Notre Dame Football: Wake Forest Game Proves How Little the Irish Have Improved

This was suppose to be the season Notre Dame turned things around and took their football program back to the top. It's safe to say Irish fans have dropped expectations, but that doesn't mean that it's too late to make a statement this season.

The Irish had a chance to make a statement last weekend against a solid and improved team in Wake Forest. While they did win by a touchdown, they struggled throughout the game and only managed 166 yards through the air.

“Is there a negative to everything? We just won a football game on the road,” Head coach Brian Kelly said. “Really, what kind of question is that? Really, what do you want me to say? What’s the answer? We won 24-17 against a good football team and you want to know what’s wrong with the passing game? You know what’s wrong with it? The coach doesn’t call good plays. How’s that? There’s nothing wrong with it. We’re fine. We just won a good game.”

Maybe Brian Kelly didn't get the memo yet, but this is Notre Dame, you're no longer in Cincinnati. You don't get props for just winning a football game that you're suppose to win. Notre Dame is held to higher expectations and are expected to fulfill those.

Notre Dame did win a good game, but they didn't look good doing it and turned the ball over twice. Turnovers is what has haunted the Irish all season and for whatever reason, they haven't been able to limit them throughout the year.

It's going to take time to bring this program back to where it was, but with almost two full seasons under Brian Kelly, we have seen little improvement. You would think he would be further along in rebuilding the program than a Sun Bowl berth and probably a berth in the Champs Bowl this season.

Although this season has been a disappointment for the Irish, they had a chance to prove something against Wake Forest and didn't. Now the season will end with two wins against horrible teams in Maryland and Boston College and a difficult task against Stanford.

The Irish did get a win this weekend but showed little signs that they have turned the corner just yet.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]

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