Full disclosure – this one’s been sitting in the chamber for about a whole ass month and a half. People have probably moved on from the college football season, but y’all know me. I’m not going to start something without finishing it, even if it is month and a half old news. Gotta GSD. Anyway – everyone seems to have a take on the head coach of the esteemed Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Brian Kelly. I spoke with a longtime Notre Dame fan shortly after the college football season ended. He told me, “it’s time to can Kelly. He’ll never get it done at Notre Dame.” He proceeded to explain to me how the Irish program has regressed in the last several years (despite literally just making the playoffs this season) under Kelly, and he’ll never be able to win against Alabama or Clemson because he’s not a smart enough coach.
I couldn’t believe it – how could the dude who’s 2nd in Notre Dame history in wins as a head coach be getting the pitchfork treatment from Irish fans?!?! I jumped onto the internet, searched ‘Brian Kelly’ on the Google machine, and found about a million pieces on why the Irish should be moving on from the guy. Very few highlighted his successes and showed outright faith in his ability to get a natty before he rides off into the sunset. Maybe I’m too far-removed from the situation (I’m an Alabama fan) to assess fairly, but on the surface, it seems like Kelly is a miracle worker for what he’s done in restoring the Notre Dame program compared to what it was when he took over.
Personally, I think it’s a prime example of being prisoners of the moment. Sure, Notre Dame got their shit kicked in by the Alabama Crimson Tide, but who didn’t in 2020? That Tide team was historic, loaded with first round NFL talent, and coached by the greatest to ever do it. Their other loss in 2020 happened to come at the hands of the guy many consider to be #2 in the college game these days, no less. But, that Alabama game was closer than people seem to give them credit for – it was just 14-7 Tide in the second quarter. It ended 31-14, Alabama. But, outside of a valiant effort from the Florida Gators in a thrilling SEC Championship, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say nobody else played this historic Tide team better than Notre Dame did!
Kelly’s failure to get this Irish team over the hump is more a testament to the evolution of college football and recruiting than it is his own shortcomings as a coach. The gap is widening between the Alabamas, Clemsons, and Ohio States of the world and then everyone else. It’s a tale as old as time, but it’s worth repeating – it’s flat out hard to get recruits when you have the requirements Notre Dame does. Not to mention, the SEC and Clemson are winning all these National Championships playing in warmer weather. Ohio State has won two National Championships since 2000 – otherwise, not a single champ…NOT A SINGLE CHAMP….has played their home games in a cold-weather region.
And, I don’t see Stanford and Northwestern fans complaining about not winning National Championships. People aren’t clamoring for David Shaw and Pat Fitzgerald to be fired. These expectations of perennial National Championships are a little out of reach. It ain’t the 1920s anymore. Knute Rockne isn’t walking through that door. This isn’t to say that Notre Dame can’t win titles – it’s merely an illustration of how impressive it is that Kelly has had this program competing for championships in spite of the evolution of college football and recruiting.
Kelly’s Notre Dame teams have won 10+ games in six of his 11 seasons. Outside of an atrocious 4-8 campaign in 2016, they’ve never had a losing record under Kelly. There’s a reason that Brian Kelly’s name routinely pops up in NFL circles. He’s been one of those ‘could come from the college ranks’ candidates for the better part of 10 years!
I’m not saying Kelly’s never done anything wrong – he deserves his fair share of criticism. His offense could stand to get a little more creative. It’s fair to point out that a lot of quarterbacks have regressed under Kelly, and ask why. And, I don’t think it’s out of line to suggest some more involved and creative recruiting to help get over the hump. But, to call him trash and say he deserves to be fired? Come on now – that’s a bit of a reach to me.
This man’s contract ends in 2024. In all likelihood, he’s going to leave Notre Dame with the most wins as a head coach in the program’s history (he’s only three behind Rockne right now). So, to Irish fans, I would ask “who’s better?” Who is Notre Dame going to get that’s going to do a better job than Kelly has? If you’re going to get rid of a guy that has had this much success, you have to have an ACE in waiting. Unless the Irish can convince Saban or Swinney to come up to South Bend, I don’t think they’re finding that guy.
I just don’t know that Brian Kelly is the reason Notre Dame hasn’t won a National Championship in the last 11 years.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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