Reestablishing the brand ...Notre Dame Football
- Thread starter kellys heroes 35
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I think Kelly is doing a great job but, has he reestablished the brand I wouldn't go that far, you have to win a chip for that. I would say he's made ND a perennial top 25 program again. If he does stick it out for 5 to 10 more years I see at least 1 or 2 chip runs with solid teams throughout.
Interesting different standards for what is necessary to re-establish the ND brand. Can't agree that a NC is necessary. Not even sure final ranking is the metric. From my perspective, being in the discussion mid to late season for the NC on a regular basis; and being viewed as a traditional contender by the better recruit targets and their high school coaches, are the two measures of this. I would say Kelly has ND knocking at this door.
Totally agree Tex -- but IMO he knocked the door down -- undefeated reg season and playing for NC
Two losses by four points on the road to the #1 and #4 teams in the country . Great recruiting classes are becoming the norm . Mission accomplished in my mind .
Frankly it is what recruits are seeing that is important and it seems they like what they are seeing -- this is critical because it is talent that drives this engine .
Two losses by four points on the road to the #1 and #4 teams in the country . Great recruiting classes are becoming the norm . Mission accomplished in my mind .
Frankly it is what recruits are seeing that is important and it seems they like what they are seeing -- this is critical because it is talent that drives this engine .
Kelly has done a remarkable job and the brand really never went away. Just like in years passed, throughout the history of Irish Football, there have been times of struggled followed by dynasties. The dynasty will be harder to come by, as my definition is three or more consecutive tiles or something like three of five. That said, Notre Dame is back to being the most dominant brand in CFB, as they are loved and hated by all as much or more than any other program.
Kelly, yes...what is in the consciousness of high level recruits is critically important, and ND is once again on their lips when discussing great programs. It wasn't that long ago that we would constantly read comments from these targets that they didn't know much about ND, except it had a great tradition. Now, we are reading comments about the tradition and the great academics and the good and likeable coaching staff and that ND is right up there every year, etc... They even know how injuries have been a major challenge and the whole next man in culture, etc... Fair to say mission accomplished, just want to see us win fifty percent of future major bowls on a regular basis for this door to be kicked in, sort of speak.
Spoke to someone last nite who said SI preseason ND is #6 ..if true that is another indication that the brand is once again rock solid and in working order . I have been following recruiting for a long time -- all indications are that ND is back .ND is stock piling four star recruits at every position and ND is on the radar screen of top flight kids in 2017 and 2018
Prime time post season wins will come Tex -- just need to catch a couple breaks re injuries academics etc .
I love what I see developing @ TE and WR ND will have more high end talent / balance than at anytime I have followed the program .
We have never run with this many high end kids at the same time --ND will be very difficult to defend moving forward . Also I like what I am seeing with the recruitment of a lot of four star secondary guys along with four star DE's and Hayes
Yep, recruiting is really on an upward trajectory. Remember the naysayers whining that Kelly couldn't recruit top talent wide receivers and then it was running backs, and then it was top talent defensive linemen, and then Top talent defensive backs, etc... What is true is that we had uneven recruiting results for the first several years of his tenure. It does take time to build a program especially with the added academic requirements, but we are now seeing recruiting deliver top level talent and depth across the board. The most encouraging this year is the talent at DE and the linebacker haul last year, and the potential for even better this year. Encouraging and exciting for sure.
I'd go with that analysis. We were firmly in the playoff discussion all season, top 10 in preseason next year. I think people now expect that we will be contending. That's a big improvement over where we were, and maybe about as good as anyone who's not Alabama can really expect today.
"I love what I see developing @ TE"
Jones played in 13 games and had 13 catches 190 yards, some from the slot/WR spots.
Weishar played in 12 games and had 3 catches 19 yards.
That's coming off a season where he saw no action and played on the scout team.
Smythe played in 3 games and had 3 catches for 18 yards.
That's coming off a season where he played in 13 games and had 1 catch.
Luatua played in 10 games and had zero catches.
That's coming off a season where he played in 10 games and had zero catches.
Wow!
What's not to love?
When Smythe got hurt we lost the only real traditional dual threat tight end, who can block like an O-lineman and still catch passes adeptly. After that the position really changed to having a 6th O-linemen in the game, Weishar and Luatua, or another slot receiver in the game, Jones. TE was really kind of non-existent in the traditional sense. It was probably unrealistic to expect that we were going to start winging it to Smythe in the bowl game after Kizer not having him for the entire time he played this season.
IMHO, from what we have seen, Smythe is a good solid tight end, not spectacular by any measure. But a guy who could catch 25 to 30 balls in our system, maybe more. Jones is intriguing as a potential match up nightmare for opponents, but he's got to get stronger and be a better blocker before he can be a typical every down tight end. The other guys are really more offensive linemen.
All starts with the O-line and kelly has made that his priority. Well done coach! (Now, we need to get that defensive scheme in order! Sorry, to rain on everyone's parade but defense wins championships - or gets us to championships, see 2012, and I don't think BVG is the answer. Does he even recruit?)
But the brand has always been the brand, there is only 1 ND.
But the brand has always been the brand, there is only 1 ND.
Agreed. Also, it's a shame that Luatua has done so much grunt work in the backfield and has never caught a screen or anything for that matter. He needs to be a multidimensional threat back there imo....
My only point is that the chasing windmills theme here isn't backed by on field performance. I'd like to see Jones get to the 250+ range.... I love his gait...very effortless.
As for our "brand" I don't think Forbes or anyone else has ever ranked us below 1 or 2.... (Texas is up there too)
So, I don't know what's been restored..."brand" wise...
I actually feared the ND brand was in major decline. Not whether it represented elite status or not, but rather concerned that is was moving in the direction of a thing of the past. The brand obviously is recognized by most and the stadium attendance and TV audience all attest to it's popularity, but this is largely made up of middle aged and older folks like me. We needed to move into the consciousness of the younger generation of sports enthusiasts, and that's why elite performance is so important. We are clearly moving in the right direction.
ND went 9-15 before he got here - unthinkable decline for any major program . Kelly restored the operation to it's previous level under Ara , Devine and Holtz . Now we just need to catch a couple breaks in the injury department .
Weis went to the same number of major bowls as kelly. He was a bushpush from NC game consideration. Your notion that we have returned to NC victor level is preposterous. Comparing the angry gnome's success to Ara, Holtz, Devine......is silly. 6 years music city bowl vs......
Again, the op with his 6-7 handles makes a fool of himself. An institution or company does reestablish a brand idiot. The brand is the brand, In ND's cases, it is a higher educational experience where the football players adhere to the same criteria as the student body. Winning football is just a part of that brand, Yes, Kelly has adhered to the academic standards but he has no choice. He has raised the program above where it was when Davies and Willingham were coaching. And yes, he has had a few good seasons. Bit Kelly has no bearing on the brand. I think you are too busy fantasizing about getting on your boney knees to satisfy Kelly that you lose all perspective. You certainly don't know hat brand means
Maybe beat a top-10 team? Kelly has ND at a very average to above average level right now. Six seasons in and he hasn't done much of anything except dominate weak teams.
Another clown posting under a different handle. Why is this sort of childish stupidity tolerated on this board? To the ignore list he goes.
