ND boosters essentially shipping recruits to Ireland
Not sure if I should be irate or not, please inform me.
Notre Dame boosters are essentially paying big bucks to send a bunch of elite high school kids to Ireland to play in a tournament the day before their game against Navy. This tournament is halfway across the world, but it's just the BIGGEST coincidence that ND plays the next day. These kids all have the option to attend the game. It's legal in the eyes of the NCAA, but is it okay for us to rabble a bit?
It's an away game for ND, so they're not allowed to have visitors. So these kids can still be flown out to the Dome to catch a Fighting Irish game again, free of charge.
http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1399793
August 23rd, 2012 at 10:59 PM ^
to hate ND
August 23rd, 2012 at 11:02 PM ^
This is an away game for ND? So Navy arranged this game in Ireland? That seems really odd.
August 23rd, 2012 at 11:07 PM ^
I don't think they arranged it, but this was probably the only time they could rent the stadium or something. The whole thing is just stupid
Actually scratch that. Navy did do most of the planning, now I'm just like what
August 24th, 2012 at 9:53 AM ^
that our military set up an event in a foreign country, and all those vendors, shop owners, stadium staff, etc. back in Annapolis are losing income, while dollars are spent to fly the team overseas ....
/s
August 23rd, 2012 at 11:03 PM ^
As grandma always says "Fighting Irish. What gives? They're all black anyway."
August 23rd, 2012 at 11:10 PM ^
And Notre Dame is french.
August 23rd, 2012 at 11:17 PM ^
Must be related to this guy:
August 23rd, 2012 at 11:07 PM ^
Would be pretty great if ND loses to Navy for like the 3rd time in 5 years.
August 24th, 2012 at 4:22 AM ^
when we beat them in their stadium at night on national TV, they probably will lose to sparty in EL, that defense is gonna spank whatever QB the Irish cart out there and red face will be going ballistic on the sideline.
August 24th, 2012 at 1:49 PM ^
I don't think that will happen, but I would not be surprised to see them get upset in week 2 to Purdue. The travel/time change from Ireland is going to catch up to them.
August 23rd, 2012 at 11:10 PM ^
"That fact that Patrick (Steenberge) is affiliated with the high school games is more coincidence than anything else."
August 23rd, 2012 at 11:11 PM ^
What better way to start the college football season off then waking up at 9am watching Navy beat nd, then at 8pm watching Michigan beat Alabama.
Go Navy!!!
Go BLUE!!!!!
August 23rd, 2012 at 11:19 PM ^
August 23rd, 2012 at 11:35 PM ^
I'm very happy for the kids, especially the 90 percent who won't go on to play on a FBS scholarship. It's a great opportunity for them. I definitely don't like the possible recruiting advantage for ND, though.
Then again, ND has recruited well for years; they just haven't been able to actually win very many important games with all of those four and five-stars.
I think I'll just be happy for the kids and trust that ND will continue to underachieve.
August 23rd, 2012 at 11:42 PM ^
I don't think this will threaten Michigan's recruiting in the slightest.
Hoke Uber Alles.
(Besides, what better place for extra recruits to waste their talents than at ND? It might keep them out of the hands of Ohio.)
August 24th, 2012 at 12:04 AM ^
What's the exchange rate for wins between the States and Ireland right now. Maybe their 8 wins translates to 11 wins in Ireland, that would really blow the recruits away.
August 24th, 2012 at 8:27 AM ^
August 24th, 2012 at 12:07 AM ^
for Navy
August 24th, 2012 at 12:21 AM ^
Hamilton High School, a Phoenix-based school set to participate, is coached by Steve Belles, who played for the Fighting Irish under Lou Holtz.Bellis downplays the recruiting significance of what's about to take place. He doesn't want his team's overseas experience to be portrayed as the world's most expensive unofficial visit. Top priority is, after all, winning a football game.
"I don't think it matters," Bellis said of the potential recruiting impact. "Kids are more interested in how a school plays than anything else. That's what everybody gauges stuff on anymore. It's, 'how good are you?'"
August 24th, 2012 at 12:38 AM ^
Achievement and consistency have been the hallmark of the Irish since the Willingham renovations.
August 24th, 2012 at 12:25 AM ^
wonder how many Irish are interested in American football game?
Checked the ticket price, $300 and up. Wonder who would pay for it for the high school kids to attend the game, is that within the NCAA rule for high school recruits to accept free tickets?
August 24th, 2012 at 12:38 AM ^
Are we paying for Navy to fly to Ireland? I don't mind paying for Navy, honestly, just wondered how they were getting there.
August 24th, 2012 at 4:03 AM ^
Obviously Navy will be taking a ship :)
August 24th, 2012 at 9:59 AM ^
but this being a unique, and therefore negotiated event, I am guessing the TV contract includes the expenses for the travel. I just hope those Midshipman had summer cruises in the Med or someplace, so they are more used to the timezone ...
August 24th, 2012 at 12:46 AM ^
August 24th, 2012 at 12:51 AM ^
It's got to really piss off all these ND boosters that they spend all this big time cash-ola, just to go 7-and-fucking-6 every year for the last 20 years and lose to Navy twice in 3 years in the process.
I mean, they have literally not hung a single banner in 20 years, folks.
August 24th, 2012 at 10:01 AM ^
they insist on staying independent, so there is only one real banner to hang, and it comes around a whole lot less often. (I guess there is the Humanitarian Bowl Champion banner as well.)
August 24th, 2012 at 1:38 AM ^
Doesn't matter, they're not winning anything.
August 24th, 2012 at 5:58 AM ^
"Bellis downplays the recruiting significance of what's about to take place. He doesn't want his team's overseas experience to be portrayed as the world's most expensive unofficial visit." - from the article
A round trip for a high school team between Phoenix and Dublin with your coach, who played for Holtz, to see Notre Dame play Navy, organized by a group which has a partner organization run my Patrick Steenberge. I suppose I see his concern - it's merely a school field trip to see an ND game that involves several schools whose personnel have connections to ND. Got it.
""By opening this season in Dublin we've been telling recruits about the international brand power we have," - Tony Alford
I assume that this means more recruiting battles between Kelly and Dantonio, as both schools recruit up and down the Liffey.
August 24th, 2012 at 6:44 AM ^
August 24th, 2012 at 7:20 AM ^
August 24th, 2012 at 8:09 AM ^
I would love it if the crowd in Ireland shows more support for Navy.
August 24th, 2012 at 10:00 AM ^
Great idea.
This is just like Saban having his bowl practices at Dee Hart's high school. Completely pissed me off mostly because it was a great idea, and if it was our team doing it I would just shrug my shoulders.