Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1017623
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com PRESEASON 2018 17 UNDER THE DOME Year three at Notre Dame has con- sistently been the trajectory point for a football coach. Knute Rockne, Frank Leahy, Ara Parseghian, Dan Devine and Lou Holtz went unbeaten and/or won na- tional titles in their third seasons, while current boss Brian Kelly was 12-0 dur- ing his year three regular season. On the other side, Hunk Anderson, Terry Brennan, Joe Kuharich, Gerry Faust, Bob Davie, Ty Willingham and Charlie Weis all had a minimum of five losses and/or a losing season in year three, and each ended up lasting only three to five years. For Kelly, three has been the magic number for him over the past 15 years dating back to 2003, and the hope is that pattern can continue in 2018: 2003 GRAND VALLEY STATE Kelly's 13-year head coaching reign with the Lakers ended with a 14-1 mark and the Division II national title, which he parlayed into advanc- ing to the Football Bowl Subdivision level by landing another in-state job at Central Michigan. Interestingly, while Grand Valley State under Kelly became known for prolific offenses, two of the four play- off contests in 2003 were 10-3 wins, notably the title game versus North Dakota. 2006 CENTRAL MICHIGAN Three years later, Kelly and his staff led the Chippewas to their first Mid-American Conference champi- onship in 12 years. This resulted in him being hired at the University of Cincinnati, which played in the Big East. CMU had six straight losing seasons from 1999-2004 (20-48 overall) before a 10-win campaign that was capped by a 31-10 conquest of head coach Frank Solich's Ohio Bobcats in the MAC championship game, followed by a 31-14 win over Middle Tennessee in the Motor City Bowl — the school's first ever postseason triumph. 2009 CINCINNATI Speaking of never winning a bowl … the Bearcats had never finished in the Associated Press (begun in 1936) final rankings until achieving it all three years under Kelly. The highlight was year three with a 12-0 regular season that in December landed him the Notre Dame job. Had Texas not kicked a 46-yard field goal as time elapsed in the 13-12 Big 12 championship game victory versus Nebraska, the Bearcats were in line to play Alabama for the national title. 2012 NOTRE DAME In year three, following back-to- back 8-5 disappointments, Kelly won AP National Coach of the Year hon- ors, and Home Depot Coach of the Year for the second time in four years with another 12-0 regular season. The 42-14 loss to Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game placed the Irish No. 4, easily their highest finish the past 24 years. It also was only the second top-10 placement in that time, and the lone campaign with less than three losses. 2015 NOTRE DAME Entering the final game of the reg- ular season at Stanford, 10-1 Notre Dame still had a shot at the four-team College Football Playoff (in its second year) before losing to Stanford 38-36 on the final play of the game. Pass down the tradition of "The Shirt" and other ND apparel by using them in a quilt! Great for graduations, weddings, birthdays, and even for a new future Notre Dame student. Create a great legacy for alumni or a memorial of a loved one. Each unique quilt is personalized just for you to enjoy your t-shirts without rummaging through a dresser drawer. Please contact Lesa to start a dialogue on your special quilt! Turn Your T-Shirts Into A Notre Dame Memory Quilt! Lesa Quilts 419-239-6732 ■ Lesaquilts7@bex.net ■ Facebook.com/lesaquilts Three Is The Magic Number For Brian Kelly Kelly has put together standout seasons every three years during his head coaching career, including a 12-0 regular season at Notre Dame in 2012. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA