After a great start to the 2017 season, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have fallen apart at the seams once again.

Just last year, the Fighting Irish finished a dismal season with a 4-8 record. In 2017, they’ve already surpassed doubling last year’s win total, but it isn’t enough. Like every year with Brian Kelly at the reigns, the Irish have been exposed as the imposters of the season.

Whether it’s Tommy Rees, Everett Golson, DeShone Kizer, Malik Zaire or Brandon Wimbush slinging the rock, the result has always been the same: Brian Kelly’s Notre Dame has never been good enough.

While only sporting one loss to the Georgia Bulldogs earlier in the season, the Fighting Irish controlled their own destiny heading into matchups with Miami, Navy and Stanford. Miami stomped all over the Irish and Stanford had their way with Notre Dame’s defense.

It’s #CoachFiringSZN

So far, notable schools like Tennessee, Texas A&M, UCLA, Florida and Nebraska have all moved on from their 2017 coaching staff. Vacancies are popping up all over the nation. Notre Dame needs to enter that parade.

Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, you’re given two options: Hate Notre Dame or Love Notre Dame. I’ve lived through the days of Charlie Weis and Tyrone Willingham. I’ve seen horrific football out of South Bend, but I’ve never been more disappointed in a coach more than Brian Kelly.

The Legend of Brian Kelly

When Kelly took over in 2010, Notre Dame football seemed to be on the fast track to returning to glory. Unfortunately, Notre Dame has hardly seen consistent improvement. After an 8-5 finish in 2010 and another in 2011, something finally clicked in 2012 when the Fighting Irish made it all the way to the BCS National Championship.

After receiving a thorough beat down at the hands of the Alabama Crimson Tide, ND regressed in 2013 with a 9-4 record. 2014 didn’t yield any better results; another 8-5 finish followed up by a 10-3 2015 season gave fans hope for the second year of DeShone Kizer’s career. Those hopes were crushed by the infamous 4-8 conclusion to 2016.

Now we’re in 2017. Another year for Brian Kelly to skate by. Best case scenario, 10-3. Worse case, 9-3. Some things never change.

Sure, Notre Dame doesn’t have it as bad as programs like Florida or Tennessee, but when they’ve come so close, only to make missing out on the College Football Playoff an annual tradition, fans have grown increasingly frustrated.

From having a team ranked #3, to having three losses three weeks later, this football program is settling for inexcusable results.