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Notre Dame Football: Can Brian Kelly, Irish get over hump in 2018?

By Connor Muldowney

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 28: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Notre Dame Stadium on October 28, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 28: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Notre Dame Stadium on October 28, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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After compiling a 69-34 record in his first eight seasons in South Bend, can Brian Kelly and Notre Dame football get over the hump in 2018?

When Brian Kelly accepted the job to be Notre Dame’s head coach back in 2010, he had to know what came with it. Along with being the head man at one of the top programs in college football history, Kelly had to accept sky-high expectations and a passionate fan base.

Most coaches would dream of landing a job the caliber of Notre Dame’s head coach, but as much of a blessing as it is, it’s also a curse.

Notre Dame has the resources, the budget, the facilities and the tradition to sell its brand to the nation’s top recruits, making the job that much easier for the head coach. However, getting those top players to buy in to the coach’s system is a different beast.

Kelly has had a difficult time over the past few years, racking up a 69-34 overall record which isn’t bad, but doesn’t quite live up to the standards of the elite program.

After a 4-8 season in 2016, it looked like his road as the head coach was coming to an end. Then 2017 happened. He had the Irish contending for a spot in the College Football Playoff in the final month of the season and reached the 10-win mark, saving his job. He was no longer a ‘fun-killer’ and looked more relaxed in his eighth season with the Golden Domers.

Now that he’s coming off a 10-win campaign, can he lead the Irish over the hump and into the national spotlight for the first time since 2012 when they lost in the national title game?

The short answer: yes. The long answer: as long as he continues coaching the way he did in 2017 and doesn’t revert back to his grumpy, old ways. He had more fun as a head coach in 2017 and his players followed suit, loving the sport again.

The talent is there despite Brandon Wimbush being a lackluster passer and the Irish not exactly having a true starting quarterback decided yet.

Looking for a ceiling for this team in 2018 under Kelly’s guidance? We could see the Irish reach that 11 or 12-win mark, securing a spot in the playoff or a New Year’s Six bowl.

Next: 5 reasons Notre Dame can win 2018 national title

Don’t sleep on this team’s potential, especially with Kelly fixing his coaching mistakes and finally taking responsibility for past failures.

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