Coach Kelly Situation

[schottjy]

From our good friends at ESPN:

"Players say Kelly reassured them" http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4717051

[#41]

From our good friends at ESPN: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4717051

He said "I'm not Mark Dantonio."

We'll know shortly whether or not he meant that.

[London 'Cat]

ESPN reported a Chicago Sun-Times story about Stoops being announced as ND's coach as early as Sunday. It was reported on ESPNews right after the UC-Pitt game ended. Stoops denied it when asked. FWIW . . . . .

[shaunsimpson]

Kelly has done more for Bearcat athletics than any other figure in the last 20 years not named Bob Goin and Bob Huggins and you can make an argument over both of them.

If he leaves for 2M more and a fan base that packs in the house when their team is terrible and also the largest fan base in the country than so be it. I will shake his hand and thank him for what he did.

[#41]

Kelly has done more for Bearcat athletics than any other figure in the last 20 years not named Bob Goin and Bob Huggins and you can make an argument over both of them.

If he leaves for 2M more and a fan base that packs in the house when their team is terrible and also the largest fan base in the country than so be it. I will shake his hand and thank him for what he did.

Leaving isn't the issue -- him telling his players he's staying and then going back on it (if he goes) would be.

After all the players, Mardy Gilyard in particular, have talked about how betrayed they felt by Mark Dantonio's departure, it'd be particularly crummy of Kelly to make a statement like he did if he had any intention of listening seriously to Notre Dame's offers.

Just my opinion. He knows what it means to THESE players in particular. He's said "I'm not Mark Dantonio." If he flatly told his players, "I'm not going to Notre Dame," then I intend to hold him to that. He is free to leave, but I'll lose a lot of respect for him if he does.

[bobestes]

Leaving isn't the issue -- him telling his players he's staying and then going back on it (if he goes) would be.

After all the players, Mardy Gilyard in particular, have talked about how betrayed they felt by Mark Dantonio's departure, it'd be particularly crummy of Kelly to make a statement like he did if he had any intention of listening seriously to Notre Dame's offers.

Just my opinion. He knows what it means to THESE players in particular. He's said "I'm not Mark Dantonio." If he flatly told his players, "I'm not going to Notre Dame," then I intend to hold him to that. He is free to leave, but I'll lose a lot of respect for him if he does.

It struck me that maybe Webster is playing harball a little bit... put it out there that he said he's staying to the players to increase the public pressure to not go back on that.

[bearcattg]

Let's think about this logically. BK said that there are about 10-12 jobs that are better than UC. To me those would be USC, Florida, Texas, Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State, Florida State, Penn State, Georgia, Miami (FL), and Nebraska. You could make an argument for several others as well as arguments against some I have included. Let's say you include Iowa, Tennessee, and Wisconsin to the argument. Which of these schools would have potential openings?

USC, Florida, Texas, Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, and Iowa all have arguably the best coaches in college and they aren't going anywhere in the near future.

LSU, Oklahoma, Miami (FL), and Wisconsin all have coaches who wouldn't leave, save for maybe their alma maters or one of the 7 previous jobs.

Florida St already has a replacement. Michigan, Nebraska, and Tennessee just hired a coach. Penn State has a replacement for when Paterno retires/dies.

Realistically the only job available on that list is Notre Dame (possibly Michigan if Rich Rod doesn't get things together). So from BK's stand point, if he turns down ND or doesn't get offered the job, this may be his last chance to "move up" for quite a while. He would be silly not to consider it if ND is interested.

[London 'Cat]

I personally think ESPN wants Kelly to coach ND more than ND.

I agree with that statement.

[Genester]

Let's think about this logically. BK said that there are about 10-12 jobs that are better than UC. To me those would be USC, Florida, Texas, Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State, Florida State, Penn State, Georgia, Miami (FL), and Nebraska.

This is a good list, but even some schools here aren't clear cut. FSU, Penn State, and Nebraska all arguably sport big expectations and suffer significantly from recruiting competition vis-a-vis their past. I am not sure these jobs are significantly more attractive because of the school name.

Now, any school that wants to throw up $5M/year for 3 years at a coach, those are indeed more attractive than UC regardless of the school name. If SE Missouri State decides to do that tomorrow, then they become a top 15 most attractive school.

[bearcattg]

This is a good list, but even some schools here aren't clear cut. FSU, Penn State, and Nebraska all arguably sport big expectations and suffer significantly from recruiting competition vis-a-vis their past. I am not sure these jobs are significantly more attractive because of the school name.

Now, any school that wants to throw up $5M/year for 3 years at a coach, those are indeed more attractive than UC regardless of the school name. If SE Missouri State decides to do that tomorrow, then they become a top 15 most attractive school.

I based the list on history, ability to pay the big dollars, and the national prominence success at those schools would bring. All fit the bill. Again arguments could be made against some or for others.

Don't forget that in "Bearcat Rising" BK considered going to Washington, but decided against because the move would be too hard for the family. No one would consider Washington a bigger or better option either.

[Genester]

I based the list on history, ability to pay the big dollars, and the national prominence success at those schools would bring. All fit the bill. Again arguments could be made against some or for others.

Don't forget that in "Bearcat Rising" BK considered going to Washington, but decided against because the move would be too hard for the family. No one would consider Washington a bigger or better option either.

All good points. Here's an interesting list of top 100 (mostly) current football coaches salaries. I can't vouch for accuracy or that it includes compensation from all sources, but its a good read to understand the opportunity in front of Kelly.

[#41]

I wonder what UC could afford to pay.

Theoretically, if they said to themselves: "We have to put it all on the line, this is our absolute maximum offer that we can afford to give" -- what would that number be?

Could they hit $3m and put BK into the Top-10?

[Genester]

I wonder what UC could afford to pay.

Theoretically, if they said to themselves: "We have to put it all on the line, this is our absolute maximum offer that we can afford to give" -- what would that number be?

Could they hit $3m and put BK into the Top-10?

Well, this is a an interesting question. Theoretically, we're a public university and at some point the question of how much we invest in our teachers and students over the football coach will come up. At the same time, as we can see from the list, some public universities are able to pay a highly competitive salary, likely because of the revenue football brings (the point Calhoun made last year in response to questioning his salary at UConn). I think this is probably a philosophical decision - are we going to try to make it big (i.e. consistent top 15 type program) or are we OK with being slightly above average with some highs? The difference between those two answers is likely $3M per year in staff salary, plus $50M+ or so in facility, stadium expansion, upkeep cost, etc., minus the revenues from attendance, advertising, gear, contracts, and arguably attracting new students. I am sure UC is crunching the numbers to come up with the answer. We'll find out what we choose in the next couple of years

Something worth noting - how many schools in that list have both a truly top basketball AND a top football program? Not many. Most seem to make a choice for one signature sport and really go after it. If UC has to choose, which one would it be? (and I am amazed we're even at a point where this question isn't laughed at - what would this sound like 5 years ago?)

[Lobot]

Has the Forum ever had thread that was even close to having almost 35,000 hits, over 500 posts and 27-28 pages? Who says UC is not a football school?

I was wondering the same thing the other night Richard. The most discussion I remember having was on the old email list when Huggins was fired. I got about a 1000 emails that day.

[mjb1979]

No basis to this other than my own opinion, but if Florida loses this game I wouldn't be surprised to see Urban Meyer's name surface again for the ND job