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

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Dec. 1, 2021

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Jim from Berlin, Ct.

2:42

Eric, I'm writing to you for the first time this season although I wrote to you a number of times last season (not that anyone cares). You covered Brian Kelly for all the years he coached at Notre Dame. Were you shocked and/or disappointed when you found out he was leaving South Bend? And did you feel he was disingenuous when he said earlier that it would take $250 million for him to even consider going to another program? I personally think he will regret going to LSU and will wish he had stayed at Notre Dame after a few years of getting clobbered in the SEC. Thanks for all the great updates you provided to Irish fans all year. You have been a fountain of information.

Eric Hansen

2:42

Jack, thanks for the compliments. As I mentioned, I was shocked at Kelly going to LSU. Disappointed? In the way he carried himself through that process. Leaving for another opportunity is his business. Doing so in a way where you treat your players and assistant coaches with such disrespect should be beneath him. I don't think Jack Swarbrick could be any better or worse prepared than he is unless he wanted to go after Lincoln Riley.

Jack. Strongsvlle, Ohio

2:39

Hi Eric. As the media guy closest to the program were you personally surprised at the Brian Kelly departure? Watched Jack Swarbrick's press conference on Tuesday where he said he was not surprised and did not have a list of potential candidates. Do you believe him in that statement and if you thought your head coach was looking wouldn't it be prudent to begin compiling information on a successor? I bet you thought you might get a few easy days at the end of the football system. No rest for the best in the business.

Eric Hansen

2:38

Hi Bruce. The NCAA has lost lawsuits giving it any teeth to stop the new player freedoms (NIL, laxer transfer rules, etc.). President Jenkins objected to players being legally classified as employees. If that happened, ND would have an issue with that. But Jenkins also advocated for NIL before it was cool to do so. He reasoned that the student-athletes should have the same opportunities that the regular student population did.

Bruce, Centralia, IL

2:35

Eric, at the moment I don’t have anything to say about Brian Kelly that could be printed in a family newspaper, so let me try a different direction. I think the drift of college football is in the direction of professionalization, and I don’t expect the Division I Committee to do anything to stop that. So two questions: (1) is that how you see it?; and (2) how much of a threat is that to Notre Dame, given Father Jenkins’ comments to the Times a few years ago to the effect that Notre Dame would not be interested in competing in a professional model? Thanks as always. These are certainly interesting times.

Eric Hansen

2:34

I picked up on how challenging the past two seasons have been, but for different reasons. And the COVID year was tough on everybody. But Brian's process was always to rise up to meet the challenge. And he expected that from everyone around him.

Mark from Watertown NY

2:29

Eric. Not much to talk about today. During his presser today Jack Swarbrick mentioned some uneasiness with BK over the past few weeks. Did anybody in the media pick up on that? I hang up and listen.

Eric Hansen

2:28

I don't see why not.

ernie from silver spring

2:28

Hi ERIC; Will you ever talk to Brian Kelley again?

Eric Hansen

2:28

Buck, recruiting aggressively and successfully is a big part of the formula for the next head coach, and Jack Swarbrick said as much on Tuesday.

Buck from Wilmington, DE

2:27

Let's face facts: ND suffered beatdowns in their CLP games because Bama and Clemson had significantly better talent. It should be clear to everyone that if ND wants to be one of the big boys, it needs to hire a persuasive, enthusiastic, and relentless recruiter as a Head Coach. Kelly never seemed to be all that enthusiastic about recruiting. Who can take ND to the next level in recruiting? That's the most important question AD Swarbrick needs to answer. Do you agree, Eric?

Eric Hansen

2:27

Hi Denny. San Patrick asked Kelly that question point blank today about USC, and Kelly danced around it (and not gracefully). With the right head coaching hire and with the right staff, I think the future is promising for ND football. Getting Matt Balis to stay put was a nice cornerstone to the next chapter (terrible mixed metaphor, but you get my point).

Denny from Beaverton Or

2:24

Well now Eric...When Kurt Herbstreit first mentioned Brian Kelly and USC together a few weeks ago, I was surprised and saw no possible credibility in the statement. Do you remember your initial thoughts? A coach leaving Notre Dame for LSU is one thing but leaving for USC would surely be akin to a mortal sin in the eyes of Notre Dame fans. But for Lincoln Riley, I now think Brian could have made that move. Am I off base?. Good luck to Coach Kelly at LSU but I am super excited (Manny style $^&^#@@%&) for what is to come at Notre Dame> How about you?

