Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/434567
FAN FORUM turning from a suspension were granted. In 1973, when the limits first kicked in, Notre Dame had 43 freshmen on that team (including walk-ons). That same season, first-year Pitt head coach Johnny Majors signed more than 70 freshmen, headlined by running back Tony Dorsett, and they would be the backbone of the 1976 national champs. DOES LOSING HURT ANYMORE? Hey, weren't we great in The Coli‑ seum, or what? Didn't our boys do great singing The Alma Mater, the mandatory photo‑op session? Notre Dame is in dire need of some bad losers, not post‑game appease‑ ment sessions, and she could use some sons and daughters of bricklay‑ ers, welders, and carpenters. Let me know if one is found on campus. Home games have become little more than intermissions from corpo‑ rate tailgate parties, and when was the last time the Notre Dame crowd was so loud an opponent could not snap the football? Not in this century. I competed 54 times for Coach Den‑ nis Stark and Notre Dame's swim team, and cussing, slamming lockers and vows of vengeance were far more effective than singing in my Speedo. Under current leadership, we have become the Chicago Cubs of football, where revenues are the measure of success. There will be no change with‑ out change in that leadership. Don't hold your breath. William J. O'Connor '74 Hammond, Ind. MEDIOCRITY ACCEPTANCE I was hoping that last night's dream came true this morning to find out pompous Brian Kelly was fired, but instead it was Nebraska terminating their head coach. The university seems to have ac‑ cepted mediocrity as the norm since the infamous David Gordon field goal allowed Boston College to beat unde‑ feated Notre Dame in the last regu‑ lar‑season game in 1993. It is so hard to believe it has been 21 years where Notre Dame has not competed for a national title, with the lone exception being the 2012 season. And then real‑ ity hit hard following against Alabama — Notre Dame did not belong in that game. Brian Kelly can't seem to accept that he needs a power running game to compete in college football. All you have to do is examine the elite pro‑ grams today to realize that running for more than 200 yards in a game is what the best programs do on a consistent basis. The elite programs always seem to have outstanding running games in the red zone. Kelly would rather throw the ball east and west than run the ball between the tackles. Will you agree with me that special teams play has been non‑existent un‑ Want to stay up-to-date with all the Irish news? Like Us On Facebook: www.facebook.com/blueandgoldillustrated Follow Us On Twitter: www.twitter.com/BGInews