If there’s one thing I can’t stand in sports, it’s when someone either (a) flat-out lies, or (b) leads someone, or their team, astray. Last season, I wrote something similar to this last summer, in regards to Elton Brand fleeing the Clippers, and signing with the Philadelphia 76ers, after persuading Baron Davis to sign with them. He’s been in basketball hell since then, which makes me do nothing but smile inside. Lets be for real; we all know The Baron wouldn’t have signed with the Clippers, if he knew that traitor was leaving for the East Coast. Sorry for getting off-track, because this ain't about that. The latest Benedict Arnold is Brian Kelly, the former head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats, who‘s chasing dollars (and a dream) over to South Bend, as the next head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
This whole situation pisses me off to no end, and the same way Brand was labeled, so shall Brian Kelly. Simply put, Coach Kelly is a disgrace to the college football race. He just coached his team to a Sugar Bowl berth against the Florida Gators, so why the hell is he not focused on getting his team prepared for that game, and instead is carousing and caboodaling (I made that word up) across the country, tryna get the Notre Dame gig? Don’t get me wrong; Notre Dame is Notre Dame, and it’s pretty much understood they can get pretty much anyone they want, by throwing money, prestige, and all that other bullshit to woo somebody, but he’s still wrong for taking it, at least right now.
His players feel betrayed, and to be honest, no one should blame them one bit. Mardy Gilyard (Ed’s pre-season ETSF All-America special teams pick, and new favorite player) went in on Kelly after he got the news, pretty much saying he went for the money. I, for one, ain't mad at Gilyard one bit for being angry, and if anyone else is angry at him, they are certainly justified in feeling that way. Why not make Cincinnati what Notre Dame, despite the past 15 years, claims to be? A powerhouse, and a legitimate program, where players will flock by-the-pound to come play at; why leave? Ohio is a hot-bed for high school football, and he certainly could continue to pry five-star talent to campus, as well as get more players from all over the country to come, but no. He tells his players, and anyone who would listen for weeks, how much he loves Cincinnati, but then he turns around, and leaves for greener pastures. Don’t piss on their heads, and tell ‘em it’s raining outside, but that’s what Kelly did. As far as I’m concerned, he knew all along he was gonna leave Cincy, but waited until they won the Big East championship, and now he can bounce, and leave his players to figure out how they’re going to beat Florida on their own. Sorry, but that’s a Benedict Arnold to me.Then again, why should anyone even be surprised? He coached at Central Michigan for three years, coached Cincinnati for three years, so maybe the writing was on the wall all along. Granted, he was at Grand Valley State for 13 years before that, so he isn’t a complete job-hopper, like that piece of crap over at Arkansas. Also, there will be no wishes of a coaching demise or anything like that. Besides, Notre Dame’s problems are bigger than coaching, but that’s another post altogether. For all I know, he may be a great guy, so this isn’t necessarily him being labeled a Benedict Arnold for being a bad dude. Simply, it’s because he didn’t do his former team any justice by leading them astray. It’s a shame, because it didn’t have to be this way.
Be easy.
ARE WE REALLY SURPRISED AT WHAT BRIAN KELLY DID? SHOULD HE HAVE TRULY STAYED AT CINCINNATI? WEIGH IN AND DISCUSS!
-K. Masenda
www.edthesportsfan.com
Comments
18 Responses to "The Benedict Arnold Chronicles: Brian Kelly"Ken,
Usually I'm with you but this time, I couldn't disagree more. I agree that the timing is rotten but don't blame Kelly for that. College football needs to alter the recruiting calendar and bar schools from interviewing coaches until after the bowl games.
UC fans. Stop whining. How many of you were worried about Central Michigan when you grabbed Kelly away from there? How many of you would have stuck with him if he hadn't won here? How many of you would stick with your current job if you were offered three times as much money to go elsewhere?
The bigger fish eat the smaller fish in college football. It's Darwinism to the fullest. Kelly didn't make it that way; he just has to live by it. Coaching is the ultimate "strike while the iron is hot" vocation.
There's no loyalty in management, so coaches can't have any either. Ask Byron Scott, NBA coach of the year two years ago, out on the street today.
JAG
I understand your point, JAG and Ed. I'm gonna attack it this way. Why come players (you know the guys that make it possible for coaches to job hop) transfer as they please? What's good for the gander is good for the goose, or something like that.
A couple things I'd like to touch on here, Kenny. For one, never, ever trust someone from Duke. That's rule No. 1. Elton Brand didn't suddenly become a Benedict Arnold overnight. He went to Duke, which means he was an asshole from the start. If you like Duke, you're a bad person.
Second, I can't agree with you on this one either. Well, that's not entirely true. I think it's rotten to do this before the bowl game, after leading these kids to an undefeated season and all. I think he should have told ND he'd come but he'd like to wait until after the bowl game to announce it. I understand ND wanting to get the word out there as soon as possible for recruiting purposes, but I think they could have waited a month.
But as far as saying he shouldn't leave and chase the money and the dream, well, again, I can't agree with you there. If you are working at a small accounting firm and Goldman Sacs offers you their lead position for a huge pay raise, most people are going for it. And if it's a dream of yours to work there, the decision is that much easier. That doesn't mean you don't love where you are now, it just means you're going on to a better opportunity for yourself. Whether or not ND is a better opportunity to win for Kelly is debatable, but it's definitely a better opportunity for national exposure and a better financial opportunity.
I don't hold that against the man. I think he did let his players down by doing this before the BCS game, but I don't begrudge him for deciding to take the ND gig.
You know my stance on telling other people how to live their lives and whatnot. Not my thing.
But one thing we can all agree on: Elton Brand is a dirty, rotten m----f-er.
JAG
The Byron Scott thing is different. I agree that he shouldn't have been fired, but the Hornets can also say look at the team's performance, and they can justify their decision. I hate the timing of it, simply despise it, brother.
The Rev
Definitely agreed on The Turncoat (Brand). Sadly, Shane Battier is the only one left with honor from Duke (okay, maybe Grant Hill). Like you said, he should have waited, because...lets be honest: who else was Notre Dame REALLY gonna get? Stoops already said he wasn't going. Meyer (who I don't like, but at least he keeps his word) said he wasn't going either. Okay, Kelly passes them up, but I feel it would have been fair to his team, his players, and anyone else concerned, if he focused all his attention on getting them ready for the Sugar Bowl. Have you seen some of these interviews with the players, once they heard what happened, and how they heard about it? I can't co-sign on that, brother. A dream of his, yes. Perhaps it shoulda been a dream deferred. People are saying he likes challenges, but I'll counter that one by asking why not take the challenge of continuing to turn Cincinnati into a perennial power? Shoot, it's debatable that taking that challenge is bigger than going to Notre *bleeping* Dame.
I thought a good night's sleep would lessen the venom, but it certainly has not.
Paul Revere,
You think Notre Dame could have waited a month? And watch all the other schools get the upper hand while they pretend that they don't have a coach? Don't think so. Kelly wouldn't want that either.
Notre Dame isn't going to put its program at a disadvantage to help UC, just like UC isn't going to put its program at a disadvantage when they rob a smaller school of its coach in the next week or two.
Don't hate the player; hate the game. Unless the recruiting schedule is changed and school are barred from hiring until after the bowls, then this is how it's going to be.
JAG
I hear ya there JAG. And definitely hear you too Kenny. I mean, Kelly clearly wanted the job, but I do think it's tough on the kids that he takes away from their focus on completely an unbelievable season.
Certainly, it would hurt ND's recruiting a little bit, but I find it hard believe it would kill it. Maybe I'm wrong. Still, I understand why it went down like it did and why the players are upset. But shit, that's life, right?
JAG
Why not tell Notre Dame no then, brother? You're right about the rules being what they are; I understand that. You're right about recruiting, I agree. But like Stank-O said, the players are expected to give the program their undivided attention, but the same isn't expected of the coach, just because the recruiting calendar sucks? They can't just get up and leave, and just because coaches aren't held to that expectation level, it doesn't make it right. Sorry sir, but I'm not diggin' that (as you can see, because he's been labeled a Benedict Arnold).
Soul,
Why not tell Notre Dame, no?
I guess he wanted the job.
Are you stating that he should turn down a 5 year, multi million dollar contract so he can stay, coach the bowl game and resume working at a disadvantage at 35,000 seat Nippert Stadium? That's a tremendous sacrifice you're asking him to make.
Kelly caught lightning in a bottle and beat the odds and he knows it. What if UC has a couple of 5-7 seasons? Do you think Notre Dame or any other major school will be ringing his phone? No, he'll be out on his you know what, trying to get an offensive co-ordinator job and start over.
I think we're in agreement that the system that allows Kelly to leave before the bowl game stinks.
We just disagree on where the blame goes. You're putting it on Kelly; I'm calling out the NCAA.
JAG
I gotta say this, I love everything I've seen out of Mardy Gilyard. That dude is not only a stud, but a true leader.
Ok now let me put my two cents on here...
#1. I agree wholeheartedly about anyone who chooses to play basketball at Duke, they can take a long walk off a short cliff.
#2. Am I mad at Brian Kelly, no. Am I mad at the timing of his decision, Lord yes. Does he really have a choice on the timing of the decision. Lord no. If he wants to SUCCEED at Notre Dame then he has to go recruit right now. This instant. He should be knocking on 4 & 5-star recruits like they were going out of style.
Moreover, my deal with the Brian Kelly choice of ND vs. UC was that look at Frank Beamer (who was in the Big East, now moved to the ACC) and Beamer ball got to a national championship and got really, really close in the 15 years he's been there. All I'm saying is that Kelly could've built that UC program like Beamer built that VTech program. Sometimes, being a legend where you at is better than continuing a legend somewhere else.
I'd rather own my legendaryness (just made that up) than share it with Rockne, Parseighan (sp), Holtz, etc.
-Ed.
For what it's worth, my cousin, who was a walk-on at ND and played for Ty Willingham and Charlie Weis, had this to say about Brian Kelly. Granted, he loved Weis and Tyrone, as every player who played for those guys did, and he's not a fan of the Big East:
"I get why the fired weis, I don't agree with it, but 6-6 isn't good. So then they go out and hire this clown? I'm less than excited.
"If the scores of nd games are 55-40, I'm gonna have a hard time watching. I hate the big east and wac style football.
"I'd be pissed if I played there [Cincy]. Greatest season ever at that school and he lies and leaves. Rich rodriguez style.
"I'd rather learn the rules of soccer and watch that instead of a game with 12 tds every week. I'll like him if they play defense. If not, I'll buy a psu hat."
By the way, he played defense, so he's naturally biased against high-scoring games. Just thought you might be interested in hearing the take of an ND alum and former player.
I know money is always an issue, but Notre Dame sucks. He has a better team at Cincy, he is winning at Cincy. I think it's a slap in the face to his team and the entire city. Notre Dame has deminishing prestige, they haven't been worth jack in years. Even with all-american players, they still sucked. He showed everyone what kind of person he is with this move.
How about everyone think back to when you were a kid and imagined playing for your favorite team. How about you think about how many hours and days and months you spent following your favorite team and wishing you could one day come out of the tunnel wearing that uni. Why is it so bad that Kelly (Irish Catholic from Boston) who I'm sure grew up watching the Fighting Irish faithfully, jumped at the chance to coach them. This is a dream come true for the guy.
Why did Sam Bradford come back to OU for his Senior season. The answer is, he grew up in Oklahoma, living OU football. It was his dream. We get so wrapped up in the business of sports that we don't put ourselves in these guys shoes. I bet you if Cincy offered more money than ND, Kelly would still be leaving.
I think everyone agrees that to be a stand up guy he would stay for the bowl game. I agree. But the fact of the matter is that there's no easy way to cut ties in college football. Because if you're worth your weight, you would have been recruiting guys under the premise that they are gonna play for you. Now the players have anxiety about preparing for a bowl game, who their new coach will be, and how to prove themselves all over again to a new staff. Who wouldn't be pissed? They have that right. But, it would take a bigger man to shake Kelly's hand, wish him well, turn to the team and say "We were the ones on the field this season, and we will be on the field against Florida. Let's get over this speedbump and get to work."
Stank,
Players don't "transfer as they please". If they go from Div 1 to Div 1, they have to sit out a year before they can play. That's a major consideration.
Why can't players transfer if they want, just like any other college student can? Do you lose the right to change your mind and try a different school if you happen to play football or basketball?
I support the sit out a year rule, otherwise you would have chaos as students changed schools if they got benched or got mad at a teammate or coach.
Maybe we should have that rule for coaches who don't honor their contracts.
;-)
JAG
I feel you on this, but it's like this...if you were to get a new job that you deemed as better obviously or you wouldnt have taken it, but you have to stay your extra two weeks.....there's no way you'd be totally dedicated those last two weeks....
it's good for Cincy's sake that he left, because the same thing happened to OU in the 2003 Big 12 Championship. Mike Stoops took the Arizona coaching job but still tried to coach the championship game and got roasted!!! Even if Kelly stayed Cincy wouldn't have been his main focus no matter how hard he tried for it to be....
6Magazine
Mattymac8.blogspot.com is better then this!
College football is a business. He did what was best for him and his family (In his opinion).
He should have signed after the bowl game versus Florida. Go to Mattymac8.blogspot.com.
Post a Comment
Drop a line folks...no anonymous commenters!