Coach Brian Kelly's job now on the line as Notre Dame lose sensationally to Michigan
Posted on Sunday, September 11, 2011 at 12:52 AM
Larger Text
Print
E-mail
7 Comments
RSS 
Recent Posts
- Orb should win Preakness easily, Oxbow up for second
- Could Celtic boss Neil Lennon be next manager at Manchester United? - His European exploits, especially defeating Barcelona may put him in frame
- Orb has what it takes to win Triple Crown in 2013 - Kentucky Derby winner has breeding, connections and talent
- Goldencents can lead all the way for Doug O’Neill in Kentucky Derby - Lines of Battle, Irish horse looks outclassed in Run for the Roses
- Why Ireland’s Rory McIlroy can defeat Tiger Woods at the 2013 Masters - Comeback kid proves in Texas Open that he still has a unique talent
Archives
Michigan pulled of a sensational last second victory 35-31 against Notre Dame before 114,000 fans last night in The Big House.
This was be Brian Kelly’s worst loss since being head coach of Notre Dame, especially as the boo birds were out in force after last week’s debacle against South Florida.
It asks fundamental questions about whether he is able to step up from Cincinnati to the most visible job in college football.
The jury is still out after this loss.
The Irish could have won by twenty points, so dominant were they in ‘The Big House’ with 114,000 Michigan fans in attendance.
Yet the fourth quarter became another heart attack that ended with an incredible Irish loss.
Ahead 24-7 the Irish were unable to out away their opponent despite outplaying them for the vast majority of the game.
It leaves Kelly with a major loss and a season already in tatters after just two games. A decent season and a major bowl game are pipe dreams now.
Cruising 24-7 they conceded an unlucky touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter but nonetheless looked certain to hang on for the victory especially when Tommy Rees put them ahead with a touchdown with 30 seconds left.
But once again, as with South Florida, Notre Dame could not finish out the game and let it slip incredibly in the dying seconds.
There will be be major questions about Kelly’s team preparation after this loss.
Nine turnovers in just two weeks has led to a deep sense that this team lacks the discipline that a truly top class coach could instill.
Instead it is another heartbreaking loss and a wonder how else this side can lose games after being so dominant.
Kelly is playing for more than his season now, he is playing for his job. Entering his second year at the helm his team has got a case of snakebite as bad as anything they experienced last year.
This will be very hard to come back from.
7 Comments
See all comments
S.Connolly | Sep 13, 2011, 01:21 PM EDT
Walleyeyeman has hit the nail on the head. Look for Skip Holtz to take over as Notre Dame coach in the near future. They should have gone with him from the get-go.
Report abuse
etighe1130 | Sep 11, 2011, 06:37 PM EDT
If you've heard of the "Curse of the Bambino", this is the "Curse of Obama". Notre Dame sold their soul to the devil the day they allowed Obama, the great abortion supporter, to speak at the Notre Dame commencement. Over a half million people signed a petition begging Fr. Jenkins to change his mind. He refused. It was probably the stimulus money. Nothing good will ever come to ND for now and the far distant future. Ask any Red Sox fan. 1918-2004 is a long, long time. Our Lady is not pleased.
Report abuse
clevelander | Sep 11, 2011, 11:15 AM EDT
they are both bad football teams going no where .I am a Notre Dame fan but that was 2 teams going no where.
Report abuse
walleyeman | Sep 11, 2011, 10:37 AM EDT
The fat ladys not singing yet but she did clear her throat and Skip Holtz is rereading the outs in his current contract.
Report abuse
fastjack7 | Sep 11, 2011, 08:19 AM EDT
P.P.S. THE DEF. NEEDS TO STEP UP,AS I SAID THE OFF. WAS GREAT!!
Report abuse
fastjack7 | Sep 11, 2011, 08:12 AM EDT
I don't understand, i saw the game and thought the off. pretty well dominated the first half, the sec. half left some thing to be desired but all in all I thought they did a heel of a good job and it looked like it was over with a little over a min. left in the game. I thought mich. was wiped!! but as fate would have it they pulled it out,again. No reason for thinking of firing the man for putting up that kind of showing!! P.S. I AM A MICH. FAN BY-THE-WAY. I SAY KEEP HIM AND PRAISE HIM FOR ONE HELL OF A NIGHT AND DAMN GOOD GAME!!!
Report abuse
Report abuse