Lots of interesting developments yesterday, with the biggest one being the multiple reports that Brian Kelly could be named Notre Dame coach by the end of the week.
But Neil Hayes of the Chicago Tribune says that athletic director Jack Swarbrick's preference for discretion in the search seems at odds with Kelly's public comments (mainly his well publicized tweet). As a result, Hayes says that several sources theorize that there could be a mystery candidate who has not been prominently associated with the opening. Part of the speculation is rooted in Swarbrick's self-stated criteria for the new hire: a coach who understands the importance of defense, who has a proven track record of success in college and the ability to recruit nationally.
With that in mind, we connect the dots between Hayes's story and that of the South Bend Tribune's Eric Hansen, who writes that former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville's name has come up in discussions, and that "there are indications that there could be mutual interest if the winds shift away from Kelly." Tuberville made his bones as D-coordinator at Miami, where he was part of a staff that recruited nationally. And he certainly enjoyed significant success at both Ole Miss and Auburn. Could he be a the fallback choice?
Hansen also reports that a source says that Kelly and UConn's Randy Edsall are expected to meet with Notre Dame officials today. This on the heels of Kelly's non-interview yesterday, which had been widely expected.