Official 2021 College Football thread

[GrantDawg]

Urban to South Bend?

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[GrantDawg]

Brian, I saw a sports news guy state that Michigan is in win or lose. I wonder exactly how he gets there?

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[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Urban to South Bend?

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I can't imagine that happening with all of the scandals attached to Urban. Just the video from earlier this season would probably be enough.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by bob

As if GT didn't suck enough, their running back (Gibbs - #3 in the nation in all purpose yards) is entering the transfer portal.

Rumored destination is Tennessee so Jon will still be able to cheer for him.

I'd said all weekend that Gibbs would have to be nuts to stay on the used car lot. He's a scarce figure there, a legit P5 caliber player. (No surprise either, he looked like the legit goods coming out of HS, turning down early offers from Michigan and A&M, and late pushes from Florida, Georgia, and Bama)

[Brian Swartz]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Brian, I saw a sports news guy state that Michigan is in win or lose. I wonder exactly how he gets there?

Assuming it isn't just homerism, I don't know.

[JonInMiddleGA]

The latest departure from Norman is WR Jadon Haselwood, a highly touted prospect out of Georgia (Cedar Grove)

A few folks may recall that he was originally committed to UGA at one point before leaving with some sharp remarks after the coach in charge of recruiting abruptly departed.

This perhaps gives Haselwood the dubious distinction of being the only talented player in history to leave a program because Jim Chaney _departed_.

[Ksyrup]

Luke Fickell has to fit in the carousel somewhere, right?

[JonInMiddleGA]

The thing that has me doubting the BK rumor is the reported timing.

I can get my head around him leaving for enough money.

I can't get my head around him leaving (and it be announced) prior to knowing whether they're in or out of the playoff.

[GrantDawg]

I agree with you Jon. The timing is crazy.

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[GrantDawg]

Imagine this fun (and there are rumors here): Brian Kelly takes LSU and is replaced at Notre Dame by Luke Fickell. Both of their current teams make the playoffs.

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[Solecismic]

The maximum carnage scenario had me wondering about Oregon, since it could beat the only team that it lost to in regulation. Baylor would also be defeating the one team that it lost to by more than a couple of points.

And if Utah also takes out Oregon, I think that's the only way Ohio State gets in - unless the Iowa/Michigan game is a nail-biter, then you're going to have to take them above another two-loss team that just beat them badly. Or if it wasn't a nail-biter, maybe Iowa gets a hard look.

No matter what happens in that scenario, people will be unhappy. But the committee is supposed to give conference champions the edge in a perceived tie.

[bob]

If he’s taking a penny less than $250 mill, I’m going to be pissed:

Asked last week whether he would have any interest in other jobs, Kelly gave a strong denial.

"I mean, look, I think Mike Tomlin had the best line, right?" Unless that fairy godmother comes by with that $250 million check, my wife would want to take a look at it first. I'd have to run it by her," said Kelly.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by bob

If he’s taking a penny less than $250 mill, I’m going to be pissed:

Asked last week whether he would have any interest in other jobs, Kelly gave a strong denial.

"I mean, look, I think Mike Tomlin had the best line, right?" Unless that fairy godmother comes by with that $250 million check, my wife would want to take a look at it first. I'd have to run it by her," said Kelly.

Are we talking above or under the table?

[bhlloy]

It’s either Fickell or Campbell, with an outside shot that Meyer takes his dream job. I think any way you look at it, it could well be an upgrade for ND. Kelly is fine, but hardly a dynamic recruiter and that team is always going to have a ceiling given the talent he’s bringing in.

[albionmoonlight]

Kelly is not a fun guy to root for. This is when I’m glad that I am just a casual fan and not a fanatic. I can simply care a little less about LSU while he’s there.

[Atocep]

If I were Notre Dame then Fickell would be an easy call. I wanted WVU to go harder after him over Neal Brown a couple of years ago. I'm not as sold on Matt Campbell and wouldn't bother giving Urban a call at this point.

[Atocep]

Texas probably wondering how they got stuck with Sark last offseason after watching this shit play out.

[GrantDawg]

Kelly's reported salary is $15 million a year. He would be the second highest paid NFL coach.

