Is ND facing a big choice regarding athletics (especially FB) and how they fit with the mission of the university as a whole?
Choice A: ND should do everything they can to compete on the field because spreading the brand ultimately provides a platform for the rest of the university's mission. In this case, the powers that be should make a wholesale effort to win FB games (and championships) without compromising (cheating, lowering standards, etc.). This includes attempting to find the next coach who can get it done on and off the field.
Choice B: ND should accept that the NCAA (especially with BB and FB) has run amok and continuing to attempt to keep up with the proverbial Jones's means ND will need to compromise its core values. In this case, the powers that be should publicly declare they are aiming for a higher standard and winning should not come at any cost. Then they need to find a coach who embodies that spirit and is willing to do his best with the type of recruits that clearly value the 40-year choice over everything else.
In EITHER case, I don't see BK as the answer. That's why I don't see Jack Swarbrick's decision as a difficult one. I don't think BK is a horrible coach or a horrible guy, but I'm not sure he's good enough to win a championship with ND's limitations and I'm not sure he's the squeaky clean guy to be a poster child for Choce B. Choice A coaches are the A-list guys that everyone wants (Saban, Meyer, Stoops, etc). Choice B coaches would have impeccable reputations off the field (Shaw, Niamatulolo, etc.).
As an ND grad, I understand Choice B if the university publicly declares it will no longer compromise. My affinities for ND are deeper than the scores from Saturday afternoon. I have lots of relatives that root feverishly for Gonzaga basketball. I could accept a similar situation with ND football (the feel-good underdog that occasionally has a season good enough to be a story, but can't really compete with the big programs on a regular basis) -- but only if the university is willing to admit that is their new goal.
I personally think you can catch lightning in a bottle and win with virtue, but again BK probably isn't the answer.
Rant over... Fire away...
Choice A: ND should do everything they can to compete on the field because spreading the brand ultimately provides a platform for the rest of the university's mission. In this case, the powers that be should make a wholesale effort to win FB games (and championships) without compromising (cheating, lowering standards, etc.). This includes attempting to find the next coach who can get it done on and off the field.
Choice B: ND should accept that the NCAA (especially with BB and FB) has run amok and continuing to attempt to keep up with the proverbial Jones's means ND will need to compromise its core values. In this case, the powers that be should publicly declare they are aiming for a higher standard and winning should not come at any cost. Then they need to find a coach who embodies that spirit and is willing to do his best with the type of recruits that clearly value the 40-year choice over everything else.
In EITHER case, I don't see BK as the answer. That's why I don't see Jack Swarbrick's decision as a difficult one. I don't think BK is a horrible coach or a horrible guy, but I'm not sure he's good enough to win a championship with ND's limitations and I'm not sure he's the squeaky clean guy to be a poster child for Choce B. Choice A coaches are the A-list guys that everyone wants (Saban, Meyer, Stoops, etc). Choice B coaches would have impeccable reputations off the field (Shaw, Niamatulolo, etc.).
As an ND grad, I understand Choice B if the university publicly declares it will no longer compromise. My affinities for ND are deeper than the scores from Saturday afternoon. I have lots of relatives that root feverishly for Gonzaga basketball. I could accept a similar situation with ND football (the feel-good underdog that occasionally has a season good enough to be a story, but can't really compete with the big programs on a regular basis) -- but only if the university is willing to admit that is their new goal.
I personally think you can catch lightning in a bottle and win with virtue, but again BK probably isn't the answer.
Rant over... Fire away...
