It took Alabama 17 years to get back to the national title game. I wouldn't count out ND just yet......especially because of Kelly. Now....if Kelly fails and his reputation as a "hot" coach is somehow tarnished in the process it would be much tougher to hire the next great "hot" coach. That could present a huge obstacle for Irish resurgence even in the event of a Kelly failure. Without Saban I don't think the Tide is back yet either so the coaching hire is critical for any erstwhile national power in making it back to the elite. Right now the money spent on Saban....which at first blush seemed outrageous.....is now looking like a bargain. If Ron Zook was still at Fla....and he very well could be with better officiating in losses to FSU in 2003 and Tenn in '04 then I have to think UF would still be a CapOne/Outback type of team that couldn't be consistent enough to win NCs. Zook may have been able to wrangle out an SEC title or two because he could win huge games but his teams lost too many that they should have been winning. Meyer stepped it up to the next level as did Saban for Bama and Kelly might do for ND.
Dave, Why do you insist on exploring the "fail" route? Let another program celebrate a new coach that can turn the corner. What purpose can it serve to explore the negative all the time?
Thanks Tom, I will indulge Dave into his foray of negativity... It's interesting you mention that Dave. What was the first media reaction to Kelly going to Notre Dame?? I believe you were joining arm in arm with the chorus. The bottom line is.. we have our own network and while it has paid financial reward for the university, it is clear that the good fathers sold out the football program and its alumni to whore out the football program. We're a cheap billboard on the Sunset Strip when we use to be a literary masterpiece. Here's one Irish fan waiting for the next re-write.
I'm curious Corey, with your last post about the NBC contract, would you support Notre Dame going to the Big 10? Just curious.
Tom, Mandel brought the idea up in his article and these guys obviously thought it interesting and worth some comments. I have been pretty upbeat in my comments about Kelly's chancesin this topic. I see you are sniping again. :roll:
not really Dave.. you were trolling and playing the 'What about Kelly's kids at Cincinnati' card... you can't say you weren't. Bill, Absolutely not.
Nothing wishy washy about that answer Corey. It's not something I totally understand but I do respect that Notre Dame fans feel that way.
Bill, I can't speak for all ND fans, but I fully understand why conference fans don't really get it. To me, you don't need a conference to be a part of something. By virtue of you being blessed with the opportunity to play for ND, you are a part of something special in and of itself. We hold onto our individual freedom and it is our independence that afforded us the chance to become legendary. We sought conference membership a long time ago and were met with rather anti-Catholic vitriol. The way I see it, they had their chance and lost it. We went out and created history in response. We control our destiny. Submitting to the Big10 could very much put us in the position of becoming another Northwestern... a prestigious private school doing the bidding and keeping up the conference grad rates for Ohio State and Michigan. Screw that. (countdown to Don and Bobda arriving in this subject in 5, 4, 3, 2....) We seem dated because a change happened that put us in an odd position. I'd posit that we didn't stand strong enough and acquiesced too much. We NEVER should have backed the BCS system. Who is to say another change won't be right around the corner that will level the field between super conference, regular conference, nonBCS conference and independent? I know quite a few Miami fans, and even a few former players, who do not like the fact at ALL that they are a member of a conference. I am betting there may be an older Penn State fan or two that might hold that feeling. With Penn State fans, I can see them maybe not feeling that way as they were often "Boise Stated" for years until they joined the Big10. Now they have an inroad to play for a title.. It is interesting though that they dont play for them anymore... I know Miami guys who swear that conference affiliation greatly aided the 'opening of the doors' to recruiting in South Florida. But anyway... I'd rather the Irish wear green helmets before we ever join the Big10 or any conference for that matter.
Corey....just like you I enjoy discussing the what ifs......the general landscape of college football. If you were all diehard Iowa fans I suppose our conversations would revolve around the Hawkeyes a lot. As it is there are more discussions about ND than any other school here because there are more ND fans here than any other. And for now at least...ND is still relevant. I think Kelly will keep it that way.
Corey, not to long before the great conference realignments I actually wanted the Gators to consider going independent. I was actually surprised when most of the independents went with a conference. I understand it better now though.
Bill, I do too. However, I would posit that while the conferences grew stronger because of the new additions.. The individual teams grew weaker. Penn State, Miami etc... nowhere near what they use to be. They went from being special to 'just one of the gang'. The Irish made their bones by doing their own thing. By nature of the school itself, they are different than the others. Don't look for them to give up that sense of self anytime soon. I'd also posit that anyone who makes a push to that will eventually find themselves out of a job at the University. It may not be immediate, but it will come. I wish I shared Dave's confidence. I believe we're still relevant, we just suck right now. We're relevant because of what the team has done in the past. We also have the best and worst fans in college football (sometime its even the same person, it just depends on the year). We're easy to hate and we kinda like it. The problem is that we can't walk the walk anymore. Here's hoping to some change... (insert O'Bama joke here)
It's the "subway alumni" that keeps the Irish relevant. Without the legions of fans across the country who never even went to Notre Dame I think the Irish would have lost much of it's media draw by now. The past and the tradition do help but without those generic masses ND would become more irrelevant. Kelly may make ND relevant again in football ways also.
Well Kiffin is continuing to do what he was doing at Tenn, recruit, recruit, recruit. When he took over at USC Pete had a great class going and it waffled for a little while but once Kiffin arrived the waffling stopped and not only is he holding on to Petes kids he's adding to them much like he did at Tenn when he took over last year.
Yeah and they don't have to take the bus from the airport. Good ole Lane will go pick them up. I'll bet he'll give them a ride to their first party in LA too. Just don't ask him for a ride home. :wink:
Those red-blooded American males out in SoCal just love the prospect of those shirtless wild boy rallies...... :lol: