Some time today it is expected that Brian Kelly, Coach of this year's Big East Champion Cincinatti Bearcats, is expected to announce to his players that he has taken the head coach job at Notre Dame. The undefeated Bearcats have gone 12-0 this year.
The loss of Kelly may put a different ring to the football season. Coach Kelly may not be on the sideline for the Sugar Bowl apperance by the Bearcats.
I have always wondered about coaches who jump from team to team. Yes, I understand it's a business decision. But I have always wondered about the commitments made to team players and to schools. Shouldn't a coach at least finish out a season, including bowl games?
In basketball, entering players have the right to rescind commitments to play for a specific school if the coach moves on. It should be that way for all sports.
Cincinatti is not in the same league as Nortre Dame when it comes to football. But then few schools have such a football tradition or glamour. Maybe USC. Michigan or Ohio State and Texas may be working on gaining a tradition. The Big East's glory days seem to be in the past as far as football goes. The Big East may have the TV markets but few of the big stadiums and fanatical fans of other conferences.
Notre Dame's football program is really a nearly 40 million dollar business. The coach is a key figure in that business. Losing seasons are not tolerable for any period of time. And in football, like other businesses, the rich can always hire the best talent.
But doesn't that best coaching talent owe something to his players and to the schools that allowed development of the talent?
posted by SherriAnne
Sort of smacks of a bit of a con job- coaxing and cajoling to get something that brings awards and rewards- and then abandoning those that helped garner what you sought.
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posted by CaliforniaBlonde
And yes, it is business, big business. If he had the opportunity to take the head coach job at Notre Dame, good for him!
Loyalty is an important trait for anyone to have. So is completing one's commitments. Moving on after a perfect season is nothing to be ashamed of.
Cali
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posted by JimBangs
There are always two sides to every situation. Coaches have files of players that committed to their school only to watch them go to the next better scholarship that came along. Coaches have all heard promises from AD's and presidents of Universities about if you only come here we will commit to better facilities, better players and staff and then find they were deceived. Big time college athletics has a dark and distasteful side to it that has the players being manipulated and exploited, (don't give me that line; "but they get a free education" BS), coaches under the pressure, all in the name of big time dollars going to the schools.
If Brian Kelly wanted the oppotunity that Notre Dame is giving him, good for him. He "owes" nothing to Cincinatti. He more than fullfilled his commitment to the university and those players.
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posted by okhela
Yes. The season isn't over until the last game is played.
The goal of the season is attaining a bowl invitation. The coach's job
isn't complete until that obligation has been fulfilled.
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posted by ChelseaLad
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