LSU making serious push for Brian Kelly
Pro: his purple face will match their color scheme.
Con: hell, I can't really think of one. Presumably Fickell would then jump to ND.
November 29th, 2021 at 9:03 PM ^
Absolutely this. Kelly anywhere but a mid-major or ND is essentially James Franklin.
I'm not saying and never would say he's bad but he is not a guy you poach for the money being talked about. That's comical and LSU is absolutely in panic-mode if that's who they threw that cash at.
Even if we want to claim that ND is holding him back, he became an above-average CEO HC 6 years ago. The guy had to be placed on meds because he couldn't keep his shit together against RR-led Michigan, ffs. He's going to have trouble in The SEC without AMAZING hires across the board. If he doesn't build an A+ staff he's cooked.
November 29th, 2021 at 5:54 PM ^
I hope he stays at ND. I enjoy it more when their coach actually looks like a leprechaun.
November 29th, 2021 at 5:54 PM ^
This one doesn't sound right. He's an older coach. His path to the CFP is easier at ND (especially when playoffs expand). And nothing about him says he's a cultural fit for the LSU swamp. Credit his agent.
Then again, this year is insane.
November 29th, 2021 at 5:57 PM ^
I could see Brian Kelly leaving for LSU, and ND picking up Matt Campbell. Matt has stated that he is only interested in leaving for OSU or ND. He grew up in Ohio and is only willing to leave a good spot for a premiere move. I get that. Despite the beatdown last weekend, Day isn't going anywhere and the spot in ND only comes around once in a while.
November 29th, 2021 at 6:06 PM ^
Isn't Fickell in the same boat? I would think ND would go after him before Campbell. But two good options for sure.
November 29th, 2021 at 10:29 PM ^
Would ND be willing to wait until after the playoffs for Fickell? With most recruits signing in December, their recruiting class could take a big hit. They'll probably be rooting for Houston on Saturday.
November 29th, 2021 at 6:11 PM ^
The guy has one of the best jobs in America. You don’t leave ND to take another college gig.
November 29th, 2021 at 6:34 PM ^
"Matt has stated that he is only interested in leaving for OSU or ND."
I wouldn't be surprised, but ... source?
November 29th, 2021 at 5:58 PM ^
He better be ready for hurricanes.
Hopefully he's learned a thing or two about high winds.
November 29th, 2021 at 5:58 PM ^
These 2 moves would be EPIC, as both fanbases - ND & Cincy would be crying up a storm!!!
November 29th, 2021 at 6:02 PM ^
Hypothetical situation if BK leaves Notre Dame for LSU.
* I think ND would target Luke Fickell or Matt Campbell. I think Fickell will stay in Cinci while Campbell takes the ND job.
* This would leave the Iowa State job open. I'd suspect Iowa State would target Jason Candle from Toledo to keep the Mt. Union culture intact.
* Now the Toledo job would be open, which in my opinion could go anywhere from Toledo trying to poach an up and coming assistant coach from the Big Ten or hiring their DC Vince Kehres (former Mt. Union head coach and son of legendary Mt. Union coach Larry Kehres) as head coach.
I'm leaving this here, for now, to see how wrong I am if BK takes the LSU job.
November 29th, 2021 at 6:40 PM ^
Fickell has expressed an interest in ND previously and would be the best hire imho. He’d walk from Cincy to South Bend to coach the Irish.
November 29th, 2021 at 8:10 PM ^
They will be selling Notre Dame jerseys in Ohio before you know it!
November 29th, 2021 at 7:39 PM ^
Is Campbell still a big name in coaching circles? I realize that the flame doesn’t necessarily die down over a year, and if he is skilled at coaching and last year showed that and he’s simply held back by ISU then he’s totally a great choice for some programs. I feel like he’s not on the radar for ND tho. Seems like that would be a risky hire for a program like ND. I also don’t know shit and think Campbell is just ok/good
November 29th, 2021 at 8:05 PM ^
I heard that Jon Gruden is available for ND. (/s...maybe?)
November 29th, 2021 at 9:42 PM ^
His stock has dipped a little bit but I think he still is a big name in coaching circles. This season has been a disappointment for sure but ISU is a couple of heartbreaking losses away from having a totally different season narrative. They also have a win over a likely playoff team in Oklahoma St.
Personally, I think he is still doing an A+ job given how limited ISU is as a program.
November 29th, 2021 at 6:02 PM ^
A little off topic but I can envision Michigan playing Norte dame next month if Michigan takes care of business next week. How the network would love that game.
