As I orginally reported (before Weis got canned), Brian Kelly will be officially named Notre Dames 29th Head Coach this afternoon.
All of you who read this blog KNOW that I am hardly a Notre Dame fan but this hire makes me actually think, will I root for the Irish ? I have met Brian Kelly a few times (but a long long time ago) as one of my closest friends (who reads this blog) played on the same team as Kelly at Assumption College (a small Catholic college located in Worcester, MA). After graduating, he also coached "Fletch" as a defensive back for two seasons. I also believe that this was the BEST choice Notre Dame could have ever made. Randy Edsell is a solid coach who has done a great job building the Connecticut Huskies from Division 1-AA to a year in and year out bowl participant. He just doesn't have the "personality" it takes to recruit on the national landscape.
Kelly is a bright, engaging personality and although his offenses have been explosive wherever he has coached (be it at Grand Valley State, Central Michigan or Cincinnati) he comes from a defensive background (linebacker at Assumption and Defensive Coordinator). He understands that offenses sell tickets and defenses ultimately win championships. He has done wonders with a Cincinnati Bearcats team that was an AFTERTHOUGHT in regards to the college football world prior to his arrival. Back to back BCS games for Cincinnati ? It had never happened before and it will never happen again. I don't think I can ever truly become a Notre Dame fan, but I appreciate Brian Kelly far too much to be a Notre Dame hater (except when they play either my Washington Huskies or my adopted team, the L.S.U. Bengal Tigers).
For all of you who think he'll be lucky to win six games next season, think again ! Notre Dame has a very soft schedule and based on Kelly's coaching ability, those losses to U.S.C. and Navy will soon become a distant memory. He will keep a lot of those recruits committed to the Irish and bring along some much needed defensive talent. It is crucial however that he takes with him Jeff Quinn (offensive coordinator at Cincinnati) as Quinn has been with Kelly for the past 23 years. Quinn will coach the Bearcats in the Sugar Bowl against Florida, then probably bolt for South Bend unless the head job is offered to him. Don't be shocked if Grand Valley States head coach Chuck Martin leaves for the D-Coordinators position with Notre Dame. He is a Kelly guy and is an EXCELLENT defensive mind.
I'm predicting here, that Notre Dame will win at least 8, possibly 9 games next year and bring the excitement back to South Bend that it has been so lacking.
Good luck Coach Kelly, lets show the nation what a Boston boy can do !
I was back at WR by the time Kels coached the D. But I played with him on that side of the ball when I was a freshman/soph. Brian is a very bright energetic guy, who was an excellent leader, and always one step ahead of the game. I wish him well. He has a history of coaching up his talent, and now he has more talent than ever before, so I predict some early success over the next 2-3 years. The litmus test is what happens when he gets his own recruits on the field in year 4 and 5. I think he will do a great job.
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