Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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the fifth quarter lou somogyi its image of blue-collar toughness, including upsetting much flashier and speeder Oregon for the second straight season, allowing 14 and 13 points, respectively, on defense to an offense that routinely averages 50. It was toughness getting the better of flash. Stanford became what Notre Dame used to be during the glory years under Lou Holtz from 1988-93, and in other glory eras as well. Furthermore, this year Stanford's Shannon Turley was named the College Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, another validation to many about how the Cardinal had progressed from its previous finesse image. Stanford is the standard on which Brian Kelly's Notre Dame program is now often compared. "If Stanford can win with its physical approach and high academic standards, why can't Notre Dame be like that?" Kelly achieved his own special turnaround at Notre Dame by his third season. After the Irish had produced a 32-31 mark from 2007-11, the 12-1 campaign in 2012 demonstrated that Kelly's vision of a tougher, more physical football team had taken root. The defense — his focal point — ranked near the top, and the running game eclipsed the 200-yard average at the end of the regular season for the first time in 12 years. Yet the letdown in 2013 with a 7-3 start brought back old ghosts that Kelly's teams are too pass happy, abandon the run too quickly and lack a smashmouth identity. The offense looked too "Weisian" while averaging less than 150 yards rushing per game — after producing only 126.6 and 138.9 averages Kelly's first two years. It relies on fades and finesse in the red zone instead of "imposing its will" with the run, thereby creating a perception of emasculation. Conveniently forgotten is that Holtz was considered too stubborn with trying to force the run during his final three seasons when he was 23-11-1. "You want to impose your will all the time," Kelly said during the Nov. 16 bye week, while also confirming that Chuck Martin handles the play calling with Kelly having veto power when needed. "Mental and physical imposing of your will, I think, happens on special teams, offense and defense. "I don't think you impose your will just by running the football. You impose your will with quick-strike capability, the inability to cover people, the inability to pass protect. I think that takes many shapes and forms. I don't think it's just running the football. Certainly, that's another way to do it." If Stanford defeats Notre Dame for the fourth time in five years, it will gain momentum that its identity is the one the Irish should possess. Should Notre Dame win for the second straight time against the Cardinal, its current identity would remain safe … until the next setback. ✦ Senior Editor Lou Somogyi has been at Blue & Gold Illustrated since July 1985. He can be reached at lsomogyi@blueandgold.com