November 29th, 2021 at 6:13 PM ^
I don't see a scenario in which that would happen.
Because the only scenario that gets ND and Michigan into the playoff is UGA beating Bama and Baylor beating Ok St.
But that would keep UGA at #1, Michigan at #2, Cinci at #3, and ND at #4.
I don't see how the committee could put ND at #3 unless Michigan also loses and that would obviously prevent them from playing each other.
Ironically, if Cinci loses, ND is probably screwed. They can't put ND ahead of Cinci so Baylor or Oregon or some 2 loss team(s) would finish ahead of both of them.
November 29th, 2021 at 7:40 PM ^
They CANT? Or they shouldn’t?
November 29th, 2021 at 8:05 PM ^
This is the correct question. We have seen the committee put a team (Michigan) ahead of a team they lost to head to head (MSU) already - and that was with the two of them having identical records.
I actually think it’s a stretch to say that ND would stay behind Cincy if Cincy loses to Houston next week. There is a strong argument to rank ND higher if that does happen because NDs loss to Cincy is a better loss than Cincy’s loss to Houston.
November 29th, 2021 at 6:06 PM ^
If this goes down. Kelly --> LSU, Fickell --> ND and then Day subsequently jumps to the NFL... Oh man, the meltdown in Columbus would be reminiscent of Chernobyl.
November 29th, 2021 at 6:14 PM ^
They could pick up Campbell and that would be a nice hire.
November 29th, 2021 at 6:38 PM ^
I agree, Matt Campbell is a very good coach. But he's known more as a program culture builder than an elite recruiter. Ohio State's program "culture" is winning comes first, and everything else comes after. They do that through elite recruiting, and they have been effective with it, to say the least.
Matt Campbell no doubt is a terrific coach, but I'm not sure his approach fits with how OSU operates their program.
November 29th, 2021 at 6:50 PM ^
Iowa State is easily, a bottom 5 power five conference job.
What other school in the country has it more difficult than the Cyclones to recruit?
Top of my head, Kansas? Can't think of many others. Campbell not being able to recruit 4 or 5 stars to the school is guaranteed not a knock on him.
Although his team has definitely underperformed on the field this year, considering all the returning starters and hype based off of last season.
November 29th, 2021 at 6:15 PM ^
Luke Fickell to LSU.......you read it here first.
November 29th, 2021 at 6:22 PM ^
If they're underpaying him, they're underpaying him, but if it's not the money, leaving a forever job at ND to gamble on if you can turn LSU around is dumb.
November 29th, 2021 at 6:25 PM ^
Compare and Contrast
Notre Dame’s 2022 Schedule: @ Ohio State, Marshall, Cal, @ North Carolina, BYU (in Las Vegas), Stanford, UNLV, Clemson, @ Navy (in Baltimore), @ USC, Boston College, @ Syracuse
LSU’s 2022 Schedule: Florida State (in New Orleans), Southern, Mississippi State, New Mexico, @ Auburn, Tennessee, @ Florida, Ole Miss, Alabama, @ Arkansas, UAB, @ Texas A & M
November 29th, 2021 at 7:43 PM ^
If you stay at ND forever you get to pick your entire schedule. How do you leave that to be forced into playing in a conference?
November 29th, 2021 at 6:34 PM ^
He'd be stupid to go. He's a Midwest guy, he ain't Saban and got it cushy in ND. He's set, he'd be ran out in 3 average years there.
November 29th, 2021 at 6:47 PM ^
I agree. He just passed Rockne for all time wins at ND and now he can pad his lead and cement his legacy.
November 29th, 2021 at 7:53 PM ^
Kelly, like Urban Meyer, is one of the examples of coaches whom I personally have issues with, but professionally give him respect for his job.
And... it was fun watching him turn Dantonio's face into a scowl worthy of Oscar the Grouch when ND beat MSU.
November 29th, 2021 at 7:58 PM ^
Jesus. What the fuck.
November 29th, 2021 at 7:59 PM ^
This one seems like a weird move unless the stated salary is all he's getting. He has a much easier path to the playoffs at Notre Dame.
November 29th, 2021 at 8:18 PM ^
He saw all those pics of Cajun Ed in the hot tub with LSU hotties.
November 29th, 2021 at 8:07 PM ^
Peter Burns, from the Sirius XM SEC channel, was advocating for Brian Kelly. Said he would have a better chance at a national championship because “he could get people into LSU that he couldn’t get into Notre Dame”. Sigh…SEC recruiting….gotta love the debauchery