College football has officially reached its all-time low, at least when it comes to head coaches. Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly left his team to take the head coaching position at Notre Dame, where the Irish’s former head coach, Charlie Weis, was fired after 4 seasons. Brian Kelly led his Bearcats to their best record in school history, going 13-0, and earning the Bearcats to a berth to a BCS bowl game and a Big East title.
Brian Kelly had some talented players on his Bearcats squad, which was led by senior quarterback Tony Pike and senior wide receiver Mardy Gilyard. However, Kelly bolted for South Bend, and did not even stick around to coach the team in the BCS Sugar Bowl.
What I consider to be one of the most selfish moves, Kelly has officially tarnished the NCAA’s reputation of putting the student-athletes first. He went for the money and the prestige of the school, yet could not even wait to coach his Bearcats through the season. He not only hurt the players who had worked hard to get to the point they were at all season, but also killed any motivation for the team to end their season on a high note.
One should feel bad for the players who have ultimately been abandoned by their leader, teacher, and comrade, who has acted like a father figure for them since Day 1. Kelly should be ashamed of himself, and it amazes me to see how greedy people can truly be. Apparently coaching college football has turned into a business, where getting a head start on recruiting for a new coaching job given to you is more important than coaching your team to the biggest game of the year, and the biggest game of any of the players’ live, especially for the seniors.
I can understand leaving a team to coach another; the opportunity that awaits, the challenge, the pride and glory of starting fresh and rebuilding a program, but after the season has ended. You do not abandon ship when you are pulling into the harbor.
What a selfish, unacceptable move on Kelly’s part. This is a wake-up call to all coaches out there that think of themselves before their players. I have lost all my respect for him and believe his demeanor to be fake and seriously flawed. Shame on you Kelly.