OT: ND OL graduate transfer

Submitted by YoungGeezy on

ND Offensive lineman Matt Hegarty, who started 11 games last season after recovering rom a 2012 stroke, has decided to transfer after graduating in May. From his comments, it looks like Brian Kelly is looking to give his staring spot to someone else:

"They also explained that with many younger players in the wings, they wanted to develop them more heavily in the rotation -- a need that I understand and appreciate."

I'm not sure if we would try to snag him and add to our OL depth or not, but given his experience, I hope we entertain it. Especially if there's impending attrition we haven't heard about yet. Even if we don't go after him, he's an impressive young man.

Here's the article link: http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/12419537/matt-hegarty-tr…

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blueblueblue

March 7th, 2015 at 11:24 AM ^

Seriously? I've been here for around 6 years, and you have been here for 1 year. Yet you want to dismiss me from the site for one snarky comment?

My snark was because one poster, who probably knows nothing of a kid's medical situation, says the kid should abandon his dreams and not play football due to that medical situation. The snark is deserved. 

I am guessing people who want to dismiss someone from a site for one snarky comment are are more of a problem than I am. 

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MichiganTeacher

March 7th, 2015 at 2:37 PM ^

This site would be better if people were kinder. I participate in many online forums. I've never participated in one with as many jerks, to put it politely, as this one. Not saying you're a jerk, blue^3. But your snark was unwarranted. Guy was just expressing his opinion on a man playing football after having a stroke.

Your response was uncalled for. A lot of people take pride in this board being better than RCMB et al. Part of that pride should be supporting what a true university has alwas stood for: diversity, tolerance, and understanding.

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umumum

March 7th, 2015 at 4:59 PM ^

if you think this is the worst one, then please share those sports or political blogs that are kinder.  Because I don't know of any.    Yes, there are more snarky and inappropriate comments here than perhaps you and I would like.  But most try to be civil most of the time.  I cannot say that for virtually anywhere else.  I think there is over-reaction to the post in question

 

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west2

March 7th, 2015 at 8:38 PM ^

Agreed, blue3 comments weren't that bad and his comment probably falls in the category of wrong comment at the wrong time.  The point of this discussion is the slow evolution on this site becoming more like the typical trolling that occurs elsewhere.  I believe there is a backlash brewing against this type of antisocial response.  If you wouldn't say it in a verbal conversation then don't say it here, it's that simple. 

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Steve Breaston…

March 7th, 2015 at 7:04 PM ^

So people aren't allowed to have an opinion unless they are accredited in that field? That opinion, as well as your comment about site longevity, have absolutely nothing to do with unnecessary darts you're throwing. One year, six years or a decade, we all have the right to express our opinions on here. What makes this site great is smart people having varied viewpoints and not feeling censored. So he may not have an MD, but that doesn't mean he himself, or someone close to him, hasn't had a similar situation which is relatable to the topic.

Just give people a break is all I'm saying. Apologies that my soapboxing is pointed at you, but there has been so much negativity toward others for the last year that it makes me sad. Who cares if someone isn't an expert, made an outdated comment, used a joke too many times, etc; move on and remember they, just like you and I, are just trying to fit in to a COMMUNITY of Michigan fans.

One love, bro.



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Mr Miggle

March 7th, 2015 at 12:26 PM ^

before offering an opinion. The poster might have done that too, but preferred to base his opinion on one line in the OP. It's obvious that there's more to the story, as he was allowed to resume his playing career. 

He's allowed to express such an opinion, but why should anyone respect it?

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gopoohgo

March 7th, 2015 at 11:51 AM ^

Apparently Hegarty had an atrial septal defect, allowing for a small blood clot to bypass the lungs and go directly into the left ventricle and up towards the carotids.

From the interwebs, he had a TIA (transient ischemic attack, brief neurologic symptoms without long-term sequelae) not a CVA (stroke, with associated brain damage).

Repairing the ASD would eliminate CVA risk during his playing days.

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Larry Appleton

March 7th, 2015 at 10:46 AM ^

Serious question: is a grad-transfer OL neccessary at all? The OL should be at the very least servicable next season.

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timmons15

March 7th, 2015 at 12:12 PM ^

Agree with you here, it's about time these 4 and 5 star offensive line recruits are developed and start protecting our qb and create some holes for our running backs.  I think Harbaugh and Drevno are gonna do some amazing things this year and we will be able to see a huge difference in play on the field!!!  Go Blue!

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Magnus

March 7th, 2015 at 11:40 AM ^

No, it's not necessary. But if we have the room, it wouldn't hurt. I think Wayne Lyons and John O'Korn should be higher priorities, but there are reportedly a couple positions on the offensive line that are not solidified. Every little bit helps.

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JonnyHintz

March 7th, 2015 at 1:03 PM ^

That shows the fact that our QB didn't realize what color jersey he was wearing and turned the ball over 19 times last season. Those 15 interceptions and 4 fumbles are going to stall any offense. Smith averaged 4.8 per carry, Green averaged 5.7 per carry, and Johnson averaged 6.0 per carry. That is a productive running game. When your QB turns the ball over 19 times in 12 games (really it was 11 as he hardly played against Minnesota) you aren't going to put up a lot of yards or have a lot of opportunities. That's just common sense. Or at least it should be.

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BlueMD1927

March 7th, 2015 at 1:15 PM ^

So Johnson played in all of 2 or 3 games against. Bad opponents so it's not like he is a true indicator. Furthermore green had less than a 100 carries last season so the few times he broke a run it severely inflated his stats and Smith had one good game that did the same thing. Finally, whose to say that it want the atrocious o-line and forced Gardner to feel like he had to do everything on his own and theyby the line caused all those turnovers

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JonnyHintz

March 7th, 2015 at 9:48 PM ^

Outside of Green, Smith, and Johnson, where did all of our carries come from? You're talking about our top 3 running backs. How is that not an accurate statistical analysis? The team averaged 4.6 yards per carry on the season, which includes Gardner's poor stat of 2.3 yards per carry. 4.6 is pretty good. The offensive line produced results. Just admit it. Anyone who actually watched the team and knows a damn thing about football would know the OL didn't force Gardner to make any of the turnovers. You can't hold an OL accountable for a player who turns the ball over 19 times in his 11 starts. Now nobody tells Gardner he has to do everything. An incompletion (throwing the ball away) is better than an interception, is it not? The majority of Gardners turnovers were unforced, poor decisions, and simply boneheaded plays. He holds onto the ball way too long, he looks off his wide open check down receivers, and forces the ball into coverage. That is on the QB and decision making. Not the OL.

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MGoStrength

March 7th, 2015 at 1:16 PM ^

To say that turnovers by the QB are only the fault of the QB is misleading IMO.  Often when the QB turns the ball over it's because he's being pressured (o-line not giving him enough time), picking up blitzs, etc. or he's forced to throw it in obvious passing downs.  Many times getting behind in down and distance and being in second and third and long is due to a lack of a running game, which is in part due to the o-line as well.  I'm not saying Gardner didn't make mistakes and poor reads, but to let the o-line off the hook for his turnovers is a mistake IMO.

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JonnyHintz

March 7th, 2015 at 9:56 PM ^

Not every turnover is the fault of the QB. But most of them were. He holds onto the ball too long and forces passes. Too often he would have an easy dump off to an open receiver and would force it into coverage. He would overthrow receivers, throw into double coverage, over throw or under throw his targets. I mean look at his first pass against OSU and his shovel pass against MSU just as examples. No pressure, no Wolverines within 10 yards of where he throws the ball. You cannot blame the OL for 19 turnovers. Even when he was pressured you could put the blame on him multiple times for holding onto it too long in the first place. You can put the blame on him for forcing it into coverage instead of throwing it away (with a receiver in the area of course). Obviously it is football. Turnovers will happen. QBs will be pressured. But you can't sit there and put the blame for 19 turnovers on the OL. Maybe 2-3, but most of them were Gardner and his decision making.

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bronxblue

March 7th, 2015 at 11:01 AM ^

Feels lkind of unnecessary.  The offensive line has depth, and at best he'd be a replacement-level player given the fact he'd be learning a new-ish blocking system and would have a shortened timeframe to do so.  

Now, if he was a defensive lineman I'd be all for it.

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BlueMD1927

March 7th, 2015 at 11:46 AM ^

You do realize that all the o-linemen are learning a brand new playbook so he wouldn't be behind any of the other guys, don't you? Also we don't have a single quality lineman on the team. Any help we can get at that position should be welcomed with open arms

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JonnyHintz

March 7th, 2015 at 12:45 PM ^

The linemen learning a "playbook" isn't really a hard thing to do. All they have to really do is possibly use a different blocking scheme. Although Harbaugh has been known to utilize zone blocking, which is what we utilized. The only real thing the linemen have to learn is the guards pulling on certain plays. Aside from that, the "learning the playbook" is easier for the OL than just about any other position.

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BlueMD1927

March 7th, 2015 at 12:56 PM ^

Hagerty is bigger, tougher, and more physical than any other linemen on this roster. So if the playbook won't be too difficult to pick up then it's a no-brainer that we should take him. He'd easily be the best guy on the line next year

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thebeachhours

March 7th, 2015 at 11:03 AM ^

Hegarty is a good player, but he's going to be supplanted by sophomore Quenton Nelson, who is a 5-star player coming out of HS. Sophomore Alex Bars is really pushing for playing time as well. Hegarty is planning on going to Northwestern where he won't have as much competition for a starting position and he'll be able to get a quality graduate degree. 

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Mr Miggle

March 7th, 2015 at 11:19 AM ^

It's no longer 2013 or 2014. We've got all five starters coming back, plus some depth challenging them. Surely he can find better opportunities for playing time since that's what he's looking for.

Joined: 10/07/2010

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LSAClassOf2000

March 7th, 2015 at 11:27 AM ^

CBS adds this little tidbit in addition to his full statement:

While losing a starter on your offensive line is seldom a good thing, as Hegarty himself made clear, Notre Dame coaches wanted him to change positions and odds are he wasn't going to be starting in 2015 if he returned. And even without Hegarty the Irish will still return four of their five starting offensive linemen from last season, and there's a good chance that Nick Martin will slide back over to center after moving to left guard last season.

I don't think we'd be in the market for an OL at the moment, but Hegarty probably would walk right onto the field at a lot of other schools.

Joined: 01/07/2011

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BlueMD1927

March 7th, 2015 at 11:43 AM ^

Our o-line has been so terrible I have zero faith in any o-lineman wearing a winged helmet these day. This kid can come in and immediately be a massive upgrade at any position on the line as well as teach the young guys what it means to struggle and work through something. It'd take him in a heartbeat

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Artie

March 7th, 2015 at 11:58 AM ^

Nice to see you're writing off Braden so early. Any of them really. Did you not see the progress that was taking place last year. Don't you think Drevno, a guy noted for the results he gets, might improve on that progress?



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BlueMD1927

March 7th, 2015 at 12:03 PM ^

We all heard about how great Braden was. It seemed like every practice report revolved around how good Braden was gonna be and how he was penciled in for the starting spot last year. How did that turn out???

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