Notre Dame travels to Tempe, Arizona tomorrow for a showdown with the CFP Rankings #9 ranked Arizona State Sun Devils. We have outlined some key matchups, players to watch, and look into Notre Dame’s struggles the week following playing Navy in this video that our partners at USA Today Sports have created for us.
A total disgrace. If he doesnt give Zaire a shot he will probably transfer
and you couldnt blame him. He used to put Reece in but wont Zaire a shot.
I thought they were a year away but I hope they can get some line play by than.
Also,
I really with the term “signature win” would go away. It is an absurd, meaningless term. Can anyone define it? Is it when you beat a #1 team? #2? Top ten? Home? Away? What? We go 12-0 in 2012 with wins against Stanford, Oklahoma etc. but Kelly has never had a big win. Huh.
The Stanford win was controversial and any win over Oklahoma by anybody has to be tainted since they seem to be vastly overrated by the preseason pundits on an annual basis.
Therefore, instead of getting blasted by Alabama, a win in the NC game would have had to be considered a signature win.
Oh good, you’re back. Thanks for your opinions about Standord and Oklahoma 2012 but demonstrating that, as usual, you can’t answer the question(s).
To add: Per your comments on the Stanford game of 2012, Was Ohio State’s last national title win against Miami legit since the ending was very “controversial”? So beating Oklahoma at Oklahoma when they ranked in the top 12 didn’t count because, by the end of the year, they weren’t as good as people thought they were?
How about ND’s extremely controversial loss to FSU this year? Is that a “signature win” for FSU? “Signature loss” for ND because of the controversy?
Unber-subjective term with no meaning.
I can guarantee you, had ND beat ASU yesterday, it wouldn’t have been “signature win” by many because “they were only ranked 9th”, not that good blah blah blah.
A million ways to look at it…
I’m 58 and have followed Notre dame since 1964. Ara, Lou, Devine. Notre dame was always among the elite. I made a vow to myself before this season to watch Notre Dame this year and 2015. After that if I didn’t see a national contender I’m going to find something else to do on Saturdays in the fall. As far as yesterday goes, very disappointing. Not sure Kelly will implement the following changes next year but If I was him I would fire Booker and hire the best special teams coach in the country. Year 5 and our special teams still never impact games. Question- Has Notre Dame ever returned a punt for a touchdown under Brian Kelly? Next, turn the offense over to Zaire. Kelly wants a true dual threat quarterback who is a dynamic natural runner and accurate passer. Golson just is not a good runner ad turns the ball over too much. Zaire is a better fit for what Kelly wants to do on offense imho.
We’ll miss you Pete.
Here is Outrage, but seriously who cares it’s just a football game. I don’t think ND needs the money from playing in NC playoff. Anyone who thinks ND will ever be on a consistent level with the SEC clearly doesn’t watch modern day football. We may pull out a great season on occasion. Oh by the way there are some seriously great teams walking around with 2 loses to teams they probably should have beat. Guess Auburn is looking for Outrage and Alabama may be too here in a few minutes.
What a defense!!! They haven given up on
average 41.5 points in the last four games.
New break not bend strategy?
In case you are wondering bj, 7-0 on turf 0-2 on grass.
…with that same defense contending with 3.5 turnovers per those 4 games…
“Am I the only guy in this country who is fed up
with what is happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder…. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when they say stay the course.”
Lee Iacocca
“I love lamp.”
-Brick Tamland
For me the biggest disappointment, besides BK continuing to be outcoached in big games, is the OL. It’s sieve. No physicality. I was expecting a lot more. Today especially was just pathetic.
What are you talking about Rob? We have Harry Heistand as our OL coach. He is one of the best in the world. Wait till next year.
It’s really not that big of a deal. Wait till next year.
I feel ya Steel, I feel the same way. Always something. Excuses every year. Too young too old it’s too hot. Too this too that every stinking year after year after year. I’m just sick!
Love it, George!
The truth is there’s nothing reliable about ND football other than it can’t win a big game going on twenty years. Twenty years without a real signature win against a top team that leads to a title.
Now it’s about winning out including whatever bowl game. Get a few more top recruits, esp. CB, RB, WR, and keep all current recruits, esp. Tillery.
It seems it’s always about next year with ND.
Hey, hey- next year is the copyrighted cry of Cub fans! Don’t tread there!
Oh well, at least we have a reliable holder
Graham OWNS Kelly
And I don’t pin that loss on the D, but they failed when we needed them most after ND pulled with in 3 points. Say what you will, but in the context of the game, that ASU possession was a do-or-die situation
Redfield looked terrible
COACH KELLY HAS ONE WEEK TO PREPARE FOR THIS DEFENSE THAT BLITZES, ON EVERY PLAY. THEY SEND AT LEAST 6 , SOMETIMES 8 GUYS ON THE PASS RUSH ON EVERY PLAY. HIS GAME PLAN SUCKED. HE WAITS UNTIL THE SECOND HALF TO USE SCREENS, PASSES OVER THE MIDDLE, AND QUICK DEEP SHOTS. THE INTERCEPTIONS WERE ALL TIPPED PASSES, SO YOU CAN’T PUT ALL THIS ON GOLSON. WASTED OPPORTUNITIES IN THE RED ZONE, ANOTHER MISSED FIELD GOAL EVEN DOWN 34-10. THE IRISH OFFENSE FOUGHT BACK TO MAKE IT A FIELD GOAL GAME. VERY DISAPPOINTING HOW THE DEFENSE LET A.S.U. MARCH RIGHT DOWN THE FIELD TO ICE THE GAME. I AM NOT TOO THRILLED WITH COACH KELLY AS A BIG GAME COACH. ALTHOUGH THE INJURIES DEFINITELY HURT. HAVE TO AGREE WITH YOU, RON, THIS TEAM IS OVER RATED. THEY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN KILLED IN THE PLAYOFF. NOW, NEXT YEAR, WITH ANOTHER GOOD RECRUITING CLASS , MIGHT BE THEIR YEAR. IF KELLY CAN GAME PLAN BETTER. OVERALL, YOU CAN’T BEAT ANY GOOD TEAM WITH ALL THOSE TURN OVERS. VERY DISGUSTED!
How dare you, Burgundy, deprive us of our right to cry and pout? That’s about the only thing ND fans have right about now. The heat and sky were unbearable. There was so much light and oxygen in the air it hurt the team. BVG complained that the heat affected his halitosis, which is key to his coaching. Joe Schmidt would’ve beat ASU by himself, too.
Is anyone actually, in real life, complaining about the heat or that if we had Schmidt we would have won? I’m not being a smartass- it’s an honest question.
Just being “Burgundian” in my sarcasm, JDH. But it wouldn’t surprise me given the trend for some here to make all kinds of excuses for ND’s choking away big game after big game.
5 turnovers and you’d pin that on the defense? Man, not me. They made some huge stops in the 3rd quarter to allow ND to fight back into the game. That game is on Golson and the O-line. A turnover here and there will lose a game. 16+ turnovers in 5 games will destroy an entire season.
This D has sucked for weeks now. Miami held UNC to 20 points. How many did UNC put on ND in S. Bend?
I’m not going to bury my head in the sand. This D isn’t good. This team is not elite.
Let’s stop complaining about ND bias. When ND actually beats someone, then let’s talk. Until, then ND fans should stop sounding like Lou Holtz.
The bias is undeniable, making us play in that heat at that time of day. Haden had a hand in it I’m sure.
You certainly are telling us to do alot of things.
I do agree that ND is not elite. But also, and I’m sure this will be your cue to absolutely implode, this wasn’t supposed to be the year for ND’s D, because of their youth. BVG is utilizing a lot of freshman and sophomores because of the draft, injuries and suspensions. He’s 9 games in at ND. I don’t know what kind of career he’ll have, and neither do you. Comparative scores mean next to nothing (i.e. this team score X and this team score Y against Z).
Even with a young defenseand a very talented offense, this team was able to ALMOST be undefeated (minus a terrible circumstance at FSU) until today. THIS IS A YOUNG TEAM.
Clearly, Golson is an enormous talent who, for some reason, is not improving when it comes to protecting the ball. I don’t know why that is, but ND’s future is on his shoulders.
I do HATE that Zaire was not put in at the end of the 2nd half. Let somebody else try to get some sparks and lead.
You seem to be “burying your head in the sand” with looking at the positives with the negatives. Never quit. Keep working within the process. Who knows?
Extremely frustrating though. Brutal.
Note: I meant to write “you seem to be confusing burying your head in the sand with…”
JDH,
I appreaciate your frustration. Don’t shoot the messanger because you don’t like the message, though. Some valid poinst, however.
I do know that BVG has not had a lot of sustained success in his career. So I do know something you apparently don’t.
Enough of endless talk about looking always for positives that never seem to turn into wins and championships. I want to talk about winning titles and long winning streaks and not struggle to fins endless silver linings.
I just guess we have different expectations for ND football.
But I nonetheless respect you insights and passion for the Irish, JDH.
SFR,
I think our ultimate expectations are the same. I think the timeline and way we get to those results are what are different. Cheers and God Bless.
Where’s Tommy Rees when you need him?
He’s been on the field. Did you miss him. His name is Golson or turnover Golson.
@ JDH.
You gotta take the good with the bad.
Everett giveth, and Everett taketh away. Plenty of blame to go around. A complete team loss if I ever saw one.
Two INTs tipped by disengaged DL that floated into the hands of AZ.St.’s hands. Lack of focus and intensity until it was too late,; then serious lapses that follow.Throw in plenty of missed tackles. Then a bobbled hold and then a bobbled pass that led directly to 10 points, too often too open Az.St. receivers, albeit vs. Our second string DBs- with no run game, forcing ND to become one-dimensional against a blitzing D’.
Not just on Golson or the OL.
Enough of looking back. There’s too many ugly moments in the desert.
Get back home and win the next two.
Defend your home turf is the next step in the development of a young team.
It was a long-shot ND would be in the mix after eight games. The goal is for this young team to keep getting better. How ND responds, from Kelly, to Golson, to the D’ to the OL is what matters now.
I’m not ripping on EG, who I love. He is the best thing we’ve had at ND in many years. Of course you win and lose as a team, but the PRIMARY FACTORS in the loss were EG and the O-line. They were not remotely prepared to deal with the amount of blitzes, when it was obvious that’s that exactly what ASU would be doing.
EG has made amazing strides in most areas. Where he has not made strides, but perhaps regressed, is that fine line between keeping a play alive and making that play’s situation worse. I talked earlier in the year about how he MUST STOP TURNING TO HIS RIGHT INTO PRESSURE. 2 fumbles were caused by some variation of this.
It’s a fine line indeed because he is a playmaker and wants desperately to keep the play alive with his feet, which he many times does. But learning how to carry a football, when to throw the ball away etc. are critical to success and stopping the bleeding.
Unfortunately, the coaching staff nor the O-players were prepared for what should have been an OBVIOUS game plan.
It’s too bad, but again, I think we are a year away. ND wasn’t supposed to do jackshit this year, but before the ASU game we were 1 bad call/lack of call away from being undefeated.
We’ll get there.
Another BK shitshow on a big stage. There was one bigtime HC out there today and it wasn’t BK!
Where is this program’s signature win since 1993? Even that win against FSU was a phyrric victory and marked the beginning of the end of the Holtz era and the start of recent mediocrity.
ASU’s formula will now be immitated. EG cannot handle pressure and the O line stinks.
Where are all the BVG supporters now? This guy has been fired everywhere he’s been. His D is plain mediocre, like the rest of this team.
Gutless start to the game. Gutless end to the game.
I just hope this doesn’t set vack recruiting.
Now we’ll see what BK’s made of. This season can go south really fast with another loss or two.
According to Todd Graham in his post-game interview, he started that the first and foremost reason for AZ.St. success was his Lord and savior Jesus had a ‘hand’ on this team.
Two tipped passes and a bobbled reception that turned into 21 points!
Same as the margin of victory!
Hmmmm . . .
I’ll check into this with other Archangels and get back to you as soon as I check this out.
I just received confirmation from some higher-ups than even the totally non-biased BCS selection committee – that Graham’s claim about Jesus being the reason for his team’s success because of our Lord and Savior’s “hand’ on his team has been overturned by the celestial host of fellow archangels. Graham’s claim has been overturned and dismissed as delusional, and- according to one archangel- “a little creepy”.
Another archangel who asked to be quoted, but off the record, asserts Graham’s claim is “utter demon smack,
but, from Sun Devils, what’d you expect?”
This archangel is dissatisfied with ND’s overall performance but relieved the “hand” of Jesus was not with Az.St. today.Now back to TD Jesus at home, and “onward to victory!”
The announcers were clearly against us.
And so is the playoff committee. Clear bias!
Agreed, they will probably have the audacity to drop us in the rankings this week.
Patrick with a silent M where are you????
Unlike our posters, they saw it was a true team loss and not just on Golson. Actually, I enjoyed their fair-handed handling of the first half blowout, including Spellman saying “you’d expect that kind of comeback out of ND”- which no poster has mentioned yet! But don’t get used to it, Mayock is back at the mike the next two weeks.
Oh, this was a whole team loss. D, OL, STs, coaching, you name it, ND sucked.
Not even the saints in heaven can help ND now!
epic failure can’t keep turning the ball over. pass rush NEVER gets to the qb
Turnovers, sacks, unforced errors, total shitshow. And I just see now MZ in for the last 43 seconds??? Anyway gonna be long flight home. Still got 3 more to win – I hope.
Sorry, lads, should’ve known better than to get my hopes up. I always fall for the same crap with this team.
Still think tjey lose, watch them cough it up
Finish the comeback, Irish! No moral victories for coming uo short. MAKE HISTORY TODAY, lads!
Amen, Burgundy!
This OL is so over-rated , like the rest of this team and staff.
Right noe, ND is living solely off its past glories.
This is so pathetic.
They’ll get there in the next year or two, have faith people.
Certainly not what I thought would occur at this point. After last week’s game performance, I think today ND is just getting outplayed by a better team. It may be worth putting in MZ if more points get added on so he gets some reps in a real game. This seems to be such a familiar thing at this point regarding the team. Not much more to say besides seeing the shit get kicked out of ND. I hate it.
Hate to see the season dream come to an end but somewhat relieved I won’t have to listen to you mouth breathers gnash your teeth over rankings and complain about ND bias.
When will ND have a total game?! When will they do to some other top 10 team what is being done to them today?! Will BK ever get ND all the way back?!
EG is good but not great. Tie to find a great QB. Blake Barnette would’ve been awesome. Instead he’ll probablt lead Bama to 3 NCs while ND is playing in the Sun Bowl if that.
I wonder what Lou Holtz will say now. He’s an embarrassment with his ND predictions. Perhaps he should pick against ND. Might be better for the Irish if Lou picks against them.
Turned off game things are that bad, will check in periodically.
I agree and something I’m starting to notice is that Golson seems to be always walking away from Kelly on the sideline when he is trying to coach him. Maybe Golson should consult with his West Coast QB guru at halftime!
Couldn’t hurt if he did consult with him. Today’s scheme is totally ineffective and impotent.
But it’s all on Golson? Of course.
The OL can’t block my Mother-In-Law, especially with her walker that has the wheels on it. The DBs can’t cover anyone. If Taylor Kelly was accurate in the first two drives, it’d be closer to 48-10 at halftime.
It’s not that big a surprise when three of your best DBs aren’t playing (K.Russell, Cody Riggs, and Collinsworth).
The WRs get no separation. We don’t miss Davarus Daniels, though.
The RBs can’t pass block.
ND has no running game, reminding us the OL can’t run block or pass block. If you take Golson out, how ’bout putting in an OL that can either run block or pass block.
But that’s on Golson, too. Right?
The blitz schemes are totally ineffective. Their leading tackler and field general was done in by Navy, but we’re used to that by now.
The O’ scheme keeps a 6′ Golson in the pocket, so the DL can bat balls in the air, with two of them leading to INT. It would help if the OL at least engage their DL during pass plays so they can’t just sit back and tip passes.
How ’bout playing some of those OL recruits who were supposed to be among the greatest?
But it’s all on Golson- right? His turnovers are costly, but none of them haven’t been forced TOs.
That’s what pressure D’s can accomplish.
Your simplistic analyses never cease to amaze me.
But, hey, you can all say you were right and ND was overrated.
That should make you all happy.
Could not agree more Michael. Yeah Golson needs a bit better ball control, the 2 early fumbles were ugly and only marginally forced.
My frustration with Golson today was what seemed like an inability to see the blitzes coming. When there is an extra rusher, the QB has to account for it.
The line was very weak today, nothing like what we saw against FSU. So you can’t lay all of this at Golson’s feet.
The second pick-6 hit Robinson in the hands and popped out. He doesn’t usually do that.
It was a tough loss, but doesn’t change my thoughts about BK, BVG or the team.
Go for broke. Let the QB competition for next year begin right now. EG needs to be sent a message that his play is unacceptable.
Agree season is over as far as meaningful play zaire
Not this year that’s for sure
Sooooo when Golson played poorly in the past Kelly put in Rees. He has got a QB on the bench that may be better than Golson? Whole team is rattled right now. Need to get in the locker room asap. Plus they are getting so out coached as well. Total mess right now.
Wait for the excuses.
It was too hot, too sunny, too dry….
Joe Schmidt would’ve single-handed won this game….
The refs screwed us….
Let’s face it, this program is over-rated.
I just don’t know if ND will ever win another NC again.
I’m at a total loss right now.
This is gutwrenchingly humiliating.
This is absolutely embarrassing!! Didn’t see this coming. Golson is a great athlete but you can’t play quarterback at this level and turn the ball over at the rate he is turning it over. He is killing them.
SteelFanRob you are spot on – they are getting exposed on both sides of the ball and this one is going to hurt – reminds me of a 59-6 beat down in Miami about 30 years ago. This one will be as bad as ASU wants it to be.
Shaneful performance!
BVG is getting exposed.
BK is getting exposed.
This whole team is getting exposed.
This whole program is once more showing up small.