Comments on: Five things we learned: Notre Dame vs. Utah

By: Chris Maza

Chris Maza — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 20:48:15 +0000

The rollercoaster ride continues for Notre Dame… http://wp.me/p15q0r-2X

By: nd52

nd52 — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:05:59 +0000

Can anyone out there explain to me why Robert Hughes hardly played this year?
He’s a tough effective running back and yet hardly played.

By: vegasmike74

vegasmike74 — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 23:40:24 +0000

Good coaching and good player execution wake up the echoes!

By: ndfan82

ndfan82 — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 17:52:15 +0000

Ocean man you are the perfect example of a ND hater you obviously know NOTHING about ND athletics. Do your research before commenting on a topic you know absoluty nothing about, so if you do respond please come back with FACTS rather than your thoughts.

By: jerseyshorendfan1

jerseyshorendfan1 — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 17:17:14 +0000

Not to us. If its so irrelevant then why are you even here commenting dirtbomb?

By: terryb101

terryb101 — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 17:03:08 +0000

pretty sad state of affairs when we get excited about beating utah(regardless of ranking) hate it when people or players say a win is a win,that usually means that the team isnt that good and is happy to get a win..and i just dont feel that that is the notre dame that i grew up with from the late 60′s onward,

By: oceanman1

oceanman1 — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 16:53:42 +0000

I don’t understand why NBC still has a dedicated column about Notre Dame football … WHIO CARES ??
This ain’t 1966 ….
Notre Dame has been irrelevent in all major sports for a long time !!

By: olemantj

olemantj — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 15:51:53 +0000

Keith:

Excellent stuff. Agree with just about everything you said in this post. The one thing I have a problem with is your line about the vultures flying…..

I think I know what you meant, but the initial image in my head of vultures flying over the body of DS just didn’t set well. I think an update to that line would be most appropriate

By: tbpeterson2

tbpeterson2 — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 13:55:55 +0000

Great article.

By: willmose

willmose — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 13:46:41 +0000

It was a good win for the Irish. One thing we have learned is that Kelly is gambler, he expect his team to make plays. While that philosophy has bitten him in the butt a few times this season, he has a team that is not timid and looks to make big plays. It is a foreshadowing of what is to come.

By: spankyomonkey

spankyomonkey — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 13:06:03 +0000

ouch … from article about Ute’s loss … “humiliating 28-3 loss to a really bad Notre Dame squad” … but a win is a win

By: danno27

danno27 — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 12:02:14 +0000

About those cue cards – I was watching the game at a crowded bar and didn’t get audio. What in the blue blazes were they doing with those things? Was it simplified play-calling?

By: krups06

krups06 — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 07:54:36 +0000

Great win for the seniors, Coach Kelly and his staff, as well as the underclassmen. I will be the first to admit that Utah was completely overrated at #5 just a week ago, but they are a well coached team none the less. What we saw today was an Irish team that basically said “No, not today, not in our house, we want it more than you, and we are going to humiliate you along the way.” This season has certainly been one of misfortune coupled with inconsistent execution from the players and coaches, but an effort like this is very encouraging. I also can’t emphasize enough what this win did for recruiting today, not just for those visiting but for the ones watching at home as well. I am now eager to see how the story is going to end for this team. Its going to have to start with another effort like this in Yankee Stadium under the lights of prime time next week.

By: jerseyshorendfan1

jerseyshorendfan1 — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 07:41:05 +0000

Oh, and 6) Alex Flanagan even looks hot on those giant Tommy Rees pictionary cue cards. Not too sure about what the Curious George one meant however.

By: jerseyshorendfan1

jerseyshorendfan1 — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 07:39:04 +0000

5 Things I Learned:

1) Boy did we need that win. If we can just do it one more time a bowl appearance will help this young team out immensely for next year.

2) Dayne who? Rees is a player. That first pass to Kamara was off his back foot and he laid it in there perfectly.

3) This defense is continuing to improve. Hope Diaco can figure out the Army option attack.

4) Why does it take Senior Day to put tears in the eyes of Brian Smith and his father? They should have been that pumped up for every game. Yes, the Dad too.

5) This was not a “signature win” for Kelly. It was a great win, but people will argue that Utah is an exposed fraud of a team due to last week and this game. Let’s wait and see how far they fall in the rankings next week.

Lastly, I would give my eye teeth to see ND do the same thing to USC in 2 weeks. Even though the same detractors will argue that USC is down this year , in disarray as a program, etc. I want to beat them convincingly and then I will consider this year well-played.

By: c4evr

c4evr — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 06:38:16 +0000

I will temper my exuberance with a sober reminder that, as great a win for ND as it was, it is also a Utah team that has been exposed. Most encouraging for the Irish is hearing names like Shembo, Schwenke, and Rees mentioned after big plays. If freshmen are making game changing plays at this point, that’s a great sign for the future. I still didn’t like Kelly’s 4th down call on the first drive – but a win covers a multitude of sins. Rees showed incredible poise for a youngster. He had no ‘deer-in-the-headlights’ look on his camera close ups that Crist sometimes has. The running backs still hit their holes late and I really don’t like the spread’s ‘hand it off and let the runner look for an opening’ approach. Call me old fashioned, but I still prefer Lou’s north/south, smash mouth running game. But these days, wins are at a premium, so I’ll take what I can get. On to NYC with my 3 yr. old to witness history at the game at Yankee stadium… hope they’ve been watching a lot of tape from the Navy game : )

By: domjay

domjay — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 05:56:12 +0000

Make no mistake it was the commitment to the running game, excellent defensive effort, and great special team plays that won this game. ND absolutely must bring this kind of effort to their next two games because they will not be easy. Please BK bring the same kind of offensive game plan into the next two games and show the commitment to running the football that you showed today and limit Rees to high percentage throws that limit his mistakes. Do this and we have a shot at 7-5, do it not and 6-6 would not even be a given.

By: irishfan2791

irishfan2791 — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 05:31:57 +0000

Gosh, I was going into this game dreading the outcome (I almost didn’t watch) I have supported Brian Kelly throughout the season and been bitten in the rear for it a couple times more than i’d like, it sure felt great being a Irish fan today. The overall preformance of everyone on the team was awesome to watch. If the Defense plays this well against army especially the D-line (who pushed the line of scrimmage back two yards every play) it should be a great game to watch and showcase the talent of the Irish. And, trying not to look forward too far but if we beat SC in LA all will be forgiven. But pumped for the game under the lights in NYC!!! GO IRISH!!!!!!!!

By: 9irish

9irish — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 05:29:11 +0000

Best game I have seen in several years. No mistakes. You can be the best pistolero in the world, but if you shoot yourself in the foot all the time, it does not work out too well. I think they have figured out how to win. Looking forward to next week.

go Irish

By: danno27

danno27 — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 05:13:32 +0000

Agreed – H. Smith has never made a better play in an ND uniform. This win was sweet.

By: jimbasil

jimbasil — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 04:50:54 +0000

Nice Win. Utah, as much as many will say they were a weak No. 15 team, was not prepared for ND’s Defense size and speed. The Irish D played with more tenacity than I’ve seen in sometime. Blanton’s block, aided by a good special teams call, really was a play waiting to happen after the first defensive set against the Utes. The Utes are a well coached team, but today in the rain they were not ready for an all around talented team rising from its injuries and bad defeats.

Kudos to Rees and the O Line for playing with intent and smarts and Kamara for not giving up belief he could make some big plays, not only receiving but blocking very well down field as did Floyd.

This was the team effort ND fans have been wishing to witness and this may be where we see this team begin to come of age.

By: jpwills19

jpwills19 — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 04:48:01 +0000

I’m pretty fired up, obviously, but I think that might have been a program-changing win. I thought NBC did a great job of keeping focus on the fan energy once the student came on the field. To me, there was just a completely different vibe, like the tide had been turned. These true freshmen are really stepping up. Win out and the recruiting momentum will follow.

By: fitz79

fitz79 — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 03:28:30 +0000

A game like this will make a believer out of ya in a hurry. Due props to the seniors but I’m especially encouraged by how many freshmen we’re out there playing terrific today. Bodes well for the future. I hope we can take this momentum and win out and go to a decent bowl game. Not too overlook Army, they’re better than they have been of late but let me be the first to say bring on USC! They’re more vulnerable this year than in a long, long time.