Comments on: Senior Moment

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:16:13 +0000

In reply to mikeford.

well lets see. He asked a freshman who’s never started a game to throw 54 times vs. Tulsa while his run game was putting up 5+/carry. He let same freshman go in completely unprepared against Michigan while backing up a QB with a history of injuries. He has a hard time adjusting mid game. Nearly gave up the Pitt game late in the 4th quarter when all he had to do was start handing off the ball. The last two minutes of each half have been disasters over the season for us.

First year in the program or not, those are some terrible errors. Its not his first year coaching. Those types of errors have nothing to do with getting your own players in, restocking cupboards, etc. Those are just big mental gaps (or being infatuated with your own system to a fault). There’s no way that you can fire a coach in his first year, but to call someone “unintelligent” for thinking it is a bit obtuse.

By: eric loprete

eric loprete — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:57:20 +0000

You know why this game meant so much….because notre dame remember how to be a fun place for football, the players saw that the fans had their back, the coachs remembered why they came to be at notre dame

By: terry

terry — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 21:23:55 +0000

This link is a few days old so no one will read this but anyway:

This game was good. They kicked the snot out of someone who was supposed to do that to them – their first time playing Notre Dame, in Notre Dame’s HOME.

Can you say disrespect boys and girls?

Leave the nostalgia about past ND-Army games to old farts like me – I can handle it, I kinda like it, etc. No I never saw any of those games but I’m closing in on 67 and I can appreciate it more than you can.

Guys, please, just Beat Army.

The way to handle the option is to knock the guy down in front of you and sooner or later one of you will get to the guy with the ball – problem solved.

Your assignment after that is to END THE STREAK. I will be sitting in front of a TV in Boston on Saturday November 27.

Make an old fart very happy.

Thank you and God bless.

By: mikeford

mikeford — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 03:02:35 +0000

In reply to Rj. Why is a first year head coach on the hotseat? Really has to be the most unintelligent remark I've heard thus far this season!

By: Patrick Cowger

Patrick Cowger — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 22:22:54 +0000

I thought the pace was much slower than the previous games – I noticed several times the time clock get down in the low single digits before the Irish would snap the ball. It seemed to me in previous games there would be times the Irish would only get 35 seconds off the clock before they had to punt, and the defense had to be right back on the field. Perhaps that had something to do with the defense playing much better than I have seen all year. Limiting a team averaging 41 points to just 3 was impressive. I know TCU just held them to 7, but TCU is a very good team! Combine the slower offensive pace with the Irish just running out the clock at the end of the first half instead of making risky plays with a freshman quarterback, and it seemed like a different style of coaching that I have seen from Kelly this whole season. The “we are aggressive, no matter what” style that lead to the game ending interception the week before seemed to be gone. A more pragmatic style of play, not putting all the pressure on whoever is quarterbacking to throw fast and accuarte all the time, seemed to be in place.

By: Joe Schulz

Joe Schulz — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 14:53:38 +0000

It was a great victory. A lot of players who we haven’t seen much of stepped up big time. Shouldn’t we be asking, “Why?’ Kelly and a number of the players pointed out a 3 on 3 drill — an aggression drill — they went through in the bye week. The players were going after each other and they loved it. Then they took on a team that had run all over their opposition all year and busted them in the chops. The word is “AGGRESSION.”
If the coaches can maintain/regain that level of aggression, our bigger, stronger, faster guys will kick the snot out of an aggressive but smaller, weaker, slower Army. Get the adrenaline to flow — BEAT ARMY.

By: C Mac

C Mac — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 14:14:05 +0000

In reply to Bat. I think you're right about Rees. Seems like a much better fit for this system. It's going to be tough for Crist to win that job back.

By: TC68

TC68 — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 21:12:36 +0000

In reply to terry.

I remember listening to that Syracuse game on the radio with my dad. We listened every weekend. That’s the only game have a specific recollection of. The decision to give ND the 15 yards and another play was a bit controversial, because time had expired and there wasn’t a specific rule to cover the situation at that time. I believe the rules were changed the next year. I was fortunate to be a freshman during Ara’s first season. Did he ever change things around! He took the players he had and started putting together winning seasons. Didn’t have to wait for APGs.
This was a very enjoyable game to watch. I wish I could have been at the stadium. I would have found a way to get down onto the field after the game. Go IRISH!!!

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 20:24:17 +0000

In all honesty, this was the most complete game I’ve seen from Notre Dame in the last 10 years. Yes, we’ve had complete games against previous Navy, Army and Washington teams – but not against a Top 15 team. Who, prior to the TCU game, was touted as a possible BCS buster. Offense, defense and special teams all came together. I LOVED the physical nature of ND. If they can find a way to be that way consistently, watch out.

But, the most impressive part to me has been the play of Rees. When he is at the helm, the offense is completely different than with Crist. Less mental errors, more consistency, better flow, etc. IMO, I don’t think Crist starts next year. Instead, I see Rees holding onto the reigns. And I’m happy with that. Can’t say enough about the kid. And what makes me appreciate it even more are the memories of Clausen starting as a freshmen. Remember how inept ND was offensively his first year? Now compare that to Rees who has 7 TD’s and 3 INT’s through two games, good completion percentage and touch passes down the field.

By: Maclen

Maclen — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 20:07:41 +0000

The game turned on that blocked punt, the Defense came up huge and the Offense took off after that punt with Tommy rees showing a lot of poise. I’m especially impressed with the touch he diplays on the touchdown passes thrown over the defenders and out of reach to all but the ND recievers. I think coach Kelly showed me he has a knack for teaching kids, the Freshmen showed a lot of promise in this game. The thing I HATE about Kelly is his wreckless call to go for it on 4 and 3 from the 47 yard line early in the game against a team that averages 41 points a game. I felt it was meant as a slap in the face to all the criticisms about the “pass play” in the final seconds of the Tulsa game. That he would put the team in jeopardary early in the contest to satisfy his ego was reprehensible. That said, he did a fine job, and his game plan and teaching abilities look sound to me. I’m thinking ahead to the USC game, gotta make a statement there. I’m hoping we will take a bowl game if offered, no matter what just to give the team a month more practice for next year. Coach Kelly, check your ego at the door, it’s embarrassing.