Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com APRIL 2017 7 FAN FORUM Meanwhile, Notre Dame hasn't had a No. 1 class since 1990 — although it was No. 2 to Alabama in 2008. (The 1995 haul also was ranked No. 1, but that was before top recruits Randy Moss at wide receiver and James Jackson at running back were denied admission.) But for the full four years from 2008‑11 that No. 2‑ranked Notre Dame class had a 29‑22 record on the field and never finished in the Associated Press top 25. It takes more than just star rank‑ ings, as we learned all too harshly again last year. YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE Just read one of your columns about Notre Dame recruiting and thought it worthwhile to comment. In so doing, I should point out that I have no expectation that Notre Dame is going to beat Alabama or Ohio State for example. The days of Notre Dame being a dominant power are in all likelihood over. I believe that the Final Four will consist of the state schools, with the exception of USC. One can debate whether that is a true statement, or if true what is the reason. My personal prejudice is that the private schools are smaller and have greater problems with academ- ics in the recruiting process. Also, the public institutions, great as they may be, find it easier to seg- ment the football players academi- cally when necessary. It is obvious that Vanderbilt, Rice, or Duke are not going to the Final Four anytime soon. What can be done is to achieve success consonant with the material available. Sadly for the most part this has not been the case. Clearly the cur- rent coach Brian Kelly is better than his three predecessors. However, he is an 8-5 coach with peaks and valleys. The current valley of 4-8, considering the weak competition, was one of the worst coaching jobs in university his- tory — and this in the seventh year. Frankly, I hope that this will work out, but I think it unlikely. In private corporate life, the CEO would be gone and this, I think, is the ultimate outcome. Hope I'm wrong as I have nothing against Coach Kelly. Jim Norton '56 Via the Internet BE HEARD! Send your letters to: Letters Blue & Gold Illustrated P. O. Box 1007 Notre Dame, IN 46556 or e-mail to: lsomogyi@blueandgold.com Notre Dame and Clemson have had similar suc- cess on the recruiting trail, but the Tigers have done a better job turning it into wins on the field. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA Holy Cross Village is a continuing care retirement community, sponsored by the Brothers of Holy Cross, with a tradition of caring, compassion and trust. Holy Cross Village welcomes people of all faiths. 54515 State Rd., 933 North, Notre Dame, IN 46556 www.holycrossvillage.com ... AND ENJOY THE GAME OF LIFE AT HOLY CROSS VILLAGE I magine making new friends and developing new talents, where everything you need to enjoy the game of life is right outside your front door. Nestled among three institutions of higher learning, Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame is a senior living community unlike anything else around. Our warm and inviting community offers: Independent Living Homes and Apartments Assisted Living Apartments Skilled Nursing Memory Care Rehabilitation Services Call (574) 251-2235 today for more information and to schedule a tour.