There is some questioning in various threads as to why I backed Brian Kelly so much while he was at Notre Dame.
First off, I want the team to win...no matter who the coach is. I can't root against any of our coaches and try to see the positive despite negatives that materialize. It's the way I deal with the disappointment that rears it's ugly head all the time. Having said that, a successful coach is easy to root for, in my mind, even if he doesn't seem to buy in completely to the University and it's special traits. (Brian Kelly) That doesn't mean you like everything but wins are what it's about. A coach who buys into Notre Dame really makes it hard to root against the guy even while failing. (Gerry Faust) Eventually though, buying in alone isn't enough. You have to win games and have success.
Kelly was way more successful than Bob Davie and being the politician he is, said more proper things about the University than Davie, but I always felt neither one fully bought in. It's nice when when a coach does. It just feels better.
If it's a choice between successful and buying in, I'll take successful every time. That's in part why I was so tolerant and backing of Brian Kelly when here. But when you get both success and buying in, that's when legends are created.
Let's hope the success follows and a legend is created with Marcus Freeman. The message he wrote about Notre Dame and his hiring is perfect. (See Horka's thread with the article in the Player's Tribune attached.) I'll be rooting for the guy. There will be losses. There always are no matter how successful the coach. Let's hope it takes more than a loss or two to turn so many of the "non-kool-aid drinkers" here against him.
Freeman seems to have what it takes as a coach and a person. Hopefully it's the dawning of a legend.
Good Luck Coach Freeman.
First off, I want the team to win...no matter who the coach is. I can't root against any of our coaches and try to see the positive despite negatives that materialize. It's the way I deal with the disappointment that rears it's ugly head all the time. Having said that, a successful coach is easy to root for, in my mind, even if he doesn't seem to buy in completely to the University and it's special traits. (Brian Kelly) That doesn't mean you like everything but wins are what it's about. A coach who buys into Notre Dame really makes it hard to root against the guy even while failing. (Gerry Faust) Eventually though, buying in alone isn't enough. You have to win games and have success.
Kelly was way more successful than Bob Davie and being the politician he is, said more proper things about the University than Davie, but I always felt neither one fully bought in. It's nice when when a coach does. It just feels better.
If it's a choice between successful and buying in, I'll take successful every time. That's in part why I was so tolerant and backing of Brian Kelly when here. But when you get both success and buying in, that's when legends are created.
Let's hope the success follows and a legend is created with Marcus Freeman. The message he wrote about Notre Dame and his hiring is perfect. (See Horka's thread with the article in the Player's Tribune attached.) I'll be rooting for the guy. There will be losses. There always are no matter how successful the coach. Let's hope it takes more than a loss or two to turn so many of the "non-kool-aid drinkers" here against him.
Freeman seems to have what it takes as a coach and a person. Hopefully it's the dawning of a legend.
Good Luck Coach Freeman.
