'10 CO ATH Danny Spond (Notre Dame Man)

[Old Man Mike]

Re: Biven. Rhinoceroses are forbidden to play OLB by a little-known NCAA rule.

Re: Danny Spond. Spond is playing AA quality football. Kelly has made subtle statements to how well he's performing, and we know that he's keeping Ben Councell on the bench, just as Stephon Tuitt is keeping a very good Chase Hounshell on the bench.

Spond is being overlooked because we have 5 or 6 other guys just on defense that are playing at AA quality or very near it [Te'o, Tuitt, Nix, Shembo, Motta, KLM]. All these guys get raves by all the announcer types and Kelly himself. Spond has been the missing piece for me. With Dan Fox upping his own play in space, all the front seven arrive at the point of attack with aggressive bad intentions. We've a very unusual bunch of intelligent slobberknockers, folks --- let's enjoy them while they're all together.

 

[Rack Em]

Let me preface by saying, Danny isn't hurt or transferring.

In my Health Care Payment and Policy class yesterday, our professor threw a hypothetical situation on the projector about "Dr. Danny Spond from Denver, CO." I found that amusing.

He's a Law Domer so we talk ND football a lot.

This is really a pointless post, but I wanted to share anyway.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

Let me preface by saying, Danny isn't hurt or transferring.

In my Health Care Payment and Policy class yesterday, our professor threw a hypothetical situation on the projector about "Dr. Danny Spond from Denver, CO." I found that amusing.

He's a Law Domer so we talk ND football a lot.

This is really a pointless post, but I wanted to share anyway.

The question is, would you keep him in place of an elite recruit? Kidding.

 

[MrIrishCanadian1]

Let me preface by saying, Danny isn't hurt or transferring.

Actually, my heart started pounding because of your preface.

It's sorta like when your waiting for the medical results of a test and the doctor first says "let me preface this by saying, you're not going to die." you start thinking "but what? I still have some kind of significant malady?"

 

[Rack Em]

The question is, would you keep him in place of an elite recruit? Kidding.

Jaylon Smith can step in day 1 and play DOG.

 

[ACamp1900]

Wait, so he's transferring???

 

[Old Man Mike]

buzz buzz ... no information.

Thank God.

Danny is our "hidden" All-American.

 

[Ironman8]

I had totally forgot Danny Spond attended Columbine HS, and had no idea that he wears #13 to honor those 13 victims of that senseless tragedy. What a class act, and makes me only root harder for an underrated yet vital component to our defensive success.

 

[rtrn2glory]

wow...didn't realize that was his reason for choosing his number....love the humility of these players

 

[Emcee77]

WAIT, so he's transferring?


Lol, kidding.

 

[BobD]

I had totally forgot Danny Spond attended Columbine HS, and had no idea that he wears #13 to honor those 13 victims of that senseless tragedy. What a class act, and makes me only root harder for an underrated yet vital component to our defensive success.

Yep, Danny is an awesome young man.

Go Danny! Go Irish!

 

[Rocky2820]

I had totally forgot Danny Spond attended Columbine HS, and had no idea that he wears #13 to honor those 13 victims of that senseless tragedy. What a class act, and makes me only root harder for an underrated yet vital component to our defensive success.

wow...didn't realize that was his reason for choosing his number....love the humility of these players

Didn't know that either. Shows great maturity to honor his hometown in that way.

 

[ThePiombino]

I had totally forgot Danny Spond attended Columbine HS, and had no idea that he wears #13 to honor those 13 victims of that senseless tragedy. What a class act, and makes me only root harder for an underrated yet vital component to our defensive success.

Can't say enough good things about this young man. True class act.

 

[Meacon Irish]

Spond is quickly making a push for front-runner of my next year's "Irish Mancrush". What a well-spoken, good-hearted kid.

 

[Ironman8]

Apparently Brian Hamilton wrote an article on that information divulged today, and his connection to the tragedy at Sandy Hook:

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- At Columbine High School, Danny Spond wore jersey No. 4. When he arrived at Notre Dame, the linebacker made a switch with a very specific meaning in mind: He picked No. 13, to honor those lost in the mass shooting that took place at his home town's high school when he barely had started school himself.

"So that's who I play for," Spond said Thursday, during the Irish's morning media session before the BCS title game. "I knew who had gotten me to this position and who had supported me. Without a doubt, that was Columbine. I wear the 13 with pride."

And so the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., on Dec. 14, spurred some profound, if not acutely clear, emotions in the senior from Littleton, Col.

Spond was only in second grade when 12 students and one teacher died in the April 20, 1999 rampage at Columbine, and thus his perspective on such an event and its immmediate aftermath is a bit blurred.

His perspective on the emotions involved, and the rebuilding of a community, is not.

"I can't express how horrible an event that is," Spond said. "Going through that -- I was a younger kid -- and my family going through that and my community, it's something that is unspeakable. It's hard to explain, to even put into words. I don't have much to say about it, other than the fact that time will heal. It did our community, and I know it will theirs."

Columbine High School was remodled after the shooting but Spond said, even years later when he attended, the history filled the hallways. It was inescapable, really, but in some ways only because it adhered a broken town.

"It brought the community together and really built an area that takes care of each other," Spond said.

There's no advice Spond has for the people he doesn't know in Connecticut. There's no real way he can empathize with that level of pain. But as a member of one community wracked by tragedy, he guesses he knows how it will go for another.

"There's no way I could ever tell you I know exactly what they're going through," Spond said. "I don't think anybody can. But I obviously express much remorse, and obviously we have all our prayers with them. It'll get better."

Sandy Hook tragedy hits close for Notre Dame's Spond, a Columbine grad - chicagotribune.com

 

[TheChosen1]

Wow didn't know that. Awesome

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

Great info on Spond, like him even more- thanks for sharing.

 

[irishroo]

Another great article on Danny, this one from Mark Schlabach. Kid is the definition of an unsung hero.

Danny Spond overcame a medical scare to play a key role on Notre Dame's defense - college football - ESPN

 

[Redbar]

You don't win championships without guys like Danny Spond.

 

[irishff1014]

Apparently Brian Hamilton wrote an article on that information divulged today, and his connection to the tragedy at Sandy Hook:



Sandy Hook tragedy hits close for Notre Dame's Spond, a Columbine grad - chicagotribune.com

Nice find Ironman. Great young man.

 

[ab2cmiller]

This article is primarily talking about Jaylon but it also proposes the possibility that Spond could be shifted inside. Very early on I guess Spond actually was in the two-deep at middle linebacker before they pushed him outside. Thoughts?

Notre Dame coach sees 'great things' for Jaylon Smith | FortWayne.com - Fort Wayne IN

Spond overcame an injury in training camp to play very well at the drop (outside) linebacker slot last season. However, he has the ability to also move inside and replace Te'o. which would allow Smith to compete with returning players Romeo Okwara and Ben Councell.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

So does Okwara. So does Councell. So does . . .


Now it is just going to take people playing the game to find out. We can make all the "brilliant" guesses we want, but until we see the coaches reactions to the play over the next six months, we will not know.

 

[clashmore_mike]

I'd be for it if he's the the best option. Get as many athletes on the field as possible.

 

[irishfanjho15]

This article is primarily talking about Jaylon but it also proposes the possibility that Spond could be shifted inside. Very early on I guess Spond actually was in the two-deep at middle linebacker before they pushed him outside. Thoughts?

Notre Dame coach sees 'great things' for Jaylon Smith | FortWayne.com - Fort Wayne IN

Man I would love for Spond to move inside and Jaylon start at OLB, if he is ready of course. He has the size to play there and he is very physical. I just wonder if he could adjust quick enough to the C/G combo blocks.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Moving Spond inside would help Jaylon see the field sooner, but it doesn't really help us. We've got Calabrese, Grace, Fox and Moore at ILB this year. 2014 is our problem, with Calabrese and Fox running out of eligibility, but Spond with be gone then, too.

 

[STLDomer]

I am in favor of Coucell to ILB, not a fan of Spond moving

 

[Emcee77]

Moving Spond inside would help Jaylon see the field sooner, but it doesn't really help us. We've got Calabrese, Grace, Fox and Moore at ILB this year. 2014 is our problem, with Calabrese and Fox running out of eligibility, but Spond with be gone then, too.

Exactly. Man I wish Spond had a 5th year available.

I am in favor of Coucell to ILB, not a fan of Spond moving

If there's a real chance of this, it would be a huge help to our ILB depth. I wonder about Okwara at ILB too.

 

[ND NYC]

not worrying at all.
the coaches will evaluate everythng and all scenarios and do whatever is the right thing here.

best players play.

 

[chicago51]

Isn't Okwara closer to being a DE than he is too being an ILB?

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Isn't Okwara closer to being a DE than he is too being an ILB?

Going by his physical profile, absolutely. There have also been rumors of Okwara moving to DE, though Vanderdoes may have changed that. I can't see him at ILB.