A few plays away

[sshulk]

from .500

Could have lost UVa, Ga Tech, Temple, BC, USC, Wake with just one or two plays going a different way

Great season but definitely nowhere near a championship defense

Offense wins games, Defemse wins championships

I'd take Hoke over BVG as DC, and he's close to Kelly

 

[pennirish]

...So could have MSU, Iowa, Ohio State, and ALA, lost to "much lesser" teams, and won many close games where they were expected to dominate.

 

[gipper04]

Or the reverse is ND was 2 plays and 4/6 points away from being ranked #1 and in the play-offs.

 

[Bodizephax]

Charlie Weiss 2009 team went 6 and 6 with the biggest loss being 7 points to USC, but they won a lot of close games too so By Lou's logic we could have been 12 and 0 or 2 and 10 that year.
I like what Bill Parcells said "You are what your record says you are". Notre Dame is a solid 10 and 2 team so far this year.

 

[hvillebill]

from .500

Could have lost UVa, Ga Tech, Temple, BC, USC, Wake with just one or two plays going a different way

Great season but definitely nowhere near a championship defense

Offense wins games, Defemse wins championships

I'd take Hoke over BVG as DC, and he's close to Kelly

If you look for the negative, guess what? You'll find it.

If you think Hoke is close to Kelly, you need to do a little more research.

 

[tkirish]

Most teams play some close games throughout any season. That's football. I'm not one to say if this or if that. To me it's simple. ND did not play well enough to beat Clemson or Stanford. They did just enough to beat UVA and Temple. That's the reality. Most close games no matter what sport, what level of competition always come down to a play or two that decides the game. Look at MSU vs Michigan this year or Alabama vs Auburn last year. Both games ended on plays that no one would ever predict. Yet that's how the supposed "better" team lost. In other words they didn't play well enough or those games would have ended differently. Anyway, there is no whining on my part. This was one of the best years for ND football in the last 20. The other of course being 2012. I really believe coach Kelly has got this thing going strong. He needs to be the Irish coach for the foreseeable future. I know there are naysayers who don't like him for whatever reason. That's fine. Everyone has their opinion. But when was the last you felt this good as an ND fan about the football program. No coach is perfect. Not Meyer, Saban, Stoops or Kelly. There will be tough losses and great wins. But overall there is talent coming in that will keep the Irish in the hunt most years if it continues. Kelly will eventually leave. But for now and I hope another 3 to 5 years he remains the Irish coach. It's tough finding the right coach. When you have one you better do what you can to keep him.

 

[Bodizephax]

Coach Kelly is going to have even more talent the next few years. ND will continue to be in the National title hunt. The injury bug will slow down--law of averages.

Coach Saban has great players----that is why they always win along with his good coaching.

There is no other coach I would want right now other than Brian Kelly.

 

[cgvr]

Most teams play some close games throughout any season. That's football. I'm not one to say if this or if that. To me it's simple. ND did not play well enough to beat Clemson or Stanford. They did just enough to beat UVA and Temple. That's the reality. Most close games no matter what sport, what level of competition always come down to a play or two that decides the game. Look at MSU vs Michigan this year or Alabama vs Auburn last year. Both games ended on plays that no one would ever predict. Yet that's how the supposed "better" team lost. In other words they didn't play well enough or those games would have ended differently. Anyway, there is no wing on my part. This was one of the best years for ND football in the last 20. The other of course being 2012. I really believe coach Kelly has got this thing going strong. He needs to be the Irish coach for the foreseeable future. I know there are naysayers who don't like him for whatever reason. That's fine. Everyone has their opinion. But when was the last you felt this good as an ND fan about the football program. No coach is perfect. Not Meyer, Saban, Stoops or Kelly. There will be tough losses and great wins. But overall there is talent coming in that will keep the Irish in the hunt most years if it continues. Kelly will eventually leave. But for now and I hope another 3 to 5 years he remains the Irish coach. It's tough finding the right coach. When you have one you better do what you can to keep him.

Hopefully, we can put it altogether with preferably a cleanly played Fiesta Bowl (or other bowl) win. Laying 50 on someone can make a statement and be a perfect momentum builder into next year.

 

[TurnoverMachine]

from .500

Could have lost UVa, Ga Tech, Temple, BC, USC, Wake with just one or two plays going a different way

Great season but definitely nowhere near a championship defense

Offense wins games, Defemse wins championships

I'd take Hoke over BVG as DC, and he's close to Kelly

I was talking to my ND grad dad, who also hates Kelly, and I mentioned that same thing hulk. I wouldn't be surprised to see Hoke on the staff in 2016.

 

[TurnoverMachine]

Or the reverse is ND was 2 plays and 4/6 points away from being ranked #1 and in the play-offs.

Exactly. It goes both ways and if Kelly had better game management skills ND would be 12-0.

 

[cgvr]

I was talking to my ND grad dad, who also hates Kelly, and I mentioned that same thing hulk. I wouldn't be surprised to see Hoke on the staff in 2016.

