Brian Kelly's Dumb Decision

I might be the only person that does not understand the mystique surrounding the Notre Dame job.

I'm not talking about Notre Dame in the '90s, '80s or '70s.  I'm talking about the Notre Dame of the 2000s.  The program that went through three different coaches this decade, and the only bowl win it has to show was against Hawaii.  In one of the years it actually made a BCS bowl, the Fighting Irish were so bad, they made JaMarcus Russell look like a No. 1 overall pick.

Here's a shovel, Mr. Kelly.  You're going to need it.

Notre Dame loses its quarterback, Jimmy Claussen, and top wide receiver, Golden Tate, to the NFL.  Its top defensive recruit for next season has already backed out.  It has no conference affiliation, and since the BCS has already shown its ability to screw BCS teams -- the teams the system was invented to help -- out of championship games, what exactly is the point in going to Notre Dame.

Good luck in the recruiting field.  It must have been easy at Cincinnati.  Bob Huggins did it for years and has how many players with degrees to show for it?  I've seen more of the Cincinnati campus by watching TV cutaways during the game than most Bearcat players have.  I can't wait 'til you get a kid foolish enough to want to play at Notre Dame, only to find out that after making the cut on his ACTs, SATs and NCAA Clearinghouse, the kid can't attend Notre Dame because he doesn't meet Notre Dame's lofty standards.

Soon enough, that young man will sign with Florida, Southern California or Texas.  You'll have to go up against said young man, who will not only be motivated to beat you because he will represent another university.  He'll want to beat you because you couldn't bring him to your team.

Do people not realize this isn't 1980 anymore?  Joe Montana is not walking through that door.  Try talking to an 18-year-old kid about Notre Dame's prestige and they'll laugh in your face.  Or look at you with a confused look on their face.  One of the two.

It's hard to convince an 18-year-old young man to spend the next three-to-five years of his life in South Bend, Ind., when schools in Florida, Texas and California, which have been successful in this decade, come calling with winning records and hot chicks.

Seriously, turn down a USC Song Girl?

Didn't think so.  Erin Andrews went to Florida.  Think some high school senior out there wants a chance to date the next Erin Andrews?  Texas.  Trust me, everything's better in Texas

This girl isn't a Tennessee hostess (I don't think) but watching this video made me suddenly want to go to grad school in Knoxville. ... And I hate Tennessee.

And if that doesn't sway your opinion, this should.

Dale Lennon's University of North Dakota 17 Brian Kelly's Grand Valley State 14.

Or for those of you keeping mathematical statistics at home?

Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Head Football Coach > Notre Dame Head Football Coach

Suck it, Notre Dame!