Great post. That is the real question -- where is the player development when a 5th year converted walkon post serious injury can beat out all other MLBs.
Yes, where is
THE PLAYER development?
Let's put the emphasis where it belongs.
Kizer was #3 QB in the Spring. He didn't take the #1 snaps in pre-season camp but when injury forced him on the field ... he set an ND All - Time Record for QB Rushing TDs.
Prosise was a cross training at RB in Spring Bal, a distant #3 RB, an academic casualty and an injury opening day forced him into a starting role ...
in his first season as a RB he ran for over 1,000 yds.
Adams was NOT on the roster in Spring Ball. Had he been, he would have been 4th String. An academic RB casualty and two injuries forced him to play as a true freshman ... he responded with an All - Time ND Freshman RB Rushing Record.
"Fans" have grumbled that "the backups don't get to play!", oblivious to the fact that ND STARTED 38 different players. According to ND.com that's believed to be an another All-Time record. And that doesn't include all the limping wounded like Day that still played and still excelled. The backups' backups got to play wherever they were capable of handling the job. ND had 3 deep players starting games.
According to ND.com ND lead the nation in big plays over 70 years ... never happened before. Another ND record ... And The Irish weere multi-dimensional, they did it BOTH Rushing AND Passing.
ND suffered an incredible loss of talent ed, veteran PT, enough to fold most teams, like Oregon folded tonight ... but they still can with two plays of playing in the Playoffs.
"10-3 isn't good enough!" "We embarrassed ourselves!" "The players were flat most of the season." "Kelly and the coaching staff can't motivate!" BULLSHIT!
The 3 losses were all to teams that will finish in the Top 5. They didn't play Division 1aa, Div II or Div III teams like Rockne did to soften his schedule. They didn't stay out on the practice field until 9 at night using car headlights to see like Leahy's Lads did ... until they got it right. There weren't 120 players like Ara had to win a NC using the depth to absorb the injuries to Eddy, Hanratty, Goeddecke, and others against Bubba Smith and the Spartans in '66. Kelly didn't have anywhere near the scholarship complement of 85. He had more like 65 serviceable players and discounting the red-shirt freshman, more like 55 game available players. Anyone who takes the time to check the game logs will see of those able played contrary to the whining.
The coaches are to be complimented for their on the fly development in the face of constant adjustments replacing player casualties and the players are to be commended for their resilence in literally growing up each week as someone went down and stepping in as the next man in.
It was a remarkable season ... in spite of the usual trolls.