Squeeking by a depleted Clemson team at home, a team without a generational QB and multiple players on defense?
Beating a (then) #7 ranked Stanford, who later finished the year unranked?
He's been here for 11 years. What's the signature win? Where's the proof that Big Game Brian Kelly can get the job done on the biggest stage?
Where's the beef?
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in saying we "squeaked" out a win.
Is that how you feel about '88 Miami? One point win AT HOME, gifted to lou because Johnson had the balls to go for two, and a questionable call by officials? Or the '93 win against FSU that literally came down to the last play?
No? I didn't think so.
That Clemson win was a damn good win against a damn good team. And It counts on ND's list of wins against #1 teams. It was a signature win.
I don't love Kelly and have serious doubts that he can win it all. But, let's be objective.
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ever and was the number 1 or 2 QB recruited his year. Stanford in Book's first year who was a highly ranked team at the time or Stanford in 2012 in Golson's first year playing. I mean he has won in the bowl games against decent teams to good teams, twice against LSU who were favored both times. Even North Carolina this year against a powerful offense who has a number of players that will be drafted and in fact are protecting their draftability by sitting out their bowl game against Texas A & M tomorrow.
In 2011's Champs Sports bowl, we played F.S.U. down to the wire and only lost when Floyd got hurt and Diaco inexplicably quit blitzing. A season later, they took off on a streak of 1 loss in 2 years with a title.
In 2015, we went on the road and played Clemson down to a 2-point conversion. Their run since rivals Carroll's Trojans.
In 2017, we defeated L.S.U. in a bowl for the 2nd time in 4 years. 2 years later, they won a national championship with the greatest college offense ever.
Why is it those teams were able to make such a jump, and we can't? They didn't get new head coaches. But what seems to have been the common denominator is the addition or maturation of an elite Q.B. Why can Kelly not get this one item right?
runner with speed, strength and elusiveness and a powerful arm that could throw the ball 70 yards. He was just missing accuracy and the ability to read the end on the run/pass option. You can only lead a horse to the water, you cannot make him drink. Kizer forced way too many passes but had all the ingredients of a good QB physically. And I am one of the stubborn ones who thinks Zaire had enough running and passing ability and leadership skills to lead us to the promise land but for the injury. I thought Golson could have taken us there and he actually did show up against Alabama and had made great strides that whole year, particularly playing well at Oklahoma and USC both on the road. When he missed the 2013 season and got shafted against FSU, an eventual national champion, his career was not the same although he helped in beating LSU the first time.
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