Brian "Body Kount" Kelly (HC Louisiana State)

[Steve19]

I agree with Mardy. In fact, I am surprised it has taken this long for a senior captain to stand up and say something like this.

Some senior posters here heard that a deal had been nearly finalized three weeks ago. Something happened in the interim, probably the demands for exemptions, and the deal was not signed. So, I don't think a deal was done until the last 24 hours, even if the news of interest in another coach was rather transparent.

I understand that Kelly was on their list from the start and another senior poster had similar information.

Notre Dame is convinced that they have a great coach and their internal message to stakeholders stresses his accomplishments across his entire career. It is an impressive read. His background is in many ways similar to that of Jim Tressel, on paper.

Actually, I hope that Notre Dame begins to challenge once again for top 25 rankings because I think it will be good for football in the Midwest. I'm not too worried because I think he is going to suffer a bit his first year and Ohio State can stay ahead.

That said, I think this is good because it also ensures that Jim Tressel and the Ohio State coaching staff have added incentive to kick it up another gear.

 

[Buckeye86]

That said, I think this is good because it also ensures that Jim Tressel and the Ohio State coaching staff have added incentive to kick it up another gear.

I don't really understand what you are saying here? if our coaches need some kind of incentive to kick it up another gear then we need new coaches

 

[Oh8ch]

I can give Kelly a pass on not doing a Q&A type presser in Cincy. The media is not unbiased and it easily could have gotten ugly.

 

[jlb1705]

Why does the city deserve a heads-up? The team, I'll give you, but sometimes ESPN's aggressive reporters don't provide much opportunity.

There was already a heads-up. The very presence of a halfway decent coach at a place like UC is a heads-up.

 

[Steve19]

I don't really understand what you are saying here? if our coaches need some kind of incentive to kick it up another gear then we need new coaches

Complacency is a threat in any successful organization and Coach Tressel has said so. It's always good to have new recruiting challenges and changes. It gives you a reason to take that extra step, even on the days when you have done enough.

Clearly, you didn't get the memo about bUCkeye country. Ohio State is well behind in the Midwest. Past it, in fact. And I so love Notre Dame.

 

[Steve19]

There was already a heads-up. The very presence of a halfway decent coach at a place like UC is a heads-up.

I agree. A lot of Kelly's success derives from Dantonio recruits. Any time that a program like Cincy has a Cinderella run, as they have this year, and then faces a very different future, as they do, and then a name program has an opening--well, you'd be a fool to think the guy would stay. Ask the guy with the metal teeth.

 

[billmac91]

I don't know why you don't have a presser though....there's very little downside to it.

You get on a stage, sincerely thank the team for putting everything on the line for you, thank the university for the opportunity to coach there, talk about what a hard decesion it was, but at this point in time its the best decesion for his family.

Most coaches do it, and its the right thing to do. As someone else pointed out, the team was left fielding questions after the banquet versus Brian Kelly having some type of presser.

I don't remeber the local media bashing Dantonio when he left...sure you might field a difficult question or two, but it's not hard to give politically correct answers.

I think it was a great hire, but he dropped the ball on this one.

 

[jlb1705]

I don't remeber the local media bashing Dantonio when he left...sure you might field a difficult question or two, but it's not hard to give politically correct answers.

Very few people gave a crap about UC football when Dantonio left. And remember, the "media" in Cincinnati consists of 700 WLW.

 

[billmac91]

Very few people gave a crap about UC football when Dantonio left. And remember, the "media" in Cincinnati consists of 700 WLW.

OK. He still left the correct way, with a media briefing. Kelly had an opportunity to get the ball rolling in the right direction by giving a sincere thanks to those that helped him get to where he is currently. It was a blown opportunity, and he kind of looks like an ass. Just an unneccassary mis-step that easily could have been avoided.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

Doesn't the team or city deserve some heads up before they read it on ESPN?

Thirty years ago perhaps. In this age of the internet and twitter, one has to wonder whether Kelly even had enough time to get back to Cincy, speak with his players and arrange any kind of press briefing, particularly since it was pretty clear to all involved that, once the domers were Shaq'd by Stoops and Meyer, Kelly was their man. All the copy was written, and ESPN was just waiting for the text message from their source in South Bend.

I honestly don't see Kelly pulling a RRod in this. If anything, he was too public with his tweets about talking with ND and Cincy.

What I see is a bunch of players who bought into Kelly's three year speech about we're BCS and UC can win a national championship and the administration's bullshit Ohio's BCS Team and bUCeye country nonsense suddenly being smacked in the face with the reality of their place in the pecking order. Their response is to childishly lash out at the guy who's decision has forced them to confront that reality.

 

[jwinslow]

Thirty years ago perhaps. In this age of the internet and twitter,

Then tweet - or have the assistant do it - the news to your players as you sign the contract. Do something.

I honestly don't see Kelly pulling a RRod in this. If anything, he was too public with his tweets about talking with ND and Cincy.

Because those were self-promoting.

What I see is a bunch of players who bought into Kelly's three year speech about we're BCS and UC can win a national championship and the administration's bullshit Ohio's BCS Team and bUCeye country nonsense suddenly being smacked in the face with the reality of their place in the pecking order. Their response is to childishly lash out at the guy who's decision has forced them to confront that reality.

Yes, it's the players' fault that they listened, bought in only to realize they were building an escape pod instead of a foundation.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

Yes, it's the players' fault that they listened, bought in only to realize they were building an escape pod instead of a foundation.

I'm not saying it's their fault, and their response is somewhat expected. My point is that because of their emotions at the moment, I feel that they are unfairly trashing Kelly.

Perhaps Kelly and the UC administration shouldn't have spent the last two years convincing them they were the second coming of Notre Dame, and they wouldn't be so shocked to see him leave for the real thing.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

What I see is a bunch of players who bought into Kelly's three year speech about we're BCS and UC can win a national championship and the administration's bullshit Ohio's BCS Team and bUCeye country nonsense suddenly being smacked in the face with the reality of their place in the pecking order. Their response is to childishly lash out at the guy who's decision has forced them to confront that reality.

The real shame in that, if you ask me, is that what else was Kelly supposed to do? Come out and say "Well, we're technically in the BCS, but everyone knows there's no way possible for us to win anything. Eh... it's not quite as exciting here. We'll play.... we'll have fun. Come on and see us sometime. No biggie if you don't, though"

I mean, all this "He fucked us over" bullshit... no he didnt. He made UC fans "believe" in something. If they're smart, they'll try to keep that ball rolling. As it is, they're more likely to fall back in to also ran status. Kelly isn't a hypocrit and people shouldn't feel used. He tried to build that program.. to THEIR benefit... and he had success. Take what he gave, and move on.

As for how he moved on.. well... I could give a rats ass. He's ND's coach now, and that means he's worth less than the paper I wipe my ass with.

 

[FCollinsBuckeye]

As for how he moved on.. well... I could give a rats ass. He's ND's coach now, and that means he's worth less than the paper I wipe my ass with.

Dude, he's got to be pulling down millions per year for five years or so. Send me a roll of that TP you're using, please! Before you use it, of course. :p

 

[MaliBuckeye]

I agree. A lot of Kelly's success derives from Dantonio recruits.

Which is a win/win; because any failures that Kelly has early at ND will still be Willingham's fault.