Matt Ryan and Tom Brady the nowhere men after defeats to 49ers, Ravens

New England Patriot's QB Tom Brady (Photo:Globe)

End of the line for Tom Brady in Super Bowl appearances?

At one point it appeared likely that the two greatest Irish American quarterbacks of their generation, Matt Ryan of the Falcons and Tom Brady of the Patriots, would meet in Super Bowl 47.

That was when the Falcons had jumped out to a 17 point lead against the 49ers and looked to be cruising.
Meanwhile Brady’s Patriots were favored to defeat the Ravens at home, leaving a mouth watering clash of two great quarterbacks as the story of the Super Bowl.

It was not to be. The 49ers, despite being 1-27 in games where they trailed by 17 points, staged a magnificent comeback, helped, it has to be said, by two huge blunders by Ryan, one an interception, the other when he bobbled a snap and San Francisco got the ball.

Still we thought, Tom Brady will surely do the necessary at home against the Ravens who lacked the kind of explosive offense that usually gets teams to Super Bowls.

Not to be however, as Brady fell asleep in the second half and the Ravens had 21 unanswered points.
The demise of the two quarterbacks raises important questions about their future.

Legend though he is, the chances of Tom Brady making it back to the Super Bowl grow dimmer with each passing year.

He has become one of those quarterbacks who looks good in the regular season but fails to shine in the playoffs.

The same could be said of Ryan, who had a spectacular regular season but made critical mistakes in the play off game today.

At least Ryan has youth on his side and Atlanta will have learned a lot this year.

Brady on the other hand is reaching the point where his skills will inevitably decline. We may have seen the last of Tom Brady ever making it to a Super Bowl.

Ryan has a shot but he needs that clutch Brady ability which the New England quarterback had at his height.
Both men will be watching from home this year -- a huge blow for them.

Truth be told the future looks a lot less bright for them both after yesterday’s results.

Say it ain’t so Brian -- Coach Kelly set for Philadelphia Eagles? -- Met with Eagles brass after Notre Dame championship game

Notre Dame's Brian Kelly is interviewing with the Philly Eagles
(Photo: USA Today)

Say it ain’t so Brian Kelly!

Just days after losing the BSC Championship game to Alabama ESPN reported that Kelly had met with the Philadelphia Eagles about the head coaching job.

You know that “The Scream” painting by Edvard Munch? That’s how we Notre Dame fans feel right now.

After a quarter century in the wilderness it looked like we were on our way back to the big time.

Sure ‘Bama beat us, but 12-0 was nothing to sneeze at and making the national title game was extraordinary.

And now this.

Kelly will do what Kelly has to do, but it surely cannot be about money as Notre Dame would surely match any offer from Philly.

He has never coached a day as a pro and would be taking an enormous gamble.

But we do know that Kelly is a winner and the Eagles desperately need a winner.

We know too the pressure on a Notre Dame coach is like nothing else in football. Lou Holtz gave it up because he was so exhausted.

Read more: Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly attracting interest from pro NFL teams

Kelly after three years might be feeling the same way.

Or he might just be parlaying his position to get a better financial deal.

Whatever it is it is bad news for the Irish.

Recruits in the pipeline will hold off until it is clear what the deal is.

Confidence in the football program will be shaken until Kelly’s future becomes clear.

He’s on a vacation outside the country.

Hey, it is a business first and foremost and Kelly and Notre Dame know that.

But having resurrected the Irish football program, Kelly was on his way to sainthood around South Bend.

Now there may be as many brickbats as bouquets heading his way.

Sad that.

Read more: Notre Dame support is a search for family and common roots for millions

Notre Dames defeat by Alabama was God's plan, claims religious zealot - VIDEO

William Tapley

Let's face it, for most Notre Dame fans Monday night's national championship game felt like a three hour visit to the dentist.

The Fighting Irish were, to put it mildly, routed. And one rather strange man who predicted the outcome also claims he knows why.

Almighty God, claims William Tapley, is was sending America a stark message: President Obama is the Leopard, the fourth beast mentioned in the Book of Daniel. And, oh yeah, the Apocalypse is coming.

And you thought just the game was hell on earth?

Is there ever a time when the Apocalypse isn't coming, though? And is the Creator of the infinite universe really going to use a college football game to make His mysterious ways known to man?

Tapley, 73, a retired furniture engineer from Forestport, New York is in no doubt. A well known religious zealot, he refers to himself the 'Co-prophet of the End Times' and 'Third Eagle of the Apocalypse,' which must make for a bit of fun at parties. But he's deadly serious about his predictions, as video below makes clear.

Read more: Nightmare for Notre Dame ends a dream season for Fighting Irish

Obama sounds like Alabama, he says. And Notre Dame is a Catholic institution, which means it's important to Catholic bishops, and the Catholic bishops were deified by Obama. Or something. Watch the video and decide for yourself.

This is a man who actually looks forward to the end of the world. So much so he writes ear bleedingly celebratory songs about it. Check them out below. And remember that Notre Dame's defeat was actually God's plan.

Notre Dame vs Alabama: A Prophecy?

Is the Notre Dame BCS Bowl ad aimed at dissing Alabama?

Fighting Irish fans prep for game day

Is Notre Dame dissing Alabama not so subtly with their BCS Bowl ad which they have just released?

With ESPN predicting a record all time viewership for a college game, all eyes will be on the Irish and the Crimson Tide on Monday night.

The undercurrent in the game however, is the rivalry between two colleges whose student athlete graduation rates and the type of degrees they achieve could not be more different.

Notre Dame football team graduates 97 per cent, first in the nation indeed. Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick has stated that he is at least as proud of that figure as he is of the team reaching the national championship game -- and rightfully so.

Alabama is in the low 70s percentage in the past few years and have been improving steadily but there is little comparison in the quality of degrees earned or the entrance test.

Some cynics have dubbed  the BCS Bowl the ‘Catholics Vs Cousins’ stand off.  During a game Alabama played in, rival supporters held up a blown-up picture of a library and  a comment that  essentially said “Hey SEC this is a library.”

All of which is the reason why the prime time ad is so interesting that Notre Dame have put together.

It shows a bunch of Notre Dame students gathering, walking across campus lighting candles and you think it is leading to a scene at the grotto or the church. There is even a shot of Touchdown Jesus.

It eventually fades into a shot at what looks like Notre Dame stadium and the candles held aloft by the students, standing in a narrow circle of lights together spelling out the words
“#1 in student athlete graduation”

Interesting focus that, given who they are playing don’t you think?