Coach Kelly announced earlier this year that he would be taking over offensive play-calling duties for the Irish. He expressed his interest in becoming more involved, perhaps as involved as the 2012-2013 season during which he called plays and the team made it to the national championship game.
Play-calling coaches are sort of an endangered species so of course his decision has been met with mixed reviews. Cons include the thought that Kelly may have too much on his plate this season trying to develop a new corps of quarterbacks and a lesser defense than those in previous seasons. On the other hand, Kelly calling plays means the offense may look the ways fans have expected. Based on Kelly’s past in Cincinnati, fans can hope for play calling that combines running and passing plays in such a way that defenses are left confused and fatigued.
College football fans will have their opinion regarding Coach Kelly’s decision and Irish football fans will most certainly have theirs, and be sure to let you know it, but Lou Holtz has his as well. The former Notre Dame football coach, the last Irish coach to win a national championship to be precise, approves of Kelly’s decision. Holtz is of the mindset that the best, and perhaps only way, for the head coach to control the game is by running the offense, something Kelly did for 3 seasons before taking hiatus this past year.
Personally, I can’t help but get a Lion King-esque image in my head with Rafiki urging Simba to regain his throne back at Pride Rock. This could be because I’m biased toward Disney movies or because I have a sense that Kelly and Golson have some unfinished business back in South Bend that I feel will be well taken care of with Kelly calling the shots. “It is time”.
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