Nobody is arguing that the performance has been anything but terrible. But I blame that on the coaching staff. I'm sure that ND fans probably thought we didn't have any good players after Kuharich's last year when his career w-l was under .500. But yet Ara took those same players and almost won the Nat'l championship. I think we have a lot of talent, sure some of it is young like the WR's and the DB's but I also think this is Kelly's worst job ever at ND as coach. He's the reason we're 2-4 and looking at 3-9. I do think he'll be back next year, if he goes 3-9 maybe Jack will do something but he's in a deep hole that he dug for himself. If he's gone, he's gone I won't be sorry, if he's back he'd better produce an excellent season and show a well coached team every weekend.
This is the last big recruiting weekend for the Irish. Lot of players will be at the game. The weather is predicted to be very good for Sat, so that's a good thing. If somehow this coaching staff actually turns in a good game plan and does their job and the players play up to their abilities we can win and that would be a big boost.
Not to harp on the subject but again looking at the stats, Tillary is averaging 2 solo tackles and 2 assists per game. That's one of our better players???? Studstill took a targeting penalty hitting a QB who'd hookslid in the head. He's undisciplined or stupid. And he's someone you singled out for having a bright future? On the one hand we're playing a number of freshmen. On the other why are they playing instead of upperclassmen?
Well sometimes stats don't tell everything. I am no expert but I think we have way better than 2-4 talent on this team. We do however have a 2-4 coaching staff. On another topic. Ice Hockey goes to Minn Duluth for the weekend series after the opening wins vs Ariz State...I'm more than a little shocked that ASU has an Ice Hockey team. Although I see some kid from Arizona set some record for goals in his first NHL game last night, so maybe they do. Basketball season is getting ready to kickoff soon. Men get started on Nov 1 with Mercy, and the Women Nov 3rd with Roberts Wesleyan. Women are expected to be good and a certain NCAA team with a shot at the Final Four. Men are unknown, probably top 1/2 of the ACC.
Auston matthews, 19 y.o. picked up by the leafs, scored all 4 leaf goals in his first nhl game. Incredible.
Interesting article. It won't quiet the noise, but it speaks to what I've posted recently. http://www.indystar.com/story/sport...y-isnt-worried-hes-been-here-before/92016038/
I think what Kelly is saying is pretty much what all coaches who are in the middle of a bad streak of losses. Since beating Boston College in the Shamrock Series game, the Irish have now lost to Stanford, Ohio State, Texas, Michigan State, Duke and now NCState, beating only Syracuse and Nevada 2-6, that is a bad streak. I don't remember what Lou said during the 6-4-1 season in 1994 which ended in an undeserved slot in the Fiesta Bowl where we were thrashed by Colorado. But I'll bet it was something similar. The question is will Kelly right the ship, if he can some how do the seemingly impossible and win out and finish 8-4 he won't be a hero to many fans as they are past forgiving him for the 2-6 streak at the moment. But he'll be back. If he does the possible, and finished 3-9 all the talk in the world about persevering through hard times, having a plan to turn it around, etc won't really help him. He might be back as he has a new contract and he doesn't seem like the type who would just say oK I'm done lets negotiate a buyout and I'll move on. He'll want to be back, popular amongst the fans or not, and take the shot at proving he can still do it. As I said, I just want ND football to be very good, if it's with Kelly fine, if not bring on the next guy.
Mike Brey, who has experienced a sort of renewal of his career with the back to back elite 8 appearances, was not esp popular with fans either after a number of years missing the NCAA's or when making them being 1 and done. There was a difference though, fans just didn't think he was good enough and we needed a new guy. It wasn't personal. With Kelly it's personal. Many fans who are now up in arms, really just tolerated him due to 2012 and last year...never really liking him but hard to ask constantly for his dismissal when you are in the playoff talks. But they have their opening now, and Kelly's personality makes him the perfect target for hate. He's not like Lou, who in public hasa always been sort of a warm and fuzzy guy. Kelly has an arrogance about him, not exactly like Charlie Weis but not too different. Bottom line this has crossed over to being personal. If he wins 8 in a row, and then the bowl game many fans will still want him fired.
My son was on that 6-4-1 team, and we went to the bowl game. Lou said nothing. It wasn't his style. In the years following his time at ND, he has reflected that (short version) he became complacent and was wrongly focusing on maintaining rather than growing. One thing that impresses me about Kelly is that he is able to tune out the white noise of angry, demanding fans. He's well aware that the only people he needs to answer to in terms of his job security are the people who sign his checks. If and when those people decide he's gone, he'll be gone. Until then, all the fan chatter is white noise to him, and frankly to me.
This photo seems to reflect the state of the Football team this Friday night...we'll see if the sun comes up on Sunday morning. Sid I'd forgotten that Brian played then, what years was he a walkon?
Christian McCaffrey out vs. ND: http://www.cbssports.com/college-fo...n-mccaffrey-will-not-play-against-notre-dame/
Sorry he's not going to play, he's a great one and I hope he gets healthy and doesn't have his season derailed by injuries.
solid but not spectacular 1st half for the Irish, lead 10-0. I thought the strip score was good, but I could see the other side as well. Offense has been just OK, Kizer has definitely made some good plays and Folston and Adams have had some good runs, too many penalties on the OL and too many sacks given up. But up 10-0 and get the ball to start the 2nd half. Need to score on the first drive. Looks like we've become a bend don't break Bob Diaco type of defense.
10-9 now in the 4th qtr, Kizer has been benched but Malik Zaire doesn't look to be the answer. Kizer has thrown a pick 6 and a bad pick though.
Treee's win, ugly game but Tree's made enough plays to win. I'm puzzled by the insertion of Zaire, he was terrible. While you could hardly call it a great defensive effort by the Irish, but the defense did force 2 fumbles and got an INT, and of the 17 points that Stanford scored only 8 were on the defense, the other 9 were pick 6 and safety on the snap over Zaire's head. I am completely shocked by the poor offensive game by the Irish.
Well If Jack Swarbrick is sensitive to the fan base..he's going to get an earful from the Internet Irish fans. Across all the boards virtually every post is about firing Kelly. I don't think it's going to happen, but it's going to be ugly for the rest of the season.
I really thought you might have a chance against the Cardinals with McCafferty out of the lineup. Probably will be a long season now for the Irish.