[ACamp1900]

If the Fickell and Freeman stuff has any merit to it, then we should hear something from Freeman in the next day or so... I guess you could say no news is good news with Freeman too... but that's my instinct. If the plan is what's being thrown about Freeman keeping things together is key and that has to happen fast.

 

[irishog77]

People are afraid that Fickell could bounce for OSU in the future...

Y'all realize Freeman could do just the same if her were hired? lol

I think the difference being that Freeman will have either won a Natty (or at least a playoff game), or be a bust. If he's won, then he's not likely to leave. If he's a bust, then he'll be gone anyway.

With Fickell, the concern is that he may only ever be a 10-11 win/verge of the playoffs type of coach.

 

[ACamp1900]

I think the difference being that Freeman will have either won a Natty (or at least a playoff game), or be a bust. If he's won, then he's not likely to leave. If he's a bust, then he'll be gone anyway.

With Fickell, the concern is that he may only ever be a 10-11 win/verge of the playoffs type of coach.

Whole
Lee
Shat

You're still alive!?!

 

[greyhammer90]

I think the difference being that Freeman will have either won a Natty (or at least a playoff game), or be a bust. If he's won, then he's not likely to leave. If he's a bust, then he'll be gone anyway.

With Fickell, the concern is that he may only ever be a 10-11 win/verge of the playoffs type of coach.

Dang we should have terrible, program-altering news more often. Irishog and Wiz both posting again warms the heart.

 

[Number3rockin]

The presser seemed very uninspired and was concerning to me. I also dont get the recent obsession w fickell. Im asking honestly, what is it? i dont get it. Cincy plays no one and played ND who played like shit! Im all on board w freeman! Young, energetic, relates to his players. Hes on staff, this shouldve been over by this evening. If we lose freeman to lsu and kelly; kelly tearing this whole thing down. OSU seems to be afraid of freeman and what he could do at Nd and recruiting. Shouldnt that be where ND wants to be. Hire freeman!

 

[wizards8507]

Dang we should have terrible, program-altering news more often. Irishog and Wiz both posting again warms the heart.

I'm pretty sure the first two threads I participated in here were "Kelly NFL Rumors" and "Lennay Kekua, A Hoax!"

So you could say I have a pretty consistent track record.

 

[ACamp1900]

The presser seemed very uninspired and was concerning to me. I also dont get the recent obsession w fickell. Im asking honestly, what is it? i dont get it. Cincy plays no one and played ND who played like shit! Im all on board w freeman! Young, energetic, relates to his players. Hes on staff, this shouldve been over by this evening. If we lose freeman to lsu and kelly; kelly tearing this whole thing down. OSU seems to be afraid of freeman and what he could do at Nd and recruiting. Shouldnt that be where ND wants to be. Hire freeman!

I'm completely ignoring the presser because all the seemingly viable options play well enough into what Swarbrick said... as we find out more or at least hear more rumors, the presser seems to make more sense to me.

 

[NDMatt91]

I think the difference being that Freeman will have either won a Natty (or at least a playoff game), or be a bust. If he's won, then he's not likely to leave. If he's a bust, then he'll be gone anyway.

With Fickell, the concern is that he may only ever be a 10-11 win/verge of the playoffs type of coach.

Yep, BK 2.0 at the best case. 10-11 wins against average teams and get blown out in big games. I'll gladly take the young DC that is a top-tier recruiter. Perhaps he'll be the next big coach in the country.

 

[Number3rockin]

Ill take it acamp bc after the presser, i was like “what the hell was that?!?”

 

[irishog77]

Whole
Lee
Shat

You're still alive!?!

I got your Christmas card in the mail last week, dude- drop the charade!