Silly Season 2015/2016 (Coaching Changes)

[BobbyMac]

Has Okorafor even declared for the draft? Because I don't see that anywhere and he's a Junior. But let's say he does, you fail to mention that they are returning the other four offensive lineman, their ENTIRE defense outside of Keion.

I also think Terrel was a product of the offense and the fact that he had Davis. I am willing to bet dollars to donuts that Joe Flacco's little brother Tom (who played pretty well in mop up duty) will do pretty well there.

Your doom and gloom image is so far from the truth. If Fleck stayed, he loses only a couple players (albeit, one great player) and added a ton of talent.

Moton's the senior. Okorafor still has a year and i don't think he's going or at least I haven't heard anything.

I'm not doom and gloom. I just see Toledo winning the West next year with or without Fleck. And it wouldn't be crazy to think he could start off the season 0-3 if he stays in Kalamazoo. He had a guaranteed window to $3.5M and took it. Nothing's guaranteed if he stays at Western.

In other news.

I just trademarked... Land of 10,000 Boats. Suck it Fleck.

 

[NDohio]

Thank goodness this is happening. I was hoping that PJ would get more of a test than WM and the MAC before we decided on whether he is the right guy to replace BK someday.

I am not sold on him being a good fit for ND, having some more experience at a bigger school should be a good indicator on whether he is a good fit or not.

 

[woolybug25]

Moton's the senior. Okorafor still has a year and i don't think he's going or at least I haven't heard anything.

I'm not doom and gloom. I just see Toledo winning the West next year with or without Fleck. And it wouldn't be crazy to think he could start off the season 0-3 if he stays in Kalamazoo. He had a guaranteed window to $3.5M and took it. Nothing's guaranteed if he stays at Western.

In other news.

I just trademarked... Land of 10,000 Boats. Suck it Fleck.

Why? Why do you think Toledo, who lost to a WMU team returning 90%+ of their starters and beat them by three TD's this year, will win the west? What rationale are you using that cannot be better attributed to WMU other than head coach? Certainly not returning starters. Toledo is losing 12 starters, including four of their offensive lineman.

Hey, you may be right. But saying a 9-4 Toledo team is going to be better than a 13-1 WMU team that beat them by 3 TD's simply because they lost their coach and a couple starters seems like a complete guess.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

so much for all that conspiracy of him being the coach next year and staff moves being made accordingly.

Nobody I know actually said that PJ was it. I believe he was first choice, and why wouldn't he still be?

But there were always other names that drew speculation. One or two of which I would actually prefer to be the next Irish head coach.

With all the information I heard, of which everything to date has panned out, Kelly will be moving after next season, by the following for sure. The information was that Kelly wants out as badly as anyone else wants him replaced.

Obviously, there is going to be a list of preferred coaching prospects, but I don't know how you do the deal, and keep it secret for a year, while everything plays out.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Bogs, I wanna know your preferred guys. Not names you hear, but the guys you would want. If you don't mind sharing, that is

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Why? Why do you think Toledo, who lost to a WMU team returning 90%+ of their starters and beat them by three TD's this year, will win the west? What rationale are you using that cannot be better attributed to WMU other than head coach? Certainly not returning starters. Toledo is losing 12 starters, including four of their offensive lineman.

Hey, you may be right. But saying a 9-4 Toledo team is going to be better than a 13-1 WMU team that beat them by 3 TD's simply because they lost their coach and a couple starters seems like a complete guess.

Because when Campbell took off he threw the program at Toledo into entire disarray. It was so fucked up, when the players reacted to the shit-show that Campbell and the board had done, they threatened not to play, unless the board hired Candle.

Candle had already moved to be on Campbell's staff, in Aimes. Though Jason had been on the Rocket staff since 2009, almost the entire staff had to be replaced, and with all the brouhaha and moving back and forth, he got an extremely late start to everything.

With that all he still hit 9-4, beat BG for like the sixth consecutive time, broke Campbell's NI jinx, and fielded one of the best defenses in recent UT history. It will be better next year.

I really have a good idea of what is going on in the program because I know one of the db coaches (Corey Robinson) pretty well, and they are loaded for bear for next year, already. Corey, (I know - not the same guy) has an interesting history, so I almost hate to mention him, a couple of stops ago he was at IMG Academy, so if you don't think he doesn't know some peps, and what is what, forget about it!

