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Post being replied to

Agree. by ribs

I've no doubt that Kelly wants a top 5 class. If he didn't, he wouldn't talk about it as much as he has (finally) in the last 14 months. By openly talking about it, he's created his own standard. But after 11 years, nothing suggests that he's willing to make the efforts or hold his staff accountable enough to do what it takes to actually SIGN top 5 classes.

I don't care about the 16 players Vandy, Duke and Stanford offered. Not all offers are the same. And it doesn't change the fact that ND has plenty of elite prospects they can chase if they are willing to do what it takes-whether it's 30 kids, or 70. Identify them and do everything possible to get them to ND. If Charlie could do it, why won't Kelly? Seems pretty obvious. I believe he views himself "in the conversation" for a top 5 class. Certainly sounded that way in his Rivals interview Thursday. Familiar theme for ND football these days.

Edit: Someone forwarded me an article from Clay Travis regarding the correlation between recruiting rankings and national championships, linked below. Summarizing, if a program doesn't have AT LEAST 2 top-10 classes on their roster at a given time, they will not have a chance at a national championship. Travis is a loon, but the data going back 25 years is irrefutable.