Starts yelling at hot dog machines.
"Our Lady's University" or some combination of the two, you'd know that he was trolling this site.
“Look, Ara had blowouts too.”
I kid.
that 1NDchick, don’t like what I’m doing here they can kiss my purple ass!”
next year?
with a 1st year starter at QB? (I mean Ohio State or Alabama could, but ND?)
with so many new starters on the OLine?
With so few playmakers at WR?
With so few difference makers among our DB's?
Maybe I'm too much of a pessimist, but I think they've bungled any shot of getting back. At least in my lifetime.
In terms of national perception, I think we're regarded as as good as anyone outside of Bama, tOSU, or Clemson.
Our issues are mostly real at this point, and not perception. I actually like the identity we built this year. It's one we can recruit to and replicate year after year. To break through we need this recipe plus a WR that defenses actually have to account for (and we've had one every year under Kelly except this year, so it's not that odd), and a QB who is capable of stretching the defense.
Next year we'll likely need to go undefeated to go. In 2022, we could split with OSU and Clemson, so long as the loss is somewhat competitive.
In 2012 and 2018,we weren't close to competing with the big boys. We were this year. It's obnoxious it's taken this long, but we are actually close. The oline, our tight ends, and Kyren Williams are absolutely there.
They seem to be in the same boat as ND, getting blown out in the first half of playoff games by Clemson and Alabama (and LSU), and losing a nailbiter to Georgia. The date of their last national championship is much closer to 1998 than it is to 2021.
An undefeated ND team will make the playoff. A one-loss ND team in 2022/2023 would have an inside track on making the playoff, depending upon which team the loss is to and the nature thereof.
A one loss ND team should not get in for a very long time. This year was unusual because of Covid and truncated schedules for so many teams.
09/05 @ Florida St. WIN
09/11 Toledo WIN
09/18 Purdue WIN
09/25 VS Wisconsin (Soldier Field) MAYBE
10/02 Cincinnati MAYBE
10/09 @ Virginia Tech MAYBE
10/23 S. Cal MAYBE
10/30 North Carolina MAYBE
11/06 Navy WIN
11/13 @ Virginia WIN
11/20 Georgia Tech WIN
11/27 @ Stanford WIN
It's a pretty weak schedule, IMO.
Next year all of USC, Va Tech, Miami and Wisconsin will likely be ranked, along with 1 other team as well.
If ND goes 11-1 they will have a strong shot at the playoffs depending on how things shake out.
Take a look around the country at other teams schedules. ND almost always has a harder schedule than most.
I am not convinced that Wiscy, USC, or VT (?) will be good next year. If 5 of those teams are ranked, they will be ranked 10 - 25.
Cincy might be the best team we face.
One-loss teams make the playoffs when they beat Top-5 teams. That isn't going to happen next year.
over another qualified 1-loss team.
Look at the schedule in 2022 and 2023.
A one loss ND team can make the playoff if it plays OSU, Clemson, UNC, & USC and beats three of the four.
I don't think he's coaching is he? I thought he was a startup/VC guy in the Bay area. I saw his name thrown around a few weeks ago when the Lea-to-Vanderbilt story first broke and assumed it was sarcasm because of Kelly's bullshit hiring strategy. Of course, not being in the profession probably isn't a deal breaker for Kelly.
The stars are really going to align.