Irish Round Table

1) Has a plan that has worked before. The last regime didn’t really have a clue. Stubborn Willingham was fired for not changing anything, ever. Weis took over and was quick to change anything that didn’t work. Fans were initially excited with the change in attitude. Problem was that Weis never really knew what would ultimately work. He kept throwing anything at the wall to see what would stick.
Kelly has the formula for success. He’s already implemented it 3 times. He knows what works.

2) Motivation. Weis was clearly not a motivator. Kelly is smoother and more polished. Even though he recently said he would not be giving many rah-rah speeches come game time, his other methods of motivating seem to work. These include how the depth chart is laid out, leaning on his position coaches, and Camp Kelly.
One thing I could not stand with Weis was how he openly talked about “pushing players buttons” and “getting the players out of the tank.” When you are motivating, you want it to be subtle. You certainly don’t want to broadcast to your team how you are trying to manipulate them. Kelly’s motivation style fits college football perfectly.

3) Stress on nutrition and conditioning. The stress on nutrition and conditioning is a welcome change for this Irish blogger. Stress on body fat percentages, crossfit-like training, and the training table will all lead to success. How many 4th quarter blowups did ND succumb to based on poor nutrition and conditioning?

4) Imposing his will. Weis was notorious for taking what the defense gave him. This boxed Notre Dame into playing the type of game an opposing team favored. With this much talent, Notre Dame should be dictating everything 11 out of the 12 games it plays.

5) He’ll run it up. Kelly stresses playing hard for 60 minutes. I can’t wait to see this actually happen as it has been a long time since a Notre Dame head coach had the step-on-their-throat mentality needed to succeed at this level. Meyer, Saban, and Carroll all have it. “Stop us if you can. If we run it up, that’s your problem.” Look, I’m all for showing respect but when it’s game week, I freaking hate you. My disdain for Purdue this week is off the chart. I want us to beat them by 50. And when it comes time to play Navy. I hate them too.
Give me a coach that challenges his offense to score 50 every week. I think Kelly will.

Last time ND won by more than 40 points: Nov 29, 2003

IBG

The Subway Domer from Subway Domer has asked us to partake in the third annual Irish Blogger Gathering this year. Here’s how it works: Each week one blog gets to ask a bunch of ND-related questions. The other blogs try to answer said questions. Pretty simple.

This week’s questions come via UHND. Here’s what we have to say(I’ll always keep the answers short and sweet as you and I have a ton of work to do.)

1. Name one offensive player and one defensive player you are most excited to see in the new systems and why.

OFFENSE: Theo Riddick. Besides being Riddickulous? He grabbed a starting position after moving to WR in March. There has to be some explosiveness there for him to get through the talented litany of WRs at Brian Kelly’s disposal.

DEFENSE: Ethan Johnson. Five star talent who has been glossed over. I’m thinking Justin Tuck here.

2. What’s one reason you think Brian Kelly is the right coach this time. What’s one reason you think he might not be?

Kelly has a plan that has worked before.

Kelly’s Achilles Heel? He’s always won from the start. I’m worried he could panic if the season gets off on the wrong foot. How is he when his back is up against it?

3. A lot of people are labeling Purdue, Boston College, and Michigan State as toss up games. Considering Notre Dame beat all three of these teams during the disappointing 2009 season, do you consider these games toss-ups or games you expect Notre Dame to win?

Purdue is not a toss up(ND favored by 11) and Notre Dame will win in a landslide. BC and MSU have owned ND in recent years. If Kelly can beat those two teams this year, it will say a lot about the direction of the program. ND needs to get back to beating the teams they are supposed to beat. Once they do that, we can start talking about the BCS and the polls.

4. What’s one reason you think Notre Dame could shock the world and pull of another 1964-type season? What’s one reason you’re concerned we might see more of a 1997-type season?

1964: Notre Dame is more talented than any team on its schedule outside USC. USC has a terrible coach now, schollie limits, and huge outside distractions. They are ripe for the picking. Get the players to play to their ability and natural talent level and ND has a shot at a dream season.

1997: It’s Notre Dame football. We’ve been disappointed for years so disappointment might just be the new world order.

5. Which freshmen do you see contributing the most on the field this year (outside of TJ Jones – that’s too easy)?

Tommy Rees in mop up time. Book it.

6. Other than Dayne Crist (too easy again) who is the one player Notre Dame can least afford to lose to injury for any significant period of time?

Anyone on the defensive line. So thin….

7. 2010 Season Predictions:

* Record: 10-2
* Bowl Game & Opponent: No idea. Makes my head hurt thinking about it.
* Final Ranking: 9?
* Opponent with highest final ranking: Stanford
* Notre Dame Off MVP: Cierre Wood
* Notre Dame Def MVP: Ethan Johnson
* Best Opponent Def. player: Greg Jones
* Best Opponent Off. player: Andrew Luck
* Best Opposing Coach: Lane Kiffen*
* Game I am most excited to watch: Michigan
* Game most likely to DVR: Army(Since I am going to the game.)
* National Champion: Wisconsin
* Heisman: Vince Young
* Purdue Prediction: 45-22

*Making sure you are paying attention.

This year the IRT will be participating in Subway Domer’s INTERNET BLOGGER GATHERING. Sounds creepy and we’re not sure what to expect. One thing we do know is that we have some awesome questions lined up for our host week, the Pitt game:

1)What did you have for breakfast?
2)Who would win in a cage match? Ty Willingham or Bob Davie?
3)Hannah Montana. Talented or Super Talented?
4)How would you get to South Bend from Midway airport?
5)Have you ever neti-potted anything?

INTERNET BLOGGER GATHERING

Last week I made the joke that Illinois football could use a Groupon to increase ticket sales. Looks like BC beat the Illini to the punch:

BC Sinks to New Low

How long until the Irish sink this low to sell out Western Michigan?

HT:Ficonation

The House That Rock Built throws out one of the funniest pieces I’ve read in months:

Hammond Clone

Did you see this? Our old buddy TyWillingham “retired.” I almost missed it, but NBC Sports has the story:

Willingham smiled. Perhaps, but only a volunteer basis at events such as Saturday’s daylong camp at his high school alma mater. Willingham, who is 56 and said he had “no problem announcing that,” insisted his coaching days are behind him.

The former head coach at Stanford, Notre Dame and Washington has no wish to return to the sidelines.

“I’m retired,” he said.

Um, more like no one wants you. Any question that your firing from ND wasn’t justified, went straight out the window as you blew up Washington’s program. Later.

We would say you have more time for golf, but you can't possibly spend more time on the golf course than you already do.