Who do you want to replace Brian Kelly?

[TP81989]

Bryan Harsin would be a good choice who many don't seem to talk about.

He may be comfortable at Boise because he's from there, but I would make a strong run at him.

 

[Wild Bill]

he has a smugness much like weis and is an absolute PR nightmare....ever watch a presser w/ him?

He's not everyone's flavor, that's for sure. I watch his pressers and they make me laugh. He wins too. Washington State was one of the worst power five programs when he took over and they are more than respectable now.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

He's not everyone's flavor, that's for sure. I watch his pressers and they make me laugh. He wins too. Washington State was one of the worst power five programs when he took over and they are more than respectable now.

I don't mean to belittle Leach who is a solid coach but that sure sounds a lot like the selling points of Ty Willingham in his time at Stanford.

 

[Irishize]

He has done nothing more on the sidelines than any other coach in college football. If that and students cheating which he had "0" control over is the best you can do as a reporter time to go find a new job!!!!

I agree, the sideline antics is the most overblown thing in coaching. It's to the point that EVERY opposing HC has blown a gasket this season and the only reason I noticed was b/c it occurred to me that Kelly would get murdered for that.

Same goes with the academic scandal. When you're a ND coach you know to let the school handle academics while you recite the company line. I thought he did a good job of that in a no-win situation.

That said, he's never winning a championship at ND and I don't see next year being the cure to all that ails him. His poor coaching, more than anything, cost this team a lot of wins despite having one of the easiest schedules in America.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Yet:

1) His defenses have sucked every year
2) He is in the best state in America for recruits where recruits grow up bleeding burnt orange so naturally, TX gets great recruit classes always
3) He doesnt win with these great recruit classes
4) Doesnt develop these great recruit classes -i.e. doesnt win

I get it the guy has great character. That is a big deal. But I have failed to see where Strong has proven to be even an average coach at a big time school.

edit: Panda beat me to it.

Seriously though, see Florida tenure.

 

[Irishize]

Bryan Harsin would be a good choice who many don't seem to talk about.

He may be comfortable at Boise because he's from there, but I would make a strong run at him.

I believe Oregon will make a run at him among others. Arkansas State has become the new Cradle of Coaches recently: Gus Malzahn, Hugh Freeze, Bryan Harsin and now Blake Anderson.

Anderson is rumored to be a candidate for UNC should Fedora leave.

 

[Irishize]

Would you pick up the phone and call Mike Leach?

Nope but I'd call his DC Alex Grinch to gauge his interest as DC

 

[Irishize]

I doubt Strong would be thrilled about taking direction from a less experienced coach. Could be wrong.

I like the idea of Fleck but I question his ability to assemble an elite staff and his ability to hit the road and recruit blue chips. The head coach is the most important piece and I think Fleck may have "it" but the staff he's able to surround himself with is important too.

Disagree on the recruiting...he's a hardcore on the trail. SI did a feature in him as they followed him on the recruiting trail. He's at Wstern Michigan yet I believe he's recruited the highest rank ever at a MAC school.

 

[ScooterIrish]

Yet:

1) His defenses have sucked every year
2) He is in the best state in America for recruits where recruits grow up bleeding burnt orange so naturally, TX gets great recruit classes always
3) He doesnt win with these great recruit classes
4) Doesnt develop these great recruit classes -i.e. doesnt win

I get it the guy has great character. That is a big deal. But I have failed to see where Strong has proven to be even an average coach at a big time school.

Look, Charlie Strong hasn't done great at Texas. But let's not act like Texas was in a great position. Mack Brown struggled at the end and Texas fell off in talent (6 players drafted in the last 3 drafts...combined). Ignoring the transition year, he's had two top 10 classes, so the talent should be turning around.

His staff has been in turnover since the first year (3 OC's, few remaining guys from his initial staff 2 years ago) and missing the boat with his offensive strategy has really hurt his teams. And his defenses haven't performed at UT, I don't know why that would be the case.

 

[Irishize]

Mac?

Is there a reason why no one talks about Paul Chryst for us? Didnt exactly kill it at Pitt, but has Wisconsin in a very good place these days, despite the challenges of working there for Barry Alvarez, comfortable in the Midwest, etc. Pair him with a good DC, and why not?

Chryst is a native of Wisconsin and a Wisky alum...it's basically his dream job and he's never struck me as someone on the road to the big time, solid coach, great OC but he inherited a damn good defense that incl Aranda as his DC for year one. Pass.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Wasn't the defense actually pretty good his first year too? Then they've played tons of young guys.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Beau, you an old, white Catholic dude yet?

I can't tell you how sick I am of the condescending "old white guy" label. If I never hear it again, it will be too soon.

But joking aside, the group includes Urban, Saban, Stoops, Harbaugh, and even Butch Jones--so that should give you a little perspective.

In fact, there has been a good very run for practicing Christians in general in college football. When you throw in Mack Brown, Jimbo Fisher, Gene Chizik, and Les Miles, all NC have been led by a guy who is outspoken about his faith since 2005. It's almost as if the best recruits are comfortable with, and motivated by, that kind of stuff!

