Notre Dame and Brian Kelly: Perfect Together

The University of Notre Dame had every right to fire their Head Foot ball Coach, Charlie Weis and replace him with Brian Kelly. Brian Kelly certainly deserved to evaluate and accept a contract offer from The Fighting Irish to become their next Head Football Coach. Perhaps I am in the minority, but I feel that The University of Notre Dame and Brian Kelly ought to be embarrassed about how this business was executed.

The University of Notre Dame fires Head Football Coach Charlie Weiss.

I am sure Charlie Weis is a good man, but NCAA Division 1 football is a big business. Unfortunately, as the Head Coach for the Fighting Irish for five years, Charlie Weis led his football team to an overall record of 35-27. They appeared in a total of three bowl games. Their bowl record was 1-2 and both losses were in BCS Bowl games. Clearly, the Weis reign as the University of Notre Dame Head Football Coach was marred in mediocrity. It comes as no surprise that Notre Dame had little choice, but to fire Charlie Weiss.

Charlie Weis falls and Brian Kelly rises.

While Charlie Weis was captaining his Miss. Fighting Irish ship slowly to the bottom of the ocean, Brian Kelly the Head Coach of The University of Cincinnati football team, was sailing his Bearcats across the ocean blue and finding treasures that are most often only dreamed about. When he ended his tenure at the University of Cincinnati he had successfully navigated the Bearcats to an overall record of 34-6. There is no question that he was the best football coach in Bearcat history. In this current season the Bearcats have a record of 12-0. They are ranked #3 in the BCS standings and have a date with the University of Florida in the 2010 Sugar Bowl

Brian Kelly angrily tells journalists to back off in their questioning of him about his interest in coaching the University of Notre Dame football team.

Mr. Kelly should know that this tactic does not fly. By refusing to answer the question honestly, he only served to fuel the fire of speculation that he in fact will sign on as the Head Coach of the Fighting Irish football team.

Jack Swarbrick, the Athletic Director of Notre Dame, declares that the Fighting Irish football team is in a unique situation and would not accept any Bowl invitations.

First, there have been many times in the past when a football team has been without their head football coach for a Bowl game so I don't understand the premise that Notre Dame was in a unique situation. Second, if Notre Dame's fate had been different and it looked as though they would play in a BSC Bowl game or perhaps even the BCS Championship game and for some undetermined reason, Charlie Weis was no longer able to function as their head football coach, it is not at all probable that this same Athletic Director would have announced that due to Notre Dame's unique situation that they would not be able to play in the BSC Bowl game. I think Notre Dame feels that given their 6-6 record they would only be invited to Bowl that they felt was not up to their dignified and lucrative standards.

Notre Dame should not be allowed to have it both ways. Under the current BSC rules, Notre Dame gets special arrangements that no other NCAA Division 1 team enjoys. For example, according to the BSC rules as stated on their webpage, if Notre Dame finishes in the top eight in the final BSC Standings they will gain an automatic berth in a BCS Bowl. Obviously, if the Fighting Irish football team earns this invitation in a given season it means big bucks for the University of Notre Dame. It also places them front and center on the national recruiting stage.

Brian Kelly announces he would discuss the head football coaching position with Notre Dame if he was approached.

Did waiting three days really make that big a difference? Were the University of Cincinnati football players that more focused on their game with the Pittsburgh Panthers, because their coach delayed his response to the question that was on everyone's mind?

Brian Kelly informs his players that he has accepted an offer to become the next Head Football Coach of Notre Dame.

It was a night to celebrate, but any celebration was short lived. After the Bearcat players had finished breaking bread at their annual team banquet, Brian Kelly called them into a separate room and informed them that he taking the Head Coaching position at Notre Dame. Apparently, some the players were saddened or angered, because supposedly several days earlier Brian Kelly had indicated that he and his family were happy in Cincinnati..

Brian Kelly officially has a five year contract as the University of Notre Dame Head Football Coach.

A new Era at Notre Dame has begun.

University of Notre Dame Offensive Coordinator, Jeff Quinn will lead the Bearcats in the Sugar Bowl

Cincinnati finds itself playing perhaps the University's most important football game in its history. A win or even a strong showing against a team with the talent and prestigious history that accompany the Florida Gators would strengthen not only the team, but the Big East Conference's reputation as a whole. Unfortunately, their Head Coach and leader, Brian Kelly will not be with them to prepare them for the challenge that awaits them. That task will be left to the Jeff Quinn the Bearcats Offensive Coordinator. Though Mr. Quinn has been an assistant coach of Brian Kelly's for 22 years, Brian Kelly should be the best man standing alongside of his players and coaches at the Sugar Bowl.

In the end, Notre Dame's Athletic Department and their new Football Head Coach, Brian Kelly should be ashamed of themselves. This entire sordid business affair could have been conducted after the season was complete. Notre Dame could have fired Charlie Weis after the season was complete and that should have included the Fighting Irish, playing in a bowl game that may not have been their first choice. If other collegiate sports operations manage to do this, I believe Notre Dame has the capacity as well. By delaying the firing of Charlie Weis, perhaps the Brian Kelly rumor mill would not have gained traction. Notre Dame's offering of Brian Kelly a contract prior to the completion of the Cincinnati Bearcat season, they created circumstances at the University of Cincinnati that were more unique than those that they self created on their home soil.

Even though the University of Notre Dame is a Roman Catholic institution and Brian Kelly is apparently an Irish Catholic, Mr. Kelly freely accepted a Pharisee like offer and gave the kiss of Judas to the Big East Conference, The University of Cincinnati, his coaches and most importantly his players.

http://www.bcsfootball.org/bcsfb/eligibility

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/ncaa/12/04/notre-dame-bowl.ap/index.html

http://www.newser.com/article/d9cgrs1o1/cincinnati-coach-brian-kelly-is-heading-to-notre-dame-to-replace-fired-weis.html

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4700891

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4703688

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2009/12/brian-kelly-to-entertain-notre-dame-advances.html

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4732205