Kelly's Comment

[connor_in]

Heh. Some are, just telling him that it is suppose to motivate them. Others however are taking the other route.

I too am at work and shouldn't be on here and they block twitter....any examples for those of us twitter-less?

 

[IrishSteelhead]

I understand what your saying, but he has to have thicker skin than that, be a LEADER and help the coach, not be a mommy type with juice and band-aids.

BINGO!!!! Some of these guys just proved CBK's entire point by going on Twitter and showing their softer side.

 

[BobD]

Apologize for what, its true?

I know and agree, but it appears that some of us around here can't just rub some mud on it, and get back in the game.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

I know and agree, but it appears that some of us around here can't just rub some mud on it, and get back in the game.

"But these guys have (insert kool-aid comment)!"

It's a shame these guys don't realize the appropriate response to said comments is, "No, you really haven't."

 

[Pachuco]

BINGO!!!! Some of these guys just proved CBK's entire point by going on Twitter and showing their softer side.

BOOM. This ^

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

I too am at work and shouldn't be on here and they block twitter....any examples for those of us twitter-less?

Most of this is really from one guy

"@KyleRudolph82 @trobinson78 You would have. Big contributor at ND bro. Oh wait, Eifert is already better than your bitch ***"

"@trobinson78 How was the game against USC? Oh thats right. You guys played like pussies. Kelly needs to weed out the virus."

"@trobinson78 how about you quit bitchin and win some damn football games all Weis's recruits do is lose anyways. #yeahwecantell"

"@MTeo_5 Don't forget to dream about how to tackle. BRO."

"Kelly is right. You guys play like pussies @MTeo_5 @dflem45 @RobJob293 @Carlo44Cal @KLM_89 @Freeky_Zeeky17 @stadium20status @J_Slaughter26"

 

[Pachuco]

Kelly knows his *** is on the line every time they lose, which includes his staff and his players as well. "Throwing his players under the bus" to protect his job or his reputation isn't a tactic that an experienced head coach would use. He needs to win. If this means lighting a match under his team, he probably figures he doesn't have much to lose if it ignites his best players to play like winners. If the team wasn't already crawling out from under the bus, Kelly made sure they know that this one is supposed to hurt more. It has to feel worse when it's self-inflicted. If it doesn't and you try to brush it over, you won't learn. At that point, it doesn't matter if your opponent beats you. You're already beat. Kelly knows what the eff he is doing. Hopefully, the players respond accordingly.

 

[tko]

i really feel sorry for the players. these coaches are so hard on them.

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

Anybody else find it borderline comical that these guys have gotten their asses kicked for 3 years by the likes of Tulsa, Navy, South Florida, Pittsburgh, Connecticut, and the worst Michigan teams in quite some time and have NEVER gotten pissed off or showed backbone. Now their coach makes one statement they dont like, which was TRUE anyhow, and they are ready to fight.

 

[rocket66]

Anybody else find it borderline comical that these guys have gotten their asses kicked for 3 years by the likes of Tulsa, Navy, South Florida, Pittsburgh, Connecticut, and the worst Michigan teams in quite some time and have NEVER gotten pissed off or showed backbone. Now their coach makes one statement they dont like, which was TRUE anyhow, and they are ready to fight.

Haha. So true.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Good post on another board, although as I am sure Whiskey will point out, his ROI numbers are way off:

It is pretty clear that Kelly isn't taking the party line of "I'm the coach, I'm to blame." I think he did that all last year, his tone has changed now, I've been here a while they are now responsible.

Judging by this thread that bothers some board members. Somehow when a routine error occurs, like a fumbled snap, it is always the coaches fault. Coach Kelly is demanding these guys to man up and be accountable, I personally find it refreshing. I'm tired of the PC crap, it hasn't worked at ND. It didn't work for Bob Davie, Ty Willingham and CW. ND scholarship players receive a free education worth in my opinion $50,000 to $70,000 a year, so for four years they will probably walk away with a free education worth $200,000 to $280,000, and a degree from one of the greatest universities on the planet.

Kelly is trying to cure a culture at ND, a culture of under achieving on the field and a sense of entitlement off. Some on this board want everything to "stay the same", "say the same thing" how has that worked out for us the last 23 years?

The minute this real Coach wants to change something you complain. Imagine that, he called out some players, maybe he should, I'm guessing he knows more about them than we do ya think?

Definition of insanity,do the same thing over and over and expect different results.

Here is the only tradition I want back, WINNING. As long as Kelly does nothing to tarnish ND's name, I really don't care how he does it. That includes calling out players blessed enough by God to play for Our Lady.

 

[CarrollVermin]

I went back and listened to what he said. I don't see that big of a problem with it. He recruited one class...got the type of player that he felt fit best to his culture and his system.

He inherited a group of players who are coming along with his system. Like Te'o4Heisman said, look at their track record...look at the quality victories...have they played with the "toughness" that Kelly is looking for...have they played to the potential with which they were recruited. This is not our debate...and ultimately it is Kelly's call to make.

That being said it is all part of changing the culture, adding accountability, and moving forward.

 

[AvesEvo]

I don't know what I think on the issue, but could Kelly have said this because he doesn't know what the answer is and is passing the buck to the players by saying that it isn't his fault that they aren't winning, it is their fault.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

I don't know what I think on the issue, but could Kelly have said this because he doesn't know what the answer is and is passing the buck to the players by saying that it isn't his fault that they aren't winning, it is their fault.

It's like a younger sibling that always screws up. You feel the need to "cover for him," but after doing this countless times, you reach a breaking point where he is on his own. Kelly isn't throwing anyone under the bus, he is simply teaching these cubs how to hunt for themselves, because at the next level (life or football) people don't cover for you.

 

[nd1]

i love the fire that coach shows. It shows he wants to win and be better than they have been. I am sorry and some of you may not agree but the upper classmen are soft and play with no fire (besides teo and smith to a degree). We are always out of position and over persue on d alot and that has to do with knowing where you are surposed to be and being there and doing your job. we need someone to step up and be the leaders of this team and make the other players accountable for not doing what they are surposed to do. sometimes it means alittle more coming from one of your fellow players and not the coaching staff.

 

[koonja]

If there was as much media back in the day, I wonder how many great coaches some of you would call 'out of line'. We might all think less of Lou, Schembechler, Rockne, Bryant, etc. Fortunately, those guys didn't have to deal with 10 interviews a day and had little chance of 'slipping up'.

 

[WhoDeyIrish]

If there was as much media back in the day, I wonder how many great coaches some of you would call 'out of line'. We might all think less of Lou, Schembechler, Rockne, Bryant, etc. Fortunately, those guys didn't have to deal with 10 interviews a day and had little chance of 'slipping up'.

No doubt.

 

[tko]

i would've loved to have seen Lou on Twitter.

 

[PADOMERNUT]

i really feel sorry for the players. these coaches are so hard on them.

Seriously, these are men, they play big time college football. You have got to be kidding me on this statement.

 

[Irishnuke]

1000% behind Kelly on this. If Weis' recruits feel a little butt-hurt, so be it. If Manti goes pro and we don't have any 5th year seniors back, I won't be thrilled, but I'm fine with that too. Bring in more of Kelly's type of player. Charlie's recruits might have some flashy numbers but as a whole they accomplished NOTHING. They should be pissed though...with themselves.

 

[PADOMERNUT]

i would've loved to have seen Lou on Twitter.

Lou is on twitter.

 

[WhoDeyIrish]

Who are Kelly's sophomore guys? I know Heggie, Nichols I believe, Matt James (RIP). Who am I missing?

 

[Irishnuke]

Seriously, these are men, they play big time college football. You have got to be kidding me on this statement.

He is.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Who are Kelly's sophomore guys? I know Heggie, Nichols I believe, Matt James (RIP). Who am I missing?

EDIT: ahh I c, you just wanna know the guys Kelly impacted. Good question.

TJ and Hendrix I believe. There are others I am sure.

 

[PADOMERNUT]

I dont understand what is wrong with his statement. Think about the mistakes that have been made this year. Game one, Jonas Gray, senior, fumble. Dayne Crist, senior, int in the end zone. Michigan, Cierre Wood, Junior, fumble. Gary Gray, senior, burnt numerous times.

The upperclassman are making too many mistakes. Mistakes you would think you would see from freshman. Yes, there are exceptions. Floyd is a beast. Wood has had mostly a great year. T'eo, Smith on D, great. But 4-3 IS UNACCEPTABLE FROM THIS TEAM, and NO ONE can argue that.

Why not light a fire. If it seperates this team but sets a solid foundation for future teams, I'll take it, b/c frankly, this season is already a disaster.

 

[Kak7304]

As fans, all we see is what Kelly said and the immediate player reaction on twitter. Kelly will be aware of the offense the players took to what he said and coach them up behind closed doors. If the players are still upset about this and it is detrimental, then they lack the toughness to play football. Mental toughness is just as important as physical toughness in this game and it's this intangible that has been lacking in the program that Kelly is trying to bring back using this interview as a motivational tool. He wants a tough team and this program has been soft (think Stanford game in 2009). We have made strides and will continue to toughen up under his guidance.

If a player can't stand the criticism (or yelling, but that's a different discussion) they won't make it in this game. Lou Holtz was mean and demanded toughness and it showed on the field. Aaron Taylor once stated how of all the big, nasty players in football, he was most scared of his 5'10, 160 lbs coach. Saban is a known hardass and made a player cry when he was with the Dolphins. I'd say both these guys were/are effective coaches. The reason our players are so upset is the culture shock of having a tough coach that is putting the fight back into Fighting Irish. A team's attitude reflects the coaching and frankly, I'd love to see ND start playing like a bunch of p***ed off Irishmen.

Irish Defense Needs Improvement to Return to Elite Level

In his terrific soon-to-be-released book on the Miami-Notre Dame rivalry of the 1980s, "Perfect Rivals," author Jeff Carroll recounts how in 1988 Chris Zorich played most every practice consumed by rage. During one August scrimmage Zorich (right) who perhaps not coincidentally graduated from the same south side Chicago high school that produced **** Butkus, would attempt to pick a fight with a different teammate after every down. Finally, according to then-coach Lou Holtz, Zorich found someone who was willing to fight him.

"Me," said Holtz. "I grabbed his facemask and told him that if he were going to take on anyone out here, it would be me."

 

[Irishnuke]

Who are Kelly's sophomore guys? I know Heggie, Nichols I believe, Matt James (RIP). Who am I missing?

Also have to remember he didn't have time to recruit an entire class. 2011 was his first full recruiting season.

 

[WhoDeyIrish]

Louis Nix
Bennet Jax
Lo Wood
Zach Martin
Shembo
Spond
Collinsworth
Hendrix
Rees
TJ
Lombard
Moore
Nichols
Roberson
Swenke
D. Smith
Utopo
Welch

I'm saying specifically, when Kelly got here, which players committed after he was hired. I know all of these players "committed" to Kelly by reassuring their commitments but which players specifically committed after he was hired.

 

[WhoDeyIrish]

Also have to remember he didn't have time to recruit an entire class. 2011 was his first full recruiting season.

I know that I'm just trying to figure out which Kelly players committed specifically to him after he was hired.

 

[PADOMERNUT]

He is.

Well my bad then. Didnt sense the sarcasm