This team is very good ... just very unlucky tonight (9/3/2011)

[Brown]

What's the definition of luck?

Success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions.

The team lost by circumstances not in their control tonight. Not by being outmatched. The components of the game that were in NDs control (total yardage, TDs, efficiency, etc.) were not just won but DOMINATED by Notre Dame.

I'm not going to let some fluky circumstances taint my opinion of this team. I thought they would make a 2 win improvement on last season's 7 win campaign, and be ready to compete for a National Championship in 2012. Nothing I saw tonight changes that opinion one bit. This team is a very good one, and should win a lot of games and make ND nation proud.

 

[JayRock]

Unfortunately, I think this was/is NDs year. With the schedule on deck next year, I don't see how we get through it unscathed.

Run the table, and we have a title shot though. First game, voters will notice those components you mentioned, weather factors, and most importantly Tommy Rees playing an entire game.

It ain't over yet, but it might be soon if we play like this next week.

 

[t3hjc]

Not holding onto the ball is controllable. Not muffing a punt is controllable. Not getting picked off in the end zone is controllable. Missing a 30 yard field goal is controllable. Not turning your head on a drag route is controllable.

The fact Gray's fumble might've bounced up nicely to be returned 100 yards could be attributed to a bit of luck, as could a few other things I'm sure, but we didn't lose the game because of happenstance. We lost the game because of poor execution and lack of focus.

 

[Carlyle Javar Holiday]

The team does show great promise, but the team losing had everything to do with execution and not luck. How can you say it was luck that the team had so many turnovers and dumb personal foul penalties? Those were in the control of the players.

You have to also give credit to South Florida for playing a clean game, clearly the more disciplined team.

 

[Brown]

Not every situation was determined by "luck". There were situations where ND definitely needed to execute better. My point is that luck had a massive influence on this game. The 14 point swing on the first drive is the most blatant. The multiple turnovers that had to bounce the perfect way to land in the opposing team's hands. The controversial 15 yrd penalties. etc.

 

[Brown]

I guess my most basic point is that I would be a lot more worried right now had ND been beaten by not being able to move the ball or stop the other team from moving the ball (how 99.9% of football games are won and lost).

Tonight that was not the case. The team was on the wrong side of a lot of luck, and when they weren't, they shot themselves in the foot.

 

[NDinFL]

Not holding onto the ball is controllable. Not muffing a punt is controllable. Not getting picked off in the end zone is controllable. Missing a 30 yard field goal is controllable. Not turning your head on a drag route is controllable.

The fact Gray's fumble might've bounced up nicely to be returned 100 yards could be attributed to a bit of luck, as could a few other things I'm sure, but we didn't lose the game because of happenstance. We lost the game because of poor execution and lack of focus.

This guy has got it.

Luck DID play into this game (the way the ball bounces)

other than that, just pure poor execution

 

[Old Man Mike]

As Lou Holtz says: more games are lost rather than won. We lost due to ourselves [turnovers, execution] AND a pretty sad dose of bad luck. I would, by the way, attribute the ref throwing the flag on that minihold by Mike Floyd just as much to bad luck as to alleged bad execution. What Floyd did was REALLY minor, and never usually even seen nor considered by refs at that level. The ref seeing Harrison's hand drag lightly across the face on that first face-masking penalty could also be attributed to bad luck rather than bad execution --- Harrison certainly was not intending to grab anything and clearly laid off. Where I am particularly with Brown is on the issue that we were rarely beaten by our opponent --- yes they made some good plays, but I'd say that 90% of the time we either won the play or it was a wash. Our team can play. We just need someone at the helm who can adequately lead it. [AND I and others have {much to the ire of most} have not believed that it was Crist, even though we'd hoped it was].

 

[BestBIrish47]

Not holding onto the ball is controllable. Not muffing a punt is controllable. Not getting picked off in the end zone is controllable. Missing a 30 yard field goal is controllable. Not turning your head on a drag route is controllable.

