Blue and Gold Illustrated

FAN FORUM FROM THE WEBSITE Four days prior to the Texas opener, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly was asked who would handle the play-calling duties on offense for the Fighting Irish: him; associate head coach/wide receivers coach Mike Denbrock, who puts together the weekly blueprint on offense; or newly hired Mike Sanford, who holds the "offensive coordinator" title? Kelly offered the vague response that it would be a "collaboration" among the three, with the head coach obviously having the final say so or veto power. That led to myriad reactions on the BlueandGold. com message board. KCIrishfan: Good Lord, Brian. Stop being a control freak for 2 minutes and give someone a crack at it. I can't imagine Mike Sanford is thrilled about this, and this is a guy I'd like to actually keep happy and hope he stays beyond a year or two. Ndgt100: Hopefully the plays get in faster this year. BGI3279: My one Kelly complaint in his first five years was not kicking the PAT and going for 2 against Northwestern. Is there SOMEBODY on the offense's play-calling staff that is willing to go to the mat to tell him he's making a mistake? College19: I don't see how plays get in faster this year when it's a collective effort among 3 people. Cmck: It will take the entire play clock for the three cooks in the kitchen to call a play. It's like the Jon Tenuta and Corwin Brown "collaboration" on defense in 2009. Thomasna: Why did Sanford come to Notre Dame if he wasn't going to get to be a true offensive coor- dinator? He was one of the hottest young OC's out last offseason. Just surprised he would come to ND to call a few plays and coach QBs. Crash9010: Sanford knew what the situation was and wanted it. Sanford himself said Kelly was open and honest about all aspects of his hiring. I have seen no facts that would lead me to think there is an ounce of drama behind the scenes. Therefore, I won't manufacture any. Kwsusmc: What is said [at] press conferences isn't always the whole and honest truth. It could be 1) the whole truth and nothing but the truth; 2) Sanford getting a more prominent role than Denbrock; 3) the other way; 4) just Kelly and Kelly alone. We are not privy to the inner workings, and we shouldn't be. Jerbach: How can anyone expect Kelly to say anything other than what he did? Texas will be Sanford's first game at ND. Things can change over the season and in the coming year. If we can keep our running backs healthy, I see more of a running team than under Everett Golson, like most people want. Doesn't really matter who is making the final decision on the plays. DCIrish36: I get it. Coaches are notorious control freaks: Saban, Holtz, etc. My guess is this will be Sanford's only year here. Irish natty: Sanford knew exactly what he was getting into when he signed onto this job. Denbrock and Kelly were both here when he agreed to come. He's a grown man and there's no reason he should be totally expected to back out on his agreement just because the arrangement is not to his liking anymore. JTET: Three OC's is a joke at this point. I was led to believe Sanford was a fresh new hire, but in fact he's playing the role of a graduate assistant. I predict more than 2 delay of games per contest. Thank God this team is stacked with above average talent.

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