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Towards the end of each college football season, I usually start to watch, with some enjoyment, the sick version of musical chairs that comes with college coaches getting fired or moving on. This year it worries me a little bit more, since Brian Kelly is on the lips of every athletic director from Miami to Spokane.
While I'd love to be able to take him at his word about being set and happy in Cincinnati, I've been burned too often in the last few years to accept it. I'm talking to you, Thad Matta and Sean Miller. By the way, Thad, next time you say you're not interviewing for a new position, try not to be seen sneaking into that college's arena the next day through the service door.
Anyway, with the probable number of head coaching spots at big schools being pretty big this year, I'm sweating it a little more than usual. Should anyone tell Kelly he can't advance his career? No, of course not. Does he deserve to be rewarded for what he's done? Without question, and all those new practice facilities and extra salary are part of that. Still, there are going to be people come knocking, and I'm afraid the allure might be too much for him.
Charlie Weis is done at Notre Dame. There are few schools with a more storied and revered football program in this country. The Irish started strong, but now they're melting down again. The Navy losses alone are enough to cause many alumni and boosters to call for his ouster, and don't think for a minute that those check writers don't get a vote in the process.
Had he not started out of the gate with them, muttering through his gravy fries about how they'll never lose to Michigan State, and then losing to them and many others, or accepting a giant contract extension too early (paging Mr. Willingham, Mr. Willingham!), his job might be more secure. It was pretty much over for him in 2007, and I have to believe that the potential payout is the only reason he's there this season. Enjoy it, Charlie. It's your last in South Bend.
The Irish are all-but-officially a Big 10 team, and they'll likely make it official in the next few years. Look for them to make a hire that puts them back on par with Ohio State. Just don't make it Brian Kelly.
The other obvious Big 10 possibility for Kelly is Michigan. Rich Rod, not only are you a total piece of shit of a human being, but you've lead a previously proud and successful program (I still hate them, of course) into the ground in short order. You showed your true colors at WVU, abandoning your team before the season was even over.
Now you have the NCAA breathing down your neck, your players are calling you out and transferring, and your excuses are wearing thin. Good luck in the future, working as an equipment manager at whatever IIIA school that will have you.
Oh, by the way, WVU is still expecting the first payment of the 1.5 million you owe them for being a prick early next year, regardless of whether you're a head coach or in charge of the fries at the Burger King in Ypsilanti.
Anyway, while I don't think it would be easy for Kelly to resist an offer from Big Blue, I also don't think they're going to hang everything on another Big East coach this soon after this mess. Kelly has way more class then Rich Rod ever will, but he might also be hesitant to set himself up for the issues he'd inherit even if they did make an offer.
The USS Mark Mangino will almost certainly be setting sail from Lawrence, after blaming the team's problems on the players and their parents. He's done fairly well there, but he can't win in the conference, and now he's accused of man-handling his players. You just can't do that these days. It's one thing if you're winning, but you're not. In his defense, to the players complaining about "verbal abuse", suck it up. There's no crying in football.
He was also able to clear up the issues he had with so many parking tickets on campus when he was able to show that it wasn't his car parked illegally, but rather it was just him, the size of a VW minibus, taking a break from walking to his office.
Even with Texas and Texas Tech in the conference, I can't see Kelly considering that a move up from the "new" Big East. At least I hope he wouldn't. Plus, he's always worked around here, and in the eastern part of the country we're suspicious of the kind of football they play out there in the great plains.
So, Brian Kelly, please consider staying in Cincinnati, even though you'll be wined and dined by every formerly reputable program in the country. We've paid you lots, we've made the upgrades you wanted, and you'll be getting Zach Collaros back next year, if he's not in jail for passing a fake ID. Cincinnati is a proud sports town, and UC is as large and well funded as any college in the country. I know, I'm a grad.
Oh, Brian, won't you be our Woody Hayes, our Bo Schembechler, our JoPa? Just let me know what you want. I'm sure we can provide for whatever needs you have (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). I'm well connected, you know.
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