[GoshenGipper]

I give you one of the new fan favorites...

Article published Dec 16, 2007
Goodman remains good on pledge

By STEVE LOWE
Tribune Staff Writer

Recruiters looking to poach from Notre Dame’s current list of committed high school seniors should have at least one name for certain crossed off.

John Goodman isn’t listening.

The 6-foot-4, 190-pound wide receiver (maybe) from Fort Wayne, Ind., is as solid in his pledge to coach Charlie Weis and the Irish as the day he committed back in May, possibly more so now than then.

Several schools have tried to sway him since then, including Penn State. After Notre Dame dropped to 0-4, Goodman received a call from a Penn State assistant whose negative approach did little toward that end.

“They definitely tried all the negatives,” Goodman said of the coach whose name he couldn’t recall. “They talked about coach Weis, how he’s a bad coach, he’s a bad recruiter and about how Notre Dame’s doing terribly right now and all that, their stadium’s better. They never really said anything good about themselves, and I was just listening and I was like, ‘Whoa, this guy’s an idiot.' ”

Goodman reserves a similar opinion for Irish players who have recently defected from South Bend. Since May, four sophomores have left the team, including Demetrius Jones, Konrad Reuland and Matt Carufel since the season began, a choice that Goodman just can’t seem to comprehend.

“If they’re going to leave like that, leaving an education and that football team, then personally, I think they’re stupid,” Goodman said. “They don’t deserve anything better because you can’t get anything better than Notre Dame.”

Get the idea yet? Goodman has attended every Irish home game this season and is so close to the school he feels as though he is already a student.

“I might as well just go to Notre Dame right now,” he said. “I’m not giving up on my commitment, no matter if they lose the rest of their games.”

However, he does admit that he’s thought of switching. Positions that is, not schools.

After quarterbacking Fort Wayne Dwenger to a 9-0 regular season record and No. 1 ranking in Indiana’s Class 4-A, Goodman actually favors QB over wideout right now.

“It’s just fun to play because you get the ball every play,” he explained. “You’re the leader of the team and you’re in control of the game, and I like that aspect of it.”

Goodman was recently selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio on Jan. 5. He took over as Dwenger’s quarterback this season after the graduation of three-year starter Kevin Merz. As a junior, with Merz throwing to him, Goodman caught 40 passes for 815 yards and 10 touchdowns. He still splits out wide a couple snaps each game, but the majority of his time is spent under center.

Through nine games, Goodman is 46-for-87 (53 percent) for 822 yards and five touchdowns and just one interception in coach Chris Svarczkopf’s veer option offense. Goodman has also rushed for 260 yards and four touchdowns, averaged 28.8 yards on six receptions and 31.8 yards per kickoff return. And he’s also the punter, a punt returner and has two interceptions from his spot in the defensive backfield.

“He has a great arm and great speed and agility,” Svarczkopf said. “He’s very intelligent and I give him a lot of leeway to check into other plays at the line of scrimmage. He knows that if he calls the wrong play out there that he’s walking home after the game, and so far, he hasn’t had to walk home yet.

“He’s a tremendous high school quarterback.”

He’s been impressive enough to raise a few Irish eyebrows as well. Notre Dame quarterbacks coach Ron Powlus attended one of Goodman’s best games of the year and called Weis from the stands with updates as Goodman racked up over 270 yards and three touchdown passes against Fort Wayne Southside, prompting a call two days later from Weis.

They talked about trick plays and different ways for Goodman to get on the field, something he plans on doing as early as possible, whether as a receiver, a passer, a kick returner, or anywhere they want to try him.

But when put on the spot, Goodman says it’s the quarterback position that he most enjoys, and one that he wouldn’t mind playing beyond high school.

“Being a quarterback isn’t out of the question for me,” Goodman said. “It sort of is creeping into my thoughts because it could actually happen, and I’m going to be ready for it.”

His preparation for the jump to college will focus on the weight room as he tries to add more muscle to his tall, thin frame. He’s gained five pounds since last football season and expects to add more over the next 10 months, when he expects to jump right into the mix at Notre Dame.

“I think I have a good chance at beating out some of those receivers, but if I don’t, it doesn’t matter, I’ll keep working at it,” Goodman said. “My dream came true when I got that scholarship offer and I’m actually going there, so I’m going to do something about it and make sure that I play.”

Even if it’s not at quarterback.

- per the SB Trib.