Notre Dame Football: Brian Kelly Makes Navy a Must-Win Game

So much has happened in the last week, it's hard to place perspective in its proper place. 

One week ago, everyone had picked Notre Dame to beat arch rival USC in prime time and race firmly into the BCS picture. 

Three more costly turnovers and a total inability to stop the run reversed all that discussion. 

Suddenly, Notre Dame goes from being discussed as a program on the rise to a series of "what's next" discussions. 

USC players are calling Notre Dame quitters, suggesting that by leaving all three second-half timeouts on the board was the equivalent of raising the white flag. USC quarterback Matt Barkley went so far as to say that Notre Dame gave up and just wanted the game to be over.

After receiving an apology call from Trojan head coach Lane Kiffin, Kelly himself threw more gas on the fire, suggesting that he has "his guys" on the team who are intense and play with attitude, and that the "other guys" are coming along.

This statement was met with another barrage of negative comments, though, this time not from the media or on fan message boards...but from the players.

"Disgusting" tweets Brasxon Cave.

"Playing only for my bro's now. That's it!" from Manti Te'o. 

A year ago at the team's darkest moment, Kelly organized a renaissance. From the darkest moment arose a phoenix, a four-game win streak over a ranked Utah, this same USC squad and Miami in the Sun Bowl.

In a single statement at the dark point this year, Kelly may have alienated his captains and most tenured players by driving deep divide through this team.

Calling out every player that he did not reel in essentially also lays the blame for the inconsistent play and less-than stellar 12-8 record at the feet of Charlie Weis and his "soft" players, rather than his inability to enter a game with his team prepared and ready to protect the football.

As if the storyline needed any more depth, enter the Naval Academy.

The Irish already hold a two-game losing streak to the Midshipmen. They were embarrassed a year ago at the new Meadowlands Stadium and were shocked at home two years ago.

In both games, Navy ran for over 350 yards on the Irish defense, which has been inconsistent against the run this year.

Navy is off to a rough start but has been competitive against South Carolina and went to overtime with common opponent Air Force.

Though down versus previous teams, Navy is in no way a gimmie.

The rushing attack is still potent, the triple option is still maddening. If Notre Dame can't stop the run, and continues to commit personal fouls and turnovers at NCAA FBS-leading rates, this one, like the last two, can easily get away. 

For Kelly and the Irish, falling to 4-4 on the season would likely land the program back in the same hot water that circulated around the Weis-led Irish after their last home loss to the Midshipmen. 

Suddenly this is a critical game. 

Brian Kelly may have placed himself at a make-or-break point very early.