Well, not nothing. I still know Mike Royko never said, “Some things you wonder, some things you think, and some things you just know”. And at least for this week, I know one other thing:
Notre Dame football failed. In every facet, in every dimension, from every perspective. Absolute, total, abject and complete failure across the board.
The offense failed. Yes, 40 points is a lot, and should be enough to win any game. But they turned the ball over four times, twice when going in for scores, and once with less than two minutes left and the game on the line. As has happened so many times this season (and as I told my friend John in the stands as we watched it), when Notre Dame needs to run and the opponent knows it, they can’t. If you can look at me with a straight face and tell me Cam McDaniel gives Notre Dame a better chance to win in those situations than Tarean Folston, well, I think you’re nuts.
The defense failed. Yes, they’re absolutely decimated by injuries, and a lot of the players on the field are playing due to necessity rather than readiness, so I’m more willing to be lenient. But 500+ yards of total offense to a team like Northwestern is inexcusable. If Nyles Morgan isn’t ready to position people on the field, someone else should be doing it, or at least helping him with it. If you can look at me with a straight face and tell me Drue Tranquill gives Notre Dame a better chance to win than Max Redfield in these situations, well, I think you’re nuts.
The special teams failed. I don’t know what’s happened to Kyle Brindza this season, but he’s fading just as badly as the other aspects of the team. Any of those missed field goals would have given the Irish the win. And giving up a blocked extra point for two points the other way? Fail.
The coaching staff failed. I continue to wonder if Harry Hiestand’s recruiting abilities are worth the under-performance of his unit. I think our lack of special teams results is going on five years now, and it’s time for a true ST coordinator. I don’t know if bringing the band back together by hiring Jeff Quinn helps any of this.
But most importantly, Brian Kelly failed. He failed in ways I had thought he’d grown out of. He continues to put players in high-pressure positions without a thought of alternatives that could help them succeed. He continues to direct the offense like he’s in a PlayStation tournament. And at a school that puts a strong value on education, he failed basic math by going for two in a situation that demanded only one point. In the span of five weeks, he’s gone from coaching one of (if not the) best games of his Notre Dame career to one of (if not the) worst, and faces the very real possibility of having another four-loss team after starting the season 6-0.
Oh, one more thing I know: All this is completely unacceptable and needs to be fixed. Can Brian Kelly do it?
I don’t know.
PengieP says:
Regarding your last comment: Can a leopard change his spots?
92_er says:
I can answer your last question.
No.
There are no more rationales or excuses or gimmee’s.
Bob Salogar says:
Despite all the miscues, Kelly lost this game with his idiotic “two point conversion” call.
PengieP says:
The 2 point conversion alone was not THE cause. There were more causes of this loss than one could shake a stick at. The Irish had to work very hard indeed to lose this game. Turnovers, missed field goals, no D-line pressure on a pretty poor passer all came together in one of the most appalling ND football disasters I’ve ever witnessed last Saturday.
MDDomer says:
Good article.
As much as I dislike Doug Flutie he must have mentioned it three times that ND could run the ball down Northwestern!s throat but it’s not in Kelly’s character. Had we done this it would have kept our tired and injured defense off the field yet Kelly insists on play calling that boggles the mind.
The 2 point call was a sheer act of stupidity. Time for him to go. We will probably finish 7-5 which is going to kill recruiting.
B. Mull says:
Brian Kelly and company absolutely stink! I am so tired of the way he coaches a team to play. He continually leaves the game in the hands of his QB instead of grounding it out with a good solid run game. I hear every year how we have so much talent and 4 and 5 star recruits and yet some how ND always underachieves and to me that is on the coaching staff. To be consistently turning the ball over 3-4 times a game by what Kelly thinks is one of the most dynamics QB’s he has ever had is sickening. Hey Brian, Golsen just isn’t that good. He has surpassed the ugliness of Tommy Turnover ten fold and is getting worse. Then you go out with all your greediness and go for a two point conversion instead of a sure extra point? As bad as that game was, if you would have done the sure thing and kicked the extra point instead of making a decision based on the flip of a coin as you put it to go for two points, we still would have oon ugly, but we would have won. To me you have lost control of this team and it shows. This program peaked two years ago at 12-0 and now it’s back to mediocrity at best for another ten years. This team has gone from barely good to just plain terrible! We have a QB who has no confidence and every time he runs a play you just wait for a turnover. Our defense has completely been decimated by injuries and our secondary has never been any good. I look for Louisville to beat the living crap out of us 47-10 an for USC to beat us like a drum 36-3!
Kevin McNamara says:
Whether he surpasses “Tommy Turnover” ten fold is not a question: that is absurd. You measure a QB by wins. We have more than a good chance of finishing 7-5 regular season, 7-6 with a bowl loss.
Edy says:
you hit it perfectly, Kelly lost control of the team
GOND89 says:
Edy – right you are, sir. But get rid of BK for a game of brain-farts? No. He gets a bogie since he has succeeded in building a Notre Dame Football program. We mustn’t forget that this year is actually next year. Or whatever. You know what I’m saying. ie: Golson’s immaturity (off the field) cost the team more than last season. It has thrown the whole progression of building Notre Dame Football into the CHAMPION we know they are off-track. Not just timing. We fans must be recalibrate “other factors” now. Adjust expectations, etc. But blame BK for the stupid 2-pt conversion that cost us the game. Then more-on. We are still a hellova lot better than we could be.
BoogAlou says:
Bryant was presumably recruited because he was a 5-star running back, not a 5-star blocking back, and he can’t get on the field because Kelly wants his backs to block on most plays. If you are Bryant, what motivates you to stay? Is the difference between Golson and Zaire the equivalent of falling off a cliff? Kelly apparently thinks so as exemplified by his refusal to ever hold Golson accountable for poor play, even for a series. Given this, what motivates Zaire to stay? It has been so clear that ND must be able to run to return to elite status but this coach refuses to change even a little and there is no reason to think that he ever will. Kelly is not the guy.
Kevin McNamara says:
Kelly’s offensive scheme is inflexible and is not designed for point of attack. Both sides of ball dominated by NW. Sad sate at this state of year–execution, toughness, sudden change defense, even BASICS.
Patrick says:
If you look at the game Folston got 99% of the carries because Kelly knows he is the back who can help him win the game. McDaniel is a senior who has made very few mistakes and in a situation where only holding onto the ball is necessary he was called upon and like everyone who has ever played a sport has experienced, he made a mistake. It happens in sports.
As for Brindza the guy has made lots of big kicks for us, but he is obviously struggling as a result of the holding situation this year which is causing him to think to much rather than just trust himself. What is more amazing is the inability to find a back up receiver or anyone who can catch a snap consistently.
As for Brian Kelly who would you rather have that would ever consider coming to Notre Dame. If he were to leave I guarantee we wouldn’t get an upgrade as there aren’t a lot of coaches who manage a program any better than he does. Yesterday his play calling puts 40 on the board even after giving up possibly 14 more fumbling in scoring position. I too sometimes cringe when he goes empty backfield on third and two but then they complete the pass for a first down. As for the two point conversion they obviously thought they had a good play call with a great chance of succeeding and it didn’t work out. Just a few weeks ago everyone loved him and now you question his ability to lead the football team. I will take Brian Kelly over just about every one else except for Saban who is in a different stratosphere than everyone else.
The reality of college football is that unless you are in the final four, and I think we can all agree Notre Dame will not often compete with the lawless football factories for this honor, it really doesn’t matter what a teams record is in the end. Just get a winning record, go enjoy a meaningless bowl game and get ready for next year. Every team in college football except for four will face this reality.
Mike Coffey says:
I believe a lot more coaches would “consider coming to Notre Dame” than you think.
MDDomer says:
They always have and always will. People that think otherwise are foolish
dan says:
not anymore, pal. since 88, nd has been dismal. why freeze your ass off in south bend under an inept catholic heirarchy when there are so many other choices. question, why hasnt nd landed a top coach like sabin since holtz. the proof is in the puddin and money talks and b.s. walks. dream on.
PengieP says:
Seriously, how can you say this? What possible scrap of evidence have you for this statement? Granted, you are far from the only person who’s publicly held this opinion and in the face of all evidence to the contrary continue to hold it, but the facts contradict this. NONE of the top guys have ever considered the ND job other than as a means of gaining leverage to improve their present situation or to force a decision from the schools they really wanted to work for.
skeptic says:
If notre Dame is truly such an undesirable destination, then this program is finished and we’re cheering for the Ghost of Football Past. Maybe you’re right, but I believe that Kelly is a fraud and that Notre Dame could do much better.
Dirty says:
“Fraud” seems a bit harsh; he has won everywhere he goes and has two national championships under his belt.
However, last night’s loss is Kelly’s fault 100%. Not kicking that extra point was inexplicable.
dan says:
wins, schmins. kelly, compared to the great n.d. coaches is a lightweight empty suit. certainly he is not a fraud. he is just not that talented, small, looks like a whimp, dresses like a dweeb, yells, screams. you cant lead the troops to victory like that. he is not an eisenhower or patton. nick sabin is both. thats what n.d. needs. but the nd admin is like neville chamberlain, not winston churchill. keep praying boys. dg, nd 67(parseighan era)
Dirty says:
Patrick,
Your litany of excuses are ridiculous. McDaniel should not be in just because he is a “senior.” So what? He fumbled the ball twice and missed some key blocks.
Brindza absolutely needs to be benched. There is no holder on earth that can make a kicker that bad.
And, nearly every coach out there would love to come to ND. However, I think firing Kelly might be a bit premature at this point.
irishhawk49 says:
Charlie Strong loved coaching at ND.
Drasail2 says:
Football teams take on the persona of their coach…my wife watched Fitzgerald rallying his crew just before OT and saw the tepid cold fish obligatory team meeting going on around Kelly and predicted we’d lose.
At ND Kelly has some signature wins…here are some signature losses:
2010 Navy 17-35 Tulsa 27-28
2011 South Florida 20-23
2014 Northwestern 40-43
Who is the captain of this crew. If you cut into this team where would you find the heart? Nowhere/nobody? Was it Schmitt?
other_guy says:
. . . as was stated several years ago . . “Get Used to It!!”
dan says:
can you imagine kelly coaching alabama. good grief. the tide would not even give a guy like that the time of day. problem with nd is that they are so complacent based on their history and their catholicism that they dont know how to try to excel anymore in this current environment where they have real competition all around them. since 88 they have gone nowhere with football; and forever, there academic ranking among american universities has been the same. they cant move up in any area.i dont think they know how. since hesberg left, no spark on campus anywhere. where is the pope when we need him. somebody needs to light a fire under the domes ass and do it quickly.
Jerrod says:
Alabama coaches pre Saban – Mike Shula, Mike Price, Dennis Franchione, Mike DuBose. Yup, they wouldnt give a guy like Kelly the time of day.
dan says:
no heart and no brains. golsen is just not smart. your qb needs to be smart! nd hasnt had one in decades. a smart qb doesnt want to freeze to death in nowhere indiana and play for an inconsistent team that cant even find a top coach.
Terry says:
Funny, my wife made the same comparison of Fitzgerald and Kelly. She thought Fitzgerald looked like a good guy and Kelly a jerk. The guy obviously has an attitude and probably doesn’t have much respect for people. I know he doesn’t have respect for the program, putting in a megatron, playing Ozzie Osbourne, and ripping out the grass and putting in turf. Making it to the BCS Championship and getting creamed doesn’t make up for flushing 90+ years of football tradition down the toilet. I know a lot of teams run the spread and score a lot of points, but they can’t run out the clock at the end of the game or score TDs on the goaline, plus they tire out their defenses. Hopefully Zaire will be able to pass the ball well enough, because Golson is not big or strong enough to run the ball consistently in that offense, plus he fumbles too often. The blitz happy defense doesn’t get enough sacks for all the risks entailed in blitzing, and the horrible special teams are like the cherry on top. Flutie mentioned that ND plays to the level of the competition, which is spot on, and even somebody as slow as him, quickly realized how foolish the 2 pt conversion was. Hopefully, Kelly will take responsibility and coach the team to improve, but he’ll have to become a humbler, more personable coach who can make the right adjustments.
Wally says:
Oh and one other kind of important head coaching FAILURE … Kelly should’ve directed the offense to take a knew three times and run out the clock. After the Pass INT call against NU, there was only like 1:40 left and NU was out of time outs! Why risk a fumble (risk realized!) with this sloppy group???
Avon Domer says:
How do we not take a knee three times on that last possession and secure the win? As prone as we are to turnover, how does that not happen?
Wally says:
In three weeks I’ve gone from thinking Kelly is THE GUY to now knowing the he is too stupid to be THE GUY. It’s unfortunate (again) that we discover in a totally embarrassing way halfway thru a contract that our head coach isn’t real bright.
PanDomer73 says:
Answer to the only question that matters:
No!
Just watched the Kelly post game presser and I say:
A resounding No!
Took me 5 years to warm to this guy and I think I was too quick to get on board.
This is just horrible coaching from a guy living in his own version of reality. Embarrassing for a program that used to stand for grit and determination… What are the words to the fight song again?
david says:
Kelly’s reputation for offense at Cincinnati was created by two important factors: 1) a capable, talented QB, with 2) the mental adeptness to run the offenses at a very fast pace.
Golson is not even close to an all-round QB. He’s just a kid who throws a very accurate ball. His lack of either focus and/or natural football intelligence slows the offense down to a crawl, relative to the one Kelly enjoyed at Cincinnati. This lets defenses get their wind, adjust and substitute players. Advantage gone and Kelly’s inability to actually “coach” whatever talent he has is exposed.
Add to this the attitude of the current crop of ND players…..coming to ND for the pedigree, not championships that can simply never happen (not given the way the NCAA, ESPN and SEC run things now…sorry.)
I came to this conclusion watching the Alabama game. I didn’t like Kelly’s whole demeanor of that ‘episode’, and I decided then not to buy into another word of his BS.
skeptic says:
I’m not convinced that Brian Kelly’s coaching in the FSU loss was all that special. Just about every team with a pulse has taken Florida State to the wire this year. What’s amazing is that no one has yet beaten them. FSU is about as bad an undefeated defending national champion as one could imagine. They are a fading shadow of the team that played Auburn last January.
Dirty says:
Agreed. It reminds me of the Weis USC loss.
Jim Kress says:
We didn’t lose to USC. According to the NCAA, that game never took place due to the presence of Reggie Bush.
Dirty says:
I’ve defended Kelly before and probably will again because I think he is a pretty god coach.
However, the 2 point attempt was inexplicable and inexcusable. It was a mistake of weissian proportions and it cost his team the game.
It reminded me of Marty Mornhingweg taking the wind . . .
As for running the ball, I think it is pretty clear that Kelly needs to re-assess his play calling a bit.
The defense is awful, but I think injuries and suspensions may have a lot to do with that and I hesitate to put it all on the coaching staff.
dan says:
pretty good???????????? you think nd will win big again with a pretty good coach. is sabin pretty good. no he is the best. n.d. must go for the best. since 88 they have been an abysmal failure. the folks at nd dont know the definition of best anymore. mediocrity is their mantra now. dg, nd 67
Dirty says:
Oh, and I agree with the Cam McDaniel thing; Kelly ticking with him is . . . just laughable. You have at least two backs that are much better than he is, enough already.
Kevin McNamara says:
How did Folston work vs ASU? Agree Folson is the back but it’s situational. How they didn’t kill clock yesterday is inexplicable.
Mark napierkowski says:
7-5 will be hard to avoid. The university will then need to summon the courage and good sense to decline any bowl invitation it receives. Playing a mid-week bowl game in the middle part of December against a 5th or 6th place conference finisher is something not below us, but rather something we do not deserve.
Aaron says:
AGREED!!!!
dave w says:
If a 6-6 team makes it into a bowl , why doesnt our crappy 7-5 team get into a lowly, loser bowl?
We deserve a lame bowl for a lame team.
Down South Irish says:
…and we’d get smoked in said mid December bowl game…
Richard S. says:
I think ND should hire Fitzgerald. He seems to be much more inspiring than BK and does a good job considering he doesn’t get a lot of top notch recruits. If history serves me right,didn’t ND hire a coach from Northwestern a whole lot of years ago? I think it worked out pretty well. can’t seem to remember that coaches name. I think it was Ara….Ara…..Ara something.
thehawk65 says:
I’ve been saying for years that ND needs to give its coaches an IQ test before hiring them. Stupidity was blatantly apparent on both sides of the ball yesterday.
Terry G says:
The last 3 coaches they’ve hired seem to believe they answer to nobody. Such attitudes developed at ND did not carry over well in new coaching jobs. Willingham went to Washington and did nothing but lose in the most pathetic fashion, as did Weis at Kansas, who continued to lecture the administration as to why they were unreasonable to expect him to stop getting blown out. Kansas realized he had to go, and axed him before he continued to drag the program down. Clearly, ND administration needs to create expectations and set limits ; Kelly had one great season, but beat only one truly good team in 2012. Before 2 that he started hijacking ND culture, putting in a megatron and playing Ozzie Osbourne. He recently ripped out the grass and put in field turf. He will try to explain that he wants to bring in top recruits, play faster, and bring ND into the 21st century, but the truth is he’s finding ways to dominate and control the culture like a true left-wing Obamamite.
AndyOhio says:
My gut aches after such a pathetic showing. Give BK, coaching staff and players a breather and see what these last games produce. ND FB needs to assess where we need help, better game plan, better ST play, keeping players healthy and in right spot, finding a way to get some spirit – I knew they’d lose when I saw the teams huddling for OT (sure their coach was top player on last NU team to beat ND, but we have to have more than a deadfish then). Gotta reduce the stupid penalties and TOs! “…Love thee Notre Dame!”
Eddie says:
The answer to the last question is NO, and we all know it.
He just lost, at home, to a poor Northwestern team, in year 5, with all his own RKGs. And going for two there was gross negligence, an impeachable offense.
Terry says:
Would you settle for stupid?
Maine Martin says:
Walking into Mass this morning, I was greeted by our pastor – and the good Monsignor didn’t say “Hi” or “good morning.” Instead, he exclaimed:
“Northwestern was out of time outs with a minute and a half left! Why didn’t they just take a knee and run out the clock????”
jabe7 says:
Several posters have mentioned it. The ability to inspire players to perform above and beyond. It’s called charisma which brings about a positive emotional response. It is clear that emotion, as well as talent, is a significant contributor to team performance. BK is rational, critical, and, seemingly, only shows emotion when he’s angry. Even in his interviews, this is how he comes across. You don’t have to be an emotional rah rah guy like Peter Carroll. Bill Belichick is not that type of guy. Yet, he is able to bring out the best in players. He has that intangible something that enables players to buy into the Pat’s way. I think Nick Saban has that kind of quality – the leadership gene! Perhaps, this is what is missing in BK. Fitzgerald was able to tap into that intangible, in spite of his teams many miscues, and generate the necessary positive emotion which ended in the win. Mitchell rose to the occasion because of it. Brindza, and Notre Dame, failed because of the lack of it.
dan says:
you can watch kelly in all situations and know he will never make a 4 star general. nd needs a 4, maybe 5 star general. but 4 or 5 star generals do not want to serve under a catholic beuracracy in south bend, ind, or for one who hasnt won big since 88. in 88 nd started shooting themselves in the foot with their football program(inept coaches and qbs), and, alas, after 26 years, it has caught up with them. even at 10 mill a year i do not think they could buy a brigidier general. but they wont even try. the holy spirit may still be with the top admins at nd, but the spirit of winning is gone.
AraStopTheSnow says:
Yes, Mike, you do know.
GOND88 says:
It’s pretty clear by now that Brian Kelly isn’t a master of motivation like Lou Holtz. And the analogy of Kelly’s play calling with a Playstation game is apropos as there doesn’t seem to be much calculation or strategy behind the play calling other than “we’re gonna be aggressive” no matter what the game circumstances and play clock may call for.
Their inability (or unwillingness) to establish a running game to control the clock and protect the defense in the 4th quarter reared it’s ugly head yesterday. Kelly overlooks Golson’s dozens of turnovers and mistakes saying that he has to play through them, but when Greg Bryant fumbles or makes the wrong cut he sits the bench. Total hypocrisy. Bryant will only get better with more reps and the time is now.
They need to forge some kind of running game and simplify the defense these next two weeks to have any kind of chance to win or lose respectably and not embarrass themselves or the university. But Kelly, being the hardheaded numbskull that he is, will likely give us more of the same and probably run the empty set offense the entire game.
jmichael says:
If these kids played like this in high school they would have been rated no stars or one stars. This is all on the lack of coaching up. The Bostonian BS never worked for me and apparently doesn’t work for the boys. It appears he has “lost the team” just as did Weiss.
There needs to be an offensive coordinator calling plays from the booth,a defensive secondary who can explain to these scholar athletes how to cover thee forward pass an offensive line coach to teach blocking rather than push and shove,a defensive coordinator to teach tackling rather than lunging.a coach who in the off season will not tell us he added thirty pounds to each player rather how much speed they gained.
Tell us if the O and D play books are 60 or more pages so the scholars can think about the block two seconds before the play clock stops. After the NC game,Saban said he ran 8 eight different plays.
Manti Teo made that team not KELLY. Lastly,if he has Golson throw one more flair pass,he should be given a ten year contract extension.
GO IRISH
BPMike says:
Manti Te’o did have intangibles which defined the season.
Aaron says:
UP UNTIL YESTERDAY’S GAME…..I THOUGHT I HAVE SAW IT ALL!!!!! NOPE! I WAS WRONG ….YESTERDAY I SAW THINGS THAT LEFT ME SPEECHLESS!!!!! YOU COULDN’T MAKE THAT SH*T UP YESTERDAY!!!
WELL ……OUR NICKNAME IS FIGHTIN’ IRISH….LET’S SEE HOW MUCH FIGHT THEY HAVE IN THEM!? WE COULD GO 0-4 at worst case senerio or best case 2-2….but some how I’m hoping for 1-3 with the Jimmies (Trojans).
CONGRADS TO NORTHWESTERN ON YOUR NEVER GIVE UP MENTALITY…..IT CERTAINY PAID OFF TO BE PERSISTENCE!!!!
Geoffrey '73 says:
Much as I hate watching the team lose, at least the NW coach seems to be a nice guy you want to do well.
In about 1971 we beat Purdue 8-7 when at the last moment they fumbled in their own end zone and our defense scored a touchdown. They could have won the game by taking a safety. Usually these mishaps happen to our opponents, but sometimes they will happen to us. Better this year when we are not in the hunt for a NC.
Terry says:
Kelly is NOT a D1 coach.
Golson is NOT a D1 QB.
This season is shot – give Zaire a try or we’ll lose either him or Fizer, or both.
Louisville smells blood.
USC can’t wait.
We’ve got some serious talent on this team and NOTRE DAME is still NOTRE DAME and evermore shall be, which means that there is a coach out there who will look at our roster and drool for the chance to coach them. 8 years ago we had a bad roster and went after Urban Meyer, he took a look at the roster and said “forget it”. The result was 3-9 in 2007 under Charlie Weis.
Kelly is a top notch recruiter but he is NOT a Div.1 level coach.
ND Chicago says:
Reality has set in, Kelly is a bad coach and he most definitely is NOT the guy to lead ND anywhere except irrelevance. Even the Kelly apologists have no defense for his idiocy in declining to kick the extra point. On top of being a bad coach, he’s a really unlikable guy. Who besides a self centered, egomaniac like that turd would be pursuing a NFL job while he’s supposed to be preparing his team to play for a national championship? That season was as big of a fluke as Willingham’s first season. Kelly’s priorities are himself; that’s how he coaches and that’s how he goes through life. It’s never his fault, always someone else’s. Unfortunately, I think we’re stuck with him because he won’t be fired and who the hell would want to hire him.
dan says:
the holy administration ones at nd dont have the brains or guts to see that kelly is failing or to fire him. but that is par for the course. when have you seen a catholic or a priest lead anyone anytime or anywhere in modern times. since bishop fulton sheen all they do is speak in tongues. they have taken a beating from the prostestants, athiests, secularists, politicians. chicago, st. louis, boston, etc. are full of catholics. leadership. none. relatively failed cities. yep. boston, home of the kennedys. har har. the football team needs to do like martin luther and separate from the catholic heirachy, then find adept ads to lead the team to new coaches, qbs, and players and finally start winning. its a conundrum but i am afraid using the same ole formula since 88 isnt going to cut it.
Hipster says:
Aside from the Blue Gold game, It was the sloppiest game of football I have ever seen a Notre Dame team play. I’m sure I’m not the only person who started thinking “Uh-Oh, We actually may find a way to lose this game” after the first quarter. You could smell it coming. I’ve been saying for years that Kelly doesn’t know how to consider or manage risk. He is a self-made head coach with no mentor. How do we know if he even understands the dynamic relationship between Defense and offense? How do we know if he understands the value of field position or clock management?
He gets paid way too much to lose at home to Navy, Tulsa or Northwestern when he has far more talent.
Next coach in, please.
IRISH STING says:
There is a new song for the Irish and it is “Make Someone Happy”, Ugly is the total description of this “game”.
canuck75 says:
Good rants by the inmates. But no, firing Kelly would be stupid. He did make 2 or more terrible decisions, and he cost us the game. Golson did more than enough to win. Anyone who thinks he should be replaced is actually insane. Zaire couldn’t manage a snap!
We can also blame the kicker. Yes, he’s been great under pressure before, but he only has one job and he didn’t do it.
Finally, the younger guys on D have finally caught up with us. So the coaches knew what they were doing when they picked the slow, untalented walk on to play over the 5 star first round draft choice .
It was a bad loss- a Charlie loss that I thought we were done with. But they happen.Hopefully Kelly will make the one easy change in game planning and kneel on the ball at the end.
GraceHallChapel86 says:
That post fits perfectly in year two or three (at most), but not year five. Notre Dame is not a place for a coach to learn, especially with the talent he recruits. It is a place for elite coaches who already know. Enough. Kelly should go. People of lesser rank, earning much less money and doing jobs with lighter ramifications have been summarily fired for much less than how Kelly has performed over the last month.
Eddie says:
Let me ask you one question – we are nearly at the end of his fifth year at Notre Dame; are we closer to Alabama’s level or Northwestern’s level?
Chuck '73 says:
Obviously from last week’s lambasting by Kelly of Everett’s mistakes and this week’s going for two idiotic decision that Kelly won’t admit to, he has a lot to answer for but he can’t take responsibility for his own role in these two basic mistakes. And I agree totally with Doug Flutie’s point that he made more than once during the game’s commentary, why not run the ball more, we can’t run the ball at and through Northwestern ! How come we can’t roll over Navy and Northwestern and we can dominate Florida State? It’s the coaching staff not getting the team ready for every opponent is why this happens all the time. North Carolina scoring 43 points, are you kidding me? What is really disturbing is that Kelly can’t be a real top-flight coach and admit his mistakes. Don’t worry there are plenty of top flight coaches that would love to coach Notre Dame and could handle the spotlight. Kelly obviously can’t handle the Notre Dame spotlight just by looking at his demeanor in last week’s press conference in the desert. Kelly lacks courage to rise above his disappointment when things get tough. Enough ! Our school, our players, our students and faculty, and our fans all deserve a lot better than Kelly. Let’s move on to a coach that can execute coaching better and handle the bright spotlight better.
canuck75 says:
I was so depressed yesterday I didn’t bother to find out all other scores. So Georgia rolled Auburn. Fire Malzhan! What a disgrace. Really, that puts it all back in perspective. The sport we love is so crazy that crummy teams beat very good teams every single weekend. Most years we seem to lose one game like that one, and it reminded me that the Pitt kicker missed two years ago that would have won the game. The reality is that we take it too much for granted that a good team should go 12-0 or 11-1 with ease. This has always been a 10-2,9-3 team. Next year it should be an 11-1 team, but that doesn’t mean that those 11 teams roll over, or one of them doesn’t play perfect against us.
dan says:
you need to watch bama more and hope that one day nd can emulate both the tide and sabin. otherwise you are settling for less than number 1. when i was at nd we were 1. we have not been 1 since 88. dont you think it is time. dont settle for #2. its a shame that we use our football players as gladiators to earn money for n.d. and place them under a sub optimal coaching staff. kinda reminds me of that religious school vanderbilt. who cares if kelly is fired. i dont. better is out there. maybe we should have just kept willingham and avioded controversy. b.s.
Eddie says:
Georgia is 8-2, playing in the SEC. Are they your example of a “crummy team?” They’s be a 5-touchdown favorite vs. Northwestern.
ND74 says:
I am spitting mad. Fire Kelly yesterday. There is an opening at UB where Quinn was just let go mid-season. Kelly can handle a MAC school and hire Quinn as his assistant at UB. He will shine at UB and ND will be rid of him and his stupid “Get used to it” comments. BTW “it” means remaining irrelevant in college football…AGAIN! I am not used to “it”!
irishhawk50 says:
I have to agree with most posters that this loss is on Kelly. I am not an offensive genius like Kelly but in real time as I watched the game I couldn’t believe the calls on the 2 point conversion and not taking a knee 3 times. I am not being a Monday morning quarterback. I was questioning those calls in real time. Maybe Kelly needs me up in the booth to help him make calls if he is too caught up in the moment.
The real kicker for me was the postgame presser where he refused to own up to his stupidity. Still trying to rationalize the calls. He wants his players to man up to their mistakes. What about him? You know the old saying ” a fish rots from its head”.
flirish says:
even if someone were to buy into Kelly’s nonsense on why he went for two one can’t explain:
1. wjy he abandoned the run game completely in the beginning of the third quarter
2. why he was throwing the ball late in the 4th when foltson was averaging over 5yds a carry
3 why for five years the special teams have been among the nations worst. i don’t even mean Brindza. what about punt returns and kick off returns–Pathetic. Ouir special teams could have easily won this game but in reality we have never had a special teams win a game for us in the kelly era and never will
4. why is he lost confidence in Brindza to kick an extra point did he not go for it on fourth down on a few more occasions–
5. After five years an elite coach that is part of a contending program wins those games
This is all on Kelly. I think most of us thought that these types of games were past history but not so.
We have lost three out of four and might lose 5 of our last 6.
Unfortunately I doubt we will ever finish in the playoffs with him as the head coach. If we do he will have to begin to emphasize special teams and his ego will have to shrink and he will have to give up calling offensive plays. He should never call another series of plays.
JACK says:
KELLY SHOULD HIRE AN OFFENSIVE CO-ORDINATOR. A HEAD COACH IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE OVERSEER OF THE TEAM. TIME FOR A NEW SPECIAL TEAMS COACH. WHEN ND NEEDS SHORT YARDAGE, WHAT ABOUT A HEAVY JUMBO LINEUP LIKE THE REDSKINS USE TO RUN.
ND74 says:
AND NOW my sister and brother-in-law (USC grad) are begging me not to complain about Kelly. They want him to stay on with an extension. That is similar to what i am telling my UofM friends about Brady Hoke…ARGHhhhhhh
Tom D. says:
Tell your brother-in-law Kelly has beaten USC three times in a row.
Gmoney321 says:
I believe it is three out of four, not three in a row, USC won in South Bend in 2011. Speaking of which , USC lost those three games the same way, ND lost yesterday.
RICK ROBINSON says:
ONE WORD DESCRIBES YESTERDAY’S GAME, DISGRACEFUL. FROM THE HEAD COACH, THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, Q.B., OFFENSIVE LINE, DEFENSE, SPECIAL TEAMS, THEY ALL STINK. KELLY HAS NO CLUE HOW TO GAME PLAN OR MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. HIS DECISION TO GO FOR TWO COST US THE GAME, OR WAS IT HIS MISTAKE OF NOT TAKING A KNEE THREE TIMES. YOU CAN COUNT RECRUITING STARS ALL YOU WANT , BUT NORTHWESTERN’S KIDS WANTED THE GAME MORE. THE FUMBLE BY CAM WAS INEXCUSABLE, BUT IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY AT THE PLAY, KOYACK COULD NOT SUSTAIN HIS BLOCK ON THE KID WHO STRIPPED THE BALL FROM CAM. IN THE END IT COMES DOWN TO HEART, WHO WANTS IT MORE. OUR GREAT DEFENSE COULD NOT HOLD AN 11 POINT LEAD. I WILL TAKE 11 JOE SHMIDTS OVER ALL THESE HIGHLY RECRUITED 4 AND 5 STAR RECRUITS, WHO NEVER LIVE UP TO THEIR ACCOLADES. AFTER A 7-0 START, IT IS BACK TO REALITY. THIS TEAM , TAKING THE PERSONA OF THEIR HEAD COACH , STINKS!
GraceHallChapel86 says:
Here’s what I simply don’t get, and all I can do is chalk it up to sanctimonious hypocrisy: The NCAA caps colleges on the number of scholarships they can offer. It restricts practice sessions and it requires academic eligibility. It doesn’t allow pay for play. Got it.
What it DOESN’T cap is how much a university is willing to pay its coach.
Notre Dame could pay a coach $10 million a year and not even feel it. She has an endowment of over a BILLION dollars. Shucks, grateful alums would make that amount happen. I am not suggesting that ND pay a coach $10 million, of course, but I am making a point. WHY, by the South Quad green grass in front of the Rock do we keep going for guys who are clearly out of their league? Once we hire them we get giddy about them winning a few then extend their contract. All of a sudden they show their colors and reveal–surprise, surprise–that South Bend and Grand Valley are two different places. But no, Our Lady has to be “courteous”–and ruin the careers of players and fans because she “gave her word.”
Hooey. Fire the guy. All this “transition year” drivel is wearing very, very thin. Scratch that. It’s done. Kelly has had TOP TEN recruiting classes ever since he came here. Where’s the top ten team? It’s not the talent, so it has to be the COACHING.
Hesburgh said it well: We are not any less academically viable if we win at football. C’mon, Notre Dame: Dump this loser, adopt a no excuses attitude, and pay whatever it takes to get a top flight coach.
Jimbo says:
And just why are people surprised by this performance especially from the coaching staff? The day Kelly was hired I told my friends this is the wrong hire and the guy is in over his head. I’ll say no more.
Michael Motyka says:
I like so many have followed Notre Dame since being just a kid back in the 50’s. I love the sport of college football and grew up close to Notre Dame. I have attended at least fifty of their football games and rely miss a gave via TV or radio if I’m not in the stands. I must say after
watching this NW/ND game, I have no idea what is going on with Notre Dame football? The players are there but the wins, aren’t. It’s time to re-evaluate the coaching staff a
nd make change that are necessary. There were far to many elementary errors, even to the untrained eye, for a program like Notre Dame’s.
Brian says:
I just pray that some NFL team owner hires Kelly away so we don’t have to eat his contract a la Weis.
jdthom says:
Wow. Lots of comments here and people have such a passion. I agree with most of the article. Brian Kelly and the coaching staff are the main reasons for these problems. And by the way, there is plenty of criticism for Kelly and his coaching staff without bringing up the taking a knee issue, which JV did in his review. I completely disagree with that and think you run the ball to run out the clock. And McDaniel was running the ball fine
Brian Kelly is one of the best coaches in football and deserves the job. He has had 3 bad games after the FSU heartbreaker. He is not being arrogant about it and admitted Saturday night he needs to examine some coaching decisions. The reactionary vitrol does not move ND forward. In fact, I would argue that much of the commentary from fans (this site included) about how ND was being screwed by the Playoff committee is exactly the same attitude that put ND in this position. I am not saying it caused the team’s perceived apathy on Saturday but it’s the pot calling the kettle black when folks spend the whole last couple of weeks whining about Arizona st. jumping us and the SEC bias, etc. instead of focusing on the positives with this team. MOVE FORWARD. It’s a loss but there are still 2 games left on the schedule. I seriously hope Kelly refuses to answer questions about Northwestern in his Tuesday presser. It should be “We’re on to Louisville.” That doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be some internal discussions within the coaching staff but the players deserve better.
jdthom says:
By the way, these are the coaches who have played at least 10 top 25 teams at their current schools and have a better record than Kelly does (at ND):
Nick Saban
Bob Stoops
Les Miles
Jimbo Fisher
Mark Richt
Urban Meyer
David Shaw (Who Kelly is 2-1 against in the last 3 years)
Gary Patterson (Who Kelly was ahead of until a few weeks ago)
GraceHallChapel86 says:
I respectfully disagree. What you are seeing here may, in the case of a few, be an extension of the attitudes you say you perceived before. But not the majority. I, for one, never agreed with /anything/ about ASU “jumping us” or even anything about SEC bias. As far as it goes, and at the time, I thought the argument was solid regarding /conference/ bias, since at that point there were two undefeated teams and two teams whose only loss was to one of those two undefeateds–ND being one of them. But I fail to see how that very qualified (and now utterly obsolete) argument in any way justifies the soft-pedaling you are doing on the rest of the issues.
The fact of the matter is that it is attitudes like the ones YOU display in your post that have “put ND in this position.” “Focus on the positives”? “”deserves the job”? What kind of selective drivel is that? Northwestern couldn’t hit double digits with the UM team we shut out 31-0 nothing way back when, and they beat us in overtime with 43 points and 500+ yards of offense! ASU pounded us with 55 points (the last time that happened Lou Holtz had to come in and rip the team a new one and start with 6 AM practices), then lost the next week to unranked Oregon State.
Stupid is as stupid does. A man “deserves” nothing in a position like Notre Dame’s head coaching job–he earns it. I don’t expect such a man to always win, but I do expect him not to lose like this. Notre Dame is setting records of the worst kind this season. That’s when you change coaches.
jdthom says:
It isn’t soft pedaling as much as I am pointing out that ND, coaches and fans alike have had a backward looking perspective since the FSU game. I just wonder if that had an impact on the players. I was disappointed in the Northwestern game, but the fact remains, ND still has two winnable games left on the schedule. This team, the head coach included, have demonstrated that they are more than capable of winning those, just as they were more than capable of winning the ASU and Northwestern games, had the focus not been on who screwed you out of a call in Tallahassee or how the committee is biased towards conferences. Kelly was pandering to fans like these by politicking, focusing on the best coaching job of his ND career, which should have been in the rearview mirror, and fanning phrases like “glorified byes” for the folks who have been waiting to criticize the SEC’s November FCS schedule. Win the games.
Enzo says:
Kelly’s ego, like most FB coaches gets in the way of trying to understand 18-22 year-olds. He has demonstrated that he wants to control everything from the grass on the field to the paint on the helmets. Well, he got what he wanted, so everything that happens, everything, is on him. Take responsibility, stop yelling at the kids and move on.
I watched ASU, whose coach praised our Lord and Savior for last week’s win over the Irish (as if), then proceed to meltdown and verbally berate his kids Saturday at Oregon State by dropping f-bombs on them for making predictable mistakes. Ego raising its ugly head again.
If Kelly is truly ND football’s CEO, then act like one. The best ones make tough decisions and nurture a culture of success. Otherwise, you’re just collecting a paycheck.
dbrirish says:
I am a fan of Brian Kelly but he did make a couple of really bad decisions on Saturday that impacted
the final outcome. I was just as depressed as anyone else was about the loss but definitely not to the
point of giving up on this team or Brian Kelly. We need to face reality the our youth has caught up with
us for a variety of reasons from suspensions to injuries. We are tied with Temple for being the youngest
team in college football with only losing 5 players from our two deep chart. If we clean up our turn-
overs we have been nearly unstoppable on offense. We lost our quarterback on defense 2.5 games
ago and that was maybe the most devastating loss this year. The sky is not falling and I truly believe
we can beat anyone, so I might suggest we act like Notre Dame fans and show some class when it comes
to discussing this game or any other game. Some of the ignorance be spewed is what I expect from
fan bases around the country of teams we can’t stand. I fully intend on being in the stands Saturday
supporting this staff and team like any other game.
jdthom says:
I absolutely agree with you. I have never seen ND fans react this way, which as you accurately stated, would be expected from some other more annoying fan bases in the country. Most of these arguments shouldn’t even be entertained.
In terms of actual changes at the end of the year, hire Jeff Quinn, fire Harry Heistand.
Mike Coffey says:
Didn’t realize it was wrong to expect talented players to play to their potential and the head coach being able to calculate the score correctly during the game. Guess that’s out of line.
dbrirish says:
I fully expect the coaches and players to perform to their potential each and every game but it
doesn’t happen here or anywhere else. That’s why you play the games because you can not
predict the focus levels and mindsets of 18 – 23 kids. I will not disagree on going for two because
it did not make sense but it was a calculated risk that should not have had any impact on the final
score if we don’t make a half dozen other errors in the final ten minutes. I guess I wouldn’t be
as bothered about comments on here if there was solid data or knowledge to back them up but
for most part they are just spewing nonsense as an emotional reaction to a loss.
Mike Coffey says:
What “nonsense” are you referring to? The percentages strongly said kick the extra point. The percentages strongly said run the clock once NW was out of timeouts and punt with less than 20 seconds left. Brian Kelly chose to do neither of those things, and this isn’t the first time an against-the-strong-percentages choice has gone against him at ND. Why are you surprised people are angry?
Mike Coffey says:
So you would agree a playoff spot next year is what ND fans should expect, given that we won’t be a young team anymore?
Or is whatever they decide to do fine by you?
jdthom says:
Sorry, my comment about the fanbase was less directed at your article and more towards the other commenters.
Your article is fair. I don’t agree about taking a knee or the “playstation” commentm, but overall fair. I actually think you’re too lenient on Van Gorder’s defense. They had Collinsworth and Riggs back for this game and have been “decimated” much of the year. The depth is probably wearing thin but that doesn’t explain the regression.
The reaction I’m talking about is really over-reaction. Last week we should have benched Golson. Now we should fire Kelly. I don’t have to tell you that it’s very impatient to make those demands when so many things are going well with the program.
Mike Coffey says:
When the guy is making the same mistakes in year five as he did in year one, it’s very reasonable to question whether he’s the right guy for the job.
jdthom says:
Repeated mistakes are not the same thing as consistent mistakes. I’m not sure what repeated mistakes you are referring to but Kelly has shown he can adapt to his personnel and adapt to the challenge. It’s not time yet to have a discussion as to what long term changes need to be made. BIG short-term changes need to be made or we’re staring down a 7-6 record this year. If that happens then we have the long-term conversation. If that doesn’t happen, then at least some significant changes were made, which resulted in some victories, which is all this is about.
The conversation in the public is what hurts the program. That’s why I have said that since the FSU game ND and Kelly should have steered that conversation to a focus on moving forward. Kelly was right about the DPI call. But talking about it means some people will say he’s wrong and ND should have lost. Then talking about the rankings and how unfair they are since other teams are playing “glorified byes” focuses on how ND was ranked 10 instead of in the top 4 or 5, etc. All this is to say, ND was 6-0 and had confidence going into Tallahassee. Things have happened since then to cause these very young players to lose confidence. This isn’t the NFL and this isn’t even a senior-led team. Their naive confidence was what got them within a play of beating FSU but it’s that naivety that’s caused some bruised egos and now this team isn’t winning games it would have won a month ago. Nothing has changed but perception and that has impacted some young minds on the team. Coaching played a role in that as I’ve said. Behind the scenes Kelly should have been implementing changes, but I believe that in public, there should have been an “on to the next” front that we’ve seen in the past but we didn’t see the last few weeks. Focusing on the negative, even when it’s to put a positive spin on it, planted the seed that maybe this team wasn’t that good. They believed it. Now we’re all reinforcing it. I hope to see a different Brian Kelly in the press conference today demonstrating a changed attitude in public and hopefully changed philosophies in the locker room to close out the season.
Mike Coffey says:
Kelly has shown he can adapt to his personnel and adapt to the challenge
You mean like last year when he had good running backs and a weak quarterback and still insisted on slinging the ball all over the place?
Or this year when his defense is weakened by injuries and he insists on playing hurry-up and passing the ball excessively, maximizing the time they spend on the field?
And now the players are these delicate flowers who have to be coddled and primped by us so they don’t mentally collapse?
Give me a fucking break.
Scott says:
“The reaction I’m talking about is really over-reaction. Last week we should have benched Golson. Now we should fire Kelly.”
Impatient to make those demands, you say? Really??? How many more turnovers are you willing to allow Golson? How many more boneheaded decisions from Kelly? To think that going for six when three was all that would have been needed to beat Tulsa in 2010 would have been enough, he goes for two when one would have been more than enough for the W.
I guess Lou Holtz was “very impatient”, as you put it. Remember him benching Beurlein vs. USC? Remember him benching Autry Denson for turnovers and unwillingness to block?? All I can say here is WOW… you must be used to these gut-wrenching losses and mediocrity.
dbrirish says:
My expectation going into every year would a be a spot in the playoffs. Is that realistic – maybe but I
have it anyways. Experience should definitely make a difference in terms of mental errors for
next year which is where we are seeing the majority of our breakdowns. Our young players are
gaining invaluable experience which I know will pay dividends. This is where I expect some logic
to be used when discussing this program. We are light years ahead of where we were with past
coaches, when we could not physically compete week in and week out. We knew the mistakes we
made earlier this year would eventually catch up with this and they have the last two weeks. I just do
not believe you discredit the whole program based on a couple of poor performances. We still
have a lot to play for this year and need to support the program, not tear it down.
Mike Coffey says:
Then at what point do you push for change?
Eddie says:
Notre Dame is young. WHOSE FAULT IS THAT? This is Brian Kelly’s 5th year! He is not exonerated because the team is young. He is to BLAME because the team is young.
NoVaNDfan says:
I am not often inclined to “manifestos”, but reading this board and a conversation I had with a former member of the football team has brought this out of me. I think it is worthwhile reading. Bare with me.
I watched the Northwestern game outside of the US this past weekend. Prior to the game, several of us introduced ourselves and two guys had graduated last year, and one of them was a student non-playing member of the football team. I had asked him BEFORE the game for his impressions of Kelly. To paraphrase, he said he was smart and managed the program well. He felt he focused a very large amount of his time on the offense, and mostly the QBs. He thought that it was unusual, but did not have another experience to compare this perspective against. I think we all probably would have guess that as well about Kelly. What was more interesting, and possibly troubling, was his perspective on the motivation Kelly provides his team. He said that Kelly often repeated himself with the same “sound bites” (he may have used the term rhetoric) and seldom was “positively” emotional, with the possible lone exception being before and after the USC game in 2012. He said that the only time he can recall Kelly getting emotional was in negative situations. He said the positive emotions, which I would have thought were critical at the youth through college level, at a minimum, was essential. He said Diaco was the absolute best at getting his players amped up. He said the same for Alford. As I have been watching Kelly for the past 4 1/2 years, I have come to appreciate the improvement he has brought our program. We are “relevant” again. I appreciate that I can look forward to most of Saturday afternoons in the fall and get “invested” again in the team and program.
However, there are just so many flaws with Kelly, some of them personality ones, that are going to be nearly impossible for him to shake. It impacts the stress level he puts on his players, ESPECIALLY his QBs. These players reflect their coach, and I don’t like what I see. As a team, we are playing too tight, thinking too much, and are fearing mistakes, which this psychological impact of fearing to make mistakes is causing us to make more mistakes. Its akin to football players avoiding to think about injuries b/c if you start getting concerned about getting hurt, you will get injured…a self subconscious and, often, self-fulfilling philosophy. This too is hard to shake once it has settled in.
