Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/753492
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 28, 2016 11 UNDER THE DOME Forty-five years ago this month, the 1971 Notre Dame football team voted to not attend the Gator Bowl despite possessing an 8-1 record and No. 7 Associated Press ranking while heading into the regular season finale at LSU. That decision occurred because the season was a huge disappointment and letdown after the Fighting Irish had played No. 1 Texas in the two previous Cotton Bowls, and the 1971 team was a preseason favorite to fin- ish No. 1. The stated principle was to play in only a "major" bowl. My, how times have changed. During 4-6 Notre Dame's prepara- tion for Virginia Tech, head coach Brian Kelly was asked whether he and the school would be receptive to going to a bowl game even with a 5-7 record. Back in 1971 there were only 12 bowl games, whereas there are 40 today, and filling all those spots can get tricky. That's why last year there were three 5-7 teams that accepted bowl bids — Minnesota, Nebraska and San Jose State. Notably, all three won their bowl outing. "I haven't given it much thought," Kelly replied. "Those scenarios I would address at the end of the year. "Regardless of how we're per- ceived, I think the most important thing is to play the way we're ca- pable of playing. … Learning how to win close games, not giving up the cheap plays that we've given up occasionally during the year to keep teams in games, and playing smart football — getting off the field on third downs, staying on the field, scoring in the red zone, those things. "… If we do that, I think people can make their own opinions about what kind of team we have." Kelly said the Irish played "with an edge" versus Army West Point Nov. 12 that it hadn't previously done this year, and "we're starting to figure out how to play." He wants to see that aspect continue. In many ways, the final two games versus Virginia Tech and USC were like de facto bowl games to him. "I want to make sure that how we play is going to be reflective of where we finish and how we build that for next year," he stated. — Lou Somogyi Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly isn't a fan of the new NCAA rule that allows programs to use former players on the scout team during the season. No. 1 Alabama, favored to win its fifth national title over the past eight years, used former quarterback John Parker Wilson and former running back Trent Richard- son on the scout team before playing LSU this season. The former NFL players simulated LSU quarterback Danny Etling and running back Leonard Fournette to aid the preparation. The Crimson Tide also brought in former quarterback Blake Sims in preparation for their game against Trevor Knight and Texas A&M. Kelly said that's not something the Irish will be doing. "We did [look at it]," Kelly said earlier this month. "It just doesn't fit with our philosophy — asking former Notre Dame grads to come back and put the pads on for us. That's not what we're about." Kelly was then asked his opinion on the rule, which many consider controversial. "I think it's absolutely ludicrous," Kelly said. "I didn't spend much time on it. You do whatever you think is right, whatever you think can give you an advantage. To bring that young man back, it sounds like a great idea, but it doesn't sound like college football to me." — Matt Jones Notre Dame played Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl last year, but bowl talk was not at the forefront for the Irish when they entered the Virginia Tech game with a 4-6 record. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA NEW RULE 'DOESN'T SOUND LIKE COLLEGE FOOTBALL' TO BRIAN KELLY Bowl Talk Secondary To Playing Better