Comments on: Comparing Coaches – Reprise

By: Scarz

Scarz — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 16:51:29 +0000

Cincinnati was also crushed by the very recent departure of their coach and placed in the hands of an interim coach that had not been the one calling the plays. On top of that, Cincinnati gave the interim coach false hope before naming Kelly’s successor just before the bowl game. The coach had no hope of advancement regardless of how the game that he was poorly prepared for played out. That Cincinnati team – and more importantly, the remaining coaching staff – had broken spirits and nothing to play for. Kelly left them for ND in a hurry but the Cincinnati AD handled the situation atrociously. I’m surprised the game did not turn out worse than it did.

And, yes, Cincinnati would have beat the snot out of ND that year.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 23:49:19 +0000

This year’s recruiting is an example of Kelly stepping up to the next level. Notre Dame went 6-6 with Clausen, Tate, Floyd and Rudolph under Weis. The Irish have been successful in getting the skilled offensive players, but couldn’t get it done on defense. 2011’s signing of Lynch, Williams, Tuitt, Councell, Rabassa etc. is the statement Irish fans have been hoping for.

By: Notre Derek

Notre Derek — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 20:59:10 +0000

In reply to El Kabong. However, every level prior to ND, Kelly has risen to the challenge, met it and conqured it. He took what he had and made them great. I believe the same thing will happen at ND. Does Cincinnatti routinely face the strength of schedule that ND does, nope, but if you look at Cinci when Kelly was there and look at ND during the same time period. Cinci would've beat ND, IMHO. Now that he has a national stage with a national spotlight on him, Kelly will rise to the challenge again and ND with him.

By: El Kabong

El Kabong — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:45:13 +0000

In reply to terry. The problem with them having been "wiped out by Florida" is Florida represents the level of competition ND usually faces -- a level Kelly had very little experience with when he arrived in South Bend.

By: terry

terry — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:13:23 +0000

In the 2009 season at Cincinnati Kelly took a team of primarily 2 & 3 star players and coached them to a 12-0 record and a final ranking at #5. Granted they got wiped out by Florida in the Sugar Bowl but that is still an impressive accomplishment – you judge a coach by what he does with what he’s got.
I look for 2011 to be good out of the gate, starting in 2012 they should be in the top 10 every year.

Kelly is the right man for the job.

By: terry

terry — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 14:32:22 +0000

The story is told that in the BC locker room prior to a game with Notre Dame the BC coach asked his players – “Everyone here who was recruited by Notre Dame raise your hands.”

Not a hand went up.

BC 17 – ND 0.

It took Jim Harbaugh 4 years to go from 1-11 to 11- 1 at Stanford, and we ALL remember the whipping administered to ND last season as Harbaugh stood on the sideline urging his players on.
Stanford beat USC AT USC when ND couldn’t come close. (We’ll see, of course, what a difference COACHING makes next season for Stanford.)

How to measure a coach? What you do with what you’ve got. Plain and simple.

IMO Coach Kelly has laid a solid foundation for future success this past season. There is a solid recruiting class on the way with room for a few more, a battle @ QB that will light up this site in the next few months, especially when spring training starts, Michael Floyd is returning, with all the injuries last year the depth is building up – the future looks bright ahead!

Well done, coach.

231 days until kickoff!

By: kevhurls, '89

kevhurls, '89 — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 20:29:01 +0000

– and BK does.

By: kmjackson

kmjackson — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 05:13:21 +0000

The ND Nation folks were not very supportive of the Kelly hire as I recall it. I hope this does not color their future reporting of him. Kelly did an excellent job this year. Does he have to maintain progress to satisfy expectations: yes. Is it reasonable to hope that he can establish a program the consistently wins 9-13 wins a year: yes. If we do this might we snag a NC or two during his reign during “good” years: yes. Will this be good enough for the ND fan base: undecided.

By: Geoffrey

Geoffrey — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 05:12:49 +0000

So much for the objective measuring stick. I feel more optimistic about next season than I have felt in the last 18 years. Subjectively I feel that our team is in good hands. I have been disappointed before, but somehow, I have a feeling that next season is different.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 23:17:24 +0000

I think you have to become a little perochial when it comes to judging the choice of a head football coach in college. I believe that the most important part of a team is chemistry. That is, how does the team view itself in relation to the coach. Does the coach have a personality like a person you would like to be your father? Does he know intuitively when to give a kick in the pants or a pat on the back or even more importantly to do neither? Is he honest, is he fair? Does he know x’s an O’s? Can he out smart other coaches? In other words does he have a good handle on human nature? Can he hold his temper? How big is his ego? Does he feel he is in it for more than the money? Is his biggest thrill seeing his players succeed on the field and off? Thes are the things that I so admire in the coaches that Notre Dame has had like Knute Rockne and Ara Parchegian I also think of Dan Devine and Lou Holtz. I also think of Brian Kelly.