Let’s get this out of the way first:

Brian Kelly / Phila. Eagles – just as every other successful coach, I’m sure Kelly has been approached by the Eagles and Bears. 6 weeks is a long time and maybe discussions were underway even before then.

Oregon’s Kelly has already turned down any offers, Saban is toxic to NFL teams and not too many other college coaches have made their bones yet to be considered with the exception of Urban Meyer.

Whatever Kelly decides is fine with me – we do have a ND grad dying for this job, Tom Clements who has considerable experience in the NFL as an Offensive Co-ordinator and I think he could hold this class by retaining Hiestand, Diaco and maybe others on the current staff and definitely keep Alford. Whatever, Kelly should not be hiding, should issue a statement right away to calm down recruits.

We all know Jack Swarbrick had to have a plan B, all “A” Directors have to be ready for the unexpected and Jack is a very smart guy.

As for the recruits it shouldn’t be about who the coaches are but about the University and what the ND degree means. They don’t need to be reminded after seeing Kap Moore go down and his NFL dreams over to see that their decision is more than about football.

Now on to the Title Game. Given 6 weeks to prepare all I saw was the same offense. Golson scrambling and improvising along with his receivers had nothing to do with Kelly. The pass plays Kelly called were all against Alabama’s beat pass defender – kind of stupid to me. With 6 weeks just maybe something Alabama hasn’t seen would have been nice.

Defense – what was new or innovative and what half time adjustments were made – I think Diaco had another brain freeze and no plan B – similar to the Navy game a few years back. After the 5 play first series TD against the 3-4 just maybe he would have seen that Bama’s OL was overpowering the 3 down and getting to the LB’s.

I would have had 5 down linemen for that 2nd series and run blitz and at least knock McCarron down. Clean uniform for him – no need to even shower. Check out what the Bama center has been saying – they knew everything ND defense would do and just adjusted the play.

No real out of the box thinking by Diaco. Memo to Diaco study Buddy Ryan 46 defense and the concept of perceived pressure. You gotta get to the QB to win.

Best part of this game was McCarron’s girlfriend.

Manti Te’o – after winning every award possible except the H non ND followers who tuned in were expecting to see some kind of Superman – they got Clark Kent instead. Alabama completely took Manti out of the game having him get screened out and busy fighting Bama’s giant linemen. Some revision in the Pro’s thinking?

Well that closes out the 2012 season.