Gameday FAQ: Notre Dame v. Michigan State ’16

#119

What’s the record for number of comments?

“The team, the season…It’s practically standing still now.

I see it’s starting to rain again; it’s—the rain has slacked up a little bit. The team is holding on, Just.. just enough to keep it from ….

Oh my god! It’s burning and bursting into flames! and, and it’s falling and all the folks agree that this is terrible, this is one of the worst catastrophes in the world.

It’s–it’s–it’s the flames, oh, four- or five-hundred feet into the sky and it … it’s a terrific crash, ladies and gentlemen.
It’s smoke, and it’s flames now … and the game is crashing to the ground!

Oh, the humanity! and all the fans screaming around here.

I told you, I can’t even talk to people whose friends were there.
Ah! It’s–it’s–it’s–it’s … o–ohhh! I–I can’t talk, ladies and gentlemen.

Honest, it’s just laying there, a mass of smoking wreckage.
Ah! And everybody can hardly breathe and talk, and the screaming.

Honest: I–I can hardly breathe. I–I’m going to step inside where I cannot see it.

Charlie, that’s terrible. Ah, ah—I can’t. I, listen, folks, I–I’m gonna have to stop for a minute because I’ve lost my voice.

This is the worst thing I’ve ever witnessed”.

Oh the humanity!

BTW: Good to hear from you, C-Dog. Please don’t be a stranger!

Where’s JC been?

http://m.ndinsider.com/football/analysis-beyond-the-spin-cycle-of-notre-dame-s-defensive/article_1bc10330-7dee-11e6-a63b-032fa46a6ea2.html

Disaster incompetence stupidity greed gutless

SFR,

I do agree with you that ND can afford to reexamine it’s admission standards and some of the things you mentioned. There are things they did during the Holtz years that were along those lines, while still emphasizing they’re are a school first. I’m am not beholden to a rigid standard. There are things the Irish can do, adjustments, without selling out.

It really just comes down to I’m not ready to throw BK out yet, not while I see a shot with some fixes, mainly on defense, though Pete brings up a good point about the tight ends coach. Tight ends have been a disappointment the last 2 years. I’m not as firm on tossing him out yet, but there definitely needs to be some adjustments there. But I see a team that could have had an undefeated regular season last year if we have better defense. That’s why I say retool the defense first.

But do misunderstand my original comment way back last night. I was by not means saying I want ND to be like Harvard, or even like Northwestern. You mention about the by gone glory years of the past. CFB has changes so dramatically just in the last 20 years. I’m growing concerned that maybe the only way ND can compete for NC’s is by selling out it’s core principles, that it would have to do the things even you, SFR have noted would be going to far. That is simply a road I would not be able to travel as a fan. I don’t want ND to become another LSU, Florida or Miami just to win NC’s. That’s really the crux of my argument earlier. That’s more an indictment of the landscape I see today, not that I’m ok with how things currently stand.

Lol

Hire Chizik for a defensive coordinator.. And while Kizer had great stats for the game he once again has proven his inability to win the big games. I hope when Zaire transfers he comes to play for the Gators.

I do think Kelly is a very good coach. He won big everywhere he’s been. However , I’m not sold on some of his assistant coaches. The 2 I would replace are Van Gorder and Booker. Booker hasn’t done much with either the tight ends or special teams. Penalities, blocked field goal against Texas ,poor snaps, player not getting out of the way on a punt. Defense is setting records for ineptitude. Broken coverages, soft coverages, poor tackling players not lined up correctly before the snap, secondary taking bad angles, improper technique, db’s not turning to locate balls during pass plays, poor gap fits. Lets see did I miss anything?

FAQ. Notre Dame hasn’t won a national championship in 28 years. Notre Dame has been close once in the last 24 years. Notre Dame hasn’t had a signature win in decades.
FAQ: Over $750 million in new stadium upgrades.

FAQ: Fancy turf replacing that horrible grass that teams like Michigan State and Green Bay use.

FAQ. Tix are among the most expensive in college football. ( some around $250 if seat fee is included )
A few years ago Stanford was charging $11 per ticket and no parking fee.

Kelly has a real comfortable position. So does Swarbrick. So does the limp wristed Jenkins.

