2010 Record

[condoms SUCk]

I say 8-4 or (9-3 if we can beat MSU thats my toss up game) I think we lose to pitt and utah.
u$c will be an interesting game, I think it will be a knock out drag out but those f'n condoms will win.

 

[Praytorian]

I have a feeling you will be very disappointed in what will be a solid season.

As long as they play hard and try, I will NEVER be dissapointed in ND.

 

[bigedefense]

12-1 Bowl win

I say the same. We will beat the teams we are supposed to lose to and someone will sneak up and eek one out on us.

 

[ryno 24]

I might be a crazy optimist but I see ND going 9-3 maybe 10-2 They have a ton of talent and leadership the defense should be better and the offense is going to be explosive more so than last year

 

[ACamp1900]

I fully expect a season that will mirror Holtz first season mre than that of Ty or CW... we will stumble out the gate... lose the majority of our games in the first two months and then click and finish strong leaving something to build on... 5-7 at worst/ 8-4 at best...

probably a third straight 6-6..

 

[IrishAlum1997]

Every game's a big one....and I won't look past Purdue.

That said, the MSU game is the one that will tell me where this team is at. We all remember 2006, and what that game did to at least sustain our season until USC. I also remember a game (late in the Davie era?) where we got dismantled and turned the ball over like 35 times, I remember some sick 41-0 kind of halftime score. If we can control that game, we have got to feel good about where this team is headed.

10-2. Don't know where the losses come from. Our talent is as good or better as anyone on our schedule. ANYONE. Kiffen does not intimidate. I will be really surprised if he is able to sustain success at SC.

 

[BillyIrish]

Don't want to give myself an ulcer, so i am not going to talk about the D. If the O can be more efficient in the red zone, cut down the drive killing penalties, and keep Crist up right I think they will surprise some people. If Crist is average, this team will be average. I say he is going to be above average...

10-3 including a win in the Gator Bowl.

 

[UPMich_NDfan]

I also remember a game (late in the Davie era?) where we got dismantled and turned the ball over like 35 times, I remember some sick 41-0 kind of halftime score.

I think you're talking about 98' right? I was at that game(night game), drove 7 hours as a senior in high school, shot my mouth off before outside and inside spartan stadium...then literally had it wiped all over my face. It was disgusting...

That being said I also went down to the game in 02', followed the same protocol, except had many drinks...ran my mouth all day tailgating, sat in the spartan student section, had sh!t thrown at me all game long, then got to celebrate in complete stunned silence as Pat Dillingham hooked up with Arnaz Battle for a 60 yard TD. That was also the game Charles Rogers basically convinced the Lions to select him with their first pick, making two unReaL TD catches in the 4th Quarter.

That damn State game is always tough.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

I think you're talking about 98' right? I was at that game(night game), drove 7 hours as a senior in high school, shot my mouth off before outside and inside spartan stadium...then literally had it wiped all over my face. It was disgusting...

That being said I also went down to the game in 02', followed the same protocol, except had many drinks...ran my mouth all day tailgating, sat in the spartan student section, had sh!t thrown at me all game long, then got to celebrate in complete stunned silence as Pat Dillingham hooked up with Arnaz Battle for a 60 yard TD. That was also the game Charles Rogers basically convinced the Lions to select him with their first pick, making two unReaL TD catches in the 4th Quarter.

That damn State game is always tough.

You got it. Only been to Spartan Stadium once, '94. That is a great home field advantage if you dont put your foot on their throat. We won that game in '94 by a point, but when we took the lead it sonded like it was 21. Could hear a pin drop.

And that's why they're Michigan State.

 

[DaLastFarleyite]

I think ND will finish regular season at 8-4. This represents a 2 game improvement over 2009. I believe the improvement will come in the team's fourth quarter performance and November performance.

I think that Kelly detected the lack of stamina and has been working hard to address it.

 

[Lou Holtz]

Purdue- Win
Michigan - Toss up, as much as i hate to say they will be better this year
Michigan State- Loss
Stanford- Loss, they could win the Pac 10
Boston College- Win
PITT-Loss
WMU-Win
Navy-Win
Tulsa-Win
Utah- Win
Army- Win
U$C- Win, kiffin will ruin everything Carrol has built, the SC win streak ends this year

8-4, with a decent bowl, maybe Gator Bowl

 

[TDHeysus]

...This teem is more taleneted than when charlie got his team defintietly more talented than when Willingham got his team....

