Jack has yet to endorse Kelly

[Zorich 88]

If the AD does not endorse/back up Kelly this week, it is a sign that Jack is thinking about a change. During this bye week recruits will hear from other teams that Kelly is on his way out. Look at what the Stanford Strength coach did after the game (bye, bye) Recruits will begin to look around at more stable programs if Jack does not talk about Kelly's future at ND.

If during the bye week Jack is silent, we can all say bye, bye to Kelly.

 

[MTIrish98]

An interesting history lesson about Jack to keep in mind. He might already know what he's doing, but hasn't and won't share for a few weeks.

http://www.ndinsider.com/football/n...cle_b610fc46-9357-11e6-ac50-77112421b341.html

 

[mikend58]

Why should he have to.
He just signed a new deal 8 months ago.

An endorsement is just for the fans not the front office.

We can just stop with all this fire Kelly stuff. It's a waste of time , he is coming back next year.
If we have a year like this next he most certainly is gone.

 

[NDEwing18]

If the AD does not endorse/back up Kelly this week, it is a sign that Jack is thinking about a change. During this bye week recruits will hear from other teams that Kelly is on his way out. Look at what the Stanford Strength coach did after the game (bye, bye) Recruits will begin to look around at more stable programs if Jack does not talk about Kelly's future at ND.

If during the bye week Jack is silent, we can all say bye, bye to Kelly.

For what it's worth, I don't put any stock into what Swarbrick says or doesn't say. Numerous ADs have given their coach the "vote of confidence", only to can them a few weeks later. You're arbitrarily drawing a line in the sand with the intent that it's supposed to mean something when there's no evidence that it should.

 

[twalsh]

If the AD does not endorse/back up Kelly this week, it is a sign that Jack is thinking about a change. During this bye week recruits will hear from other teams that Kelly is on his way out. Look at what the Stanford Strength coach did after the game (bye, bye) Recruits will begin to look around at more stable programs if Jack does not talk about Kelly's future at ND.

If during the bye week Jack is silent, we can all say bye, bye to Kelly.

What would make you think that Swarbrick feels the need to endorse, or not endorse, Brain Kelly THIS WEEK?

 

[Zorich 88]

During the bye week recruits are going to start getting wondering eyes. Jack better back Kelly this week or we will lose recruits.

 

[NDSMC78]

Why should he have to.
He just signed a new deal 8 months ago.

An endorsement is just for the fans not the front office.

We can just stop with all this fire Kelly stuff. It's a waste of time , he is coming back next year.
If we have a year like this next he most certainly is gone.

I tend to agree with most of your post. I have no doubt that Kelly will be on ND's sidelines next season. I know a lot of posters here are going to be disappointed, but I think the chances of Kelly being fired after this season are close to zero. The only statement in your post which gives me pause is if "we have a year like this next year, Kelly is most certainly gone." I am not sure that is a given.

 

[Zorich 88]

If LSU can fire a championship coach mid season, then ND can and should make a mover by seasons end.

 

[twalsh]

During the bye week recruits are going to start getting wondering eyes. Jack better back Kelly this week or we will lose recruits.

You're trying way too hard.

 

[NDEwing18]

During the bye week recruits are going to start getting wondering eyes. Jack better back Kelly this week or we will lose recruits.

The bye week has little to do with whether recruits are looking elsewhere or not. It's not like they put a note on their calendar to "Review situation at ND" during ND's bye week but no other week.

 

[Java65]

If LSU can fire a championship coach mid season, then ND can and should make a mover by seasons end.

I have my doubts he'll be fired because I don't think ND wants to buy him out, buy out all (or most) of the assistants and then hire all new coaches. I doubt the administration cares enough to shell out that kind of money.

 

[Howard Hall 74]

This is just my observation, but I do think Swarbrick is a very competent AD and chief executive. I may be wrong, but we'll see. I say that because the first trait to look for in an outstanding executive is not that he/she makes a mistake, but they immediately recognize it and immediately mitigate the damage. We lose 7 games or more, think 8 & 4 may be gone. Good for Jack if that happens.

 

[Howard Hall 74]

If the AD does not endorse/back up Kelly this week, it is a sign that Jack is thinking about a change. During this bye week recruits will hear from other teams that Kelly is on his way out. Look at what the Stanford Strength coach did after the game (bye, bye) Recruits will begin to look around at more stable programs if Jack does not talk about Kelly's future at ND.

If during the bye week Jack is silent, we can all say bye, bye to Kelly.

Let's take it the next step, whether he says something or not, that isn't the real underlining problem. Future recruits, possible staff additions and many of the future program plans will be placed in abeyance. This is the real damage this situation causes. Nothing moves forward. That's why at some point it must be blown up. The question is how much more program and University damage does Swarbrick want to endure.

 

[ohio1980]

Why should he have to.
He just signed a new deal 8 months ago.

An endorsement is just for the fans not the front office.

We can just stop with all this fire Kelly stuff. It's a waste of time , he is coming back next year.
If we have a year like this next he most certainly is gone.

This ^^^^^

 

[Harpo Marxist]

I firmly believe that Kelly can lose out and he will still keep his job. I also firmly believe that the strings will then get attached to performance requirements for next season. I do think a minimum number of wins will apply. Why wouldn't it?

 

[mikend58]

We are in a much better place then we were before BK got here. I don't think anyone can argue that.

Is BK the coach that can bring us 10 wins year in year out. I don't think so.

I trust JS enough that he will make the best decision for this school and football program.

 

[NDHHI]

how are we in a better place with BK? because he took CW recruits to get blown out in 2012? or is it the turf field and jumboscreen?

 

[Telx1]

A public endorsement for a HC on the hot seat is usually the kiss of death. I don't expect JS to say or do anything out of the usual during the bye week or beyond. If he decides to terminate Kelly, he'll do it swiftly at the end of the season. Frankly, given the amount of money involved and JS' personal ownership of the Kelly extension, I fully expect JS to give him next year to prove this year was an anomaly. A homerun DC hire, keeping this recruitment class together, a year of experience for all our young receiving talent, a year of experience for our freshmen DB's, and the same for Hayes and Kareem, etc... are all major upsides that will cover Kelly's blemishes going forward. The only alternatives I see are Kelly deciding he needs to get away from the pressure and demands of being a HC and go the announcer route for a break; or big donor alumni with major influence pushing JS to act. I expect our focus will turn to the DC hire by seasons end.

 

[sshulk]

Ah the dreaded endorsement from the GM or AD ... it's the kiss of Judas. No endorsement equals business as usual.

 

[Classic Irish]

Why should he have to.
He just signed a new deal 8 months ago.

An endorsement is just for the fans not the front office.

We can just stop with all this fire Kelly stuff. It's a waste of time , he is coming back next year.
If we have a year like this next he most certainly is gone.

This^^^^ All of this chatter about new coaches is, in my opinion, moot. I'd be quite surprised if Kelly is not back next season. Whether he should be back is another question entirely.

 

[Java65]

A public endorsement for a HC on the hot seat is usually the kiss of death. I don't expect JS to say or do anything out of the usual during the bye week or beyond. If he decides to terminate Kelly, he'll do it swiftly at the end of the season. Frankly, given the amount of money involved and JS' personal ownership of the Kelly extension, I fully expect JS to give him next year to prove this year was an anomaly. A homerun DC hire, keeping this recruitment class together, a year of experience for all our young receiving talent, a year of experience for our freshmen DB's, and the same for Hayes and Kareem, etc... are all major upsides that will cover Kelly's blemishes going forward. The only alternatives I see are Kelly deciding he needs to get away from the pressure and demands of being a HC and go the announcer route for a break; or big donor alumni with major influence pushing JS to act. I expect our focus will turn to the DC hire by seasons end.

Agree, I don't think ND wants to fork over the cash to replace Kelly and the staff. They'll get a new DC and well finish 8 wins again and they (the administration) issue glowing reports about the magnificent turnaround.

