Did Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick see something in Coach Kelly that few others could see? For most, the 4-8 2016 Notre Dame Football Season was a disaster, and lead by a coach who had appeared to have lost his desire to coach Notre Dame Football.
November 27th, 2016 could have been the day in which Jack Swarbrick pulled the plug on Coach Kelly. However, Jack had a different path either based on his faith in Coach Kelly or an undesirable economic buyout.
Few Irish fans at the time had the same vision as Jack Swarbrick, and most thought he made a colossal mistake by retaining him as head coach. Remember the calls for PJ Fleck to the row the boat down to South Bend by delusional fans? Firing Coach Kelly and signing a hot MAC coach with no power five experience would have been a disaster for this program.
Instead the call was made to fire Kelly’s loyal staff and replace them with younger up and coming coordinators. Wow! Was this the right call, and how would Coach Kelly re-invent himself as a Head Football Coach?
Many predicted a bumpy road, but the numbers from the 2017 football season do not lie as the Fighting Irish football team was much improved. However, no one could have predicted a 12-0 2018 season after the departure in the offseason of their hot young defensive coordinator and seasoned Oline coach.
Coach Kelly deserves Coach of the Year honors as even most of his peers are impressed by the 2018 season performance after that horrendous schedule.
This Saturday will prove how far this coach, staff, and player have come in new age of playoff college football. Let’s hope that the season continues to the National Championship game next week
Go Irish!
November 27th, 2016 could have been the day in which Jack Swarbrick pulled the plug on Coach Kelly. However, Jack had a different path either based on his faith in Coach Kelly or an undesirable economic buyout.
Few Irish fans at the time had the same vision as Jack Swarbrick, and most thought he made a colossal mistake by retaining him as head coach. Remember the calls for PJ Fleck to the row the boat down to South Bend by delusional fans? Firing Coach Kelly and signing a hot MAC coach with no power five experience would have been a disaster for this program.
Instead the call was made to fire Kelly’s loyal staff and replace them with younger up and coming coordinators. Wow! Was this the right call, and how would Coach Kelly re-invent himself as a Head Football Coach?
Many predicted a bumpy road, but the numbers from the 2017 football season do not lie as the Fighting Irish football team was much improved. However, no one could have predicted a 12-0 2018 season after the departure in the offseason of their hot young defensive coordinator and seasoned Oline coach.
Coach Kelly deserves Coach of the Year honors as even most of his peers are impressed by the 2018 season performance after that horrendous schedule.
This Saturday will prove how far this coach, staff, and player have come in new age of playoff college football. Let’s hope that the season continues to the National Championship game next week
Go Irish!
