Coach Kelly to BCS: Ignore us at your own risk

[Green Goblin 114]

Looks like Coach Kelly is starting to play hardball with the BCS and threatening to throw ND's weight around....

 

"I would tell our players that everything that was within their control, they handled and that they're champions because of it. A pollster or computer rankings really can't diminish what you've accomplished," Kelly said Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press. "I can tell you this: The ring will still be as big. Now, we may not have that crystal ball down there, but we'll have a lot of signage."

 

Translation: If we win out and we aren't in the title game, we'll declare ourselves champions. You can keep your crystal ball.

 

May not seem like much but believe me, the guys at the BCS are starting to sweat...

Edited November 15, 2012 by Green Goblin

[mcdougal93 0]

Looks like Coach Kelly is starting to play hardball with the BCS and threatening to throw ND's weight around....

 

 

 

Translation: If we win out and we aren't in the title game, we'll declare ourselves champions. You can keep your crystal ball.

 

May not seem like much but believe me, the guys at the BCS are starting to sweat...

 

sc did this in 2003 or 2004. The year LSU won BCS they also were "national champions". They had to vacate their wins due to the NCAA sanctions but some still recognize them as champions. The previous year auburn went undefeated and they finished second to sc also....so who knows.

[piratey 6]

My hope? Voters are holding off till USC. We go 12-0, Harris Poll voters will flock.

[piratey 6]

sc did this in 2003 or 2004. The year LSU won BCS they also were "national champions". They had to vacate their wins due to the NCAA sanctions but some still recognize them as champions. The previous year auburn went undefeated and they finished second to sc also....so who knows.

 

AP voted them NC, not so in Auburn's case though. Only way we can claim an AP title is to play Alabama and win the Sugar Bowl. THAT'S why the Rose Bowl would hurt us.

[moostache 0]

Its time for Notre Dame to reclaim the mantle of College Football leadership.

 

The sport is in a state of disgrace. Ohio State? Penn State? Miami? North Carolina? Oregon? USC? The entire SEC? All are either: ON PROBATION, UNDER INVESTIGATION, or SOON TO BE IN TROUBLE (AGAIN). There have been non-stop scandals and suspicions for YEARS. The "title" game last year was a rematch of a single conference division championship do-over...in other words, a complete joke.

 

Enter (or rather re-enter) Notre Dame.

 

Led by the most inspirational and mature player in college football in Manti Te'o and complimented by a core of defenders who could start on ANY other defense in the country, the Irish have played and beat all comers to date.

 

10 teams faced.

10 teams beaten.

 

Near (South Bend, Chicago) and Far (Dublin, Norman, Boston).

Rain (Stanford) or Shine (Purdue).

Hot (September) or Cold (This weekend).

 

Its been 19 years since the theft of the last National Title Notre Dame earned on the field.

Only a victory on Senior Day and then against the hated Trojans should stand in the way of playing for another title.

 

If a team beats:

Michigan State (A)

Michigan (H)

Miami (N)

Stanford (H)

Oklahoma (A)

USC (A)

 

and then finishes unbeaten in the process, while never playing a non-BCS level team, and gets excluded from the ESPN/SEC dog and pony show, then they SHOULD ignore the illegitimate and disgraced "championship" and celebrate the return of Notre Dame with a ring, a self-proclaimed title and all the signage that Notre Dame Stadium and NBC can handle.

 

And while we're at it, we should set the record straight for Alabama and start counting our championships the same way that they count their "14"....22 overall by that method of counting - and if the BCS freezes out a 12-0 Notre Dame team that finishes 13-0 with a bowl win, then we should simply add #23 to the list!

Edited November 15, 2012 by moostache

[cameroncrazy 0]

We just need to worry about ourselves and win, I really don't think K St will win out and Oregon doesn't have an easy path by any means.

[SanDiegoIrish 0]

http://i.imgur.com/7f5fN.png

[SanDiegoIrish 0]

This does add a layer of intrigue should the season end up that way. However, I'm not sure that we'd just up and declare ourselves champions. From the Notre Dame Football wikipedia page...

 

Notre Dame, however, is often credited with 13 in total. The 1938 and 1953 seasons are the reason for the discrepancy...As Notre Dame has a policy of only recognizing AP and Coaches Poll national championships post-1936, the school does not officially recognize the 1938 and 1953 national championships.

 

Seems like this would preclude us from hanging banners and minting rings declaring ourselves champions.

[tdnd81 2]

A ton can happen in the next few weeks.. But if ND wins out, I will print the tee shirts myself..

[cameroncrazy 0]

A ton can happen in the next few weeks.. But if ND wins out, I will print the tee shirts myself..

 

Send me one

[NYNDIRISH723 14]

If we win out, there is going to be a lot of pressure on the national media to put Notre Dame in the national championship game because frankly (and pardon my language but) who gives a shit about Kansas State and Oregon. That match up is simply not intriguing to the average fan. The second you add Notre Dame to the mix, national interest will skyrocket and the ratings will be through the roof. Kansas State and Oregon would arguably be one of the least exciting match ups in years to the average fan.

[NDhoosier 1,336]

My hope? Voters are holding off till USC. We go 12-0, Harris Poll voters will flock.

 

I think you may be right... Remember all the positive feedback after the OU win where no one thought ND would win. No one thinks ND will win at SC, if ND wins... voters will have nothing to hold against us.

[FaithInIrish Forever 5,573]

like I said in my amen's thread..

 

If ND is perfect, I have the right as a fan to Claim a NC, because the only thing that is not purely subjective is the computers.. I hope they get there so the University can Expose the BCS on a national level.

[chirodomer 47]

The question though is Will Kelly take a vote a boycott the BCS if we get screwed?

[corysold 0]

Kelly is a politician, he knows the drill. Can't say too much until you get to 12-0. A nugget here, a stat there.

 

Then, IF the team gets to 12-0, Kelly will go on a nationwide media tour if K State and Oregon haven't lost. Hell go on any show that will have him, ESPN, Dan Patrick, local radio, Dr. Phil, Oprah, Kelly and Micheal.

 

He'll get ND in the title game or die trying.

[jfschellcrna 11]

Beat wake and fusc first, then have this discussion.......there is a lot of football yet to play.............

[Irish9 0]

The discussion had to start now because after the fact will be to late. He has to start the process of putting the doubt in voters minds about K State and luring them. Yes we stol have to win but he had to start the process.

[corysold 0]

The discussion had to start now because after the fact will be to late. He has to start the process of putting the doubt in voters minds about K State and luring them. Yes we stol have to win but he had to start the process.

 

Exactly. You can't go ful bore yet because you aren't 12-0. But you have to start planting the seeds, otherwise it is too late.

 

There is only one week between ND possibly getting to 12-0 and the final vote. You can't start your campaign in that final week.

[isikorsky 0]

The chances for all 3 teams to go on undefeated in the regular season is slim, in my opinion. There are way too many good games left on the table ..

 

That being said - I think Coach Kelly is right on just saying let us win out our games and then we will talk about it. U$C is going to be a really tough game, especially against an opponent that has nothing to lose.

 

But hey - I live in Florida. I already have my hotel in Miami reserved (just in case)...

[2lakes 4]

I know that arguments have momentum. Heck, that's why ND is in this mess: because even tho ND really showed they were just as good as FSU in the bowl game last year, the coaches started with FSU ranked 7th, ND unranked, Oregon 5th, and KSU 22nd in the preseason AP poll.

 

Still, I do not want to waste one second of mental energy or anguish on this BCS situation. It is so hard, and so unusual, for a team to go undefeated that all of my hopes, thoughts, and well wishes are directed toward that accomplishment.

 

USC is going to be a tough, tough game. Remember how they handled us last year? Our players do. Our players will be extremely motivated, but they will also have a little of that concern in the backs of their mind. I believe they will overcome that uncertainty with the same poise they have all year; but we may also need our luck to continue, because USC not only gives out scholarships, they give about a third of them out to 5 star players. Also, ironically given what Kiffin said last year, this will be USC's superbowl and BCS bowl. Given their disappointing season, and especially if they lose to Oregon, their only chance for redemption will be the opportunity to beat us. And if they beat Oregon, beating ND then winning the PAC 12 might be enough to move them up to a big bowl.

