After Notre Dame simply dominated Michigan, I assumed just about everyone in the IBG would ask about that game because seriously, Purdue is next and holy zzzzzzzzzz. However, much like Michigan still failing to score, I have been surprised yet again as the majority of the group actually asked questions about the Shamrock Series opponent.

I suppose that makes sense in some way. While I’m sure all of us will rewatch Michigan over and over again with glee, the 2014 season still has 10 more games and, at some point, we have to look forward.

So with that all being said, let’s get to it.

(My question) Since Michigan still hasn’t scored, let’s talk about the defense: who stood out for you against Michigan?

(Answers linked as they post)

NDNation sees a mullet

Subway Domer has a few standouts

Official ND Blog reminds you of mental errors

UHND

(Aaron Horvath, Official ND Blog) It seems as there is always talk about how the current head coach at Notre Dame is not the right man for the job, however in the past five years Brian Kelly has created a system of consistency and led the Irish in the BCS Championship Game. What do you say to the people out there who still think Coach Kelly is not the man for the job?

I have a couple of issues with the premise of this question in general. Before I get into that, here’s a disclaimer: I love that Brian Kelly is our current head coach and I’ve felt it was the best hire we could make since day 1.

That being said, let’s recognize a couple of things:

1. The head coach of any major program is likely under fire by someone, somewhere. That’s just the nature of the beast and sometimes, those reasons have zero to do with the result on the field, but moreso their vision of what an ideal coach would be.
2. I’m not willing to say BK has “created a system of consistency” at this point. There’s been a lot of changes, moving parts, and square pegs in round holes that have led to 7 & 8 win regular seasons for all but one season of his tenure.

Now, the above isn’t to say this is proof Kelly shouldn’t be here, I just think there is a broad stroke being painted here that isn’t totally realistic. I believe that we are just now, in year five, seeing more of Kelly’s overall vision for ND football, especially on offense with a mature Golson. To put it another way, the real litmus test has begun in earnest.

That being said, if someone has their pitchfork out and torch lit outside the Gug, I’d tell them to calm down because we are only two years removed from a title run and the program still has loads of upside in its current trajectory. If they want Kelly gone for non-football reasons (and honestly, I think that’s the bigger criticism he’s faced), I’m just going to let them joust at windmills because that’s an argument in which everyone loses.

(Mike Coffey, NDNation) While it will be difficult to make many definitive statements about the team this week due to the poor quality if opponent, what is one thing you really want to see them do against Purdue?

Blow them out. We have consecutive 30+ point wins for the first time since the Holtz era and I want more.

We’ve been begging to have a team that blows the doors off bad opponents. That’s what the elite playoff contenders will do and that’s what I want to see.

If we’re going to be in that conversation, we can’t have a let down after Michigan and let Purdue hang around. Our schedule is far too tough to fall into that dangerous habit.

(Frank Vitovitch, UHND.com) Notre Dame has struggled against Purdue the last two years even though the Boilers have had back to back down years.  1) Why has Purdue given Notre Dame such problems the last two seasons 2) what does Notre Dame have to do avoid a similar fate this weekend and 3) will Notre Dame be able to keep this game from being too close for comfort this year?

There’s always someone with the multiple questions, but seriously all Purdue ones? Destroying Michigan really has thrown us off our center.

Anyways:

1. Everett Golson debuted and Tommy Rees was Tommy Rees. Further, Purdue, believe it or not, actually had some incredible talent on their defensive line the past couple of seasons. We had to attack the edges and spread the field the last two seasons and we failed to do so efficiently. That allowed Purdue to hang around for much longer than they should each game.
2. Execute and don’t turn the ball over. Plain and simple. This isn’t the same Golson and offense they saw two years ago and they don’t have the weapons to stop it.
3. I think so. I have a feeling that, much like Rice and Michigan, the game will be well in control, and likely over, by the half.

(The Subway Domer) Can you remember a time when you got excited for Notre Dame vs Purdue? Did you just get a color television?

ZING!

/falls back asleep remembering we have to play Purdue

With all of this recent talk of different series ending and scheduling issues, what are your opinions on scheduling b16 teams? How does Notre Dame keep a strong regional presence while continuing to live nationally?

Do what you can when you can. Sparty is back in 2016 and 2017 and Purdue returns in 2020 as of now. Then you have the home and home with Ohio State in 2023 and 2024.

And to be honest, a lot of the issues right now is that ND has to work through some older agreements they had pre-ACC. I have a feeling that after 2017 and 2018, things will be slightly more flexible to fit the more traditional regional rivals back in on a fairly regular basis.

But here’s the secret to ND’s regional presence: if they are good they have it. Will a regional game help? Definitely, but let’s not pretend like ND needs those games to secure it.

The truth is that ND has a larger focus on winning hearts in the other recruiting hotbeds like California, Texas, Florida, and . That’s a much harder thing for ND to do, even if they are good and they require an increased presence in those areas so recruits can get a taste of what the ND experience is like, especially since the SEC is the current king right now.

And you know what? I love that. It’s a different mindset than most of the B1G and I’m perfectly fine with it. We are playing a different recruiting game than they are.

Let’s be honest with something else as well, the B1G is trending downwards and Delany is screwing them. Last weekend was a disaster for the conference and was their last real chance to make an impact in their out-of-conference schedule. They are about to go into their B1G conference schedule shell in a couple of weeks and their OOC failures have completely devalued the impact of those games on a national level.

The funny part is that they aren’t even in their nine-game conference schedule yet, which isn’t going to help their chances to make OOC splashes and its amazing to me that Delany can’t see that.

So yeah, if we can get them on the schedule, great. If not, whatever, let’s go play the Texas and Georgia and the like.

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Ryan Ritter

Editor-in-Chief
Texan by birth, Irish by choice.

First-generation Domer and a former student manager, HLS podcast host, HLS Sim creator, Extra Life streamer, and technical problem haver. You can find more non-Notre Dame related writing on his Patreon.

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