By Rock Westfall
Following LSU’s loss to USC in Week 1, I wrote a column attacking Brian Kelly, highlighting his many failures and boorish ways. I wrote that he is a “selfish, callous, narcissistic prick”. My only defense is that it is the truth.
However, today, we are going to take a more favorable look at Kelly, his record, and the laws of college football gravity. We’ll start with a quote from the late legendary baseball manager Leo Durocher, who once famously said “Nice guys finish last.”
Brian Kelly, Nick Saban, Bill Belichick, Bill Parcells, Jimmy Johnson, and their ilk are not guys with whom players will go out and have a good time with. It would be best if you never whine in their presence or try to cry on their shoulders. But if you want to win football games, they would be at the top of any list.
You see, it takes a really demanding prick to succeed at this sport—those who aren’t jerks eventually fail. Even smiling taskmasters such as Dabo Swinney can be stone-cold and nasty when necessary.
The term “player’s coach” immediately comes to mind when assessing Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, who was Kelly’s defensive coordinator at Notre Dame. In fact, that trait was one of the reasons then-athletic director Jack Swarbrick hired him.
When Notre Dame players were told that Freeman was their new coach after Kelly left them for LSU, they went berserk with joy. It was quite a tell—and not a good one.
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Marcus Freeman has officially been named Notre Dame’s head football coach pic.twitter.com/CcbM6k3P0G
— Athlete Swag (@AthleteSwag) December 3, 2021
The Coaching Graveyard is Filled with Player’s Coaches
Marcus Freeman projects everything you would want from a Notre Dame head coach. Indeed, his telegenic looks and polished demeanor during interviews are right out of central casting. But a deeper dive reveals a man in his first college head coaching gig at a school where, historically, rookie coaching careers go to die.
For every big win Freeman has, such as the Week 1 demolition of Texas A&M on the road in prime time, there are inexplicable losses.
Last Saturday, Notre Dame suffered one of those losses that just can’t be allowed to happen. The Irish lost 16-14 to the Mid-American Conference Northern Illinois Huskies. Not only did the Irish lose, but they did so with every possible favor from the game officials and against a supposed lesser program that literally beat them to a physical pulp.
After the game, Freeman outed himself in a confession that, while likely accidental, will never be forgotten.
“We’ve been here before, right? We’ve been here before. Now it’s time to get it fixed,” Freeman said. “We’ve got to get it fixed and get back to playing football the way we know how to play, we’ve played before, and we can, and we will.”
Indeed, Notre Dame has been here before. There were stunning home losses against Marshall and Stanford as heavy favorites in 2022. And then there was a shot for Freeman to get a signature to win against Ohio State under Touchdown Jesus when the game ended with ten men on the field, allowing the Buckeyes to score the game-winning touchdown. In fact, even Freeman’s first game was a disaster when against Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl, his defense collapsed, blowing a seemingly certain win.
Brian Kelly had a 54-9 record in his final five full seasons at Notre Dame. Winning percentage: .857.
Marcus Freeman just suffered his ninth loss as the Fighting Irish's head coach in the second game of his third season. He's 20-9. Winning percentage: .690. pic.twitter.com/48FZUPcbvf
— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) September 8, 2024
The Player’s Coach vs. The Tyrant
After the disaster against Northern Illinois, Freeman’s Notre Dame record is now 20-9. Meanwhile, Kelly went 54-9 in his final five seasons. Does anyone believe that Freeman is going to win his next 34 games to equal his former boss? Not a chance.
Let there be no doubt that the Notre Dame players were ecstatic at never having to deal with Brian Kelly ever again. In Kelly’s place, they have got a much younger coach who is hip, with the times, relatable, and more sensitive. However, along with all of that, they also got worse.
Brian Kelly never won a national championship at Notre Dame. But he secured a spot in the national championship game along with two College Football Playoff berths. He finished in the Top 8 in three of his final four seasons. True, the Fighting Irish were not competitive on those playoff stages, but would you wager on Freeman to beat the Georgia Bulldogs this year? I didn’t think so.
Brian Kelly walked out on Notre Dame when it was still in the CFP hunt based on his cold calculation that there was only so far you could take that program. It was nothing personal. It was just business.
For Brian Kelly, feelings and fun are for fools. Football is a game of evaluation, preparation, and relentless demands. While joyless in his approach, he is a competent and calculating winner.
Brian Kelly is a serious, substantive football coach. He is not your friend, nor should he be. He is an utter, no-nonsense professional. But he will produce results better than most, including Marcus Freeman.
On his Outkick talk show, former college basketball player and coach Dan Dakich perpetually warns that players have no respect for and lose their edge under player’s coaches. Dakich adds that players will take full advantage of player’s coaches because there is no fear factor.
Marcus Freeman, player’s coach, is now on the clock.
Where is Leo The Lip when Fighting Irish fans need him?
Since the start of the 2022 season, there have been 28 losses by a home favorite of at least 16 points in CFB.
Notre Dame has accounted for three of them.
— Chris Fallica (@chrisfallica) September 7, 2024
