Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/621849
BY LOU SOMOGYI I n two of the last four football sea- sons, Notre Dame legitimately was in the national championship dis- cussion entering its regular-season finale on Thanksgiving weekend. In 2012, the Fighting Irish finished 12-0 and No. 1 before losing 42-14 to Alabama in the BCS National Champi- onship Game. This year, the 10-1 Irish were knocking on the four-team Col- lege Football Playoff door before los- ing on the final play at Stanford, 38-36. Head coach Brian Kelly's team still might not have made the College Football Playoff had it won versus the Cardinal, because Oklahoma probably needed to lose to Oklahoma State that same weekend, but it might have cre- ated some intense debate for the CFP selection committee. More pertinent now is sustaining a consistent level of excellence that nou- veau riche programs such as Clemson, Michigan State and Stanford have in recent years after many previous sea- sons of mediocrity, or less. As Notre Dame enters 2016, here are four primary topics that will be discussed while the Irish strive to re- main in the College Football Playoff conversation. 1. ON THE DEFENSIVE As Kelly enters year seven at Notre Dame, two of the three phases of the game appear to be in their best shape ever under his watch. First, special teams, often castigated during the Kelly era, had in 2015 its best all-around impact campaign of the past six years, and its standouts all have three more years of eligibility. Freshman kicker Justin Yoon fin- ished fifth nationally in field goal percentage, converting 15 of 17 (88.2 percent), and didn't miss on any of his 12 final attempts in the regular season. Next, sophomore punter Tyler New- some displayed a prodigious leg at times with 18 punts traveling at least SEEKING A SWEET '16 If the Fighting Irish are going to be a College Football Playoff contender again next year, these topics will be vital