Why Kelly Went Green

$$$$$$$$$$$$....Sorry, that button sticks.

When Brian Kelly announced in a special team banquet that he was leaving the University of Cincinnati for Notre Dame, no one really saw it as a big surprise. It got to the point where UC fans were rooting for Notre Dame to win all of their games, so Charlie Weis might retain his job. " I knew it was inevitable," says Rob Davis from Norwood. "As soon as the talk began about (Wies), Kelly had to be number one on their radar. I mean, the guy's got an Irish name so it's almost too good to be true. For that reason I was rooting hard for Notre Dame to win out."

These efforts proved in vein as Weis was fired after his 6-6 season. What was surprising was how Kelly handled the entire process. In the weeks leading up to his departure, Kelly was quoted on numerous local and national radio outlets including the Dan Patrick Show, that he was staying in the Queen City. His most direct answer came from WEBN of all people, "Why would I leave? I love Cicinnati, my kids love Cincinnati; we've got it made here." Then of course there's my personal favorite: after his contract extension on 2008, Kelly was quoted as saying he wanted to break the 39-year record, referring to how long he would stay at UC.

It only took him one year to break that vow.

So why exactly did Kelly leave? First of all, his salary, dispite winning back-to-back Big East championships, was average among coaches in the conference at $1.475 million a year. Compare that to the $3 million a year contract at Notre Dame. Another reason may have been the last-second Texas win that shut the bearcats out of the national title dispite going 12-0. As much as it hurts to say, you go 12-0 at Notre Dame, you play for the national title; sorry Texas, nice season. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, an east coast irish catholic boy like him could never turn down Notre Dame. It's in his DNA to coach them.

While he showed a tremendous amount of disreguard for his players whom he coached during the best 12 games of school history, he's proven he had his own selfish reasons for his decision. Abandoning your kids right before the big game is weak, there's no question about that; at least now we know why. With new coach Butch Jones next in line, we can all forget about Brian Kelly. Just make sure to give credit to his players.

Reciever Mardy Gilyard had this to say via facebook: "He just needs to get up out Cincinnati ASAP. He wasn't the one making all the one-handed catches and running down the field. Just get out of here, we'll be fine without him in my opinion."

Feeling strong? See the Brian Kelly Notre Dame press conference HERE