The Eagles Are Finished Interviewing College Coaches for Philly's Head Job (Thankfully)

Jan 13, 2013 6:06am

By Andrew Kulp? (email)
The700Level.com

We don?t have anything against college coaches per se. Hell, I honestly believe Penn State?s Bill O?Brien very well might be the best football coach without an NFL head job in all the land. That said, I couldn?t be more ecstatic about Friday night?s news that the Eagles will no longer pursue any head coaching candidates from within the collegiate ranks.

This of course comes on the heels of the announcement that Notre Dame?s Brian Kelly will remain at the university rather that pursue a pro job, a development that was not entirely unexpected. As soon as it became apparent however, the organization released the following statement:

?There is no question we spent a considerable amount of time and effort looking at who we thought were the best collegiate candidates for our head coaching job,? the statement read.
?
?We did so knowing that there was a remote chance that these coaches would leave their current posts. We understood that going into the process, but we wanted to leave no stone unturned while trying to find the best head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles.
?
?We have no regrets about the effort we made in that direction and we will continue to proceed as planned in our search.?

Kelly was the third college coach to interview for the Philly vacancy after O?Brien and Oregon?s Chip Kelly, and fourth to garner consideration along with Syracuse?s Doug Marrone, who joined the Buffalo Bills. The Eagles have already interviewed at least five additional candidates ? including Seattle?s Gus Bradley on Saturday according to reports ? and have meetings scheduled with two more NFL assistants early this week.

But as for Brian Kelly and Chip Kelly, two coaches with absolutely zero pro experience who were both at one time reported favorites for the position, I can?t say I feel as if the Eagles lost out on anything. That?s not to say great coaches can't be discovered in the college ranks, but I?d just as soon be safe and take somebody with more relevant experience.

Tags: eagles, Jeffrey Lurie, Brian Kelly, Chip Kelly, head coaching search

Source: http://www.the700level.com/football-philadelphia-eagles/news/The-Eagles-Are-Finished-Interviewing-Col?blockID=822953&feedID=8510

sacagawea new hope baptist church associated press foster friess new orleans hornets ghost rider spirit of vengeance hornets