Ara and his team celebrated the 50 year anniversary of their championship season. The theme among the players wasn’t that they were champs but how they got to be champs. Tough kids who realized what playing for a school named after the Mother of God means. They had a chip.

Nowadays the demand for political correctness and choked that chip. The school is very cuddly. And rich. To get donations for what they really care about they are selling past history not current greatness. People are dropping big coin in the hope that this year might be the year. Ok but it sure feels like the university is punking the fans and alums.

Is that what everyone wants?

I know exactly what you’re saying, Damian. I don’t agree, however, that ND needs to settle for BK. Moreover, I’m not calling for his head either. But BVG needs to go. So we agree there.

Bottom line is you’re just putting off the inevitable. BK is not the right man for the job. He’ll be gone sooner or later. He was also just given an extension. ND will not be paying for BK and CW as ex-coaches.

BK has at least two more seasons after this one. So expect more garbage and more excuses and more talk about wait till next year.

What ND should do is reexamine its philosophy and modernize its admissions for football players. Also, don’t suspend players for an entire season for mine academic infractions. If these issues aren’t revisited, it doesn’t matter who comes in to coach this team. Don Shula and Chuck Noll in their primes coaching together couldn’t win at ND under current restrictions.

ND has compromised ideals in the past without forfeiting its essence. Time to do so again!

Go Irish!

I like how people can “read between the lines of my comments.” I am not settling for anything. I never said BK was elite, but in fact, went out of my way to say he won’t be elite until he wins an NC.

My contention is unless you can show me a better coach out there who is WILLING to come to ND, I am not for cutting and running. I am not at that point where I’m ready to reset, start over and hope in 3 to 5 years the next coach can bring us the NC. I am still of the opinion that rebooting the defense would be enough to turn this team around.

But you cut the coach, and you’re back to square one, recruiting, schemes, coaching, everything. I am just not ready for that yet. Fix the defense first, and if that doesn’t work then we’ll talk.

Fire Kelly. Hire Art Briles.

pete,

Carroll is way too old now. He’s currently the oldest NFL head coach. Too late for him to pack up and start all over again.

Plus, recall that he left SC on the verge of the death penalty. He got out cause he knew the rampant corruption of his program. Even the corrupt NCAA had no choice but take a NC and Heisman away from SC under Carroll.

I want to win too but not at any cost.

Meant to say know for a fact, not uno for a fact. Damn this new autocorrect feature!

Kind of works like BK’s coaching and BVG’s D!

And Damian, don’t mistake our passion for and frustrations with the present state of ND football for lunacy.

What’s crazy is calling yourself a life-long ND fan and believing that what you’re seeing on the field now is acceptable.

It seems that the Irish are unprepared for every game. They are sloppy. They don’t tackle well. Their pass coverage is terrible. They don’t get to the QB. They need to improve on special teams. Dumb/costly penalties.

I think there is not only a problem with their defensive coordinator’s game planning/coaching, there is a big problem with the over-all way the Irish prepare for games.

You play the way you practice.

God, do some of you guys need therapy. This attitude if ND can’t win an NC what’s the point of going on.

Try looking at a few positives. ND is relevant again. In 2008 and 2009 we were slowly becoming irrelevant, to becoming the patsy on good teams schedules. ND is better today. Teams need to pay attention to ND and they can’t take them for granted, in fact, other teams consider ND a tough opponent. That is a big improvement.

And make no mistake, I want more. Each of my pro teams in pro sports have won NCs in the last 10 years. I love NC’s. ND is the only one that has denied me thus far.

I think our offensive coaches are fine for the most part. Yes that had a hiccup last night, but that is not the norm. Even Alabama has a hiccup once a year (they don’t usually go undefeated). What they need to do is make sure to keep those assistants on the offense. We field a typically dominant O-line, something Alabama does to win NC’s.

The only coach on defense that I’d consider keeping is the linebackers coach. I’m not sure I would, but our front line seems to do ok. Seeing the look on BK’s face toward BVG last night told it all for me. I think BVG’s days are numbered. BK is not going to take a fall for BVG if he can help it.

Right now about 85% of football fans would love to be in ND’s position right now. I want that to be 100%, but prior to BK that was probably 0%. Even ND fans didn’t want to be in our position then.

With a better defense, even just an average defense, we would have been undefeated during last season, and probably this season thus far. We have good players on defense, they need better coaching. I’m not prepared to throw the baby out with the bathtub yet. Get better defensive coaches and KEEP THEM.

When it’s feels like Kevin white
Smells like Kevin white
Tastes like Kevin white
It’s only the hapless excuser jack swarbrick
Fire swarbrick
Fire kelly
Fire Bvg
It’s about responsibility and consequences
If you want to be the best
You hire the best

I foresee 2 maybe even 3 more losses this season. This team is not good. I believe a change at D coordinator is needed and I think Kelly should turn over offensive play calling to Sanford and start overseeing the team as the “CEO” which a head coach should do to monitor overall the team aspect. I don’t want to hear “wait until next year” mantra. After 7 years, as a fan, it’s not UNREASONABLE to expect a better product on the field. As SFR has mentioned in prior posts, I remember Holtz era well. Some modifications to admission standards allowed Lou even then to match up more consistently with the football factory teams of the 80’s and 90’s. ND if it expects to even somewhat compete against the football factory teams and elite teams, it may have to look at modifying its admission standards for student players, otherwise, I see 7-5, 8-4, 9-3 record teams pretty consistently. Just remember, it has been football success that has generated much money for the university. If continued mediocrity occurs, the cash flow may start to dwindle. The bigger looming problem is who could be a replacement for Kelly. He could leave by his own merits too. There aren’t super marquee coaches indicating they want to come coach ND, and frankly, why would they, if it opened up. It’s painful to watch a team you are a fan of, not be very good. Yes, there have been some improvements in personnel, but, not to where they are even close to the CFB caliber teams personnel. Change the opponents who are scheduled so they are easier. I suppose but that only exposes you when you play a good team. As a fan, I unfortunately have to change my outlook too. I just don’t see any changes coming to help even get closer to an even playing field by ND. I don’t have much excitement right now as a long time fan. I guess let’s see what the next game brings but I see no surprises.

If you remember the Lou days, then why settle for BK’s crap, Damian?

If this is the best ND can ever be, then it’s time to really do something else in the Fall.

ND needs to keep searching. BK is not the answer. Perhaps the luck of the Irish strikes again and ND finds another Ara out of no where.

I agree on your football related points, Damian.

But if you’re also right that ND can’t do better than BK, and perhaps you’re indeed right, then it’s time to sell. ND should just either give up football or join the Ivy League. But of course it won’t give up the mammon football brings to the university. Too much integrity I guess.

I’m just sorry this is what ND football is in your experience. I remember the end of the era of Ara, you see. I remember when ND could beat Bear, Joe Pa, Johnny Majors, Vince Dooley, Bo, you name it. So sad you don’t have those memories and therefore settle for BK beating Nevada.

My point is, if BK can’t get ND back to elite, I don’t believe there’s anyone else out there who is willing to coach at ND who can.

BK has been frustrating for me. He recruits well, he’s gotten more out of his prior teams (Cincinnati for instance, hardly a football power house). What is it about ND that he can’t do the same there? I sometimes think it’s a curse. How does a coach that won NC’s at the FCS level, overachieved at a school at Cincinnati, can’t get the same thing out of ND.

Some fans (NOT all) want BK to be fired and for them to hire a new coach. Who? Who do you think is going to come to ND and win NC’s, realistically. Go back to D/W/W types and ND football as you know it will really be over.

Personally, I think they need to do 2 things. Retool the defense. I made the mistake of believing BVG should be given a 3rd year (mostly because historically, it takes about 3 years to fully develop your schemes). But the BVG experiment just didn’t work. Seeing BK’s reaction on the sidelines to BVG at the end when they gave up a big play said it all, it was that WTF are you kidding me look. Offensively, I think we are ok. Offense had a hiccup tonight, but mostly they can score.

Then ND needs to make sure it does everything it can to retain those coaches. Maybe they should have tried to do more the retain Diaco. I don’t know. But the defense was much better under Diaco. One reason Saban does so well, and Dantonio for that matter, is consistency with assistant coaches. ND may need to fork over some money.

But that is one area I see that ND can do better.

Come on. Mediocre. D/W/W, they were mediocre. BK is better than that.

Look at tonight’s game. Under Weis that game would have been done in the 3rd quarter. Under BK they fought back. They fight to the last second. Now that’s not good enough. But they are much better than mediocre. Penn State (I live in PA, hence the reference), is mediocre. ND is better than that. And before anyone says they have a 2-1 records, their 2 wins are against Kent State and Temple (this year’s Temple is not last year’s).

No, Zippy said F— the academics.

SFR,

I am not, NOT ready to throw in the towel. My original comment was 2 points. The first being if BK can’t get us to the elite level, ND may just be an above average team good enough to beat some good teams, but not all the time. That’s not Colgate, or even Northwestern. And I think ND can maintain that, enough to maintain their current NBC contract, and their semi-independence.

And the second is just to answer that delusion some fans have that coaches like Nick Saban are just waiting for a chance to coach at ND. I don’t believe that for a second. They have everything they can want where they are, why would they leave.

If BK leaves or is fired, my fear is that ND will be back to having to hire the D/W/W type coaches, hoping or a miracle that never comes.

My true fear is if ND fails under BK, that ND will become like Northwestern or Colgate, that we will be reduced to becoming that. I want ND to win, but by keeping it’s priorities in order.

Let’s say you’re right, Damian. Then let’s just say ND should stop pretending it plays elite football and just join the Ivy League. But, oh, wait, Damian, then ND would lose that nice big fat NBC check. So much for integrity, I guess.

Shit or get off the pot, Damian. ND football either needs to go back to the future, and relax some of its high-handededness like it did under Lou, or just schedule Colgate, Lehigh, Lafayette, etc.

I wonder if some ND fans want to win. I agree not all costs. But I wonder if some ND fans care about winning at all or are happy with being lovable losers.

Meant to say sell-out above.

ND did not sell-out under Ara or Lou.

Thanks for the backup Rob, I agree as well.

Remember when BK was supposed to take ND’s O into the next millennium? Whatever happened to that?! I guess BK’s schematic advantage is no better than CW’s back in the day. BVG is BK’s John Tenuta!

SFR and Zippy,

I follow the Irish for 2 reasons. One I went to one of their sister schools, King’s College, so it’s the only FCS school I have any ties to.

The second is I’ve always taken pride that ND has always first been an institute of learning. They graduate more of their players then most other FCS teams. That is impressive.

And I will stick to my guns and continue to be a fan of ND football and basketball as long as they keep their priorities in order. That is a must for me. Give that up, and that’ll be it for me. I see no need to follow what would essentially be a minor league NFL team.

Damian,

Rather than telling Zippy to go cheer for Bama or FSU, why don’t you go root for Colgate or Lehigh? I hear that they really have great students there too.

With all the stupid errors and penalties, I don’t think you have plan argument on discipline.

AND the university ( “Catholic” ) did have Obama come speak, so I wouldn’t say priorities are all that aligned either

Damn that sucks. I understand why BK punted on 4th and 7. The defense has to make a stop and ultimately they failed.

Zippy, maybe you should follow another team. If you want an NFL factory, you have Alabama, Florida State, LSU and how many others. I mean, most ND fans are proud of the fact that we still field an above average team (not elite, but top 25 level) and do it stressing academics and discipline. If all you want are NC’s, if that’s all that makes you happy you’re following the wrong team.

Frankly, while it will never happen, if ND were to decide to become a mini NFL team, a la Florida State or Alabama, where football was more important than being an institution of learning, I’d stop watching. I’m already a fan of an NFL team, I don’t need another.

For all the frustrations I have as an Irish fan, ND does have its priorities straight.

Seven-game home winning streak. How impressive! The NBC announcers make it sound like that’s some kind of accomplishment. Ridiculous!

Zippy,

Guys like Damian are idealists. Ideals are great. ND needs to join the Ivy League. That’ll make Damian happy. I’m not saying ND can win the Ivy League title. But they can at least keep up with Columbia and Cornell.

Nice try, Irish!

Another moral victory anyone?

ND under BK champs of moral victories! Yeah, baby, moral victory!

Guess I shouldn’t have changed back, that was an ugky 3rd down and 2 play

Does Kizer have another miracle comeback in store for us? Can the Defense get one more stop?

Thank your prevent D MSU!

Going to h stanford game this year, I dont plan on staying much past halftime if this is the same product that shows up.

You know things are bad if I’m posting on here. Michigan State owns us tonight. I had a bad feeling about our defense. All the pundits were saying how well they did against Nevada and how they turned a corner. IT WAS NEVADA. I mean you defense would probably have to work hard to stink against Nevada this year. I figured ND would stop Nevada. But it’s not fixed. Sure they can stop an inferior team.

I have to say I’m deeply concerned. Firing BVG now does no good. Either way this year is a wash for defense.

Offense is a disappointment tonight. Now I’m not panicking yet in that case. ND does have some great offensive coaches, and if the defense were capable of making some stops, the offense is good enough to get the Irish back in the game (though it’s probably too late now). No doubt the offense is having an off night, and that’s where the defense needs to step up.

My faith in BK is a bit shaken as well, and that concerns me more than anything. Because, BECAUSE, my gut feeling is if BK were to fail, and I’ve said this many times, that’s it for any chance ND has to be an elite presence in CFB. Right now Saban, Meyer, and probably Fisher own CFB right now. And those coaches will never come to ND. You can dream it, hope it, pray for it, but it will never happen. They can have anything they want right where they are at, no questions asked, and without all the academic and discipline that is required at ND (both things I do support–college football is played at colleges, and no matter what, should take precedence over everything else, even if it means ND never wins a championship again).

So in short, if they can’t become elite with BK, I really believe ND fans will likely have to face the fact that we will have to settle for above average teams. Most years we will finish in the top 25, beat a few good teams but come up short against elite teams. That’s not being negative. That’s just facing reality. I keep thinking maybe next year, but we’re running out of next years. BK is a clear improvement over D/W/W, but is that enough. Time is running out.

Thank God, Dantonio decided to take his foot of the accelerator.

Bet you he regrets that! But let’s see what he does now.

the freshman qb should play maybe he can remember Joe Montana

Jenkins must be blind.
Bvg is a joke
Bk is a joke
Swarbrick is a joke
782 points in two seasons and three games
Now that is a defense

Glad to hear they are playing well since I changed channels.

Are they folding like a cheap tent?

Maybe we can run the ball up the middle on 1st and 2nd down next series. I love 3rd and longs

I’m a masochist, Zippy. I want to see how bad this gets.

Plus we’re seeing the demise of BK. He’ll stick around for a while since ND doesn’t want to make another Weis mistake.

Welcome to the era of mediocrity.

Can’t win with 3 star recruits and Rhode scholars.

MSU O line is for real.

ND O line is a myth. Like, flying pink unicorns.

Game, Set, Match!

I wonder if BVG can learn something about coaching D from MSU?!

Miami, USC, too.

This is a bad team. Poorly coached.

Did someone here actually say they were disappointed ND wasn’t playing Louisville?! Louisville would score 100 on this team. Perhaps they were being sarcastic.

Zippy, the usual delusional crowd has gone under cover since the Texas game.

Zippy,

Welcome to ND football under BK.

Remember when he was hailed as an O guru?! Makes you wonder.

This is very sad.

Where are the delusional, blind-ass fans?

ND national champs of stupid penalties! Just a poorly coached team. Plain and simple. No guts; no discipline!

Is that a Vizio 70″ flat screen Notre Dame is using as a scoreboard. Wonder if Costco cut them a deal since they bought two.

Change/relax the academic standards, that will help.

Lets face it this Michigan State team isnt as talented as last years team. The Notre Dame defense always seems to play well against the Spartans. No not really its an illusion.

Instead of yelling at #80 he should have asked for a review.! I didn’t see any contact on the review. Then he should have called a timeout. A cool dude he ain’t. Cost us 8 pts. Defense looks better tonight but kelly?

Poorly coached team. Mistakes in all 3 phases of the game.

Would like to see some pressure on the quarterback, also some fundamental tackling by our secondary. Oh well.