Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Upon Further Review todd D. burlage L ND AD Scores Another Home Run eave it to Jack Swarbrick to hit remain stronger than ever during this another grand slam in his leader- turbulent time in college sports. ship of a certain popular football Kelly deserved both a raise and a program. strong voice in how his program Shortly after a win over Temple in should operate, and Swarbrick honthe season opener, the ored both based on actual Notre Dame athletics diresults, and not on longrector announced that he term projections, whim had rewarded Irish head or worry. coach Brian Kelly with With a run to the naa new five-year contract tional championship that, in theory, should game last season and keep the school's best program momentum football coach since Lou that produced 20 wins in Holtz here through at 22 regular-season games least 2017. through most of 2011 No financial terms of and an undefeated 2012, the deal were released Swarbrick awarded Kelly per university protocol, Jack Swarbrick signed head for results, unlike what but it's safe to say this football coach Brian Kelly to a former athletics director five-year contract extension, new agreement makes which will keep the two-time Kevin White did with Kelly's annual salary of National Coach of the Year at Charlie Weis in 2005. about $2.5 million from Notre Dame through at least Amazingly, Weis still his original contract look 2017. remains on the Notre photo by joe raymond Dame payroll after White like pocket change. Whatever the price, locking up panicked and gave his new coach a Kelly — at least with a signature and 10-year contract extension just eight a handshake — is just the latest in a games into a six-year deal when the string of smart and well-timed moves NFL's New York Giants came sniffing for Swarbrick. around. His foresight in the shift from the Big The massive extension locked Weis East to the Atlantic Coast Conference up through the 2015 season, cost the while preserving football indepen- university millions of wasted dollars, dence was masterful, as was securing and became one of the biggest contraca seat at the College Football Playoff tual miscalculations in college football table. And now by rewarding Kelly history. a new contract, Notre Dame athletics Weis went 30-25 and lasted only four