More tidbits about John Goodman
As we're going to try and do more this year, we're going to use this space for interesting things that either didn't make our feature about a player or to expound further on some things mentioned in the story.
For those who missed it, the cover story for The Journal Gazette's high school tab was on Notre Dame recruit John Goodman. Goodman had his first game at quarterback since his freshman year, which Bishop Dwenger won, 21-7.
A couple other things from our feature we couldn't get in, but that you might like to know:
* At Notre Dame camp this summer, Goodman roomed with Michael Floyd, one of the top wide receivers in the country. The Irish are on Floyd's short list and Goodman said they've become tight. Goodman also called Floyd the "top prospect right now for them to get."
* Goodman called people asking for his autograph during Notre Dame's spring game "the coolest thing ever."
* The kid can play golf a little, too, shooting in the low 40s for nine holes. Two shots stand out for him -- a nine-iron from 150 yards and an eight-iron from 160 yards that both landed about a foot from the pin. Get Goodman talking about golf and he almost talks as passionately about it as football.
* Goodman has expressed interest in running track at Notre Dame.
* If there was one thing that bothered Goodman during the recruiting process, it was the perception people had about him. He admitted to reading message boards and taking what others said a little too close to heart initially.
"I used to look at them a lot because I was excited about the recruiting process and everything, like Rivals and all that and looking at message boards on there," Goodman said. "I don't know if they are kids or not but it's all kinds of ages and mostly older guys like 20s and 30s talking and thinking they know everything, talking about me and how I'm not going to make it and everything."
Eventually, though, Goodman said it got "old," and he's moved on past what people say about him. Such is the life of high school recruits who are thrown into the spotlight these days.
* Think your life is tough? Try having three older siblings watching every move. That's what Goodman has, with older brother T.J. and older sisters Lindsay and Nicki.
"He sometimes gets annoyed because we keep tabs on him," Lindsay said. "He doesn't have a chance. We always make sure he's hanging with the right kids and doing what he's supposed to do."
It's not a bad thing, though, because it just increases the support system Goodman surrounds himself with.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette
