Sources: Notre Dame and Showtime finalizing details of “Hard Knocks” styled series

[PANDFAN]

Sources tell FootballScoop that executives from Showtime and Notre Dame hope to finalize an agreement in the next 48 hours under which Showtime will immediately begin filming Notre Dame’s 2015 training camp experience, with the goal of producing the first of a dozen episodes beginning the Tuesday, Sept. 8, following the Fighting Irish’s season opener versus Texas.

While not finalized, sources tell FootballScoop the expected time slot would be Tuesday nights following Showtime’s “Inside the NFL,” which airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. Eastern.

The network and university collaborated previously on a documentary following the Fighting Irish men’s basketball program

While providing an unquestioned financial boost to the university, certainly the potentially larger boost for Notre Dame is the national storytelling the series will provide and the expected bump in appeal for the program, the coaches and its players. Under Armour won’t hate the exposure, either.

The series should provide excellent insight into how Brian Kelly coaches his team, how new offensive coordinator Mike Sanford, Jr., leads the offense and there is no doubt that a large part of the population will watch just to enjoy Brian VanGorder’s exchanges with his players.

Separate sources tell FootballScoop that Florida State was very close to agreeing with a major cable production company to produce a similar series last season, but that agreement fell through at the last minute. Here’s to hoping that Showtime and Notre Dame get the I’s dotted and the T’s crossed this time.

Fighting Irish, prepare your DVRs…

Sources: Notre Dame and Showtime finalizing details of "Hard Knocks" styled series

 

[Emcee77]

Freaking out

 

[gkIrish]

Probably will help recruiting but I'm not sure about this...

 

[PANDFAN]

wiltfong/sharpley are not fans....limit distractions

 

[wizards8507]

Savvy Jack does it again.

Probably will help recruiting but I'm not sure about this...

I'm sure Notre Dame will maintain editorial privileges or something like that.

 

[GoIrish41]

This would be awesome! It would make 30-second clips of stretching before practice seem like not such a big deal anymore. Seriously, this would be a very interesting look inside the ND program.

 

[PANDFAN]

I believe it would really give some a different perspective regarding ND...the downside is it is on showtime and not available for everyone to see...

 

[Ndaccountant]

Man....seems like the entire program is going all in this year. Just seems like this has more downside than upside.

 

[wizards8507]

Just seems like this has more downside than upside.

Upside: Recruiting, merchandise sales, cash payment from Showtime, entertainment for fans, general awesomeness, national awareness.

Downside: ???

 

[ozzman]

At first I thought this would be a distraction, but the more I thought about it, I don't think so. These kids live under the camera so much already. I don't think one more set rolling around is going to be much different than normal for them.

 

[Henges24]

Freaking out

<iframe src="//giphy.com/embed/cEYFeDKenMmDavYnajm" width="480" height="390" frameBorder="0" style="max-width: 100%" class="giphy-embed" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>

 

[GoIrish41]

Upside: Recruiting, merchandise sales, cash payment from Showtime, entertainment for fans, general awesomeness, national awareness.

Downside: ???

I could be a distraction, but the amount of exposure (especially to perspective recruits) is an amazing upside for the program -- as are all of the other "upsides" you list. I think Kelly can minimize the distraction element, though. This would be a boon for the team, IMHO.

 

[Blaise]

As long as ND holds editorial rights, I am good with this....


I don't want producers to paint things negatively when it's not... Heard that is why the FSU thing fell through last year... They wouldn't give FSU final say

 

[Ndaccountant]

Upside: Recruiting, merchandise sales, cash payment from Showtime, entertainment for fans, general awesomeness, national awareness.

Downside: ???

Downside.....this team is already getting way too much press for team that finished 8-5 and beat a QB handicapped LSU team in a bowl game. Too many people are heaping praises and BK even said something to the effect of "they read the clippings and we don't play for a conference championship". This only adds to it. ND, under BK, seems to play better when people expect less of them. I am afraid the pressure will be heavy on this team and will prevent them from playing loose.....and ND has had some stellar results when their ass is puckered. Look, I think this team could be something special. The problem is they have fallen short more often than not under BK and I would rather they walk softly and carry a big stick.

By the way, all of the things you mentioned, aside from the money from Showtime, could be had by freaking winning. I tired of "trying to build the brand" thru shit like this. Fucking win, then worry about this crap.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

I love it! Go Irish!

 

[wizards8507]

Downside.....this team is already getting way too much press for team that finished 8-5 and beat a QB handicapped LSU team in a bowl game. Too many people are heaping praises and BK even said something to the effect of "they read the clippings and we don't play for a conference championship". This only adds to it. ND, under BK, seems to play better when people expect less of them. I am afraid the pressure will be heavy on this team and will prevent them from playing loose.....and ND has had some stellar results when their ass is puckered. Look, I think this team could be something special. The problem is they have fallen short more often than not under BK and I would rather they walk softly and carry a big stick.

