'14 KY DT Matt Elam (Kentucky Verbal)

[dwshade]

Man, there will be so much on the line will all the kids OVing to that game in particular where it's possible we can get upset by them. A lot of poker chips are being put on that game from a recruiting standpoint so I hope that's the one game we do look great in over the others based on rumored attendance.

The result of the game is so overrated. If a kid is going to choose a school based on the result of one game he doesn't belong at ND. Fans put more stock in that than any recruit does. Te'o was at one of the worst ND games in memory, a loss to Syracuse with the snoballs flying. He didn't even finish watching the game opting to go inside. You want them at the SC game because the entire day will be electric. They and their families will get a great feel for campus and what the school has to offer.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

The result of the game is so overrated. If a kid is going to choose a school based on the result of one game he doesn't belong at ND. Fans put more stock in that than any recruit does. Te'o was at one of the worst ND games in memory, a loss to Syracuse with the snoballs flying. He didn't even finish watching the game opting to go inside. You want them at the SC game because the entire day will be electric. They and their families will get a great feel for campus and what the school has to offer.

And it took a literal act of God (by Te'o's own account) to make him choose ND over USC. Not the best example of individual games not mattering.

 

[dwshade]

And it took a literal act of God (by Te'o's own account) to make him choose ND over USC. Not the best example of individual games not mattering.

Michael Floyd committed after a home loss to Michigan. I can found many, many more examples.

 

[T Town Tommy]

If a program does their job prior to the game then the outcome of the game is meaningless. Everybody wants to win the game to "finish" off or add to the trip but I doubt that is what truly matters once the recruit leaves. If a win during the OV is the deciding factor, the school probably doesn't need the recruit to begin with.

Last resort... do what Auburn did when Will Muschamp was there. Reach in your desk drawer and pull out an extra $300-400 to give to the host player to ensure the recruit has a great time.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

How about ND wins the game just in case it matters....

 

[dwshade]

If a program does their job prior to the game then the outcome of the game is meaningless. Everybody wants to win the game to "finish" off or add to the trip but I doubt that is what truly matters once the recruit leaves. If a win during the OV is the deciding factor, the school probably doesn't need the recruit to begin with.

Last resort... do what Auburn did when Will Muschamp was there. Reach in your desk drawer and pull out an extra $300-400 to give to the host player to ensure the recruit has a great time.

Agree 100000%.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Agree 100000%.

Just the first part I hope. j/k

 

[koonja]

Winning the game has an affect on the recruit's visits.

The coaches are in a better mood when with the recruits the best day, the players have more fun the night of the game if they win, the fans are more positive as they run into the recruits throughout the city, hell the whole city has more of a vibe after a win. Of course there will be recruits that choose ND regardless of that game, but the experience around campus after a big victory is priceless. It definitely helps.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Winning the game has an affect on the recruit's visits.

The coaches are in a better mood when with the recruits the best day, the players have more fun the night of the game if they win, the fans are more positive as they run into the recruits throughout the city, hell the whole city has more of a vibe after a win. Of course there will be recruits that choose ND regardless of that game, but the experience around campus after a big victory is priceless. It definitely helps.

I do agree that it helps with all of what you said. Why chance it like IrishSteelhead said. Win and everybody's happy.

 

[Luckylucci]

Winning matters to recruits and it matters a lot. Look at JuJu Smith who specifically said that he's gonna be watching to see how the teams he likes do throughout the season. However, I don't think that winning one single game or not will determine that. If we were to go 11-1 or 10-2 but lose the game that some these recruits are at it probably won't matter. If we go 8-4 and lose that game it becomes more significant.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Maybe a big ole slab of ribs and endless potato salad and butter beans would be a better approach for Elam. I don't think Ruth's Chris can contain him.

 

[NDWorld247]

Winning the game has an affect on the recruit's visits.

The coaches are in a better mood when with the recruits the best day, the players have more fun the night of the game if they win, the fans are more positive as they run into the recruits throughout the city, hell the whole city has more of a vibe after a win. Of course there will be recruits that choose ND regardless of that game, but the experience around campus after a big victory is priceless. It definitely helps.

This! When I was younger I went to two Penn State games. The first was a win over Temple and the campus was rockin'. Everyone was in a great mood and I got laid. The second was a loss to Ohio State. The scene afterwards sucked. Everyone just wanted to fight and I did not get laid.

Wins are important for all of the reasons kuehnja mentioned. In some cases, not all, it's the difference for a recruit.

 

[koonja]

Take it from a guy who's been to 3 ND games. All 3 losses. I'm sure the campus vibe is much different after a win. I only hope I can one day speak from experience, lol.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Take it from a guy who's been to 3 ND games. All 3 losses. I'm sure the campus vibe is much different after a win. I only hope I can one day speak from experience, lol.

Should the Irish fans start banning you from attendance? That's not a good streak kuehnja.

 

[koonja]

Should the Irish fans start banning you from attendance? That's not a good streak kuehnja.