Eric Hansen

2:24

Hi Tim. We appreciate you too, sincerely. That is incorrect about where Brian Kelly stood in the coaches salary hierarchy. Some of these reports are not apples-to-apples comparisons. They'll report the base salaries of coaches from private schools, but the entire compensation packages from those at public schools (because those can be easily accessed). But he is getting more money at LSU.

Tim from Vancouver, WA

2:21

Hello Eric and Tyler, I appreciate you guys. Well, I’m bummed today, feel like a jilted lover, woke up asking myself “now what?” I’m disappointed in BK, I understand and respect ambition and I respect that he may have burnt out with the job at ND, I imagine it is exhausting. But, the timing is terrible and to tell the young kids “my love for you is limitless…”. Is a silly thing to say in a social media apology, smh! My question, one of my best friends (a huge Buckeye fan) said he read Kelly was something like the 60th highest paid coach, is that true? If so, I can see him jumping for much more money. Thanks a lot you guys, get us fans through this tumultuous period, please. Tim

Eric Hansen

2:21

Mini-rants are OK today.

Gerry Labelle, Waltham, Quebec

2:21

Eric: Hope you had a great thanksgiving! Kelly really is the jerk many people thought he was! To leave like that is insane!

Eric Hansen

2:20

Bryce, I don't follow their program closely enough to give you more than an educated guess, but the people who DO follow that program, believe there will be a prolonged dip, that recruiting has fallen off.

Bryce from Raleigh

2:19

I imagine that most of the chat will be focused on the ND head coach position as it should be. However, I have a question about Stanford’s head coach. What happened to David Shaw? It was not that long ago that Stanford consistently competed for Pac-12 championships and New Year’s Day bowl bids. In your judgment, will Stanford bounce back under his leadership?

Eric Hansen

2:19

Hi Robb, and thank you. I don't think there were bones of contention. Jack said he sensed a restlessness. He didn't really elaborate on that. ... I think it was closer to four minutes that BK talked to the team. Eleven minutes from when he got out of his car until he got back into it. No questions were taken. Dan Patrick asked a bunch on today's show. ... and really good ones. Great listen (if I can make that a noun).

Robb from Manassas, Va

2:16

Thanks for the chats Eric, really enjoy them each week. Jack Swarbrick said he was not surprised when he found out Kelly wanted to leave Notre Dame. Do you have any idea on the specifics of what Swarbrick was referring to? Were there bones of contention between the ND administration and the football program? What exactly were those signs that Kelly would leave that Swarvrick was picking up on? I guess there's no good way to leave once one of the parties decides to go - but the whole thing was handled poorly, I thought. Is it true, as reported on ESPN, that Kelly spoke to the team for only 2 minutes and took no questions? Thanks Eric.

Eric Hansen

2:15

Hi Sammy. There's been an outpouring of support from them, in both the 2022 and 2023 classes, for Marcus Freeman. Most of them -- beyond Devin Moore, who decommitted Tuesday -- are watching and waiting. And handful of them are going to sign with ND no matter who the coach is. We'll know more in a few days, I would imagine.

Sam WIeteki, Ironton Ohio

2:10

what’s the word from recruits? too early?

Eric Hansen

2:10

John, if he is modestly involved at LSU, the only thing he'll be able to recruit is crawfish.

John, Freeport, Maine

2:09

Eric, in your opinion, does Brian Kelly have to evolve at all as a recruiter in order to meet LSU's lofty championship ambitions, or instead might he be relocated to so fertile a talent region that he can continue to be modestly involved with it and succeed?

Eric Hansen

2:08

In my opinion, he is saying neither.

Stephen from Burlington, WI

2:08

By leaving so abruptly is Kelly saying: a) ND won't make the CFP playoffs or b) even if ND makes the playoffs they will lose. Or...is he saying both a and b?

Eric Hansen

2:08

Shelly, you must get A's in your classes, knowing that my email box is overflowing and this is the best way to get your questions in front of me during this crazy time. If you have some follow-ups after the search is over, email me then, and I'd be happy to help. In terms of sources on a story like this, it's both. Some will call you. Some you need to call. And you need to prioritize those calls by who you think has unimpeachable information. ACCURACY trumps everything. Time is also a big factor. My sources have been outstanding on this story. I'm very fortunate to have people I can trust and are willing to help me.

