Tony Alford

[TheChosen1]

Urban gave him promotion to assistant head coach. That's why he left. Well, one of the reasons. You can't expect someone with aspirations to sit still in a job where he's being paid less and not given the upward mobility he desires.

And now ND and TA can spin it as he left for a promotion when we all know he left for a pay raise.

 

[dkuhn12]

Wish autry denson just didn't get hired by south Florida.


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[BeauBenken]

Seriously though, I get people rationalizing, but the optics of this are terrible. I'll be very surprised if this upcoming recruiting class measures up to the last three given how hard it's going to get recruiting in our backyard coupled with the loss of longstanding relationships in Florida and Texas. People saying Alford "only recruited Florida" as if that somehow mitigates the loss of the most universally loves and respected coach on the staff... who also organized all recruiting efforts.

I agree. Definitely hurts. And recruiting will be interesting to watch. Coaches will have to be much more tenacious in those areas. This is why you have to try to hire guys who already have strong bases in those particular areas, Florida and Texas.

 

[Cali_domer]

I'm not sure I agree with NDOhio's 10 out of 10 figures, but let's talk about why Quinn would be a good hire.

He has over 20 years of coordinating experience. He has head coaching experience. He has worked closely with Kelly for about 20 years. He is credited with helping coordinate Kelly's most successful offenses. He has a strong Midwest base which would be good for recruiting the area, allowing us to send other recruiters elsewhere.

It would be a more than solid hire.

But what experience does he have with Big -time recruits? Besides being a failed coach at an also ran what does he have to sell compared to Michigan and OSU? ND education I understand but what else? This is not a big name hire, this is Kelly is comfortable with hire.

 

[Classic Irish]

Wish autry denson just didn't get hired by south Florida.


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Didn't stop us from taking Lyght from Vanderbilt. He was only at Vandy for a matter of weeks.

 

[Cali_domer]

And now ND and TA can spin it as he left for a promotion when we all know he left for a pay raise.

I don't believe he left for a pay raise, I believe he has a better opportunity at OSU and took it.

 

[IrishLax]

And now ND and TA can spin it as he left for a promotion when we all know he left for a pay raise.

I actually think he cares more about the upward mobility and not getting pigeon holed than the pay increase. But yeah, title increase and pay increase are in practice usually the same thing.

 

[CanadalovesND]

Assistant coaches are meant to leave. Just as coaches are meant to get hired and fired. It's part of the game. Alford, great human being, pretty good recruiting, and a solid position coach. If he feels like he can up his career by going to Ohio State, he should go. The results speak for themselves. Since Meyer has been there, they've lost what, like 3 games? He also probably felt he accomplished all he could at ND.

The beat goes on. ND will bring in somebody else who'll recruit good and be a good coach. It's the cycle of college football.

 

[irishknight35]

Innitial reaction is obviously negative cause it's a huge blow to the immediate recruiting effort of '16 to lose the guy who coordinates the staff's efforts but thus far the staff replacements have been benefitial:

Quinn over LaFluer

Lyght over Cooks

but who could be a possible improvement over Alford?

And just as importantly who takes command of the staff's recruiting coordination?

 

[TheChosen1]

Per Sampson alford was balling his eyes it when he had to tell folston and Bryant.

 

[BeauBenken]

But what experience does he have with Big -time recruits? Besides being a failed coach at an also ran what does he have to sell compared to Michigan and OSU? ND education I understand but what else? This is not a big name hire, this is Kelly is comfortable with hire.

What's so wrong with being comfortable? Like I said, one of his greatest assets is that Kelly and him have worked VERY well together in years past.

What did Cooks or Alford have to sell personally? It's about getting kids to love the school, not the coach.

 

[Irishman77]

After the way our team played at usc this year i was hoping they all got canned. Ii welcome these changes with a ����

Alford seemed more of a friend than a coach

 

[yankeehater]

The commentary about Urbie is cracking me up. Wasn't it just a few years ago everyone was praying he would be the next coach at ND? If that would have happened, this board would be overlooking his "questionable" behavior. One thing you we have to admit is he wins wherever he goes including today.

As far as Tony is concerned, lateral move or not put yourself in his shoes. Imagine if you were working hard for your employer and doing what most say was a great job, yet continually get passed over for a promotion. Would you not start wondering whether the grass is greener and there is more opportunity elsewhere. I think we all saw this coming. Plus the average shelf life of a coach at his current place is approx. 3 years so we had him way longer than that and should be grateful.

I also had to laugh at the credible reporter when listing possible candidates for the OSU position said Alford had no ties to Meyer. NICE RESEARCH BUDDY!

 

[CanadalovesND]

Per Sampson alford was balling his eyes it when he had to tell folston and Bryant.

Alford has always cared about the kids he brought in. I'm not surprised by this.

 

[Cali_domer]

What's so wrong with being comfortable? Like I said, one of his greatest assets is that Kelly and him have worked VERY well together in years past.

