Can Brian Kelly Ever Get Notre Dame Back to Elite Status?

Notre Dame's once promising season is officially in free fall.

After having the defending national champions on the ropes and missing their opportunity at a knockout punch, it's the Irish looking punch drunk and woozy as they close out a once-promising season with a train-wreck finish.

For the second straight week, senior kicker Kyle Brindza's watched the Irish's chances at victory sail wide of the goal posts. This week it was from 32 yards out, keeping the Irish from forcing overtime after fighting back from two different 11-point deficits. 

Louisville becomes the latest team to walk into Notre Dame Stadium and come out a winner. And the Cardinals did it in a way that was almost as painful for Irish fans to watch as Northwestern's victory. 

"We've lost back-to-back games because we couldn't out down a ball and kick it 32 yards," Kelly said bluntly. 

It's enough to send a football coach to Florida—in search of some much-needed R&R (not a new job, as some speculated). But if Brian Kelly thinks a few days at a beach can wash this November from his mind, he's only kidding himself.

A promising season has turned into a 7-4 Irish team with a trip to USC just a week away. And as the 2012 BCS title game becomes a distant memory, Kelly has lost four or more games in four of his five seasons. It's no wonder some people are openly wondering if Kelly's the guy to get Notre Dame back to elite status. 

But don't throw dirt on the Irish just yet. 

While this November swoon comes at the hands of Arizona State, Northwestern and Louisville—not exactly a terror-filled trio—there's still reason to believe that Kelly's team is closer to the top of the mountain than it looks after losing four of its last five games for the first time since Charlie Weis got run out of town. 

At this point, Notre Dame's defense looks like a group out of the Witness Protection Program. After jumping out to a hot start with Sheldon Day, Jarron Jones, Cody Riggs, Joe Schmidt and Jaylon Smith leading the way, only Smith remains. And his 11 tackles against Louisville weren't enough to stop the Cardinals from running for 229 yards. 

The Irish tried everything this week. They burned a redshirt on freshman Jay Hayes to try and add some bulk to the defensive line. They played Jacob Matuska, a redshirt freshman whose name analyst Doug Flutie needed help pronouncing. (Don't feel bad, Doug. Brian Kelly can't say his name right, either.)

Fifth-year safety Austin Collinsworth tried playing through a shoulder injury that should've ended his season. It showed, with Collinsworth swinging and missing as a tackler like Pedro Cerrano at a curveball. 

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

But all that youth will be better for being thrown into the fire, earning key reps in a home stretch where injuries continue to decimate the depth chart. The Irish will lose Riggs and Collinsworth not just from the starting lineup but also the two-deep depth chart. So while you might have been scratching your head wondering who the young kids were chasing after Louisville quarterback Reggie Bonnafon, they'll likely be part of next year's building blocks. 

"I think at one time I looked out there, and I think it was just Collinsworth," Kelly said, when asked about his young defense. "Everybody else was freshmen and sophomores on defense, so great experience. The ability to carry over will obviously be something that we believe that we can grow from. So, close losses, difficult losses that we hope that our team will grow from."

Offensively, Everett Golson threw another interception but picked up his game after a struggle in the first half. Golson played a capable triggerman, as sophomores William Fuller and Tarean Folston both went over 100 yards. Folston ran through the No. 2 rush defense in the country. Fuller outplayed DeVante Parker, Louisville's big-play receiver.

Add in a big punt return by Greg Bryant and some clutch catches by Chris Brown and Corey Robinson and the Irish's collection of playmakers return, playing behind an offensive line that will bring back four of five starters.

"This is a great group of guys and I know there’s a great deal of success for them in the future," senior captain Collinsworth said after his last home game. "This team never quits. They really genuinely love each other and will do anything for each other. Eventually, these guys will be champions, and I know that."

That won't be this season. But a quick look back at Notre Dame's last big run in 2012, and it's worth noting that it came after a frustrating, mistake-riddled 2011 season, a year with plenty of similarities to this one. Irish fans were wondering then if Kelly was the right man for the job, up until a 12-win, undefeated regular season. 

That hope might not be much. But it's something to cling to after a difficult stretch of football has Kelly looking for a silver lining. 

"They know that they easily could win any of the games they've played in," Kelly said postgame. "A mistake here or there and not executing at the time necessary has been the difference between a win and loss with this team. It's razor thin."

*Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand.