We all know how this song and dance goes. Back and forth arguments with these posters that claim to be atop the mountain of perspective and that we, the loyal optimistic Notre Dame fans are "delusional".
Now, there is a difference between a realists and a troll and it all comes down to what the message of the post is. A realist message (one who is actually a fan of ND) will be a challenge, an example would be us winning big games. This is a valid argument and we all have been discussing it in length this year, so I won't go into detail. However, a realist (one who is a true ND fan) will remain optimistic while challenging the program and also acknowledge accomplishments such as a 10 win season (if you don't think 10 wins is an accomplishment then we are really far apart). The troll on the other hand will discredit accomplishments, bring up ND tradition as a way to dismantle the current state of ND, stay negative, claim themselves as the most loyal of fans and when challenged on that fact they will have no response.
Here are the facts. We won 10 games 3 years in a row for the first time since 91-93. We have had more 10 win seasons under BK than any other coach since Lou. Regardless of those who try to claim NDs schedule and wins are against bad competition, we are 42-17 in a 5 year span, and had a 4-8 season in that same time frame. Is it NDs fault that SC and Stanford are down? Or that nearly every ACC team we have played since signing this deal has been middle of the road or worse? Didn't ND schedule Home and Homes with UGA, UM and OSU in the next 3/4 years? That to me shows that ND is at least trying to schedule top tier teams. Everyone cracks ND for having a bad schedule but will gloss over OSU, Bama and Clemson's. Notre Dame has a cyclical schedule now, some years will be very good and other years will be middle of the road. News flash, it happens and the key is you have to take advantage of those middle of the road years. (example Michigan State making the playoff)
Here's the solution to all of this, winning. No one here is happy losing games, and none of our kids or coaches are. I will say that I saw a high majority of posters here say if we can manage to win 10 they'd be thrilled, then have posted several times complaining since. Either you are with us all the way or your just not one of us, period. I'm thrilled with 10 wins, but I'm also pissed about UM and disappointed with UGA, can those three feelings not co-exist? I'm thrilled to death with BKs 10 years here and I think he's one of the top 5/8 coaches in America, but I also think he fails at times, can those things not co-exist? Does that mean that I have lowered my standards? I think it means that we were one coach away from Nebraska and now we are a top 10-15 program on a yearly basis and that has not been the case in 30 years, so how is that possibly status quo?
Perspective is everything and it is clear that the perspective with most of you "realists" is just down right negative, and guess what no one cares! How can you be negative about what is going on right now?
Cheers, Go Irish!
Now, there is a difference between a realists and a troll and it all comes down to what the message of the post is. A realist message (one who is actually a fan of ND) will be a challenge, an example would be us winning big games. This is a valid argument and we all have been discussing it in length this year, so I won't go into detail. However, a realist (one who is a true ND fan) will remain optimistic while challenging the program and also acknowledge accomplishments such as a 10 win season (if you don't think 10 wins is an accomplishment then we are really far apart). The troll on the other hand will discredit accomplishments, bring up ND tradition as a way to dismantle the current state of ND, stay negative, claim themselves as the most loyal of fans and when challenged on that fact they will have no response.
Here are the facts. We won 10 games 3 years in a row for the first time since 91-93. We have had more 10 win seasons under BK than any other coach since Lou. Regardless of those who try to claim NDs schedule and wins are against bad competition, we are 42-17 in a 5 year span, and had a 4-8 season in that same time frame. Is it NDs fault that SC and Stanford are down? Or that nearly every ACC team we have played since signing this deal has been middle of the road or worse? Didn't ND schedule Home and Homes with UGA, UM and OSU in the next 3/4 years? That to me shows that ND is at least trying to schedule top tier teams. Everyone cracks ND for having a bad schedule but will gloss over OSU, Bama and Clemson's. Notre Dame has a cyclical schedule now, some years will be very good and other years will be middle of the road. News flash, it happens and the key is you have to take advantage of those middle of the road years. (example Michigan State making the playoff)
Here's the solution to all of this, winning. No one here is happy losing games, and none of our kids or coaches are. I will say that I saw a high majority of posters here say if we can manage to win 10 they'd be thrilled, then have posted several times complaining since. Either you are with us all the way or your just not one of us, period. I'm thrilled with 10 wins, but I'm also pissed about UM and disappointed with UGA, can those three feelings not co-exist? I'm thrilled to death with BKs 10 years here and I think he's one of the top 5/8 coaches in America, but I also think he fails at times, can those things not co-exist? Does that mean that I have lowered my standards? I think it means that we were one coach away from Nebraska and now we are a top 10-15 program on a yearly basis and that has not been the case in 30 years, so how is that possibly status quo?
Perspective is everything and it is clear that the perspective with most of you "realists" is just down right negative, and guess what no one cares! How can you be negative about what is going on right now?
Cheers, Go Irish!
Last edited: