Eric Murtaugh of ONE FOOT DOWN has a terrific post today June 7th “30 Defining Moments” highlighting the great Golden Tate. Excellent–shows also why Golden was a 1st team All American. Also just look at Jimmy Clausen’s pin point passing–in my book Jimmy was as good as any ND QB.
Just imagine what Kelly’s 1st team would have looked like if Jimmy and Golden stayed–my bet National Champs. Play clip over and Jesus Christ look at our current QB’s.
Wish BC #40 Kuechley played for us–he wanted to come to ND–can you imagine ILB’s Teo & Kuechley.
Losing Gray a big big hit, field position and flu had big impact. I thought team always got flu shots–at least they used to.
ND fans really need to back off on Rees–what’s he supposed to tell Kelly-“play some other guy”
ND spoiled by a once in every 25 yrs QB–Çlaussen and can’t get it thru there heads no QB on team now is anywhere near Jimmy.
Knock off Stanford in prime time and win Bowl game–turn the defense loose.
Big arm 5 star recruit and heir to Clausen under the guidance of Charlie Weis. Perfect for the Pro system run by Weis.
Redshirt year and knee injury in Weis final year.
In comes Kelly (at this point Dayne should have left–think Mallett at Michigan).
But Dayne all in for ND and was in fact the leader of this team–respected and liked by his team mates.
He had to rehab knee and at same time learn the spread–limited in Spring practice but recovered to start the season.
Scary head injury, vision loss and finally the next knee injury–so Rees thrown in to finish the season.
Interjection here—Think back to Kelly year 1. Did not matter if spread was new square pegs in round holes. Crist had to learn and run the spread in warp speed with only 6 months to grasp the system.
Sideline behavior of Kelly re Crist was unbelievable and uncalled for. Kelly shattered Crist’s confidence. The last thing a QB needs is a head coach screaming at him every time he saw him. If Weis knew anything he knew how to handle and coach up QB’s. Just go back as to how he handled Clausen and all the mistakes he made–he did not see a raving lunatic when he came off the field.
2011 Fall Practice Crist wins job but gets yanked after 1/2 of game and relegated to bench until USC game and fumbled snap.
Contrast the treatment afforded Rees–he can make all the turnovers he wants –you don’t see Kelly screaming at him. You also do not see the uptempo warp speed spread that Crist was expected to run–this is just the old shotgun offense.
So Rees is the QB with the complete inability to go deep–run the ball and short passes will carry the day. Except when defenses dare him–see Pitt and USC games. You have maybe the best receiver Floyd that was completely shut down in the USC game while ND let Woods run all over the place–maybe a time out when Lo Wood lines up to cover Woods would have been appropriate–huh coach. No not really Motta got hurt??? Does anyone think Motta could have covered Woods.
Another interjection–Andrew Hendrix, in system for 1 1/2 years but has limited grasp of offense-needs more time but Crist given no such luxury–he had 6 months along with bad knee to get this down pat. Hendrix is in Pre Med but can’t learn this system–huh.
Over the blogs lot of wailing about no one stepping up as a leader–players not stupid they all saw what happened to Crist–maybe behind the scenes he stood up to Kelly.
The whole point of this article is Crist not really given a chance to succeed while he might have been able to work thru his problems and if he succeeded we would have him for next season.
We’ll stumble thru next 4 games but without the deep ball threat Stanford will destroy us.
Don’t be surprised if Crist starts for Florida next year.
The Bowl Games and ND’s placing will not occur until later today. But just take a moment to consider where we would be playing if the following had transpired:
This was the year Weis was building for and his great recruiting would pay off. He snake bit himself by ignoring the defensive situation.
So adding Kelly and keeping all of the above I believe we would be playing in the NC game and winning.
Imagine Jimmy running this offense with Golden, Floyd and Rudolph all healthy and playing. WOW
If ever a guy was star crossed it’s Dayne. Came to ND to study under Weis and knew he would have to sit and backup Claussen.
He did all that, got injured. Weis leaves and Kelly comes in–square peg in round hole.
Thanks for all you have contributed on and off the field– You are truly a ND man.
Good Luck in your recovery.
“Coaching is nothing more than eliminating mistakes before you get fired.” Lou Holtz
In this absolutely must win game, Tulsa racked up over 200 yds. rushing and close to 200 yds. passing–that kid’s is 400 yds. You can’t win giving up those numbers week in and week out. ND on the other hand ran for about 120 yds. and over 300 in the air.
The ND sideline is starting to resemble visitors from the surrounding hospital wards.
If you watched the game their is little to say. But I will do my best:
Final words–It will take a miracle for ND to win next 3 games.
Predicted final record
4 Wins 8 Losses