Luke Fickell

[woolybug25]

What if we could get a package deal with Fickell and Vrabel? from the way way outside looking in it apears they're buddies. Fickell as a Co DC and Vrabel as a pure linebacker coach? Im down.

I was thinking about that and immedietely thought, "we don't have room".

But then it occurred to me... How does Saban have like 6,892 coaches on his staff? Why couldn't we add another coach?

Also, does anyone know anything about what BK was able to do as far as increased pay for his assistants with the new contract? I remember him saying that this was part of the deal.

 

[Hammer Of The Gods]

To expand on this Fickell Situation and for fun lets say Vrabel too, I think its way different to bring in coaches than it is to say be a "left over" for a new staff. I don't think anyone on staff would be too butt hurt if he came in as a "CO" DC. Coaches come and go and obviously they'd have to understand what they (current coaches) bring and dont bring to the table. The More I think about it, the more this potential hire excites me. Urban and Fickel disention? what better way for fickel to Stick it to Urban than steal a couple ohio big timers and breathe some life into our defense.

 

[Pachuco]

I hope we start hearing other names soon in order to entertain our options.

I can admit my bias:

I'm blinded by my strong dislike for anything Ohio State and Tressel related...

 

[Buster Bluth]

I was thinking about that and immedietely thought, "we don't have room".

But then it occurred to me... How does Saban have like 6,892 coaches on his staff? Why couldn't we add another coach?

I thought the NCAA mandates the maximum number of coaches, and I can only assume that Notre Dame was at that point. So yeah, two coaching pickups, one on offense and one on defense. No chance at Vrabel...I would think.

From everything I've read, Vrabel and Fickell are very good position coaches; I hope this isn't for DC or even co-DC positions.

 

[Buster Bluth]

I hope we start hearing other names soon in order to entertain our options.

I can admit my bias:

I'm blinded by my strong dislike for anything Ohio State and Tressel related...

And yet so many wanted a former head coach of SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA to come to Notre Dame.

 

[rtrn2glory]

would be interesting to say the least

fickel's a 4-3 guy so to bring him in means we'd shift to the 4-3, which wouldn't be a bad thing, but i don't see us bringing in a guy who has done things different than the other 4-5 guys on the defensive staff for the past few years.

i think he'd be a position coach should he decide to come. would be sweet interesting if we had two spots available if he would bring vrabel along

 

[micks60]

I like this hire alot. It would be a smooth transition in philosophy, principals and keys imo. I am a big Fickel fan. Think he is a great coach and recruiter. He is unfairly getting a bad rap during this transition.

 

[micks60]

would be interesting to say the least

fickel's a 4-3 guy so to bring him in means we'd shift to the 4-3, which wouldn't be a bad thing, but i don't see us bringing in a guy who has done things different than the other 4-5 guys on the defensive staff for the past few years.

i think he'd be a position coach should he decide to come. would be sweet interesting if we had two spots available if he would bring vrabel along

No Vrabel btw. Great player. Not hearing the same about his coaching.

 

[Grahambo]

Haven't we already gone down this road with BK and his ability to hire coaches?

 

[NDPhilly]

Most people ought Heistand was a pretty shitty hire originally...

 

[rtrn2glory]

No Vrabel btw. Great player. Not hearing the same about his coaching.

i've heard conflicting reports, but that tends to happen a lot in ohio in regards to the buckeyes

 

[CraigKrenzel]

Most people ought Heistand was a pretty shitty hire originally...

I think that hire shifted the burden to us in the cheap seats to demonstrate pretty clearly why any hire would be bad. Kelly's earned it with his coaching staff decisions so far, no?

Uh, back to law exam studying.

 

[PANDFAN]

Fickell is a "players coach" and he can recruit....he has in roads in ohio...he is passionate and i think it would be a great hire as a position coach...has experience as a special teams coach..was assistant coach of the year
Ohio State has had some outstanding defenses during Fickell's time with the team. In 2005 the unit was fifth in the NCAA in total defense and first in rushing defense. In 2006 it was 12th in total defense. In 2007 the Buckeyes were first nationally in total defense, in addition to being first in scoring and pass defense. The team was 14th in total defense in 2008 and, in 2009 and 2010, the Buckeyes were fifth and fourth, respectively, in total defense.

wife sounds like a bitch...pic for reference

 

[TheTurningPoint]

Im not opposed to Fickell. He is a guy that would get ND and do things the right way. I think that a changing of a culture would be beneficial to him. He has just too much baggage at OSU to succeed, and most of it isnt justified. The man stepped up to the plate in a shitty situation when Tressel left. A lack of talent, and the uphill battle of being a first time coach would have failed many in his situation.

