Shaun Crawford to visit ND; Darrin Kirkland to visit UM this weekend

Submitted by Wee-Bey Brice on
Title says it all: 
 

ESPN 300 LB Darrin Kirkland Jr. RT @_KIRKjunior Just talked with Coach Mallory, I'll be at Michigan this weekend for a visit! #GoBlue

— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) May 15, 2014

#Michigan commit Shaun Crawford will visit #NotreDame this weekend. Full details and what this means: http://t.co/c8P7Ga5kSN @BGInews (VIP)

— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) May 15, 2014

WolverineInCbus

May 15th, 2014 at 11:18 AM ^

That this isn't just another track meet thing? He has had multiple track meets there and Notre Dame analysts always start rumors that it is a visit when it's not.

J.Madrox

May 15th, 2014 at 11:25 AM ^

If Crawford wanted to visit Alabama, or even Ohio State, I could understand that, Alabama is Alabama and Ohio State is his home state school who have been really good over the last decade and the last two years under Urbran.

But Notre Dame had one really good year under Kelly, got curb stombed in the National Championship game and have gone 7 - 5, 8 - 4, 8 - 4 in his other three years. Not exactly setting the world on fire here.

Hoke has had is well documented struggles, but Kelly hasn't had much more success in his time at ND, why a visit to ND?

Ok, sorry about that, rant over, enjoy the rest of your Thursday.

MGoBlueFan90

May 15th, 2014 at 11:31 AM ^

But Notre Dame had one really good year under Kelly, got curb stombed in the National Championship game and have gone 7 - 5, 8 - 4, 8 - 4 in his other three years. Not exactly setting the world on fire here.

Hoke has had is well documented struggles, but Kelly hasn't had much more success in his time at ND, why a visit to ND?

I absolutely loathe ND, but I've always thought Kelly was the type of coach to be successful at ND, and it's still a name program. Although his record isn't spectacular, they've been putting out NFL talent quite well, especially this year.

I agree though, Bama and OSU are certainly better options than Notre Dame.

J.Madrox

May 15th, 2014 at 11:53 AM ^

I agree he is a quality coach (probably not a great person, but thats another matter altogether). Notre Dame has had some more players drafted in his tenure than Hoke's tenure, but Michigan is also a name program as well as ND.

I have just never understood why ND continues to recruit so well, and can possibly snake oil kids from Michigan. But I suppose I could be accussed of bias, seeing as this is a Michigan blog.

Just win and I can stop worrying about this so much, wouldn't that be nice.

jabberwock

May 15th, 2014 at 12:25 PM ^

in that OSU & Alabama (record-wise) are far superior programs both at the the moment, and for the past decade+.



However, in comapring the similarities of Michigan & ND?



I think you are fucking insane if you don't think every Michigan fan alive wouldn't take ND's record over the last 4 years.  37-15 and played for the National Championship! (deserved or not)



Lol, we can't even sniff a division win in the lowly B1G.

alum96

May 15th, 2014 at 2:52 PM ^

Since Holtz left and Carr slowed down early 00s ND and UM prety much are in the same mediocre pile.  It's just he truth - we had 2006, they had 2012 but mostly it's been a lot of 4 loss seasons mixed in with a few disasters. 

They have the same tradition we have, the same Midwest pull, the same everything so it's pretty funny to say "why would a kid consider ND" when the same could be asked of UM at this point taking the past 10 year records side by side. And going back further, for the past 15+ years they have been the 2 worst performing "blue bloods" (see my analysis here) - by far the least elite seasons.  What's an elite season? Less than 3 losses - UM rarely has them, either does ND.  Some other programs have had larger dips (until we hit the RR era) but they have had sustained periods of 5-6 seasons of 1-2 loss teams; something both ND and UM have lacked.  The farther 1997 gets the more bad it looks for us. 

I'd also argue there is more confidence in Kelly sticking around than Hoke right now - that could change in 24 months but at this exact moment Hoke has a hotter seat.

