Brian Kelly and Lincoln Riley Show What College Football Is All About: Unchecked

Brian Kelly leaving Notre Dame on the heels of Lincoln Riley exiting Oklahoma shows what college football is all about.

There’s no "I" in team but there should be one in coach as proven by both Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly very recently. 

Brian Kelly literally did the Irish Goodbye to Notre Dame

— ¡BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL! (@edsbs) November 30, 2021

First of all, let me be very clear, I do not blame either nor am I against the moves they made. However, nothing could make the sham of major college sports being anything other than a big business more obvious.

I don’t understand how you can abandon your team during an 11 win season with playoff hopes still alive. Then notify the same men you recruited to play hard for you that you’re leaving through an app. Money is important, but something has to mean more. #BrianKelly https://t.co/NXxOriHGOX

— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) November 30, 2021

I also wouldn’t blame fans and especially Oklahoma or Notre Dame players if they were upset today. Because the lesson they’ve learned from their college coaches is to get yours no matter the circumstances. How else could they possibly take the rapid departure of the men they were recruited by in the midst of winning seasons or being broken up with via text message? 

This is usually how these things go, but Brian Kelly has ghosted everyone at Notre Dame. Just spoke to one assistant who saw reports on his phone tonight as he was exiting a recruit's home: "The news broke when I walked out of the house, so I look like a f----- a--hole."

— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) November 30, 2021

In Kelly’s case, he bowed out right before Notre Dame might’ve had the chance to get blown out in another College Football Playoff game. There is something to be said for the opportunity of coaching LSU where three straight coaches have won a national championship. And as for Riley, the appeal of living near USC and being out of the SEC is more than understandable.

But there’s also the bags involved with each as let’s just say both men are going to be paid handsomely giving them basically unlimited leverage when it comes to running a program. 

Coaches complain about players opting out of bowl games, and two coaches agree to new jobs while their teams are competing for a spot in the CFP? This can’t be good for the industry. How can college presidents condone such interference with coaches under contract? Integrity? Nah.

— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) November 30, 2021

Again, I’m not saying they are wrong or that there was even a better way to handle leaving. I guess all I’m saying is let’s not pretend college football is all about the love of the game, because football coaches are the superstars of college period...and they are always free agents.