I always heard that Spond will be the starter at the DOG, but after all i think Jaylon will be the starter, because he is something very special. I remember in 2009 when Toryan Smith was the starter in the middle against Nevada and next week Manti was already the starter. Generational talent.
Good post; great sentiment! Kelly told Jaylon he was looking at Cat for him. This is very interesting and brings up some conversations about ND's defensive plans for 2014, which could throw everything into a cocked hat.
And if you remember, Manti played more and more, but actually came in as outside linebacker in the 4-3 variant. Torian was most directly replaced by Brian Smith, who after lackluster performace after lackluster performance started to find success in the middle. Remember, the fastest forty Torian ever recorded was 5.03 seconds. The kid played his heart out. He had none of the problems that were aluded to with many of the Weis era recruits. He was just too slow.
Re: sitting with Mattison: ....jeez ... Jaylon is an extremely polite and confident young man. He was engaging in a civilized behavior with an important person in his future chosen profession, and a man who deserves some respect on his own. Jaylon did the correct mature thing.
.... always something....
This is the most important point, about a most important characteristic, and worthy of several notes.
A) there is nobody on this site like OldManMike, (a few close seconds) that can boil things down to the essence and communicate with enough sophistication to get important points across. Imagine a 17 year old sitting down with not just anyone, but a true master of college football like Greg Mattison, and talking to him, toe to to, with the kind of mature presence that Mattison walks out of the room like that. Mattisons own description makes him a one out of one. Next to Jesus lecturing the rabbi's in the Temple, this is the best we gwen see.
B) I just talked to a Michigan fan about Shane Morris. Well actually we were talking in general and he asked how our homosexual linebacker was doing. You guys are right, it is rampant, but that is the way homophobia goes. After I told him, "For the thousandth time I cannot fix you up!" I took and interesting psychological tact and told him he was just going through quarterback envy. I said to him, "You are just upset that you don't have a quarterback!" He said that whatshis name would play for
his remaining year. I said, "Poorly!" He said Shane Morris would take over the next year. I stated, "Shane Morris would be a bust". He replied, "You can't tell for sure," very defensively! But I can. It is all about those glimpses of behavior that show strength of character. Jaylon has many, from his handling of his coaching mess to the Manti snafu, to his leadership and delivery on the field. And oh yeah, after Whitmer handed it to them 20-3, Jaylon walked off the field with his head high, and not a complaint in his step. That was all I needed to see. Take a look at Shane Morris after getting ripped up by Saint Iggy, this year!
I am going to call Jaylon:
"The Expediter"