I agree, Kelly has never had this much on-hand talent, or incoming talent on any other team he has ever had. The expectation-meter is off the chart.

 

[NDinL.A.]

I agree, Kelly has never had this much on-hand talent, or incoming talent on any other team he has ever had. The expectation-meter is off the chart.

Definitely has the most talent he's ever had, especially on the defensive side of the ball (on offense, he himself said he's had more speed at Cinci). However, offense revolves around the QB in his spread, and if Crist isn't healthy, the expectations, for me at least, go way down. With a walk-on who couldn't even start at PCC as the back-up, should something bad happen to Crist, we'll struggle, and it won't have anything to do with Kelly. If Crist is healthy and plays well, then yes, ND should have a very good season without question...

 

[irishtrain]

I think the defense will surprise and be much much better, I hate to put it on the QB but this whole offense rests on his ability to read and conduct, it will be a tough transition for whoever it is. At times it will look ugly but you will see the signs of Cinn's offense with more talent. I hope somehow they can hit the ground running but like I said it may look ugly at first. The defense and that stud in the middle are going to have to hold the 'fort' until the offense gets it going. 8-4 and man would I like to be wrong. The wild card is how close they become as a team and if they win the first 3/4 games look out because the talent is there. This guy knows how to win college football games, but there are tough opponents on this schedule that even Kelly is not used to dealing with week in and week out. BC, Utah, southern cal, Pitt, Tulane throwing it all over the place and MSU are going to be a mixed bag that Kelly will have to cope with. Last but not least he will see how it feels to be the rival game for about 5 teams that before were just games on the schedule for a Cinn type team, that makes a difference week in and week out.

 

[The Polish Irishman]

Tough to predict the record right now. A lot can happen before the season. But if I had to gues I would say 7-5

 

[ryno 24]

Crist will probably be healthy he has had 9 months and he practiced in spring ball he should be good to go

 

[GoIrish41]

What's with all the 7-5, 8-4 predictions? You guys are snake-bit by the past few seasons. I think Kelly brings a whole new life to ND. I say he has the talent, will and smarts to win all of them, but will probably win at least 10.

 

[TerryTate]

ND's Depth Chart on Rivals:

College Player Database - Depth Chart

God I hope Walls and Gray can step up this year

Also showing Jonas Gray / Robert Hughes ahead of Cierre Wood

 

[ACamp1900]

What's with all the 7-5, 8-4 predictions? You guys are snake-bit by the past few seasons. I think Kelly brings a whole new life to ND. I say he has the talent, will and smarts to win all of them, but will probably win at least 10.

get your facts right brotha... I predicted 6-6. And it's the past 15 seasons that have me snake bit... not the past few... lol


no, in all seriousness, everyone can say what they want, but I'm sick of these ten win plus win predictions every single year... it never changes... then we all wonder why Notre Dame fans are laughed at nationally for being completely unrealistic... when the hell was the last time we won ten games regularly????... is there ANY reason other than BK's supposed coaching ability to expect anything better than last year??? THe D front seven will be better, but the O line still looks like swiss cheese and if Danye gets hurt forget it, and even that is assuming Danye wil be agood QB... we don't know. The Secondary looks very troubling... who the hell are our safties??? I expect a repeat of the past two seasons, move the ball on both sides of the ball... really, my logic is this... we ARE Notre Dame! We are THE University of College Football in America... but we certainly have not proved much of anything over the past 15 years with the exception of 02, 05 and 06.... and all three of those years have exactly ONE big win (FSU 02) and exactly ZERO bowl wins or even good bowl showings....

so again, what in the hell are any of us basing 10 wins plus on??????.... anything can happen with any big time program like Notre Dame... but to EXPECT a ten winish season is a complete pipe dream. But I guess that's typical of our fan base these days....

 

[ryno 24]

we are really talented on offense look at the points we put up last year and that was working for time of possesion which kelly does not care about our defense was not coached very well so there are things to look forward too

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

What's with all the 7-5, 8-4 predictions? You guys are snake-bit by the past few seasons. I think Kelly brings a whole new life to ND. I say he has the talent, will and smarts to win all of them, but will probably win at least 10.

It has to do with two of a very few number of players who played any good at all last year have left. The schedule is so easy that 10 games is possible, but I doubt it.

