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Disappointment abounds

Plenty of blame to go around, but is it really all that bad? Are the Irish on the right track?

Comments

  1. Anybody else wondering why they let the clock run out at the end of the game? There was time for one more pass down field, quick out of bounds then try a field goal.

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  2. There is a fundamental problem with this football program that goes well beyond coaching. Every three or five years we get the savior, first Willingham, then Weis, now Kelly, and each and every time the fan base is crushed. I didn't expect much better than 8-4 or 7-5 this year, but heads up, ND is about to go 1-5, losing games just as they have been the last several years. From that start, it will be tough to recover.

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  3. I am getting tired of the quick criticisms, especially on NDNation/Rock Report, where folks regularly feel so astute on coaching as to identify particular plays that were unquestionably bad calls, and other so called coaching mistakes. I for one like the new attitude under Kelly--feels a bit like Holtz's first year. Let's hope Kelly's subdquent years turn out similarly, or better. I am holding out hope and continuing my support.

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  4. Great, you guys are talking about the officiating!!! Each of the 3 blown calls could have resulted in a ND win. Yes, you said it, the bad officiating causes a losing mental attitude. You guys are starting to grasp the situation. Now you need to help start putting pressure on the ND AD to put unbiased officials in the contracts and on the field.

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  5. Great show you two. I want to point out two items on your Ref Bitching.

    1. REF bitching is only engaged in by LOSING teams.

    2. ND beat Navy in '86 on a field goal when the PLAY CLOCK EXPIRED!!! Also beat Navy getting a 4th down spot that was totally BOGUS.

    OK. So what.

    Winners overcome. When ND starts RUNNING they will win. I am a NAVY fan. They (Navy) run, they win. You pass (Weis / Kelly) you lose. AL GOLDEN. Repeat that to yourself, AL GOLDEN. Kelly is fine. If as you ND lovers want is a National Championship, you need a running power coach - AL GOLDEN - maybe I should be the ND AD?

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  6. Disagree that the fake field goal was properly defended and that it was just unfortunate Smith fell down. The reason he fell down is the way it was defended. Since when does a safety responsible for pass coverage line up right on the line of scrimmage, in a 3 point stance nose to nose with the guy he is defending. If you watch the replay, the reason Smith fell down is that when the end started going out he was trying to backpedal like crazy right from a down position at the line of scrimage and was off balance so it didn't take much for him to fall down especially given the crowded situation coming off the line. This was especially bad since it isn't like it was 4th and 1 so you had to be right there. It was 4th and 14, so they should have been off the ball in a 2 point stance to prevent a long gain. Would like to think that this may not have happened if Elston had been coaching the special teams, but you have to assume that they were just doing what they have been taught throughout practice.

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  7. Here is a short clip of Michigan State's touchdown in OT that shows the play from behind as well as from above.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNdCbC36Qyk

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  8. OK, a couple of points.... First and foremost, NCAA rules state "You cannot block downfield while the ball is behind the line of scrimmage waiting for a pass attempt." Clearly, there was downfield blocking ocurring during the play. Therefore, 2 fouls, time expiration and illegal contact downfield. Point is, that play should've never been allowed. Another example of refs swallowing their whistles at the end of the game.

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  9. I agree Mike, this was just one of a number of calls (at least 2 on this play) that were missed or not called correctly in the game, and that is extremely frustrating. That still doesn't mean that ND properly defended the play though, and if ND's pass defenders had been off the line of scrimmage a little bit, it would have been more likely to get a call for blocking downfield/offensive pass interference. But the way ND lined up, it made contact necessary for MSU to try to go out and run their routes and that contact extended down the field.

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