LSU announced Brian Kelly as its new head football coach on Tuesday.
As early as Monday morning, the prospect of Kelly leaving Notre Dame seemed like gibberish. He had repeatedly expressed his desire to remain in South Bend, and the Fighting Irish were the No. 6 ranked team in this week’s AP Top 25 College Football Poll.
By Monday afternoon – everything changed. Word began to leak out that a deal was coming. Then, as the evening rolled around, terms were beginning to come to light.
When it was all said and done, Kelly agreed to a contract with LSU spanning 10 years and worth at least $95 million.
Putting aside Kelly’s decision to become the first Notre Dame coach to leave for another collegiate coaching job since 1907, the way he did it left a lot to be desired.
Apparently, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick got the runaround from Kelly as Monday’s news was breaking.
“Swarbrick confirms that Brian Kelly did not speak to him until last night until after news of his departure to LSU had already broke,” reported The Athletic’s college football insider Pete Sampson.
That wasn’t the worst of it, however. As evidenced by the final text message Kelly sent his players, they also didn’t get much notice. And then of course this is the icing on the cake:
It will be interesting to see how Kelly ultimately does with LSU. His credentials and past experience don’t paint a clear picture of what he will be able to offer. In retrospect, the job he almost left for last year would have made much more sense.
This hire could prove to be a genius one – or it could turn into an unmitigated disaster. It’s impossible to know how things between Kelly and LSU will ultimately end, but they certainly didn’t start on the best of notes.
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