I can’t vouch for the writer(s) at FootballCoachScoop.com because he(they) are anonymous. But since I’ve been reading the site (which is highly addictive and which I totally recommend), FCS has broken a bunch of stuff, been right about even more stuff and the About button says the whole thing was founded by a college football coach. And the way the thing’s sourced, you have to see that. That out of the way…

FCS is reporting that Cincinnati’s put a contract extension on the table in front of Brian Kelly… and that Notre Dame’s put an offer out to him too.

Kelly’s called all the Notre Dame talk “irrelevant” and tried to shy entirely away from it, but then Cincinnati tight end Ben Guidugli told the school paper in today’s editions that he’s ready for Kelly to at least address the speculation. He said, “that doesn’t help the issue when there’s a lot of speculation and he’s not telling us anything one way or the other.” And that, “I would rather him tell us what’s going on either way, just be honest about it. Not saying something is saying a lot.”

After that, later this morning, Kelly went on a radio show and sort of said something, asking the show’s host why he would leave.

It was rhetorical. But let me ask: why indeed?

Whatever Lou Holtz says, Notre Dame is not the best job in the country anymore. Yes, Notre Dame is higher profile and tradition rich and always on TV. But these days, good programs get on TV. These days, successful programs build fancy stadiums. These days, kids don’t only dream of one school and there’s something to be said for being THE guy to build something. Especially under a little lesser spotlight, with less-demanding boosters. 

Sheesh, look at Rich Rodriguez. He was at his alma mater, in his home state, where he was revered and where he was one lousy loss to Pitt from playing for the national title. Then he left for Michigan. There was Shredgate (West Virginia accused him of stealing documents from its football office) and there was Practicegate (Michigan players accused him of practicing them too hard). He’s had Purdue’s Joe Tiller call him a “wizard-hat-wearing-snake-oil-guy,” he’s been sued for defaulting on a real estate deal and his attorney says he’s been a victim of a Ponzi scheme. Now imagine he’d stayed put. Noel Devine, Jarrett Brown, Reed Williams… something Kelly should think about.

Go ahead and argue and tell me Kelly can’t make Notre Dame money at Cincinnati. (I can’t argue back.) Tell me a Big East school can’t compete for the national title (West Virginia could’ve two years ago and anyway…give it time; we’re getting a playoff ) and tell me Notre Dame is a Catholic kid’s dream (didn’t they say that about Urban Meyer?). It’s not so cut and dry.

Of course, for what it’s worth, I think I probably just really want Kelly to stay, for what it says. And, also for what it’s worth, I think he probably ends up going. I guess we’ll see soon enough.