What is an acceptable record in 2012?

[chyrspchuck]

A buddy and me were talking last night and trying to decide what record is acceptable for the new year. I think 10-2 and make a bowl is excellent while I would probably be ok with 9-3, before the bowl, that would mean Kelly has improved 1 game every year for 3 in a row. Just my opinion. Anyone else?

 

[returnofthemack]

Personally, I'd be OK with 9-3 as long as we beat scUM. If we lose to them, only 11-1 will appease me haha

 

[IrishLax]

7-5

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

It's a tricky year with a pretty tough schedule and a need for development at crucial positions.

I'd be happy with 9-3 or even 8-4 again. 2013 is when Kelly must go BCS or feel the hot seat.

 

[magogian]

Depends on what QBs for our opponents go the NFL. If the QBs for Okla and USC go to the NFL this year (plus Luck), then I say 9 and 3. If either of them stay back, then 8 and 4.

 

[jason_h537]

The team should have been a 2 loss team this year. If they do any worse than 8-4 than I will have questions. Yes the schedule is tough and they are losing key guys but there is still talent on the team.

 

[notredomer23]

I will be happy with 9-3 or better, at this point I don't wanna see regression. The only with I would accept less is if both T'eo and Eiffert bolt, but I don't think either will.

 

[JoeyGetherall]

I think 8-4 is realistic again because of the schedule. If we go 9-3 I will be happy and will be very excited for a BCS game in 2013.

 

[phillyirish]

13-0 or Kelly's head

 

[Chicago Irish Fan]

I'd take 8 wins next year. Our secondary is probably going to be awful next year, we will most likely be breaking in a new starting quarterback, and we will still be lacking elite speed out of our linebackers. My fellow Irish fans, you're going to need to be patient because 2012 is not the year we become an elite team.

 

[PatsandBostonfan1975]

A nervous 8-4.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

You know me bro, sippin that Kool Aid. I don't get how 8-4 would be ok. I think too many are looking at the names on the schedule and not the performance of those teams on the field.

This team showed this year that we don't get blown out anymore. While USC and Stanford "manhandled" us, we were a yard away from the USC game being completely different, and a 1st and goal at the 5 last night from that game perhaps being a bit more of a dogfight. And that was with absolutely abhorrent secondary play against two top-10 draft pick QBs.

Elite coaches have to find a way to overcome their deficiencies. Next year we will have many question marks, but a whole lot of talent. Luck will be gone, Barkley and Jones may be gone. Do we really chalk those games up as L's without those QB's?

Undefeated at home and a road win over U$C or Oklahoma needs to be a logical progression for this team. 10-2 should be a realistic expectation.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

USC and Oklahoma will both be losses, but we need to beat Michigan. That is a must.

 

[NDOM]

Have you seen the schedule? 7-5 would be acceptable and is probable. With a bowl win. We aren't going to be much better next year with the schedule and minus Floyd, Te'o, Hayseed, Trob and most likely Eifert too.

Next year = this year.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Depends. Do we see a clear starter established at QB? Do we have answers for Manti and Eifert when they leave (if they even stick around that long). Is our line stronger? etc..

What I'm trying to say is this: if next year is a set up year, I don't mind (3-5) losses and a mid-tear bowl. Don't love em, but they'd be something I can live with. But if we lean heavily on players who will be leaving and have serious question marks for the future, then it's got to be a 2 loss or under season.

 

[GreatGolson]

15-0. thats not a typo, this is notre dame dammit!

 

[IrishAlum1997]

Have you seen the schedule? 7-5 would be acceptable and is probable. With a bowl win. We aren't going to be much better next year with the schedule and minus Floyd, Te'o, Hayseed, Trob and most likely Eifert too.

Next year = this year.

Navy, Purdue, MSU (less Cousins), scUM, Miami, Stanford (less Luck), BYU, Oklahoma (less Broyles and potentially Jones), Pittsburgh, BC, Wake Forest, USC (potentially less Barkley)

Yup. Seen the schedule. I'll be bookmarking your 7-5 post. Don't know how that would not be seen as a monumental disappointment. Can't wait for the year your drivel actually becomes laughable. Then we'll get you and Mark May a room and you can hug it out.

 

[kmoose]

I care less about the record than I do about seeing improvement on the field.

 

[Grahambo]

Really depends on the circumstances to be honest. We should be 10-2 this season, arguably 11-1 (depends on how see the USC game). We lose a lot of experience next year though. Maybe that's not as bad as it sounds because those guys with the experience, really have had a mediocre career at ND.

Playing the spread with a QB that can not run and a backup QB who tore each ACL in consecutive years is tough. We picked up in the trenches recruiting wise last season and are hitting speed this recruiting season so I personally feel 9-3 or 10-2 is achievable.

 

[NDOM]

Navy, Purdue, MSU (less Cousins), scUM, Miami, Stanford (less Luck), BYU, Oklahoma (less Broyles and potentially Jones), Pittsburgh, BC, Wake Forest, USC (potentially less Barkley)

Yup. Seen the schedule. I'll be bookmarking your 7-5 post. Don't know how that would not be seen as a monumental disappointment. Can't wait for the year your drivel actually becomes laughable. Then we'll get you and Mark May a room and you can hug it out.

Yeah I'm pretty sure you said that this year too when I said we would go 8-4.

Michigan with Robinson will beat us yet again, We beat Navy and Purdont, Michigan State is on the road and we have lost our last 7 of 9 there, Miami will be tough as hell, Stanford could be a toss up but still have tons of talent, Oklahoma will smoke us, and we beat Pitt, Wake, and BC by the skins of our teeth, and Usc has our number whoever their qb is soooooooo yeah I'm still going with a 7-5 regular season record so go ahead and mark that down in your little black book if you have to.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

Yeah I'm pretty sure you said that this year too when I said we would go 8-4.

Michigan with Robinson will beat us yet again, We beat Navy and Purdont, Michigan State is on the road and we have lost our last 7 of 9 there, Miami will be tough as hell, Stanford could be a toss up but still have tons of talent, Oklahoma will smoke us, and we beat Pitt, Wake, and BC by the skins of our teeth, and Usc has our number whoever their qb is soooooooo yeah I'm still going with a 7-5 regular season record so go ahead and mark that down in your little black book if you have to.

No, I didn't. Feel free to look, though. Back to your weed.

 

[NDOM]

No, I didn't. Feel free to look, though. Back to your weed.

Wait, WHAT? Down with dope, up with hope!

 

[Green Goblin]

I'd be fine with 2 and 10 if the 2 is Michigan and USC. Especially Michigan, no way can we lose to them again...especially after this year.....

 

[Green Goblin]

I actually think we can beat Oklahoma. They lose their star QB as well...

We should compete pretty well against Oklahoma, USC and Stanford next year. The one I'm most worried about is Michigan. They're the only ones returning a QB....

 

[IrishLax]

Vegas is going to set the line at 7 or 7.5 so.... I really think anyone predicting more than ~8 wins is either:

A) Delusional about how much talent we will be losing and trying to replace.
B) Delusional about how tough our schedule should be.
C) Expecting a Charlie Weis esque miracle where we come out with a new super-effective offensive look and all of our competition that was supposed to be really tough turns out to have bad years.

I think big factors in our season will be if Matt Barkley leaves, how much Oklahoma is down, and whether Miami gets their **** together or continues to play at the level they're currently playing at. I absolutely expect us to win our first 4 games as MSU replaces Cousins. We very well might lose to either Michigan or Michigan State though. Then Miami, Stanford, BYU, Oklahoma are all wildcards... I expect us to lose 3 of 4. Then we should win 2 of 3 against BC, Pitt and Wake before losing to USC.

So if we drop a game to either Michigan team... 7 wins is the likely scenario. If we beat both Michigan teams... 8 wins is the likely scenario. 9+ will take some improbability.

 

[NDMontana]

7-5, period. Next year will be the first time that a vast majority of Kelly's recruits hit the field. It's going to be very difficult to replace Floyd but I will say having a mobile quarterback, be it Hendrix or Golson, will help offset that loss. In college football, there are very few Matt Barkleys--even Andrew Luck and Stanford rely on a strong running game, or at least a running game you have to respect. There just aren't a lot of guys who go step back and straight chuck the ball. The best teams either have a power running game (Bama, LSU, Stanford) or have a QB that can run (Oregon, Auburn last year). ND was at their best when they had Jonas Gray to pound the ball...without Gray Rees's limitations were magnified and completely exposed. Don't expect Kelly to stick with him in 2012 though we might see him in the bowl game. I think Kelly wanted to win this year just as much as we all wanted him to but he still thinking about program building--not win now at all costs.

Again, I say 7-5 is likely but 9-3 would be nice, very nice.