In closing, as painful as the FSU win…err, loss was, it was acceptable. We played very well. The ASU loss was very painful, not as acceptable, but the fact that we almost pulled it off still gave me hope, albeit some small amounts of it. This team has grit, character, that is what I said to myself a couple days after the game. We will get em next time. I expected we would pound NW. This loss to Northwestern should never, ever have happened. Ever! I thought we were past a loss like this one. I agree with many, many of the comments above as this loss felt like many of the Davie, Willingham, Weis and a few of the Kelly losses (mostly early on against Tulsa, Navy, etc..). This kind of loss gives me pain down deep like losing a father or mother rather than a good friend. Both hurt, but one has more depth to it.
Kelly is not going to get fired. He has made improvements to our program. We have quality players and decent depth for the future. Our cupboard is not bare like 2007. Having said all that, something has to change with Kelly and it has to start from within. His arrogance, or inability to accept fault/blame (i.e. his two point conversion answer during the initial press conference after the game), and a blatant failure to understand that the fandom (and most football experts) is we are not looking to return to the Holtz years in terms of the percentage of run plays to pass. We know we need to be able to pass as well as we run the ball. But to be an elite team, we need to establish the running game. It wears out opponents, it takes time off the clock to rest the defense (imagine that concept with the all the injuries have occurred this year, especially in the secondary…and now the DL), and most especially, it takes some of the burden off the QB, which we all knew needed to happen last year, and clearly needs to be happening during the second half of our schedule this year. I am not even going to attempt to start mentioning special teams as I will lose my need for rational thoughts as I finish penning this note.
In closing I scratch my head as to what Swarbrick is going to recommend to Kelly. Aside from hiring Pat Quinn, I just can’t see Kelly making the adjustments that need to be made to take this program to the next level, and that means a National Championship winning quality program. If it is so obvious to us, why is this “improvement” not as obvious to Kelly, his staff, and/or the administration. Let’s hope I/we are wrong and it gets righted next year and we fulfill the promise we all believe exists for the 2015 squad. Let’s finish strong in 2014. Go Irish! Mary, mother of God, pray for us!
Scott
Sad Warrior says:
Many of these comments are unfortunate. Others are misdirected anger and whining. Start behaving like real Notre Dame supporters. These players and coaches have a very strong and deep desire to win. Didn’t you look at the faces of the players after the game? Winners hurt in defeat. I saw winners who were hurt in defeat on Saturday. No one has been lost. No one wearing the Blue and Gold is a loser either.
dave w says:
Kelly should not be fired. His staff and QB should be. I dont see anyone better coming. BVG is horrible. Special teams coach is horrible. Kelly needs to come alive on the sideline. Where is the fire? Lou would not just sit there w arms crossed and not say anything!
Mike Coffey says:
Why would you fire everyone else and not him?
Who would come to work for him knowing everyone else had been fired?
If you “don’t see anyone better coming” at the HC level, what makes you think better options are available at the AC level?
King Rmk says:
I was an advocate of Brian Kelly getting the ND job 5 years ago and have been an ardent supporter ever since.As annoyed as I am at the loss to Northwestern with the total meltdown of the offense,defense and special teams there is no question but that the loss was attributable to only one person,Coach Kelly.Had it not been for that imbecilic call to go for two points the Irish would have survived all of the other mistakes and notched win #8 for the year.
What is more disconcerting than the idiotic call is the fact that Kelly hasn’t stepped up and admitted it was a terrible mistake and that he blew it.To me,that says an awful lot about the man and for someone like myself who has had his back since the get go,it is terribly disappointing.
JMichael says:
Will someone admit…this O line cannot block. They push and let go look around and find all the D line busting there RBs. This is pp O and D line execution which I am sure they been coached to do to avoid injury. Actually this style is very likely to cause injury.
To move the least effective blocker from the right side to the left then run to the left doesn’t compute.
Doug NimtZ says:
This NW game is one of the greatest stinkers in ND football history! I find the performance inexplicable. I don’t understand why the team played so poorly. Yes, BK made inexcusable, insane mistakes. Still, it’s the play on the field that counts most by far. I would like to study an expert play by play analysis of individual and team performance on every play of this game, including the offensive or defensive play called and the adjustments made at the line of scrimmage. Who didn’t make his block? Who was in the wrong place? Who missed a tackle? Who blew his coverage? Who didn’t run his route correctly? Who didn’t defeat his blocker? Who got beat on defense and on offense? How well did each fill-in player perform compared to the previous starters at his position this year, etc.? I think this information would help us understand this game in a way that would enable a rational determination of the distribution of responsibilty among players, injuries, and coaches. One would infer that if a team’s performance steadily deteriorates over the course of a season, the reasons are injuries and/or coaching. Before BK is fired, I urge a careful and thorough analysis of this and other games.
flirish says:
Kelly’s bad coaching goes far beyond the decision to go for two or the decision to not try to throw with 18se bonds left or the other inept decisions.
It has to do with not developing talent. It has to do with having horrific special teams for five straight years. It has to do with abandoning the running game every time we either get behind or in a critical situation. It has to do with not having a two minute drill and his inability to manage the clock. It has to do with complete team collapses in big games and poor performances against bad teams. it has to do with the inability to win games he is supposed to win.
he just hasn’t done a good job. not much else to say.
connerj says:
C’mon folks. I know you are better than this. 95% of these comments are not rational. I probably felt the same way right after the game, but think about it.
FACT: ND played for the National Championship in 2012
FACT: ND’s defense is decimated by injuries (and suspensions). Collinsworth, Russell, Day, Schmidt are probably 4 of their top 5 players on D.
Yes – there is plenty to be critical of. But let’s not jump off the deep-end here. To me ND looks closer to contending for a National Championship now than they have since Holtz left. The talent level is way up. If they stay healthy next year they will contend for a playoff spot.
Mike Coffey says:
FACT: ND played a relatively weak schedule in 2012, squeaked by a number of mediocre opponents and/or opponents missing their better players, won a game based on a penalty that wasn’t called at the end, and got destroyed in the title game against the first championship-level team they played
FACT: Other than that 2012 season, Brian Kelly’s ND teams have lost at least four games per season, including at least one loss when they were a double-digit favorite.
I don’t see anyone jumping off any deep ends. I see people criticizing the same things we’ve been seeing since Brian Kelly got here — inappropriate offensive game plans, weak defense, highly questionable coaching decisions.
I agree, ND should contend for a championship next year. What are you prepared to do if they don’t?
ND Chicago says:
I think the questions all the Kelly defenders aren’t prepared to answer is; how many seasons are they willing to sit through with the same problems as year one? Are trips to the Sun Bowl, Champs Sports Bowl, and the Pinstripe Bowl acceptable on a regular basis for ND football? What areas has ND football improved since Kelly took over?
Kelly’s offensive style that he insists on playing has not worked at ND and has only served to cause turnovers. Special teams for five years have been among the worst in ND football history and in the nation. Besides 2012, the defense has been very average if not below average. His decision making and in game management is not only bizarre (to say the least); it has cost the team games. The only area of improvement has been recruiting and individual player development. However, neither one of these areas has resulted in improvement in the most important area- wins and losses.
The cop out that he’s the best ND can do is comical. I think there is a long list of guys who would be willing to come here and could make it to the Sun Bowl, Champs Sports Bowl, and Pinstripe Bowl just like Kelly. If you believe that’s as good as ND can do, then Kelly is your guy. If you don’t, the only question is how long should he be given? I don’t believe no matter how much time he’s given it will change the net result because he’s either too arrogant or stupid to change what he’s doing and what he’s doing isn’t working. As Lou said, “If you’re not growing, you’re dying”.
connerj says:
I’m prepared to support Kelly and see if he can get us to the championship level AGAIN.
No coach in college football past or present would not have lost multiple games with the suspensions and injuries ND has endured this season. That’s bad luck. Stop painting it otherwise.
Mike Coffey says:
Injuries, fine. That’s why I’m giving the defense the benefit of the doubt.
