Notre Dame: What Should Be Ahead

It started today, the backing off of recruits from verbal commitments to Notre Dame. I predicted this, as did many others when the "Fire Charlie" flames got to burning. This completely and predictably changes the dynamics of what should be done at Notre Dame.

Brian Kelly is a name that is rampant with Notre Dame at this point. This would be a good and bad hire. Kelly is a great coach and would immediately improve the talent in the Notre Dame program. They would improve to 8 or 9 wins year one. There would also be one class of good recruits missing. It will take Kelly at least two years to build up a national recruiting base and reputation. Clausen and Tate are going to go to the NFL now that upcoming events are inevitable. Will the Notre Dame faithful be willing to wait three or four years for their return to prominence?  

The way Notre Dame chose to go about this made doing it seamlessly impossible. If Notre Dame wants immediate clear results, they must now hire a coach with a National Reputation and recruiting contacts already in place. That narrows the list to a select few.

The Head Coach or a qualified Coordinator of the following programs could fill this requirement. Southern California, LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Florida, Texas are all schools with this type of ties and the prestige to get into most Living Rooms. 

I think if Notre Dame goes any other direction the minimum time it will take to get back to elite status is four years. If the Irish are willing to accept minor bowl appearances and moral victories for the next three years, than Kelly and Patterson or even Peterson are acceptable. If they want immediate success than someone from the above sources is the best chance.