Crum to stay for fifth year

[GoshenGipper]

Crum to stay for fifth year - Irish Insider

Maurice Crum Sr. said Wednesday that his son, Notre Dame's senior middle linebacker, will return to Notre Dame for a fifth year.

Maurice Crum Jr., a defensive captain, and Notre Dame's other true seniors met with Irish coach Charlie Weis Sunday to discuss their futures.

On Monday, Weis said he received good news from the seniors with whom he discussed possible fifth years, but Weis did not disclose details.

Convincing Crum Jr. to return was arguably Weis' most important task for the stability of the defense next season.

The native of Riverview, Fla. -- and son of a former All-America linebacker at Miami -- led Notre Dame with 100 tackles in 2006, but his productivity slipped some to start the 2007 season. Against UCLA in the Rose Bowl on Oct. 6, however, Crum Jr. forced two fumbles, recovered both, returned one for a touchdown, intercepted two passes and had seven tackles. The Walter Camp Football Foundation named him national defensive player of the week for his efforts against the Bruins.

For the season, Crum Jr. is tied with fifth-year safety Tom Zbikowski for fourth on the team with 51 tackles. Crum Jr. has broken up four passes, has 3 1/2 tackles for loss and one sack.

Crum Sr. said the best part of his son's decision will be Crum Jr.'s ability to "think less and react more" on the field in 2008. As a non-playing freshman and a starting sophomore, Crum played outside linebacker in former defensive coordinator Rick Minter's 4-3 defensive scheme. As a junior, he had a breakout season at middle linebacker in the 4-3.

Now, Crum Jr. is one of two starting middle linebackers in first-year defensive coordinator Corwin Brown's 3-4 personnel package.

 

[SoCalDomer]

How many other seniors are there that are eligible for a 5th year? I think Vernaglia is.

 

[NDSMC78]

I think most of us anticipated this. But I'm glad that it appears to be a done deal. Mo is a class act.

 

[Iron Machine]

Crum staying is excellent for the team. He adds a true leader to a defense that'll be extremely young next year. He'll also be key to our run stop next year with Trevor moving on to greener pastures.

 

[ChicagoIrishfan]

This Is Awesome We Will Need As Much Leadership As We Can Get On This Team

 

[Junkhead]

He would be the #1 5th year I'd want back.

 

[Steve]

that's awesome. mo is a good guy. maybe next year, he can break the 90 overall rating barrier in ncaa football 09.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Go Mo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I'm with Crum, and maybe 1 more, 2 others max.

 

[johnnd05]

Great news! It'll be awesome to have him back.

 

[SouthieND04]

 

[SoCalDomer]

 

[fitz_bu47]

Awesome, it will make a huge difference w/ Mo in the middle w/ all that young talent around him.

 

[IrishRamMan10]

my 08 kool-aid jsut got a bit sweeter

 

[Moostache]

I like Mo Crum...but unfortunately he is not a very good LB without a couple real space eaters in front of him to keep blockers off him and allow him to make plays. He has difficulty getting off blocks and is a bit slow and undersized. He also seems to make tackles but rarely deliver a crushing blow - not always, but as a general trend.

The man has the heart of a lion and leaves it all on the field, so in that regard you couldn't ask for a better leader / role model, but in pure football terms, he is limited somewhat on the inside by size and on the outside by speed.

Here's hoping that the combination of Ian Williams / Omar Hunter / Brandon Newman at NT and Kuntz plus anyone else at DE can eat up blockers next year and allow Mo's leadership and effort to augment the defense next year...at a minimum, he should be a great teacher for Filer, Poz, Flemming and McDonald as well as a good compliment to Toryan Smith on the inside...

 

[benneboy]

Alright Mo. That is definitely good news for the upcoming season. He brings leadership to the defense this year that the fifth year guys haven't been able to bring. You know he's an incredible leader when Trevor Laws says that he tries to pattern his game after Crum. I also hope Lambert sticks around next year. I think we have one of the best secondaries this year and with a better pass rush next year we can start reaping the benefits of that.

 

[ACamp1900]

How many other seniors are there that are eligible for a 5th year? I think Vernaglia is.

Oh god we HAVE to have him back.............

 

[KamaraPolice]

Don't miss the big picture here.

Everyone who thinks this team has quit on Weis is being proven wrong. All the doomsday oracles - wrong as well.

If a coach has lost his players, you see that not by guys transfering, you see it by starters moving on. The fact so many 5th year guys came back for this year, it tells you how much they care. The fact a guy like Crum is forgoing NFL money to come back tells you what the true locker room sentiment is.

 

[GoshenGipper]

The fact so many 5th year guys came back for this year, it tells you how much they care.

