Rockne's Roundtable

There are certainly many ways to define "there." And, you have done a
great job of setting forth quite a few excellent ones, with poignant reminders
of what does not constitute "there." From my perspective it means regularly
and consistently "being in the hunt" for a major bowl and/or national title
in November. Obviously, that means beating people on your schedule with
some degree of regularity, especially during the months of September and
October. Secondly, it means beating people at home. Now, I know Lou that
you will point out that ND's icons lost at home---sometimes miserably. But, in
the "Wake Up the Echoes" video, recall the commentary on the period 1956-1963
that "teams came into the 'hallowed' ground and beat the Irish." (the visual includes
a less than competent ND player hitting a goal post with his head).

It also means being a real rather than notional threat on people's schedule. I'll never forget your comment one season when the pundits were talking about I think it was
USC's schedule and you waited in vain for them to even mention ND.

It means all of these things and hopefully Brian Kelly, his staff, the football team, the recruits, the fans and the University will all get "there."

totally agree Lou we are there when there is a sixth statue outside Notre Dame stadium we have set the bar so high at Notre Dame we wont accept nothing less.

2013,2016/2017

ND will get there when they are able to hire another great coach. Until then, they will continue to lose to the likes of Tulsa, Navy, USF and Syracuse at home.

As much as I hate to say it. I don't see how loading up your already difficult schedule with the Miami's, Texas, Oklahoma's of the world will ever help their cause. In the world of college football, you need several sure things, several solid opponents and then maybe one Elite victory to get to the promise land. Saying we'll play the schedule we are playing, when the talent level or experience doesn't warrant it, will ultimately continue to hurt ND in getting the Elite team they want all while facilitating the money aspect they care about. Pride aside, if people want to win, you do it as most schools do, not by saying we'll truly have earned it. Sad, but true.

When our defense becomes elite. Our offense hasnt been the problem, its been the defense IMO. I think last year the defense probably out performed the offense, but Im talking about a defense that is consistent year in and year out. The SEC has great defenses and thats why they win. When you look at their offenses, none of their teams realy do anything special except that they are extremely physical.

And think about this, in 2002 we had a terrible offense and had a great year. I think our defense was out scoring the offense for awhile. Then you look at the solid offenses we had with Clausen, but we never did anything special.

Yes we did win in 2005 and 2006 with Brady Quinn's, but we had a solid defense as well. And to be honest, we never really one a big game anyway in these 2 years

Very astute observation

In the world of sports - doesn't quite work that way. And if it did, we wouldn't be posting on a message board wondering when ND will be elite again because we will be satisfied being the Glenn Johnsons of football, instead of the undefeated fighter who fights the semi-elite names and continues to win.

i think bk and the boys can "get there" sooner than later providing we stop beating ourselves. even though stanford and usc bloodied our noses and just plain pushed us around, i think physically we can hang with most. it's the mental toughness and mentality that seems to be lacking.......