Its still too early

[hoopsstar12]

Too many ND fans are sipping the kool aid and assuming we win the rest of our games. It doesnt matter where we are ranked now or who is in the lead for the Heisman. The season aint over with and 3 of our last 4 games are against traditional rivals. 2 are road games with no extra week to prepare. Nothing is a given. Worry about what you can control. The 4 and 8 season and the Georgia loss are still fresh in my mind. Any team is capable of beating any team on any given Saturday etc.

 

[NDSMC78]

Geez. Thanks for the news flash. I think everyone knows that ND still has four more games to play.

 

[NyyorkerND]

Too many ND fans are sipping the kool aid and assuming we win the rest of our games. It doesnt matter where we are ranked now or who is in the lead for the Heisman. The season aint over with and 3 of our last 4 games are against traditional rivals. 2 are road games with no extra week to prepare. Nothing is a given. Worry about what you can control. The 4 and 8 season and the Georgia loss are still fresh in my mind. Any team is capable of beating any team on any given Saturday etc.

I am with you on this. I'm am completely shocked with how we've been playing not just that we're winning but blowing teams out. Four games to go take em 1 at a time and we should be fine.

 

[NotreDame du Lac]

We don't get a playoff even if we win out. Those that think we will need to look harder at the teams in front of us and use a little common sense.

 

[irish4life888]

Too many ND fans are sipping the kool aid and assuming we win the rest of our games. It doesnt matter where we are ranked now or who is in the lead for the Heisman. The season aint over with and 3 of our last 4 games are against traditional rivals. 2 are road games with no extra week to prepare. Nothing is a given. Worry about what you can control. The 4 and 8 season and the Georgia loss are still fresh in my mind. Any team is capable of beating any team on any given Saturday etc.

Wow, really we still have four games to play? Keep up the great work Hoop. Sorry you're still poo pooing over last season. I think I'll enjoy this season thank very much.

 

[irish4life888]

We don't get a playoff even if we win out. Those that think we will need to look harder at the teams in front of us and use a little common sense.

Another half glass empty fan. Pretty sad you all cannot enjoy being a fan. I also call BS if we win out we won't be in. BTW, pretty much everyone at ESPN, Rivals, Fox Sports disagree with you btw. Hate On!

 

[NyyorkerND]

Another half glass empty fan. Pretty sad you all cannot enjoy being a fan. I also call BS if we win out we won't be in. BTW, pretty much everyone at ESPN, Rivals, Fox Sports disagree with you btw. Hate On!

Dude it's not hate it's staying grounded. We went 4 and freaking 8 last year. If we lose a game and I hope we don't I just don't want to hear fans or posters say Kelly can't win a big game and all that nonsense again.

 

[irish4life888]

Dude it's not hate it's staying grounded. We went 4 and freaking 8 last year. If we lose a game and I hope we don't I just don't want to hear fans or posters say Kelly can't win a big game and all that nonsense again.

So what does last year have to do with this year again?

 

[echowaker]

Too many ND fans are sipping the kool aid and assuming we win the rest of our games. It doesnt matter where we are ranked now or who is in the lead for the Heisman. The season aint over with and 3 of our last 4 games are against traditional rivals. 2 are road games with no extra week to prepare. Nothing is a given. Worry about what you can control. The 4 and 8 season and the Georgia loss are still fresh in my mind. Any team is capable of beating any team on any given Saturday etc.

So I guess fans should not be excited about how the season has gone and heaven forbid be optimistic about the rest of it. Bet you're a hoot at parties.

 

[NyyorkerND]

So what does last year have to do with this year again?

It should be a reminder of what can happen if you don't pay attention to detail, it should be motivation, etc.

 

[bostonirish84]

We don't get a playoff even if we win out. Those that think we will need to look harder at the teams in front of us and use a little common sense.

Problem is we don't know who is front of ND right now. These other polls don't matter and they should get rid of them. The College Football Playoff poll is the only thing that matters and they do it the right way by not coming out with rankings until a good portion of the season has played itself out and they can determine who they think should be ranked where. Lets see what the committe thinks of ND on Tuesday night. Go Irish!!!

 

[HarlemIrish]

Dude it's not hate it's staying grounded. We went 4 and freaking 8 last year. If we lose a game and I hope we don't I just don't want to hear fans or posters say Kelly can't win a big game and all that nonsense again.

Are you a Jet's fan? Waiting for the impending doom!

 

[irish4life888]

It should be a reminder of what can happen if you don't pay attention to detail, it should be motivation, etc.

Ugh, ya I'm sure the players need reminded of that. i guess not too early to get your bah humbug on huh!

 

[ND1989]

I have been skeptical so far. But after yesterday I've started to think we COULD realistically win out. So looking where we land in the first playoff poll takes on new significance.

 

[irishstuey81]

Everyone is aware that ND could lay an egg and lose, but if you objectively look at our remaining schedule, this is not as daunting as first thought. ND will be TD+ favorites the rest of the year and honestly they should be. Stanford and Miami are not nearly as good as they were predicted to be and both rely on the run game, which ND has proven to be stout against.

Yesterday was the best defense we will see from here on out and the best QB we will see. Going into SC the odds of winning out were somewhere around 15%, now it's probably around 70-80%. It's fun watching this ND team who has more speed and strength than we've seen in years. I think this years squad is a TD favorite over the 2012 team and it's an amazing turnaround. No reason for fans to not start thinking about making the playoffs and competing with the best.

 

[irish4life888]

Everyone is aware that ND could lay an egg and lose, but if you objectively look at our remaining schedule, this is not as daunting as first thought. ND will be TD+ favorites the rest of the year and honestly they should be. Stanford and Miami are not nearly as good as they were predicted to be and both rely on the run game, which ND has proven to be stout against.

Yesterday was the best defense we will see from here on out and the best QB we will see. Going into SC the odds of winning out were somewhere around 15%, now it's probably around 70-80%. It's fun watching this ND team who has more speed and strength than we've seen in years. I think this years squad is a TD favorite over the 2012 team and it's an amazing turnaround. No reason for fans to not start thinking about making the playoffs and competing with the best.

AMEN!! and well said. Yes, the fans are aware, the players are aware, the coaches are aware, that every game is a playoff game. I guess there are always going to be your negative nelly fans that are always looking at worst case scenarios. I feel bad for their wives and children.

 

[twalsh]

It should be a reminder of what can happen if you don't pay attention to detail, it should be motivation, etc.

We are FANS, not freakin' players. Our attention to detail and motivation doesn't mean squat.

 

[HRC08]

We don't get a playoff even if we win out. Those that think we will need to look harder at the teams in front of us and use a little common sense.

What teams are ahead of us? I mean... I can assume that on Tuesday (because no ranking before then mattered but you knew that, right?) that Georgia and Alabama (in some order) will be ranked ahead of the Irish. Your guess is as good as mine on who else potentially could be ranked above ND.

 

[twalsh]

We don't get a playoff even if we win out. Those that think we will need to look harder at the teams in front of us and use a little common sense.

Define "ahead of us". Who besides Bama and Georgia are really ahead of us?

 

[NyyorkerND]

Are you a Jet's fan? Waiting for the impending doom!

Lol how did you know.

 

[chaseball]

Elite teams rarely just "lay eggs"

I don't know where people get this idea that -- despite all evidence to the contrary -- Notre Dame is just going to wake up one day and suck/lose a game/etc.

Elite teams win the large majority of their games, and only find themselves in close games against other elite teams.

The only teams that is NDs peer right now are Georgia and Alabama.

Despite some very improbable anomoly happening, based on the evidence of this team's performance through the first 9 weeks of the season, it's VERY HIGHLY UNLIKELY that ND is going to "lay an egg"

There's no basis to assume so ..

This is an elite football team. This is a top 1% football team in the nation. It's going to take the other team's in the top 1% to have any realistic possibility to beat ND.

People remember the one off occasions where an Alabama or OSU loses to some mediocre opponent because it makes headline news. But it RARELY happens. When you are one of the best, and all the data/evidence backs it up, you don't "lay eggs" .. you blow teams out consistently. ND has THAT kind of team this year.

Sit back and enjoy the curb stompings the remaining opponents on the schedule are going to receive at the hands of ND. Sit back and enjoy the very high likelihood of ND being a top 4 ranked team come end of the season. This is what is highly probable. Not some one off random chance ND is going to lose to some relatively mediocre opponent down the stretch.

 

[88ND]

Dude it's not hate it's staying grounded. We went 4 and freaking 8 last year. If we lose a game and I hope we don't I just don't want to hear fans or posters say Kelly can't win a big game and all that nonsense again.

Kelly will have another chance in two weeks.
South Beach, on the road, Miami, if they win until then both will be around the #5 ranking, That game is a TBD so I can imagine it will be on at prime time ABC for the whole world to see.

 

[stu4don]

Dude it's not hate it's staying grounded. We went 4 and freaking 8 last year. If we lose a game and I hope we don't I just don't want to hear fans or posters say Kelly can't win a big game and all that nonsense again.

Except Kelly changed ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING! We fired our incompetent DC half-way through the season! We hired new D-coordinator, O-coordinator, Linebackers coach, Receivers coach and moved Elston back to the d-line where he is great. Most importantly, Kelly hired Ballis and changed the way his operation does business. We lost one game to maybe the best team in the country by one point. We dominated every other opponent making good teams look mediocre and decent teams look flat-out bad.

You nay-sayers need to enjoy life a bit. This is a good team that is only getting better. Could we drop one of the last four -- sure... it is college football. But Kelly has this team playing better than any of his previous teams. This offensive line is the best of the Kelly era, we may have the best RB in the history of ND football, and our defenses, although young is deep and improving.

By the way ESPN currently has us ranked #3 in the power rankings. Even they are drinking.

For me the Kool Aid has a healthy pour of Tito's so I'm slurping that shit down!

 

[Telx1]

Kelly will have another chance in two weeks.
South Beach, on the road, Miami, if they win until then both will be around the #5 ranking, That game is a TBD so I can imagine it will be on at prime time ABC for the whole world to see.

88 serious question. Are you off the Kelly can’t win the big game bandwagon, or are you just waiting to pounce at the first opportunity?

 

[88ND]

88 serious question. Are you off the Kelly can’t win the big game bandwagon, or are you just waiting to pounce at the first opportunity?

To each their own opinion...and mine of BK is improving weekly.
Having said that I know it seems like ages ago to most including me but our toughest opponent for the year was Georgia. It was a very tight game. We lost. Would you give Kelly a high grade for that game? Could he alone with a decision here or there won that game? It was very close. Our ONLY close game. Happens to be OUR only loss.

If we play that game again we might win. We've improved but Georgia has as well.

Lastly do you think I want BK to fail? Sorry but I don't.
I'm the first person that wants our coach to win the close ones.

Saturday night two weeks will probably be on prime time at 8. On the road in south beach. That environment too...because we've also seen BK allow other teams a ten spot because we piss our pants at the hostile environment for the first ten minutes.

I don't know how so many of you forget eight years because of 3/4 of a season....not unblemished mind you...just so easily.

I actually do know how...because you WANT to believe as do I. I'm just warning up a little slower than some but I'm getting there.

 

[Telx1]

To each their own opinion...and mine of BK is improving weekly.
Having said that I know it seems like ages ago to most including me but our toughest opponent for the year was Georgia. It was a very tight game. We lost. Would you give Kelly a high grade for that game? Could he alone with a decision here or there won that game? It was very close. Our ONLY close game. Happens to be OUR only loss.

The reason I asked is you seem to play both sides, and your answer continues in this vein.

 

[iwish]

Too many ND fans are sipping the kool aid and assuming we win the rest of our games. It doesnt matter where we are ranked now or who is in the lead for the Heisman. The season aint over with and 3 of our last 4 games are against traditional rivals. 2 are road games with no extra week to prepare. Nothing is a given. Worry about what you can control. The 4 and 8 season and the Georgia loss are still fresh in my mind. Any team is capable of beating any team on any given Saturday etc.

Kind of ridiculous to compare and keep bringing up last year - apples and oranges. The things we didn’t do last year that could have won any or all of those 1-score losses have been addressed. It’s not like we had a crappy team with no talent. We had a Defensive Coordinator that wasn’t a good fit or gett8ng the job done. We had a non-existent strength and conditioning coach & program. We had off the field issues. And yes, we had some bad decisions being made at times by the coaching staff.

We have seen BK address pretty much ALL of those issues, the team has rallied and we are now seeing the fruits of that. Every Irish fan should thrilled with this year’s team and performance, and BK deserves credit where credit is due.

