Yeah, I was joking. I mean, who recruits a kicker named Tripp Woody (not a joke). A little wide to the left?
Fran is getting stressed out.
Brian Kelly
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Fran is getting stressed out.
Staying on the retread front: Rutgers has been the biggest dud of the 2026 season. The Scarlet Knights are 0-2 with losses to UMass and Boston College, programs that went a combined 2-22 last year. Next up is a visit from USC. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano did some terrific things with this program, but right now, his future there looks dire. Following USC, the Scarlet Knights get FCS Howard but then follow that with Indiana.
Another 60-something coaching retread who could find a Power 4 landing spot is former LSU and Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly. The 64-year-old Boston native is very, very motivated to get back on the sidelines, we’re told.
Rutgers president Bill Tate and athletic director Keli Zinn came to New Jersey after working at LSU, where Kelly had been the Tigers coach. Kelly, who won more games at Notre Dame than any other coach, did fizzle out in Baton Rouge, but the Rutgers job would be a much different dynamic, and Kelly is very comfortable in the Northeast.
"Kelly, who won more games at Notre Dame than any other coach, did fizzle out in Baton Rouge, but the Rutgers job would be a much different dynamic, and Kelly is very comfortable in the Northeast."
Makes me think of Bret Bielema who had success as the Wisconsin Badger's HC
but crashed and burned when he went south to Southern Gentlemen's territory and
Arkansas didn't like his slop and dumped him.
Bret was out of place in the south , but back in the Midwest at Illinois he's doing a good job
Brian Kelly was successful on the Midwest and was a fish out of water down Bayou way.
Brian might get his mojo back at Rutgers, because he probably understands the east coast and Midwest far better than how the South is and what it takes to be accepted there
His age shouldn't be a factor, his winning ways overcome that and even at LSU
he wasn't losing (34-14) he was a Yankee that was considered a carpetbagger that didn't fit the type of person that LSU fans and boosters wanted as their HC
then there this. Lots of really good golf courses in NJ
Brian Kelly faced heavy criticism during his final stretch at LSU for allegedly spending too much time on the golf course instead of focusing on recruiting and team development. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The Golf Allegations
Brian Kelly faced heavy criticism during his final stretch at LSU for allegedly spending too much time on the golf course instead of focusing on recruiting and team development. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The Golf Allegations
- The Rumors: Media reports claimed Kelly played hundreds of rounds of golf at a local country club during his tenure in Baton Rouge.
- Player Disconnect: Analysts and former players pointed to his time on the links as a symbol of detachment, noting that he often kept players on hold, lacked close relationships with the roster, and pulled back from traditional program engagement.
- Recruiting Fallout: Fans grew especially frustrated with his off-field focus as high-profile recruiting battles slipped away.
google found
Here is how LSU's transfer portal classes ranked nationally during Brian Kelly's tenure according to 247Sports:
| Cycle | National Rank | Total Commits | Key Portal Signees & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Top 5 | ~15+ | Transition Class: Kelly heavily utilized the portal to completely rebuild a depleted roster, bringing in cornerstone pieces like QB Jayden Daniels, DT Mekhi Wingo, and CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse . |
| 2023 | No. 4 | 13 | Impact Defenders: Headlined by cornerbacks Zy Alexander, Duce Chestnut, and Denver Harris, alongside defensive lineman Jordan Jefferson. |
| 2024 | No. 42 | 9 | Conservative Approach: Kelly intentionally limited portal additions to focus on internal development, notably signing safety Jardin Gilbert and wide receiver CJ Daniels. |
| 2025 | No. 1 | 17-18 | Elite Haul: Fueled by a revamped NIL strategy, Kelly signed a massive haul headlined by former Florida State star edge rusher Patrick Payton (the No. 6 overall portal prospect) and wide receiver Barion Brown. |
https://sports.yahoo.com/where-every-brian-kelly-lsu-123728508.html
I think Brian Kelly is a complete and utter douche and an arrogant prick, however he would be a big get for RU and if he can go 34-14 like he did at L$U, he may get a street named after him
His assistants have said he didn't know player names, wouldn't talk to recruits unless they scheduled "meetings," and didn't develop relationships with HS coaches in LA.
