Tony Alford

[Kingbish01]

I have to agree on that one. Alford did a wonderful job opening up opportunities in the sunshine state, but if we hire Denson, I think the opportunities in Fla will only increase. I'm sure he's built several relationships down there, played pro-ball down there, and is actually FROM there.

Look at the recruits this "closer" missed on, that someone like Denson could probably land. No wonder BK waited 2 hours to call him back, up until 30 minutes ago I was pissed to see him go. Now I'm thinking we will be better off. How did he get so popular with the fan base? I'm seriously shocked at how we are freaking out over losing a guy that hasn't done a great job developing a RB or recruited anyone that was a game changer....in short you take every player (except EG) that he has recruited away from ND and we probably win the same amount of games over the last 5 years.

 

[kmoose]

Look at the recruits this "closer" missed on, that someone like Denson could probably land. No wonder BK waited 2 hours to call him back, up until 30 minutes ago I was pissed to see him go. Now I'm thinking we will be better off. How did he get so popular with the fan base? I'm seriously shocked at how we are freaking out over losing a guy that hasn't done a great job developing a RB or recruited anyone that was a game changer....in short you take every player (except EG) that he has recruited away from ND and we probably win the same amount of games over the last 5 years.

Without TJ Jones, we don't go undefeated in 2012, in my opinion.

 

[Irish#1]

Haven't read of the previous posts, but this is all about the money and trying to derail ND a little. Meyer knows how good of a recruiter Alford is and wants that kind of a recruiter to ensure the Buckeyes are at the top all the time.

As much as I love the way Alford recruits and his integrity, I'm not too worried. There are a lot of good coaches who can recruit.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

I think that they have had shared responsibilities because no one of them established himself as that stud tailback.

There's some truth to that. But if we had committed to Folston immediately this year instead of trying to get Cam and Bryant plays, he would have had 1200. Same was true in the Theo/Cierre year.

 

[Kingbish01]

Without TJ Jones, we don't go undefeated in 2012, in my opinion.

I agree.

 

[kmoose]

Haven't read of the previous posts, but this is all about the money and trying to derail ND a little. Meyer knows how good of a recruiter Alford is and wants that kind of a recruiter to ensure the Buckeyes are at the top all the time.

As much as I love the way Alford recruits and his integrity, I'm not too worried. There are a lot of good coaches who can recruit.

Who is trying to derail ND a little? Alford? Why would he do that? Meyer? Like you said, Meyer knows he is getting a darn good recruiter. THAT'S why Meyer hired him.

 

[pkt77242]

Look at the recruits this "closer" missed on, that someone like Denson could probably land. No wonder BK waited 2 hours to call him back, up until 30 minutes ago I was pissed to see him go. Now I'm thinking we will be better off. How did he get so popular with the fan base? I'm seriously shocked at how we are freaking out over losing a guy that hasn't done a great job developing a RB or recruited anyone that was a game changer....in short you take every player (except EG) that he has recruited away from ND and we probably win the same amount of games over the last 5 years.

What? You really think that we win the same amount of games in 2012 if we don't have Jones and Nix?

 

[Crazy Balki]

Alford was the WRs coach in 2010 and 2011.

I totally forgot. So yeah, Alford's production at RB has been rather underwhelming. Sure, he had Floyd in 2010-11, but....he had Floyd in 2010-11. Sorry, but you can have a goldfish coach WR's. If you have Floyd in your corp, he's gonna do work.

 

[Buster Bluth]

As much as I love the way Alford recruits and his integrity, I'm not too worried. There are a lot of good coaches who can recruit.

I have no problems with Alford going to Ohio State from an Xs and Os standpoint. If Alford were good enough on that front, Kelly would have promoted him some time in the last six years.

Losing an A+ recruiter for Florida and arguably an A recruiter for Texas is just tough to deal to deal with as a program. It's not like the program is imploding but I'm awfully curious to see what Kelly does about it.

It helps that ND should go on a bit of a run for 2015/2016 with how talented the program is, and I'm confident that a ND team winning 10+ games will get their fair share of recruits anyway. And if they don't get those wins then the whole program will likely start with a new staff anyway.

 

[kmoose]

There's some truth to that. But if we had committed to Folston immediately this year instead of trying to get Cam and Bryant plays, he would have had 1200. Same was true in the Theo/Cierre year.

