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SOUTH BEND — This wasn’t the first time Notre Dame football made a push to hire James Blanchard away from Texas Tech, but it figures to be the last.
The well-regarded general manager made it clear Friday morning that he was staying in Lubbock after reportedly visiting South Bend and fielding a three-year offer from Irish coach Marcus Freeman.
“Here to stay” was the caption on Texas Tech football’s social media post as Blanchard and Red Raiders coach Joey McGuire posed in the end zone at Jones AT&T Stadium.
A handshake emoji emphasized that Blanchard had rebuffed the Irish, who had targeted the fast-rising executive as their top choice to replace Chad Bowden, now at USC.
Texas Tech later announced a new three-year contract for Blanchard, 34. According to ESPN, the GM’s new deal averages $525,000 per year.
“The success of our personnel department led by James Blanchard has obviously been noticed nationally with the significant interest he continues to generate annually,” McGuire said in a statement. “We’re excited James and his family have chosen to remain Red Raiders and continue the work we started not long ago in building a consistent program that can compete for Big 12 titles.”
Since Blanchard’s arrival in November 2021, the Red Raiders have signed their first five-star prospect (2024 wideout Micah Hudson) and secured USC transfer running back Quenten Joyner as part of the third-ranked portal class this offseason.
The Big 12 program, which has posted three straight winning seasons under McGuire, also debuted a $240 million football facility at its home stadium.
Notre Dame also reportedly pursued Blanchard in the spring of 2023 before hiring Butler Benton away from Arkansas. Benton left that role in player personnel after one year to become UCLA’s football GM.
Last July, amid interest from USC, Blanchard…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/notre-dame-football-again-turned-164957647.html
Author : South Bend Tribune
Publish date : 2025-02-07 16:49:00
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