A large part of the problem under Charlie Weis is that while he signed highly rated recruiting classes, he never really addressed any of the needs on the defensive side of the ball. The defensive line has been terrible for quite a while. With the Irish apparently set to sign 2 5-stars and 1 4-star Defensive ends, at least their is some optimism that they will improve significantly on that side of the ball. Top 10 might be a stretch, but I think that year two of the Kelly regime will produce a team that has improved significantly.

I'd prefer ND to be unranked to start the season so they have to prove themselves, but I doubt that will be the case.

 

I thin they have a legitimate shot to get to a BCS bowl next season and then be in National Title talks in 2012.

Come on man, even CCC would probably tell you that the canes were terrible this season especially by the bowl game.

 

How many years did take Kelly to make UC a top 10 team?

I think they will be a top 10 team next year after watching them beat up on the U!

 

Thanks I needed a good laugh :lol:. Probably any team that went bowling would have beaten Miami in bowl season. They got progressively worse as the season went on and quit on the season half way through the VT game. Bad combination. Not talking smack about ND, but I wouldn't be impressed with a victory over Miami last season or any of the last 5-6 years.

 

Come on man, even CCC would probably tell you that the canes were terrible this season especially by the bowl game.

:thumb:

How many years did take Kelly to make UC a top 10 team?

 

He was in a bad, bad conference. You saw how bad UF made them look two years ago didn't you? To finish in the top 10 at Notre Dame he's going to have to do more than he did at UC IMO. He's more than capable of doing it, but wanting that quick of a return on the investment would be foolish for ND.

ND is havin a great defensive class this year and has 3 top 30 recruits. Things are looking up for ND.

Those poor kids will not see a B.C.S. bowl game but they will get a great education.

 

How much money would you want to bet that ND is in a bowl game over the next 4 years?

Next year? I am a huge Notre Dame fan, however to say we will be in the middle of title contention next year would be going a little to far with it. I do think BK will get Notre Dame back to that point, and I think when it comes to competiting for a title it could be in two years. However next year at best, I think would be a BCS bowl.

 

I agree with your point, I meant with some more time. I should have clarified that better.

How much money would you want to bet that ND is in a bowl game over the next 4 years?

 

Oh they'll probably get there. Bet him that they win a BCS Bowl in 4 years..............................

One thing no one is mentioning is that next year their schedule is watered down; their toughest game early is Michigan St. in South Bend; in the middle it is USC in South Bend; they end the year at Stanford, which will be very difficult with Luck returning; with a little Irish luck, you never know...

One thing no one is mentioning is that next year their schedule is watered down; their toughest game early is Michigan St. in South Bend; in the middle it is USC in South Bend; they end the year at Stanford, which will be very difficult with Luck returning; with a little Irish luck, you never know...

 

I just looked at their schedule and believe you bring up a good point. They have a fairly decent chance at being undefeated or having just one loss going to Stanford. Michigan will be a tough game in Ann Arbor, but I don't see the Wolverines being improved fast enough with the changes they have made to beat the Irish with what they have coming back.

ND has done a nice job keeping a few who committed and then de-committed in the fold.

 

http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20110120/SPORTS13/110129961/-1/googleNews

Oh they'll probably get there. Bet him that they win a BCS Bowl in 4 years..............................

 

They will win one before Miami...

They will win one before Miami...

 

Miami will win 2 of the 3 matchups with Notre Dame in the upcoming years. Mark it down.

Miami will win 2 of the 3 matchups with Notre Dame in the upcoming years. Mark it down.

 

Don't kid yourself, the ACC is weak and Miami went 7-5, and was on the down slide for the rest of the year. You have a largely unproven coach and one four star committment who is looking at other schools. On the other hand ND has a coach who has been largely successful everywhere he has gone and is addressing the needs on the defensive side of the ball. If the Sun Bowl showed us anything, it showed us a program on the upswing, and a program that has a year or two of turmoil before they even began to compete at a high level.

Don't kid yourself, the ACC is weak and Miami went 7-5, and was on the down slide for the rest of the year. You have a largely unproven coach and one four star committment who is looking at other schools. On the other hand ND has a coach who has been largely successful everywhere he has gone and is addressing the needs on the defensive side of the ball. If the Sun Bowl showed us anything, it showed us a program on the upswing, and a program that has a year or two of turmoil before they even began to compete at a high level.

 

Golden unproven? He was an extremely highly regarded assistant, coordinator and recruiter. He did wonders at Temple, who when he took over was the worst program in the country. He's not the big name hire someone like Gruden or Harbaugh would have been, but he's at worst a solid hire. He's good enough for Penn State to think about him as the eventual replacement for JoePA but he's not a good pick up for Miami? Please......

 

The Sun Bowl showed nothing as far as Miami is concerned. Miami's problems do not stem from a lack of talent, it's the other things that kill them. No heart, lack of fundamentals, discipline on the field, etc. At worst Golden could bring these qualities. It won't be a quick fix but I'd much rather have these kind of problems than a lack of talent and athleticism.

 

As for the commitments, the lost a lot with the coaching changes but Chickillo would be a huge loss. I don't see it happening, he would be a 3rd generation Cane. They picked up two really good players last week (4 stars, ESPN top 150 players for all that matters....) in Crawford and Grooms. They only have 15-16 schollies open this season (unless AG tells some people to leave) so no one who has a clue about Miami football expected this to be a good class on paper no matter how well Miami did on the field.

 

Be careful with the star-gazing, that crap really doesn't matter in football. Alot of big time HS players turn into stars but just as many go on to be bust. Take a look back the last 6 or 7 years at the top 100 in each class. I would bet most wouldn't even recognize 15-20 names on any given list, and many of those other players under perform. 3 years ago Miami had a top class and look at where it has gotten them. ND always has highly rated people come in and it has never mattered.

 

I'll stick by my guarantee. Miami wins 2 of the 3 match up they have with ND going forward. You look at Miami's record and it's a shame. But there are alot of good things to work with there. They have a ton of really good young OL, including Henderson who was a beast this year for a true frosh. Miller and James have looked good, Storm Johnson has been electric in the small amount of time he's been on the field. The overall talent level isn't as good as Miami teams in the past, but the young players Miami has have alot of talent. LB and DB need work going forward as does the QB position, but I think if Fisch is realistic he will rely on the run alot more than Whipple did.