The fact Gray's fumble might've bounced up nicely to be returned 100 yards could be attributed to a bit of luck, as could a few other things I'm sure, but we didn't lose the game because of happenstance. We lost the game because of poor execution and lack of focus.

This 100 times.. good to hear Accountability is important to some because it is the only way to correct these mistakes.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Yeah right. Gray has horrible hands and fumbled. Not luck. Crist threw a horrible pass and it got picked off. Not luck. Ruffer missed a field goal he should have made. Not luck. Riddick dropped two punts he should have caught. Not luck. Quit trying to deflect blame from some bad players who played bad.

 

[rtrn2glory]

i haven't had a chance to vent yet...i apologize if i offend anybody or anything of what i'm going to say has already been said.
the experts were exactly right. our inconsistent qb play is going to cost us games, but i never thought it would be this one. crist showed his true lack of mental toughness yesterday and i really hate to say this because i was really rooting for him and hoping he would do well. the offensive staff was very un-prepared and that starts at the top 5 turnovers will lose you every game you play if you are playing a mediocre opponent. bottom line is we were out coached, out played, and out toughed, which is unfortunately the story of the last 4 going on 5 years.

 

[micks60]

What's the definition of luck?

Success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions.

The team lost by circumstances not in their control tonight. Not by being outmatched. The components of the game that were in NDs control (total yardage, TDs, efficiency, etc.) were not just won but DOMINATED by Notre Dame.

I'm not going to let some fluky circumstances taint my opinion of this team. I thought they would make a 2 win improvement on last season's 7 win campaign, and be ready to compete for a National Championship in 2012. Nothing I saw tonight changes that opinion one bit. This team is a very good one, and should win a lot of games and make ND nation proud.

You are so far off it is ridiculous. Everything is controllable thatccaused them to lose. Missed fg, dropped passes, bad passes, not looking when the ball is coming, fumpling punts. What world are you living in?!?!?!?!

 

[rtrn2glory]

You are so far off it is ridiculous. Everything is controllable thatccaused them to lose. Missed fg, dropped passes, bad passes, not looking when the ball is coming, fumpling punts. What world are you living in?!?!?!?!

yes...agreed. luck is when you play well and one bad play cost you...we played horrible yesterday and there's no dancing around that. stop babying the players and coaches and make them take ownership of their lack of preparation and "attention to detail"

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

This is just a bunch of bullshit trying to disparage the very good USF team and deflect blame from our terrible players like Gray, Crist, and Turk. Pathetic thread.

 

[phork]

This was a total boner, this had nothing to do with luck. And I can't say that Kelly screaming at players on the sideline can't be much of an attraction for recruits.

 

[arrowryan]

I first want apologize to the people eho to the game and that was their first Notre Dame game. The wether sucked, it was either boiling hot or their was a tornado getting ready to go through the stadium. The team played stupid, way to many turnovers in the redzone. We should've blown that team out of the water. USF's defense was not good. We gave them those turnovers, they didnt earn them or actually force them.

The good things that came out of this was that the defense played good. Our offense gave up 5 turnovers but the defense only gave up 1 touchdown. Also, Tommy Reese played very well, he is our QB for the year. Michel Floyd is a freak of nature

 

[notredomer23]

This was a total boner, this had nothing to do with luck. And I can't say that Kelly screaming at players on the sideline can't be much of an attraction for recruits.

NoT sure if serious?? This has been the problem with notre dame football since Lou left. Our players have been total pansies. If you think Kelly is the first good coach to yell at players you're wrong. Why give them a free pass? If they can't handle getting yelled at then gtfo off our team

 

[rtrn2glory]

turk needs to play scout team field goal holder...zero mental toughness. why doesn't he get into power lifting. that job is surely wide open and what worries me is he obviously won it during camp, which leads me to worry that brindza isn't much better.

 

[rtrn2glory]

I first want apologize to the people eho to the game and that was their first Notre Dame game. The wether sucked, it was either boiling hot or their was a tornado getting ready to go through the stadium. The team played stupid, way to many turnovers in the redzone. We should've blown that team out of the water. USF's defense was not good. We gave them those turnovers, they didnt earn them or actually force them.

The good things that came out of this was that the defense played good. Our offense gave up 5 turnovers but the defense only gave up 1 touchdown. Also, Tommy Reese played very well, he is our QB for the year. Michel Floyd is a freak of nature

rees definitely played better, but has a lot of work to do too...time to start working hendrix and golson right now to give us a shake up from rees.

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

This was a total boner, this had nothing to do with luck. And I can't say that Kelly screaming at players on the sideline can't be much of an attraction for recruits.

I dont have a problem with Coach Kelly completely going nuts on guys on the sidelines for several reasons.
1. First and foremost, it was deserved.
2. If recruits can't handle that type of criticism and coaching I doubt they have what it takes to play in the pressure cooker that is ND Football.
3. Coach Kelly is also very complimentary of the players when deserved and is a very fair coach. You play well, he lets you know it. You have your head up your ***, he does everything within his power to help you remove it.
4. You can tell from interviews and the way they respond to him that the guys love coach kelly and respect him as a coach. Whatever he is doing at practice and on a personal level with these guys, they understand his level of expectations, passion for the game, and desire to win. Coach Kelly is a work hard, party hard coach, but if you listened to the half time interview with Kyle Rudolph who would know better than all of us, he said at half time coach kelly was probably in the locker room teaching, and trying to get the guys to settle down and refocus. He knows how to motivate his players to get the most out of them, but he also knows when they need a pat on the back or a hand on the shoulder and settling down.

 

[johnnyoooo]

Certainly poor focus and execution had much to do with Notre Dame losing. Think Gray suffered a bad break since when stopped at the goal line a Florida player was under his knees so he was not down for the whistle to end the play.Crist was way off in his passing accuracy compounded by his recievers dropping catches. There s no excuse for his end zone interception throw and enough reason for Kelly to yank him. Plus the Notre Dame recievers made poor errors as with Floyd holding on Wood's TD run and Jones running his pattern wrong letting the ball bounce off his shoulder for a interception. Notre Dame made more errors yesterday then a team does in a season. Frankly I believe there is no rational way to explain it. Miami lost yesterday and they looked dispirited and disorganized all game. That was not the case with Notre Dame yesterday so I don't blame Kelly his team was well organized and full of spirit. But I do suggest he cool off his screaming at his players on camera humilating them.

 

[Jerry]

Unfortunately, I think this was/is NDs year. With the schedule on deck next year, I don't see how we get through it unscathed.

Run the table, and we have a title shot though. First game, voters will notice those components you mentioned, weather factors, and most importantly Tommy Rees playing an entire game.

It ain't over yet, but it might be soon if we play like this next week.

The team didn't know who the QB was going to be until a week ago. And we still don't know who it's going to be next week.

I have an idea: let's worry about beating Michigan next week. Something the program hasn't done in 3 years. I could really care less about the BCS or next years schedule. Win next week.

 

[phork]

NoT sure if serious?? This has been the problem with notre dame football since Lou left. Our players have been total pansies. If you think Kelly is the first good coach to yell at players you're wrong. Why give them a free pass? If they can't handle getting yelled at then gtfo off our team

Yes serious. Its not about handling getting yelled at. Its about our coach looking like a buffoon on the sideline.

 

[Carlyle Javar Holiday]

I actually like when he goes bizzurk on the sidelines, shows he really cares about winning and will not tolerate losing. Kelly has his way of coaching and other coaches have their style. I think it would be selfish for us or any person for that matter from trying to deviated from his style of coaching that landed him the job in the first place.

 

[Merlin]

Not holding onto the ball is controllable. Not muffing a punt is controllable. Not getting picked off in the end zone is controllable. Missing a 30 yard field goal is controllable. Not turning your head on a drag route is controllable.

The fact Gray's fumble might've bounced up nicely to be returned 100 yards could be attributed to a bit of luck, as could a few other things I'm sure, but we didn't lose the game because of happenstance. We lost the game because of poor execution and lack of focus.

Ding ding, we have a winner!!!