Monday, February 20, 2017

Shock the system with a play for Chip Kelly


There is a lot to the Athletic Director's job and many things BC must consider in this search process. But for a moment throw that all out the window. Instead of going the predictable route, I think BC should swing for the fences. The predictable candidates will always be there. Let's think boldly for a moment. BC should offer the Athletic Director role to Chip Kelly.

Now I don't think Kelly as Addazio's boss is some sort of Dream Team. My goal in offering the AD job to Kelly now is that he can take it immediately and start planning for his eventual transition into AD and Head Football Coach. As we saw in San Francisco and Philadelphia, Kelly wants to run his own show. Any college that hires him is going to give him autonomy. Nothing will signal that autonomy more than making him AD too.

In a different era, head coaches also served as ADs. The demands of both jobs are now so consuming that is in unrealistic to do both. However, hiring Kelly as AD now allows him to build a staff and infrastructure so that when he does resume coaching duties, his full Department staff will be in place. It will be his show. His people and his approach.

Would Kelly even want this? I don't know. He seems to have a healthy ego and interested in aspects of sports and coaching that are not strictly football. Maybe it is the type of challenge he would welcome. Would he be willing to raise money and glad hand donors? I don't know, but his presence will open wallets and he can hire some people to do the calls and dinners. Would it upset Addazio to the point where he would bail on the 2017 season? I don't know, but if that comes as a result of Kelly taking over, I don't think many BC fans would worry about it.

This would be the longest of longshots, but why not. What's the worst that could happen? We've already been to the bottom of the Power 5. Landing Kelly would be a sign to the sports world that things are different at BC.

46 comments:

working rich said...

And he is from New Hampshire.
Home run as coach

TeddyE said...

Barry Alvarez did it in recent memory. I don't hate this idea.

Goberry said...

I can't see him wanting it but for the fact that he absolutely hates media attention to his personal life. He wouldn't have to worry about that in a pro sports town.

mod34b said...

oh, our long suffering fans want to quick fix. Understandable. things are bad. very bad. Get a Doug Flutie or Chip Kelly. get media buzz... problems will soon be solved.

i don't think so.

Much like football and basketball, BC sports itself need s rebuild and a refocus (and a pare down eg dump baseball) . it will take time. We need a guy with vision, disciple and a work ethic. a Master builder. We really do not need a big media splash...that might back actually fire by raising expectations to unrealistic levels.

Flutie has no known managerial skills or experience and Chip is clearly not a people guy...he only knows one way: his way. Both guys would get BC some press..but then what??

Kash86 said...

Dump baseball ? There are a dozen sports that should be shut down before baseball.

Flutie doesn't need anything other than an ability to raise money. That's it. That's what BC needs the most. The admin stuff handles itself and anyone can be hired to do that (or work in accord with the BOT on more macro issues i.e. DBS).

I've always been of the opinion that flutie as an AD was stupid (York as well). But DF is the most visible alum hands down, and would be an easy way to get to people's wallets.

CT said...

Not diggin' it. Kelly had Nike money. You want him to AD and wait to coach? Don't think it works that way.

JERZeagle said...

whats worse of a narrative? This or "TC FOR HC AD 2017!"

tim said...

He hates boosters he hates fundraising he hates everyone who isn't in his inner circle. Coach yes AD no.

Napolean Bonaparte said...

Coach yes - AD no.

Geezer eagle said...

You guys do realize Kelly was a complete flop in the pros?

JBQ said...

I believe that it is time to give a woman solid consideration as athletic director. I am not saying that she should get the job. However, Jill Hegarty is the assistant to the athletic director and really runs the office while BB is out gallivanting. I met her in a visit in 2015 and BB who had invited me in writing was "out to the dentist". She is listed under "mullarej@bc.edu". She is classy and very intelligent and evidently married to John Hegarty who is the director of hockey operations under the Duke of York. Did I forget to mention that Jill has experience as director of football operations? She deserves strong consideration for the position. She could then hire a football consultant along the lines of TC. Come on guys. Take off your helmets and give this idea some cranial consideration.

Geezer eagle said...

No ONE affiliated with the current administration and athletic department should receive ANY consideration. Are you F-ing kidding me, JBQ?

Unknown said...

Chip Kelly would be a great coach for Boston College, NOT athletic director. Chip belongs on the sidelines.

NEDofSavinHill said...

Saban and Spurrier were not great pro coaches. Kelley had a better record than both when he was with the Eagles. All he did was average 11 wins a year at Oregon. GIVE HIM BOTH JOBS.Make BC football fun again.

Bravesbill said...

Saban, Spuerrier, and Petrino flamed out in the pros too. Kelly is a solid college coach even with all the Nike money. Just look what happened to Mark Helfrich.

bceagle93 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
bceagle93 said...

As a perpetuator of the "TC for AD and HC in 2017" line of thinking, I do not think Chip Kelly, while interesting discussion fodder, has any where close to the same track record for success that Coughlin does. Nor do not think he would be ready to handle AD duties at a D1 Power Conference program. Just too big an ego and too big a risk at this point. If you were to bring in someone to do both jobs, they would need to be a BC grad or someone previously affiliated with the University.

The entire athletic department needs a shot of discipline, focus, intensity, professionalism, pre-existing understanding of the University ideals including a commitment to excellence both on the field and off that I felt someone like Tom Coughlin has proven he could bring. He could fix both the football program (short term) and athletic department with the same approach, and totally understands (and can work with) our "challenges" in recruiting. While it looks like that ship has sailed, I still think he should be consulted as part of the process nonetheless.

And, if you are looking for an out of the box alum candidate, I'd submit someone like Malcolm Huckaby before Flutie. Whoever it is, strong, proven leadership is a requirement more so than glad handing and fundraising ability (if we had strong incumbent head coaches in money programs, I'd maybe think differently). I'd also like to see Matt Patricia considered as football HC and possibly reconsidering a return to Al Skinner for hoops. Biggest need is to right the ship, ASAP.

knucklehead said...

Didn't Oregon have NCAA problems that made Kelly leave Oregon? In terms of a coach I would say no for that reason. He is not going to accept an AD job even if offered.

Brian Kelly should be the focus. He will not last beyond next season with ND so the timing along with his background is perfect. Now if ND gets a sniff of the possibility they will extend his contract. I see BRian as being just spiteful enough take the BC job and coy enough to keep it under wraps. Is BC nasty enough to make the play???

JBQ said...

@GeorgiaEagle: Did you know that fencing and cheerleading are listed as BC sports as well as skiing and field hockey. There are scholarships involved and pride runs through all. Of course, you are right about cleaning house. However, football and basketball are just the "tails that wag the dog". Who ever heard of Jimmy Brown's Lacrosse being for women and not for men? I believe that this blog, as good as it is, should expand its coverage to other sports. Soccer and baseball are two rather glaring no shows. A tribute to women is in order as well. Jill Hegarty is only one loyal wife and mother associated with BC. Lesley Vissar and Elizabeth, the wife of Timmy Hasselbech, is another. Molly McGrath is newly on the scene with ESPN. All wear their BC credentials on their sleeves. One of the tattoos that designate a man is how they treat their women. TC is a gentleman and the entire BC community should react accordingly. The Yawkey Center is named for another.

Geezer eagle said...

I'm not interested in affirmative action hires. We need a football/B-ball expert to turn those two money sports around. Political correctness is the last thing we need now.

CT said...

This is a one man show, JBQ. BCI just had this debate about women's sports coverage increasing with the new female editor over there ( I saw your comments). I don't particularly care about them, but they have a handful of writers that do. Perhaps you could make an offer to ATL and take this little blog to new heights. Get all the sailing and soccer coverage the masses are demanding.

CT said...

BKelly would be okay. Think Chip broke some rules at Oregon. Also pulled a Saban and committed to the school only to renege for Philly days later. Douchey. I would worry about the fan base were he brought in. 90 plays a game, 500 yds of offense, dudes from Cali all of a sudden committing. I fear our minds would suffer significant trauma. We should gradually acclimate from 45 plays, 250 yds from dudes from Nashua. Maybe wait for Chip to get fired again when he has lost all self-esteem to make the pitch. By that time, he may be more amenable to allowing his guys to drink their protein shakes after the rep instead of during.

Unknown said...

Agreed. We need fresh blood. Break out the brooms

Unknown said...

Who cares about the person they bring in, the basketball and football teams will still suck.

Unknown said...

Why would any respectable coach take the BC job? Seriously. If you could get pretty much any other job with another Power 5 conference team you take it over the BC job. The BC job is the bottom of the barrel.

BCEagles2014 said...

Let's say for arguments sake that Craig Yeaster/Tony really is a UNC grad and has all the laurels he claims to have. What a sad life he must have then to dedicate part of his life to discovering this underground BC blog and getting his rocks off by trolling BC fans. Yeah our sports suck, yeaster. Tell us something we don't know. Doesn't change what an incredible school Boston College is and how we feel about it. At least our school didn't create fake college classes and grades for its athletes :)

Geezer eagle said...

BC Eagle just nailed it. Yesssss !

The Tall One said...

It would be a terrible idea for ND to extend Brian Kelly's contract because it learned that BC is interested in hiring him. ND has had the hype over the last couple of seasons (as they do every season), but the flame out has been catastrophic in the past two years. When Kelly suffers through another 6-6 season, he'll get his pink slip and his eviction notice by Thanksgiving.

Geezer eagle said...

So why do people on this blog want to hire him? If Brian Kelly can't succeed at ND with their enormous resources and prestige, what makes you think he can turn BC around?

The Tall One said...

A better question for these boards - how much is a new coach going to cost? Brian Kelly is the 10th highest paid coach in the country at $4.5 per.

Daz is paid $2.75 per, and is the 49th highest paid nationally, but the only ACC coaches who make less are Dino Babers of Syracuse ($2.5 per), Dave Doeren of NC State ($2.4) and Dave Clawson at Wake ($2.3).

By comparison - #1 ACC is Jimbo Fisher at $5.5, then Dabo Swinney at $4.75 followed by Mark Richt at Miami with $4.

If BC wants to make a big splash signing, then it definitely has to be prepared to pay $4.5 or higher.

EL MIZ said...

who will get canned first - DAZ or Jimbo? i'm going to guess JIMBO - i think Daz has the team good enough to finish around 6 or 7 W's, and knowing how stingy BC is i bet they ride him out another year given his extension (signed through the 2020 season).

the basketball team is a complete abomination. Christian has 6 wins in 50 conference games, and that will only get worse as the season plays on. i don't care if you literally start with 0 players in year 1 and have to rebuild from nothing, you should be further along than 6 out of 50 with 2 above average players in Bowman and Robinson. for reference, Donahue's 3 worst years produced a conference record of 15-37. Reminder - Bates gave him an extension last year after going 0-18. wonder if Bates will advise on coaching extension at his new consulting gig.

Christian has been a head coach for 15 seasons and he has zero NCAA tournament victories. he should be fired ASAP.

Knucklehead said...

He coaches mid level talent up or did so at every job he had before ND. He is high intensity, that may have subsided while at ND, and the prima donna recruits don't seem to be responding.

That type of coach has been successful at BC in the past . . . TOB and Coughlin.

Every kid playing at Catholic high school will be banging on the door to come to BC if he is the coach.

mod34b said...

miz

"Christian has been a head coach for 15 seasons and he has zero NCAA tournament victories."

wow did not know that.

ps BC blown out by FSU last night

Knucklehead said...

Bob Davie is doing a good job at New Mexico. He fucking hates BC but $3 million might turn his frown upside down, right Max?

Bravesbill said...

No thanks to Davie. He already failed big time at ND.

Knucklehead said...

Who hasn't failed at ND since Lou Holtz? ND has a systemic problem, relatively speaking. They have been through more coaches over the last 20 years than anyone else. Willingham, Davie, Orca, Kelly and that O'Leary hire was a fucking joke. David Cutcliffe and his fucking heart attack ruined everything for them. ND gives them 4-5 years chance too. Losers. Relatively speaking. The Curse of the Cutcliffe.

New Mexico is legit offensively too. You would take their line and rb's in a minute if you watched them. They are better than us at those spots.

Unknown said...

BC is a second rate school for academics. It's a safety school.

BCEagles2014 said...

BC is #22 and UNC is #47 on Forbes college rankings but don't let facts get in your way...

Unknown said...

Who cares about UNC? I went to Stanford.

Unknown said...

Like I said, BC is a safety school.

BCEagles2014 said...

#22 a safety school? Do you realize how many colleges and universities there are? At #22, that puts BC in the top percentile of universities.

I have to ask what exactly your beef with BC is. Did a BC girl turn you down before? You're living a sad life and I hope you realize nothing you say bothers us or will change our opinions. You are literally wasting your time. Stanford is a great school and I suggest you use your time to connect with your fellow alumni rather than troll the alumni of a "safety school."

Unknown said...

#22? That's not too impressive. Total safety school territory. I have no beef with BC, I am just disappointed living in the Boston area that the largest school has such a terrible football and basketball program.

BCEagles2014 said...

Largest school? BU, Northeastern, UMass and so on are vastly larger than BC. And if you think you're disappointed, just imagine how we as alumni feel about it. Do you think we're happy with our recent athletic performance? It's fine that you are taking shots at our athletic performance. Honestly BC deserves it and I hope the bad press forces them to take action. But to question the intelligence and merits of BC alumni is downright disrespectful. So you went to Stanford? Congrats, you're smart. Nobody cares. BC guys and gals are pretty damn smart as well.

Unknown said...

Based on the comments here I would say nobody went to BC then because I haven't seen an intelligent post from any of you yet.

Geezer eagle said...

BCeagle. Stop feeding the troll.

JBQ said...

@BCEagles2014: BC at 22 is impressive. You have to remember that every other highly rated academic institution has an engineering school. BC does not. They won't but they should consider going for number one. Their endowment is somewhere in the neighborhood of one billion with or without Tom Yawkey.