Dining?

 

[TurnoverMachine]

Most teams play some close games throughout any season. That's football. I'm not one to say if this or if that. To me it's simple. ND did not play well enough to beat Clemson or Stanford. They did just enough to beat UVA and Temple. That's the reality. Most close games no matter what sport, what level of competition always come down to a play or two that decides the game. Look at MSU vs Michigan this year or Alabama vs Auburn last year. Both games ended on plays that no one would ever predict. Yet that's how the supposed "better" team lost. In other words they didn't play well enough or those games would have ended differently. Anyway, there is no wing on my part. This was one of the best years for ND football in the last 20. The other of course being 2012. I really believe coach Kelly has got this thing going strong. He needs to be the Irish coach for the foreseeable future. I know there are naysayers who don't like him for whatever reason. That's fine. Everyone has their opinion. But when was the last you felt this good as an ND fan about the football program. No coach is perfect. Not Meyer, Saban, Stoops or Kelly. There will be tough losses and great wins. But overall there is talent coming in that will keep the Irish in the hunt most years if it continues. Kelly will eventually leave. But for now and I hope another 3 to 5 years he remains the Irish coach. It's tough finding the right coach. When you have one you better do what you can to keep him.

I agree with you. What's frustrating is the fact Kelly can't win a big game. If he could've just won one of the games against top-10 comp I'd agree with you on much of what you wrote. He's loading up his W's on average competition.

 

[NDSMC78]

I agree with you. What's frustrating is the fact Kelly can't win a big game. If he could've just won one of the games against top-10 comp I'd agree with you on much of what you wrote. He's loading his W's on average competition.

Another idiotic post by this idiot.

 

[deadirishpoet]

I agree with you. What's frustrating is the fact Kelly can't win a big game. If he could've just won one of the games against top-10 comp I'd agree with you on much of what you wrote. He's loading up his W's on average competition.

2012 in Norman was zn extremely big game and big win.......against a top 10 opponent

 

[echowaker]

I was talking to my ND grad dad, who also hates Kelly, and I mentioned that same thing hulk. I wouldn't be surprised to see Hoke on the staff in 2016.

wow, a whole family of haters. good times.

 

[Java65]

Geez... these "what-if's" (on both sides) drive me nuts. Our record is 10-2 what happened, happened. Just like last year our record was 8-5. In 2013 it was 9-4.

Everyone could play the "what-if" game forever.

 

[Pennick4]

wow, a whole family of haters. good times.

Must have been a helluva Thanksgiving Dinner.

 

[SwlaDukie]

ND has had a phenomenal season and looked in every game even in its worst games. Turnovers have made games that should have been blowouts close games. Injuries and one turnover cost Notre Dame the Stanford game. It would have been a different result if Russell and Onwalu were there for passing situations.

 

[cgvr]

ND has had a phenomenal season and looked in every game even in its worst games. Turnovers have made games that should have been blowouts close games. Injuries and one turnover cost Notre Dame the Stanford game. It would have been a different result if Russell and Onwalu were there for passing situations.

The stanford game was masterfully managed by Shaw. He held on to his timeouts, he didn't chase points and he knew where our soft spot was in prevent.

We had him in our cross hairs and he escaped....

You make an interesting point. I wonder how that last pass play would have looked with Russell in there....

What a gut punch...

 

[IrishBlessings]

I was talking to my ND grad dad, who also hates Kelly, and I mentioned that same thing hulk. I wouldn't be surprised to see Hoke on the staff in 2016.

Apple does not fall far from the tree - how true it is - your holidays must be cheery -

 

[cgvr]

Apple does not fall far from the tree - how true it is - your holidays must be cheery -

"Dad, pass the "Kelly sucks" turkey."
"Son, I'll have some of those "fire kelly" potatoes."

 

[Bumpdaddy]

from .500

Could have lost UVa, Ga Tech, Temple, BC, USC, Wake with just one or two plays going a different way

Great season but definitely nowhere near a championship defense

Offense wins games, Defemse wins championships

I'd take Hoke over BVG as DC, and he's close to Kelly

This really is a dumb post. If you are going to include Wake and USC you might as well list everyone we played and feel really good about yourself. In almost every game, regardless of who the teams are, anyone could cherry pick and change a few plays here or there that would result in a different outcome. That's called fantasizing. In reality ND was in control of all the outcomes in their games. Against Ga Tech, BC, and WF we led from beginning to end. At no time were we in danger of losing any of those games. USC was a little dicey through the 3rd quarter but then we took control of the game and won by 10. Against UVA and Temple, yes, we actually trailed in the final minute of each game but our offense drove down the field in the final moments and scored the winning TD to end each game. There was nothing flukey about either win. Both wins were earned. Contrast that with MSU's miracle win over UM, Ole Miss with the miracle bounce pass play to help beat Bama, and TCU's tipped winning TD pass against Texas Tech. Those plays were all flukes. Chance played a prominent role in all of those games. Chance didn't play a role in any of our games... unless you want to count having to play Clemson in a monsoon on the road. In that case, the one and only case of fate being a factor in ND's season actually worked against us, so maybe you should be making the case for "ND 1 fair weather game away from being 11-1."