 

[HuddleBurger]

I tend to agree with most of your post. I have no doubt that Kelly will be on ND's sidelines next season. I know a lot of posters here are going to be disappointed, but I think the chances of Kelly being fired after this season are close to zero. The only statement in your post which gives me pause is if "we have a year like this next year, Kelly is most certainly gone." I am not sure that is a given.

It may depend on how this year shakes out. If Kelly goes 3-9 in year seven, might they have a quicker trigger finger than they did with Weis who went 3-9 in year 3? I too think BK will be back next year, but might have a minimum win number (8? 9?) that he can't go under, especially if our record this year is historically bad. Maybe?

 

[NDSMC78]

It may depend on how this year shakes out. If Kelly goes 3-9 in year seven, might they have a quicker trigger finger than they did with Weis who went 3-9 in year 3? I too think BK will be back next year, but might have a minimum win number (8? 9?) that he can't go under, especially if our record this year is historically bad. Maybe?

Yeah, they might. But they might not. I certainly allow for the possibility. But I don't believe it would be a certainty.

 

[mikend58]

how are we in a better place with BK? because he took CW recruits to get blown out in 2012? or is it the turf field and jumboscreen?

We have bigger and better players. We are just not playing as a team. That's on BK for that.

2012 We had a shot at a NC
CW would have never have gotten us there.

If you can appreciate how awesome that year was. Then I feel sorry for you

 

[Buguit]

Swarbick is a lame duck AD ... it would be easier to predict Kelly as gone had he not just been given a 6 yr extension .... which begs the question ..... Is the only reason Kelly will get to keep his job because the lame duck AD screwed up by giving him an extension too soon? ...... we shouldn't be keeping the coach simply because the AD screwed up .... essentially making another bad decision due to previous one ..... but that is the most likely scenario

Jack is just as bad as Kevin White

 

[HuddleBurger]

I've got to hope that the contract extension for BK wasn't as awful and one-sided as the guaranteed contract for Weis that White authored. Hopefully there were some performance-based clauses that might reduce the payout after termination? I have no clue about contracts, but hopefully Jack is not hamstrung by this one.

 

[tkirish]

We have bigger and better players. We are just not playing as a team. That's on BK for that.

2012 We had a shot at a NC
CW would have never have gotten us there.

If you can appreciate how awesome that year was. Then I feel sorry for you

Funny you mention 2012. Someone brought up some stats regarding Kelly and his "recruits". A lot of players in key positions were Weis recruits. After 2013 the overwhelming majority of the team were Kelly's recruits. Kelly's win /loss percentage until the end of 2013 is better than from 2013 until now. It appears Weis recruited better overall but simply under performed. Offensively, Weis put a lot of players in the NFL. So I'm not convinced Kelly is such a great recruiter let alone a good coach. Simply put, you do not lose to Duke ever. They not only lost but lost at home. I watch a lot of football. I'm not an expert but I trust what I see. What I see is a bunch of average players. You could be the worst coach on the planet. If your ND and playing Duke, your talent alone should win that game. People should realize ND is 2 and 5 because the coaching stinks and the players aren't that good. I watched that game Saturday. The defense played hard but they are slow. The defensive line is horrible. The Stanford QB was like Houdini. If this were last year JayLon Smith would have ran him down and he would have been sacked several times. Kizer is not as good as people say. He's good but not great. The offensive line is lousy. This is why they are 2 and 5. Kelly is not bringing in top talent in my opinion. Also his offense is all wrong for ND. If the Irish want to be a perennial top tier team, they should go back to what works for them. Stanford is now what ND use to be. They are not flashy. But over the last 7 years they've been an excellent program. They need to bring in tough hard nosed kids and get a coach that lights a fire under them to play hard every week.

 

[Telx1]

I've got to hope that the contract extension for BK wasn't as awful and one-sided as the guaranteed contract for Weis that White authored. Hopefully there were some performance-based clauses that might reduce the payout after termination? I have no clue about contracts, but hopefully Jack is not hamstrung by this one.

I had the same thought/question. At the time of the announcement, I didn't believe that Kelly would coach at ND for the duration, and so the amount of time puzzled me. Have to think JS would insist on a structure that would allow for termination without anything close to the six year salary amount. Hope we're talking about a one or two year severance package which would largely remove the cost as a main determining factor. JS experienced first hand the annual payout to Weis, and have to believe he would not hamper himself accordingly.

 

[Howard Hall 74]

This is just my suspicion, no direct or indirect knowledge, but I would not be surprised that both sides have an exit on his contract depending on situations. Wouldn't be surprised that during the first several years of the extension ND could exercise an out with a stipulated buyout. If I were legal counsel to the University, I would have insisted on it, but what Swarbrick was thinking - as Leo Durocher once thoughtfully put it, "whom knows".

 

[NDHHI]

I absolutely appreciated 2012. My point is BK did too...on behalf of CW players that he could not develope. That year is the model of football we should look to get back to. IN every game with stout D, good run game and limit the turnovers. Even last year was a fluke. How many miracle come backs did it take to get to 10 wins against below average teams? Then showed our true status in today's elite conversation in the fiesta bowl. Wake up guys we are settling big time

 

[IrishBlessings]

I've got to hope that the contract extension for BK wasn't as awful and one-sided as the guaranteed contract for Weis that White authored. Hopefully there were some performance-based clauses that might reduce the payout after termination? I have no clue about contracts, but hopefully Jack is not hamstrung by this one.[/QUOTE

Huddle, not only is Jack being hamstrung by the bad deal he made - so is the majority of the ND Nation / Fan Base.

 

[IrishBlessings]

Swarbick is a lame duck AD ... it would be easier to predict Kelly as gone had he not just been given a 6 yr extension .... which begs the question ..... Is the only reason Kelly will get to keep his job because the lame duck AD screwed up by giving him an extension too soon? ...... we shouldn't be keeping the coach simply because the AD screwed up .... essentially making another bad decision due to previous one ..... but that is the most likely scenario

Jack is just as bad as Kevin White

Jack will only go down as a bad AD if he hangs onto BK too long and misses out on some quality young coaches (i.e. PJ Fleck). And if he structured the 6 year extension similar to CW's. Big Jack all of sudden has a lot riding on BK.

The thought of BK coaching another year for ND is nauseating. I struggle to watch ND play. The numerous mistakes made by the coaching staff are too hard for me too watch anymore. I'm done going to games in South Bend or anywhere else for that matter.

Even if BK comes back next year and wins his usual 8 or 9 games and stays on even longer - I'm done watching him coach games. May be a long time before I watch ND w/ a real belief they can maybe win a game there not supposed too or even just beat the teams they are supposed to beat.

 

[HDK]

I've got to hope that the contract extension for BK wasn't as awful and one-sided as the guaranteed contract for Weis that White authored. Hopefully there were some performance-based clauses that might reduce the payout after termination? I have no clue about contracts, but hopefully Jack is not hamstrung by this one.

Don't for the life of you think White signed off on the Weis deal on his own. That smelled -- stunk really -- of interference from the top. White didn't want to fire Willingham, and I'm sure he didn't want to give the store away to Weis. There's a reason he had, and still has, an excellent reputation as an athletic director. And I think that's why he quit a year later -- because he had been forced into a couple of major moves he was not comfortable with.

 

[perseverare]

Jack will only go down as a bad AD if he hangs onto BK too long and misses out on some quality young coaches (i.e. PJ Fleck). And if he structured the 6 year extension similar to CW's. Big Jack all of sudden has a lot riding on BK.

The thought of BK coaching another year for ND is nauseating. I struggle to watch ND play. The numerous mistakes made by the coaching staff are too hard for me too watch anymore. I'm done going to games in South Bend or anywhere else for that matter.

Even if BK comes back next year and wins his usual 8 or 9 games and stays on even longer - I'm done watching him coach games. May be a long time before I watch ND w/ a real belief they can maybe win a game there not supposed too or even just beat the teams they are supposed to beat.

Kelly is to Swarbrick what BVG was to BK

 

[Nocalirish]

Kelly has a bye week and 5 more games to prove he can still coach this team. 3-9 is unacceptable and grounds for termination. A new DC wont solve ND's problems. Stanford gave up 44 pts to Wash and 42 pts to Washst before they beat the Irish. Kelly has no controll and even the players are checking twitter for his replacement. If the AD doesnt act at seasons end or sooner this program will lose all respect.

 

[mikend58]

Kelly has a bye week and 5 more games to prove he can still coach this team. 3-9 is unacceptable and grounds for termination. A new DC wont solve ND's problems. Stanford gave up 44 pts to Wash and 42 pts to Washst before they beat the Irish. Kelly has no controll and even the players are checking twitter for his replacement. If the AD doesnt act at seasons end or sooner this program will lose all respect.

Are you in the locker room?
One guy posts something on twitter and suddenly he has lost the locker room.
Just because you can post nonsense doesn't mean you should...

 

[Bodizephax]

I think Jack S. has already talked to Coach Kelly after the NC State game and told him he is gone at the end of the season. That explains the sad look on Coach Kellys face even when the Irish were winning 10 to 0 and all the Irish players were celebrating.
The classless steroidal Turd --- The Stanfords steroid strength coach may have gotten wind of it.
Jack S is not stupid. He knows giving Brian Kelly one more year would ruin everything they have accomplished so far. Brian Kelly did a good job making the Irish relevant again---He will step down with dignity at the end of the year. Case closed.

 

[Buguit]

Jack will only go down as a bad AD if he hangs onto BK too long and misses out on some quality young coaches (i.e. PJ Fleck). And if he structured the 6 year extension similar to CW's. Big Jack all of sudden has a lot riding on BK.

The thought of BK coaching another year for ND is nauseating. I struggle to watch ND play. The numerous mistakes made by the coaching staff are too hard for me too watch anymore. I'm done going to games in South Bend or anywhere else for that matter.

Even if BK comes back next year and wins his usual 8 or 9 games and stays on even longer - I'm done watching him coach games. May be a long time before I watch ND w/ a real belief they can maybe win a game there not supposed too or even just beat the teams they are supposed to beat.

Certainly .... if the program turns around to elite under Jack's watch all would be forgiven .... Kelly's bad decision making is a pattern ..... not an anomaly ..... from early on ..... the Tulsa game .... wasting TO's ..... calling a TO after the opening kickoff before the 1st snap .... team is often not ready ... because the staff isn't ready .... I haven't listened or paid attention to one Kelly interview after benching Crist after one half after stating he's the QB for the season ...... his words carry no weight ..... ask Malik's parents

Kelly has improved the overall talent but he has taken this team as far as he can and is the one thing that is keeping them from going further

 

[Buguit]

I think Jack S. has already talked to Coach Kelly after the NC State game and told him he is gone at the end of the season. That explains the sad look on Coach Kellys face even when the Irish were winning 10 to 0 and all the Irish players were celebrating.
The classless steroidal Turd --- The Stanfords steroid strength coach may have gotten wind of it.
Jack S is not stupid. He knows giving Brian Kelly one more year would ruin everything they have accomplished so far. Brian Kelly did a good job making the Irish relevant again---He will step down with dignity at the end of the year. Case closed.

This would be fine and dandy ... I just can't see it ..... there would have to be a sweet heart deal in it for Kelly somewhere .... really sweet .... Kelly is too damn stubborn .... he'd rather continue to do what stupid does than admit something he is doing is not working

 

[Irish Grandeur]

For what it's worth, I don't put any stock into what Swarbrick says or doesn't say. Numerous ADs have given their coach the "vote of confidence", only to can them a few weeks later. You're arbitrarily drawing a line in the sand with the intent that it's supposed to mean something when there's no evidence that it should.

I agree with your statement. By talking about it (either way) means it is on his mind. It's time for ND to circle the wagons and, BK and players 'man-up' and take care of business.

I was in the 'fire Kelly' camp but a part of me knows he can win at ND. If this team can rise from the ashes like a phoenix then this year could bode well for next year.