By now, you have certainly learned Notre Dame failed to secure top offensive coordinator target Andy Ludwig from Utah.
On the surface, this statement doesn’t seem that outrageous. Coaches decide to stay where they are at all the time for various reasons. But the story doesn’t end there.
It seems from all available reporting that the Irish wanted Ludwig, and he wanted them. However, at the last minute Notre Dame decided it did not want to pay his Utah buyout of $2.8 million, which was needed to free him to work at Notre Dame. This caused an immediate backlash and justifiable questioning of what exactly happened here and how Notre Dame could expose itself to such an obvious practical and PR nightmare.
Let’s explore this confusing mess in five parts.