December 18, 2008

Stoops, Meyer turned down Notre Dame... this year?

From Irish Band of Brothers, Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick offered the Fighting Irish head coach job to Bob Stoops in November and to Urban Meyer in December. Of course, there's no way of confirming the reports, so... grain of salt... but it certainly is... interesting.

Timeline:
November 22
Notre Dame loses to Syracuse 24-23. Swarbrick dodges media questions.

November 24
Swarbrick makes call to the University of Oklahoma. Sooners Coach Bob Stoops tells Swarbrick he's comfortable in Norman.

November 25
Swarbrick places calls to the University Florida and the University of Cincinnati to speak with coaches Urban Meyer and Brian Kelly.

November 28
Meyer and agent would only speak with Swarbrick and Jenkins' after the SEC Championship game.

November 29
Notre Dame loses to Southern Cal 38-3. Swarbrick tells media that he'll talk with Weis about his future on Monday, December 8th.

November 30
Weis asks Swarbrick if he should go out recruiting, and Swarbrick tells him yes. Meyer and agent tell Swarbrick he's staying put in Gainesville.

Brian Kelly and agent talk with Swarbrick and Jenkins' via phone conference and discuss possibilities.

December 1
Swarbrick calls Boise State to speak with Head Coach Chris Petersen. Petersen's agent calls Swarbrick that there's no interest.

December 2
Kelly leverages with UC administration and trustees for more incentives for their football program and scoffs at Swarbrick's and Jenkins initial figure.

Media reports hit wire of Kelly's statement of not interested in any jobs and is staying as Bearcats head coach.

Swarbrick and Jenkins meet with Weis in California to let him know that he's being retained for another year and that they will discuss changes within in the program early next week.

Swarbrick calls Associate AD John Heisler to let him and the Sports Information Department that Weis will be back next season.

WNDU-TV Sports Director Jeff Jeffers and IrishEyes.com's Mike Frank get calls from the ND SID Office of Weis' return.

December 3
Notre Dame's Jack Swarbrick releases official statement of Weis' return as head coach next season.

Far fetched? Maybe. But we do know there's a slight hint of smoke that might lend a dash of credibility to the blog report: Urban Meyer has been talking about Notre Dame several times in the last three weeks.

What does that prove? Nothing. And I can't find anyone who can confirm this report with any certainty whatsoever... but several in-touch ND contacts say it could be plausible that Swarbrick shopped Weis's job to multiple coaches (or their agents).

Ah... the Internet. So many questions... so few answers.

HT: OU_Ron

Comments:

Stoops, Meyer turned down Notre Dame... this year?
From Irish Band of Brothers, Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick offered the Fighting Irish head coach job to Bob Stoops in November and to Urban Meyer in December. Of course, there's no way of confirming the reports, so... grain of salt... but it certainly is... interesting.
Timeline: November 22 Notre Dame loses to Syracuse 24-23. Swarbrick dodges media questions. November 24 Swarbrick makes call to the University of Oklahoma. Sooners Coach Bob Stoops tells Swarbrick he's comfortable in Norman. November 25 Swarbrick places calls to the University Florida and the University of Cincinnati to speak with coaches Urban Meyer and Brian Kelly. November 28 Meyer and agent would only speak with Swarbrick and Jenkins' after the SEC Championship game. November 29 Notre Dame loses to Southern Cal 38-3. Swarbrick tells media that he'll talk with Weis about his future on Monday, December 8th. November 30 Weis asks Swarbrick if he should go out recruiting, and Swarbrick tells him yes. Meyer and agent tell Swarbrick he's staying put in Gainesville. Brian Kelly and agent talk with Swarbrick and Jenkins' via phone conference and discuss possibilities. December 1 Swarbrick calls Boise State to speak with Head Coach Chris Petersen. Petersen's agent calls Swarbrick that there's no interest. December 2 Kelly leverages with UC administration and trustees for more incentives for their football program and scoffs at Swarbrick's and Jenkins initial figure. Media reports hit wire of Kelly's statement of not interested in any jobs and is staying as Bearcats head coach. Swarbrick and Jenkins meet with Weis in California to let him know that he's being retained for another year and that they will discuss changes within in the program early next week. Swarbrick calls Associate AD John Heisler to let him and the Sports Information Department that Weis will be back next season. WNDU-TV Sports Director Jeff Jeffers and IrishEyes.com's Mike Frank get calls from the ND SID Office of Weis' return. December 3 Notre Dame's Jack Swarbrick releases official statement of Weis' return as head coach next season.
Far fetched? Maybe. But we do know there's a slight hint of smoke that might lend a dash of credibility to the blog report: Urban Meyer has been talking about Notre Dame several times in the last three weeks. What does that prove? Nothing. And I can't find anyone who can confirm this report with any certainty whatsoever... but several in-touch ND contacts say it could be plausible that Swarbrick shopped Weis's job to multiple coaches (or their agents). Ah... the Internet. So many questions... so few answers. HT: OU_Ron