We all had concerns when Swarbrick retained Rees before Freeman.
We all had concerns after the bowl game.
We all knew Kelly didn’t do a great job recruiting skill.
We all knew coming in QB and WR skill would be a problem.
We all anticipated a rebuilding year this year.
BUT I don’t think we expected …
Poor line play.
Dreadful play calling.
Heartless Weiss-esque performances.
Losing to inferior opponents.
The possibility of a losing record.
So, it’s early and jury is still out, but my initial observation is that we’ve likely made at least one major personnel mistake and possibly several more significant mistakes and those can’t wait until end of season to address. I’ve seen some things I like such as better tackling and defensive secondary improvement, but those are tactical improvements and problems exist at a higher level.
I was very happy for MF and want so bad for him to succeed and he needs to succeed at ND for reasons beyond football. But, like Faust, the eurphoria that ensued after Faust relaced the stoic, yet competent Devine was eerily similar to MF. ND Nation found their man; very likeable, charismatic, love for the institution, "player's - coach" etc. everything that a successful HC needs to embody, except for one thing - HC coaching experience. I just read Faust's book "The Golden Dream." Faust mentions he was told by both Parseghian and Holtz that they needed every year of their prior HC experience to have prepared them for the ND job. You'd think the administration would have learned this lesson from 41 yrs. ago, coupled with the Davie & Weis "experiments" - apparently not....I hope and pray that MF makes it, but for now, he's our HC and he will need everyone's support both inside and outside of the program.
Where football is a religion. Smart, Riley, Swinney and Day, for example, are all successful in their first jobs at major programs.
Let's put it this way. If ND actually had an effective O-line and the offense scored 24 in each game, ND would be 2-0 (I don't think Marshall scores 26 if we score 24) and the conversation would be different.
consistently. But with every comment I make I am adding that Lenzy should have caught that ball the at the end of the first half.
e and projected future. ND football is a club sport to them and as long as money flows in and kids stay out of trouble, football is an afterthought.
Now all the bullshit excuses come out. Academics, weather, the ugly women, south bend sucks, the administration.
No wonder Kelly left.
Maybe Special Teams is the exception. Marcus has to take full responsibility. No one is getting fired this season. Players will opt out so lets get these young guys in. Now that the Marshall loss is in the books, everything should be on the table. Marcus definitely has to re-evaluate the way Fall camp was conducted. Soft and slow will not win you many games. I don't know if it's Rees and Harry or they just don't have anything to work with. Even if that statement is true and we know that Marshall is not Toledo and/or Ball State, we should never ever lose to a Sun Belt program of any kind , at home. All coaching jobs are safe for 2022, but starting positions should not be safe.