One of the main reasons that Texas is expected to part ways with Charlie Strong, in addition to his historical losing record and poor coaching in Austin, is because there is a hot candidate up the road that someone else might snap up if the Longhorns don’t act fast.
We, of course, know that is Tom Herman, the head coach of Houston.
But what about Notre Dame? Brian Kelly has obviously won much more than Strong. But between his sideline antics, his refusal to take responsibility for his own coaching mistakes, penchant for throwing his players under the bus and now the academic scandal under his watch that is leading to vacated wins, the Irish might think long and hard about that big buyout, because there is a Midwestern version of Herman who could get snapped up.
I’m talking, of course, about Western Michigan head coach P.J. Fleck, who is a young ball of energy and an injection of enthusiasm sorely needed in South Bend. What Fleck has done at WMU has been nothing short of astonishing - his offensive mindset and work with quarterbacks has been amazing, and he’s from Illinois and knows the area very well.
Having had a cup of coffee in the NFL as a player and coach, working under Jim Tressel, Jerry Kill and Greg Schiano, and being known as a tireless recruiter, he is well-rounded as a candidate despite his youth. Notre Dame might want to take a chance on a potential rising star.
Perhaps the job would be over his head. Perhaps Fleck would struggle with the academic restrictions and politics at Notre Dame.
Or, just maybe, Fleck would be the next Urban Meyer and change the game. It’s a huge risk, but the way the Irish are headed now with a 4-7 record and a likely loss coming this weekend at USC, why not?
This thought came into my head back after the losses to N.C. State and Stanford when Kelly stubbornly aired it out in a monsoon only to bench his star quarterback the next week in a key situation against Stanford. It once again popped into my noggin after the Navy loss.
Now, with the academic scandal for which Kelly has been quoted saying he has “zero” culpability, as reported by the South Bend Tribune, even though it happened on his watch, my fingers forced me to begin typing.
Kelly has gone to a national title game and a New Year’s Six bowl, but he is also 37-26 and counting in the five other seasons. Perhaps Notre Dame feels it can avoid the massive buyout and get a much bigger-name coach if things go sour with Kelly next season, but the Irish might regret passing on Fleck if he’s gone.