OR...... If we had committed to Folston immediately, he may have torn an ACL in the 3rd game. Or had rubber legs by the end of the season. That's just not something that you can predict.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

OR...... If we had committed to Folston immediately, he may have torn an ACL in the 3rd game. Or had rubber legs by the end of the season. That's just not something that you can predict.

Sure. I'm just saying...it wasn't that there was lack of production. It was that the production was spread out.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Without TJ Jones, we don't go undefeated in 2012, in my opinion.

Mehhhh, i dunno about that. TJ didn't really come onto the scene until 2013. 2012 was a solid, but unspectacular year for him. Now, if you said Eifert, then I'd totally agree, but TJ was kinda just a solid contributor for us that year.

 

[Kingbish01]

What? You really think that we win the same amount of games in 2012 if we don't have Jones and Nix?

I was looking at it more big picture..hypothetically speaking say in 5 years say we lost 20 games...without every player he ever recruited (except for Golson) we may have lost 23..... Not enough for me to feel like the sky is falling.

 

[Irish#1]

Who is trying to derail ND a little? Alford? Why would he do that? Meyer? Like you said, Meyer knows he is getting a darn good recruiter. THAT'S why Meyer hired him.

No, I don't think Alford is that type of a guy. I'm referring to Meyer. He gets a great recruiter and a chance to get some recruiting wins against ND as a bonus.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Who is trying to derail ND a little? Alford? Why would he do that? Meyer? Like you said, Meyer knows he is getting a darn good recruiter. THAT'S why Meyer hired him.

^This

I don't think it's about money. Alford was the first choice because of his recruiting. The Assistant Head Coach was the carrot that made him go. The salary will be a nice bonus. But he wants to be a head coach somewhere. That's his end game.

 

[kmoose]

Mehhhh, i dunno about that. TJ didn't really come onto the scene until 2013. 2012 was a solid, but unspectacular year for him. Now, if you said Eifert, then I'd totally agree, but TJ was kinda just a solid contributor for us that year.

Eifert caught 50 balls for 685 yards and 4 TDs

Jones caught 50 balls for 649 yards and 4 TDs

If you totally agree about Eifert, then you have to totally agree about Jones.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Eifert caught 50 balls for 685 yards and 4 TDs

Jones caught 50 balls for 649 yards and 4 TDs

If you totally agree about Eifert, then you have to totally agree about Jones.

Eifert garnered much more attention than Jones. Jones did that without much attention from the defense, while Eifert did it IN SPITE of all the attention. Eifert also made several more impact catches for us that year. It's a moot point regardless, since Jones wasn't coached by Alford in 2012.

 

[irishfan]

He's been here forever, and Colorado State (alma mater) still wouldn't hire him as HC this off-season. It sucks, but staying here wasn't doing anything to help propel his career. His only HC-opportunity would probably come in a couple years at some bottom-feeder MAC school as a HC if he stayed here. Can't blame him for leaving, he'll have a sweet resume coaching under BK and Urban.

 

[Grahambo]

ND was 66th in team rushing this past season. 75th in rushing in 2013. 38th in 2012. 88th in rushing in 2009.

Now, I know its more complex then just those numbers but as a coach, Alford is not an all-world beater and that's not a disrespect towards him. He did the best he did with the talent he was given and has been apart of, what I feel, is a turnaround in ND football.

Ask yourself though, how much of the RBs not being properly prepared for blitz pickup is the RB and how much is on the coach? We have all complained about the underwhelming performance of the team the last two years so this is not bad.

For recruiting, this is an immediate loss in the short term but we have a whole year to gain the attention of recruits across the US. Alford has done some great recruiting and we have heard recruits speak highly of him but there were still quite a bit of high profile recruits, despite Alford, that didn't choose ND.

"R-E-L-A-X"

 

[EddytoNow]

I hate to lose Tony Alford as much as anyone, but no one is irreplacable. Much of Alford's success was in selling Notre Dame's integrity and value over a lifetime, the 40 year decision so to speak. He convinced the recruits that he and Notre Dame would have their back. Many recruits spoke very highly about their relationship with Alford, and then they went on to choose some other school. Alford was able to get a few recruits each year to see the value of Notre Dame over a lifetime. His replacement will be able to do the same thing.

By accepting the OSU position after recruits had signed their LOI, Alford tarnished the father-figure/big brother image he had developed with his recruits while at Notre Dame. He broke the trust that had built up between himself and his recruits. He will have a much harder time selling that image to future recruits, who will be encouraged to look at what happened to others who placed their trust in his words.