No need. I have a self imposed ban. Last year was the first year I didn't go to a game since I've started going.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Take it from a guy who's been to 3 ND games. All 3 losses. I'm sure the campus vibe is much different after a win. I only hope I can one day speak from experience, lol.

If they were 2009 Connecticut, 2010 Tulsa, and 2011 South Florida I beg you to never step foot in that stadium ever again haha

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I agree that the importance of any individual outcome is frequently overstated, but it can definitely make a difference-- especially when we're hosting recruiting that are seriously considering the team we're playing as well.

JuJu Smith and Damien Mama are both considered heavy USC leans. But they may have serious reservations about the direction USC is heading under Kiffen. How better to encourage that doubt than to crush the Trojans during a night game in South Bend?

 

[koonja]

If they were 2009 Connecticut, 2010 Tulsa, and 2011 South Florida I beg you to never step foot in that stadium ever again haha

Navy, Michigan, and USC (all home games). I actually might have skipped a year now that I think about it. I think Navy and Michigan were back to back, skip year, USC game, then last year.

 

[Irish#1]

Navy, Michigan, and USC (all home games). I actually might have skipped a year now that I think about it. I think Navy and Michigan were back to back, skip year, USC game, then last year.

Just for good measure, you now have a lifetime ban.

 

[koonja]

I feel like that guy in 'Celtic Pride' that's routing for the Celtics but still gets forced out of the stadium because of superstition.

 

[md_bennett]

I feel like that guy in 'Celtic Pride' that's routing for the Celtics but still gets forced out of the stadium because of superstition.

Don't feel too bad. I went to one and haven't been back. Opener in 2007 against GT when we gave up like 14 sacks, had a QB transfer, and Weiss began his slide into the worst season in ND history. I will keep myself at a distance for a while for everyone else's sake. I don't even watch most games live anymore - DVR helps. I may be taking it a bit far but the baseball player in me says don't step on the foul line and all will be well.

 

[dwshade]

This! When I was younger I went to two Penn State games. The first was a win over Temple and the campus was rockin'. Everyone was in a great mood and I got laid. The second was a loss to Ohio State. The scene afterwards sucked. Everyone just wanted to fight and I did not get laid.

Wins are important for all of the reasons kuehnja mentioned. In some cases, not all, it's the difference for a recruit.

Complete nonsense.

 

[NDWorld247]

Complete nonsense.

What's nonsense? That the scene on campus after a win is much better than a loss or that wins aren't important?

 

[stlnd01]

Man, there will be so much on the line will all the kids OVing to that game in particular where it's possible we can get upset by them. A lot of poker chips are being put on that game from a recruiting standpoint so I hope that's the one game we do look great in over the others based on rumored attendance.

I think the bigger risk with bringing in a bunch of recruits to one game is when some of those recruits are committed elsewhere and they use the opportunity to talk up their chosen school, especially if it's the opponent or a school other OV's are also considering. Doesn't seem like a big concern for Elam and UK in this case, but word is that happened some at the big USC night game recruiting weekend in 2011.

FWIW, I was at that game and the atmosphere was tremendous. One of the handful of most exciting scenes I've seen at ND Stadium (and I've been there plenty) and the crowd was electric, despite the score, well into the second half. You don't get that when we're playing Navy or Purdue. Sucks that we lost but we ultimately got several commits from the kids in attendance that night.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

Complete nonsense.

What is nonsense? His personal experience? Recruits being impressed when a team wins and campus is bumping?

 

[koonja]

What's nonsense? That the scene on campus after a win is much better than a loss or that wins aren't important?

I think he was referring to you getting laid .

 

[stlnd01]

What's nonsense? That the scene on campus after a win is much better than a loss or that wins aren't important?

Perhaps he meant about you getting laid?
There's no question the atmosphere on campus is better after a win. But in my experience, anyway, football weekends are more fun on Friday night than Saturday night regardless, because everyone's so wiped by the end of the game. I suppose it may be different for football players, though.

 

[NDWorld247]

I think he was referring to you getting laid .

Lol, I speak the truth! Why do you think I went back for a 2nd game...

 

[andre784]

It happens every home game against USC. We bring in tons of high valued prospects and either ND shits the bed during the game or we whiff on a lot of 5*s. Most, I think, show up just to experience the game. Someone posted the list of the last two games and out of 30+ recruits, we got 6 of them and that does not include Greenberry and Tee.

We got some good ones (KR, Shembo, TJ etc) but we missed on the top tier ones.

We whiffed because the program wasn't stable. If we beat USC consistently we prove to California that were worthy of it's talents that hold us back from the national champion teams we could get from winning in the state and other top recruits of the west.

 

[phillyirish]

This! When I was younger I went to two Penn State games. The first was a win over Temple and the campus was rockin'. Everyone was in a great mood and I got laid. The second was a loss to Ohio State. The scene afterwards sucked. Everyone just wanted to fight and I did not get laid.

You should be banned a week for each visit to a Happy Valley game without ND playing. You should additionally be banned for life for f*cking a PSU fan.