https://www.nbcsports.com/college-football

Fridays headline - Marcus Freeman signs 10-yr $150 contract with OU.

Interesting choice. Probably done to keep current players and incoming recruits happy so they wouldn't have a mass exodus. If the coaching change happened earlier I bet they would have went with someone else. Damage control this close to the early signing day.

I'm guessing, but I'd assume this is great news for us landing 5* Jacoby Matthews out of Louisiana.

They really don't want to have to pay a lot for a coach

Totally different circumstances, but the last time they promoted their D coordinator (Bob Davie) it didn't work out too well. Somewhat surprised they didn't go for a bigger name.

Never heard of her

ElephantRider said:

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They really don't want to have to pay a lot for a coach

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yep, this looks like a cost-saving move.

and perhaps not a bad idea since they were caught offguard

Both the OC and DC stay behind?! At least for now.

Interesting...

Pretty crappy move the Kelly tried to get the OC to leave with him.

Underwhelming hire by ND.

Aston 91 said:

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Totally different circumstances, but the last time they promoted their D coordinator (Bob Davie) it didn't work out too well. Somewhat surprised they didn't go for a bigger name.

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Maybe not but a great DC for the Ags.

So Kelly has to fill both an OC and DC spot? Tough time for that when he is also trying to hold together a recruiting class. I'm not shedding any tears for them.

But but Notre Dame is a blue blood..But but they never have to worry about something as insignificant as money…but but when the Notre Dame job is open, every elite head coach begs them to call..oh and their ratings are the highest in all of college football(ever heard of Notre Dame on NBC?). But but these are the reasons the committee chose ND over us last year! Because ND is so amazing and we are so worthless!

Signed, Texags

Jimbo4win said:

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But but Notre Dame is a blue blood..But but they never have to worry about something as insignificant as money…but but when the Notre Dame job is open, every elite head coach begs them to call..oh and their ratings are the highest in all of college football(ever heard of Notre Dame on NBC?). But but these are the reasons the committee chose ND over us last year! Because ND is so amazing and we are so worthless!

Signed, Texags

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Notre Dame takes a lot of the football profit and spends it on educational buildings.

Aggie said:

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Underwhelming hire by ND.

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Actually, I've been telling my dad all year that we needed to fire Kelly and hire someone like Freeman. All the Irish fans I know are over the moon at this turn of events.

Seeing some discussion that this is the first "post portal" hire because quite a few high profile ND players came out on social media wanting Coach Freeman.

There's some discussion that ND might've faced 3 or 4 or even more key players looking to the portal if they didn't give Freeman a chance.

That's an interesting dynamic which the portal creates where players can "flex" their support for a coaching hire or change.

Thoughts?

W said:

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ElephantRider said:

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They really don't want to have to pay a lot for a coach

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yep, this looks like a cost-saving move.

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Cost-saving moves won't win you a Natty.

Saving one recruiting class is not worth 3-4 years of waiting to see if a coordinator is HC material. The smarter move would've been to wait for Fickel.

I think the fact ND still has a shot at the playoffs was a factor. They don't want to be ruled out because they don't have a head coach.

You mean the same Coach who was 11-1 this year and has gotten ND into the playoffs (undeserved) twice in the last 4 years?

The same Coach who has ND with the #4 ranked recruiting class (for now) and was 54-9 in the last 5 years?

Oh yes, you were trying to get rid of Brian Kelly to go with a 1 year DC who has never been a head coach anywhere. Oh, completely rational. No, you Golden Domers always have thought y'all would have coaches lining up and running to ND as soon as the job was open. Not so fast my friend.

Kelly WANTS to coach at LSU and embraces the SEC competition. He already has stated that ND's facilities are lacking and have limits on Assistant Coaches salaries. The academic restrictions at ND are very tough for a coach to deal with and are much more difficult than when Lou Holtz was there and won ND's last NC. Any new coach at ND will have the same restrictions.

