Brian Kelly is an offensive genius. He has taken average Quarterbacks such as Tony Pike and made them into superstars. He also has the ability to make a run first QB (Zach Collaros) and turn them into true fantasy impact players. Now at Notre Dame, Kelly must start over without incumbent starter Jimmy Clausen as QB. He must also replace the production of star receiver Golden Tate. While this may seem like a steep chore, there should be plenty of talent available for Kelly to make his mark. One thing that his track record has also shown is improved play on the defensive side of the ball during his tenure. Let’s just say Defense is a glaring problem for Notre Dame. Read the rest of this entry →

In one of the worst kept secrets of the Coaching Hot Seat Season (coincides with baseball’s Hot Stove), my forensic analysis of media reports and my intuition to tie it all together comes to only one conclusion:

"Charlie, if Notre Dame got the wrong guy to go 6-5, do you call yourself an improvement at 6-6?" YYYYEEEEAAAHHHH!

Charlie Weis is out as the head coach of Notre Dame by the end of November. A regular Lt Horatio Crane I am…

I know I am not breaking any new ground here – but let’s lay out the facts before dropping names of his successor:

• Charlie Weis record is very similar to the records of predecessors who were shown the door. Weis is 35-26. Tyrone Willingham 21-15. Bob Davie 35-25. That would be acceptable at UTEP or Baylor, not Notre Dame. And also recall, George O’Leary was 0-0.
• After the Pitt game, Coach cancelled the usual Sunday press conference due to “late travel arrival” According to local beat writer Scott Novak, Sunday pressers get postponed, but never cancelled.
• His conference Monday sound like a man resigned to his forced resignation.
• Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick lets Weis know that he should return home after the Stanford matchup, rather than his usually scheduled recruiting trip through the West. You know, just to talk about the season, and the future direction of the program. The $4-to-$18 million buyout.

So who is next to lead the Fighting Irish? BoDog put odds on that, so let’s see what the wisdom of crowds says: Read the rest of this entry →

Five new head coaches were named following the conclusion of the regular season. At Ball State, Stan Parrish was promoted from offensive coordinator. Four other schools went outside the program – Toledo (Tim Beckman), Eastern Michigan (Ron English), Miami (Mike Haywood), and Bowling Green (Dave Clawson) – to make changes.

This marks the most head coaching changes in the MAC since 2005 when Akron, UCF (now in conference USA), Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, and Kent State hired new leaders for their respective programs. Read the rest of this entry →

Oregon coaching legend Mike Bellotti has resigned to become athletic director at the school, and offensive whiz Chip Kelly will take over control of the football program.

From a fantasy college football perspective this changes very little of the Duck fortunes – the recent offense has been the Chip Kelly offense, and we can expect to see the same wide open attack to which we’ve grown accustomed.

Bellotti’s departure after 14 years at the helm does signal the end of an era, one that saw the Ducks rise to national prominence.

[from CFFI]

also:

All-Bellotti Team {Register Guard}

Oregonian says Kelly won’t go it alone {OregonLive}

Tony Franklin

The recent hire by Middle Tennessee of former Auburn and Troy OC Tony Franklin (photo, thanks, John Clay Sports) should pique the interest of every fantasy college football player for 2009.

Although Franklin was dumped by Auburn during the 2008 season, and subject to a lot of criticism for the offensive woes of the Tigers, do not base Franklin’s short time at Auburn in his ability or inability to run an offense.  There were, obviously, other reasons for the lack of success on The Plains in 2008…and AU soon sent head coach Tommy Tuberville packing as well.

Why you should be interested in the Franklin hire at MTSU, Read the rest of this entry →