Comments on: Closing the ‘Bama Gap

By: Millie E. Galloway

Millie E. Galloway — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:17:15 +0000

Vanderdoes inking with the Irish fills a glaring need for restocking the defensive front with top-level prospects. For context, Alabama had two five-star defensive linemen in its 2013 recruiting class; Notre Dame could ill afford to miss on all top-shelf players at that spot.

By: Terry

Terry — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:33:31 +0000

In reply to Jim P.

I’m sure yours was a serious intent when you posted but I simply can NOT get by your accusing the SEC of schedule ‘pasties’ early in the season without laughing out loud.

I assume you meant to say ‘patsies’, in which case I agree with you.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:13:06 +0000

Let’s not forget that these thing come and go. Five to ten years ago, Alabama fans were lamenting their mediocrity compared to decades past and USC was the top dog in both recruiting and on-field performance. Five to ten years before THAT, USC fan were lamenting their mediocrity compared to decades past.

ALso keep in mind that there are other former powerhouses (Tennessee, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Nebraska) that are currently experiencing their own low years. Alabama won’t be on top forever.

ND’s star is on the rise — our time lamenting our own mediocrity compared to decades past is (it would seem, at least) nearly over.

By: franklin

franklin — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:56:35 +0000

In reply to george kaplan. How nice you're "willing to be sold on him." Don't think he needs your approval, George. People that hate ND voted him Coach of the Year after a 12-0 season.

By: mneelon

mneelon — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:02:31 +0000

I don”t think the blowout loss to Bama was a result of talent as much as it was coaching . How many games did we struggle to win against teams, where our roster would blow theirs out of the water?People think our depth was the big issue, however we couldn’t stop Bama, or move the ball against them early in the game where depth wasn’t an issue at that time. On a coaching level, we are a few years away not a talent level.

By: Terry

Terry — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 12:21:49 +0000

I have to disagree that the gap is that big. There IS a gap, obviously, and it showed on Jan. 7, but IMO the Irish were there a year early. They deserved a BCS game, but not the National Championship game. ND was the only undefeated team in the country, and that, plus the fact that we’re talking about ND, means that they have to be ranked #1.

Kelly’s remarks at halftime show that he knows what remains to be done, and he is doing it.

But more important – the members of next year’s team know what remains to be done.
As you are reading this they are remembering that game and that memory is driving them to do that little bit more in the weight room every day.

When Saban came to UA he had already coached at LSU and in the pros, so when he came to UA he was ALREADY a big time coach. Kelly came from Cincinnati, by no means the big time. This upcoming team (200 and a wake-up till kickoff!) is going to be markedly better than last year’s, and they won’t need luck to win. Although of course it will be nice to have some.

ND is back to big time.

By: Cool Breeze

Cool Breeze — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 12:11:15 +0000

There’s a lesson here, ND coaches. The immense talent gap between Fla. and Louisville was meaningless in the Orange Bowl. The two and three star Louisville scrappers intimidated and dominated the four/five star Gators strictly because they thought they were better prepared and ready to kick ass. I wonder how a Saban coached Irish team would have fared on the 7th?

By: Dave88

Dave88 — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 23:46:01 +0000

Let’s not forget that Alabama over signs recruits then runs off the under performers and washouts as do other SEC schools. This enables a team to upgrade it’s talent and depth to something approaching an NFL roster. ND does not stretch the NCAA rules to the breaking point like some SEC schools.

Vanderdoes and Redfield are huge pickups and would likely be donning the cardinal and gold if Pete Carroll were still strolling the sidelines at USC. USC’s losses are ND’s gains and lets hope that trend continues.

By: Jim P

Jim P — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 18:52:49 +0000

In reply to Aaron. Keep in mind that the SEC refuses to schedule US and not the other way around. The SEC, with a few rare exceptions, schedule pasties early in the season and during that one week later in the year prior to their rivalry games. ND used to get that rare game against Tennessee and now we can't even get that...

By: GANDFAN

GANDFAN — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 17:43:57 +0000

In reply to Subway goes to Maine. Subway is right, ND grad rate is the plus on the board! How many Bamers were close to graduation?