The truth of the Matter

[Sock Monkey]

I guess I never realized how easy it is to win a championship. I always thought it was much harder than that. Well heck why don't every team just win a championship?

 

[Duo]

ND was not in shape to beat anyone other than a middling sort of team. It was the end of the season. It happens that way sometimes even to the best of teams. Just look around at the bowl upsets.

OSU on the other hand, was fully charged and ready to go even without some of their most powerful starters. And of course, they have The Urban.

End of story. On to next year.

 

[NDSMC78]

Have you watched ND in major bowl games the last two decades? There's your answer.

That's right. One should only follow ND when one is sure ND will win. If ND may possibly lose, turn off the TV. Moron.

 

[michbocc]

I don't know guys and girls. I didn't even watch yesterday's game simply because I knew what the outcome would be again. Another mediocre ND team getting throttled by a far superior team. It simply wasn't worth taking away from the other things I have going on to tune in and watch it.

I really think Notre Dame needs to take a step back and look at things. What do they really want to be? If they aspire to field championship level football teams that compete at the same level as the tOSU's and Alabama's of the world, then things really need to change internally. What you're asking is for a University, who puts academics ahead of collegiate athletics, who will bench anyone for probable cause because it involved an academic infraction, a football program that is more of less handcuffed by very stringent academic standards, etc., to compete head to head with football programs that are more or less attached to a university to make it "official". These are football factories, not collegiate athletics.

At this time, I simply do not believe that a program that operates the way ND does can consistently compete with Alabama's and tOSU's, for example. Until something drastically changes with how the NCAA requires these kids to go to class, take meaningful classes, etc., ND will always be behind. Sure there is always that flicker of a season that makes us all crazy and hopeful for the next NC. But I have to be honest. ND is nothing more than a glorified Ivy league school that recruits better than average athletes because of its name, not because of where its going.

I honestly do not believe this is a coaching issue, other than perhaps a problem at DC right now. However, it can't continue to be a coaching problem. Disastrous game after disastrous game, it can't all fall on coaches. I for one am tired of hearing that excuse. Some games its warrented, but not season after season, coach after coach. This problem is deeper and broader than Brian Kelly or ever BVG.

Irish competed well enough this year. Playing not to lose cost them Clemson and Stanford was a tough one. What I see is Irish, at least this year, had plenty of skill players. I mean when was last time they had so many big plays. (That injuries to original starters helped them luck into that is a different issue for another time.). To me biggest issues are consistently getting top line defensive recruits which isn't easy at a smallish Catholic school in upper Midwest. Second, is o line play must improve. Not to beat up on any one kid or kids, but Steve Elmer is his class' Sam Young. Starts alot but doesn't seem to have anticipated impact. Saw him get pancaked more than once this year and guard play was mediocre. As my son said, maybe Irish need better strength and conditioning.

 

[Jalex1227]

Son, as a man wiser than me once said, "you gotta believe...."

The rest of what that man said is the refutation of your post.

 

[onlyonenow]

with the injuries to the D what happened against OSU should have been expected. Only a career day by Kizer might have made a difference. UM is absolutely one of the very best at preparing his team for a bowl; Saban is pretty much his equal there if not quite.

That to me is what separates the very best coaches from the very good. Kelly has not shown that ability to really prepare a team for a top Bowl game. Actually I think he did decently this time; but once again the D just ran out of good players.

 

[twalsh]

Have you watched ND in major bowl games the last two decades? There's your answer.

Just when I think you could not top your personal high for stupidity, you come through in the clutch. Congrats.

 

[Dbldomr]

The original post has some very good points but I'm having a tough time thinking ND can't compete if they don't change. To me I think it has more to do with the style of football they play. You know for years ND strength has always been big strong offensive line with a power run game. Sound familiar? Who runs that system? Stanford , that's who. Look how good they have been over the last 6 years. You can still win and remain academically true if you play to your strengths. ND has always been most successful when they run first. Kelly's system is not geared for that. That's why his teams struggle in the red zone and short yardage. Kelly is a very good coach. But the Irish are missing something. I just know that when ND loses to teams like Ohio st, they are getting physically dominated. Kelly needs to look at that and get players that can go 15 rounds with the big boys.

You make some good points TK but Kelly's teams prior to be did not struggle in the red zone. It's his qbs not making quick enough reads. Golson wasn't bright enough kizer is young but I think kizer makes a jump forward before he leaves us and I believe he may leave us as one of the best to ever leave ND. That leaves us with Malik. Not sure what to think since we only saw him in two games. One he played out of his mind the other a very average day at the office. Next year will be interesting and I guarantee the qb "controversy" at nd will be one of the top stories entering spring ball and possibly the season.