Some Notes about Notre Dame
As of late, I've been perusing some ND forums, in anticipation of doing some hopefully regular updates about ND, MSU, and Ohio this off-season. I figure I'd share a couple things that I've found out so far.
1) The QB battle. This battle is fairly complex as QB battles go. It seems that most Domers want Everett Golson to start, but that not many think he will. Most of them think that it's down to Tommy Rees and Andrew Hendrix, with Rees more likely to return as a starter. However, they think that ND will show more of a 2 QB offense so that Rees and Hendrix will be sharing a lot of time. They also believe that Golson will likely start to make more appearances as the season drags on. Gunner Kiel is very likely to redshirt this year.
Some more notes about each QB:
Tommy Rees: Has the best understanding of the offense; Excels at short, quick throws; Lacks arm strength for downfield throws and accuracy; Not very mobile
Andrew Hendrix: 2nd best understanding of offense; Stronger than Rees; Mobile; Accuracy issues
Everett Golson: Mobile; Lacks a concrete understanding of the offense; Strongest arm; Biggest accuracy issues
Gunner Kiel; Freshman; Lacks understanding of the offense
2) Aaron Lynch is back on campus. This is disaster averted for ND, he's easily the #2 or #3 player on that team and the #2 player on defense. The situation seemed to be one of homsickness and the Domer's were 50-50 on his returning.
3) Theo Riddick is moving back to RB. He was out in the slot last year, where he did decently.
4) ND is getting field turf. They think that this might be the reason why Kelly's offense hasn't taken hold yet. Apparently grass slowed down all of ND's speedy athletes and that's why they lost games. Never mind the opponents played on the same field and will get to play on the turf too. Denard Robinson says: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_xePqfTAi8
5) ND fans are delusional. Seriously delusional. I've seen them say they're going to win a National Championship this year, that Hoke and Co. are obviously paying recruits, that our recruiting class isn't really that good compared to ND's, that at least 4 or 5 of our commits will flip to ND, and it just goes on and on. I was expecting some semblance of sanity from ND fans, but dear God, they're hopeless.
I will be going into more detail in future posts so if you guys have any suggestions or areas you want me to focus on, i.e their recruiting, their defense, their offense, a certain position group, etc., let me know.
Speaking of Notre Dame...anyone have a link to the end of UTL with the Notre Dame announcer? Can't seem to track it down on You Tube and need to make a permanent bookmark to that. Never fails to make me smile. The most deflated "touchdown" call ever.
April 12th, 2012 at 10:34 AM ^
poor thrower indeed! I don't remember hearing that part before. Thanks a bunch, this is always a treat to watch and is now bookmarked.
Each update you give there should be a 'C'Mon Man!' section where you post the most ridiculous things said by Notre Dame fans.
....that you will never see unbridled homerism on this board.
:/
am looking forward to similar threads on MSU and Ohio. Just curious to see the discussion on them and whatever response their fans might have in that thread.
Word with reputable sources are calling Hendrix as the leader with Golson second. Rees will be with the Red Hat brigade before long.
As for Lynch, he really misses his fiance, who is back in FLA. I suspect that the next time something like this happens, he gone.
Not quite sure whos got what on field turf, there is construction at the stadium but no one was able to confirm field turf. The Old Milkshakes are steadfastly refusing to put up with turf and jumbotron talk.
If you are speaking about NDNation or the like, then yes that play is as delusional as most delusional UM boards. irishenvy.com is where to cool people hang out. We had a facebook group started by Tee Sheppard that has de-evolved into a cess pool of idiots who think that tweeting recruits will help them get the recruits to sign with ND and get themselves a job with rivals.
April 12th, 2012 at 12:37 AM ^
Notre Dame has been the biggest mystery this past decade. Even with some of the the top talent and far easier schedules they were mediocare at best. gone through 4 coaches and really all i keep seeing is the same team.Think bout all the top QBs theyv commited only to transfer. Sharpley, Frazer, Jones, Crist all transfered in the past 5 years. Great campus and top notch academics but average football at best. Hard to belive but ever since Holtzsss retired program just hasnt been the same
April 12th, 2012 at 12:41 AM ^
Played golf with my good friend from ND and I think he's finally seen the light. He hates every QB on the roster, thinks they will get smoked by Michigan and end up going 7-5. I could not believe the words coming out of his mouth but I think the past 15 years are finally starting to take their toll. He even declared ND a basketball school now which is sad but true.
Please keep them coming. Thanks.
April 12th, 2012 at 10:06 AM ^
Just to follow up on the original post: I've heard some differen things in terms of how things will pan out. First, in speaking with a football player, according to him, it's Golson's job to lose at this point. The only concern with Golson is that he is not grasping the offense like Kelly wants him to. However, his immense talent makes up for that. Either way, not only do fans want Rees not to start, but the players don't as well. People love him as a person, but he's just not the right fit at QB.
The field turf thing I haven't heard at all, and I just refuse to believe that. ND's field is by far one of the worst in the nation. It's not kept up very well, uneven at points, etc. But ND fans and the administration view it like Lambeau... regardless of quality, it's hallowed ground. I think Kelly has stepped on enough toes already and that one is going too far. The administration isn't going to undertake immense construction and millions of dollars to please an 8-5 coach.
Finally, ND fans are more than delusional, they're insecure. It's as though you cannot speak of another school because merely stating that another school is good, to them, is saying that ND is bad. What's worse is that the majority are exteremely uninformed (i.e. believing their business school is #1 in the nation because BusinessWeek not USNWR, said so, or that the reason they aren't good in football is because of their high academic standards for incoming athletes). The extereme misinformation, mixed with their immense passion, equals for the delusion which you are talking about.
OP, I'd love to know what forums you're scouting out. I can't seem to find any decent ones no matter how much I look. Please post where you read, I'd appreciate it.
April 12th, 2012 at 12:34 PM ^
You're saying that Business Week, who uses clear metrics that make perfect sense and look strongly at things like job placement, is not valid because......?
You say "insecure," I'd say they're only rational defending the academics. ND's degree has an ROI second to only Stanford in schools that play FBS football and is equivlent with Yale. Maybe you're the one who is uninformed.
Also, why on earth would you go to ND for grad school? The grad schools at ND suck.
As for the academic standards excuse.... you couldn't be more correct. It's a ridiculous cop out with no basis in fact. The foreign language requirement has hamstrung ND with a couple recruits, but "academic requirements" wouldn't make a list of the top dozen+ reasons why Notre Dame is awful at football. It's a sad, sad excuse.
Thanks for proving my point in one single post....
April 12th, 2012 at 10:53 AM ^
Kelly's so dislikeable because he's one of those guys who just cannot hide how arrogant he truly is. I'd put Petrino in that category too. It's just written all over them. At least guys like Tressel, while arrogant, were convincing enough to hide it. But not Kelly.
Remove the grass that Rockne coached on and the Four Horsemen played on from Notre Dame stadium?
Next thing you know they'll be joining a conference ;-)
been thinking that they'll be AHEAD of Michigan by double digits, only to lose by 4 in the final minute for the 4th season in a row.