 

[Rocket89]

The only reason not to predict 10 wins is because of our recent past under Weis and his poor coaching which led to severe underachievement. Davie and Willingham never had the talent ND currently has now.

When you factor talent+better coaching, this season could be something special. Just because Willie and Weis won big their first season then struggled doesn't mean Kelly won't win big in 2010 and then continue to. I mean, everything is pointing to good things happening, and soon. I'm not one of those people who will sit back and say, eh it's going to take time, it will take three years. Why? Kelly has the talent right now to win. We're going to be more talented than everyone except USC and possibly Pitt. I've been saying it a lot on B/R...the ND offense will be explosive! Watch how much the running game will surprise people too.

Purdue-There's no way Purdue wins this without Bolden in Kelly's first home game. I won't be shocked to see a 55-14 kind of score.

UM-Always a tough one, but aren't we better at almost every position? I thought we clearly demonstrated last year that we were better. They lost some key defenders and their offense still doesn't scare me. Forcier probably won't be having the game of his life again.

MSU-Could be the 3rd hardest game of the year. On paper, I think they're better than Michigan, and it will be tough beating them in East Lansing. If we start 3-0...watch out.

Stanford-I see them dropping to 5-7 or 6-6 this year. Without Gerhart they will struggle offensively and they were never great on the other side of the ball. I'm not buying their QB as a 1st round pick either.

BC-If we beat them last year, we should again. We're more talented pretty much everywhere and I bet Kelly will really want to pick up a victory close to his home.

Pitt-If they get good quarterback play, they will be tough to beat. They are very solid, although not an elite team. Kelly beat them last year folks.

W. Michgan-We'll score 60 if Kelly keeps his foot on the gas and doesn't let up half way through the second quarter like Weis would.

Navy-I still think they'll run pretty good on us, but we won't make the same mistakes on offense. Might be close at halftime, but we should pull away late.

Tulsa-Kelly is not losing to Tulsa at Notre Dame.

Utah-This one will be interesting, we could very well see an undefeated Utes team. We should win though, with our talent.

Army-Some school records could be broken.

USC-They will be 10-1 or 9-2 at worse when we play them. As much as I hate to say it, they will be very, very good.

9-4 is a reasonable guess I think. That means we lose to two teams with more talent (USC, Pitt) and lose two against teams with less talent.

 

[NDinL.A.]

get your facts right brotha... I predicted 6-6. And it's the past 15 seasons that have me snake bit... not the past few... lol


no, in all seriousness, everyone can say what they want, but I'm sick of these ten win plus win predictions every single year... it never changes... then we all wonder why Notre Dame fans are laughed at nationally for being completely unrealistic... when the hell was the last time we won ten games regularly????... is there ANY reason other than BK's supposed coaching ability to expect anything better than last year??? THe D front seven will be better, but the O line still looks like swiss cheese and if Danye gets hurt forget it, and even that is assuming Danye wil be agood QB... we don't know. The Secondary looks very troubling... who the hell are our safties??? I expect a repeat of the past two seasons, move the ball on both sides of the ball... really, my logic is this... we ARE Notre Dame! We are THE University of College Football in America... but we certainly have not proved much of anything over the past 15 years with the exception of 02, 05 and 06.... and all three of those years have exactly ONE big win (FSU 02) and exactly ZERO bowl wins or even good bowl showings....

so again, what in the hell are any of us basing 10 wins plus on??????.... anything can happen with any big time program like Notre Dame... but to EXPECT a ten winish season is a complete pipe dream. But I guess that's typical of our fan base these days....

You can't really argue with Camp's logic if you're a realistic Notre Dame fan. Face it...we've sucked for much of the past 15 years. I don't blame anyone for thinking we could be a 6-6 team or something close to that.

But ACamp, it's not just ND fans, it's college football fans all over the place. Purdue fans think they're going to smoke us on their way to an 8+ win season. Michigan fans are already counting their game vs. us as a W on their way to a 10 win season. USC fans are talking NC despite their coach never having had a winning season in his life. UCLA has a brutal schedule and realistically a 6 win team, and their fans are talking 9-10 wins. It's not just ND fans, it's everywhere. Now, ND fans are more numerous than any other fan base, so of course are voices are louder (and I grant that we have some really delusional fans, no doubt), but myopic fans are everywhere bro. Just go check message boards.

