The big problem is the Navy game. They choose the venues for out games with them. We've played them in Dublin, Jacksonville, Cleveland and now SD to name a few. They apparently like to travel more than we do. Of course they have transportation like boats and stuff.
I saw the quote below from a "credible" source. It describes how I feel about our team. We showed tremendous grit and toughness through our first 9 games. We played over our heads to achieve an 8-1 record. We created the illusion that we were one of the big boys. We even rose to #3 in the rankings. We never were a championship caliber team. There were too many fundamental, talent-related issues on both sides of the ball. In the final 3 games we faded to the level we would have been all year without the tremendous team leadership, the outstanding coaching, the the kind of grit shown by championship ND teams of the (distant) past. I'm hopeful that we can build for 2018 on what we accomplished in 2017 and maintain for a full season the kind of winning attitude we showed in the first 9 games:
We don't have a QB that can run the table, that's for sure. He is fun to watch with his running but this is a passing offense and every time he takes off on foot the season could end on that play. His passing skills are below average. Now we have to replace two first team AA linemen. That is a very tall order. And these and other personnel issues aside, we still have the nagging question about our HC.... is he good enough to beat the top teams. And lastly, I don't know if our IND status lends itself to winning a national championship. In lieu of winning a conference title we must travel the four corners of the earth playing top teams in ever changing time zones to compensate. It could be that this season is the epitome of what we can reaonably expect.
It's hard to tell now because so much can happen between now and then, but I expect another 10+ win season next year. We should be returning a ton of talent and that young DL will no longer be young. We have skill at every position provided we can get the ball to them and the QB will be a senior who SHOULD improve his passing skill. Let's be honest, if he was even an average to decent passer this year, we win 2 more games this season. But Kelly has loaded up on the talent he wants. Any shortcomings, real or perceived are strictly his own. He's had the keys to the Ferrari long enough. I think next year will show us if he's the guy for the job or not. I know that's been said before, but for once, I am on board with that mindset.
Terry, Eric Hansen of the SBT agrees with your opinion of the 2018 Syracuse game in NYC. I also agree. https://www.ndinsider.com/football/...cle_9163479a-dba5-11e7-b924-df125457a5ee.html Also, Drue Tranquill is coming back for a fifth year.
Nyles Morgan won the team's Defensive MVP award and Quentin Nelson won the overall MVP but I think Tranquil may have been the MVP of this team.
Tranquil has been one of my favorite players for a few years now. He's a tremendous leader and a very good player at the Rover position. I am hopeful that Jerry Tillery will come back as well and Tevon Coney as well. Both are reportedly exploring NFL options. Josh Adams has a hard decision as to whether he'll come back as well. He's had injury issues the last 2 years and RB's in the draft don't often go in the 1st round anyway. I won't be shocked if he has a great bowl game that he leaves. But we have plenty of talent coming back so it's not critical. St. Brown is an idiot if he leaves, he didn't have a great year even given that Wimbush had a poor year as well. I wouldn't expect he'd be drafted in the 1st 3 rounds. 5th rounder at best. Hopefully we have all our verbals sign LOI's in the early signing period and add a few new guys after that.
Lost a WR from California this weekend, Kyle Porter. No clue what happened, the communication coming out of the family was all super positive, till Chip Kelly was named the coach at UCLA. If he goes to UCLA I won't be shocked. A lot of talk about some DB recruits and everybody expects we'll get 2 sometime soon..but which two? Also Tommy Tremble is announcing this coming Thursday, at one time he was super excited about the Irish now we're just in his final group. He was out at UCLA this past weekend. Good news is if he doesn't come it's no big deal we are pretty loaded at TE. Irish Men had a good victory at Delaware this weekend and the Women won at Penn. Men's Hockey continues to roll beating Wisconsin on their Ice both games. They are still undefeated in the Big10. Hockey goes on vacation this time of the year, won't play again till January at Michigan The issue with Wimbush and his passing is really become an issue in recruiting. Kelly has even reportedly told some dads that they will absolutely have Brandon fixed by next fall...how about by the Citrus Bowl..it'd be nice to have a passing game vs LSU. Speaking of Passing Game....Phil Jurkovec lead his team to the State Championship and reportedly had a great game. The kid is a great passer and a really good runner as well. He won't be an early enrollment kid so he won't get to work with the team till next summer. I don't blame him, he's also a really good basketball player and apparently his team is good in basketball as well. Plenty of time to be a college player, enjoy your senior year of HS. I'm thinking he's the next Joe Montana!
Well one Cali kid out and another Cali kid in ...Tariq Bracy an "athlete" from Milpitas Calif. There are a couple of other guys who will play DB who are still being recruited. From what I read Bracy will need a red shirt year, which truthfully is what almost every kid who is slated for DB needs. Just to big a leap from HS to College at CB/S . Totally different at WR though, if you have talent and can run a decent route you can play as a freshman.
Speaking of being well stocked at TE. Alize Mack and Nic Weishar will be back along with Cole Kmet and Brock Wright and freshman George Takacs So we'll be OK even if Tommy Tremble doesn't thow in with the Irish.
Irish need to close on Luke Jones the OL from Arkansas. The Petit-Frere kid will be down to the wire likely so we'll have to wait and see, but I would love to have him in South Bend. If OL are paying attention to the growing list of AA OL's and high draft picks that Harry is putting out they'd be wise to come to Notre Dame.
Interesting safety development https://slapthesign.com/2017/12/12/...ege-program-to-embrace-new-helmet-technology/
This finish would make Tim (and me) happy! Braden Lenzy Lawrence Keys Tommy Tremble Luke Jones Nicholas Petit-Frere Malik Langham Kyler Gordon Solomon Tuliaupupu...would be the dream addition! Corey, I hope that helmet is a break through, football needs something to help players and reduce the #'s of concussions. Combine that with better coaching on technique and maybe we'll still be playing football in 10 years rather than 9 on 9 flag football!
Since I don't know anything about the recruits you listed, I'll place my faith in you and Tim. :wink:
Well put a check by Tommy Tremble from the list. He announced for the Irish this morning. Excellent pickup for ND. He's a good player with a lot of upside. We'll lose Alize Mack and Nic Weishar next year but Tremble and "George Takacs should be ready to provide depth behind Kmet and Wright. They probably will redshirt as freshmen.