If he was an aloof manager at LSU, do you think that he was like that only at LSU or is it more likely he’s been like that his whole career coming up the ranks from Grand Valley all the way to LSU.
So looking up a little more on Kelly, it’s kind of what I expected. He is more that CEO set up the organization and run it type manager. The style isn’t something that just happened at LSU. Some past assistants like Chuck Martin have said no one better they’ve come across for that kind of thing..that “he can see the situation and run the company better than anyone else”
It doesn’t mean he doesn’t make mistakes with assistant hires or drift to being a little too aloof…maybe a little too Tesla FSD at times. But you also get the feeling that he’s willing to be introspective and course correct when those mistakes happen.
When ND went 4-8 in 2016 he sat down individually with all 96 players and asked them what could change and be better and more interactions with him was part of what was mentioned to him. The next year they said there was a change in how he interacted with the team and he hired some new assistants as well. They rattled off double digit win seasons the next 5 years before he left to LSU. Coaches who interact with him say he’s got a sense of humor and personable.
So maybe with time or maybe because of the bad fit at LSU, he drifted off to Tesla FSD again. But like 2016, after being fired at LSU the hope would be he gets introspective again realizes what went wrong puts his hands back on the wheel and course corrects.
The hope would be you get the guy who figured out what went wrong in 2016 (this time 2025) and sees how to fix it. No one is a guarantee but maybe you get the “course corrected” Brian Kelly for 3-5 years before he goes FSD again lol.
Saw that but think he’s being liberal with the word mutual. There might be but Feldman didn’t say anything about mutual interest. It was more it makes sense as a potential fit because of our admin and the northeast.
Frankly, I don’t think you’d see “mutual interest” be mentioned from mainstream CFB media (this guy isn’t that) while there’s a sitting head coach.
It’s part of why I said in one of these threads that if a HC is fired during the season, it’s not really about turning the season around or quickly hiring a coach. It’s more about getting things lined up and your house in order before going out to hire a new coach. Everything is just cleaner to do without a sitting HC.
I tend to agree with you. It’s great clickbait to post on a college football Saturday. He sources The Athletic but doesn’t link an actual article, quote, etc.
I get it..Kelly is a hothead…who isn’t from NJ????
to think a former coach at ND and LSU would come here was a foregone conclusion in years past. This would signal a massive change in our program that we are pot committed. The guy is a winner everywhere he has been and we would all love the records he has produced over the years. I’ll take it of true.
better than us acting cheap and going after the Chris ash’s of the world again.
you either go for the brand name coach or you try to find the diamond in the rough of a young up and comer proven winner…we have not had success with the latter.
so let’s get it done and finally start having some fun around here—-let the Irish whisky and guiness flow at the tailgates
to think a former coach at ND and LSU would come here was a foregone conclusion in years past. This would signal a massive change in our program that we are pot committed. The guy is a winner everywhere he has been and we would all love the records he has produced over the years. I’ll take it of true.
better than us acting cheap and going after the Chris ash’s of the world again.
you either go for the brand name coach or you try to find the diamond in the rough of a young up and comer proven winner…we have not had success with the latter.
so let’s get it done and finally start having some fun around here—-let the Irish whisky and guiness flow at the tailgates
Would it be easier to believe if he quoted Richard Kent?
Honestly, I don’t know if he’s much of a hot head anymore as those infamous cherry red face memes.
I’ve seen him talk about that in the past (kind of like that introspection I mentioned above) and how he was trying to change that, yoga and all that etc…it doesn’t mean he doesn’t get upset or raise his voice but I haven’t seen things to that cherry red extreme. Slam fist on the table a little last year and raise voice but nothing I’d consider crazy like that meme.
Mind you it’s not as if I watch all ND or LSU games since that introspective change but from the times I’ve watched it’s nothing like before. I’d say I’ve seen GS blow up more on the sidelines at times than I have BK but again I see all RU games not all BK games.
All of these stories started coming out when the Louisiana governor came out in favor of firing Kelly and the school was scrambling around trying to find a way not to honor his contract. I am sure Tate and Kelli know the real story and how much was real and how much was made up to justify the firing and to try to reduce the payout.
I dont know but Kelley has to be considered among the tops for interest
Im not a fan of some young guy with no experience
In his 3 years at Cincy he won double digit games all 3 years and got the team to the BCS bowl for the BE in 2 of those years. IIRC during one of those years they had to go through 3 qbs because of injury.
Look at what most of our fanbase has worshipped for 25 years
You're scrambling quite hard here, are you BK's PR intern?
I have said repeatedly he is not my first choice, I want Kliff Kingsbury, but I don’t think BK is a terrible choice and the LSU situation is overblown. As I mentioned in another thread, is Karen DeBoar now a bum because he is stuck at 9 or 10 wins at Alabama? It is the same thing.
KK was a potential name I’ve mentioned in the past. I’ve been dying for productive offense here for a decade plus.
He’ll develop qbs and probably a good offense. The caveat for me back then was you’d have to make sure he’s got a top flight DC. This was all with the old clock rules.
With the new clock rules, I’m less married to that idea. Still lean towards offense but doesn’t have to be that way. The other thing is his teams will likely be soft.
I think you could kind of get away with that because of the old clock rules and just out scoring opponents in a track meet, don’t know that it’s as easy with the new clock rules.
Sort of like what we see with Riley at OU and USC, we’d be a poor man’s version or worse. There needs to be some toughness, you can’t just out finesse.
What this tweet exemplifies is what I’d worry about with KK and that would be without the level of talent USC and OU can amass.
Thats where it should start and end.
He doesnt appear to be the "rebuilder" type persona either and you have to take lumps at RU to move forward.
You have to understand Kliff was only 33 when he got the TTU job, they had not resources at the time (unlike now), and he was on to the NFL at 38. This past offseason he was interviewed for the HC jobs for the Ravens and Titans. No one else we will be able to interview would even sniff these opportunities. 2 time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and his receivers were pushing hard for the Ravens to make him the HC, and when that didn’t happen they wanted him for OC. I am certain Lamar Jackson’s football judgement is better than everyone on these boards, everyone in the Rutgers Administration, and pretty much anyone involved in college football.
Kelly won a BE title at Cincy by threatening his 2 star player's scholarships. He's the type to rob dead soldiers
RU has the "Big Name" syndrome without considering the backstory. Kelly is going to give up 9 million for doing nothing - and to pass on any chance for a title - to coach a B1G doormnat? Never going to happen.
Put some white wings on his head and he's Paulie Walnuts
We haven’t hired young up and comer winners. We hired young up and comer coordinators. Those guys won under someone else. Schiano and Ash specifically. Being a Head Coach should be number 1 on the desired list.
Out of the G6, I still like Eck the most. With much less talent he’s still challenging P4 teams at times. Played Oregon tough from the FCS, beat UCLA, respectable against Michigan, loss in OT to Minnesota, still hanging with OU on the road now. He lost his starting qb for the season and having to rotate two qbs. I feel like you can see the good play designs on offense and tough offense/defemse in general. If he can have another solid year, I’d roll the dice with him.
I think Idaho had 2 winning seasons in the prior 22 and he took them to 3 straight FCS playoffs in his 3 years there and NM was like 2 winning seasons in the last 18 years and he wins 9 in year 1 and gets to the MWC title game with a share of the MWC regular season title. If he can add another solid season this year that’s a pretty solid resume.
OU up 7-6 on NM at half.
I think Idaho had 2 winning seasons in the prior 22 and he took them to 3 straight FCS playoffs in his 3 years there and NM was like 2 winning seasons in the last 18 years and he wins 9 in year 1 and gets to the MWC title game with a share of the MWC regular season title. If he can add another solid season this year that’s a pretty solid resume.
OU up 7-6 on NM at half.
If he does well at UConn this year I exoect him to be a P-4 HC
Might be he had a good career as Toledo's HC and has been considered P-4 material befire taking the UConn job.
If he does well running the doggies, he'll be a P-4 HC next year
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