On the flip side of the gloom and doom crowd, why can't ND win 10 games this year? CW won 9 and went to the BCS (changed offense) and he was a shitty coach. Ty straight killed it his first year (10 wins, and changed the offense too), and we all know how bad he was. It's not out of the realm of possibility to win 10 games. Consider this:

1. Brian Kelly is a big-time coach.
2. The defense is stacked for the first time in a long time with pure 4 and 5 star talent.
3. The coaching staff is a cohesive unit that BK insisted be a great fit, which CW never understood.
4. The offense has veteran talent at almost every position.
5. We didn't exactly schedule murderer's row. We'll play some very good teams, but no one really great (although SC will still be more talented of course).

Of course, I'm drinking the Kool-aid as I write this, and all these points can be countered by doubters. I guess my point is that no one knows. ACamp is absolutely right is saying that we're crazy to predict anything near 10 wins. And as fans, people can point to all that I just said and say we're crazy to think ND won't win 10 games LOL.

IMO, the defense will be much improved. Brian Kelly will have this team focused and motivated (losses to teams like Navy and Syracuse simply will not happen; it doesn't happen to BK-led teams). Special teams should also improve. Floyd and Rudolph and 2 of the biggest beasts in college football, and are nightmare match-ups for defenses. Allen, I think, is poised for a great year.

So to me, it all comes down to Crist's health. If he stays healthy and plays like he's healthy, this team can definitely win 9-10 games. If he's hobbled or misses games, we'll win 5-6 games IMO. Hes that important, and he has the ability to be that good...

 

[ACamp1900]

for the record I never stated that ND is a delusional fan basein comparison to others... just that our stigma is at time well deserved.

 

[mgriff]

I have been guilty of drinking the Kool-Aid with every other coach since Lou, and a lot of that has to do with me being a kid during those times. I'm trying not to buy in right now, but Coach Kelly makes it hard. He's infectious and has me believing. I'll say 7-8 wins right now.

 

[ACamp1900]

I'm starting to think BK may be the one... the thing is you must have a GREAT coach to win at ND now... Lou was an all time great coach when you llok at his carrer... that guy turned around many dead end programs... Ara was great too... you can't be average and win with our academic standards and such... I believe that fully now... CW Ty and Davie were not all bad coaches, they just weren't all timers and that doesn't work at ND...


BK has a pretty darn good record and shows a lot of promise, time will tell, but I am not going to expect a 180 from year one... it may take a few years.

 

[rocket31]

i honestly feel we are just as talented as any team we will play this year (yes, even USC) so i will not surprised with a 10 win season or even going undefeated if a few calls go our way... the more talented team should win the game, correct?

anyways, analyze each of our opponents rosters and we have more talent than nearly all. (pitt and usc are the only comparable squads). the key difference this year is that we have a coach capable of developing our current talent, a nutrition program we should have had years ago, and an award winning conditioning/fitness program which will compel us to elite status. fitness and diet are so, so important and now that we have these key elements...watch out!

*10-2 seems reasonable with our current talent and coaching and a doable schedule

*if crist stays healthy

ftr, i predicted 8-4 last year so i am not some "Notre Dame-tard". we could have easily been 8-4 without a couple fluky losses (eg. michigan, stanford)

it should be a fun season!

 

[ACamp1900]

yeah I hear that... I guess when it comes to our talent level as a team I am slightly snake bit...

basically I'm die hard ND for life... but when it comes to current expectations,... show me... then let's talk.

 

[Riddickulous]

Ty straight killed it his first year

That's a stretch.

The 2002 Irish offense was anemic. If it wasn't for Courtney Watson, Vontez Duff, Shane Walton, Gerome Sapp, and Glenn Earl causing 10,000,000 turnovers, they would've been a 6 or 7 win team. Arnaz Battle had to have had 60-70% of the yards in the passing game. There were games where Holiday threw exclusively (literally) to him because nobody else could get open.

On that note, Kelly has a much better team overall than Willingham or Weis inherited. An apparently great quarterback, a senior running back with loads of experience, a superstar wide receiver, the best tight end in the country and ten returning starters on defense.

 

[CuerVo0220]

I'm optimistic about this season. Not sure what the end W-L record will be but I bet we beat both scUM and fUSC this year!!! I'm just excited, no matter what the end record, this is the first year of ND's return to GLORY!!!