Candle needs five years, (I believe he is like 34, so in five years he would be like Fleck's age, he will eclipse anyone recently out of the MAC. There I said it; I could be wrong, but I doubt by much.

And finally Candle is 34, and Robinson isn't even 30 yet! This staff is really sharp and still developing. I think in years to come, they are really going to sneak up on some teams. They have 100% player buy in. They even have kids attending classes (more regularly than in recent years.

Interesting how they are bringing in kids from places like St. Iggy's that measure just below blue chip, but have the work-ethic, and character in spades, not every recruit, but enough to influence the team as a whole. Just sayin'.

 

[woolybug25]

Because when Campbell took off he threw the program at Toledo into entire disarray. It was so fucked up, when the players reacted to the shit-show that Campbell and the board had done, they threatened not to play, unless the board hired Candle.

Candle had already moved to be on Campbell's staff, in Aimes. Though Jason had been on the Rocket staff since 2009, almost the entire staff had to be replaced, and with all the brouhaha and moving back and forth, he got an extremely late start to everything.

With that all he still hit 9-4, beat BG for like the sixth consecutive time, broke Campbell's NI jinx, and fielded one of the best defenses in recent UT history. It will be better next year.

I really have a good idea of what is going on in the program because I know one of the db coaches (Corey Robinson) pretty well, and they are loaded for bear for next year, already. Corey, (I know - not the same guy) has an interesting history, so I almost hate to mention him, a couple of stops ago he was at IMG Academy, so if you don't think he doesn't know some peps, and what is what, forget about it!

Candle needs five years, (I believe he is like 34, so in five years he would be like Fleck's age, he will eclipse anyone recently out of the MAC. There I said it; I could be wrong, but I doubt by much.

And finally Candle is 34, and Robinson isn't even 30 yet! This staff is really sharp and still developing. I think in years to come, they are really going to sneak up on some teams. They have 100% player buy in. They even have kids attending classes (more regularly than in recent years.

Interesting how they are bringing in kids from places like St. Iggy's that measure just below blue chip, but have the work-ethic, and character in spades, not every recruit, but enough to influence the team as a whole. Just sayin'.

Like I said, the only reason someone can give for them thinking they will win the west is that they like their staff. The facts remain:
- They lose a ridiculous amount of talent, including some of their best
- They lost by three TD's to WMU, who returns 90%+ of their starters

PJ Fleck is 36, btw. I'm sure Candle is a good coach, but he isn't on Fleck's level.

 

[dublinirish]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Lead candidate emerging for open WR coaching gig at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash">#NotreDame</a>. Interview set for today. The latest: <a href="https://t.co/4OBnfaIkSQ">https://t.co/4OBnfaIkSQ</a> (VIP) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Irish247?src=hash">#Irish247</a> <a href="https://t.co/xU2z52mgMB">pic.twitter.com/xU2z52mgMB</a></p>— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomLoy247/status/817412979801133056">January 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Bogs, I wanna know your preferred guys. Not names you hear, but the guys you would want. If you don't mind sharing, that is

Well, my list wouldn't include Chip Kelly, as the ND would find him a no-go because of his baggage, see 18 month show cause for paying unethical sources from illegally secured funds.

It wouldn't include Jim Harbaugh (I just don't like him), Urban Meyer (ditto, plus he is more of a sleaze than Chip Kelly AND he totally fucked UND over just prior to UND scrambling to get Charlie Weis,) and I don't think for as long as Nick Saban will continue to coach it would be worth it.

I met Nick a couple of times when he was at Toledo, and it was apparent that he was 'the Coach.' But a couple of things nobody understands about Nick Saban : He can really ruffle some feathers, so a school has to be desperate like UT, MSU, LSU, and Bama all were when they hired him, or he just won't work out well; Nick goes to Mass every day, at least he did while he was at UT, and I believe he did at MSU as well, and Nick was a player at Kent State in 1970, he was on campus and present when those students were shot dead and wounded, and with his busy schedule he has been back every year since. What will that be? Forty-seven years this May? He is 100% confident, 200% loyal, knows he is right, has his own agenda, and knows God is on his side. Oh, yeah, and he believes football is the most important thing in the universe.

I just don't see there being any peace between the faculty and Football operations at ND if Saban is coach. None.

The rest of the list is easy. And it is very short; look for college coaches that have excelled, love their players, and have an unwavering sense of integrity. Or look for a professional coach that has done it all, but may be tired of the pro game, and still wants to coach. He would have to have some real strong character attributes including integrity as well.