Tony made the right decision for himself and his family. He will benefit financially and professionally from his decision. Notre Dame should have ponied up the cash and coaching title that would have kept him here. However, if I were being recruited by him in the future, I wouldn't buy into any talk of him being there in the future for my benefit or guidance. He has joined a snake-oil salesman. His personal integrity will forever be tarnished by that relationship.

 

[woolybug25]

So I come back to this shit?

Alford going to OSU of all places? This makes me sick to my stomach. I knew one day we would lose the guy, but not to Urban Meyer. Tony has made his mark by having true, deep and honest relationships with the kids he brings in. How does that mesh with Urban's oversigning, lack of character and down right shitty behavior?

I feel like the bad guys won again... As usual...

 

[Junkhead]

We will miss his recruiting. I agree that our RBs have not developed very fast. This season may help to answer that then. I'm sure right now he is feeling like he sold his soul to the devil, going to OSU. Sometimes it has to be done. More concerning to me is why 3 coaches so fast? It has been a revolving door the past few years. There is some other issue afoot maybe. That said, I love me some Autry Denson. Don't know about his coaching ability, but being from Florida and ND's all time leading rusher can't hurt.

 

[BeauBenken]

I'm going to say this because I believe it and because I'm a liter and half of wine in, but I truly believe Tony Alford to be a good person. The way he has represented ND, himself, and others in a day and age of college football is unparalleled by none. I believe he has honestly looked out for these kids and this university, however Tony has all rights to look out for him and his family. He has been through A LOT in his life (his family included). If he believes this will help him further himself and his family, I truly wish nothing but the best for Tony Alford. If I had it my way, he would be at Notre Dame coaching running backs for the rest of his life, but I truly thank him for everything he has done and represented thus far. I hope he doesn't let OSU change him, and he keeps up his high moral code which I respect him for.

Tony Alford, may you have long and prosperous career. I wish nothing but the best for you.

 

[fightinirish68]

I don't think losing him as rb coach is any where as hurtful as losing him as a recruiter

 

[stlnd01]

I'm going to say this because I believe it and because I'm a liter and half of wine in, but I truly believe Tony Alford to be a good person. The way he has represented ND, himself, and others in a day and age of college football is unparalleled by none. I believe he has honestly looked out for these kids and this university, however Tony has all rights to look out for him and his family. He has been through A LOT in his life (his family included). If he believes this will help him further himself and his family, I truly wish nothing but the best for Tony Alford. If I had it my way, he would be at Notre Dame coaching running backs for the rest of his life, but I truly thank him for everything he has done and represented thus far. I hope he doesn't let OSU change him, and he keeps up his high moral code which I respect him for.

Tony Alford, may you have long and prosperous career. I wish nothing but the best for you.

Reps. Keep the wine flowing Beau.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Haven't read of the previous posts, but this is all about the money and trying to derail ND a little. Meyer knows how good of a recruiter Alford is and wants that kind of a recruiter to ensure the Buckeyes are at the top all the time.

As much as I love the way Alford recruits and his integrity, I'm not too worried. There are a lot of good coaches who can recruit.

It's not all about money. Not even close.

 

[ThePiombino]

Best case:

Tony kills is at OSU next year, immediately gets OC position somewhere (CSU?), parlays that into HC position somewhere else and in ~6 years the prodigal son returns to ND as the successor to BK's successor and becomes the best recruiting HC in the game.

 

[ulukinatme]

Best of luck to Coach Alford. If we were going to lose him, at least he's going to get a good opportunity at tOSU and maybe that will lead to something better for him as far as a head coach down the line. We'll be fine, although recruiting certainly took a hit.

 

[ulukinatme]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>What's all the hullabaloo about this Alfred guy?</p>— The Gold Seats (@NDGoldSeats) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDGoldSeats/status/564233058032058368">February 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[NDPhilly]

I don't think losing him as rb coach is any where as hurtful as losing him as a recruiter

DUHhhes not hraanr great a RB coach bur he's scuk a good recruiter it mask uo for it; Denson would be a k repacemn t for him imo but he wpmt be a s good a s alford as a recruiter.

We reallu nedd to win 10 games next yeast. Anything less ids unacceptable Losy our two best recruitersanf the offseason is a month old d.