I called it way before then...the first time I heard his name mentioned as a potential replacement for Kelly, before Kelly had even left. I said it was ridiculous to consider him then, forget the eventual hire, even considering him was beyond comprehension. Then when Kelly bolted and numerous people here said it has to be Freeman there is 'no other choice', I screamed from the roof tops that they were wrong. When he was actually hired, because we didn't have time to wait on another candidate, likely Fickle...I was in utter disbelief. We did it again, how could we be this oblivious.
Of all the times we've hired a guy WITHOUT college HC experience, Knute Rockne has been the lone success, with all the rest being dumpster fire disasters.
Conversely, of all the times we've hired guys WITH prior college HC experience, the two "lowest" win % from that group were Brian Kelly and Tyrone Willingham.
In summary, hiring with prior experience has produced only one true disaster, while hiring without has produced only one success. I don't really consider myself some sage fortune teller for being able to see the path of least resistance in this particular situation.
Yeah, once he was hired, I pushed the 'I believe' button and hoped to be proven wrong...what else you gonna do at that point? But in the back of my mind, I had a pretty good idea where this would go.