Time for Changes: Coaching and Quarterbacking Cost the Irish Again
by: Bob Berry
September 22, 1999

Once again, and this time to no surprise, Notre Dame lost a close game that they easily could have won. However, this time it couldn't be blamed on the timeouts, or on the officials. This game was lost by poor coaching and poor play from the quarterback position. That is where the blame should be focused, not on the officiating, not on the defense. Granted, Notre Dame's defense missed several tackles including one by Deke Cooper that led to the winning touchdown, but it wasn't that play that lost the game for ND. After a third consecutive loss, changes must be made in order to salvage total embarrassment for Notre Dame.

First, let's look at the quarterback position. Now while Jarious Jackson may seem to be a great athlete, a solid passer, and a tough runner, he doesn't make a good winning quarterback. Being a great quarterback doesn't just mean making good plays, but it means making great plays when the game is on the line in order to win a football game. Also, it means not making crucial mistakes that hurt your team's chances to win. For the third straight week, Jarious Jackson has made crucial late game blunders that have killed the Irish. Saturday, he made mistakes throughout the game that consistently hurt the Irish. On numerous occasions, he underthrew wide open receivers that killed what could have been huge plays. If it wasn't for a Derrick Mayes like day from Raki Nelson, Jackson's bad throws would have hurt even more. Jackson cost Notre Dame at least three touchdowns on saturday with his poor play. The first was his severe underthrow of Javin Hunter in the first half that allowed for the strip by Michigan State. Instead of a touchdown pass, we have a turnover. Don't blame it on Javin Hunter, blame it on the fact that Hunter had some 10 yards on the MSU defense, and Jackson couldn't get him the ball in stride. Another occasion on a long pass to Hunter where Hunter had clearly beaten the defense and Jackson's poor pass turns a sure touchdown into a stalled drive.

After the two poor plays to receiver Javin Hunter, Jackson continued to make serious underthrows that murdered Notre Dame's chances. Late in the game, he underthrew a wide open Raki Nelson that really hurt Notre Dame. As NBC analyst Pat Hayden said, that was as critical of mistake as Notre Dame made all season. On another occasion, with the Irish driving down field, Jackson underthrows Bobby Brown on a fade route and is intercepted by Amp Campbell in the end zone. These mistakes kill chances of winning games, and they take the momentum from one side, and turn it to the other. Even with all the bad throws, Jackson still is not playing solid football. In the first half, on a solid drive down the field, Jackson holds on to the ball too long and fumbles, turning what could have been Irish points, into a turnover. Just from seeing Jackson's play this season, I am ready to see a lot more of Arnaz Battle. I think Notre Dame has seen all they need to see of Jarious Jackson at this point. This season is for all intensive purposes, over, and we need to see what the future looks like. If we all remember right, these are the exact type games and losses that everyone jumped on Ron Powlus and blamed him for the loss. But after seeing these performances this year, was it really Ron Powlus that lost all those games, especially the close ones? I don't think it was his fault, but if it was as everyone seemed to think, then surely it is part Jarious Jackson's fault for the 1-3 start. Now is the time that Arnaz Battle needs to see a lot of playing time, and during critical parts of the game. With no real third string quarterback, Battle looks to be the quarterback for the next two years for sure. From what I have seen from Battle, this guy has the potential to be the real deal. He is from the mold of Tony Rice, and it just so happens that Tony Rice won the last national title for Notre Dame. Now don't get me wrong, Battle should not necessarily be named the starter quite yet, but he should start seeing significant playing time. Notre Dame should run a similar system to the one run by Arizona's Ortege Jenkins and Keith Smith. Both see a quality amount of action in the game, and whoever seems to be most effective that day, usually sees the action late in the game if the game is still close. This two quarterback rotation is the best thing for Notre Dame football at this point in the season.

There is still little doubt in my mind that Jarious Jackson is a fine talent, and a good quarterback. However, he quite simply is not the player that Kevin McDougal was. Comparing the two is like comparing Ron Powlus and Joe Montana. What Notre Dame needs is more Kevin McDougals and Joe Montanas. Being content on a quarterback that lacks what it takes to win close football games, is not acceptable at Notre Dame. Bob Davie's attitude that it's OK to be 6-5 or 7-4 at Notre Dame doesn't work. Where does Davie think he is coaching at? If he doesn't know, which its clear he doesn't, someone tell him that at Notre Dame you win, and win all the time, or else you leave. No loss is EVER acceptable at Notre Dame, especially multiple losses in a single season. In his last seven games, Davie is a whopping 2-5. Come on Bob, that's awful! It's just that kind of streak that should determine a coaches job. At Notre Dame, you don't rebuild and look for the future. You win now, or else you leave now. Look around the country and the nation's top teams. Do you see Tennessee, Florida or Florida St. having these types of seasons? Of course you don't, and this Notre Dame team is just as talented as they are. Davie said after last week's game that he didn't have the confidence in the offense to run the ball and get one yard. What did you say coach? Are you kidding me? That comment right there was all I needed to hear to show me that this guy does not belong at Notre Dame, period. How can he have so little confidence in his team? I could understand if Michigan St. was dominating the line of scrimmage and consistently stopping the Irish in the backfield. But that was just not the case. One more thing Bob, how can you throw the ball on third and one to a receiver that is fifth on the depth chart. Come on, where are these play calls coming from? Surely it can't be Kevin Rogers who's masterful offensive game plan took us to the brink of winning at Michigan. Where has that type of play calling gone to? It's clear to me, that Davie is over ruling Rogers. At the end of the Purdue game, it appears that Rogers when he was shown on camera was yelling something about the formation on the field not being what he called. It's very hard for me to believe that Kevin Rogers is in full charge of the play calling at Notre Dame. This example is just one of many that has upset me as well as Irish fans and students across the nation. While Davie continues to say all the wrong things, and make all the wrong calls. Irish fans want something done, and they aren't willing to wait all season. My biggest worry is that not only have the fans everywhere lost faith in Davie, but the players have as well. When that happens, as most people know, its time for a coaching change. To put it simply, if Davie doesn't start winning, and winning impressively, he needs to go. He has been given too many chances already. Perhaps the ghost of Gerry Faust has creeped inside of him, and that does not bode well for any team, let alone a program like Notre Dame. The bottom line is that Davie needs to win, or he needs to be replaced. Simple as that.

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