Fact or Fiction: Joe Rudolph, Jeff Brohm, Freddie Kitchens

In today’s Fact or Fiction, I look at three big recent topics in college football and decide whether the statement is indeed FACT or if it’s FICTION.

1. Joe Rudolph can step in those big shoes at Notre Dame.

Farrell’s take: FICTION

I like Rudolph. He’s coached some dudes at Pitt and Wisconsin over the years and is one of the better OL coaches no one really knows in college football. But Harry Hiestand was simply a legend to me, and not just because of what he did for Notre Dame from 2012-2017. At Illinois, he was amazing and did a great job with the Chicago Bears as well and was simply as well respected a Midwest guy as there was. Rudolph can’t help but fall short.

Wisconsin associate head coach and offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph talks to players during the second quarter of their game Friday, October 23, 2020 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin beat Illinois 45-7.

2. Jeff Brohm increases Louisville’s wins in year one.

Farrell’s take: FACT

Louisville won eight games last season in Scott Satterfield’s final year before he bolted to Cincinnati. And as Brohm is a better fit as an alum and will be given more time to take the next step than Satterfield was going to get, he will win at least nine in year one. Where are the losses? Notre Dame likely. Pitt maybe. Maybe Kentucky. But this schedule is easy as it gets with out-of-conference games against Indiana and Murray State outside of the Irish and in-conference layups with teams like Boston College, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and UVA. I see 8-4 regular season and a ninth win in a bowl.

U of L Athletic Director Josh Heird, left, presented Jeff Brohm with a jersey after he was announced as the new head football coach at Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, Ky. on Dec. 8, 2022.

3. Freddie Kitchens will improve recruiting for UNC.

Farrell’s take: FACT

Mack Brown is a great man and great coach. But he likes his staff seasoned as the veteran Kitchens replaces veteran John Lilly. And with Kitchens NFL experience with the Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals, that sales pitch will help him on the trail. He won’t be a world-beater on the recruiting trail, as he’s been an NFL guy most of his career, but he’ll be a step up.