I disagree, I've seen way to much acceptance, apathy, and lack of leadership from many of the upperclassmen that are left. Not all of them mind you, but quite a few.

This is what former ND OT Aaron Taylor had to say about it on his blog.

These players are done. They don’t seem to play with passion or even be bothered when things are going wrong. In fact, it almost seemed like they were used to it. Laughing and joking on the sideline by a select few players while receiving the worst beat down in the 70+ game history with USC. What’s worse than them laughing was that no one seemed to do anything about it. No one yelling at the players. No one holding each other accountable on their respective sides of the ball. No one finally saying, “enough is enough” and doing something about it. Blank stares and apathy by starters and veterans. Guys seemingly relieved when something goes wrong and it wasn’t their fault. Embarrassing … and they just seem to take it. Except for the defense, however, as Corwin and his boys come to play.

My mother always said, “Sometimes a person’s actions speak so loudly, I can hardly hear what they’re saying”. Somehow that sadly seems appropriate in the very sad state of affairs the Irish now find themselves in.

Here’s hoping that someone starts to speak up. Soon.

 

[KamaraPolice]

I disagree, I've seen way to much acceptance, apathy, and lack of leadership from many of the upperclassmen that are left. Not all of them mind you, but quite a few.

This is what former ND OT Aaron Taylor had to say about it on his blog.

I disagree.

Why don't you look up anything from prior to this year. It's too chic to rip weis to get anything of value.

(AT just took a clear cheap shot at Weis)

 

[KamaraPolice]

if players are coming back, it's not all gloom and doom. maybe it would be in the best interest of everyone if the aaron taylors of the world would shut up. Now, I admit, it's enticing to run your mouth off, especially when you have a blog with people reading it. but sensationalism is detrimental to the people who are being piggybacked.

Players laughing? Better than players yelling at each other, better than players frustrated and dumbfounded. So they know they couldn't compete with USC; there's nothing wrong with camaraderie. Want to see dysfunction? Look at Temple a couple years ago. There were players literally crying on the sidelines.

 

[SoCalDomer]

There were players literally crying on the sidelines.

I told you, I had some dirt in my eye!

 

[KamaraPolice]

lol, it was sad. you never want to see players crying.

 

[GoshenGipper]

All I'm saying is that it's easy to be a leader when you're winning or everything is going well, it's when you losing that your character and leadership is really tested. I have experienced a bit of this my self.

When I was in high school I was on a pretty good football team. We went to state one year and should've won it if it wasn't for our stupid OC, highly ranked within the top 10 in our class the entire first three years I was in school, won a couple of sectionals, a regional, and a semi-state. Plus the two years that we didn't make it to state we lost to the team the ended up representing our half of the state in the championship. One of which killed everyone they played in the playoffs except for us who they beat by 7 in regionals. Now my Sr. year we were still a pretty good team, and we had a winning record and a Div1 QB that was on the bench most of the year, but we weren't as good as previous years, and we had been bumped up to the biggest class which is 5A here in IN, and were put in the same sectionals as one of the biggest powerhouses in the state. Well anyway this caused some of our upper classmen to have an I don't care attitude that came off if we lose, then so be it because we were probably going to lose in the sectionals anyway, some also didn't care if the offense sucked it up at times because they hated the OC who was also the QB and RB coach. That made those of us that cared really mad and it really caused a divide on the team. I think ND is going through a similar situation right now. I think that's why CW made the statement about if you're with us, you're with us comment.

My sophmore year we could have gone down a similar path. But we didn't because of the veteran leadership on the team. The season started out well that year just like it almost always did, but then we lost to our arch rivals in the 4th game of the year which caused a big uproar in the school and everyone thought we sucked, because before that we had won back to back conference championships, and hadn't lost a regular season game in three years. Well we ended up losing one more conference game a few weeks later and most of the community didn't get their hopes up on us. But we bound together strapped it up and tore through the playoffs all the way to state. We were 4A at the time and our arch rivals that beat us ended up going to state in 3A, and the other team that beat us lost by 3 to the team that ended up going to state in 5A, so it's not like we were a bad team, but it could have all been lost if it weren't for the veteran leadership on that team.

 

[GoshenGipper]

if players are coming back, it's not all gloom and doom. maybe it would be in the best interest of everyone if the aaron taylors of the world would shut up. Now, I admit, it's enticing to run your mouth off, especially when you have a blog with people reading it. but sensationalism is detrimental to the people who are being piggybacked.

Players laughing? Better than players yelling at each other, better than players frustrated and dumbfounded. So they know they couldn't compete with USC; there's nothing wrong with camaraderie. Want to see dysfunction? Look at Temple a couple years ago. There were players literally crying on the sidelines.

