With Kelly in charge, Irish don’t ponder past
Charlie Weis’ departure from Notre Dame was hastened by two losses in three seasons to Navy, a team the Irish had beaten 43 straight times.
So as new Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly approaches his first game against the Midshipmen on Saturday at New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey, it is with some trepidation — and an attempt to separate himself from the past.
“I haven’t driven anything home about the history of it,” Kelly, the coach last year at Cincinnati, told reporters. “Our focus is trying to get another win against a team that really derailed their season last year. I know they remember that. I don’t. I was doing something else.”
Notre Dame’s 2009 loss to Navy had lasting effects as it triggered a four-game losing streak. When Kelly lost three straight this September, the notoriously rabid Irish fan base applied some heat. But Kelly showed little stress, taking a measured approach with his team.
“There’s going to be a lot of 1-3 football teams across the country,” Kelly said after a 37-14 loss to Stanford. “Some are going to finish 1-11; some are going to be 8 or 9-3. It’s what you decide to do from here on out.”
So far, the Irish (4-3) have responded, winning their last three. With Kelly guiding a modern spread offense, a departure from Weis’ pro set, the future is bright in South Bend.
“You turn on the tape, on both sides of the ball they’re still the same: very, very good on offense, big and fast and strong on defense,” Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo said. “You can tell they’re getting better and better, more and more comfortable with what they’re doing.”
Junior quarterback Dayne Crist ranks tied for ninth in the NCAA in passing yards with 1,855, throwing to a talented trio of receivers, two of whom — tight end Kyle Rudolph (hamstring) and wideout Theo Riddick (ankle) — are out Saturday. The status of the third, junior Michael Floyd (hamstring), will be determined at game time.
Navy (4-2) is injury-riddled as well. Six senior starters have been ruled out — fullback Vince Murray (knee), tackle Matt Molloy (concussion), wideout Mike Schupp (ACL), kicker Joe Buckley (knee), safety Emmett Merchant (concussion) and nose guard Shane Bothel (turf toe).
Several Midshipmen have emerged in place of the starters, including junior fullback Alexander Teich, who ran for 95 yards and two touchdowns in a win Saturday over SMU; junior offensive lineman Ryan Basford; and sophomore safety De’Von Richardson (Bowie). Junior Jon Teague, a kickoff man the last two seasons, gets his chance Saturday, taking over Buckley’s kicking duties.
The key man, as always for Navy, will be senior quarterback Ricky Dobbs, who runs the deceptive triple-option offense that befuddled Weis and his staff.
“I’ve never used [history] as a form of motivation,” Kelly said. “I’ve relied more on preparation, knowing your opponent, knowing your own strengths and weaknesses. … I won’t be walking around with a hat, ‘Remember 2009,’ you know.”
