Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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FAN FORUM Irish could score only two touch- downs against Florida State in the 18-14 Champs Sports Bowl loss, with one coming on defense and the other on a lucky catch by Michael Floyd. Coach Kelly did not appear to manage his players, and in the case of Tommy Rees, seemed to take his frustrations out on the youngster. Andrew Hendrix and Michael Floyd just walked away when he went into his tirade. With all the fire power the Irish have, they do very well between I was very disappointed that the PILLAR TALK FROM THE WEBSITE When a football team has a quarterback Irish head coach Brian Kelly and his fiery sideline demeanor are still a topic of debate among Notre Dame's fans who are growing impatient with back-to-back 8-5 seasons. PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND the 20-yard lines, but when it comes to punching in a touchdown, they are woefully inadequate. I know that one gets very upset quandary, controversy, issue — or whatever you want to refer to it as — there is generally a universal, immutable truth that nobody is more popular among its fans than the quarter- back who has yet to play. A quick January survey by BlueandGold.com verified this. Knowing that the No. 1 Notre Dame football storyline for 2012 would be at quarterback, we asked these two questions among our members to measure the pulse: 1. Who do you think will start the Sept. 1 season opener versus Navy? 2. Who will start the season finale at QB for Notre Dame? Here's a sample of the first 74 responses in the opening days: • Nine people had incumbent Tommy Rees with losing, but if you are the head coach you need to be a pillar that the players can rely on. You need to be the one that maintains a cooler head and brings the troops back by teach- ing them how to win. Kelly does not seem to demonstrate those qualities. It is not his record that I am wor- ried about; it is the way he handles his players. starting the Sept. 1 opener against Navy in Ireland, but only one had him finishing the campaign as the starter for the third straight season. • Backup Andrew Hendrix received 16.5 starting nods against Navy, but only five had him finishing the 2012 season at No. 1. • Current freshman Everett Golson received 43.5 (58.8 percent) votes for starting the opener, but even more — 55.5 (nearly 75 per- cent)— had him finishing the season. • Early enrollee Gunner Kiel received two ary 2012 5th Quarter regarding Notre Dame's poor turnover production defensively. However, you might have mentioned that at least in the South Florida, Michigan, Michigan State, USC and Stanford games the Irish faced experienced, talented quarterbacks who generally protect the ball well. Matt Barkley (USC), Andrew Luck I certainly agreed with the Janu- EXPERIENCE COUNTS starting votes for the opener, but the rookie even outdistanced veterans Rees and Hen- drix combined with 9.5 votes to finish (Gol- son had two other half votes to finish with a full one). At the end of spring practice — which starts March 21 and concludes with the April 21 Blue- Gold Game — we will do a second survey, and after some actual evaluation by the coaching staff. In last year's post-spring survey, Dayne Crist www.BLUEANDGOLD.com Linthicum, Md. Jerry Todd lem there was 1) Robinson's 11 comple- tions averaged 30.7 yards and 2) Notre Dame committed five turnovers and finished minus-two against Michigan in that category. The Michigan game was the only one during Notre Dame's 8-5 season that an opponent committed as many as three turnovers. In the final seven games, Notre Dame forced only six turnovers. over 60 years. I have never seen a team underachieve as much as the 2012 team. Coach Kelly should get an award I've been a Notre Dame fan for DOING LESS WITH MORE for the most unproductive coach of the year. It was a disgrace to the university the way he treated Dayne Crist. contract extension for a coach who has not proven to have earned it. All you folks at Blue & Gold Illus- Well, here we are again. Another FAMILIAR RITUAL (Stanford), Kirk Cousins (Michigan State) and Denard Robinson (Michi- gan) represented four of the best in the country at their position. This does not excuse the lack of turnovers generated, but may be a factor in the explanation. Paul Szewczyk Belleville, Ill. won the starting quarterback vote among fans by a slightly more than two-to-one count. zero turnovers against Notre Dame, while Luck and Stanford and Cousins and Michigan State had two apiece. Robinson had three of his 24 pass at- tempts picked off by the Irish. The prob- Mr. Szewczyk, Barkley and USC had trated continue to defend this coach. Maybe you have to. This year Kelly's recruiting inability showed. Charlie Weis was a lot better recruiter in his third year. Tell it like it is! Dennis McCourt Wexford, Pa. Blue & Gold Illustrated P. O. Box 1007 Send your letters to: Letters BE HEARD! Notre Dame, IN 46556 or e-mail to: lsomogyi@blueandgold.com MARCH 2012 7 Jerry Riffert Haubstadt, Ind.