I had forgotten this (as I mentioned earlier this week) but if they felt strongly enough to need to publicly announce his return last July, that means it was in doubt.
I'm not sure if recruiting was suffering, or there were other factors involved, but why announce a coach is returning in the normal course of things?
Of course, I still believe that the few wins over top 10'ish teams will somehow be used to justify his return for '19. I remain highly skeptical, but last July's announcement should offer some hope, especially after that punctuation mark to the season the other day.
That is when Schrage was fired in 2010. That's the date I've been penciling in for Aoki's putative firing these past few years. If he's still head coach as of Tuesday, June 12, our worst suspicions will have been presumptively confirmed.
I expect coaches & administrators congregate for the CWS @ Omaha. That should be a catalyst.
Assuming Aoki is canned, then who will be responsible for hiring his replacement? If it's Swarbrick, we can all expect more of the same.
This must be what hell is like.
of U.S. Supreme Court "strategizing" (on both sides of the aisle at different times, so please don't interpret this as political commentary).
We must pray fervently that Muffet McGraw and Mike Brey continue in their present positions beyond Swarbrick's departure. Jeff Jackson and every other competent Notre Dame head coach, too.
Particularly since getting hired in the ND athletics department is akin to a lifetime appointment.