Lord Byron

Probability of ND winning or even playing well is considerably lower than ND losing by a considerable Margin. So I don't know how I feel having to listen to everyone berate ND for the next couple of months that they don't belong, etc. etc.. I feel that the constant berating to come will be worse than not making the playoffs. One intriguing point is ND will play the number one team twice in one season. Two different teams that is. How many other times has that happened? has anyone ever beaten two number ones in one season?

You know, I originally posted in the last line that I learnt I missed Lou. I deleted because I thought it was too corny.

The irony is that ND probably did as well as they did this year because of Brian Kelly, but they did as bad as they did in the ACC championship and will likely miss the playoffs because of Brain Kelly. I, for one, was not happy the way ND played against Syracuse. It was a dissatisfying 24 point victory. Syracuse outplayed ND the first 25 minutes and maintained intensity and will to compete throughout the game. Aside from a 10-15 minute stretch in the end of the 2nd to 3rd quarter, ND did not match Syracuse's intensity. ND allowed Syracuse to have two 100 yard rushers. Absurd. When you add the pre-game rhetoric that seemed to allude that Kelly was working on the assumption the ND was a playoff bound team no matter what, and that it was a given that championship game would be competitive, the outcome of the Clemson game was not surprising. Much like the entire 2016 season and Michigan game 2019, Kelly didn't seem to see this beatdown coming and have the team ready to play at the mental and emotional level that was needed. Even during the first three possessions when ND was moving the ball on Clemson, you could tell that Clemson's players and coaches were coaching and playing at an elevated intensity and focus that greatly surpassed ND. So in the end, I learnt that Kelly will produce some quality football seasons. But I should expect this type of performance from time to time for a Kelly coached team, and that ND will not win another national championship until we have a coach who refuses to allow players to take their foot of the accelerator.

First thought, that’s a nice gesture. Second thought, does ACC recieve more revenue for two teams being in the playoffs?

ND has a ball control offense predicated on run pass mix. After three trips in Clemson territory produced a measly 3 points and ND fell behind by 21, it’s a KO. At this point ND lost it’s unpredictability with playing calling. I Don’t believe there was much Rees could have done at this point. If ND capitalizes this on some of those early scoring opportunities I believe the outcome would been closer to the line, but no way we would have won. Clemson had us schemed and was playing with a lot more intensity top to bottom.

I agree. But I think Brey doesn’t like a large rotation. He likes to keep the rotation to 7, 8 max for continuity purposes. Which I can See that as an advantage. The problem with small rotations is injuries to role players basically ruin your season. You tend to not play aggressive defense because you can’t afford foul trouble. And, you are more prone to keep playing players that are playing poorly because you have no other options. That said, despite losing By by 10, ND played better today against Purdue. Effort was better and offense showed signs of potential. ND has no Inside presence and I cant See that problem going away anytime soon.

I’m with zemaniac. I think BK is prone to major wiffs. This was one. I didn’t pay attention to too much pregame talk, but what i did hear just didn’t feel right to me. It was almost like ND had false confidence that they were going to play well and in the playoffs. The psychology and mindset just seemed ripe for this. The fact if the matter is Clemson got see ND at their best, have weeks to prepare and get very key players back. By losing a game they might of should of won, if they didn’t run out of bounds late in the game, they also had a prime motivator to avenge a loss. ND had none of these advantageous. The team was just not prepared to Take the punch they got when things started going south. This on BK. I know People got on Lou Holtz for “exaggerating how ND never had a chance” but that I believe this would have been better mindset. If, and that’s a big if, ND is in, I dont Like our chances at all.

Something is amiss with this program. Recruiting? Coaching? I can't put my finger on it. The eyeball test tells me ND's players are not nearly as good as their rankings. ND is slow (we can't even play m2m), the don't play defense, and do not play with any intensity. ND has nobody that can get to the rim and create their shot. My criticism of Brey over the years is his teams are too finesse and always seem to be pacing themselves. There is no locked-in emotional urgency when they play, not until the last five minutes when they are losing by double digits. It is like I'm watching a bunch of guys roll into a summer league game from work. I don't know? I can say this. I like Brey. He is a good guy and great ambassador to ND. I'm Ok with him staying. But the program is underperforming and treading water. Even the win vs. Kentucky is a huge red flag. To blow that big of lead is sickening. the only thing worse than winning that game would have been a loss. They said last night that ND hasn't beaten a ranked opponent since Wichita State in Nov of 2017. IS this accurate? If it is wow. If this team doesn't get better quickly ND may not get that victory until next year at the earliest. The one thing that seems different over the last couple of years is ND has always had a decent big man to play the 5. We have not had a decent '5' since Zach August left.

I believe Book was Sanford’s recruit who was recruiting him at Boise St.

this may be worthy of its own thread but seems to work here. Little article on former irish QB Terry Hanratty bout with COVID. https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2020/04/ex-steelers-quarterback-says-covid-19-hit-him-hard-and-hes-in-no-rush-to-return-to-sports-stadiums.html

I am a college basketball fan and have fond memories growing up in the late 70s and early 80s watching college basketball at perhaps its highpoint. I believe the quality and fan connection to college bb started when players like Kemp and Garrnet passed up college for the NBA and were studs. It was around this point that NBA executive started drafting HS kids in droves because nobody wanted to miss the next big thing. In turn, more HS declared for NBA because more HS were getting drafted. So less talent was going to college. If I recall correct it was the NBA who implemented the one year rule. This rule seemed to be a safe guard for NBA teams more than anything else. That is by making these kids play at least one year in addition to high school that their talent could be better evaluated. IMO it was protecting dumb NBA scouts and executives. Over the last 15-20 years with the 1 and done rule in effect, many of the top tier players already have their foot out the door and really in school to showcase themselves first and foremost. Product has subsequently suffered. Coaches have two choices: go after the one-done kids every year or take Brey's route and recruit after kids you can develop. The last several years of college BB seem to be worse than ever. My feeling is its probably some of this is tied in with shoe company scandal. In any regard, I do agree with previous post that the NCAA should move to the same rule in baseball (go pro or you have to stay 3 years). I also kind of like coach K's idea of having a commissioner specific for college BB, but I'm not sure that would be needed if the sport ultimately resembled NCAA baseball. In which case it is inevitable that interest will not be as great.

certainly not saying he will change positions. But his athleticism could possibly lend itself to safety or rover if wr does not work out. His attributes seem close to tranquill’s a couple years back. https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/2014/drue-tranquill-26635

I pray I’m wrong but the formula on BW appears out. Load the box on obvious running downs and drop 7-8 or back in throwing downs with a spy. Towards the end of the year teams replicated this formula and BW was beyond bad. BW couldn’t even throw a 5 yard pass. How much mechanics are need to throw a 5 yard pass? The early reports out of camp are that this problem is not fixed. Unless we run more of an option I do not expect BW to be the QB for long. Again I’m rooting for BW and hope I’m wrong on this one. Here’s a link to Aikman disscusing QB accuracy issues on draft night. His point echoes my sentiment. http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-draft/0ap3000000928998/Aikman-Darnold-can-correct-accuracy-problems-Allen-may-not

I wasn’t that early for me. The real red flags for me came soon after when we beating teams by 20+ and wimbush was barely at 50% completion rate throwing very safe passes. I thought we were on borrowed time. There were a lot of drops but many more bad over throws. We need to move him to slot now similar to Braxton Miller osu. He is a great athlete. Terrible passing QB.

Tell me what Coach is going to fix wimbush? Who are these qb coach meastros? In game experience exposed wimbush’s weaknesses. It is foolish to think coaches have not been working on this. Everybody on this board saw wimbush pass. He is terrible. Who is going to fix that? Not to mention fix it at midpoint in the season. Once the blue print for us was identified: over commit on the run, spy wimbush, and play zone: it was over, because wimbush stares down receivers and can’t hit the broad side of a barn. You can’t even count on him to throw a screen pass. I agree The offense should have been adjusted to his skill. But this is not as easy as it sounds. Again you needed some games to see what you have. Are you going change offense after the season begins? Good luck with that. If we changed offense In preseason what happens if he gets hurt then what? Are backups going run the same offense? I’m usually not this opinionated but wimbush is terrible as a passer and there is no way he will be refined anytime soon. It’s time to move on. Book is a back up. He is not a long term answer. Whoever the qb is next year We will likely Take a step back next year but so be it. Watching wimbush will be more suffering. He will look amazing against inferior talent only then disappointment against good teams. And we again have to same chicken or egg debate. Kelly is responsible for somethings but when your qb can’t even throw a screen pass I see blaming the coach as a need to punish someone for our emotional frustration and Misdirected