Coach Kelly Situation

[Pete]

-Butch Jones
-Kevin Sumlin
-Chris Peterson
-Bobby Hauck
-Dan Mullen
-Jerry Moore
-Al Golden
-Jeff Quinn

I do agree...MT is our AD and I believe that he will do what is best! He should give himself a huge raise and contract extension when all is said and done. Let's hope that BK stays and we can kick some Gator tail in NO!!!

Go Cats!

What I would be looking for (should Kelly leave, which I am still hopeful) is someone with a similar pedigree as BK. Before UC hired Minter, I was hoping for Tressel. This was because he had won a national championship at div II level. Running a program and being able to coach a team to a national championship has a lot of weight in my book. Head coaching experience is a must, and a minimum of a conference championship is a must. After Kelly, I think the next coach has to run an open offense to keep the fan interest and ticket sales up. Lastly, the guy has to be dynamic and willing to put in the time to continue building the fan base.

I do not worry as much about the coach coming from a big name conference, or that they are a well known coach.

MT caught fire with BK and many of us had not heard of him.

So, who out there has looked under some rocks for a candidate with such a pedigree. I have heard people speak of the current CMU coach. What is the story on him?

[Deaf_Bearcat]

At This Hour 6pm ET: Nutt and Kansas, Kelly Listening to Notre Dame,
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigeast/post...eet-with-irish

Yes, we are aware of this. It had been posted around 3 to 4 hours ago. Thanks.

[Rational Cat]

First of all does anyone have the exact quote in context to the players. If I had no intentions of going anywhere I wouldn't have a problem saying it especially if it gave the kids a better chance to win their football game. Not saying it could have lost it for them.

Now, things can change. There is no doubt he should listen to ND and he told his kids he would. But, if his thought process was to stay at Cincy FIRST and foremost...then he was not doing anyone a disservice by saying he's staying. He may not know until tomorrow that there is an offer he can't refuse.

Then he can say "I really thought I would be staying but I was shown something in a light that I hadn't seen it in". To decidedly say the man is a hypocrite means you have been inside the mans head and you know his TRUE intentions and I don't believe you have.

Give it a break and at least wait until if and when he signs and hear him out if it happens. Then draw your conclusions.

I did use a lot of "if" and "whens" in my post.

I'm not gonna give it a break, I am responding to a post that stated that Bearcat fans turned their back on Brian Kelly.

If anything, we have had Brian Kelly's back all along. More than we have ever had any UC football coaches back. We bought into all of it, with great results for all of us, and him.

Read this: http://www.examiner.com/x-30967-Cinc...-at-Cincinnati

Pretty straightforward. "If" BK moves, on, after saying this, what would you have to say about it?

BTW, I thought my own post was pretty balanced and understanding...

[CincyBeerCo]

Good rant, but who at UC has turned their back on BK?

We hear the stuff we hear from the national media, we don't make it up here on this site.

All year long, I saw a stadium full of excited fans, backing BK and the Cats to the hilt.

I saw many, many Bearcat fans go to Pitt and help cheer the Cats on to an improbable victory.

I also have seen a cloud over this city since BK will not shake the rumors and deny interest, after telling his players that he wasn't going anywhere.

I have met the man, about 10 times, for about an hour each time; he came to my place of business. He came to me because he knew I was a UCATS member. BK is a wonderful man, he treated every one of my employees like a prince or princess. At the end of our time together, I was ready to run through a wall for the man. Gladly. Without question.

I do not blame him for having interest in the ND job. Not at all. Whatever profession you (or anyone else who might read this) are in, think about the highest level that you could possibly aspire to.... that is what the ND coaching job is to most Catholic Irish American men. BK falls into that category, and I am sure that he is mesmerized. I would be, too. I was when I sent my child there 2 years ago... I have spoken with BK about ND (in the past), and he holds the institution in very high esteem.

But he told his team, just this past week, that he wasn't going anywhere, and that he wasn't Mark Dantonio. Those kids responded to that with the energy and excitement to come back from 21 points down to beat Pitt for the Big East title. A truly incredible victory- we should all be on cloud flippin 9 for the next 2 weeks.

But we are not.

If Brian Kelly left right now, he would be a hypocrite, based solely upon his actions last week with his own team. BK is not a liar. And it has been very painful for me to watch him try to tell the truth this past week, but he has tried to do so as best as he can. He wants the ND job, very badly, it is very apparent to me, and to anyone else who is semi-objective.

I really like Brian Kelly. If I were him, I would also be very interested in the ND job. If he wants the job, then I do want him to have it; I am always in favor of folks trying to improve their lot in life. I will also root for him and Notre Dame, if he decides to take the job, IF it is offered to him. But right now? 24 hours after the end of the most incredible UC football season EVER? 24 hours after an incredible 1 point win to earn a spot in the Sugar Bowl? To be completely fair- that is not entirely BK's fault; as Paul Daugherty has said, the system demands the coaching carousel begins right after the regular season and before bowl season. Very, very flawed.

Well, I have rambled, and if you have read- thanks for doing so. I responded to the post above because it blamed UC fans for turning our backs on BK. I disagree.

No one had turned their back on Brian Kelly. We have been told for a month at least, that we were losing him. And now it appears that he wants to talk to his new suitor.

We're just feeling a little spurned, that's all. If he only flirts, we will gladly take him back.

And if he leaves, I will thank him for leaving this place better than he found it.

And as BK always says: "next man in!"

It was def a good rant and I agree w/ most everything you say. My point is that no final decision has been made yet. I personally cant blame him for at least entertaining the notion. Statements such as "screw Kelly" can do no good only harm. While I doubt that he reads these boards, we know people deeply involved w/ the athletic department do (UCmarketing), so who knows he may occasionally. Reading or hearing about "fans" saying screw him could, no matter how minuscule, have a negative impact. I believe he has been honest and truthfully doesn't know yet. After he makes his decision, to each their own (say what you will), but until we know one way or the other definitively, statements condemning him are pretty far off base and inappropriate. I obviously hope he stays (still think he will), if not I thank him from the bottom of my heart what he has done for UC, but I also probably wont really ever root for him to win many more games...unless he were playing o$u of course.

[CincyBeerCo]

I did use a lot of "if" and "whens" in my post.

I'm not gonna give it a break, I am responding to a post that stated that Bearcat fans turned their back on Brian Kelly.

If anything, we have had Brian Kelly's back all along. More than we have ever had any UC football coaches back. We bought into all of it, with great results for all of us, and him.

Read this: http://www.examiner.com/x-30967-Cinc...-at-Cincinnati

Pretty straightforward. "If" BK moves, on, after saying this, what would you have to say about it?

BTW, I thought my own post was pretty balanced and understanding...

And FWIW, my post was not directed at you (see above), but yes SINCE the Pitt game (especially today) A LOT of Bearcat fans have turned their back on him with no solid/factual/actual reason. Of course I'm not calling out fan support during the season and at games, not sure how you inferred that.

[Pharmfam]

He's turning his back on us not the other way. He's gotten contract extensions and his practice facility and they are working on the stadium expansion. Everything he asks for has been his.

As far as the pain to leave the kids, it must not be too much since he can do it the week after they won him a second Big East championship.

I'm pretty sure he's not taking the practice facility or stadium expansion with him. They will improve UC's football potential greatly whether BK is here or not.

[MDW79]

Screw Over reacting/conclusion jumping fans! I'm sick and tired of their whiny *** entitlement. Why would any coach want to be at a program where the fans have turned their back on him after he busted his *** and gave 110% of his time and effort to bring us to what, up to this point, has crescendoed as the single most exciting sports experience in my Bearcat loving life (yup better that being in Minneappolis for the Final Four plus many others). Fans not giving a single moment to consider how hard to consider how much he has given us, or the fact that it will pain him to leave these kids that have fought with him the last 3 years, if it even happens

Damn...get a grip.

Thanks for all you've done BK!!! I appreciate everything you have worked for and I fully respect you pursuing one of the most storied positions in all of sports. Hopefully you see a better opportunity in Clifton. Cheers and Go Cats!

Best thing I've read in the last 20 or so pages. It's amazing how many fans have turned the possibility of disappointment into anger, name calling, and jumping ship.

[cincyjman]

So, here's my thought: If Mike Thomas does offer up some huge money for Kelly, along with raises for the assistants and the University comes up with some sort of plan for expanding Nippert....and Kelly leaves anyway, won't that make the next coaching search real interesting?

I've seen all kinds of names thrown out there, and most of which are younger coaches from mid major conferences. I'm not sure I agree.

If Cincinnati wants to become a "destination" job, I believe if Kelly leaves they need to make a huge splash with their next head coach. Sure, they could take a gamble on a younger guy. But why not throw some big time money at a proven commodity to show the fans, the city, the country that you are seriously committed to becoming an elite team year in and year out?

[AeroCat]

A perfect editorial cartoon for Borgman to draw IF Kelly leaves would be something like BK dressed as Mary Poppins, floating away on an umbrella with an 'ND' label, with some children/adults waving goodbye to him on the ground with a 'Cincinnati' label.

[CincyBeerCo]

He's turning his back on us not the other way. He's gotten contract extensions and his practice facility and they are working on the stadium expansion. Everything he asks for has been his.

As far as the pain to leave the kids, it must not be too much since he can do it the week after they won him a second Big East championship.

No WE/UC are/is getting a practice facility and hopefully stadium expansion. Not toomention 3 10+ win seasons, an undefeated regular season, highest ranking ever, back to back BCS games and back to back BEast Championships. Pretty sure we've made out on this deal no matter how it ends. I'm still hoping it ends with him here for many more years.

[#41]

I'm pretty sure he's not taking the practice facility or stadium expansion with him. They will improve UC's football potential greatly whether BK is here or not.

The practice facility, absolutely true.

The stadium is probably going to be a tough sell (at least to donors) when Kelly leaves -- at least until whoever is brought in can show that the program is continuing to build in the right direction.

[waterhead]

I did use a lot of "if" and "whens" in my post.

I'm not gonna give it a break, I am responding to a post that stated that Bearcat fans turned their back on Brian Kelly.

If anything, we have had Brian Kelly's back all along. More than we have ever had any UC football coaches back. We bought into all of it, with great results for all of us, and him.

Read this: http://www.examiner.com/x-30967-Cinc...-at-Cincinnati

Pretty straightforward. "If" BK moves, on, after saying this, what would you have to say about it?

BTW, I thought my own post was pretty balanced and understanding...

Yes, sorry I did think the rest of your post was pretty level headed and objective. If Kelly said those EXACT words and goes to ND then I would agree. But you know kids...they hear what they want to hear SOMETIMES. I would be extremely surprised if coach Kelly said those exact words and then went to ND. The "I am not going to ND" part.

So let's wait and see...and like I said...give the man a chance to speak if he even does take the job. He may tell you that "Well, Webster (I love ya man) misquoted me just a little...all I said was that I was staying...not that I would never go to ND or anywhere else". "I meant what I said when I said it and now I have different feelings because I wasn't expecting what I heard from ND".

That could be the case...or the case could be that he stays. Either way, there is only one way to make him a hypocrite and that is if he said those exact words and then recants. In which case I would tend to agree with you...but your jumping the gun. I know you said "if" a lot but there are other people who have already sold him out...and selling out a coach BEFORE he leaves is unfair.

[CincyBeerCo]

The practice facility, absolutely true.

The stadium is probably going to be a tough sell (at least to donors) when Kelly leaves -- at least until whoever is brought in can show that the program is continuing to build in the right direction.

IF Kelly leaves........

[udonkey]

The practice facility, absolutely true.

The stadium is probably going to be a tough sell (at least to donors) when Kelly leaves -- at least until whoever is brought in can show that the program is continuing to build in the right direction.

Another way to look at it though, is to use the situation to light a fire under donors. You know, we aimed for the skies, we're on our way, with your help, we'll continue to build on that progress. Without you, the future is uncertain.

That's at least how I'd direct it. I'd respond positively to it as well.

Then again, I'm in this thing for the long haul, regardless.

[hangarninetysix]

I have no problem with it if he wants to go to Notre Dame. It's a big time school with alot of great tradition and I understand that.

What I would have a problem with is if he leaves after all he has said and gotten the University to commit to doing. That would be flat out selfish, and incredibly so, simply jerking around people making decisions worth millions of dollars in case he decides to change his mind and stay.

Having said that, maybe he doesn't plan to leave at all, and he's just trying to get a better contract. In that case, that's fine by me, he deserves to get paid alot more than he is getting paid now. So I can understand if he is trying to get UC to sweeten the deal a little bit more.

But if it turns out he still wants to go to Notre Dame after all he's said and gotten the University to commit to, then he is in fact a liar and a hypocrite. (Or maybe he wouldn't be a hypocrite if he was lying from the get-go.)

Maybe basketball attendance will pick up next year if he leaves.