First off. I've always been a fan and/or supporter of Brian Kelly. Sometimes and some years even when I know I shouldn't be. What he did this year was nothing short of amazing and even with the thrashing he took the other night, going undefeated during the regular season and taking his team to the CFP is an unbelievable achievement and he deserves every ounce of credit for that. Winning every single game in a college football season is a remarkable accomplishment.
Winning games in college football is not an easy thing to do, especially at Notre Dame where no team in the country has a bigger target on their back, no team in the country do other teams WANT to beat MORE than Notre Dame, and no team in the country do more teams consider their game against Notre Dame as their "super bowl", so to speak, year in and year out. Every single team in the top 10, including Alabama and Clemson, struggled this year at some point against much MUCH MUCH inferior opponents. So like I said, winning every game in a season is not an easy thing to do.
Unfortunately, in the past 30 years, Notre Dame has gone from a fearful and insurmountable foe, to someone other, and lesser, teams believe they can finally beat. With that confidence and belief it brings out the best game, motivation, and effort every game and every week from all opponents, even lesser opponents, when in the past most teams would just fold at the mere thought of playing against the Fighting Irish and their history. No matter how down Notre Dame has been, week in and week out no other team in college football has to go up against every single team who is going to give their absolute all and best effort of the year because of who they are. Notre Dame is still the pinnacle of college football and for a player or team to say they beat them, even in a 4-8 season, is the height of accomplishment for them and their season and the reason every opponent ND faces always gives them their best game and/or effort of their season, especially the inferior opponents. We've seen it time and time again over the years, ND loses to a shitty team, or even an equal or better team, and then that team goes on to lose to an even shittier team or have a horrible season.
So what I wanted to start a conversation about is will ND ever return to that team that everyone fears and DOESN'T believe they can beat, as confidence, motivation, and belief is a huge part of beating an opponent in college football, and is Brian Kelly the coach to bring them back there?
The reason I labeled this thread "Pat Fitzgerald" is because I think he's the "type" of coach ND needs. I'm not saying Brian Kelly can't do it and I still support him. This turnaround, this season, and the teams great recruiting can't go ignored. He's done an outstanding job. My ONLY concern is, what I think, is his inability to get the best and most out of his players, especially with extremely talented and gifted athletes, but athletes that are still not on the same level of speed, ability, and/or talent as those on teams like Alabama or Clemson. Looking at Pat Fitzgerald(yes I know he's had some below .500 seasons), I don't think I've ever seen a coach get more out of or motivate his players, who have much less ability and much inferior talent, than him. That's a special quality and something I think is lacking at ND if they ever want to beat the likes of Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, OSU, etc.
Let's all face it, no matter how good ND's recruiting classes have been(academic standards included as they can't go ignored), they're never going to compete or compare with the ability, talent, speed or gifted athletes the top tier teams get. Never! It's just not going to happen. So because of that, I believe, in order for Notre Dame to ever compete with the best or win another National Championship, they need a coach or coaching(not saying it "can't" be Brian Kelly) that can motivate, make believe, make confident, and bring out the absolute best effort and ability of every single player when it matters, much like Pat Fitzgerald has done, in order to ever beat superior talent or better teams.
It CAN be done. If Notre Dame can lose to inferior teams of less talent, like they have over the years, then so can Alabama or Clemson. All it takes is the right coach to motivate and bring out the absolute best in his players when it matters. Does Brian Kelly have that ability? I just don't know. I've seen flashes of it but nothing that tells me he has that true niche. He's a great football coach , no doubt. But I believe, right now, as the talent is definitely there, that Notre Dame is missing that one single edge in their game where they actually believe and/or are confident that they can not only dominate inferior opponents, but also win against superior ones. And that confidence, belief, and motivation comes from one person and one person only....the head coach. I'm not implying or insinuating Pat Fitzgerald is the answer and Brian Kelly isn't. Just using him as an example to point out what I think is missing from this ND football program.
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I'm not saying we should hire Fitzgerald. We shouldn't. I just don't think he is that bad.
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Sorry guys. Just giving my two cents and felt like contributing. I apologize if none of it made sense or wasn't to your forum standards.
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Oh and by the way, next time you are on a flight we probably put that jet fuel on your airplane. So I would suggest you be nice to me since I made your flight possible.
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That better? Haha
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Sorry....I know you're one of the big honchos around here. Been reading your stuff for probably over a decade now. Just thought I'd have a little fun this morning and give my two cents. Just trying to itch that scratch of what the fuck happened the other night, like I'm sure all of us are. Sorry if you thought it was nonsense.
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Kelly’s awesome but Fitzgerald would be better. But maybe not and maybe Kelly can actually do it.
The only silly thing is that people struggled against “much much” easier schedules and that we have the biggest target on our back now.