Fightin' Words: It's skunkbear season

That's it.  I'm all in.  
After tentatively sipping the Kelly Green Kool-Aid after weeks one and two, I gulped it down as quick as I could when the Fightin' Irish disgraced sparty last week.  

This team is the real deal.  They have something special that I haven't seen during my 7 years in the student section (even during the Quinn era).  Coach Kelly likes to call it "swagger", his players like to call it "swag", and I'm not sure what to call it... but I like it.  If you don't know what I'm talking about, watch the video below, courtesy of UND.com:

If you don't find yourself believing in these guys after having watched that, you may be doomed to a dull life of nagging cynicism.  That's no way to live, so I'm here to help.  As Rocket once said, "I didn't come here to make you feel good... I came here to tell you the truth... 'bout to set you FREE up in this camp!"  Take it from me and the man who taught us the meaning of "Don't flinch!" and "Go get it!" when we say, "Get behind me, unbelief!"  

In all seriousness, a few things stand out from the above video as especially telling of where this team is headed.  For one thing, just look at the way Kelly speaks to his players before each half, and notice the way they respond to his passionate yet consistent message.  Those speeches are downright Dr. Lou-esque, and I love every bit of what I just saw.  I've always wondered whether the players truly understand and appreciate the magnitude of what it means to play football at Notre Dame.  With Kelly continuously referencing the historical significance and the sense of pride that comes with donning that good ol' Blue & Gold, how could they not?  Yet, Kelly doesn't overdo it (like I probably definitely would), because he constantly preaches focus and adherence to "the process"in order to counterbalance the emotional side of the game.  

We're now 3 games into Year 3 of the Kelly Era, and I think it's working... it's finally working.  So where are we headed?  Full steam ahead, baby.  Don't worry, there's still room on the bandwagon... but you might want to jump on before it's filled with the dirty carcasses of slain skunkbears...

FIGHTIN' WORDS: 

"...when people say, "We are ND," when you say, "We are ND," I hope that everybody in here... when you say that... that means you have incredible pride... personal pride... team pride... university pride.  That pride's gotta be on display today.  You're gonna have to play with immense pride and passion for each other.  If we truly are ND... let that show tonight.  Let that passion out... every chance you get.  Let them know... we are ND."
-Coach Brian Kelly, pregame speech, 9/15/12 (ND: 20 MSU: 3)

SCORE PREDICTION:

Fightin' Irish: 34

Skunk Bears: 17

Every class has "that stinky kid" ...then they grow up to become skunkbears.