 

[Irish4Life09]

To be honest with everyone...I dont see where everyone thinks next year is going to be insanely difficult.
There is absolutely no question we should start the season 2-0.
Michigan St. and Michigan are both VERY winnable. Possible 4-0.
Miami is basically a home-game and they're gonna be weak. Possible 5-0.
Stanford without Andrew Luck is definitely winnable.Possible 6-0.
Not sure about BYU...they're usually a good team...but depending on how our team is looking at that point in the season,it's most likely a win. Possible 7-0.
Oklahoma is the kicker.Without Landry Jones that game is absolutely winnable....but even with him, if say for instance we have Hendrix starting for us and he is playing well, even with Jones we can still win that game...It's a tossup.Possible 8-0 or 7-1.
Pittsburgh is a definite win. Possible 9-0 or 8-1.
Boston College is always a tossup game no matter how good we are.I say we keep our streak against them going. Possible 10-0 or 9-1.
Wake Forest is a blowout win. Possible 11-0 or 10-1.
USC is a tossup at this point. If Barkley leaves it is highly in our favor, if he stays it's still a tossup. I think we win it.

Now...Yes, I am a ND homer.I will fully admit it. But I look at this schedule through clear eyes...I think we also keep Teo and Eifert, and that is a BIG reason why I see us doing well. I like Teo,but I still think he is a 2nd round prospect at the moment, and I think most analysts feel the same. One more year under Kelly and he's a possible top 1/2 of the 1st round pick. Eifert right now is 5th or 6th round...he's back no question.

There are many things that can happen in the meantime(injuries,scandals,poor play,etc.)...but I don't think there is any reason to be fearful of our schedule next season. I see a lot of people saying 7-5 or 8-4 t best...and if that happens I honestly think we should all be worried. At WORST we should be 9-3 next year.

Take it for what it is. An IRISH fan's biased homerism....but I fully believe it if we keep up the progress we've made.

GO IRISH!

 

[tommyIRISH23]

9-3. Teo and Eiffert won't leave. It all hinges on whether or not we have a QB step up. The defense should at the very least stay the same, and the offense, my feeling atleast, will improve with a more capable QB. Floyd leaving will hurt for sure, but someone will step up. It happens every year for every team. ND has a ton of young talent. Someone will step up to be a playmaker.

I don't think the schedule will be as tough as most are making it out to be.

Navy MSU Purdue will be 3 wins. (MSU is losing sooo much).

UM can go either way.

Miami stinks, and will continue to stink.

Stanford will be luck-less. But lets just say its a toss up.

ND will beat BYU.

Oklahoma is a probable Loss

Pitt/BC/WF are all more then beatable.

SC is a toss up with or without barkley.

So lets say ND beats UM. Loses is Okla/SC. And drops Pitt.

9-3 with that schedule is definetly manageable.

 

[NDOM]

To be honest with everyone...I dont see where everyone thinks next year is going to be insanely difficult.
There is absolutely no question we should start the season 2-0.
Michigan St. and Michigan are both VERY winnable. Possible 4-0.
Miami is basically a home-game and they're gonna be weak. Possible 5-0.
Stanford without Andrew Luck is definitely winnable.Possible 6-0.
Not sure about BYU...they're usually a good team...but depending on how our team is looking at that point in the season,it's most likely a win. Possible 7-0.
Oklahoma is the kicker.Without Landry Jones that game is absolutely winnable....but even with him, if say for instance we have Hendrix starting for us and he is playing well, even with Jones we can still win that game...It's a tossup.Possible 8-0 or 7-1.
Pittsburgh is a definite win. Possible 9-0 or 8-1.
Boston College is always a tossup game no matter how good we are.I say we keep our streak against them going. Possible 10-0 or 9-1.
Wake Forest is a blowout win. Possible 11-0 or 10-1.
USC is a tossup at this point. If Barkley leaves it is highly in our favor, if he stays it's still a tossup. I think we win it.

Now...Yes, I am a ND homer.I will fully admit it. But I look at this schedule through clear eyes...I think we also keep Teo and Eifert, and that is a BIG reason why I see us doing well. I like Teo,but I still think he is a 2nd round prospect at the moment, and I think most analysts feel the same. One more year under Kelly and he's a possible top 1/2 of the 1st round pick. Eifert right now is 5th or 6th round...he's back no question.

There are many things that can happen in the meantime(injuries,scandals,poor play,etc.)...but I don't think there is any reason to be fearful of our schedule next season. I see a lot of people saying 7-5 or 8-4 t best...and if that happens I honestly think we should all be worried. At WORST we should be 9-3 next year.

Take it for what it is. An IRISH fan's biased homerism....but I fully believe it if we keep up the progress we've made.

GO IRISH!

Notice how you say "Possible" win after most of your games? Well, i'm afraid to say that it's NOT possible with Notre Dame because we seem to always lose those "Possible" games. Sorry bud but by saying at worst we will be 9-3 next year with losing all or our talent and quarterback issues and poor fundamental football week after week, year after year. I don't see ANYTHING that points to us going 9-3 at worst. lol

 

[Sweetness34]

9-3 would be acceptable because the record would be better than the previous season.