Brian Kelly Revisited

[arrowryan]

But we don’t. We could have/should have beaten USC, shot our selves in the foot against A&M and could have put them away in the first half, but didn’t … kinda funny how football works.

We were certainly ill prepared last night however. I don’t know what the hell they practiced and prepared for for the past 2 weeks.

It’s hard to “shoulda, coulda, woulda” a 24 point ass whooping

 

[forkbeard3777]

It’s hard to “shoulda, coulda, woulda” a 24 point ass whooping

Where did I say that?

 

[irish4ever]

There’s no way they fire him. He is owed entirely too much money. So that means we get to watch him lose more.

Keep him, it's everyone's benefit! Typical response after the game ... "didn't play up to LSU standards"! Sound familiar .... replace ND for LSU and it's the same as we heard before! What a douche bag!!!

 

[dankgesang]

Today's press conference was some dire watching, boy. He's best when his back is against the wall but holy god the man looks cooked.

 

[NDPhilly]

I hate BK as much as the next guy, but they really lost a shit ton of players the year Coach O left. He's recruited well, and this year was really supposed to be a rebuilding year anyway after losing Jayden, Nabers, and Brian Thomas. Next year will be the real tell IMO - they need to make the playoffs or his ass will be on fire.

247 class rank by year:
2022 (salvaged class): 12
2023: 6
2024: 7
2025 (currently): 4

 

[IrishLax]

I hate BK as much as the next guy, but they really lost a shit ton of players the year Coach O left. He's recruited well, and this year was really supposed to be a rebuilding year anyway after losing Jayden, Nabers, and Brian Thomas. Next year will be the real tell IMO - they need to make the playoffs or his ass will be on fire.

247 class rank by year:
2022 (salvaged class): 12
2023: 6
2024: 7
2025 (currently): 4

Isn't the issue though that in the era of NIL/transfer portal there isn't an excuse not to be able to rebuild in ~2 years max? Like he left ND with *insane* holes and Freeman soldiered through a year with Pyne before overhauling the roster as best he could. Also look at what Cignetti did at Indiana of all places.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Isn't the issue though that in the era of NIL/transfer portal there isn't an excuse not to be able to rebuild in ~2 years max? Like he left ND with *insane* holes and Freeman soldiered through a year with Pyne before overhauling the roster as best he could. Also look at what Cignetti did at Indiana of all places.

And last year he had a filthy roster skill position wise with a possible historical offense and he mucked that up. Fact is, he is always a year or two away. Something is always missing. He is simply a good, not elite coach and that just won't cut it.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I almost feel bad for the guy(but not really...). Things can always turn around, but at the moment, it looks like he effed up royally by ditching ND for seemingly greener pastures. He might not make it past this year. Imagine if he loses to Vandy, then what is he going to do? Dude's 63, is he going to start again somewhere else?

Really impossible to feel bad for a guy who's guaranteed $100M even if he sucks at his job lol. I don't fault BK for leaving, honestly. He gave it a full decade and change here, never fully worked out, but he got us on level footing again, and someone threw a massive bag at him. He took it, his choice, good for him. And we are as competitive now as we were most years he was here.

 

[IrishLion]

Isn't the issue though that in the era of NIL/transfer portal there isn't an excuse not to be able to rebuild in ~2 years max? Like he left ND with *insane* holes and Freeman soldiered through a year with Pyne before overhauling the roster as best he could. Also look at what Cignetti did at Indiana of all places.

It's wild that Indiana lost Brendan Sorsby (frosh starter at QB) to UC, and haven't missed a beat because they just went out and grabbed Kurtis Rourke. Even though their schedule is ass, they've pretty much handled their business the way a good team should against a bad schedule. Mostly blowouts, and a few two-score wins when they had to battle. They'd probably be even better on offense with Sorsby. Will be very telling how it goes on 11/23 weekend again OSU.

I also once petitioned that ND should maybe go after Rourke two years ago if they whiffed on Hartman, because Rourke was playing injured at Ohio, which affected his production, and wouldn't be getting any looks... but was clearly too good a QB to stay at Ohio for all 5 years if he got healthy. I thought ND could grab a rare multi-year starter at QB in the portal, but who knows how he would've survived playing for Parker. Not quite the seasoned vet that Hartman was.

