JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Dec. 1, 2021

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Dec. 1, 2021

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Eric Hansen

3:34

OK, I wish I could go five hours, like last week, but I have other commitments. So that's going to do it for today. Thanks for all the great questions and for a huge live audience today. We'll do it all over again next Wednesday at noon EST.

3:31

Mike, what ND has is amazing. The next step was a Guglielmino Athletics Complex expansion. And that was in the works back in 2017. The problem is private funding. Not something philosophical. And getting that isn't just a cosmetic benefit. There are many practical reasons, including (injury) recovery, academics, weight training even how training table is run.

Mike from BR,LA

3:28

Eric, showing up late, so sorry if this has been asked. On the topic of facilities, ND (the admin?) seems hesitant to approve upgrades or new altogether. Is it from a perspective of making sure the team stays a part of the student body/university community? When I hear what ND has (which sounds amazing, at least compared to when I was there--in my old man voice) compared to other schools', those other places do sound like FB players almost don't have to set foot on the rest of campus

Eric Hansen

3:28

Steve, thanks and wow. I hope Santa has you on the "nice" list. There's not magic to my resistance. I just think it's unfair and often inaccurate, unless you're going to label it as a "midyear evaluation," etc. So what's my grade now. The players get an A. Kelly gets detention.

Steve (Grand Rapids)

3:24

Eric: I get my Notre Dame football information from three sources 1 Watching each game at least twice 2 Watching all BK press conferences and 3 Reading every word my favorite sports writer Eric Hansen writes. I love to analyze what BK says and read between the lines of what BK doesn’t say. I am fascinated reading your articles from the press conferences I watch. What distinguishes your writing is the observations/analysis/insights in addition to the words spoken or not spoken at the pressers. Here’s my question: Did you do defer opining on BK’s job coaching the 2021 season last week (several times) to await the results of the bowl season? Or because you saw/heard/perceived this weeks events might be coming?

Eric Hansen

3:24

Not at Notre Dame at this time. No.

Steven From Athens Georgia

3:24

How do you feel about Brian Polian as getting a shot at HC

Eric Hansen

3:23

Bill, it didn't strike me as odd. He has done that before from time to time and not left for another job at the end of those seasons.

BIll from St Joe, MI

3:23

Eric, thanks for holding the chat this week which has to be on very short sleep! Looking back this season, I recall the post game presser BK had immediately after the VaTech comeback win. He was obviously quite angry with the ND media (and I’m not saying all the ND media and the ND fan base too) to what he believed was the negative press and on line comments he was getting (much which I assume was directed at not being able to solve the O Line problems at that time). It seemed to me to me to be a bit uncharacteristic of him and perhaps the job might have been getting to him. Do you recall that press conference and perhaps agree the it might have been an inflection point for him?

Eric Hansen

3:22

Gene, thank you. And since I answered the coaching questions earlier, let me focus on your questions about the CFP rankings. Alabama is tough to deal with. The coaches have them 2. The CFP 3, AP has them 4th. I had them fourth and wondered if that was too high. It comes down to which team you're comparing them with. Alabama had close calls, but so did Cincinnati, ND and Okie St. Alabama's have been the most recent. Really it's a tug-of-war between the team you think they should be and the team that they've been on the field. Ultimately, the latter needs to carry more weight.

Gene in NY

3:18

Hi Eric, Thanks for all the great coverage . . . looks like you'll be working OT this month! A rather unbelievable week . . . it is what it is, let's look to the future. There seems to be a lot of support inside the program (and recruits) for Marcus Freeman. Seems that it is unlikely that any candidate checks all the boxes, so how important is the previous HC experience in your view and in Jack Swarbrick's? I believe the strength in recruiting provides a fair trade off. Bigger question, should Freeman (a defensive minded coach) be promoted, does Rees have what it takes to be OC without some assistance from a HC, similar to what Kelly likely provided? As for the other hot item - if OK State wins, does ND have any shot at Top 4? Having ranked them #3, I cannot believe anyone on the committee actually watched the Alabama game, as they were out played for 59 mins by a .500 team with a backup QB. Is it that they can't be bothered or perhaps they don't understand football and react to familiar names?