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[miami_fan]

Are the academic standards at ND still a factor in recruiting?

[sterlingice]

I don't get why you would give Matt Campbell the reins over an elite program right now. If he had gotten 9 or 10 wins this season, sure. However, with real expectations this year, he only got 7. I guess you could be wanting to be in a year early rather than a year late if he blows up next year. But this was supposed to be the year he burst onto the national stage. Losses to Iowa and Oklahoma and even Baylor are fine. But Tech and West Virginia, even on the road - If you're an elite coach prospect, you win those games and/or steal one of the other couple. I think the shine has come off of his star. But that doesn't mean an AD can't fall in love with an interview.

SI

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Texas probably wondering how they got stuck with Sark last offseason after watching this shit play out.

Because, let's be honest, Texas is a worse program than USC, OU, Notre Dame, or LSU.

EDIT: They can break a conference, but they've brought more eyeballs than football prestige for quite a while.

SI

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

I don't get why you would give Matt Campbell the reins over an elite program right now. If he had gotten 9 or 10 wins this season, sure. However, with real expectations this year, he only got 7. I guess you could be wanting to be in a year early rather than a year late if he blows up next year. But this was supposed to be the year he burst onto the national stage. Losses to Iowa and Oklahoma and even Baylor are fine. But Tech and West Virginia, even on the road - If you're an elite coach prospect, you win those games and/or steal one of the other couple. I think the shine has come off of his star. But that doesn't mean an AD can't fall in love with an interview.

SI

Supposedly UW offered him 7 mil/year and he said no.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Supposedly UW offered him 7 mil/year and he said no.

UW is an upgrade over Iowa State but not quite elite. If it were me and I were comfortable in the northwest, I'd take that without thinking too much. But I wonder if he was gambling on all this chaos giving him a landing spot in an even better place.

SI

[bhlloy]

Because despite the W/L record he’s still recruiting at Iowa State? I’d have been very happy with him as the USC hire, but I guess he’s wanting to stay in the Midwest.

[JonInMiddleGA]

As mindboggling as it is to me, I think I'm starting to lean toward the Kelly news being legit.

And that's gonna just about do me for weird (unless, as someone mentioned above, Fickell then takes the ND job before the weeks ends too)

[JPhillips]

I don't think ND can wait until Fickell is out of the playoffs. Their recruiting class will already take a hit, but no coach for over a month just isn't sustainable for a program at their level.

And too bad for Fickell. I think he's a really good coach that deserves a job at a program where he could win a National Championship.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

I don't think ND can wait until Fickell is out of the playoffs.

Well, LSU didn't wait. Not sure I'd bet on ND waiting either.

[jbergey22]

Five years ago Kelly was all but out the door, now he is being targeted and quickly hired by LSU. Lets just call him lucky because as a coach he is overrated.

Notre Dame will hire someone better, no loss at all to them.

I just hope they keep their filthy paws off of PJ Fleck.

[Swaggs]

I think Kelly is a weird fit at LSU, but he’s been very successful everywhere he has coached.

Sometimes, I like to think about the worst possible fits for coaching hires and I think Coach O. at Notre Dame or Duke is among my new favorites.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

I think Kelly is a weird fit at LSU, but he’s been very successful everywhere he has coached.

Sometimes, I like to think about the worst possible fits for coaching hires and I think Coach O. at Notre Dame or Duke is among my new favorites.

I agree with weird fit. I don't think you are really swinging for the fences with this hire. He's been alright but it that what LSU is really after? Kelly was working with an elite program and while he won a lot of games, I can think of at least 2-3 times in these particular threads that he was on his way out the door. In 2016 he went 4-8 at Notre Dame. I suppose since he vastly outcoached Davies, Willingham, and Weiss his resume looks better.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Looking like ND will promote their DC with zero HC experience if Twitter has got this pegged right.

I started to say that is the sort of move that can get an AD fired but then I noticed that the AD is 67 years old. He might not be worried about sticking around THAT much longer so a gamble of that magnitude would make a little more sense.

[Edward64]

I like the Brian Kelly hire for the SEC and LSU. There are probably better fit ones but this is probably the best they could have done with where they are. And Kelly has the right experience and proven track record.

I'm not sure it's good for Kelly though. LSU dropped a coach that won it a NC just 2 years ago.

Who am I kidding, with his salary, he's laughing all the way to the bank. But will say I am somewhat disappointed. At a certain point, hasn't a person made enough money, at a top university, national recognition, gotten enough glory etc. to like stay in place or transition out gracefully (e.g. spend a year in the media booth while waiting for the next round of hiring's). Now he's distracted the players, probably messed up ND recruiting etc.

[bob]

I’m far from a ND insider, but I believe the stance is the DC is largely responsible for the next two recruiting classes, and him leaving could make the whole thing fall apart. Spend the money on a good OC (bye bye Tommy Rees) and it could work.

Kelly is getting ripped but given the new dates for signing days, I’m not sure there is ever a good time to do this anymore. And while he never won a title at ND, he certainly stabilized a mess and won double digits his last 4 years.

[Butter]

Venables was in Clemson area last night watching his daughter play middle school basketball and is on a recruiting trip with Dabo today to Kansas and Missouri to visit some commits/potentials.

Not saying he's not taking the OU job, but it's not done yet

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Edward64

I like the Brian Kelly hire for the SEC and LSU. There are probably better fit ones but this is probably the best they could have done with where they are. And Kelly has the right experience and proven track record.

I'm not sure it's good for Kelly though. LSU dropped a coach that won it a NC just 2 years ago.

Who am I kidding, with his salary, he's laughing all the way to the bank. But will say I am somewhat disappointed. At a certain point, hasn't a person made enough money, at a top university, national recognition, gotten enough glory etc. to like stay in place or transition out gracefully (e.g. spend a year in the media booth while waiting for the next round of hiring's). Now he's distracted the players, probably messed up ND recruiting etc.

Conversation overheard at the Kelly household over the weekend

"I know we need the money, but..."
"Listen! We're not just doing this for money...
We're doing it for a SH*T LOAD of money!"
"Oh, you're right. And when you're right, you're right."

SI

[Swaggs]

I doubt he would leave at this point, but I wonder if anyone has taken a serious run at Dabo. You wouldn't think he'd leave, but I wouldn't have thought Kelly or Riley would either. I assume the only school that could legitimately pull him away would be Alabama when Saban retires, but with as successful as Clemson has been the last 5-10 years and Georgia and UNC much improved over the past few years, I would expect them to have some sort of decline over the next few and could see him making the jump at some point.

[Ksyrup]

Napier may well turn out to be a good hire for UF, but with all the big names moving around, it certainly feels like UF had predetermined who they wanted without even considering taking a swing at a big dog, or sold their program short. It's certainly more important to have a good coach rather than a name coach, but UF thinks it's at the level of some of the same schools that are hiring major names, and they apparently didn't even try.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Edward64

I like the Brian Kelly hire for the SEC and LSU. There are probably better fit ones but this is probably the best they could have done with where they are. And Kelly has the right experience and proven track record.

I'm not sure it's good for Kelly though. LSU dropped a coach that won it a NC just 2 years ago.

Who am I kidding, with his salary, he's laughing all the way to the bank. But will say I am somewhat disappointed. At a certain point, hasn't a person made enough money, at a top university, national recognition, gotten enough glory etc. to like stay in place or transition out gracefully (e.g. spend a year in the media booth while waiting for the next round of hiring's). Now he's distracted the players, probably messed up ND recruiting etc.

Nrian Kelly wasn't cashing in at ND. His salary was middle of the road for a major college. He was making less than Geoff Collins is at Georgia Tech. If the $15 million a year is true, that is more than 5 times what he was making. Very few people can look at that offer and say "no thanks."

[Ksyrup]

What's going to be a deeper shade of red/purple? Kelly's face on the sidelines reacting to a bad play/call or when he's sampling some spicy tailgate food before the game?

[Ksyrup]

10 years $95M. Not exactly $15M a year but good enough to leave ND I guess. I wonder if that makes it even worse.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

10 years $95M. Not exactly $15M a year but good enough to leave ND I guess. I wonder if that makes it even worse.

I am wondering if that number doesn't come from the incentives. So he could make as much as $15 million a year.

[GrantDawg]

Kirby is currently making $7 million. If Georgia wins out, is he over/under $10 million next year?

