Sunday, October 9, 2016

Where do we go from here?

2-4 with losses to teams that in the summer we thought we should beat or at least could beat and the tough games are still to come.  A winning season and a bowl bid in serious doubt and keeping an optimistic but realistic approach  it's now a "take one game at a time" season.  Each win should be celebrated as individual victory not a means to an end. 

Out of loyalty let's see what we need to so to get a bowl bid, get to 6 wins.  The Irish need to win 4 of their final 6 games.  Balancing logic and hope we'll lean and the side of positive thinking and give Notre Dame wins to the 3 remaining unranked opponents, Navy, Army and USC (I would bet that Navy will be ranked this week and USC's stock is rising).  That means Kelly and crew will need o have at least one win over one of the remaining ranked teams in Stanford, Miami and Virginia Tech.
Going back to celebrating individual wins and zooming out to a 30,000 foot view here are things that Irish fans need to focus on and ponder.  Keeping players injury free for both the rest of the season and next year including those with NFL possibilities.  After that wins over any of their ranked opponents, USC, Miami and Standard would be feel good moments upsetting rivals in the role of underdog.
As disappointing as Saturdays loss to NC State was what may have been more disappointing was the manner the Irish loss.  I for one thought the play calling lost the game and that is what is making the season even worse.