Eric Hansen

3:18

I had a conversation with someone the other day who has made millions of dollars in their lifetime as a coach. I don't have the same frame of reference. I asked him: How many millions does someone need to be happy? And I was serious. Is is greed? is it ego? Because in my profession, it would be a question of what's pragmatic, leaving for a job for more money. The answer was it's not universal. People already with more money than they don't know what to do with would answer that differently. So yes, Brian likes to be paid well, but I thought his ideals and the school's ideals would overpower anything else. And I learned that I was not correct on that.

JDub, Ft. Wayne

3:13

From my perspective, this program under Brian Kelly is at its height. He truly has done a great job adapting and changing when necessary to get to this level. They have had sustained success for several years, recruiting is going better than ever before, ... and then he leaves? He built it and then left before he saw the job finished. Really weird. In any of your conversations or pressers did you ever think to yourself that Brian Kelly was that type of person who would do that, where money was more important than the sustained success at ND? I really truly believe they are closer to a NC than ever before and he bolted.

Eric Hansen

3:11

Thanks, Bill. At LSU, there are advantages. You can recruit in a smaller geographic radius. There are all kind of great supports and perks and top-notch facilities. But you have Nick Saban in your division. And no gimmees. And to be honest, is Brian Kelly at fit at LSU? I'm curious how that'll play out. I think LSU is the easier job. I think ND is the better job. For the right person.

Bill from Lexington

3:08

First time submitting question but long time fan. Besides the size of his salary what do you think are the advantages of being the HC at LSU vs ND? Love your perspective on ND football

Eric Hansen

3:08

Shocked, disappointed and determined to transcend this and finish the season strong.

Reno Joe

3:07

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving. What is the mood of the returning players? Not that Jack Swarbrick should take a poll. Just curious if they are angry. Maybe you already addressed this.
reno joe

Eric Hansen

3:07

I stand by what I wrote.

Jeff from Shelby, OH

3:07

"It betrays what he always said he stood for.”
Wow!
Maybe that is a component of why BK was not able to win a national championship at ND. Go Irish!
Beat Michigan

Eric Hansen

3:06

Hi Chuck and thanks for the intro and the compliment. 1. Elston ... will have a tough decision to make. 2. Polian will probably go. 3. Balis staying is HUGE. 4) The assistants are all staying on top of the recruits right now and doing a great job at it.

CHUCK from CLEVELAND

Continuing....12 years is 2 lifetimes of coaching at ND, so kudos for BK in leaving to find more happiness in a warmer climate with NO RESTRICTIONS on recruiting. I realize that your queue is brimming with all kinds of personnel questions so I will be brief: 1) Will Mike Elston stay? 2) Will Polian stay -- last seen hugging BK on the sidelines @ Stanford 3) Great to see Balis staying and 4) WHO is calling the recruits DAILY to solidify their commitments and what are they selling them? Thanks again...great to hear you on the DP Show yesterday!

3:04

Hi Eric, here from the home of Parma Pierogies, Rock & Roll HOF, The Flats, Cleve. Guardians, and, of course, most famously, Eric Hansen, the star of the Dan Patrick Show!

Eric Hansen

3:02

I'd advise him to wait and see who the next head coach (and staff) would be. He could always sign in February instead of December. We'd want to get to know the new coaches first. ... I'd really want to wait to ask my question to Brian until after he had been at LSU for a year. Then I'd have a whole bunch for him.

Caleb from Charlotte, NC

2:59

Eric, if you were the father of son that's committed to play football at ND, how would you advise him to handle the current situation at ND? Also, if you could have a one on one interview with BK, what's the one question that you want to ask him?

Eric Hansen

2:58

Cha-ching.

Lee from Lancaster, SC

2:58

Eric, do you think Brian Kelly left because of the money, he wants a new challenge, or that he has a better chance to win a championship at LSU?

Eric Hansen

2:58

I don't think the committee should factor in Brian Kelly's departure. It's unfair to the players. And how could you possibly measure it?

Guest

2:57

Marty from Sylvania Oh. Hi Eric thanks for chats.Ok now that it is done.I’m ready for the next person who can get that statue in front of stadium. We need to move on. There are good candidates out there but there needs to be the great get. The CFP committee holding no head coach as reason not to be selected is a travesty! What say youEric? One last thing. ND makes CFP, players rally and win 2 games as national champs. Irish Lore! I can see the movie now, “what though the odds”. Irish Lore has happened. Go Irish

Eric Hansen

2:56

It betrays what he always said he stood for.

Alan from Whiteland, Indiana

2:56

Eric, in your opinion, what does it say about the character of Brian Kelly to leave Notre Dame before knowing whether or not the Irish are selected for the college football playoffs? Thank you.

Eric Hansen

2:56

Thanks, Jack. I was lucky enough to have several conversations with Ara about how his career ended. He wanted just to step away for a year or so and come back, and had a plan for Tom Pagna to take over, all written out on a legal pad. Father Joyce had other plans. Ara was amazing. Even in retirement. And yes a coach with charisma and upside sounds like a nice combination.

Guest

2:53

Jack in Clemmons, North Carolina. Kelly’s announcement may have shocked you Eric-and many others-but more shocking was the resignation of At Parseghian in 1974 after beating Alabama in the Orange Bowl. He was just 51, great coach and much loved and admired. Never been a more charismatic coach at Notre Dame. Hope school goes with a young coach with charisma and big upside…..your thoughts?

Eric Hansen

2:53

Phil, my bleak assessment is based on talking to NFL scouts and draft analysts. And I don't think having a chance to go to a camp and compete as an undrafted free agent is bleak. There's a lot of guys who would die for a chance to do that. What the pros are looking for and how a QB fits on a college team can be two different things. Otherwise, Tim Tebow would be one of the all-time greats in the pros. Jack lacks a lot of the measurables the NFL is looking for. His strong second half makes what he lacks easier to overlook, but not entirely. ... Not sure what ND's record would have been. But they were better off for having Jack on the roster in 2021, that's for sure.

Phil from Foster City , CA

2:49

Wondering if your bleak assessment of Jack Conan’s NFL prospects has changed in light of his second half performance? Also curious as to what you think ND’s final record would have been if Coan had not dropped into our lap? My guess is 7-5 at best. I suspect FSU, Toledo, VaT and UNC would all have gone south.

Eric Hansen

2:49

Oh they'll get back to the O-line at some point. I didn't have a chance to ask him, and right now that's kind of back burner. When the time is right, I will follow up. Might be kind of interesting.

Greg from Chicago

2:46

Swarbrick said Kelly made Freudian slips that tipped him off that he might be leaving. Do we know yet what they were? What other things or signs alerted him to that possibility? Thanks for the chat. I guess people might now wish we were back to talking about the O-Line.

Eric Hansen

2:46

CJ. Great to hear from you. I've thought about emailing you at times during the past couple of baseball seasons. let's catch up when things slow down. I think Freeman represents the best chance or ND retaining the most assistant coaches and the most recruits. That's not an overriding factor, but it's a good asset for him to have as he pursues the job.

CJ…Athens, GA

Hi Eric! Haven’t talked to you since I left STL. I have two quick thoughts. I hope Marcus Freeman gets the job and I hope it happens in the next 10 days. I have a lot of respect for Jack Swarbrick but a lot has changed since he hired BK. If ND doesn’t hire Freeman someone else will and we risk losing most of the coaching staff and maybe half the recruiting class and we are back to 2016! Your thoughts and appreciate the way you cover the IRISH!

2:44

Eric…How about our Cardinals? Now for the business at hand. Am hoping Jack Swarbrick selects Marcus Freeman and

Eric Hansen

2:44

Jim, thanks for writing now and in the past. I think he will regret going to LSU, not financially, but because of the broken promise he made to himself that he left behind at ND.

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