Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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fan forum Shaken … And Stirred At the beginning of the year I recalled The 5th Quarter column wherein you outlined how Notre Dame had proven it could still have a great season and compete for a title, but now it had to take the next step and prove it was a program that could be elite every or mostly every year. Therein lies my dilemma. I was definitely in Brian Kelly's corner and wanted him hired, but he has given me real doubt as to how far he can take the Irish. Three of the four years have been mediocre. Kickoff coverage is terrible, the offense still Head coach Brian Kelly took Notre Dame back to the summit during is highly inconsistent, the 2012 regular season, but an 8-4 finish in 2013 has led to some defense was shredded in handwringing. photo by bill panzica certain games, and his overall approach worries me. Here and he has the kid fling it 50 yards, are some concerns: a throw he admits after the game is • After the BYU game, Kelly said Rees' maximum distance. Plus, in that was "Notre Dame football," the your game notes it said Rees was an way we must play — physical, ran the IV the previous day with the flu. Isn't ball for 235 yards. But after four years, it possible he could have been slightly what was the delay in implementing weakened? Why would you have him this "ND football?" throw that pass when short passes and • He lost the 2010 Tulsa game — ba- crossing routes have been working? sically Tommy Rees' first start — and • He said he had to change the ofthe 2013 Stanford game with Rees with fense to suit the skillset of Rees. Noththe same mistake: Asking the QB to ing could be further from the truth. make a throw(s) he has trouble makKelly is the one most single reaing. He had 2:24 left against Stanford, son Notre Dame is not 10-2 or bet-