Elkhart

Still a lot of possible scenarios. The Irish aren't going to gain by beating Navy or Stanford. If Miami wins on Dec 5, Clemson will be out. The SEC will certainly have a team in the CFP--at least one, unfortunately. NDU would need Oklahoma and Wisconsin to lose, obviously, along with chaos in the SEC. Could happen. Not likely.

Irish by a TD. Hoping Kelly keeps his head.

Well, Stoops seems like a guy who does whatever wants, so who knows what he'll do? At OU he had the same president and the same AD for all of his 18 years as head coach, and he got along well with both of them. He would surely look for those kinds of relationships and that kind stability and support for the football program.

Losses to Georgia, USC, Miami, and Stanford. NC State will also be a significant challenge. MSU fell apart last season, and Temple is a different team from last year. So is UNC. So 8-4 or 7-5. A lot will depend on how QB play develops, of course.

I watched on ESPN his announcement at the OU press conference. He never used the word "retire," unless I'm mistaken. It's possible he could coach again somewhere, but it seems unlikely that he'd step into a high pressure place like NDU.

If Adams has a very big day against Temple, Sept 2, he could garner some attention. But everyone will be watching Alabama / Florida State.

Les Miles is not a great defensive mind. Prior to becoming head coach at Oklahoma State, his jobs were always on the offensive side, including offensive coordinator. He's 63, which doesn't disqualify him. Jon Gruden, whose name comes up for every job, would be a terrible choice as a college coach. He hasn't coached college football for nearly 25 years. Imagine him dealing with NDU's rules and culture. Charlie Strong would be a great defensive coordinator for Notre Dame. His personal issues, involving a Louisville donor's wife, could stand in the way. Mike Gundy has become a very good head coach. I believe he would be willing to move--he seriously entertained the Tennessee job before Butch Jones--but whether he would move to Big 10 country? Larry Fedora and Todd Monken were assistants under Gundy. The Notre Dame fan base may not find it palatable, but hiring one of the fine coordinators out there may be a smart move. Tim Drevno at U of M is well qualified to be a head coach, though he seems married to Harbaugh. Sonny Cumbie at TCU is a young, brilliant offensive mind. Brent Venables, defensive coordinator at Clemson, is ready--he coached and played under Bill Snyder and coached under Bob Stoops; Clemson's defense.... Mike Sanford: he's soon going to be a head coach somewhere. If someone with P5 head coaching experience is demanded, there's Stoops. Not Bob--he's not taking another college job--but Mark. He developed Florida State's defense and has resurrected Kentucky's football program; Kentucky beat Louisville and Lamar Jackson on Saturday. He's recruited better than any coach in Kentucky's recent history (Bear Bryant, 1946-53, may have done better). Stoops is from Youngstown and Catholic, of course; he would fit Notre Dame.

It's always interesting to read these new HC speculations, which seem to come in 3 or 4 year cycles. My opinion(s): Chris Peterson isn't leaving Washington for Notre Dame. Mike Leach would not fit the NDU culture at all. Mike Gundy is a good coach, but he would be an odd fit at Notre Dame (have you seen his mullet?). Bob Stoops won't likely be available (at 56, he's drawn to the south and year-round golfing), but Mark Stoops, his baby brother, might be. Mark Stoops developed Florida State's defense and has done pretty well at Kentucky against great odds. Who knows?

Nothing definite. LSU is denying that a decision about anyone has been made. The U of Texas president has raised the possibility of retaining Strong...if they can't get Herman!

Matt Campbell, HC at Iowa State, should get a serious look. Sure, Iowa State is terrible, but at 36 he's in his first year. He's from Massillon (Ohio) Perry, coached Toledo to a 35-15 record, and is turning Iowa State around. He enjoys enormous respect.

Darrell Hazell is available. Purdue fired him. Les Miles at Notre Dame makes no sense to me--a cultural mismatch of huge proportions. He can recruit, and his background is offense, but LSU hasn't had a decent QB in years.

Swarbrick just gave Weis another extension.

I cannot think of an impressive young HC who would likely be interested in Notre Dame. Tom Herman could land at either LSU or USC. Harsin hasn't really distinguished himself as Peterson's successor. Ken Niumatalolo, HC at Navy, is attractive--and it would be interesting to have a Mormon as HC at Notre Dame! Tom Herman's OC at Houston, Major Applewhite, has some baggage, but he also has rich experience--OC at Alabama (for one year), Texas, and Houston. A young coach with great promise is Lincoln Riley, OC at Oklahoma. He's a good recruiter and has a sharp mind--one that's still a trifle too pass-oriented. All is moot, of course if Brian Kelly is entrenched for now...unfortunately.

Regardless where DD plays, Kelly's remark that the coaching was fine, good, not a problem means that Daniels is either smarter or more honest than Kelly.

Kelly's 2 qb plan was universally recognized as stupid, and the problems on defense--especially the db's---have been mentioned again and again. Texas is better than people were giving credit, especially with their new OC, but this was an embarrassment.