You's have to the Poodle to find a hip, liberal agnostic who won the trophy.

 

[Wild Bill]

Disagree on the recruiting...he's a hardcore on the trail. SI did a feature in him as they followed him on the recruiting trail. He's at Wstern Michigan yet I believe he's recruited the highest rank ever at a MAC school.

I should have been more clear. I'm not questioning his work ethic or willingness to recruit hard. I'm questioning whether he'd be effective against heavy hitters like Urban, Harbaugh, etc, who he will have to compete with to sign blue chip players. Those guys will have a clear name recognition advantage, systems in place and they work hard too.

 

[Wingman Ray]

you said DC...there are plenty of great dc's that just are not great head coaches

take a look at his defensive stats of florida during his time there as DC

2002-2009

Strong became one of the most respected defensive minds in college football while coaching the Gator defense into one of the top in the country as Florida won two national championships. During his tenure in Gainesville, Strong coached 13 All-Americans.

I understand he was good at Florida but just have to wonder why so bad at TX.

Typically a defensive minded HC has great defenses. See Saban. His teams are defense first, offense second because he is a defense mastermind.

If Strong was the same, Tx would have been great defensively because he would have had his hand on the defense wheel when he saw his DC wasnt getting it done.

 

[Wild Bill]

I don't mean to belittle Leach who is a solid coach but that sure sounds a lot like the selling points of Ty Willingham in his time at Stanford.

True. The one distinguishing factor between the two is that Leach is obsessed with football and Willingham is obsessed with golf.

 

[North Buffalo Irish]

Chip Kelly would be amazing. He is wasting his time in San Francisco.

 

[dublinirish]

Chip Kelly would be amazing. He is wasting his time in San Francisco.

lol the fullbacks/run the ball under center crowd would love that

 

[irishff1014]

Chip Kelly would be amazing. He is wasting his time in San Francisco.

And some of you blasted BK for this academic thing he had no control over could you imagine CK and the potential recruiting violations.

 

[Wild Bill]

lol the fullbacks/run the ball under center crowd would love that

His record at Oregon was 46-7 overall, 33-3 in the Pac and 2-2 in bowl games. Would likely have a ring if not for a once in a decade talent playing at Auburn. He could install the run and shoot and I'd roll out a red carpet for him.

 

[NDohio]

I am also part of the not Charlie Strong club. I think he will be great again, but I think he needs to step away from a job that is as high pressure as TX or ND for at least a year. His time at Texas has been terrible. Those players are not playing hard for him right now and that's a huge concern to me. Something isn't right.

He will get it straightened out and get back on track, I'm just not sure he needs to be at a ND right away.

 

[koonja]

If you find your guy, it's absolutely worth paying him 12 million+ a year. Not only the money he brings in, but once you factor in the cost of the buy outs if you get the wrong guy (BK's is probably like 25 mil), you're paying 12 million anyways.

Michigan and Bama have it right giving their guys ~ 10 mill a year.

 

[BobbyMac]

I should have been more clear. I'm not questioning his work ethic or willingness to recruit hard. I'm questioning whether he'd be effective against heavy hitters like Urban, Harbaugh, etc, who he will have to compete with to sign blue chip players. Those guys will have a clear name recognition advantage, systems in place and they work hard too.

This is the million dollar question. Can he... and more importantly, the assistants he'd assemble be able to go toe to toe with the heavies? Besides from O Line coach Bill Kenney who was a longtime assistant under Paterno. Their D Line coach is Jimmy Williams who was an AA at Nebraska and had a nice career in the NFL with the Lions back in the 80's. He hasn't had a P5 job though so that part of his resume has to be questioned AND did time at Grand Valley St. (strike two)

Another thing Fleck has to overcome is his region of effectiveness in recruiting. He's from Illinois and has had success in Michigan. ND already is at the top of the ladder in northern Illinois when they want somebody and Chicagoland isn't as important to ND as it used to be... the players just aren't as good anymore. In Michigan, he's had to concentrate on very low 3 star kids that UM and MSU don't recruit. He has 25 commits in this year's class, 11 from Michigan. Not one of his Michigan commits were recruited by UM or MSU. His 25 commits got a total of 7 P5 offers... only 3 were B1G offers, all 3 to Illinois who has to bottom feed and has handed out an astounding 359 offers, most in P5. So geographically, his strong points are areas that won't help ND that much.

All that said, if he would hire a DC like Jimmy Lake from Washington and fill his staff with current and P5 guys with Florida/GA, westcoast, VA/NC and Ohio/PA/NJ experience, I'd hire him yesterday.

 

[koonja]

What are the odds Fertitto is like "yo yo, here's 30 million. Get it right this time".