What did Cooks or Alford have to sell personally? It's about getting kids to love the school, not the coach.

I like comfortable shoes, but to be challenged sometimes I have to step out and try something that I'm not so comfy with. It helps me grow.

 

[IrishLax]

Wouldn't be shocked if the end game is, in addition to the Quinn add, Brady Hoke does join the staff as DL/AHC/recruiting coordinator.

 

[irishff1014]

SMH that's all that can be said.

I certainly don't hope Alford tried to sell education there.if he does that I will lose respect for him.

 

[Cali_domer]

Wouldn't be shocked if the end game is, in addition to the Quinn add, Brady Hoke does join the staff as DL/AHC/recruiting coordinator.

I'm in with that, at least he recruited at a big time program..

 

[BeauBenken]

I like comfortable shoes, but to be challenged sometimes I have to step out and try something that I'm not so comfy with. It helps me grow.

Well excuse me while I race to the finish line in my Nikes, and you get tripped up in your Crocs.

Sorry, I had to continue your shoe metaphor.

 

[NDohio]

But what experience does he have with Big -time recruits? Besides being a failed coach at an also ran what does he have to sell compared to Michigan and OSU? ND education I understand but what else? This is not a big name hire, this is Kelly is comfortable with hire.

I am looking at it a little differently.

JQ is an upgrade(big IMO) over TA and a downgrade in recruiting.

Whomever BK hires as the next RB coach needs to be a high quality recruiter.

I am looking at it as TA/ML vs JQ/?

 

[MNIrishman]

But what experience does he have with Big -time recruits? Besides being a failed coach at an also ran what does he have to sell compared to Michigan and OSU? ND education I understand but what else? This is not a big name hire, this is Kelly is comfortable with hire.

What difference does experience with 'big time recruits' make? Recruiting is all about selling what you have. Quinn has never had anything meaningful to sell and it sounds like he's still sold it all well.

I'm not sure I understand what's wrong with 'only' having Notre Dame to sell as a recruit. I'm also not sure what's wrong with Kelly hiring people he trusts to do a good job and works with well.

 

[Henges24]

We all knew this day was coming.

It just sucks it had to be to OSU.

 

[BeauBenken]

Wouldn't be shocked if the end game is, in addition to the Quinn add, Brady Hoke does join the staff as DL/AHC/recruiting coordinator.

That was my thinking.

 

[Cali_domer]

I am looking at it a little differently.

JQ is an upgrade(big IMO) over TA and a downgrade in recruiting.

Whomever BK hires as the next RB coach needs to be a high quality recruiter.

I am looking at it as TA/ML vs JQ/?

It will be interesting to see who he gets..

 

[pumpdog20]

Wish autry denson just didn't get hired by south Florida.


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This is a cutthroat business. If Denson is the man they want, then they take him. Who cares what others feelings are, or how this looks to outsiders. Take what you want, when you want, how you want. Same goes for Denson, ND, Alford, whoever. Do what you got to do, and let those with hurt feelings have them.

It's time to play hardball.

 

[Cali_domer]

What difference does experience with 'big time recruits' make? Recruiting is all about selling what you have. Quinn has never had anything meaningful to sell and it sounds like he's still sold it all well.

I'm not sure I understand what's wrong with 'only' having Notre Dame to sell as a recruit. I'm also not sure what's wrong with Kelly hiring people he trusts to do a good job and works with well.

It would help to have hey we have a coordinator that has done XYZ instead of just xy(lower-case on purpose).

 

[MNIrishman]

It would help to have hey we have a coordinator that has done XYZ instead of just xy(lower-case on purpose).

You mean like the guy that coordinated an undefeated regular season for lowly Cinci?

 

[TheChosen1]

Basically if Ohio state calls you listen. No matter coach or recruit.

 

[MNIrishman]

Idk about you guys, but if we MUST lose coaches like Alford, I'm pretty happy with the idea of Quinn and Hoke joining the staff.

 

[stlnd01]

It's a loss, no doubt. But probably more on the recruiting and player management side than anything else. Alford seems like a good man and leader who connects well with his players, and - while we haven't pulled big from Florida the last two cycles - there are more players on the roster from Florida than anyplace except Indiana and Illinois (per a recruiting thread earlier this week). Given the competition/cultural differences/distance, that seems like a pretty good accomplishment for our lead Florida recruiter.

That said, he never came off as a great technical coach. I mean, maybe there's a reason it took a year and a half for Folston and Bryant to see the field regularly and why GAIII never lived up to his talent? I've no inside knowledge, but if that's the case maybe there's a reason Kelly never made him OC? Either way, I'd be very surprised if it's really about money.

It sucks to lose our lead recruiters in both Florida and Texas in the same year. But assistants come and go and we'll go find new ones. It'll be OK. Mostly I'm just not looking forward to watching us try and recruit against the guy.