Now we have to root for ND again

[Big B]

It appears Jon Gruden just signed an extension with ESPN this morning. So now we really need Weis to get his head out his a$$.

[mjb1979]

Originally Posted by Big B

It appears Jon Gruden just signed an extension with ESPN this morning. So now we really need Weis to get his head out his a$$.

This means nothing. If Gruden wants to go to ND, he'll go. Weis is probably gone regardless of what happens this season, anyway.

[Thegreatone]

Maybe Kelly wants to stay at UC? Maybe......

I dont know. If Kelly wants to leave to go somewhere with more tradition he is going to go guys. I dont think it matters much what ND does. If BK isnt content on staying here he will leave. I dont know if he is ready to bolt.

Next years team is going to be better than this years...

[cafemerald]

I'd rather have ND lose out and have a Big East team slot that gator bowl (Pitt or UC).
I really dont want a top 15 Big East team in a Car Care bowl against some shlub ACC team.

[bearcatbret]

All indications are that BK is staying. Yes, we may have more talent next year but there are a lot of young players through the BEast which means most of the teams are going to be improved. Just because UC may be better does not necessarily translate into a better record.

[Big B]

In my heart I feel like BK wants to stay also, but as we all know he does want to coach there. We don't know for sure if they asked him last year but it was spectulated. If he turns them down again, how long before they ever come knocking again. There's just some many advantages of going to ND:

1. The fan base is unmatched
2. According to the agreement in place, they can lose up to 3 games and still get BCS or play on New years day.
3. Coach one of the most storied programs ever
4. And then there's the $5 or $6 mil a year.

But if he stays he will have a fan base that worships him and if he has a 4 or 5 lost season we won't start asking for him to be fired. I hope we don't become those kinds of fans anyway.

[Bruce Monnin]

Originally Posted by Big B

3. Coach one of the most storied programs ever

For a minute there I thought you said one of the most "steroided" programs ever.

Personally, I hope Notre Dame loses to both Stanford and Connecticut for three reasons.

1) a Connecticut win brings up the Big East perception in general and helps our computer rating.

2) a Stanford win brings up the perception of the Stanford coach in Notre Dame eyes

3) I always root for Notre Dame to lose unless they are playing Ohio State

[BackInBlack]

I read on ESPN this morning that ND is interested in Bob Stoops and that sources close to Stoops say that he is interested in the job. He is getting a lot of blame in Norman this year and supposedly may be ready for a new challenge. Can't post the link because it is Insider. But for those who have acess, it is on the College Football Rumor page.

[shaunsimpson]

Anyone rooting for Urban Meyer to win the NC (assuming Cincinnati doesn't) thinking that he will want a new challenge if ND comes calling and gives him the things they wouldn't last time. Stoops or Meyer would be great. I do feel guilty rooting for someone else to get the job if Kelly does really want it. He has done a lot here in a short period of time and feel bad rooting against the man, but it is the nature of the business and really hard to root against a guy who will likely get another raise to probably 1.75M here in a year.

[CaptainProbasco]

Originally Posted by Big B

It appears Jon Gruden just signed an extension with ESPN this morning. So now we really need Weis to get his head out his a$$.

I think ND has already decided to fire Weiss. Now they just have to come up with the money for his buyout. If they do, he's gone, regardless of how they do against UConn and Stanford.

[Antonio]

Originally Posted by shaunsimpson

Anyone rooting for Urban Meyer to win the NC (assuming Cincinnati doesn't) thinking that he will want a new challenge if ND comes calling and gives him the things they wouldn't last time. Stoops or Meyer would be great. I do feel guilty rooting for someone else to get the job if Kelly does really want it. He has done a lot here in a short period of time and feel bad rooting against the man, but it is the nature of the business and really hard to root against a guy who will likely get another raise to probably 1.75M here in a year.

Rooting for Stoops and/or Meyer begs the question: would BK really want either of their jobs? Hard to argue that Oklahoma or Florida are not better jobs than Cincy at this point, especially Florida who never has to play anyone OOC and has a cakewalk through their division in the SEC.

[#41]

I think Weis is already done in Notre Dame. If he had beaten Pitt, he might've saved his job, but there's no way they're keeping him now. Too much smoke swirling about his head being on the block for there not to be a fire burning somewhere. It doesn't help matters that Jimmy Claussen is probably going to declare for the draft (since he's projected as the #1 draft pick), leaving next year as another rebuilding year.

I also doubt the Jon Gruden rumors have any substance (outside of, maybe, people close to Gruden talking him up for the job). I don't see any way Notre Dame dips into the NFL pool after this latest hire has blown up in their face.

I don't know that Kelly will be their target, but I imagine that if he gets an offer he'll be out the door before the ink is dry on the contract. I'm sure he likes it here in Cincinnati, but I don't think a Catholic boy from Boston can turn down the Irish gig. I think the best hope for Cincinnati is that the Irish get someone else and none of the subsequent openings that happen as a result interests him.

