Notre Dame Coaching

I can't lie on this one. I am less than happy with the Notre Dame selection of Brian Kelly. He could very turn out to be great--but I have my doubts (given the track record of his predecessors it doesn't look good for people who have never been to the top of the college coaching world).

Maybe I am a cynic because of the lack of production the last few years, but I feel like ND really settled here. I wanted them to go all in and make a balls-out effort to get Bob Stoops (hell, in my dreams I thought of Mike Shanahan or Bill Cowher in blue and gold); throw the bank at him and make an offer he couldn't refuse.

Why Stoops? Well, some mutual interest was part of it. More important is his track record. He has been to the top of the college football world as a head coach (National Championship Game) and he knows how to get there.

Yes, Kelly has an impressive track record. Yes, he also has head coaching experience. Yes, he turned Cincinnati around. Those are all great things. The problem with that is Cincinnati (no matter how you cut it, is a different level from ND).

Think recruiting, how often does he have to go to Southern California and go head to head with USC for a stud recruit? How about games, has he ever gone toe to toe with Florida, Texas, or USC? On the opposite track, will Mack Brown or Urban Meyer really think to themselves, "Oh crap, we're gonna play Kelly!"?

I want to like the guy but I feel like he was a fallback option--and that is not his fault. In all honesty, I hope he does very well. His team has the talent to be strong so if he brings discipline and smash mouth attitude that has been missing that should carry them for a little bit. Hopefully, he can recruit well and coach like a man possessed.

I hope for the best and wish him well. Despite my seeming despair in this post, I want him to crush our opponents and rip some hearts out (Temple of Doom style).