It's game week y'all! The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are set to open the 2017 season against the Temple Owls, and everyone is foaming at the mouth. Well... kind of.

Welcome to the season opener of Bagpipe Monday on One Foot Down. All season long we will be examining the more interesting takes on Irish football (like to foam or not to foam at the mouth).

@phillykelly

Seriously though, we continue to walk down a historic path that no one really wants any part of. Brian Kelly is entering his eight year as the head coach of the Fighting Irish - and he has not won a title. It's a record that keeps on going:

Brian Kelly will be the longest tenured Notre Dame football coach in history to have not won a national title.

Elmer Layden sits with him at 7 seasons, but once Saturday kicks off, Brian Kelly is the master.

I don't say this to pile on the Brian Kelly hatred that is so common these days, I merely offer it up as a gentle reminder that things are vastly different in South Bend these days.

With that said, can we truly expect anything different than what we have seen over the past 20 years? Will Notre Dame underachieve? Will they come close to being a real title contender? Will they actually overachieve?

A lot of what Notre Dame may be in 2017 will be brought to light on Saturday against Temple. Yes, it's Temple, but a close game or a blowout win tell two completely different stories. Would either of those stories help predict the rest of the season?

I say yes. Saturday is crucial to the future of the program and could validate all of the changes that have took place. The validation alone could help push this team past the Georgia Bulldogs, and then that would help push them more and more.

Per tradition... the Bagpipes of War for the opening game. Enjoy.