It's a continuity move in the world of NIL and transfer portal. If you have a good thing going, a shake up can be devastating.

If Fisher left right now, I think promoting Elko would be the best move.

Here's the questions we really need answered: is he related to Choo Freeman? Does this mean we are losing Choo Freeman to Notre Dame?

(PS: I'm old)

curtbr62 said:

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You mean the same Coach who was 11-1 this year and has gotten ND into the playoffs (undeserved) twice in the last 4 years?

The same Coach who has ND with the #4 ranked recruiting class (for now) and was 54-9 in the last 5 years?

Oh yes, you were trying to get rid of Brian Kelly to go with a 1 year DC who has never been a head coach anywhere. Oh, completely rational. No, you Golden Domers always have thought y'all would have coaches lining up and running to ND as soon as the job was open. Not so fast my friend.

Kelly WANTS to coach at LSU and embraces the SEC competition. He already has stated that ND's facilities are lacking and have limits on Assistant Coaches salaries. The academic restrictions at ND are very tough for a coach to deal with and are much more difficult than when Lou Holtz was there and won ND's last NC. Any new coach at ND will have the same restrictions.

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Interesting, lsu fans already a running around the internet's defending Kelly on other unrelated school's message board.

nm

Bunk Moreland said:

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Smart hire. No need to overpay for the wrong fit and play chaser this year.

See if Freeman really is a coach on the rise without going top dollar. Keep some stability intact. Buy time for ND to ultimately transition to a future superconference and if he doesn't pan out you will get a much longer window to recognize it and get the right hire then.

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Dumb hire. Has one year of being a DC at a big program. Letting the players influence the hire because they like him is weak. You can go get a guy with lots of coordinator experience at a big program or someone with HC experience for a similar price.

Bryant03 said:

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Aston 91 said:

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Totally different circumstances, but the last time they promoted their D coordinator (Bob Davie) it didn't work out too well. Somewhat surprised they didn't go for a bigger name.

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Maybe not but a great DC for the Ags.

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Agree 100%. Had the fortune of meeting Bob Davie after a game at the tailgate of the late, great Ed Fulbright '49 (when tailgating was an Old Ag opening the trunk of their Cadillac). Grant Teaff had announced he was retiring after the season and their was some speculation Davie might get the Baylor head coaching job. As Ed handed him a beer, he asked Bob about it. Bob cracked open the beer, smiled and said "I just don't think I'd fit in well over there."

David Culley. Not sure if he can coach but we Ned the chair filled for a while. ND is doing the same in case UH beats Cin and MSU loses their game too. ND has done so well in playoff games

Notre Dame promoted defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman to head coach to maintain continuity. If Notre Dame had hired an external candidate, many current players would likely transfer, and incoming recruits would decommit. Also, an internal promotion is better than overpaying for the wrong fit and paying a hefty buyout. It would give Notre Dame time to determine if Freeman really is a good coach without paying top dollars. If Freeman doesn't meet their expectations, Notre Dame would have time to hire a new coach.

Showstopper said:

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Here's the questions we really need answered: is he related to Choo Freeman? Does this mean we are losing Choo Freeman to Notre Dame?

(PS: I'm old)

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No, but Chip Ambres is a concern.

(PS: I'm not old)

IrishAg2011 said:

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Aggie said:

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Underwhelming hire by ND.

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Actually, I've been telling my dad all year that we needed to fire Kelly and hire someone like Freeman. All the Irish fans I know are over the moon at this turn of events.

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Looks like you right.

SEC Champs said:

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W said:

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ElephantRider said:

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They really don't want to have to pay a lot for a coach

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yep, this looks like a cost-saving move.

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Cost-saving moves won't win you a Natty.

Saving one recruiting class is not worth 3-4 years of waiting to see if a coordinator is HC material. The smarter move would've been to wait for Fickel.

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Turned out pretty good for them

This thread is a perfect example of how most people on this website know very little.

Aggie said:

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Underwhelming hire by ND.

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It's pretty whelming now.