 

[dublinirish]

This is the million dollar question. Can he... and more importantly, the assistants he'd assemble be able to go toe to toe with the heavies? Besides from O Line coach Bill Kenney who was a longtime assistant under Paterno. Their D Line coach is Jimmy Williams who was an AA at Nebraska and had a nice career in the NFL with the Lions back in the 80's. He hasn't had a P5 job though so that part of his resume has to be questioned AND did time at Grand Valley St. (strike two)

Another thing Fleck has to overcome is his region of effectiveness in recruiting. He's from Illinois and has had success in Michigan. ND already is at the top of the ladder in northern Illinois when they want somebody and Chicagoland isn't as important to ND as it used to be... the players just aren't as good anymore. In Michigan, he's had to concentrate on very low 3 star kids that UM and MSU don't recruit. He has 25 commits in this year's class, 11 from Michigan. Not one of his Michigan commits were recruited by UM or MSU. His 25 commits got a total of 7 P5 offers... only 3 were B1G offers, all 3 to Illinois who has to bottom feed and has handed out an astounding 359 offers, most in P5. So geographically, his strong points are areas that won't help ND that much.

All that said, if he would hire a DC like Jimmy Lake from Washington and fill his staff with current and P5 guys with Florida/GA, westcoast, VA/NC and Ohio/PA/NJ experience, I'd hire him yesterday.

Has to be said Michigan HS ball is on a bit of a crest of a wave right now recruit wise, this has helped Fleck alot.

 

[BobbyMac]

Has to be said Michigan HS ball is on a bit of a crest of a wave right now recruit wise, this has helped Fleck alot.

Although it definitely is a banner year in Michigan where there are maybe 16 players who are possible ND material (7 of which got offers), it hasn't helped Fleck and WMU.

His highest rated player committed is CB AJ Thomas who's #26 on 247's Composite and WMU is his only offer. The only other player they've offered above that is #23, WR Jacorey Sullivan who has 6 offers - all MAC and a .84xx rating.

Va Tech, Arizona, Iowa St, Syracuse, even Eastern and Central Michigan have all beat WMU for higher rated talent. That's a lot of bottom feeders minus Va Tech.

This is further proof that the questions regarding Fleck being the recruiter ND needs, are indeed real.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Although it definitely is a banner year in Michigan where there are maybe 16 players who are possible ND material (7 of which got offers), it hasn't helped Fleck and WMU.

His highest rated player committed is CB AJ Thomas who's #26 on 247's Composite and WMU is his only offer. The only other player they've offered above that is #23, WR Jacorey Sullivan who has 6 offers - all MAC and a .84xx rating.

Va Tech, Arizona, Iowa St, Syracuse, even Eastern and Central Michigan have all beat WMU for higher rated talent. That's a lot of bottom feeders minus Va Tech.

This is further proof that the questions regarding Fleck being the recruiter ND needs, are indeed real.

Is this apples to applies? I would definitely rather go to Va Tech, Arizona, or Syracuse, over WMU. Not sure about Iowa State.

How does WMU compare with EM and CM as schools?

 

[Irishize]

One sticking point with Mullen is that he's got a son in South Bend who is the product of an affair he had when he was a GA at ND. The boy's mom complains that Mullen doesn't see him often enough but Mullen also has a family of his own. Mrs. Mullen may not be too keen on reuniting his the boy. Messy.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

And some of you blasted BK for this academic thing he had no control over could you imagine CK and the potential recruiting violations.

CK would at least be embroiled in violations that produce big wins, not rinky dink scandals that wouldn't even be fit for a storyline in a "Babysitter's Club" book.

 

[ScooterIrish]

One sticking point with Mullen is that he's got a son in South Bend who is the product of an affair he had when he was a GA at ND. The boy's mom complains that Mullen doesn't see him often enough but Mullen also has a family of his own. Mrs. Mullen may not be too keen on reuniting his the boy. Messy.

Wait. I thought Mullen got married when he was working at Utah. Is this common knowledge? What's your source for this affair?

 

[Calabrese's People]

Wait. I thought Mullen got married when he was working at Utah. Is this common knowledge? What's your source for this affair?

If i May step in here, please see below:
Megan Mullen, Dan’s Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com
According to the above link Mullen and his wife began dating while he was a coach at Bowling Green, which was 2001-2002 (as per his Wikipedia, below) and got married in 2005.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Mullen

But this September 2007 in the Orlando Sentinel identifies his other son being 4 years old, therefore he would have have been conceived in 2002-2003. Hence the claim of affair (although not extra-marital).

UF's Mullen lives football - tribunedigital-orlandosentinel

The couple got married July 4, 2005, and now run a drop-in center for Florida's four scholarship quarterbacks. There are Marco Polo games in the pool, hot oatmeal raisin cookies in the kitchen, and all the signs of a family. Heck, last year's Mullen family Christmas card featured Dan, Megan, Leak and Tebow.

But Mullen's blood family consists of one son, 4-year-old Rowan Mullen, who lives with his mother in Indiana. Dan Mullen said Rowan visits Gainesville about five times per year, and the two have a healthy relationship -- Rowan joined Dan on the sidelines at last year's Orange and Blue Game, and Dan just received photos from Rowan's first soccer game.

"

South Bend may be a little too close to home, as Mullen doesnt really acknowledge Rowan in any other interview or publication since this article. But thats just pure speculation.