IBG: Backing into Backup College

Thanks to Domer Law for writing the questions for this week's Irish Blogger Gathering.

1. After 3 straight losses, there appear to be two camps of fans: A. The sky is falling. Coach Kelly is not a good coach, not a good fit, probably won't ever win a game and should be fired today. B. Coach Kelly is still totally awesome, and you had to expect some bumps and bruises as he builds the team - remember Holtz's first year? Which camp do you fall into, and why?

tendomer: I'm closer to B than A, given Kelly's track record and the QB depth chart that cost us a game and handcuffed our starter in the other two losses. BK acknowledged Tuesday that Dayne must be a threat to run for ND's running attack to function, perhaps foreshadowing a more complete spread sooner rather than later.

2. With the current state of the program, put yourself in a recruit's shoes. If you had offers from all 12 schools on our schedule and Notre Dame, which would you pick right now and why? Who would your top 3 be?

tendomer: Even when trying to maintain objectivity, I'd pick ND by a long shot for its football tradition, demonstrated abilities of its head coach at developing players and winning championships, graduation rate, value of the degree, strength of the network, ability to fill its stadium through thick and thin, television exposure, and, if the scenario made me a defensive back or outside linebacker, early playing time. The biggest competition wouldn't be from another team on the schedule but from Alabama, which as of now has a better chance of winning national championships and producing NFL players than any other school.

3. What's the trajectory of this season? Is this going to spiral downward into a 2007-esque kind of year, or will the team rally and start winning some game against quality opponents?

tendomer: The upward trend will begin Saturday night in Boston, and we'll remember the Stanford game as the low point of Kelly's ND career. Even with a couple more losses by the end of the year, it won't get near 2007 in terms of loss total and blowouts. At a minimum, ND knows it has the season's easiest games yet to play, although BK's second ND victory won't have to wait until Western Michigan.

4. Give me your top 5 reasons why you'd rather go to Notre Dame than Backup College.

TheNDleprechaun:

5. Our Irish Studies department is ranked #1 nationally. In true Backup College fashion, theirs is #2.
4. Would you rather be Michael or Fredo Corleone? That's what I thought...
3. I heart parietals.
2. There's only room for one real Catholic school in the FBS.
1. We are ND... and they're not.

5. I'm depressed after our third straight loss. Do your best to cheer me up and convince me that I should still be excited about this weekend's game.

TheNDleprechaun: Nothing cheers me up when I'm down like beating up my little brother. ND gets a chance to do that on Saturday, and we get to watch.

6. If you could ask Coach Kelly any one question, what would it be?

TheNDleprechaun: As an Irish Catholic from Boston, what will a win for your Notre Dame Fighting Irish over the only other Catholic school in D1-A football (which also happens to be located in Boston) mean to you?