by Leprechaun Express & Steve Welsh
“In previewing Virginia Tech, we spoke with Tim Sullivan of HokieHaven.com and Mike Barber, who covers the Hokies for the Richmond Times-Dispatch.”
“… This was a team in the Top 10 to start the year and one that won 10 games and played in the Fiesta Bowl just last season. How the heck do the Fighting Irish have a 4-6 record? ….”
“… while Brian Kelly will greet and appreciate 28 seniors who’ll run out of the tunnel in the season’s final home game, he’s hopeful that this won’t be goodbye for most. … while Jarron Jones, James Onwualu, Isaac Rochell, Cole Luke, Mark Harrell, Scott Daly and Avery Sebastian are saying goodbye, there’s plenty of eligibility remaining. … ‘We don’t have as many seniors that have used up their eligibility,’ Kelly explained when asked about the emotions of the upcoming weekend. ‘I’m crying right now because I don’t have Will Fuller. He didn’t have a senior day. Jaylon Smith, Ronnie Stanley, Kavari Russell, is that enough? … then there’s a number of guys that have eligibility remaining. … it’s a lot grayer as to who is a senior and who’s not a senior.’ … a source of optimism, especially for a staff looking to build on the tail-end of the season. … decisions on staying or going will be left until later …”
“… just eight ND players who will run out of the tunnel … are exhausting their eligibility …. Only six of them came to Notre Dame as recruited high school prospects. … Increasingly, a share of the elite seniors on a five-year track and true juniors are going to cannonball into the NFL Draft pool early. … of the 13 ND three-and-out juniors in the 26 years the NFL Draft rules have allowed them, eight have happened [under] Brian Kelly … and five have come in the past three drafts. … those blocked on the depth chart by younger players often will seek grad transfers or will put the “40-year decision” mantra to work before their NCAA clock elapses. … on top of that, there’s … medical hardships, transfers and dismissals.”
“In the nine seasons from 2007-15, Notre Dame has consistently gone through what has been referred to as ‘The Navy Hangover.’ …”
“THREE KEYS TO VICTORY FOR VIRGINIA TECH 1 Get going early … easy for outsiders to say this game means nothing. … a nonconference game … next week, Tech takes on its rival, Virginia, with a chance to clinch the ACC’s Coastal Division …. The Hokies say they’re focused on this game, but minds will wander if Notre Dame jumps ahead early. 2 No big plays: Georgia Tech ripped off two touchdown runs of more than 50 yards against the Hokies. The Fighting Irish have much more offensive firepower than the Yellow Jackets, especially on the edge at wide receiver. 3 Get the offense back on track ….”
“On the whole, #NotreDame hasn’t gotten the job done on the field this season. But the Irish’s 4-6 record doesn’t mean coach Brian Kelly will be without one once the season ends. … Nonetheless, barring a sweep of the final two games — Saturday against Virginia Tech and Nov. 26 at USC — this will be the first season Kelly won’t finish with a winning record at Notre Dame. …”
“Today, Notre Dame is 4-6 — and yet there were inquiries during head coach Brian Kelly’s weekly press conference about whether the team would be receptive to going to a bowl game, even with a possible 5-7 record. … ‘I haven’t given it much thought, to be honest with you,’ replied Kelly when asked if the school would play in a bowl with a 5-7 mark. “I think those scenarios I would address at the end of the year.’ …”
Inside #NotreDame #Football covers some of the latest news, featuring Brian Kelly, Jack Nolan and some Notre Dame players, including a Notre Dame vs. Army recap and Notre Dame vs. Virginia Tech preview.
“Virginia Tech has a very good football team. Justin Fuente, head football coach and Bud Foster, the defensive coordinator, put together a very good year, some really good wins; North Carolina I really thought probably as complete a game as they played all year. Turned the ball over a few times, but a really good football team. Defensively it’s what you expect from Bud Foster’s team, they keep the pressure on you.
Experience in the back end of their defense I think is the key to their defense, returning starters across the board can play man, can mix it up, play some zone coverages. They’ve lost some guys up front, but Eron and Edmunds, extremely productive tackles. What you see with Virginia Tech is negative plays. And most offenses get into long yardage and Virginia Tech is one of the best in the country on third down. ….”