Osu with Heacock and Fickell ran a defense very similiar to what ND runs but with a Michigan St twist. They played the field well and forced everything sideline to sideline and were GREAT in space. It was a 4-3 but much like NDs they had a hybrid on the edge. Will that make a huge diff in strategy? No.

The osu defenses he coached for Tressel were great defense. No one could run the ball on them. Right now, osu doesnt have great talent on defense. Shazier is a good. But their other LBs are probably worse than NDs and dont have the ceiling of NDs. NDs dline is by far better. Safeties....probably even. Ours dont get burnt deep consistently, and osus tackle better. CBs....about even. Roby isnt that good, but ours arent exactly playmakers.

We the 2014 class has a lot of kids that will be apart of a great defense in 2-3 years. If Fickell is the DC, or co DC, or position coach, I honestly wouldnt mind. Is he the best for DC by himself? Probably not, but Kelly has a pretty damn good track record of knowing if someone can get the job done or not.

 

[ACamp1900]

I would shoot clue goo if we hire Fickell, play tOSU in a bowl next year and our defense just completely shuts them down...

Oh yes.

 

[aubeirish]

If we are going to judge the guy off of two seasons with Urban, then are we going to give him credit for the other 6 years where he coached an excellent defense and won Assistant Coach of The Year (2010)?

Seems only fair...

The mob is fickell, brother. He'll be forgotten in a month. -Gladiator

Hehe.

 

[Irish#1]

If Tressel wasnt to slimy for Fickell than shit, UM must be like Satan because I always thought Tressel was a dbag.

Tressel was a choir boy compared to UM.

It's crazy because he's making $600k+ at Ohio State. You have to think he knows he's on his way out or something for these discussions to even be happening. There is no way that ND would consider paying that much for an assistant coach even if they were a world beater.

In the world of coaching, coaches don't always get a raise when switching jobs.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

It's all a smoke screen, BK was just talking to Fickell to see how much it would take to get Tressel.

 

[TheChosen1]

It's all a smoke screen, BK was just talking to Fickell to see how much it would take to get Tressel.

Five year show-cause until 2016.

 

[loomis41973]

Would be a good hire.

Hope we can get him (and his wife).

 

[Me2SouthBend]

Who is this Sam Hubbard Athlete that he recruited? What is his relationship w Solomon Thomas who is scheduled to OV to pOSU in January.

 

[irishff1014]

My only question is What has happened to his defenses?

Before Urban they were pretty good.

Since they haven't been that good at all.

 

[Irish8248]

if hes hired as a position coach then its only going to be a spring board to something bigger as he would be able to say look things changed, it wasnt all me

if hes hired as a CO-DC then again it will be a way to say things werent all his fault at OSU and that he is a reputable DC with HC experience, that would immediately put him in the discussion for a HC job somewhere, and probably much bigger than FAU

Both hires are temporary and were left back at square one in a year or two. I dont see how a lateral move from OSU to ND, or more so a demotion, is anything but temporary. The only permanency position would be full time DC, and even that would be for how many years? At some point, in the near future, a smaller school is going to call for a HC position that fits his family's needs and will draw him away.

-- based on the assumption, he succeeds in year 1, if he doesnt succeed then this is a mute point and turns into why even hire him then? Recruiting? Recruiting and winning for the most part go hand-in-hand

 

[PANDFAN]

My only question is What has happened to his defenses?

Before Urban they were pretty good.

Since they haven't been that good at all.

look at what happens when there is complete disconnect between coaches...tenuata/brown---players get lost on who to follow and creates issues beyond x's and o's

 

[Emcee77]

look at what happens when there is complete disconnect between coaches...tenuata/brown---players get lost on who to follow and creates issues beyond x's and o's

EXACTLY. If there is anything I learned from the Weis years, it's that it's all about the coaches being on the same page.

 

[RallySonsOfND]

If we are going to judge the guy off of two seasons with Urban, then are we going to give him credit for the other 6 years where he coached an excellent defense and won Assistant Coach of The Year (2010)?

Seems only fair...

This is the internet. "Fair" goes out the window.

 

[irishff1014]

look at what happens when there is complete disconnect between coaches...tenuata/brown---players get lost on who to follow and creates issues beyond x's and o's

Good point

 

[clashmore_mike]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Folks have been asking me about some rumors. I asked some guys. Nothing to Norvell leaving ASU. Not happening. Fickell is not going to ND</p>— FootballScoop Staff (@footballscoop) <a href="https://twitter.com/footballscoop/statuses/413125750879817728">December 18, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[phork]

It's all a smoke screen, BK was just talking to Fickell to see how much it would take to get Tressel.

Maybe its not Tressel but we are finally getting Urb!

 

[TheTurningPoint]

Ill agree with the football scoop guys for now. I was just told less than a 0% chance it happens sooo take it for what ya want