Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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98 MARCH 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED I n the January issue of Blue & Gold Illustrated, this col- umn expounded on how one should not expect the Notre Dame coordinators to remain together too much longer — this time because of the success achieved in 2017 rather than the failures from 2016. Regardless, I certainly didn't anticipate that defensive coordi- nator Mike Elko would be gone after just one season. Last year at this time, the hir- ings of Elko and offensive co- ordinator Chip Long were dra- matic. Neither had coached for Brian Kelly previously, but the infusion of new blood to the or- ganization was mandatory while steering away from the status quo. This January, it was engag- ing to view the contrast in the promotions of linebackers coach Clark Lea to coordinator and third- year offensive analyst Jeff Quinn to offensive line coach to replace NFL- bound Harry Hiestand. With Lea, there was mainly relief amongst Irish faithful about main- taining continuity. With Quinn, there was much more skepticism — at least in the world of cyberspace — about Kelly hiring a longtime associate rather than stepping out of his com- fort zone as he did last winter. Quinn has been with the Notre Dame staff the past three years as an offensive analyst, but more pertinent is Kelly and Quinn coached side-by- side 21 consecutive years from 1989- 2009. The only other time I can recall such an amazing decades-long bond between a head coach and assis- tant at Notre Dame was when Ara Parseghian (1964-74) had both Paul Shoults and Tom Pagna on his staff. Shoults, who played in the same Miami (Ohio) backfield as Parseghian in the 1940s, was with his good friend as an assistant 23 straight years from 1952-74. Pagna, who starred as a run- ning back for Parseghian in the 1950s, was with him 16 consecutive seasons from 1959-74. Their success together in great part was credited to familiarity. The promotion of the 55-year-old Quinn to his new role understandably might be perceived as lacking sizzle. To many it's akin to ordering a cheese- burger and fries at a five-star French restaurant (not that there is anything wrong with that). Quinn is Kelly's coaching version of "comfort food." As in any occupation or union, trust is paramount. Having spent close to a quarter century together, the bond between Kelly and Quinn is as promi- nent as any in college football. And it's understandable, too. In the nine-year period from 2001-09, they enjoyed marvelous success together as boss and right-hand man, winning 80.2 percent of their games (93-23). When there is doubt, you go with who or what you know that provides the most assuredness to you. That is Kelly/Quinn. Interestingly, when Kelly was hired as Notre Dame's head coach in 2009, the one perceived drawback at the time was that the offensive line coach/coordinator Quinn would not be joining him because he was named head coach at the University of Buf- falo. When Quinn was deposed in 2014, it resulted in an inevitable reunion with Kelly at Notre Dame in January 2015. One could suspect at the time that he eventually would be a full-time on-field assistant coach in waiting for Kelly, and Quinn admits he prayed for it to occur. This is a glass half-full or glass half-empty hire from a perception standpoint. The optimist will tell you that continuity should remain with the long history between Kelly and the fact that Quinn saw the inner workings of how Long and Hiestand op- erated and what they want to implement. The "system" and nomen- clature is expected to remain — and there is no time left in Kelly's roller-coaster nine- year regime to undergo any more learning curves. Quinn's presence makes it a more seamless transition, on paper at least. The pessimist will retort that once again, as in 2014 with the hiring of defensive coordinator Brian Van- Gorder (who also coached with Kelly and Quinn at Grand Valley State from 1989-91), this will be the undoing of Kelly's regime because he's clutching to the status quo instead of reaching for higher ground. Let's not forget the premise of Van- Gorder's hire was to attain a "higher level" because predecessor Bob Di- aco's defenses — which never fin- ished lower than No. 27 nationally in scoring defense — were deemed too vanilla and predictable. How did that work out? If Quinn becomes VanGorder II, on the field and on the recruiting trail, the Kelly regime is destined for fail- ure. If Kelly/Quinn becomes "Butch and Sundance" as they were during their ascent from 2001-09, then po- tentially the upsurge in 2017 can con- tinue. One way or the other, the next year, or two, will provide firm exclamation marks on Kelly's ultimate legacy at Notre Dame. ✦ Stability Vs. Shakeup Debate Remains THE FIFTH QUARTER LOU SOMOGYI Senior Editor Lou Somogyi has been at Blue & Gold Illustrated since July 1985. He can be reached at lsomogyi@blueandgold.com Newly hired offensive line coach Jeff Quinn provides familiarity to Brian Kelly's operation after having worked with the Fighting Irish head coach for nearly a quarter century. PHOTO BY COREY BODDEN