So for those who are interested in the real dynamics of winning in football, here are the real reasons why ND is where they are, compared to teams that they out recruited.
1. Coaching. You need top flight coaching in all 3 elements, at that the same time. When ND played elite defense under Diaco, the offense was mediocre under the offensive staff. Even still they played for a title. As their offense improved under a better offensive staff, their defense and special teams regressed under BVG and Booker.
2. Strength and conditioning. In a sport where 1 or 2 players can be the difference in recruiting between you and the class ranked under you or ahead of you, the difference is going to be how many players you develop from each class, and how many players whose potential is maximized over their 3 to 5 years to build good teams. ND has been behind in strength, conditioning and nutrition for years. It has to be taken deadly seriously to compete among the elite. Top recruits become average recruits among their peers over time if they don't improve each year. Stars go out the window as soon as you step onto campus.
3. Roster retention. Flat out, ND failed to retain far too many DL and DB's it recruited, therefore, development could not occur. You cannot lose all your WDE to transfer (for example) and have your DB's transferring and getting kicked out, or recruiting doesn't matter. You can bring in the best players in the country, but if the they aren't on the field, it doesn't matter. When you lose all these games by a TD or less and you are without expected starters or key reserve seniors, Steve Elmer, Corey Robinson, Max Redfield, Devin Butler, Torii Hunter (soft) etc, etc for non-injury related reasons, it makes a damn difference. More on that in a minute.
4. Position specific recruiting. ND has had solid classes, but they've had holes where they whiff at particular positions. The difference between ND and some of the classes ranked behind them that have had more success is that those teams filled their roster spots and needs and developed the hell out of lesser players, to create strong, overall units. Who do you want? A 4th or 5th year senior DE with 4-5 years in a proper strength program and defensive system, or a 4 star sophomore with potential, but only 1 winter in the strength program, and 1 full year in the system? If you can't land Alabama type DL every year, you better land some quality 3 and low 4 star guys and develop to hell out of them, retain them, and have a plan for them... See Clemson who just won a Natty with eight, 3 stars starting, many of whom were on defense.
5. ND is ****ing soft and some of its key players over the past few years don't live and breathe football like their opponents do. Not going to sugar coat it. You want a prime example of that? Find me the players at the other schools who made the the playoffs were a would be senior OL and captain candidate quit football before his senior year for a non football related job opportunity. ****that. Steve Elmer is getting called out. ND's weakest OL spot last year was RG, the spot he vacated and was groomed to play for several years. You want to win football games, don't recruit kids like Steve Elmer, who holds football as a secondary interest or hobby. While you're at it, tell Corey Robinson to kick rocks as well. Yes I'm highly impressed with the kid as a person, but he's a millionaire already. Football isn't that important to him. That's why he can quit early because of concussions. So instead of having a senior Captain (and ND's top returning pass catcher), wide receiver playing against USC, you have a career backup Corey Holmes out there dropping passes, before transferring out a couple months later. While they are at it, you can take Torii Hunter Jr with you. Another soft, millionaire, who cares more about baseball. Team Captain my ass. Wouldn't play through a hamstring that he was worried would carry onto baseball season. This was ND's leader at WR, the same kid who passed on his 5th year, an opportunity to be a repeat captain (an honor at ND) and a chance to play to be drafted in the NFL, for a longshot career in baseball. Why? Because he never has to work in his entire life if he doesn't want to, because his old man was a gold glover and a fine ball player... Some people are going to give me the "that's what makes ND different" BS, but **** that. That's what gets you 4-8. With key players, at key positions, who are seniors, leaders and captains, quiting on their team, because they don't love football. You have to love it man. You have to love each other and you have to go on that 4 year journey focused and single-minded. When it's done you move on with life and broaden your interests, but you have to live and breathe it.
Holtz didn't have kids like Corey Robinson, who were off to Oxford and President of the student body. No, he had kids like Tim Brown, a well spoken gentlemen, a fine student athlete, and a football obsessed college and NFL hall of famer, a Heisman Trophy and Biletnikoff winner and the he embodiment of a Notre Dame man. A ruthless competitor on the field and ND man you would be happy to call your son-in-law off the field. He had guys like Todd Lyght, an impressive man, who is extreme gentleman, but an alpha male in every way. Holtz recruited football obsessed winners, who were passionate and well rounded and wanted to be good at everything they do. They would run through a brick wall for him and their teammates, not quit on them the second a better opportunity came up.
That's what's missing for ND to be in annual playoff conversation. Not starpower.... We have to wake the hell up. When you are backed into a corner in which your only chance is to succeed, or to fail, human instinct drives you towards success. ND needs kids who put their whole future on football and use that awesome degree as as backup option, not the other way around.
