While the Brian Kelly hire was universally applauded by the main-stream media (more on that later), a small faction of Irish fans still seem to think the Irish should’ve gotten one of the big three to South Bend: Stoops, Saban, Meyer. While I do think that the Stoops scenario was a coup that almost happened under the nose of the Oklahoma administration, the hiring of Kelly should be anything but panned.
The incomparable FunkDoctorSpock threw out some statistics that had me feeling much more confident that while the Irish didn’t hire Urban Meyer, they most likely hired the next Urban Meyer.
From FDS:
The season prior to taking over Florida, Meyer made the BCS and went 12-0
The season prior to taking over Notre Dame, Kelly made the BCS and went 12-0
Over the two seasons prior...Meyer went 22-2 (.917) and won back to back conference titles. Sagarin rated Utah’s SOS at 62nd and 67th.
Over the two seasons prior...Kelly went 23-3 (.885) and won back to back conference titles. Sagarin rated Cincinnati’s SOS at 60th and 63rd.
Over the three seasons prior...Meyer went 31-5 (.861)
Over the three seasons prior...Kelly went 33-6 (.846)
Over the four seasons prior...Meyer went 39-8 (.830)
Over the four seasons prior...Kelly went 43-10 (.811)
I actually think what Kelly did is more impressive, giving a nod to his work at Cincy over Meyer’s Utah team, and his Central Michigan turnaround a better Houdini act than Meyer’s work at Bowling Green.