Getty Image / James Gilbert
Notre Dame is synonymous with college football and has been for over 100 years now. The Fighting Irish have 938 wins, the fourth-most of all time, behind Michigan, Alabama, and Ohio State.
The school itself is one of America’s top institutions. It’s routinely ranked in America’s top 30 universities and has an endowment of around $20 billion.
The football program had a banner decade the last ten years, as they played for a national title in the 2012 season and made the playoffs in 2018 and 2020. But, head coach Brian Kelly left for LSU, and they hired young defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman to replace him.
Notre Dame overcame a slow start to finish 9-4 this year, a respectable record in Freeman’s first year in charge. But, offensive coordinator Tommy Rees was poached by Alabama, leaving an opening at the position in South Bend.
Alabama football inks it in
Kevin Steele, DC
Austin Armstrong, ILB Coach
Tommy Rees, OC/QB Coach
(via @AlabamaFTBL) pic.twitter.com/1fbcn0SkvA— Sidelines – Bama (@SSN_Alabama)
Notre Dame was rumored with a few candidates for his replacement, like Byron Leftwich, but there were two candidates that they were linked with most. They were Kansas State offensive coordinator Colin Klein and Utah offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig.
They couldn’t come to a deal with Klein, but appeared to reach an agreement with Ludwig. Sadly, Notre Dame refused to pay Ludwig’s buyout.
Sources: Utah offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig is staying at Utah. His buyout proved an obstacle in discussions with Notre Dame.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel)
Ludwig is considered to be one of the best offensive coordinators in the country, and would’ve been a seamless fit in South Bend.
Not getting Andy Ludwig is a big whiff by Notre Dame.
I understand now that the buyout was expensive, but this is Notre Dame, and you have to give your second year, defensive minded Head Coach a big time Offensive Coordinator.
Extremely frustrating.
— Notre Dame Recruiting (@NDrecruiting01)
Average ticket to a ND home game in 2022 was $389:
Andy Ludwig’s contract buyout was $2.8 million dollars:
Notre Dame makes an average of $30.2 million in ticket revenue alone per game…
Absurd
— Notre Dame Prime (@NotreDame_Prime)
Not a good look, Irish.
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