Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/176703
Under the Dome (1964‑74) and Lou Holtz (1986‑96). For years, Parseghian often was criticized about not "winning the big one" (even the 1010 tie at Michigan State in 1966). Then after winning a second national title in 1973, the 51-year-old had a "miserable" 10‑2 season in 1974. That Irish team not only lost at home to four-touchdown underdog Purdue (31-20), but also had the temerity to barely squeak by Michigan State (19-14), Rice (10-3), Navy (14-6, after trailing 6-0 in the fourth quarter) and Pitt (14-10). "Hey, they have 11 guys on the other side of the ball who can play, too, and want to beat Notre Dame in the worst way," Parseghian said in a 2001 interview with Blue & Gold Illustrated. "They have coaches who are no dummies across the way. "Now you say, 'You're supposed to go out and beat this team bad!' — and then you don't do that. Combinations of all those things are factors that over a period of time will take their toll." Fourth-year Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly is making millions of dollars to have such a "toll," so he also counts his blessings. "Once you understand why you're doing this job at Notre Dame, it's easier to enjoy it," Kelly said. "And I'm doing it because I get a chance to coach incredible kids." Kelly noted how after the Purdue game, the team arrived home at 3 a.m. the second week in a row after a road game, had the team meeting and review at Notre Dame Football tickets 25 years in business Best selection & Prices 1-800-925-2500 www.NotreDametickets.com noon, partook in study table from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., grabbed dinner and had study groups from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. "That's their lifestyle, and that's how they do it here at Notre Dame, and that's great," Kelly said. "Once you really get your hands around the fact that it's truly college football at Notre Dame and that's the way they handle things, then you can enjoy it. "If you get caught up in the noise of everything else, there's no way you could enjoy it." The daily rapport and teaching are what make his job enjoyable. "I enjoy being with my guys," Kelly said. "I'm going to defend them. I'm going to back them up. I'm also going to point out to them when they don't make the decisions that they need to make, the good decisions. "… You've got to understand at Notre Dame what our mission is. We want to win a BCS championship, no question about it. But all those other things are really important to us as well."