We beat a depleted, but good Clemson at home. But let's be honest if Clemson had thier Heisman qb and their best defensive players we would have lost (see ACC championship) and Kelly would be 0-8. I disagree that we've been closing the gap the last five years especially on offense. Outside of Buchner, TE, and some OL recruiting on offense has been a long list of swings and misses for our A targets and getting B and C guys. The lack of development on the OL is concerning. With the talent we have its shocking we have to bring in a transfer on OL. We really don't know what with have with Ty yet considering his elite 9 perfirmance and not playing the last two years. Hopefully he will be as good as you think.
I have been a ND fan since the 70s and have been to well over 200 home games. I don't consider getting to the playoffs only to get our doors blown off as a measure of success. Freeman is proving that ND can recruit with any school. Kelly needed to get a home run OC. Instead we got an OC with Zero experience and is cutting his coaching teeth at ND. This is not a bash on Rees. I think he will be a good coach...someday. But sadly it will be at NDs expense the next few years. I hope he proves me wrong. I would love anyone to pull up this post in January and make me eat evey word.