A prospective future ND coach selected from the college ranks would probably be a young up and comer from a smaller D1 school wouldn't you think?

I mention it this way because in my opinion, ND's last three great coaches came from the MAC, Minnesota, and the Green Bay Packers, righ?

 

[zelezo vlk]

Well, my list wouldn't include Chip Kelly, as the ND would find him a no-go because of his baggage, see 18 month show cause for paying unethical sources from illegally secured funds.

It wouldn't include Jim Harbaugh (I just don't like him), Urban Meyer (ditto, plus he is more of a sleaze than Chip Kelly AND he totally fucked UND over just prior to UND scrambling to get Charlie Weis,) and I don't think for as long as Nick Saban will continue to coach it would be worth it.

I met Nick a couple of times when he was at Toledo, and it was apparent that he was 'the Coach.' But a couple of things nobody understands about Nick Saban : He can really ruffle some feathers, so a school has to be desperate like UT, MSU, LSU, and Bama all were when they hired him, or he just won't work out well; Nick goes to Mass every day, at least he did while he was at UT, and I believe he did at MSU as well, and Nick was a player at Kent State in 1970, he was on campus and present when those students were shot dead and wounded, and with his busy schedule he has been back every year since. What will that be? Forty-seven years this May? He is 100% confident, 200% loyal, knows he is right, has his own agenda, and knows God is on his side. Oh, yeah, and he believes football is the most important thing in the universe.

I just don't see there being any peace between the faculty and Football operations at ND if Saban is coach. None.

The rest of the list is easy. And it is very short; look for college coaches that have excelled, love their players, and have an unwavering sense of integrity. Or look for a professional coach that has done it all, but may be tired of the pro game, and still wants to coach. He would have to have some real strong character attributes including integrity as well.

A prospective future ND coach selected from the college ranks would probably be a young up and comer from a smaller D1 school wouldn't you think?

I mention it this way because in my opinion, ND's last three great coaches came from the MAC, Minnesota, and the Green Bay Packers, righ?

Sounds about right, reps! Well put!

Edit: Apparently I can't rep you, I'll have to get you next time!

 

[STLDomer]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Lead candidate emerging for open WR coaching gig at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash">#NotreDame</a>. Interview set for today. The latest: <a href="https://t.co/4OBnfaIkSQ">https://t.co/4OBnfaIkSQ</a> (VIP) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Irish247?src=hash">#Irish247</a> <a href="https://t.co/xU2z52mgMB">pic.twitter.com/xU2z52mgMB</a></p>— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomLoy247/status/817412979801133056">January 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Judging by the picture, Delvaughn Alexander, ASU WR Coach?

 

[woolybug25]

Well, my list wouldn't include Chip Kelly, as the ND would find him a no-go because of his baggage, see 18 month show cause for paying unethical sources from illegally secured funds.

It wouldn't include Jim Harbaugh (I just don't like him), Urban Meyer (ditto, plus he is more of a sleaze than Chip Kelly AND he totally fucked UND over just prior to UND scrambling to get Charlie Weis,) and I don't think for as long as Nick Saban will continue to coach it would be worth it.

I met Nick a couple of times when he was at Toledo, and it was apparent that he was 'the Coach.' But a couple of things nobody understands about Nick Saban : He can really ruffle some feathers, so a school has to be desperate like UT, MSU, LSU, and Bama all were when they hired him, or he just won't work out well; Nick goes to Mass every day, at least he did while he was at UT, and I believe he did at MSU as well, and Nick was a player at Kent State in 1970, he was on campus and present when those students were shot dead and wounded, and with his busy schedule he has been back every year since. What will that be? Forty-seven years this May? He is 100% confident, 200% loyal, knows he is right, has his own agenda, and knows God is on his side. Oh, yeah, and he believes football is the most important thing in the universe.

I just don't see there being any peace between the faculty and Football operations at ND if Saban is coach. None.

The rest of the list is easy. And it is very short; look for college coaches that have excelled, love their players, and have an unwavering sense of integrity. Or look for a professional coach that has done it all, but may be tired of the pro game, and still wants to coach. He would have to have some real strong character attributes including integrity as well.

A prospective future ND coach selected from the college ranks would probably be a young up and comer from a smaller D1 school wouldn't you think?

I mention it this way because in my opinion, ND's last three great coaches came from the MAC, Minnesota, and the Green Bay Packers, righ?

1) Totally agree with Chip. A complete mismatch for our program culturally.
2) Man, how you explained Saban sure sounds like a good match. Ha
3) Re Saban: I think you hit the nail on the head with the "desperate" note. Where I think I may differ is whether or not we've reached that point. I believe we have, and if we want to continue to have our football program drive our popularity, which in turn allows the school to achieve its mission, then at some point we have to start wining on a high level again. Giving Saban level control to a "can't miss" coach may be a necessity.

 

[Classic Irish]

Judging by the picture, Delvaughn Alexander, ASU WR Coach?

Yep, and former WR at southern cal.

 

[NDohio]

1) Totally agree with Chip. A complete mismatch for our program culturally.
2) Man, how you explained Saban sure sounds like a good match. Ha
3) Re Saban: I think you hit the nail on the head with the "desperate" note. Where I think I may differ is whether or not we've reached that point. I believe we have, and if we want to continue to have our football program drive our popularity, which in turn allows the school to achieve its mission, then at some point we have to start wining on a high level again. Giving Saban level control to a "can't miss" coach may be a necessity.

I agree. I think this is why many of the "who's hot now" coaching names always seem to underwhelm me. I believe ND is at that point that it's either bring in the very high profile, can't miss coach that achieves a title or bring in the newer version of BK and get us all excited yet ND will only get close to a Nati without winning one.

 

[irishff1014]

Fleck going to Minnesota is like trading in your 2014 ford F150 for a 2008 Ford F150.

 

[BobbyMac]

Why? Why do you think Toledo, who lost to a WMU team returning 90%+ of their starters and beat them by three TD's this year, will win the west? What rationale are you using that cannot be better attributed to WMU other than head coach? Certainly not returning starters. Toledo is losing 12 starters, including four of their offensive lineman.

Hey, you may be right. But saying a 9-4 Toledo team is going to be better than a 13-1 WMU team that beat them by 3 TD's simply because they lost their coach and a couple starters seems like a complete guess.

Because in the MAC, games are won by the standout coaches and players that the P5's missed or developed into P5 quality players. It's a league full of .7700 - .8300 Comp players. The guys who dominate are the ones who play at B1G levels, while half the players are GLVC quality.

Without Fleck, Terrell, Davis & Moton, I predict they will fall below Toledo. The Rockets return their coach, QB, a RB who's rushed for over 2000 yds and get the only impact freshman in the entire league's recruiting class coming in. Those are my reasons. I may not end up being right but, those are my reasons.

 

[BobbyMac]

Fleck going to Minnesota is like trading in your 2014 ford F150 for a 2008 Ford F150 w/ $15M cash in the bed. .

FIFY

 

[Blaise]

FIFY

This ^^^^^

 

[IrishLax]

Step 1. Sanford wins 11+ games at WKU.
Step 2. ND whiffs on Bill O'Brien and John Harbaugh, and then decides they don't really like Narduzzi and some other candidates interested P5 candidates that much.
Step 3. Mike Sanford Jr. is the coach of Notre Dame in 2017.

It could happen.

 

[IrishLion]

Step 1. Sanford wins 11+ games at WKU.
Step 2. ND whiffs on Bill O'Brien and John Harbaugh, and then decides they don't really like Narduzzi and some other candidates interested P5 candidates that much.
Step 3. Mike Sanford Jr. is the coach of Notre Dame in 2017.

It could happen.

I was literally describing this scenario to someone earlier today.

Let's say Harbaugh makes the playoffs next year and gets extended by the Ravens, and the Texans find an answer at QB for Bill O'Brien. That takes them off the table.

Narduzzi struggles at Pitt next year without his coordinators, Dantonio expresses interest in retiring at MSU (effectively shutting down any chance there), and no other coaches jump up from the fray (kind of like this year).

BOOM. You're taking a chance on Sanford, as long as he wins 10/11+ and wins the CUSA.

 

[Blaise]

I was literally describing this scenario to someone earlier today.

Let's say Harbaugh makes the playoffs next year and gets extended by the Ravens, and the Texans find an answer at QB for Bill O'Brien. That takes them off the table.

Narduzzi struggles at Pitt next year without his coordinators, Dantonio expresses interest in retiring at MSU (effectively shutting down any chance there), and no other coaches jump up from the fray (kind of like this year).

BOOM. You're taking a chance on Sanford, as long as he wins 10/11+ and wins the CUSA.

I know I have prob said this before, but I don't want any part of Dantonio.. I would rather have Sanford off an average year... He's Kelly but worse when it comes to protecting his boys.. He doesn't adapt

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

I know I have prob said this before, but I don't want any part of Dantonio.. I would rather have Sanford off an average year... He's Kelly but worse when it comes to protecting his boys.. He doesn't adapt

I am also unconvinced that Narduzzi would be highly sought-after by ND. His team has made their mark on O and just lost their coordinator.

O'Brien and John Harbaugh are probably unrealistic.

So, yeah, I think it's actually a pretty decent chance Sanford gets his shot if he has a very successful season at WKU.

 

[dang227]

I was literally describing this scenario to someone earlier today.



Let's say Harbaugh makes the playoffs next year and gets extended by the Ravens, and the Texans find an answer at QB for Bill O'Brien. That takes them off the table.



Narduzzi struggles at Pitt next year without his coordinators, Dantonio expresses interest in retiring at MSU (effectively shutting down any chance there), and no other coaches jump up from the fray (kind of like this year).



BOOM. You're taking a chance on Sanford, as long as he wins 10/11+ and wins the CUSA.

Narduzzi has always hated ND. No way he comes here. Plus I think he is wildly overrated. His defense at Pitt, which he is very hands on with, has stunk for his two years. ND can do better.

 

[greyhammer90]

Step 1. Sanford wins 11+ games at WKU.
Step 2. ND whiffs on Bill O'Brien and John Harbaugh, and then decides they don't really like Narduzzi and some other candidates interested P5 candidates that much.
Step 3. Mike Sanford Jr. is the coach of Notre Dame in 2017.

It could happen.

How much money do you think it would take to get John Harbaugh? Like 7-8 mil a year? I would actually drive to South Bend and wait outside his office for ten hours to kiss Swarbricks feet.

 

[woolybug25]

How much money do you think it would take to get John Harbaugh? Like 7-8 mil a year? I would actually drive to South Bend and wait outside his office for ten hours to kiss Swarbricks feet.

I would hold your hair back for you.

 

[PerthDomer]

South Bend should be an easy sell for Harbaugh. It's close to all his relatives (Crean at IU, John at UM), the Catholic thing, and ND is a high paying job. If he wants an NFL job and is fired he could probably get one, but maybe John could sell him on the college lifestyle. ND seems like it'll give whatever is needed to get assistants and can pay him. What's 1 or 2 more measly million dollars a year?

 

[BobbyMac]

I've never felt one way or the other about Fleck being the HC at ND but after this interview, I can't see him in SB.

"I only know how to be me and Minnesota will allow me to be me."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So, just how did <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_Fleck">@Coach_Fleck</a> end up at Minnesota?<br><br>He told <a href="https://twitter.com/BTNMikeHall">@BTNMikeHall</a> how. Allow him to tell you too. &#55357;&#56391; <a href="https://t.co/z9V7hQ8HoJ">https://t.co/z9V7hQ8HoJ</a></p>— Minnesota on BTN (@MinnesotaOnBTN) <a href="https://twitter.com/MinnesotaOnBTN/status/817490748488577024">January 6, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[GATTACA!]

I've never felt one way or the other about Fleck being the HC at ND but after this interview, I can't see him in SB.

"I only know how to be me and Minnesota will allow me to be me."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So, just how did <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_Fleck">@Coach_Fleck</a> end up at Minnesota?<br><br>He told <a href="https://twitter.com/BTNMikeHall">@BTNMikeHall</a> how. Allow him to tell you too. �� <a href="https://t.co/z9V7hQ8HoJ">https://t.co/z9V7hQ8HoJ</a></p>— Minnesota on BTN (@MinnesotaOnBTN) <a href="https://twitter.com/MinnesotaOnBTN/status/817490748488577024">January 6, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Really? I think he's exactly what we need.

 

[NDbrbkny]

IS his #RTB message going with him to MSP?

 

[pkt77242]

I think Fleck had a lot of bargaining power. Minnesota is not a desirable place to be. Especially not after they just fired their coach for something not related to football really.

Why "especially not after they fired their coach for something not related to football"? They went 9-4 last year with an average coach. Their recruiting which stinks, is something that Fleck can upgrade. They are not a complete rebuild like Rutgers, Illinois, Purdue, etc. and they are on the easier side of the conference. Overall I think it is a pretty good move for him.