Coach Kelly Situation

[mikep]

I hope if we get him back it is because he turned them down. If it is the other way around this will be a yearly tradition until he actually is gone.

[catscratchfever]

Point is if he's interviewing he's interested. I've never interviewed for a job I didn't want. Just seems like the Dantonio situation all over again, as much as we all want to think he's not going to leave we just have to prepare for worst case scenario...

DUH! Anyone who hasn't realized all along that he is interested is naive. Our only hope is that it is not offered. Can you honestly believe that he would turn them down to stay here? Listen to his comments all along. The guy wants the job. We just have to hope that they do not want him.

[Cincyillini]

yeah

he wasn't going anywhere? I've lost a lot of respect for him.

agreed. kelly has handled this situation very poorly.

[PK2]

DUH! Anyone who hasn't realized all along that he is interested is naive. Our only hope is that it is not offered. Can you honestly believe that he would turn them down to stay here? Listen to his comments all along. The guy wants the job. We just have to hope that they do not want him.

Yeah sorry I meant point is he IS interested...

[seville]

I am still hoping this is leverage. I like the fact that Harbaugh has now surfaced as competition. He is from the midwest. He is a former pro for Indianapolis. He is winning in a tough conference. He may want it more because it gets him back closer to his roots. According to Wikipedia he makes about 1/2 what BK makes now. ND has all kinds of $$$, but if they can save a million a year by that could be a factor when you are still having to pay your previous coach.

It's a done deal. Both will interview tomorrow but Kelly will get the nod. Seriously Coach A has won back to back conference championships. Coach B has beaten USC twice w/ no conference titles and doesn't have half the coaching experience BK has. There is no leverage here. ND wins because of money, facilities and tradition. Somebody answer this question for me, what does UC have that ND doesn't? I'm like everybody else I want him to stay but we just don't stack up w/ ND. I've accepted this I think most of you should as well, BUT there is always HOPE and that's all we have at this point.

[CincyBeerCo]

he wasn't going anywhere? I've lost a lot of respect for him.

More than anything I respect his honesty. I'll reserve any judgements until the situation has played out. Coach Kelly doesn't owe anyone on this forum anything (we actually owe him). If he leaves, I'll wait to hear public comments from the team/players. If they are OK with it, we all should be too. Either way I'm going to root my hardest for what I love most in sports...THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI BEARCATS!!!!

[CincyBeerCo]

agreed. kelly has handled this situation very poorly.

I think he has handled it as well as humanly possible considering the circumstances. I would offer that the people that have handled it poorly are the fans. I'm gonna sit here w/ the perma-grin that I still have from attending what was easily one of the two greatest football games in Big East conference history (Flutie hail mary vs Miami obviously the other).

[CincyBearcat95]

Time to set everyone straight with real facts:

1. Coach Kelly is going to talk with ND to hear what they have to say.
2. Coach Kelly is still UC's coach

ND has not offered Coach Kelly the job and Coach Kelly has not left UC. Any assumptions along these lines are premature at best.

Thank you - voice of reason. And for all those who say "I only interview if I'm interested" well I'm willing to bet you're not a high level coach. Leverage with your current school to move your salary up and get the additions you think your program needs is part of that world. If he came out and said, I'm staying before trying to move his salary up (for him to feel that he is being paid what he should be) and before getting all of the facility upgrades (for his team to continue to be competive in the future) would be a mistake. This whole ND thing (whether he really wants it or not - I don't know) is a leverage point for him in negotiations with Mike T. And to be honest, if we are not willing to pony up the money to keep him and drastically improve our faclities,then I wouldn't stay either. We need to show commitment to the football program otherwise, he'd be wasting his career with us. He's shown he can win with lesser talent and lesser facilities. That is why he is a hot coach because most are saying..."Wow, what could this guy do with all 4 and 5 stars and our facilities!"

Folks at the major football programs alreayd have salary and facilities, that's why they do not need to move on unless its a pesonal/alma mater, etc. choice.

I hope to God he stays because not only do we loose a good coach, it will be perceived that we are not willing to committ to football (which may not be at all true if the offer from ND is anything near what they supposedly offered Stoops.)

[norwoodbearcat]

I have lost no respect for the guy. I would rather it be over sooner than than later. Dont coach the bowl game, lets get the monkey off our back. That Monkey is Notre Dame. It has nothing to do with him but instead the media and the coverage that will be given. Notre Dame has quickly dropped below Louisville.

[jkwuc89]

In my professional life, I have been contacted many times to gauge my interest in new career opportunities. Even though I am happy with my current position, I usually took the time to listen and learn about a new opportunity so that I could make an educated decision about whether to pursue the new opportunity further or to stay in my current position.

Coach Kelly is doing the same thing with ND. Regardless of where ND is today, the ND coaching position is still considered one of the highest profile coaching jobs in the country. It is in his best interests to talk with them so that he can also make an educated decision regarding his future.

With this being said, do I think Coach Kelly could stay at UC? The answer to this comes from Coach Kelly himself. He stated during today's Dan Patrick show that staying at UC is a very realistic possibility. And I am going to take him at his word.

Within a couple of days, I think we will have our answer one way or the other because ND cannot afford to be without a head coach for too long.

Will I be upset and disappointed if Coach Kelly leaves? Certainly! What he has done at UC so far is amazing. UC football is at heights I never thought I would see during my lifetime. Conversely, I will be overjoyed if he decides to stay.

[Rational Cat]

I like the honesty

"I'm no Mark Dantonio"

[CincyBeerCo]

It's a done deal. Both will interview tomorrow but Kelly will get the nod. Seriously Coach A has won back to back conference championships. Coach B has beaten USC twice w/ no conference titles and doesn't have half the coaching experience BK has. There is no leverage here. ND wins because of money, facilities and tradition. Somebody answer this question for me, what does UC have that ND doesn't? I'm like everybody else I want him to stay but we just don't stack up w/ ND. I've accepted this I think most of you should as well, BUT there is always HOPE and that's all we have at this point.

A football conference

[catscratchfever]

It's a done deal. Both will interview tomorrow but Kelly will get the nod. Seriously Coach A has won back to back conference championships. Coach B has beaten USC twice w/ no conference titles and doesn't have half the coaching experience BK has. There is no leverage here. ND wins because of money, facilities and tradition. Somebody answer this question for me, what does UC have that ND doesn't? I'm like everybody else I want him to stay but we just don't stack up w/ ND. I've accepted this I think most of you should as well, BUT there is always HOPE and that's all we have at this point.

Coach A also has baggage from his time at CMU, is very active in politics that go against ND standards and morals, and he has a crappy defense.

[ou_bearcat]

Let's just hope that leave or stay, BK makes a decision soon. This is driving me crazy

[vegasbearcat]

Does anyone have any information on players' myspace page or twitter accounts? If he spoke to the whole team someone is going to say something. Especially if they are feeling betrayed in any way. I would be very curious to feel the vibe from some players.