 

getsome

May 15th, 2014 at 3:04 PM ^

well not everyone observes college football through the same um tinted glasses as you.  and not all spout disgusting um arrogance like you.  pretty easy to see why kids pick nd or many other schools over um if you actually view logically and without bias.  small minority of recruits hold the treasured um diploma and "tradition" in such high regard that it trumps reason or recent history just as minority of um fans/alums sneer down their noses at outsiders.  i bet if you think really really hard and put that degree to good use you can probably think of at least 1 reason why prospects would select nd or other programs over um, bias aside of course  (hint: its not 1992 or even 2002 - kids wanna win rings and then get drafted and other programs have been doing much better job in these areas - not to mention maybe pull some trim and party a little in the sun).  um still a great program, it just hasnt been consistently elite or top 10 for some time...i certainly believe they can get back to consistently competing in B1G every year, just not sure the current coach/admin can achieve within reasonable or expected time span...obviously still need to actually generate results on the field but unfortunately theyre still lagging behind much of competition in consistently stocking the roster with as many truly elite athletes as possible...hopefully OL and especially the DL recruits from hokes first few classes develop and perform "to the expectations of the position" bc they really need it and wed all love to see it

J.Madrox

May 15th, 2014 at 12:11 PM ^

Your comment on my intelligence is quite appreciated, I do consider myself quite the scholar. So thanks, champ, that was the point of my comment. That ND is in the same spot as Michigan, so how is ND still able to recuirt better and potentially steal recruits from Michigan.

But again, thanks for responding with the same thing as bigyellowtaxi, but with a nice little insult thrown in.

thebeachhours

May 15th, 2014 at 12:10 PM ^

Brian Kelly is 37-15 [71%] at ND with a National Championship appearance and is 2-2 in bowl games. Brady Hoke is 26-13 [67%] and 1-3 in bowl games. Kelly also has a much longer head coaching career to use in his advantage. Perhaps the most significant difference, however, is that Kelly seems to have quite a bit of job security and people are generally optimistic about the direction of ND's program whereas Michigan seems to be in a bit of uncertainty. Winning changes everything, though [as does losing big.]

J.Madrox

May 15th, 2014 at 12:18 PM ^

I just get continually amazed at how much rumors of the hot seat or coaching stability seem to factor into these decisions. I wonder is it all coming from negative recruiting from opposing coaches, do these kids track these kind of things on the internet like the rest of us here?

But that is the fickle nature of recruiting and the same thing that led to Hoke's hot recruiting start and Franklin's current run at Penn State. If everything looks good on the outside, it will be enough to keep your recruiting momentum.

GoBLUinTX

May 15th, 2014 at 12:14 PM ^

Eight players drafted last weekend, tied with Alabama, I'm pretty sure prospective players take notice as well.  They might have also noticed that ND players were drafted, on average, earlier than Alabama players.  For many players that very well may be the selling point that makes the deal.

Space Coyote

May 15th, 2014 at 11:28 AM ^

Supposedly ND this weekend, OSU at the end of the month. A few different people reporting it rather than just message board rumors. I'd expect ND to be more of a threat than OSU though.

Hopefully he ends up reaffirming in favor of Michigan, but this is the issue with kids committing so early in the process. Teams won't stop recruiting you simply because you're committed, they'll keep talking to you, and when not you, the people around you. All they want is a chance and a visit, and when they get a feeling they have that chance, the heat will just grow.

I don't think we give up on him being a Michigan player, but things just opened up, no doubting that.

WallyWallace

May 15th, 2014 at 1:59 PM ^

.. a season with less antcipation than 2014. Even in the RR years there was talk of whether his scheme was a fit and if the experiment would work, etc. 

The general sense seems to be getting the very likely losses at ND, MSU, OSU out of the way and trying to avoid any surprises at home. (I think Rutgers on the road at night is a trap, despite that program being a mess. UConn part deux?) Oh well, I guess seeing what Nuss has cooking and  if the O-Line can gel is kinda intriguing.