Shelly from Lafayette, IN

2:02

Eric, I'm a journalism student and I'm fascinated with the inner workings behind all the tweets and articles regarding the Irish Head Coach position. You have been the ND beat reporter for years and no doubt you have built up a number of knowledgeable sources inside the ND football program. In times like these, do these sources contact you with info or do you pump them for news? Finally, how forthcoming have your sources been the last few days? Just wondering how the real world of journalism really works.

Eric Hansen

2:02

Ben, if Tommy Rees is running the offense, I think we''ll see similar percentages. If someone else is, yes, It's entirely possible that the ratio could change, but Jack Coan is playing the best football of his career right now.

Ben, Australia

1:57

thanks for the great work guys, and probably limited sleep in the past 48 hours, do you think we will see more of Tyler Buchner in the playoff/bowl game

Eric Hansen

1:57

Hi Larry. the rules are all relaxed today, so you are free to spit, gamble and fight as well. Journalists and coaches never like to admit they're surprised about anything. But I want to be honest. I wasn't surprised. I was SHOCKED. ... As far as Marcus, he was involved in the Illinois head coaching vacancy after last season. I don't think there's ANY WAY, he wouldn't want the head coaching job or think he's not ready for it.

Guest

1:54

Larry from Topton, PA: Thanks for taking these questions Eric, and trying to help us ND fans calm down. I will try to control my whining, but I can’t promise that I am not barefoot. I have one conspiracy theory, and a few questions. As I was watching the game Saturday, I was perplexed when Kelly worked so hard to get Kyren over the 1000 yard mark during the last drive. Maybe BK knew that it might be his last game… Questions: JS mentioned that he was not surprised by the former coach resigning; how surprised were you? I am all in on hiring Marcus Freeman as HC, but from your perspective, is there any chance he would not want the job, or perhaps not feel he is ready? How long do you feel ND has to decide, regarding whether Freeman is their man, before he takes off for other opportunities (including possibly LSU)? Thanks again Eric!

Eric Hansen

1:53

Hi Mick. You'll get no argument from me. And I fired up the Keurig machine as soon as the interview was over. The Rees retention thing is confusing. Usually, a head coach gets to pick his own staff. It doesn't necessarily mean Freeman will be the guy. And retaining Rees could be conditional, meaning the new head coach would have a choice, but Swarbrick wants him to have that option. Otherwise, he might already be in Baton Rouge. It is my understanding Rees would like to stay. Tyler is actually working on the assistant coach/recruit angle today and Tom the Kelly/LSU presser while I talk to you guys, so keep an eye on our site from stories from those two along these lines later today.

Mick from Philly

1:49

Eric, no offense, but I watched your appearance on Dan Patrick's show and you looked exhausted. I know you're probably not getting enough sleep but are you getting enough coffee? Seriously your work on this bombshell has been excellent and we, your followers, really appreciate the 24/7 effort. Here's my question: I read a report that ND admin is making a concerted effort to keep Tommy Rees as offensive coordinator in light of BK dangling big bucks to entice him to go to LSU. That confuses me. Wouldn't it be the prerogative of the new Head Coach to hire his own coordinators? On the other hand does this mean that Freeman is the guy?

Eric Hansen

1:48

Merry Christmas, Alex.

Alex from Jackson, MO

1:48

Eric!!! I know you’ve had a crazy 48 hours! I’m not even sure what to ask that won’t be asked 1,000 times. That being said, the title of this week’s chat, along with the pic you chose, gave me a really good laugh!! Well played!! Keep your head above the water and Merry Christmas!!

Eric Hansen

1:47

Hi Steve, and thank you. ... I'm not sure he was telegraphing anything, but that's my interpretation. I had a very good source on this, and when it was confirmed, I was shocked. I wish I could share with your the details about how the sausage was made on this story, but in doing so, it would hint at the identity of my sources, which is a path I just can't go down.

Steve, Kenosha WI

1:40

Eric, As soon as news hit about BK leaving for LSU, I needed to hear from you and your team to make sense of the CFB world around me. As surreal as the news was, the move made no sense. In retrospect, I think BK’s decision to leave was telegraphed in his presser when responding to a question about USC’s vacancy and only crazy money (my words) would force him to run it past his wife. I would like to inquire of you as to what your emotions were when you heard the initial news and how your journalistic team set about fact checking and quickly putting a plan of action together for your significant readership. And, thank you for always being the steady, reliable presence in our obsession.

Eric Hansen

1:39

He had pants on when I saw him yesterday and way nicer than mine. Brian Kelly surprised his players, his assistants and his closest friends. Even if Jack knew, would should he have done? And why is this a crisis? What if Notre Dame hires someone better?

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