Big time.
This could come in the form of an upset win over Utah. [ASIDE: Yes, folks, Notre Dame is an underdog to Utah. Some may say "Of course, it's clear from the records and the rankings that that's the case". But the "It's just Utah (or Tulsa, or Navy, or anyone other than Oklahoma, USC or Michigan)" attitude remains within the fanbase and, it seems, the program. There's a lot of perspective-shifting that needs to take place, and it has ramifications for scheduling and expectations and the program itself. But, I digress...]
There's a big chance for a big upset coming up. A BIG upset. And Notre Dame needs it to happen. ND needs a Double Rainbow.
Why? (beyond just winning, of course?) To give the program a break. To lift some spirits. Just to give folks a reason to BELIEVE again. I know it's not going to fundamentally change the program in a single game (see DMQ's post below), but a big win toward the end of the year over Utah, or even USC despite their less-than-stellar showing this year, would just let everyone - coaches, fans, players, pundits - see that there's a light at the end of the tunnel. To just breathe for a moment, and maybe even crack a smile.
Right now there isn't much to indicate that there's anything at the end of that tunnel. But there is. There always is. And right now ND, as a collective community, needs a reminder that it's there. You may not yet see it, you may not be able to touch it, but it's there.
It's there.
By The Biscuit November 1, 2010 - 1:50 pm
I have decided to shift my perspective. Hence, the deletion of another It’s Not Debatable (regardless of my continuing belief it’s not) and a post about Rainbows. Because, I think, we could all use some Rainbows more than we need some Debate (or lack thereof).
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By Evan November 2, 2010 - 3:37 pm
It’s fine to shift perspectives, but have you considered there might be years of bad karma at play here. We may be holding hands and singing Kumbaya for a lot longer than is comfortable.
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By TXIrish2 November 1, 2010 - 1:56 pm
This is a whole new perspective for you Biz, but a welcome one. Not too rah-rah, a bit understated to reflect a subdued time. I think it hits the right note.
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By tjak November 1, 2010 - 2:40 pm
If we can beat Utah without our starting QB, our starting TE, our starting running back, our starting slot receiver, our starting nose-tackle….(I could go on, but you get the point) then that would be a wonderful rainbow indeed.
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By shoutboxx November 1, 2010 - 3:37 pm
Well, I’ve already called us having a close loss to Utah in OT, followed by winning by 20 over Army and beating USC by 50 to close out the season. I like my trajectory better: “scrappy, beat-down underdog barely loses biggest remaining game and goes on to stomp arch rival at the end of the season when everyone else assumes they’ll lose.” I just think it has more dramatic flair my way.
Kidding aside, after reading Nate’s post in the sideline and mulling things the last few weeks, I think my new perspective is that, for the next few YEARS at least, we’re not just underdogs to the likes of Utah — WE’RE UNDERDOGS, PERIOD — and we ought to embrace that ethos.
In a world where Boise State, TCU and Utah can contend, and teams like VA Tech can lose to relatively tiny programs on a regular basis, there aren’t any guarantees of success. But, by the same token, there aren’t any guarantees of failure, either. The good news for us is that Boise and TCU aren’t doing it with the greatest recruiting classes. They’re doing it with hard work, discipline, and great coaching.
And despite the fact that some of his calls have made me want to rip my hair out this year, BK is a coach who has shown he can get it done with a lot less talent before, and he will again, even if we don’t have the top recruiting class of all time at the end of this season. Besides, its not like I’ve ever called plays in a college football game; heck, I’m the guy who would’ve settled for a field goal instead of going for it on fourth-and-goal in the Navy game. I think the team’s probably in better hands over all with BK calling the plays than me — just a hunch.
I’m done assuming that we WILL win in any game. Instead, I am going to focus on the fact that we CAN win in any given game, and that this coach and this team will keep fighting until start doing just that, even if it takes awhile. I really do believe that.
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By GB November 1, 2010 - 4:55 pm
I believe it can happen but ND has to play way above the level they have demonstrated in any game so far this year. I am holding my nose when watching this team.
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By borromini November 1, 2010 - 6:38 pm
I am holding my heart when watching this team. Mark Dantonio!…wait just a minute…I need to ask you some questions!
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By Nate November 1, 2010 - 7:33 pm
Miracles on the football field are what makes us Notre Dame, and why it’s so heartbreaking when they don’t happen. We need a 1954(55?) Oklahoma streak-ending win by a nobody ND team kind of win, maybe that will be the Utah game. Who knows? The heartbreak of the Davie era was that 2000 game against Nebraska when we could have had one of those wins. The heartbreak of Willingham was that we never got close to that. Weis, the USC game (you know which one). We expect that we’ll win those, because we have in the past. Here’s hoping that Kelly can get us to the point where, what tho’ the odds, we can win a game like that and breathe some life into the program. Because we sure need it.
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By StewVee November 1, 2010 - 7:51 pm
Well put, Nate. The question now, though, is how long until BK is able to put us in position to “win a game like _______.” It seems, at least to me, light years away. Just try comparing this team (before all the injuries) with ND 2005. That feels like 100 years ago.
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By Jude November 2, 2010 - 7:18 am
I believe BK et.al have demonstrated the ability to develop players. The next men in have competed at a high level, especially Jones and Rees. Over the past 13 years, that’s something that has been painfully lacking. Looking forward to the Utah game – should be interesting. Although I can’t say I expect ND to win, I do expect them to compete well. That’s saying a lot considering all the injuries at key positions. For the Irishman, the future looks positive under this risk taking coach.
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By mike November 2, 2010 - 7:51 am
I have been subdued. I want the Irish to turn it around, win out, and go bowling so they can build towards next year. I find it hard to imagine that happening at this juncture, but I still have hope. I will always cheer for old Notre Dame and I will always hope that the Irish will return to glory.
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By Whitecoat November 2, 2010 - 7:56 am
I think you guys are delusional. This dog won’t hunt! and all the coaches are not top notch BCS coaches. This is a 8-4, 7-5 coaching staff at best, and Jack needs to do something about it.
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By domer.mq November 2, 2010 - 8:29 am
The details with which you back up your arguments is compelling. Do you have a newsletter?
It depressed me to see people exhibit their aptitude for critical thinking like this, particularly on an election day.
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By snozzberry November 2, 2010 - 9:09 am
Yea, what a great idea. Get another coaching staff with a different offense and defense packages for the players to learn. That should work…dumbass.
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By shoutboxx November 2, 2010 - 11:10 am
I agree that one of the people on this thread is delusion, Whitecoat.
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By Erik '04 November 2, 2010 - 11:51 am
8-4 or 7-5 coaching staff at best? A 24-2 record the past two years at Cinci would argue otherwise. And for anyone that says the big east is weak, I show you Tulsa.
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By The Biscuit November 2, 2010 - 12:29 pm
But the big east IS weak, right?
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By goldnblew November 2, 2010 - 12:42 pm
The comment, “8-4 or 7-5 coaching staff at best?” can be argued back and forth for-ever! The point is, anyone who gives up the run ( as evident by the end of the Tulsa game) will not be a major player in college football period! Look at what Stanford has done. And even Oregon is a run first team. That is what makes those teams dangerous. Against teams that Kelly has coached against in the past, he could get away with a pass pass pass game plan. I’m glad that Kelly is the ND coach. My worst nightmare is for Harbaugh to end up at ND – thankfully, he has way too many better options
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By Mark G November 2, 2010 - 10:07 am
We ALL need an attitude adjustment. We cannot keep referring to teams as “the likes of Utah.” We all wanted this to be like Ara’s first year, but this is not our fathers’ college football scene. TCU, Utah and Boise State are in the top 25 because they are good teams. Traditional powers like Florida, USC, Miami, Michigan, and yes ND are not because they are bad teams (hell, even UCF got more votes in the AP poll this past week than Miami). Teams fall much quicker now that in the past. The good news for we ND fans is that teams also rise much quicker than in the past.
We rise by having good coaches (which I believe we have) develop good athletes (which I believe ND can get) into good individual players who work together to form a great team. This takes hard work and time. It is no fun to watch, but there is no reason to abandon hope.
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By shoutboxx November 2, 2010 - 11:12 am
Absolutely right. As much abject despair as I felt immediately after the last two games, I still feel better about this team than last year, because I feel like they are in fact a team, not just a bunch of individuals. They may not be a good team yet, but that’s still progress.
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By GB November 3, 2010 - 8:00 am
ND has better individual players than almost any team in the country. They just are not developed.I do not think they will improve next year until I see it. I hope I am wrong though. I also have to agree with goldnblew about the running. I think more important is the D. Elite teams are usually in the top 20. If ND’s D was in the top 20, they would be 8-1 or 9-0. That would mean that ND’s D would go from the abysmal #80 to top 20. The O is not putting up bad numbers but mainly making stupid mistakes. Saying that, I do hope they can pull off a miracle. I think the last time a ND team did that was with Holtz.
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By canuck75 November 2, 2010 - 10:24 am
To follow up on someone’s comment, most of the “next guy in” guys have played very well. Rees “looked” better than Crist on several levels. TJ and Riddick look faster than older starters. Toma was great. What we need is a defender or two to emerge. Shembo?
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By domer_mq November 2, 2010 - 10:40 am
Indeed. Rees looked like Kelly’s backup QBs of Cincy, who almost as a rule, always played very well when called upon. It was Kelly’s hallmark. It’s called program-building, and I think it’s evident.
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By WilhelmD November 2, 2010 - 10:55 am
I cannot even go there any more. I so want to believe it can happen because if we beat Army and either Utah or U$C, we go 6-6 and get the extra 15 practices and bowl game we so desparately need . . . but, again, I just cannot go there . . . I want to, I really, really do . . . it just – HURTS – TOO – MUCH
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By Jude November 2, 2010 - 11:39 am
Hang in there. I gotta believe that its always darkest before the dawn. And for me, that was last season. Just look at the way ND’s defense played against BC, Pitt, WMU (2nd half) and Tulsa. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel and its not a train.
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By kenneth November 2, 2010 - 11:08 am
The only silver lining, is that our first string is soo far depleted, that Rees has already developed that chemistry with the players that will be on the field with him. notice how Roby toma was a favorite target. I am not saying we are going to win, just that we have a chance. If our team has ever had an opportunity to stand up, hold our ground, and demand respect from the BCS, this is it.
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By terry November 2, 2010 - 11:37 am
The team, the program – is almost in freefall. The absurd loss against Tulsa thanks to the ridiculous call by BK, and now 3 – including Aaron Lynch – have defected from the previously top 5 ranked recruiting class.
And now with the final home game of the year coming up Utah will probably be favored by 2 touchdowns.
There was a time when Notre Dame COMMANDED respect solely by virtue of the fact that it was NOTRE DAME. That time has passed – it will NEVER return.
Notre Dame’s program verges on being a laughingstock. The only way to stop that from happening is by kicking ass and taking names, starting against Utah.
Yes the team is banged up – so what? Tommy Rees can handle it, Tyler Eifert can handle it. The subs can handle it. Next guy in.
Recruits? Saturday November 13 is the last home game. NBC will broadcast it and undoubtedly part of their pregame spiel will focus on how banged up the team is, how down they are, and how good Utah is. There will be some potential recruits watching. They hear that and then they see Notre Dame come out and kick ass on Utah despite the odds, despite EVERYTHING and then they will decide that they want to be the RKG that the team needs.
One more thing – remember how bad Rees looked when he had to come into the Michigan game? Remember how good he looked against Tulsa? This is NOT over.
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By terry November 2, 2010 - 11:45 am
I claim OFP (Old Fart Privilege) by saying one more thing – This will pass. Kelly is the right guy. He has made some serious mistakes but he has owned up to them and hopefully he has learned from them. In a year or two will come our time – the time of I TOLD YOU SO.
I close with a story of Winston Churchill – legend has it that he was invited to address his old school, and he was introduced (this was when he was WINSTON CHURCHILL!) and he gave a brief speech – “Never, never, never, never, NEVER give up!”
If it didn’t happen, it could have.
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By tjak November 2, 2010 - 12:01 pm
Gotta say that this Lynch kid has thrown me for a loop, he scattered his grandfather’s ashes on the ND campus for god’s sake. The one upside here if there is one is that he is saying that he did not feel he could keep up academically. When he committs elsewhere that school will be the school Lynch got into because it was easier academically. Kelly can use this to sell the fact that ND is great academic school.
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By Rockett55 November 2, 2010 - 12:21 pm
Everything that prob could go wrong has when it goes it goes cant give up on these guys yet 3 games left hope to see improvement the injuries have been devastating the buy could not come at a better time hope to see some toughness and passion in two weeks against a good Utah team at least alot of young players are getting time that could help in the long run considering the last 3 coaches very rarely did that only way to learn is to get out there and show something
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By The Biscuit November 2, 2010 - 12:30 pm
Rockett. I like your ideas. I also like punctuation. It just makes it easier to follow what you’re saying, ya know? Just a recommendation, posted in the most positive/helpful/happy way you can imagine.
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By domer.mq November 2, 2010 - 10:10 pm
Stop protecting them.
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By The Biscuit November 3, 2010 - 10:26 am
You think my snarky calling out of his lack of punctuation is protection?
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By Mike81 November 2, 2010 - 2:48 pm
Hey, why don’t we pretend we’re a scrappy independent midwestern Catholic school trying to make a name for ourselves? Maybe knock off a power from out West and then go into Army’s backyard and show them how we play ball.
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By Nate November 2, 2010 - 6:57 pm
Radical concept, isn’t it?
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By Evan November 2, 2010 - 3:32 pm
I agree, but with a caveat. An attitude adjustment is THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE… otherwise the suffering from any expectations is dangerously close to self flagellation at this point. It’s just difficult to let go of a century’s worth of tradition and accomplishments to see the current Irish in their true light – a cellar dweller in any major conference.
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By Dennis November 2, 2010 - 3:55 pm
In order to win any one of the 3 games remaining we need a motivated team. I head that this group of seniors has one of the worst winning percentages in ND history versus a sub par schedule… Why?? These kids don’t know what it means to play hard.. They were babied by Weis and that takes time to reverse. BK will be fine as long as we don’t run him out of town before he has a shot.
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By Dennis November 2, 2010 - 3:59 pm
one more thing. I’ve read several comments about how some of the players performed against Tulsa. Please keep in mind this was Tulsa. One of the worst teams in D-1. In order to beat Utah we need our good playes to play to their potential and our average players to play above. Even the Florida’s, Alabama’s of the world need players who want it… I was at the Navy game. We didn’t want to win bad enough….
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By Craig November 3, 2010 - 9:39 pm
Tulsa is not one of the worst teams in D1. They’re not great, in fact they’re solidly mediocre, but both Purdue and Western Michigan are *much* worse than Tulsa.
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By domer_mq November 3, 2010 - 10:57 pm
Very true, Craig. At least by Sagarin, Purdue is #93, and WMU is #113. ND is 58th. Tulsa: 56.
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By Jason November 3, 2010 - 1:38 am
I actually don’t think that the pass was a bad call – go for the jugular, be aggressive, and trust your guy that has thrown for 4 TDs. It didn’t work out, but Ruffer might actually have missed and then we could have asked why we didn’t do something with those 40 seconds. I’d rather have the TD and make them go the length of the field… a fluke play could get them in FG range and Tulsa could eke out the win anyway.
Anyway, I like the positiveness here on the board and I do think that we will turn this thing around and need some patience. To me, we’ve been unfortunate in losing a couple of close games, and even the Tulsa game was to be expected – our star nose tackle was out and Tulsa had a good offense. Our QB went down and we’ve lost many of our skill players. The D played pretty well and the O could still move the ball with second-stringers; that’s pretty encouraging. I’d still like for us to be able to go out and get to 6-6 or even 7-5 and go to a bowl game, just so that we can also see that BK has instilled some fight in these guys.
I do understand the skepticism, and that Navy loss is the thing that really worries me about whether or not we’re moving forward. Hopefully it’s just a mulligan. I mean, the guy has won 175 games, right?
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By The Biscuit November 3, 2010 - 10:24 am
The problem there is that Ruffer has played in every game and hasn’t failed. At all. Rees had played 5 minutes of 1 game, where he failed miserably, and a good chunk of this game, where he performed admirably but still had 2 picks. So do you go with the guy that has plenty of chances and never missed, or the guy that’s had just a few chances and missed a bunch of them? I go with the former.
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By Erik '04 November 3, 2010 - 12:51 pm
Also, running the ball there on 2nd down would have taken the clock almost all the way down to about 10 seconds (I don’t remember if Tulsa had any timeouts left). Then you kick the field goal on 3rd down in case there’s a bad snap (if you have a timeout left) or just run it twice and kick on 4th. Either way, Tulsa would have to run back the kickoff for a TD if there was any time left.
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By Jason November 5, 2010 - 12:27 am
Good points, and I know I’m in the minority here. I think that it’s easy to second-guess when things don’t work out. If he throws a TD, we all go nuts. If he plays conservative and Ruffer misses, people start to ask why we didn’t run more. Granted, probably not as much as if you had your frosh QB throwing balls up for grabs, but there still is some second-guessing.
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By The Biscuit November 5, 2010 - 8:49 am
I think I fall so clearly on one side because we’ve been doing this for so long, and it hasn’t worked out. For so long. Weis going for it on 4th and 8 rather than kick a FG against Navy. Ad infinitum. Had more of those risks worked out, I might be more on the fence on this. But it’s become clear to me that this team needs a more sensible/conservative approach, just based on that anecdotal trend. Maybe the stats would prove my gut here wrong, but I sorta doubt it.
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By Joe November 4, 2010 - 12:29 pm
So I was just thinking about this the other day:
Has anybody else noticed that the pace of our offense has been quite average? The only time I remember it picking up was during the Pitt game, when we actually started to move the ball…
Also, I remember NBC struggling to get replays in, but now they seem to have no problem with it…
Could the lack of fast pace be hurting our offense??
And could this be b/c NBC has dictated that the offense slow down?
Or is it just a first year thing?.
Just some food for thought
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By domer_mq November 4, 2010 - 12:38 pm
I have a feeling it’s got mostly to do with 1st-year jitters combined with the large number of non-starters who are now starters several games into the season. Watching the Navy game in person, it was clear that the coaches really wanted to go faster, but the receivers/tailbacks in particular had a hard time getting lined up. Now we’ve not even got a QB on the field who likely knows where everyone is supposed to be.
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