 

[Katzenboyer]

I hate BK as much as the next guy, but they really lost a shit ton of players the year Coach O left. He's recruited well, and this year was really supposed to be a rebuilding year anyway after losing Jayden, Nabers, and Brian Thomas. Next year will be the real tell IMO - they need to make the playoffs or his ass will be on fire.

247 class rank by year:
2022 (salvaged class): 12
2023: 6
2024: 7
2025 (currently): 4

1. Those recruiting numbers aren't on par with the expectations set at LSU. The three classes before Kelly got there were ranked 4, 4 and 3.

2. This year's class looks great - as long as he hangs onto Underwood, Pickett, and Meadows. That's no sure thing.

3. Ed O and Les Miles won the national title in each's third year at LSU. Nick Saban won the title in his fourth. That's what Kelly is being measured against.

And Lax's point is a good one: it shouldn't take three years to turn around a program that's situated in one of the most fertile recruiting areas in the country and as committed to NIL as LSU is. There really isn't any excuse for Kelly beyond that his teams can't beat other good teams.

 

[PNW Irishman]

I hate BK as much as the next guy, but they really lost a shit ton of players the year Coach O left. He's recruited well, and this year was really supposed to be a rebuilding year anyway after losing Jayden, Nabers, and Brian Thomas. Next year will be the real tell IMO - they need to make the playoffs or his ass will be on fire.

247 class rank by year:
2022 (salvaged class): 12
2023: 6
2024: 7
2025 (currently): 4

LSU will be losing two first round offensive tackles and a top 15 pick lb after this year. I suppose that’ll be the reason they will be a year away next year?

 

[Kingbish01]

BK is BK....Not much more needs to be said. We have 12 years of data on the guy, and nobody is sad he's gone.

 

[rikkitikki08]

He got caught on camera laying into the ref because bama was blitzing 8 guys with less than a minute left in the game, while he still had his starting QB in the game. I’m so glad ND fans get to hate him like the rest of the country now

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

It's wild that Indiana lost Brendan Sorsby (frosh starter at QB) to UC, and haven't missed a beat because they just went out and grabbed Kurtis Rourke. Even though their schedule is ass, they've pretty much handled their business the way a good team should against a bad schedule. Mostly blowouts, and a few two-score wins when they had to battle. They'd probably be even better on offense with Sorsby. Will be very telling how it goes on 11/23 weekend again OSU.

I also once petitioned that ND should maybe go after Rourke two years ago if they whiffed on Hartman, because Rourke was playing injured at Ohio, which affected his production, and wouldn't be getting any looks... but was clearly too good a QB to stay at Ohio for all 5 years if he got healthy. I thought ND could grab a rare multi-year starter at QB in the portal, but who knows how he would've survived playing for Parker. Not quite the seasoned vet that Hartman was.

Rourke has been outstanding. He’s completing 71.8% of his passes for more than 10 yards per attempt and has 21 TDs vs. 4 Ints. Sorsby is good but no Rourke.

 

[forkbeard3777]

And last year he had a filthy roster skill position wise with a possible historical offense and he mucked that up. Fact is, he is always a year or two away. Something is always missing. He is simply a good, not elite coach and that just won't cut it.

Can't disagree with any of this. Pretty spot on analysis.

 

[Irish#1]

I hate BK as much as the next guy, but they really lost a shit ton of players the year Coach O left. He's recruited well, and this year was really supposed to be a rebuilding year anyway after losing Jayden, Nabers, and Brian Thomas. Next year will be the real tell IMO - they need to make the playoffs or his ass will be on fire.

247 class rank by year:
2022 (salvaged class): 12
2023: 6
2024: 7
2025 (currently): 4

He's been there long enough to not have excuses.

 

[forkbeard3777]

LSU will be losing two first round offensive tackles and a top 15 pick lb after this year. I suppose that’ll be the reason they will be a year away next year?

Those two OTS are drastically overrated. They can't run block for shit. Total disgrace. But, nonetheless, I agree with the latter part of your statement. We start next year off at Clemson - which we all know will be a loss - and the excuse will again be that the framework of the team is a couple years away. It's unacceptable and inexcusable. Certain players can come in and play right away (see Ryan Williams). Plus, given the current portal/NIL rules, it's simply too easy to buy and plug in players to fit in.

 

[forkbeard3777]

He got caught on camera laying into the ref because bama was blitzing 8 guys with less than a minute left in the game, while he still had his starting QB in the game. I’m so glad ND fans get to hate him like the rest of the country now

I read about that. Completely unbelievable and just a beta, loser's mentality. He's still got his first team offense in and he's complaining about Alabama playing ball.

 

[Irish#1]

He got caught on camera laying into the ref because bama was blitzing 8 guys with less than a minute left in the game, while he still had his starting QB in the game. I’m so glad ND fans get to hate him like the rest of the country now

Might have been nice for Bama to call off the dogs, but that's crazy he's complaining to the ref. What's he want, a flag for Unsportsman like conduct? lol

 

[forkbeard3777]

Might have been nice for Bama to call off the dogs, but that's crazy he's complaining to the ref. What's he want, a flag for Unsportsman like conduct? lol

Nah ... this is (somewhat) of a rivalry game. These players are being compensated now. They can run it up and/or blitz their ass off it they'd like.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Those two OTS are drastically overrated. They can't run block for shit. Total disgrace. But, nonetheless, I agree with the latter part of your statement. We start next year off at Clemson - which we all know will be a loss - and the excuse will again be that the framework of the team is a couple years away. It's unacceptable and inexcusable. Certain players can come in and play right away (see Ryan Williams). Plus, given the current portal/NIL rules, it's simply too easy to buy and plug in players to fit in.

I know things are a little rougher in BR than you'd like, but I wouldn't go as far as to assume Clemson is going to be an L next year. Dabo is quickly tearing down the foundation he took over a decade to build himself. His refusal/negligence in the portal era is really coming back to bite him in the ass.

I'd take LSU in a H2H this year, let alone in 2025 when BK opens up the coffers in an attempt to drastically turn things around next szn.

 

[ulukinatme]

 

[NDWarrior]

Rourke has been outstanding. He’s completing 71.8% of his passes for more than 10 yards per attempt and has 21 TDs vs. 4 Ints. Sorsby is good but no Rourke.

I was of the same mindset so much so that I was regularly watching the Tuesday and Wednesday night Ohio games just to watch Rourke in action and I was impressed with him right off the bat. You could see he was a great drop back passer and a leader on the field. I remember thinking it was a shame he got injured near the end of the season. I have noticed he would definitely take off and run effectively when he had to (under pressure) but that since his injury, not as willing to do so which I understand. I was thinking and saying we should have gotten him this year.

 

[Katzenboyer]

Nah ... this is (somewhat) of a rivalry game. These players are being compensated now. They can run it up and/or blitz their ass off it they'd like.

Especially in the case of Bama, who has 2 losses but some really good wins. Style points may make the difference for the Final 12.

 

[NorthDakota]

It was both.

He was making $2M a year at ND or so right? I can retire on that.

A lot more than that I think

 

[jprue24]

I don't fault BK for leaving, honestly. He gave it a full decade and change here, never fully worked out, but he got us on level footing again, and someone threw a massive bag at him. He took it, his choice, good for him. And we are as competitive now as we were most years he was here.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I said it when he left. He's going to break their streak of HC who won National Championships. Especially in this current climate of college football.

Appreciate all that he did for Notre Dame Football, but it's so far back in the rearview mirror that I could really care less anymore at this point.

 

[IrishLax]

I said it when he left. He's going to break their streak of HC who won National Championships. Especially in this current climate of college football.

Appreciate all that he did for Notre Dame Football, but it's so far back in the rearview mirror that I could really care less anymore at this point.

Agreed, especially because about 80% of the institutional advantages that SEC schools have had traditionally are now a non-factor. The only thing they still have is proximity to talent. Money, pay-to-play, roster manipulation to stack talent, lax academics, etc. are non-factors now. There are ~20 other schools on an even playing field or better.

 

[Rizzophil]

I think it’s funny that the words of the fight song are on the tv

 

[SeekNDestroy]

Might have been nice for Bama to call off the dogs, but that's crazy he's complaining to the ref. What's he want, a flag for Unsportsman like conduct? lol

My thoughts exactly. What the fuck is yelling at the ref gonna do? That’s pathetic actually.