But what’s the excuse on offense, particularly when Kelly insists on throwing the ball all over the field instead of using quality backs like Folston to help keep our defense off the field?
ND Chicago says:
I’ll settle for him getting ND to a championship level once before expecting him to do it again. It’s time to face the reality that 2012 was a fluke. If they were as good as their record, with a month to prepare, they should have been able to make the game against AL competitive; it wasn’t. Throw out 2012 (his best) and 2010 (his worst) and what you’re left with is a pretty accurate picture of Kelly as a coach; nothing special. As far as injuries go; it’s football, every team at every level has them. The good teams overcome them, the bad ones use it as an excuse to lose. It’s year 5, if the depth isn’t there shame on Brian Kelly. Was the choice to go for 2 bad luck or would you admit that was Kelly being a moron?
jdthom says:
Congratulations. You’ve succeeded where everyone on the internet has failed previously. You have changed someone’s mind in the comments section. I’m with you now. Let’s fire Brian Kelly. Right now. Florida is already ahead of us in their coaching search and will probably hire Bob Stoops. If Swarbrick doesn’t get on a plane to Tuscaloosa before kickoff Saturday we won’t have a chance at hiring the only coach in the country who is even close to being worthy of coaching at Notre Dame. If that happens we’ll be stuck with Urban Meyer who’s already demonstrated he can’t win anywhere without Tim Tebow. Or worse, we’ll have to hire Chip Kelly away from the Eagles and be stuck with his hurry up, no defense, no championship sorry ass resume. I can’t imagine it getting any worse than that, though. I can’t recall a coaching search ever setting a program back. When you’re averaging over 9 wins a season and 71% win pct you can only go up from there right? So fire Kelly now. Right now. It will at least make Florida’s coaching search a lot easier.
Mike Coffey says:
Before you spent all the time typing that, you should have spent some time checking to see if I actually advocated firing Brian Kelly “right now”.
But for the record, (a) a .710 win percentage is well below ND’s championship level coaches, and (b) nine wins when you play 13 games in a season doesn’t mean what it used to.
I expect championship-level play. Notre Dame has the resources (financial and otherwise) to get it done if it has the will, and the quickest way for them to no longer have the will is for the fans to wuss up and start chanting “That’s alright, that’s OK, you’re gonna work for us someday”.
If you don’t feel that way, that’s fine, but if so, it’s probably pointless to continue the discussion.
MarkP '79 says:
Sometime mid-week before the NW game, I texted a friend and suggested that Kelly would be wise in the off-season to immerse himself in the finer defensive points of college football. Being a one-dimensional coach that prowls around when the other team has the ball, waiting anxiously for his next chance to call an empty-backfield pass play 40 yds down the field, is a quick road to mediocrity at best, and dissapointing failure like last weekend at worst.
Many of the comments above seem to have echoed that opinion. The consensus is that we have a strong and talented offense and a young, beat-up defense. Wouldn’t it make sense to try to control the game’s tempo with time-eating drives and a bend-don’t-break defense that makes ASU or Northwestern or Lousiville or USC go 80 yards in 12 plays without making a mistake to score? ‘Bama does this year-in and year-out, and their success speaks for itself. And don’t scream “turnovers!” — Mistakes come in any walk of life when you are asked to perform outside your level of expertise and comfort. Simplify and execute to an extremely high level. Ask the CEO of Apple or Nick Saban. They’ll tell you.
So Mr. Kelly needs to coach BOTH sides of the ball with an end result in mind. Not let some suicide jockey send 6 or 7 or 8 pass rushers down after down while getting gashed for 40 pts and 500 yds/game…..and then try to pick up the pieces on offense. He either makes a radical change in the way he coaches of a major college football team, or he and Notre Dame are doomed to mediocrity.
The Irish do not fight for mediocrity. Go Irish!
TimmyIrish says:
Agree with all the frustration. Disagree that there is a line of better coaches waiting to take the ND job. Are there better coaches…yes. However, I don’t think those on everyone’s short list are realistic. IMO, there should not be a publich search…much better to follow the Faust to Holtz model. Season ends…roll out next coach. Nonetheless, I don’t think we’re looking at a coaching change this season.
RICK ROBINSON says:
KELLY HAS DONE A GREAT JOB RECRUITING, ESPECIALLY WITH THE ACADEMIC STANDARDS AT NOTRE DAME. THE CURRENT TEAMS IN THE PLAYOFF ARE ALL FOOTBALL FACTORIES, WITH NO STANDARDS TO MEET. AFTER THE TITLE GAME LAST YEAR, THE STUDENT ATHA LETES FROM FLORIDA STATE WERE INTERVIEWED, AND COULD BARELY PUT TWO SENTENCES TOGETHER. IS IT A COINCIDENCE THAT ALABAMA HAS THE TOP RECRUITING CLASS , GOING ON 5 YEARS , NOW. THAT BEING SAID, KELLY AND HIS STAFF HAVE NOT DEVELOPED THE TALENT THEY DO HAVE. GREG BRYANT WAS A 5 STAR RECRUIT, MAX REDFIELD WAS THE TOP PLAYER IN CALIFORNIA, AND NEITHER HAS PANNED OUT. THE O LINE IS FILLED WITH TALENTED 300 POUNDERS WHO CAN’T BLOCK. THAT IS ON THE COACHES. THE DEFENSE AS A WHOLE IS BANGED UP, BUT NO ONE IS ABLE TO SHED BLOCKS? AGAIN THAT GOES ON THE COACHES. THE TALENT TO CONTEND IS THERE, AND KELLY, AND HIS STAFF MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THAT IS WHY SO MANY PEOPLE ON THIS WEBSITE ARE UPSET. LOSING TO A CLEARLY INFERIOR TEAM LIKE NORTHWESTERN IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. KELLY NEEDS TO HIRE A GREAT SPECIAL TEAMS COACH, A NEW STRENGTH COACH, AS THE IRISH SEEM TO FADE IN THE 4TH QUARTER, AND MAXIMIZE HIS TALENT. NEXT YEAR IS PUT UP OR SHUT UP TIME FOR HIM AND HIS STAFF!
Scott says:
“If you can look at me with a straight face and tell me Cam McDaniel gives Notre Dame a better chance to win in those situations than Tarean Folston, well, I think you’re nuts.”
You are absolutely, 100% correct, sir. Cam McDaniel shouldn’t even be on the field at this point because, with him in the game, ND has ZERO chance of winning. Why McDaniel and not Folston at that point? WTF, Coach Kelly. This decision is as mental as
1) Going for six, when three was all that was needed to beat TULSA in 2010
2) Going for two when up by 11 (still trying to process this decision, though I am of a saner mind and cannot phathom any reason for this choice)
3) Leaving Golson start when he is a turnover machine that is killing ND
4) Squandering Zaire who will, most assuredly, transfer at the end of this season because you’re too much of a pompus DICK to not give him a chance (cannot say that I blame him)
Sorry for the profanity, Mike…. I cannot take this any more. I am about to toss in my chips and leave ND fandom for good. I have invested far too much into waiting for the next Lou Holtz, the next championship, THE NEXT BIG WIN TO CELEBRATE!! There are NO MORE of these and it appears that there NEVER WILL BE AGAIN!! So, why bother? For as much as I love ND, I hate them right now.
fc says:
Nick Saban wanted Greg Bryant badly; Kelly got him and keeps him on the bench. Going forward, the tandem of Folston/Bryant has the real chance of being the best running back duo in the country next season if only Kelly would wise up.
Hoss says:
ND is virtually unwatchable at this point. Thank God Northwestern dropped about twenty passes. And it’s obvious Golson can’t learn from his mistakes, time to try Plan B.
Timothy Hoffman says:
If ND could run the ball with some consistency maybe Everett would not have all these stupid turnovers. It’s not only the players but the coaching staff is partly to blame, maybe they need to get back to the fundamentals of football like Rockne and Leahy taught. So much for this new speedy playing surface that Kelly wanted so badly, remember he said it would take his offense to the next level. Of course he didn’t say whether the next level was up or down.