 

Finally, Wake Forest is a huge win for us. It is the bowl that guarantees a BCS bid IMHO. We could still get kicked out of a BCS bowl if USC stomps us and a lot of other uncontrollable factors come into play, but the chances of all that happening are very slim. So a win this weekend means: we are undefeated at home, 90% chance we go to a BCS game, we get another week in the ever-brighter national spotlight, and the 2014 recruits at the game get to witness a win in person. Also, Manti, Tyler, and the other seniors get to go out in the style they deserve.

 

There is so much to hope for, to win for, and to achieve the next couple weeks. The BCS argument, in comparison, remains a secondary thought, a distant sun in a far off solar system. If ND wins out, and Oregon and KSU do too, then that controversy will explode with the intensity of a supernova. We will have plenty of time to enjoy ND's continued exposure in the national media by the light of that celestial phenomenon if and when it happens.

Edited November 15, 2012 by 2lakes

[irishrb 0]

As Rocket would say, just win baby. I agree with everyone that USC is going to be our toughest challenge. I will be quite curious to see how they handle UCLA this weekend.

[corysold 0]

I know that arguments have momentum. Heck, that's why ND is in this mess: because even tho ND really showed they were just as good as FSU in the bowl game last year, the coaches started with FSU ranked 7th, ND unranked, Oregon 5th, and KSU 22nd in the preseason AP poll.

 

Still, I do not want to waste one second of mental energy or anguish on this BCS situation. It is so hard, and so unusual, for a team to go undefeated that all of my hopes, thoughts, and well wishes are directed toward that accomplishment.

 

USC is going to be a tough, tough game. Remember how they handled us last year? Our players do. Our players will be extremely motivated, but they will also have a little of that concern in the backs of their mind. I believe they will overcome that uncertainty with the same poise they have all year; but we may also need our luck to continue, because USC not only gives out scholarships, they give about a third of them out to 5 star players. Also, ironically given what Kiffin said last year, this will be USC's superbowl and BCS bowl. Given their disappointing season, and especially if they lose to Oregon, their only chance for redemption will be the opportunity to beat us. And if they beat Oregon, beating ND then winning the PAC 12 might be enough to move them up to a big bowl.

 

Finally, Wake Forest is a huge win for us. It is the bowl that guarantees a BCS bid IMHO. We could still get kicked out of a BCS bowl if USC stomps us and a lot of other uncontrollable factors come into play, but the chances of all that happening are very slim. So a win this weekend means: we are undefeated at home, 90% chance we go to a BCS game, we get another week in the ever-brighter national spotlight, and the 2014 recruits at the game get to witness a win in person. Also, Manti, Tyler, and the other seniors get to go out in the style they deserve.

 

There is so much to hope for, to win for, and to achieve the next couple weeks. The BCS argument, in comparison, remains a secondary thought, a distant sun in a far off solar system. If ND wins out, and Oregon and KSU do too, then that controversy will explode with the intensity of a supernova. We will have plenty of time to enjoy ND's continued exposure in the national media by the light of that celestial phenomenon if and when it happens.

 

Right, but I see no reason you can't do both. It isn't like Kelly is openly campaigning at this point. He's subtly answering questions, starting to build his case. He's no putting the cart before the horse, burning bridges, demanding ND plays in the title game.

 

Of course ND could lose to Wake or USC. Of course they are going to need laser focus to go into LA and come out with a win.

 

While they might lose one or two, they might also lose zero. In that case, I want my coach building his case as soon as possible. I hate the idea that ND could go 12-0 and not play for a title. I'd hate it even more if I felt the coach didn't do everything he could to make it happen.

 

Do I like that football has become politics? No, no one does. But that is the way the game is played. 2/3rds of the outcome is based on humans. Humans can be persuaded. I want my coach trying to persuade them.

 

Now if it gets to the point where it is becoming a bigger issue than the team and Kelly is talking as though 12-0 is a foregone conclusion, then yes, that is a problem, but I don't think he is there yet.

[Tenacious_ND 0]

If ND wins out cant coach Kelly pull an Urban Meyer and whine on TV? it worked for him.. no?

[piratey 6]

If ND doesn't win the title? Imagine the outrage from our Canadian fans...

 

http://memeblender.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/biggest-protest-in-canadian-history.jpg

[JTennant 290]

I am pissed that the coaches who we beat this year have not voted us #1. I would think we would get some love from those guys. Only 1 first place vote is BS.

 

Hopefully they come around by the end of the year and Kiffy Kiff shows us some love if we beat the Trojans.