Signature Win

[IrishBlood81]

I remember, I believe it was when Kelly got hired or maybe the following year, that everyone was very skeptical of Brian Kelly.
It was stated and talked about often, Kelly needs signature wins, the past coaches haven't had them and this is what Kelly would need to do to keep his job and be the man for Notre Dame.
Many haters and even just regular folks who were tired of promises followed by mediocrity, were so skeptical of Kelly and they needed him to prove himself.
I think this is Kelly's signature win. This is what we have all been waiting for.

He has also had these

2010: (14) Utah: 3 Notre Dame: 28
2010: Notre Dame: 20 USC: 16
2010: Notre Dame 33 vs Miami 17


The 2010 USC game was my all time favorite ND game until this past Saturday. I think this MSU game is even bigger.

He has potential for more signature wins this year: Michigan, USC, Stanford and Oklahoma.

 

[MPClinton22]

Reliving the moment when Robert Blanton blocked that punt against Utah is incredible. Everything had been going against us for weeks it seemed, and all at once it was as if the entire stadium was letting off all the steam that had built up. Finally we were on the positive end of a huge play like that, and we all knew there was no way we lose that game. That game is easily one of my favorite memories as a student.

 

[DillonHall]

Most people have been pleased about the BK hiring since it was announced...

And this is his first signature win

 

[BurningRiver]

Charlie Weis's signature win was a loss to USC

 

[ACamp1900]

I wouldnt call any of these signature... If they lose Saturday no one outside our base will care at msu... Same for the games above, part of a signature win is that enough is done before and after that there is reason to remember it... With that said this Saturday has a chance to be that kind of game,... But winning before and in Norman would really make statements

 

[Irish8248]

There's nothing signature about it til the final rankings are out... As huge as this win was IMO, if MSU craps the bed from here on out, then people will just say the same things they said about CW beating a top ranked Michigan team at the time

 

[yankeeND]

Man that blocked punt vs Utah was awesome! I think this win over a top 10 team is the start of big things but it's all for not if Kelly is 0-3 vs Michigan. I tell y'all though, if we go 3-0 against the B10 that's a statement! Hell Purdue could be playing for their conference championship this year. Add a W vs Miami and get some payback on the Trees, we could really blow the doors open! I love the direction we are headed and also that halftime speech Kelly did vs MSU had me wanting to hit something my damn self! Very happy with where we sit early in year 3! Exceeding expectations every Saturday would do us all some good!

 

[jason_h537]

Signature wins can only be determined in retrospect. How does MSU finish the year? How does ND finish the year? Very happy with the team right now but unless they handle business this weekend. it will mean nothing.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Signature wins can only be determined in retrospect. How does MSU finish the year? How does ND finish the year? Very happy with the team right now but unless they handle business this weekend. it will mean nothing.

Yep.

 

[philipm31]

Yep.

I would agree in general, but some wins are immediately signature wins for a program, ie. Miami in 1988. That win announced to everyone that ND was back and needed to be taken seriously that year.

But saying that this MSU win is a signature win is not on the same level, that much is for sure. Beating OU at Norman would be a signature win, for sure.

 

[tadman95]

I wouldnt call any of these signature... If they lose Saturday no one outside our base will care at msu... Same for the games above, part of a signature win is that enough is done before and after that there is reason to remember it... With that said this Saturday has a chance to be that kind of game,... But winning before and in Norman would really make statements

I agree Acamp. This MSU win may be the signature win to this point for Kelly but I would bet he has a lot more than this in mind. It's a good win, on the road especially.

Beat one of the truly elite teams, then we can do some talking. JMHO

 

[dshans]

... but some wins are immediately signature wins for a program, ie. Miami in 1988. That win announced to everyone that ND was back and needed to be taken seriously that year.

Not so fast. The 1988 win against Miami was only a "signature win" in light of the the team's success throughout the entire season. They won their opener against Michigan by 2 points. They beat Navy by only 15 points, 22 – 7.

Had the team stumbled and lost a game or two, it might have been seen as a fluke. Had Miami stumbled and lost another game or two the victory would have lost a good bit of its luster.

Just sayin'.

 

[philipm31]

Not so fast. The 1988 win against Miami was only a "signature win" in light of the the team's success throughout the entire season. They won their opener against Michigan by 2 points. They beat Navy by only 15 points, 22 – 7.

Had the team stumbled and lost a game or two, it might have been seen as a fluke. Had Miami stumbled and lost another game or two the victory would have lost a good bit of its luster.

Just sayin'.

But Miami was the defending National Champions and had not lost a regular season game in almost 3 years, so that game was a signature win because it showed that ND was on the rise again, even if they did stumble their way home like they did the previous year.

I know what you mean, but that game was a signature win, and everyone knew it, too.

Just as beating OU in Norman would immediately be seen as a signature win. I don't really think that beating MSU was a signature win on that level, although it was important in terms of showing that ND is on the rise again and able to win big games, especially on the road.

 

[GoldenBoy3]

Bigger win for Kelly MSU or scUM

 

[PANDFAN]

Bigger win for Kelly MSU or scUM

monkey off of back

 

[Irish#1]

But Miami was the defending National Champions and had not lost a regular season game in almost 3 years, so that game was a signature win because it showed that ND was on the rise again, even if they did stumble their way home like they did the previous year.

I know what you mean, but that game was a signature win, and everyone knew it, too.

Just as beating OU in Norman would immediately be seen as a signature win. I don't really think that beating MSU was a signature win on that level, although it was important in terms of showing that ND is on the rise again and able to win big games, especially on the road.

I think winning at MSU was a quality win. Beating the Sooners on the road will be a SIGNATURE win. But let's take care of scUM first.

 

[philipm31]

I think winning at MSU was a quality win. Beating the Sooners on the road will be a SIGNATURE win. But let's take care of scUM first.

Very much what I was saying. I totally agree.

 

[Grimm]

Not sure if a signature win ... but it was a signature game for the defense. Haven't seen anything like that since ... I can't remember.

 

[Bubba]

I think winning at MSU was a quality win. Beating the Sooners on the road will be a SIGNATURE win. But let's take care of scUM first.

Only if the Sooners are still undefeated. They play K-State, who are looking better than expected, this weekend.

 

[ACamp1900]

Not sure if a signature win ... but it was a signature game for the defense. Haven't seen anything like that since ... I can't remember.

2002 was the last time I remember irish defense's looking like that against a quality team...

 

[philipm31]

Not sure if a signature win ... but it was a signature game for the defense. Haven't seen anything like that since ... I can't remember.

Well, the last time the Irish held three straight teams to 30 points or less through three games was 1988, when the Irish held their first three opponents to 27 points on the way to allowing just about 12ppg for the season.

 

[philipm31]

Only if the Sooners are still undefeated. They play K-State, who are looking better than expected, this weekend.

Does not necessary have to be an unbeaten OU team to be a signature win, because winning in Norman is never easy, and while KSU looks better than expected, I don't see how ppl expected KSU to look bad after the year they had last season...and how they expected OU to not have a fall off on offense when they lost so much offensive talent and were installing a new system on defense (or at least new to all of the returning players).

This weekend will be important for MANY teams, that is for sure.

GO IRISH!!

 

[choo choo]

There's nothing signature about it til the final rankings are out... As huge as this win was IMO, if MSU craps the bed from here on out, then people will just say the same things they said about CW beating a top ranked Michigan team at the time

no he (cw) had no wins...only losses according to some...hes still irish

 

[jason_h537]

2002 was the last time I remember irish defense's looking like that against a quality team...

That d was wasted on such a sad offense. No disrespect to Holiday but he had no business running a west coast offense.

 

[BGIF]

That d was wasted on such a sad offense. No disrespect to Holiday but he had no business running a west coast offense.

With disrespect to Willingham, he had no business impersonating a head coach.

And mega disrespect to the twits that hired Willingham.

 

[GoldenBoy3]

Does not necessary have to be an unbeaten OU team to be a signature win, because winning in Norman is never easy, and while KSU looks better than expected, I don't see how ppl expected KSU to look bad after the year they had last season...and how they expected OU to not have a fall off on offense when they lost so much offensive talent and were installing a new system on defense (or at least new to all of the returning players).

This weekend will be important for MANY teams, that is for sure.

GO IRISH!!

Def a very interesting matchup between KSU and OU. Klein for KSU is a very Eric Crouch esque athletic QB. If they can play their style of football and not have to play catchup I'm sure it will be close. Big game Bob will choke, plus OU is not as good as advertised in my opinion

 

[RDU Irish]

Signature wins can only be determined in retrospect. How does MSU finish the year? How does ND finish the year? Very happy with the team right now but unless they handle business this weekend. it will mean nothing.

Then we should add MSU last year into the discussion. They finished strong.

 

[Irish#1]

Def a very interesting matchup between KSU and OU. Klein for KSU is a very Eric Crouch esque athletic QB. If they can play their style of football and not have to play catchup I'm sure it will be close. Big game Bob will choke, plus OU is not as good as advertised in my opinion

I want them undefeated when we roll into town.

 

[Dizzyphil]

In this day and age of NCAA football, the last undefeated-win of the year is a coach's signature win.... the prior games to that last one are just wins.....


Diz

 

[dre1919]

Charlie Weis's signature win was a loss to USC

Haha...yep. And that got parlayed into a fat contract extension that never should have happened! But I agree, this was definitely a signature win for the program. Anytime you beat a quality Top Ten team, as well as shut them out of the end zone, that's impressive. I am loving how everyone now is taking notice like "Notre Dame can be a BCS buster because they are really better than we thought".