By the way, all of the things you mentioned, aside from the money from Showtime, could be had by freaking winning. I tired of "trying to build the brand" thru shit like this. Fucking win, then worry about this crap.

I agree that winning is the goal, but I disagree that winning and exposure are mutually exclusive. This doesn't jeopardize our talent, culture, or scheme. It won't affect our win-loss record.

Also, I thought everyone hated us, right? The media (fueled by ESPN) never gives Notre Dame any respect because SEC bias or something? So anything to make us more like the SEC (who have their own network) is a good thing, right?

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Downside.....this team is already getting way too much press for team that finished 8-5 and beat a QB handicapped LSU team in a bowl game. Too many people are heaping praises and BK even said something to the effect of "they read the clippings and we don't play for a conference championship". This only adds to it. ND, under BK, seems to play better when people expect less of them. I am afraid the pressure will be heavy on this team and will prevent them from playing loose.....and ND has had some stellar results when their ass is puckered. Look, I think this team could be something special. The problem is they have fallen short more often than not under BK and I would rather they walk softly and carry a big stick.

By the way, all of the things you mentioned, aside from the money from Showtime, could be had by freaking winning. I tired of "trying to build the brand" thru shit like this. Fucking win, then worry about this crap.

It's just training camp video, right? The kids are used to having cameras around. It shouldn't be much of a distraction. It doesn't come out until after the Texas game anyway.

 

[Ndaccountant]

I agree that winning is the goal, but I disagree that winning and exposure are mutually exclusive. This doesn't jeopardize our talent, culture, or scheme. It won't affect our win-loss record.

Also, I thought everyone hated us, right? The media (fueled by ESPN) never gives Notre Dame any respect because SEC bias or something? So anything to make us more like the SEC (who have their own network) is a good thing, right?

I disagree. Psychology plays a massive role in this game and this would undoubtedly alter the minds of the players, whether they admit or not. Like I said before, ND needs to play loose this year and this will only heap more pressure on the team. This is a distraction, plain and simple.

 

[greyhammer90]

Not sure how I feel...

I know I'd watch it though

 

[dublinirish]

i think recruits generally prefer exposure to no exposure and at the end of the day this is what is most important. You don't come to ND to be a wallflower.

 

[wizards8507]

I disagree. Psychology plays a massive role in this game and this would undoubtedly alter the minds of the players, whether they admit or not. Like I said before, ND needs to play loose this year and this will only heap more pressure on the team.

It doesn't work that way in big-time college sports. Pretending like those things aren't there isn't helpful to anybody.

This is a distraction, plain and simple.

This isn't a high school football team, it's the University of Notre Dame. They're already as distracted as they can possibly be. Jaylon Smith and Joe Schmidt did a live interview on SportsCenter this morning. They have media in their faces constantly. This is nothing new and the incremental impact will be minimal, if anything at all.

 

[irishfan]

Didn't ESPN do a similar show in 2003 following ND around for the fall season?

Edit: there it is ESPN's "The Season" features Irish // The Observer

 

[Ndaccountant]

It doesn't work that way in big-time college sports. Pretending like those things aren't there isn't helpful to anybody.


This isn't a high school football team, it's the University of Notre Dame. They're already as distracted as they can possibly be. Jaylon Smith and Joe Schmidt did a live interview on SportsCenter this morning. They have media in their faces constantly. This is nothing new and the incremental impact will be minimal, if anything at all.

We can just agree to disagree. There is a reason why the NFL put rules into place to force teams to be on Hard Knocks. But, no big deal there either. I mean, those aren't college football teams, they are in the NFL and cameras isn't anything new.

 

[IrishLax]

wiltfong/sharpley are not fans....limit distractions

Yeah, because the series they did on the basketball team last season obviously had such a negative impact with all those distractions....

 

[gkIrish]

Didn't ESPN do a similar show in 2003 following ND around for the fall season?

Edit: there it is ESPN's "The Season" features Irish // The Observer

5-7

 

[PANDFAN]

Yeah, because the series they did on the basketball team last season obviously had such a negative impact with all those distractions....

excellent point!

 

[irishfan]

5-7

That will happen when Ty is the coach and you're starting a true frosh at QB.

 

[bkess8]

Not sure how I feel...

I know I'd watch it though

I'm this boat.

 

[Emcee77]

It's just training camp video, right? The kids are used to having cameras around. It shouldn't be much of a distraction. It doesn't come out until after the Texas game anyway.

That's kind of how I feel. Realistically, it will probably be a bit more than just having cameras around, but I doubt it will much increase the media scrutiny the kids feel they are under.

I don't really think it's going to be tremendously advantageous for the program, either, though, for a similar reason: it just won't raise our profile that much, because our profile is already high.

I'm just excited as a fan because these premium cable documentaries are often really good.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I love it and I'm actually calling to add cable now. I know it's not finalized but leaking something like this means it's almost imminent.

We haven't had cable for two years but if I don't have to sign a contract, I'll pay for cable for the next 5 months to watch this series and ND in HD.