**ETA: After reading we've agreed to give up our home game with Virginia Tech to play a game in Washington DC, I have now revised my feelings -- I'm 100% convinced Brian Kelly will not be at this school next year. The commitment to win is still mostly lip service, and I expect him to go someplace where there's more than just talk. **

[shaunsimpson]

Originally Posted by Antonio

Rooting for Stoops and/or Meyer begs the question: would BK really want either of their jobs? Hard to argue that Oklahoma or Florida are not better jobs than Cincy at this point, especially Florida who never has to play anyone OOC and has a cakewalk through their division in the SEC.

Florida has a coach in waiting. I can't see the southern fans taking well to Kelly. They typically don't hire from the midwest with success.

[blackattack]

Originally Posted by #41

I think Weis is already done in Notre Dame. If he had beaten Pitt, he might've saved his job, but there's no way they're keeping him now. Too much smoke swirling about his head being on the block for there not to be a fire burning somewhere. It doesn't help matters that Jimmy Claussen is probably going to declare for the draft (since he's projected as the #1 draft pick), leaving next year as another rebuilding year.

I also doubt the Jon Gruden rumors have any substance (outside of, maybe, people close to Gruden talking him up for the job). I don't see any way Notre Dame dips into the NFL pool after this latest hire has blown up in their face.

I don't know that Kelly will be their target, but I imagine that if he gets an offer he'll be out the door before the ink is dry on the contract. I'm sure he likes it here in Cincinnati, but I don't think a Catholic boy from Boston can turn down the Irish gig. I think the best hope for Cincinnati is that the Irish get someone else and none of the subsequent openings that happen as a result interests him.

**ETA: After reading we've agreed to give up our home game with Virginia Tech to play a game in Washington DC, I have now revised my feelings -- I'm 100% convinced Brian Kelly will not be at this school next year. The commitment to win is still mostly lip service, and I expect him to go someplace where there's more than just talk. **

I have been on record on this site several times saying that ND would offer the job to several bigger names before they get to BK. HOWEVER, if they ever offer BK he is as good as gone. Let's not be crazy here. The job at UC can't compete with ND in any way. As for BK repeatedly stating that he is happy here, they all say that until someone waves $4 or 5 million at them and then they can't say no.

[bearcatbret]

We really want and need UConn to beat ND. Stanford will win that game without us cheering for either side.

[shaunsimpson]

From ESPN college football rumors:
Oklahoma Sooners Top Email

Brian Hanley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that a source has told him that Oklahoma's Bob Stoops and Iowa's Kirk Ferentz will be on athletic director Jack Swarbrick's list of candidates to replace Charlie Weis -- assuming Swarbrick fires Weis.

Moreover, the source said that Stoops has told confidants that he would be interested in taking over the Irish.

Stoops is from Ohio and played and coached at Iowa, so he is familiar with the Midwest. Allen Kenney of Bleacher Report writes that Stoops is taking an inordinate amount of criticism for the Sooners' struggles this year and may be ready for a new challenge.

The admittedly skeptical John E. Hoover of the Tulsa World believes that Stoops will ultimately remain in Norman because of his family, which includes a teenage daughter and two pre-teen sons. But, he adds, if ever there were a year for Stoops to leave OU, this would be it.

[Carin's Dad]

Originally Posted by Thegreatone

Maybe Kelly wants to stay at UC? Maybe......

I dont know. If Kelly wants to leave to go somewhere with more tradition he is going to go guys. I dont think it matters much what ND does. If BK isnt content on staying here he will leave. I dont know if he is ready to bolt.

Next years team is going to be better than this years...

It's true that Kelly will go if he wants to. I think he'll stay.

On the other hand, for him to go, there has to be an opening in a situation he feels is better than he has. There are going to be very few of those every year.

If Weis is gone from ND, the best scenario for UC is that they take Gruden. If they take Stoops or Meyer, that would open up another very attractive opportunity.

[Carin's Dad]

Originally Posted by blackattack

I have been on record on this site several times saying that ND would offer the job to several bigger names before they get to BK. HOWEVER, if they ever offer BK he is as good as gone. Let's not be crazy here. The job at UC can't compete with ND in any way. As for BK repeatedly stating that he is happy here, they all say that until someone waves $4 or 5 million at them and then they can't say no.

As I said in the above post, another big name could be just as bad. If Stoops goes to ND, Oklahoma is opened up.

[mjb1979]

Originally Posted by Carin's Dad

As I said in the above post, another big name could be just as bad. If Stoops goes to ND, Oklahoma is opened up.

I think OUs d-coordinator, Brent Venables, will get promoted. I think they've been grooming him.

[catscratchfever]

Charlie Strong would probably take over for Urb at Florida