Notre Dame Football: Irish Must Focus on the Long Term

Perspective is a force to be reckoned with.

Perspective is also often the hardest thing to come by for most football fans. Emotions run high, and spirits rise and fall with every win or loss.

Still, it is important to occasionally step back and take a long, objective look at the matter at hand.

In this case: the Notre Dame football program.

Year Two of the Brian Kelly administration did not go as planned. BCS expectations took a large hit in the first half of the first game, and were extinguished completely with defeats to USC and Stanford.

An 8-4 record isn't what anyone wanted, but in retrospect, it really isn't all that bad.

In the three years leading up to this year's eight-win season, Irish squads posted seasons of six wins, six wins, and seven wins.

Add in the disastrous three-win season just before this year's senior class began their careers, and it becomes easy to see what many outsiders find clear.

Brian Kelly is rebuilding from nowhere.

Since arriving at Notre Dame, Kelly has made some nice additions to the roster.

In his first year he used Cincinnati connections to pull in Andrew Hendrix, Austin Collinsworth, and Alex Welch, in addition to competing for and securing Danny Spond, Kendal Moore, Louis Nix, Prince Shembo, and Lo Wood.

In his first full recruiting cycle, Kelly made some legitimate defensive splashes, pulling in Aaron Lynch, Stephon Tuitt, Ishaq Williams, Chase Hounshell, Troy Niklas, and Jalen Brown.

Offensively, he filled needs on the line with Conner Hanratty, Jordan Prestwood, and Matt Hegarty, in addition to tight end Ben Koyak.

At skilled positions, the staff secured George Atkinson III, who contributed early by returning a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns, while being basically the only thing worth remembering about Irish special teams.

In addition to Atkinson, potential starting quarterback Everett Golson was brought in, as well as running back Cam McDaniel and receiver DeVaris Daniels.

For the first time in a very long time, the talent pool at Notre Dame has some depth.

This year, Kelly seems to be recruiting for need as well.

The highest rated recruit committed to the Irish so far is defensive back Ronald Darby, closely followed by fellow DB Tee Sheppard.

Also among four-star recruits in a position of need are running back William Mahone and receiver Deontay Greenberry.

Consider also that top rated quarterback Gunner Kiel has narrowed his options to Notre Dame and LSU, and is visiting the Irish this weekend.

There is a host of young talent either enrolled at or on the way to Notre Dame.

Unfortunately, with youth there is growth. With growth there are pains.

There were far too many turnovers, far too many personal foul penalties, and simply too many stretches of sloppy football.

Also, it's not just the players who must grow.

Brian Kelly also showed growth throughout the season. He shelved his "get used to it" attitude and realized that winning at Notre Dame comes differently than winning at Cincinnati or Grand Valley State.

At his previous stops, he wasn't getting everyone's absolute best shot every week.

Beating Cincinnati does not make your season, but even after years of mediocrity, a win over Notre Dame is something you remember. 

He learned that the clock matters. You have to run the football. You have to play defense.

Each of those phases improved immensely in year two of the regime.

In addition, consider that Notre Dame could have easily finished 10-2. Or better.

Consider that in the four losses, Notre Dame committed 16 turnovers. In those games the turnover margin was a dreadful -11.

The two worst offenses, five turnovers lost in each of the first two games, resulted in a three-point loss to South Florida and a four-point loss to Michigan.

Notre Dame fans have grown quite impatient as a whole.

Honestly, the collective Irish faithful has every right to be. Five consecutive years of simply average football have elevated frustration levels to a high not seen since the Gerry Faust era.

I beg a little more patience. There are better days coming.

The team is being built the right way, from the inside out.

A top-level program must have a top-level defense, and Kelly is working on building one of each.