Integrity in sports has really become an extinct dinosaur. Few organizations have it and even fewer choose to practice it even if they do “have” it. Bob Knight called it like we see it. "We've gotten into this situation where integrity is really lacking and that's why I'm glad I'm not coaching," he said. "You see we've got a coach at Kentucky (John Calipari), who put two schools on probation and he's still coaching. I really don't understand that.”
In college basketball, violations mean jack to a coach in transition. So if you’re moving on, c’est la vie NCAA sanctions. Even in college football you read about players being bribed to go to Mega U with job opportunities for their parents, cash arrangements and houses, and sometimes even grades.
In an age where agents have flooded the hallways of our local high schools and college coaches are analyzing youth sports, the importance of honesty and integrity was abandoned as soon as it became a “handicap”--that is, it became harder to maintain and usually meant losing out on the superior recruit. So maintaining integrity is seemingly a hindrance.
With that being said, what can be done? Should the NCAA regulate the one-&-done-r’s? Should the stipulations set forth to inhibit high school athletes from turning pro be abandoned all together? Stay tuned with Domer Domain as we discuss possible solutions to even the playing ground across the nation…and I’m not talking the relaxation of academic standards.
Excellence comes from achieving. Achieving comes from winning. Winning comes from not losing. And not losing comes from hard work. All these things pretty much sum up our new coach, Brian Kelly. Against all odds, against all talent disparities, and against teams who have feasted on Notre Dame-- fattening up with the insignificance that’s clouded over our little windy city; Brian Kelly has succeeded. Some players were his, some were somebody else’s, and some just showed up in the morning, but all were coached and showed how to succeed without all of the bullshit/acceptances of mediocrity.
Every stop the Kelly train has stopped at has won. His players played with execution, they played with focus--all strings, and they played with heart. You can never underestimate the importance of prior experience. His experience only further cements the reasons for his hiring. They always say that the team shows the temperament of their coach which is exactly what Notre Dame is used to.
You want fire and passion? See the Lou Holtz days. You want a team who makes bone-headed decisions? See the Davie years. You want a head scratcher team? See the golfer. You want an offensive team? See Charlie. But Brian brings more of the old, you know the good old? You want to see overcoming obstacles? You want to see great execution? Or are you more of a solid, defensive type? Brian Kelly showed that last year, with his undermanned defense, playing great coverage was a staple. Hmm…imagine Notre Dame with a defense. Offense is something you shouldn’t worry about here either. If you want all these things, then look forward to Notre Dame’s future. It’s all that and more--the number one of combo meals.