I just want to see some leadership and fire if for no other reason, then just to show everyone that they really care.

As far as Arron Taylor goes I met him when I was younger and the way he conducted himself and how nice he was really made an impression on me. Given that he obviously cares about the direction of the program and his desire to work with young people I think he might make a good OL coach is ND and Latina decide to go seperate ways.

 

[KamaraPolice]

All I'm saying is that it's easy to be a leader when you're winning or everything is going well, it's when you losing that your character and leadership is really tested. I have experienced a bit of this my self.

When I was in high school I was on a pretty good football team. We went to state one year and should've won it if it wasn't for our stupid OC, highly ranked within the top 10 in our class the entire first three years I was in school, won a couple of sectionals, a regional, and a semi-state. Plus the two years that we didn't make it to state we lost to the team the ended up representing our half of the state in the championship. One of which killed everyone they played in the playoffs except for us who they beat by 7 in regionals. Now my Sr. year we were still a pretty good team, and we had a winning record and a Div1 QB that was on the bench most of the year, but we weren't as good as previous years, and we had been bumped up to the biggest class which is 5A here in IN, and were put in the same sectionals as one of the biggest powerhouses in the state. Well anyway this caused some of our upper classmen to have an I don't care attitude that came off if we lose, then so be it because we were probably going to lose in the sectionals anyway, some also didn't care if the offense sucked it up at times because they hated the OC who was also the QB and RB coach. That made those of us that cared really mad and it really caused a divide on the team. I think ND is going through a similar situation right now. I think that's why CW made the statement about if you're with us, you're with us comment.

My sophmore year we could have gone down a similar path. But we didn't because of the veteran leadership on the team. The season started out well that year just like it almost always did, but then we lost to our arch rivals in the 4th game of the year which caused a big uproar in the school and everyone thought we sucked, because before that we had won back to back conference championships, and hadn't lost a regular season game in three years. Well we ended up losing one more conference game a few weeks later and most of the community didn't get their hopes up on us. But we bound together strapped it up and tore through the playoffs all the way to state. We were 4A at the time and our arch rivals that beat us ended up going to state in 3A, and the other team that beat us lost 3 to the team that ended up going to state in 5A, so it's not like we were a bad team, but it could have all been lost if it weren't for the veteran leadership on that team.

Touché. Leadership from upperclassman is huge.

(and don't be coy, GG, were you the d1 qb on the team?)

 

[GoshenGipper]

Touché. Leadership from upperclassman is huge.

(and don't be coy, GG, were you the d1 qb on the team?)

No, but he was one of my best friends on the team. He got an offer to Marshall, but he told them thanks but no thanks because he really didn't want to go to college in West Virginia. He also got an offer to Eastern Michigan, but they pulled it at the last min because they found someone they liked better, but they still wanted him to come as a Gray Shirt, where he would be a Prefered Walk-On his first year and then he'd get a scholarship his 2nd year. He ended up telling them no thanks. We both had far better arms than the starting QB, who was also one of the guys that were a problem on our team, but even though he hated the OC too he still somehow managed to be his favorite basically because he was more athletic and could run the stuipid option better. He was also know to show up to the pregram/walkthough practice hung over. Wow, what great leadership. It's pretty funny when the WR coach repeatedly comes and gets you during practice to throw to the WR's during practice because you have a better arm than the QB. Oh, and just for the record, the OC's dad thinks he's a total jerk too.

 

[piyachi]

Haha wow GG - b-b-b-buuuuurn. That's a shame - I really think it's amazing how stuff like this happens at all levels of sports.... I know I sat behind a kid I consistenly beat (and badly) when playing tennis in HS - Coach was a good guy, just didn't seem to care about it.


Back on topic - Yea Crum seems a little physically limited, but he seems to be the closest thing to an all-around leader (making plays on the field, one of the 'smart' positions, and bringing real emotion to the team). He, to me, is the number one guy we want for a 5th year, so congrats Mo.

 

[johnnd05]

Back on topic - Yea Crum seems a little physically limited, but he seems to be the closest thing to an all-around leader (making plays on the field, one of the 'smart' positions, and bringing real emotion to the team). He, to me, is the number one guy we want for a 5th year, so congrats Mo.

Exactly. He's one of the veterans - Laws is the other shining example - who obviously /hasn't/ quit this year. Crum, Bruton, and Kuntz - together with all the players who will be juniors then - will be a hell of a leadership core for next year's defense. The "O" will still be wicked young, though - Turk and Duncan will be the only senior starters (if they manage not to get beat out).

 

[irish4ever]

Yee haw!!!! The Mo is going to be back in town .... gotta love it! What day is opening kick-off next year? Can't wait!!!