 

[SiberianKnightmare]

Spoiler Alert! None of our attitudes or opinions have any effect in any way, shape, or form on how the team plays. Every single fan is completely irrelevant with regard to the team's performance.

So ND fans, let whatever flag you want fly. It doesn't matter to anyone but you anyway!

 

[stu4don]

To each their own opinion...and mine of BK is improving weekly.
Having said that I know it seems like ages ago to most including me but our toughest opponent for the year was Georgia. It was a very tight game. We lost. Would you give Kelly a high grade for that game? Could he alone with a decision here or there won that game? It was very close. Our ONLY close game. Happens to be OUR only loss.

If we play that game again we might win. We've improved but Georgia has as well.

Lastly do you think I want BK to fail? Sorry but I don't.
I'm the first person that wants our coach to win the close ones.

Saturday night two weeks will probably be on prime time at 8. On the road in south beach. That environment too...because we've also seen BK allow other teams a ten spot because we piss our pants at the hostile environment for the first ten minutes.

I don't know how so many of you forget eight years because of 3/4 of a season....not unblemished mind you...just so easily.

I actually do know how...because you WANT to believe as do I. I'm just warning up a little slower than some but I'm getting there.

For me the Georgia game was 1. we played a great team 2. we were still dealing with the fallout of the 4-win 2016 disaster. Kelly had to teach this team to win. To believe. When I see him in the press conferences these days and when I see how the team responded to the blocked punt and first NCst TD -- I see a team that is getting rid of the 2016 ghosts and is learning to be winners.

 

[88ND]

For me the Georgia game was 1. we played a great team 2. we were still dealing with the fallout of the 4-win 2016 disaster. Kelly had to teach this team to win. To believe. When I see him in the press conferences these days and when I see how the team responded to the blocked punt and first NCst TD -- I see a team that is getting rid of the 2016 ghosts and is learning to be winners.

How can you say that BK is teaching them how to win. At the highest of levels am I missing something here but what has he won? Last night WAS one of those potentially shocking moments with the punt block that couod have snow balled. So yes kudos to him for not allowing the flinch to happen.

We all agree the Georgia game was our toughest.
You can make whatever excuses you want the fact remains we didn't get the job done.

I think they were afraid to allow Wimbush to just sling it around. Rightfully so. His accuracy was really bad then but they couod have allowed him a little more leash I think to sink or swim. They didn't and we lost.

This is the best team or playing the best since 1993. It's wonderful.

Seasons not over yet and is it OK if I withhold my lips from the ass until we finish the year out at least?

 

[TOMMY_23]

We don't get a playoff even if we win out. Those that think we will need to look harder at the teams in front of us and use a little common sense.

Then ND will never get in the final 4. ND is one of the best three teams in the country right now. It’s obvious. It’s also about putting the four best teams in.

You think Wisconsin should be rewarded for playing high school teams?

 

[iwish]

88, I’ve seen you refer to “kissing BK’s ass” at least three different times in multiple threads. There’s a big difference between that and simply giving someone credit when due. It’s fine if you don’t like the guy (obviously) but why such anger and angst? It’s just a game my man. And like him personally or not, he’s done a great job this year and so far has pushed all of the right buttons.

Short of him doing something like benching all of the starters, or going for it on 4th and 40 from our own 1yard line, what are you waiting to see? In your eyes, do the Irish have to go 11-1 and make it to the playoffs for you to “give him credit?” The majority of Irish fans (and media, analysts, etc) at the beginning of the season said 8-4 or 9-3 would have been a very solid year.

Are you just withholding your judgement until then to see if we do in fact finish that way? Just curious.

 

[TOMMY_23]

Dude it's not hate it's staying grounded. We went 4 and freaking 8 last year. If we lose a game and I hope we don't I just don't want to hear fans or posters say Kelly can't win a big game and all that nonsense again.

Last year? What the hell does that have to do with anything? Get in the present and enjoy the ride. This team is the best ND has had in 24years.

 

[stu4don]

How can you say that BK is teaching them how to win. At the highest of levels am I missing something here but what has he won? Last night WAS one of those potentially shocking moments with the punt block that couod have snow balled. So yes kudos to him for not allowing the flinch to happen.

We all agree the Georgia game was our toughest.
You can make whatever excuses you want the fact remains we didn't get the job done.

I think they were afraid to allow Wimbush to just sling it around. Rightfully so. His accuracy was really bad then but they couod have allowed him a little more leash I think to sink or swim. They didn't and we lost.

This is the best team or playing the best since 1993. It's wonderful.

Seasons not over yet and is it OK if I withhold my lips from the ass until we finish the year out at least?

I can say that by looking at the facts. Kelly's team in 2016 was 4-8, they are currently 7-1 vs. a better schedule. They have completely retooled the offense and defense. Kelly is a teacher. Always has been. You don't win the "College Coach of the Year Award" twice for sitting in an office.

He lost his way last year and with BVG but he took responsibility and changed the way he did business to meet the needs of the new college football game. Kudos to him for that! Not many guys at 55 have the courage and or will to look themselves in the mirror and make those kinds of changes.

There is a reason why Alabama is Alabama and why Urban Meyer wins wherever he coaches. They are great teachers who bring a winning mindset to their programs.

I know this year has been hard on all of those posters who called for Kelly's head last year.

I'm loving it.

 

[echowaker]

Last year? What the hell does that have to do with anything? Get in the present and enjoy the ride. This team is the best ND has had in 24years.

Well said.

 

[stu4don]

"What has he won" Six games in a row by more than 20 points! That hasn't been done since 1966 and if they do it again next week they will have tied that record.

 

[theskibro]

Too many ND fans are sipping the kool aid and assuming we win the rest of our games. It doesnt matter where we are ranked now or who is in the lead for the Heisman. The season aint over with and 3 of our last 4 games are against traditional rivals. 2 are road games with no extra week to prepare. Nothing is a given. Worry about what you can control. The 4 and 8 season and the Georgia loss are still fresh in my mind. Any team is capable of beating any team on any given Saturday etc.

Another year, another ND team, and you would be right

You are wrong

This team is special. We win out n beat all playoff teams. Drink the cool aid

 

[57Patrick]

Irish win, Irish win! That says it all. This team has weaknesses but they are playing great right now. If BK hasn't proven to you that he is one of the top coaches in the country by the team's turnaround this year, I don't know what more he has to do other than win a national title. Gary Patterson, Mark Richt, Bill Snyder, James Franklin, Jim Harbough ... are all coaches that have achieved great success but haven't won a national title. BK has achieved more at ND than anyone since Lou Holtz. Enjoy the ride and hope it continues against a Wake Forest team that is playing with a lot of confidence right now. ND is in the playoff elimination games right now. Next up, the Deacon Demons. They are the only thing that matters until the Irish win Saturday.

 

[88ND]

88, I’ve seen you refer to “kissing BK’s ass” at least three different times in multiple threads. There’s a big difference between that and simply giving someone credit when due. It’s fine if you don’t like the guy (obviously) but why such anger and angst? It’s just a game my man. And like him personally or not, he’s done a great job this year and so far has pushed all of the right buttons.

Short of him doing something like benching all of the starters, or going for it on 4th and 40 from our own 1yard line, what are you waiting to see? In your eyes, do the Irish have to go 11-1 and make it to the playoffs for you to “give him credit?” The majority of Irish fans (and media, analysts, etc) at the beginning of the season said 8-4 or 9-3 would have been a very solid year.

Are you just withholding your judgement until then to see if we do in fact finish that way? Just curious.

You must have me mixed up with someone else.
I have no anger nor angst against him.

After the USC win I was the first to congratulate him. Same last week.

Having said that I'm also a realist. We are playing the best football since 1993. This team is way better than the twelve team.

You all act like winning is so foreign to you and perhaps it is.....but damn he's not even undefeated in his best year to date yet everyone is ready to anoint him the second coming? Silly.

I love how we're playing. The fact we're playing respectable football again is fantastic.

You want to know what it would take?

Playing an elite...which we will again..and actually winning that. Playoff or a big bowl or both. Make no mistake we will be on a big stage soon enough.

I hope you're right and he's turned that corner because we SHOULD be able to not only compete but actually win against anyone!

I'm ready for those wins and so are you!

 

[HarlemIrish]

Lol how did you know.

I hear ya, Go ☘️!