The state of ND football.

[therepublican]

http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs. ... 10315/1002
http://irish.nbcsports.com/2010/10/31/k ... ?related=1
http://www.southbendtribune.com/article ... 021/Sports
http://www.southbendtribune.com/article ... 021/Sports
http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/sports/iri ... -1.1738444

After last Saturday's loss against Conference-USA Tulsa, I think it is officially time to start assessing the nature of Brian Kelley's era at ND. The embarassing thing is, it seems Irish hopefuls and Alumni have to seasonly do this every 2 years..look for a new coach. Now, I am not saying Irish need to ditch Kelley but I think there are some valuable points to make that seems to be the general topics on Alumni discussion boards and blog spots out of Chicago.

I posted some links worth reading to get the true scoop on what is going on, all links are offiliated with certain problems the Irish are facing. I don't think it could be any worse.

Here is the Kelly timeline of events and I am sure I am leaving some out.

Kelly leaves Cincy before a huge bowl game with Florida. (Cincy got destroyed, probably would have happened anyways but it didn't look good) Kelley anounced he needed to get straight to work in South BEnd on recruiting and working with the new players.

Kelly examines a few of the players and isn't happy with what he sees (general coaching attitude)

Kelly names Crist as the new starting QB (who everyone expected). Crist was and is not a spread offense QB, the guy can't run. Make note he coming off a ACL surgery as wel after getting hit on his first play in college football at Stanford.

Kelly makes a smart comment live on ESPN about (he purchased a home in South Bend in a gated community incase they only win 12 games this year). Confidence is one thing, being a first time coach in a system where coaches are unlikely to succeed..not a good idea.

Right before the season starts, a off-campus party takes place and some of the starters are hit with under-age drinking offenses (including Michael Floyd)

Season begins and Irish take one on the chin against Michigan's last drive of the game in South Bend. Crist plays only one series in the first half because he got hit and "couldn't see out his right eye) Kelley puts in Nate Montana and a few other QB's who prove to be terrible because Kelly admitted he didn't have a back-up QB ready.

Next week Irish take on Michigan St. and as we all know, losa on a fake field goal at the end of the game.

Few weeks later, Rudolph complains about a hamstring injury but keeps playing and eventually tears the muscle off the bone and is out for the season. Irish lose All-American tight-en Rudolph.

Next, Armando Allen gets a hip flexor, Floyd has pulled hamstring, and Theo Riddick hurst his ankle. Floyd sits out Navy game, Crist displays his inability to be moble, and Irish embarassingly lose to Navy again. Stater Ian Williams is chop blocked and hurts knee..out for season as well.

(according to new sources) and Kelly admits to having practice in blustery wind conditions after he thought players and staff would be safe and Declan Sullivan loses his life. (I am not for blaming anyone for a tragedy as such, everyone always wants to blame someone else) but Kelly admits to not knowing the rules onthe machinery Declan was invloved with and now they are reviewing that material.

Irish enter a game against Conference-USA foe Tulsa. Floyd is playing with a bad hammy, and everyone is coming off the loss of Declan. Crist makes a running play to the right and gets hit fairly out of bounds landing on his right knee but tearing his left patela (on the same weekend he tore his acl one year ago). Crist has season ending surgery and is out six months. Tommy Rees comes in and throws four TD's and shows he is capable of handling the starting position. Irish are losing 28-27 with 42 seconds. 2nd down on Tulsa's 19 yardline and Kelly calls for a passing play to the endzone to Floyd instead of running the ball for the next two plays to set of a short fieldgoal for the win. Ball is intercepted. game over.

Kelly announces in a live press-conference he would call the same play again because that is his style of football and he will always make that call in that same situation, 'Irish fans better get used to it, because that is the style of football they are going to play"

ND was listed as #3 on rivals.com recruiting board. ND for the first itme in years are getting big name recruits. After the Tulsa game many recruits pull out and ND is now listed at #11.

Well these are most of the notable things that have happened in Kelly's first year as head coach at ND. I can only imagine what Cincy people saying!

This university has had a lot of problems lately. Davie to Willingham, to Weiss to Kelly. AD white is fired and Swarbick is anouned new AD.

I won't even go into the administration to President of the university issues that they have had and the disgust of the Alumni concerning ND principles and other issues going to pot.

At a university where tickets used to sell out and going to a game at ND was a privalege, is now no longer. Tickets at one game this year I scalped for 25 dollars a ticket.

What are some of your thoughts on how this university got in this mess and is there any hope of getting out of it? Many alumni are calling for Kelly's firing, and if he doesn't leave there will be millions lost in alumni donations. Many bloggers are saying Kelly is responsible for the safety of practice and Declan's death was linked to Kelly's decision making??

Irish have Army at Yankee stadium
#9 Utah at home
@ USC

all left on their schedule.

Lets get some thoughts here.

[91blue14]

not looking good for the irish.

[Orange and Brown]

Gonna go from bad to worse.

[Peake]

Kelly will be a solid coach at ND, nothing more.

[mister b]

Irish eyes (and NBC) are not smiling.

[farmer]

ND football has tradition and can remember the past because what they have right now is not a good memory.
If he knew about how the lift works then Kelley can not plead ignorance in the accident. That could led ND to have an excuse to get rid of him as they will not make it to a Bowl Game.

[seofan_via_dublin]

Given time to recruit actual talent, Kelley will be a really good coach that gets ND back in major discussion.

ND needs a solid "come to Jesus" meeting about their current state.
They are bad, have been bad for awhile, and if they want to not be bad in the future, then they need to get off their lofty pedastools and realize where they truly are.

Once they realize the true state of ND football, then they can really get the ball rolling on the right track. Until then they'll simply be self-righteous elietists that believe that the golden dome will just flick a switch and be God's gift to football again.

On a note concerning Kelly though, he's learning what RR is having to learn too.
Success in the Big East does not translate to success anywhere else.

[Peake]

+1

[The Flying Dutchman]

Where do you start ? Recruiting ? Coaching ? Players ?. A lack of speed has been cited over and over and while very true it's not the only problem. Until ND starts controling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball they will continue to struggle. Injuries has hurt them this year but the last two weeks has been some of the worst coaching I have ever seen. Even with the injuries they still have way more talent than Navy and Tulsa.
Dub and I don't agree often but he is right about the people inside the Golden Dome. They decided back in the mid- 90's the football team and Lou Holtz were getting bigger than the School so they forced Lou out(yes they did). After that the admissions were raised and the players are expected to be "Angels" which is fine if you don't care about winning. I also have to agree with Dub again(did I just say that) on Kelly and Richrod, ND and Mich. did not get where they are running a "spread offense" from the Big East. They got where they are with tough hard nose football on both sides of the ball and both need to get back to basics. ND may never get the talent to win a National Championship but there is no reason to ever lose to Navy, Tulsa,UConn, etc. With this said I remain a "diehard" ND fan.

[therepublican]

Given time to recruit actual talent, Kelley will be a really good coach that gets ND back in major discussion.

ND needs a solid "come to Jesus" meeting about their current state.
They are bad, have been bad for awhile, and if they want to not be bad in the future, then they need to get off their lofty pedastools and realize where they truly are.

Once they realize the true state of ND football, then they can really get the ball rolling on the right track. Until then they'll simply be self-righteous elietists that believe that the golden dome will just flick a switch and be God's gift to football again.

On a note concerning Kelly though, he's learning what RR is having to learn too.
Success in the Big East does not translate to success anywhere else.

I honestly believe if you have been to South Bend last year, and the year before, and especially this year like I have, then you would re-tract the pedastool comment. NO Irish fan is glad to proclaim they are avid fans in public! It is embarassing simply because ND is not the team they used to be. They are a media frenzy, merchandise pounding, Alumni money tossing place. I love ND, I watch them till the clock says 0:00. But, everyone I know (many season ticket holders) don't even want to talk about football. There are not many ND fans walking around with their chests puffed out..I can promise you that. Just take a trip to the beautiful South Bend and see for youself. Your pedastool is applicable 15 years ago.

[91blue14]

Gonna go from bad to worse.

right they could possibly remove the whole coaching staff :122246

[seofan_via_dublin]

More and more the pedastool comment may not be applying to the fans anymore, but it still applies to those administrators and boosters powerful enough to pull the strings.

[Raiderball]

The spread offense is not Michigan's problem right now. Lack of defense is.

Kelly is in his first year. Are you already throwing him under the bus?

[seofan_via_dublin]

A head coach is responsible for all aspects of his team.
RR and BK, both came from the Big East, and both put a premium on offense at a large sacrifice to defense. That junk works in the Big East, not in the realms of big boy football.

[therepublican]

The spread offense is not Michigan's problem right now. Lack of defense is.

Kelly is in his first year. Are you already throwing him under the bus?

No one is throwing Kelley under the bus! All Irish fans want is him to be able to make a high school/basic decision to kick the darn ball through the goal posts for a win over Tulsa for Gosh sakes when your on the 19 yard line with 40 seconds to go and then expect your D to stop a horrible Tulsa offense for 30 seconds..that isn't hard. Rather Kelley (the offense guru) decides we haev sucked all year so lets get greety and throw the ball and it gets intercepted. Not only is that not the only bad decision, he has kept a un-mobile/porcelain like/not able to complete 50% of his passes Dayne Crist as the starting QB. The disgust is legit and that is not throwing him under the bus.

And DUB: Agree, his Big East antics are not going to Fly against Michigan St. Utah, Southern Cal, and apparently Navy. Nor will they work on the 2012 schedule against Miami U. Oklahoma, Souther Cal. Michigan, MIchigan St. If he keeps his word like he said "I will call that play every time to lob the ball to Floyd" wiht Crist as QB then it will get intercepted 8 out of 10 times.

[Raiderball]

Enough with the Big East trashing and big boy football talk. Big East is way down this year I agree but that happens with all conferences. My comment was concerning RR/Kelly spread offense not working in the Big Ten... What I have seen UM has scored enough to have won any Big Ten game this year. That is the point I was making.
Obviously someone at both schools thought/thinks the spread offense will work or neither would have been hired in the first place.

[seofan_via_dublin]

A coach that neglects defense can win in the Big East, as proven by RR and BK, once they are out of that conference, they are exposed.

[therepublican]

A coach that neglects defense can win in the Big East, as proven by RR and BK, once they are out of that conference, they are exposed.

True. BK has one guy one D and that is Teo. They gave up 28 points to Tulsa. Case and point.

[Raiderball]

A coach that neglects defense can win in the Big East, as proven by RR and BK, once they are out of that conference, they are exposed.

True. BK has one guy one D and that is Teo. They gave up 28 points to Tulsa. Case and point.

Is that BK's fault he only has one guy on D?

[seofan_via_dublin]

No, but it is his fault that he neglects the defense for an offensive scheme that is built for high scoring games. Having that offensive philosophy is fine, as long as you are either in the Big East, or have an average defense. Neither ND or UM have either, and both coaches aren't the type that will change that situation.

I think given time, BK could do good things. ND isn't a school that should be settling for giving time though.