The Notre Dame fighting Irish have officially gotten their Christmas wish early this year. On Friday (14 days before X-Mas) former Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly was announced as the 31st head coach in the history of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football program (30th if you omit the short-lived George O'Leary "era"), replacing the much-maligned Charlie Weis after five disappointing and disillusioning seasons.
Storming into South Bend with a glowing resume that features everything from D-II Championships to a perfect 12-0 record with the Bearcats this season, Kelly looks like the best possible suitor the Irish could have possibly hoped for. But taking control of college football's most storied program on the cusp of the continuation of its very relevancy, coach Kelly — in addition to the inherent pressure that accompanies the position — finds himself with the extra burden of likely becoming the man who will ultimately be the defining figure of either the total revitalization or final destruction of one of the most prominent entities in all of sports. He's in a unique position that offers ultimate glory or what could be career-destroying infamy.
Kelly will be in a position to realize instant success and unlike his predecessors, this will likely be expected. Taking over a team that is still well stocked with talent despite the loss of their all-world quarterback and top wide receiver (Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate), the new coach has won with much less at a number of different places without the profile or lineage of Notre Dame.
In his first stop as head coach of the Division II Grand Valley State Lakers, Kelly was absolutely dominant, leading the team to two national championships and going 41-2 in his final three seasons with the school (118-35-2 overall).
And while his 19-16 record at Central Michigan isn't cosmetically impressive, when considering the horrible program Kelly inherited (the team had won over three games only once in the four previous seasons before his arrival) it is clear that Kelly did as well as anyone could feasibly expect. In his three seasons at the helm of the Chippewas, Kelly set the program on the path towards legitimacy, cumulatively peaking in a MAC Conference Championship and a Motor City Bowl victory in his final season with the school in 2006. The team notably featured Kelly recruit, redshirt freshman and Motor City Bowl MVP Dan LeFevour behind center all season. Even this year's CMU team which won the MAC championship and is headed to the GMAC Bowl has Kelly's fingerprints all over it, not to detract from the excellent job of current coach Butch Jones.
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Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
The difference is, yes, they got their first choice as head coach, unlike previous years. And Kelly might be as good as Urban Meyer. Look at the pattern: revive a MAC program, then go undefeated somewhere else, then finally go to a top program.
2 - Tony
I'm still concerned about the defense. I'm sure Kelly runs a great offense but scoring points wasn't the problem this season.
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
Well, let's see here. The Bearcats' points scoring defense, national ranking, and conference ranking:
2009: 20.75, T-25th, 3rd BEC
2008: 20.14, 25th, 5th BEC
2007: 18.77, 13th, 2nd BEC
This year, only three times did the opponent break 21, although all three times they were way off the charts (UConn 45, Illnois 36, Pitt 44). And they did hold Fresno State (34.3/game) to 20, and Oregon State (32.4) to 18 on the road.
You don't win national championships (at any level) or AQ conference titles without playing a little defense.
4 - Tony
I agree. I broke down the team's defensive stats a little in the piece and the result was a positive anaylsis. But again, not sure if his D-Coordinator is following him over.
I think Brian Kelly is a great pick for head coaoch but its just hard to be positive after so many let-downs. But out of the hirings since Holtz, I think this was their best. I just don't want to get Obama-ed, and put too much faith in this guy only to find out he's just another stooge. All the stats in the world have trouble quelling deep rooted cynicism.
5 - FCEtier
I'm with you two guys: Defense wins the big games.
There are so many examples but this season's USC/Ohio St. game and then the SEC Championship both come to mind as well as the Florida/LSU game 13-3. I don't think Bo Pellini or Nick Saban are available.
Oh, and didn't Bob Davies complain about the admission and academic standards at ND?
Good luck Coach Kelly.
6 - David Polcyn
Your full of crap, ND made a deal with the devil, the same thing will happen to you as what is going on at Michigan. He has a dark past like the Sandburg's.
7 - Tony
Oh, it would be hard to top the inepptitude of R-Rod. He's not the devil; he's just a southern redneck joke. You know you want Harbaugh just like every Michigan fan, and if those two guys battle each other in that rivalry it will a hard nosed fight.
Good to hear from you Mr. Polcyn, Merry Christmas.