I hope I’ll be accepted here. I’m an “ancient”” Double Domer and have seen ‘em all, back to the Leahy days. I live in Michigan, driving distance from ND. Never missed a home game for over 45 years (except for three years in USMC) and have two of my three kids (one outlier) holding ND decrees…so, I hope you’ll let me join in in…Here’s my take, FWIW:
Applaud Kelly for what he did. It can’t be denied that he rebuilt a moribund program. And thank Jack Swarbrick for hiring him. But that’s it… Now down to the brass tacks. Kelly is the quintessential Boomer brat…an “all-about-me” prick, with no real feeling for or understanding of Notre Dame, of right or wrong, or of his own limitations. But because of the new norms, where values have been redefined by those to whom the old rules apparently seem frightening, Kelly and the others like him not only survive but laugh at the rest of us, and do very well for themselves… That’s the world now. So, adios, BK…Enjoy the gumbo…and as for us? Why, we just move on, leaving Kelly in the trail dust behind us. We have a coach, Kelly will be forgotten… And ND will still be ND…
1) Did BK leave ND in a better spot than when he got there? Yes, thanks BK
2) Did BK kind of reach his ceiling or get into Mike Brey territory (Cue Kenny Loggins “this is it”) that’s as good as we are going to be Yes
3) Did BK put his heart and soul into recruiting? No, imho. He was only getting so many good players. Might have delegated too much, (or I’m not doing it, they don’t pay me enough, who knows?)
4) Did he kind of whiff at recruiting certain positions? YES DL, DB and QB are three that come to mind.
5) IMHO, BK worked as hard as he had to to keep the job, not excel at it.
6) No matter what every season, under BK, we were going to have a WTF game, either lose to Tulsa, get blown out by Miami, etc.
7) Am I glad BK came? Yes. Am I glad he’s gone? Yes
Whatever he says is either cringe worthy, self-serving or revisionist with himself in a good light. Or some combination. I don’t listen.
Thanks for the memories, turning the page, but kind of like Greg Oden’s basketball career or Mark Prior’s baseball career…what might have been. (I realize those were injuries that cut it short, but it looked promising at one time).
As always, I could be wrong, that’s how I see it. I don’t wish him bad or ill will. But if it doesn’t work out, it will be somebody else’s fault. Just ask him.
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