clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Bagpipe Monday: Who Replaces Brian Kelly?

It’s not the answer that matters, it’s the question.

By Joshua Vowles
NCAA Football: Notre Dame at North Carolina State Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

After Notre Dame’s loss to N.C. State, many of us called for the head of Brian Kelly and others demanded we give the names of those that we think could or should replace him as the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.

I have no list of that kind. I have a list of coaches that will NOT be coaching the Irish. Want to see it? Here is the short version, but it is in reality, a much longer list.

  • Urban Meyer
  • Nick Saban
  • Les Miles
  • Bob Stoops
  • Jon Gruden
  • Tony Dungy
  • Lou Holtz
  • Tom Herman
  • Justin Fuentes
  • David Shaw
  • Chris Peterson
  • Dave Doeren

Now, on this list, what name looks to be completely out of place? As odd as it may look, it isn’t Lou Holtz. The oddest name on this list is current North Carolina State head coach, Dave Doeren. Why would I include Doeren? Oh it’s as simple as proving the simplest point... it may be easier to replace Brian Kelly than you think.

Bagpipe Monday The wonderful @phillykelly

Dave Doeren just outcoached Brian Kelly. He outcoached him COMPLETELY. So, I ask... does it matter? If a guy like Dave Doeren can use basic coach knowledge to outcoach Kelly, don’t you think the pool of possible replacements grows deeper?

I have always maintained that argument that Brian Kelly was the best man for the job right now, and I would dare someone to come up with a few reasonable and viable names to replace him. None of those names are on this list- and yet the most humble name is a coach that just did it better than Kelly on Saturday.

Don’t you think we are making this harder than it needs to be? Shouldn’t there be a real list of names that could be possible replacements? I’m positive that there are and I’m positive that some of those names that have not been mentioned are in a desk drawer.

I don’t want this to happen, but I feel that it should happen. I really don’t believe that it will happen, but again... it should. There are coaches out there that can do this job and do it well. Maybe it’s a young up and coming head coach, or maybe it’s a coordinator- whomever it may be, someone else can do this and if not- I’m sure someone else could have got Notre Dame to 2-4 to start this season and we can roast him instead.

Your pipes:

More From One Foot Down