Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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4 PRESEASON 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED H indsight will forever be 20-20, but as Brian Kelly reflected on the miseries of a 4-8 record in 2016 he ad- mitted there were some early clues that foreshadowed his setback season. After sending seven players to the NFL Draft following the 2015 season — including six in the first three rounds — Kelly faced heavy roster turnover in 2016, from both a leadership and a production standpoint. All five of his team captains were gone. His four leading receivers, leading rusher and six of his eight top tacklers also had to be replaced. When Notre Dame started the 2016 season with only one win in four September games, Kelly and Co. never could sta- bilize the downward spiral. "I knew that we needed to get off to a good start," Kelly explained in retrospect. "I knew that we needed confidence." With an overhauled coaching staff, plenty of future NFL talent and a clean slate, confidence is high that a turn- around is coming this season, or at least it better be. We missed badly on this story last season, predicting Notre Dame to go 10-2. Our annual shot at this follows. Sept. 2 vs. Temple A game being dismissed as a tune- up for Georgia in week two, this date with the Owls is no gimme. Temple is coming off back-to-back American Athletic East titles and 10-win seasons. ND 30, Temple 24 Sept. 9 vs. Georgia An important confidence game for both teams after disappointing 2016 seasons (Georgia went 8-5), the winner will have something to build on while the loser will be left to wonder. The Bulldogs' ground game is too much. Georgia 27, ND 24 Sept. 16 at Boston College With only two ACC wins in the last two seasons and not much program momentum under fifth-year head coach Steve Addazio, the Eagles are a sure win for the Irish, even with BC returning 14 starters. ND 30, BC 10 Sept. 23 at Michigan State Rock bottom arrived for MSU fol- lowing a 36-28 win over Notre Dame last season. The Spartans then lost their next seven games, finished 3-9 and had an offseason filled with arrests, scandal and suspensions. ND 24, MSU 17 Sept. 30 vs. Miami (Ohio) After going 5-25 in his first two-plus seasons in Oxford, Ohio, RedHawks head coach and former Irish assistant Chuck Martin finished last season 6-1 and in a bowl after starting 0-6. Miami is improved but still outclassed. ND 38, Miami 13 Oct. 7 at North Carolina One of those ACC games Notre Dame struggles in, North Carolina will provide the Irish the most disappoint- ing loss of their season, even though the Tar Heels lost nearly all of their skill players from last year. UNC 24, ND 23 Oct. 21 vs. USC After a 1-3 start in 2016, USC fin- ished with nine straight wins and expectations for nothing less than a national championship this season. Coming off a bye week could help the Irish here, but not enough. USC 28, ND 21 Oct. 28 vs. North Carolina State Another tricky game against an ornery ACC opponent, the Wolfpack features the best de- fensive line the Irish will face all season. NC State returns 16 start- ers overall and will give Notre Dame one of its tougher tests. ND 20, NC State 17 Nov. 4 vs. Wake Forest A reunion of sorts when new Irish defensive coordinator Mike Elko takes on the team he coached for the last three sea- sons. Wake Forest has built some momentum and an ability to pull an upset, but not here. ND 31, WF 7 Nov. 11 at Miami (Fla.) With 14 returning starters and expectations growing under seasoned second-year coach Mark Richt, the Hurricanes are ranked and ready to become a player in the ACC this sea- son, but not at Notre Dame's expense. ND 28, Miami 24 Nov. 18 vs. Navy Always a confounding opponent, the Navy method and mission never changes — run the football, control the clock, frustrate defenses, do enough to win. It's a proven formula, but not this time. ND 38, Navy 28 Nov. 25 at Stanford With 16 returning starters, Stanford is loaded again and looking to beat Notre Dame for the sixth time in eight tries versus Kelly. Home-field advan- tage makes the difference for one of the four preseason-ranked Irish oppo- nents. Stanford 24, ND 20 That gets Notre Dame and Brian Kelly to 8-4 this season, a record that will bring great debate on whether this Irish coach has his team on track or off course. ✦ Is Eight Enough To Stay The Course? UPON FURTHER REVIEW TODD D. BURLAGE Todd D. Burlage has been a writer for Blue & Gold Illustrated since July 2005. He can be reached at tburlage@blueandgold.com If the Fighting Irish can improve from 4-8 in 2016 to 8-4 in 2017, will it be enough to get head coach Brian Kelly off the hot seat? PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND