Photo by Matt Cashore/University of Notre Dame
In an unprecedented move Friday, the National Football League and the University of Notre Dame jointly announced a partnership that gives Brian Kelly a head coaching position in the NFL and signals a new chapter in the storied history of college football’s most famous team.
Jack Swarbrick, Notre Dame’s athletic director, announced that Notre Dame will be competing in the AFC North for the 2016-2017 seasons, with the option to extend for another four years. “This partnership is a fantastic opportunity for Notre Dame, our friends at Under Armour, and our fans across the country and around the world,” Swarbrick said in a written statement. “We have long championed the value of a diploma from this prestigious institution, and this new agreement will offer unparalleled experience for our student-athletes.”
Brian Kelly, rumored by many to have NFL aspirations, is now the head man at the highest level of professional football. “I interviewed with the Eagles in 2012, but I didn’t like the Philly cheesesteaks as much as I thought I would,” the sixth-year coach opined. “I’m more of a Rocco’s Pizza guy, and now I can enjoy that along with the NFL pay.”
While this announcement creates a natural state rivalry with the Indianapolis Colts of the AFC South, others in the college football world are upset. A staffer in NCAA President Mark Emmert’s office, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that “several SEC schools” were unhappy with the potential pay gap created by this arrangement. Multiple sources suggest that The Paul Finebaum Show will provide a platform for spirited and incoherent responses to this news.
With this agreement, the University of Notre Dame continues a long tradition of pushing the boundaries of independence in college football. In 1991, the school spurned the 63-team CFA to sign an exclusive television agreement with NBC, causing many in the Big Ten to clutch their pearls and AAU membership cards. This move will return NBC analyst Chris Collinsworth to Notre Dame games — he previously was a color commentator during the early ’90s.
University President John Jenkins, C.S.C. welcomed the announcement and stated, “This demonstrates Notre Dame’s unique position as a research university, and it also will benefit the Crossroads Project that is nearing its completion.” At this time, it remains unclear what level of collaboration will exist between NFL Films and the school’s Sacred Music department.
HLS has learned that Mike Sanford is no longer listed on the football office voicemail directory, and flight trackers indicate a possible interview in College Station, TX. The loss of this highly-regarded playcaller offensive coordinator could mean Brian Kelly’s staff could face an uphill battle for success in the NFL this fall. However, calls to the San Diego Chargers’ office revealed that Tommy Rees’ extension is going straight to voicemail. We will provide updates on this situation as details unfold.
With Notre Dame’s move to the AFC North, the future of the Cleveland Browns remains uncertain.
Powered by SC schadenfreude, husband to Mrs. IrishElvis (not pictured), rabble rouser. TCB.
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