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Kirby is currently making $7 million. If Georgia wins out, is he over/under $10 million next year?

Over

[albionmoonlight]

Such is the respect/awe I have for Alabama that (1) Georgia has looked like the best team in the country all season, (2) Alabama needed to go to OT to beat Auburn last week, and (3) Georgia is favored by 6.5.

And I still figure that Alabama is going to win and it somehow won't even be close.

No logic. Just a healthy dose of conditioning from decades of Saban being Saban.

[spleen1015]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

Such is the respect/awe I have for Alabama that (1) Georgia has looked like the best team in the country all season, (2) Alabama needed to go to OT to beat Auburn last week, and (3) Georgia is favored by 6.5.

And I still figure that Alabama is going to win and it somehow won't even be close.

No logic. Just a healthy dose of conditioning from decades of Saban being Saban.

I'm here with you. I want Georgia to win just so Alabama isn't in the CFP. The only thing that will make me believe Alabama isn't going to win the title is when they are 100% elminated.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Napier may well turn out to be a good hire for UF, but with all the big names moving around, it certainly feels like UF had predetermined who they wanted without even considering taking a swing at a big dog, or sold their program short. It's certainly more important to have a good coach rather than a name coach, but UF thinks it's at the level of some of the same schools that are hiring major names, and they apparently didn't even try.

Paying off Dan Mullen's contract and the rest of his staff has to be a factor, no? I am not saying that they could not find the cash to go after one of these bigger name coaches, but still.

[miami_fan]

I know it is a fluid situation but in case anyone else was curious.

10 highest-paid college football coaches: Lincoln Riley, Brian Kelly land huge deals

10. Ryan Day salary: $6.614 million (Ohio State)
9. James Franklin salary: $7 million (Penn State)
8. Kirby Smart salary: $7.133 million (Georgia)
7. Jimbo Fisher salary: $7.5 million (Texas A&M)
6. Dabo Swinney salary: $8,370,775 (Clemson)
5. David Shaw salary: $8.925 million
4. Mel Tucker salary: $9.5 million (MIchigan State)
3. Nick Saban salary: $9,753,221 million (Alabama)
2. Brian Kelly salary: $9.5 million (LSU)
1. Lincoln Riley salary (estimated): $10-plus million (USC)

Compared to the NFL head coaches.

10. Matt Rhule (Panthers, NFL): 8.6 million dollars
9. Urban Meyer (Jaguars, NFL): 9 million dollars
8. John Harbaugh (Ravens, NFL): 9 million dollars
7. Frank Reich (Colts, NFL): 9 million dollars
6. Kyle Shanahan (49ers, NFL): 9.5 million dollars
5. Mike Tomlin (Steelers, NFL): 11.5 million dollars
4. Andy Reid (Chiefs, NFL): 12 million dollars
3. Sean Payton (Saints, NFL): 14 million dollars
2. Pete Carroll (Seahawks, NFL): 14 million dollars
1. Bill Belichick (Patriots, NFL): 18 million dollars

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Paying off Dan Mullen's contract and the rest of his staff has to be a factor, no? I am not saying that they could not find the cash to go after one of these bigger name coaches, but still.

If UF is half as great a destination as they claim to be and have half the money from all their great donors as they claim, this shouldn't have been much of an issue.

Now, Napier may be exactly what they need, but it feels like this was a done deal weeks ago and perhaps they misread who could be had.

[Vegas Vic]

5. David Shaw salary $8.925 million

That’s some serious coin for a guy who has gone 11-19 (.367) over the past three seasons. Playing in a conference that is slightly stronger than the American Athletic or Mountain West. No wonder USC had to pay Riley so much.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Vegas Vic

5. David Shaw salary $8.925 million

That’s some serious coin for a guy who has gone 11-19 (.367) over the past three seasons. Playing in a conference that is slightly stronger than the American Athletic or Mountain West. No wonder USC had to pay Riley so much.

This was surprising as well. But then I looked and he started off great at Stanford. Top-12 in 5 of the first 6 seasons. Pretty impressive for a school like Stanford and likely when he got that contract.

They've had a couple of down years now so it will be interesting to see what happens.