 

[Irish Grandeur]

ND is a lot closer to 12-0 than they are to 6-6. Sure, there was a game or two (UVA/Temple) the Irish needed Joe Montana-esque drives to win but Kizer proved up to the task each time. Even in the losses Kizer put the team in position to win within the last minute of the game.

 

[IrishBlessings]

"Dad, pass the "Kelly sucks" turkey."
"Son, I'll have some of those "fire kelly" potatoes."

Good one CGV - Lol

 

[IrishBlessings]

The stanford game was masterfully managed by Shaw. He held on to his timeouts, he didn't chase points and he knew where our soft spot was in prevent.

We had him in our cross hairs and he escaped....

You make an interesting point. I wonder how that last pass play would have looked with Russell in there....

What a gut punch...

Shaw coached a good game and so did BK. I've watched Stanford a lot over the years being on the West Coast. I'd take BK over Shaw - Shaw is a very solid coach - love how Stanford plays "tough" game in and game out. But, Shaw can get extremely conservative at times and it has cost him some games. In the first game this season vs. Northwestern. There is no way they should of lost that game - not w/ a 5th year starting QB who has started as many games as he has. And w/ Stanford's overall talent level being better than Northwestern's. Shaw was extremely conservative in his play calling in that game and it cost them.

The football gods were not on our side in that Stanford game - too many plays feel in Stanford's favor that cost us.

 

[cgvr]

Shaw coached a good game and so did BK. I've watched Stanford a lot over the years being on the West Coast. I'd take BK over Shaw - Shaw is a very solid coach - love how Stanford plays "tough" game in and game out. But, Shaw can get extremely conservative at times and it has cost him some games. In the first game this season vs. Northwestern. There is no way they should of lost that game - not w/ a 5th year starting QB who has started as many games as he has. And w/ Stanford's overall talent level being better than Northwestern's. Shaw was extremely conservative in his play calling in that game and it cost them.

The football gods were not on our side in that Stanford game - too many plays feel in Stanford's favor that cost us.

If kelly would take elements of/and incoporate Shaw's/Stanford's power running packages I think he would endear himself to more of the ND alum/fan base. Imo That would help complete our offense and make us more productive in the red zone.

 

[deadirishpoet]

[QUOTE="... Imo That would help complete our offense and make us more productive in the red zone.[/QUOTE]

BINGO!!!

 

[sshulk]

This really is a dumb post. If you are going to include Wake and USC you might as well list everyone we played and feel really good about yourself. In almost every game, regardless of who the teams are, anyone could cherry pick and change a few plays here or there that would result in a different outcome. That's called fantasizing. In reality ND was in control of all the outcomes in their games. Against Ga Tech, BC, and WF we led from beginning to end. At no time were we in danger of losing any of those games. USC was a little dicey through the 3rd quarter but then we took control of the game and won by 10. Against UVA and Temple, yes, we actually trailed in the final minute of each game but our offense drove down the field in the final moments and scored the winning TD to end each game. There was nothing flukey about either win. Both wins were earned. Contrast that with MSU's miracle win over UM, Ole Miss with the miracle bounce pass play to help beat Bama, and TCU's tipped winning TD pass against Texas Tech. Those plays were all flukes. Chance played a prominent role in all of those games. Chance didn't play a role in any of our games... unless you want to count having to play Clemson in a monsoon on the road. In that case, the one and only case of fate being a factor in ND's season actually worked against us, so maybe you should be making the case for "ND 1 fair weather game away from being 11-1."

Offense wins games defense wins championships - keeping too many teams in games is a bad plan mate

 

[Bumpdaddy]

Offense wins games defense wins championships - keeping too many teams in games is a bad plan mate

I addressed the bogus and thoughtless assertion you made in the title of this thread and in your first statement. Your statement above does nothing to contradict anything I said.

 

[IrishBlessings]

If kelly would take elements of/and incoporate Shaw's/Stanford's power running packages I think he would endear himself to more of the ND alum/fan base. Imo That would help complete our offense and make us more productive in the red zone.

Agree

 

[perseverare]

from .500

Could have lost UVa, Ga Tech, Temple, BC, USC, Wake with just one or two plays going a different way

Great season but definitely nowhere near a championship defense

Offense wins games, Defemse wins championships

I'd take Hoke over BVG as DC, and he's close to Kelly

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
if you play a competitive schedule, most games will turn on a play or two or a sequence of plays.
Somtimes, rarely, the breaks all go your way (2012) and sometimes you get more breaks your way like this season.
Sure it could have been 8-4 or 9-3 but it easily could have been 12-0!

The offense is clearybahead of the defense when discussing championship potential.