Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/762987
6 JANUARY 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED FAN FORUM DO WHAT'S RIGHT Excuse me if vacation of wins is not a big deal to me. The real problem is that the NCAA has now sent a clear message that you will be punished for doing it the right way. Sadly, this is not shocking to those of us that know the history of the NCAA with respect to its uneven rulings against Notre Dame. Nevertheless, de- spite what we know and suspect, we must never be too self-righteous that we do not accept self-examination, and indeed as again in this case to be open to the examination of others. The NCAA agreed with the univer- sity's findings and the way the circum- stances were handled, yet they still proceeded to punish the university for doing the right thing rather than making a proper example by incentiv- izing everyone to self-report and hold students and athletes accountable. The University of Notre Dame's his- tory does not suggest a lack of commit- ment to the education and graduation of its student-athletes, and we thought that this is what the NCAA was all about. The NCAA is not an organiza- tion renowned for its paucity of rules, yet they decide to use unprecedented, arbitrary discretion to punish Notre Dame based on one of the few rules that even they themselves felt unsure about including in their own bylaws. I can honestly say that I am not sur- prised by what the NCAA has done. I am just pleased that the university has done the right thing and has been vin- dicated. Let them fight to take away all of our wins (in 2012-13). They can have them — for we know who and what we are truly fighting for. Mr. Kalc South Bend NO 'IT FACTOR' As I watch and hear Coach Kelly speak about next year, I wonder what can he be thinking. He has just di- rected an absolute failure of this year's team to be competitive. Most of the 2016 opponents had losing or .500 records, which makes this season's results stand out as one of the worst football years in Notre Dame history. I will give Coach Kelly credit for recruiting some fine young men with excellent athletic skills, but he seems unable to mold them into a champion- ship-level team. Frankly, I thought the 2015 team was the best group of foot- ball players assembled at Notre Dame in a long time — yet they failed to succeed at critical times in big games. Successful college coaches have a unique, indescribable quality that they bring to their team. Knute Rockne and Frank Leahy had it. Ara Parseghian and Lou Holtz have it. The success of their teams reflected their coaching ability to create greatness. It's a combi- nation of meticulous preparation and a "will to win" they instill. Unfortunately, Coach Kelly does not seem to have it. It's time for a change. John Carr '64 Via the Internet COMING FULL CIRCLE When Gerry Faust was mired in mediocrity (1981-85), Notre Dame president Rev. Theodore Hesburgh was questioned whether or not Faust would be retained. Father Hes- burgh's response was that as long as the program remained clean, didn't FROM THE WEBSITE On Dec. 7, a group of Notre Dame alumni from the website Notre Dame Nation ran a full-page ad in the Notre Dame student newspaper The Observer that highlighted the failure of the football team during vice president and director of athletics Jack Swarbrick's tenure from 2008 to the present. This has included six seasons in nine in which the Irish lost at least five games, only one top-10 finish (2012) and continued support of head coach Brian Kelly after this year's 4-8 finish. The ad the group raised funds for to run (with previous plans for billboards as well) was met with scorn and support among many BlueandGold.com readers. Here is a small sample: FightinMike87: What a rambling, POS waste of money. Hope those involved feel better. Trazobone: Should have donated their money to more important things in the world besides an irrelevant ad which means nothing in the grand scheme of things. Sad. Bus7: It's their money … they can spend it however they wish. But do they honestly think Jack Swarbrick is going to open up The Observer, stumble across that ad, and say, "Hmmm … I never really thought about our football program that way. Get me Urban Meyer on the phone now!" Gregbell28: The ad is not aimed at Swarbrick. It's a message to those in leadership that the natives are disgusted with the incompetent mismanage- ment of the jewel that is ND Football. The torches are out and there is an open revolt. I am no fan of that web site, but it needed to be said. Swarbrick's hand needs to be forced re: Kelly. Jack is too busy trying to save face, which is likely, why BK wasn't fired. Slevmonster: "Raise awareness" — acting like they're leading the fight to cure cancer. Good Lord. ND025876: Wrong or right these ads are doing what was intended — make the school look out of touch with fans and the alums at large. Of course it will be used against and that is why these things are a net negative but you reap what you sow and 1988 is start- ing to become a lifetime to many alums and sub alums. My uncle is a diehard sub alum and has followed the team 65 years. He feels he will die before he sees an- other ND championship … I am 30 years younger and do not think I will see another in my life. That's sad. Smokebomb99: With the unrest now becoming shockingly high profile everyone knows Kelly is on the clock. 2017 is an "or else" year. These ads are a push in that direction. KevinPS: Any way you look at it, 4-8 against this Char- min schedule is an abject failure and is inexcusable in his seventh year as head coach. If Kelly wants to take credit for a 95%+ graduation rate, he should at least say something like, "Yes the academic fraud issue was cause for some soul-searching." Swarbrick is defending the defenseless. The people who paid for the ad have a legitimate beef and they're airing it. It's how you let people in high places know that they're being watched. Irish54: From my perspective and counting among my friends a number of large donors, no one gives to ND based on performance of an athletic team. Twalsh: There's never been any correlation between athletic success and alumni giving. That myth is perpetuated by non-alums that think it should be that way. Irishjohn68: When you start listening to the fans, you will find yourself sit- ting with them shortly! Irish fans' dissatisfaction with the foot- ball team's 4-8 season has led to criti- cism of both head coach Brian Kelly and athletics director Jack Swarbrick. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL