‘23 VA ATH Brandyn Hillman (Michigan Verbal)

[irishog77]

I just wanted to hear what happened. I’m sorry that I offended you by stating that my friend went to Vandy.

You didn’t offend me.

You were a dick. And you said it like a dick.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I'm taking into consideration that at the end of September of his senior year he had a moderate blow up of offers. They invested a lot more time and resources into Bowen, yes, but there was a lot more baggage there and of a completely different sort.

I'm going to assume ND has issues most other programs do not, but I also don't follow other programs as closely, so I can't really speak to that with certainty. I look at TAMU, Michigan, etc. or even Stanford and Northwestern from afar, however, and don't know if I'd want to trade hurdles with them at the moment.

My consternation is reserved in many other aspects of my life that directly impact me day to day, week to week. 15 years ago, I'm probably out here pant peeing with the rest. In fact, I think I was. Holtz once said life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond. This recruiting business really isn't happening TO me. It's hardly even happening among me. I take comfort in knowing that 50% of the time, life works out every time. With real bits of panther, so you know it's good.

My bad, we're discussing two different things. You're saying no matter what, it shouldn't bother you because it's not a part of your "real life".

Understood.

I'm arguing from a fan's (fanatical person's) perspective. My attachment to ND football is by all accounts irrational: it doesn't affect my day to day per se, I never attended the university, I have no family connections. I'm just a 40 year old married man with kids who works 40-50 hrs a week, works hard to be invested in his children's lives, tries to do work around his house and yard, tries to make his wife happy and has a guilty pleasure in following a historical football program that is in-state and represents the best Catholic education in the country. I find reasons to support my fandom but most of them are tacked on after the fact.

It's irrational for me to be posting this on a Tuesday morning amidst a very busy workday but I do it because it's a part of my own personal 'great distraction'. We all determine how much distraction we'll allow ourselves as we go through life and as we invest more time/thought into the distraction, we naturally become more attached and impassioned (irrational). So, having determined I'm an irrational fan and I'm interested enough in ND doing well and winning a championship that I post on here, I think it's reasonable to voice my disappointment that we lost one of our best signees from the 2023 class, at a position of need no-less.

I'm glad you are only tacitly interested/connected to the football program and feel no emotion during the ups and downs in the offseason. I am that I am.

 

[Irishdrunk]

The last 2 months hasn't warranted this behavior?

For me personally, shit like this makes it harder and harder to care.

Hoping I would see the changes necessary for this program to take the next step. Not happening. Hoping I'd see a national title in my lifetime. Not happening. Hell, I'm simply hoping I would just see a playoff win at some point. Likely not happening.

I am disappointed? yes

I think the reality is the Admin is able to do what they want more with Freeman than with Kelly. And that has a negative impact on the FB Program. The Admin see the University as a University first with not much room to compromise for the Football Program. They claim high standards for football on the field and a so-called National Title Mandate, but they don't mean it. We are much closer to Stanford than we are to Michigan - and nowhere near as committed to UGA, Bama, OSU, TAMU, LSU and OK.

These schools do NIL and have no problem getting kids in into admissions.

So I think the realization that Kelly held the Admin's feet to the fire more because he was more experienced, confident and a bit of an egotistical asshole and would tell Swarbrick what needed to be done. Now Swarbrick is in charge.

 

[Sea Turtle]

I think the reality is the Admin is able to do what they want more with Freeman than with Kelly. And that has a negative impact on the FB Program. The Admin see the University as a University first with not much room to compromise for the Football Program. They claim high standards for football on the field and a so-called National Title Mandate, but they don't mean it. We are much closer to Stanford than we are to Michigan - and nowhere near as committed to UGA, Bama, OSU, TAMU, LSU and OK.

These schools do NIL and have no problem getting kids in into admissions.

So I think the realization that Kelly held the Admin's feet to the fire more because he was more experienced, confident and a bit of an egotistical asshole and would tell Swarbrick what needed to be done. Now Swarbrick is in charge.

A few years ago, a couple of BOT members said that they knew that they couldn't compete with the big dogs, didn't really want, and we're just happy being relevant.

That got out and caused a bit of a sneak and I think the guy had to do an interview and to clarify but ended up coming off smug with the Swarbrick 'we're not going to apologize' crap.
The national title Mandate is crap, they don't believe it themselves, and now look at the football program as a nuisance rather than one of the three pillars of the school. I honestly don't know why we even care so much at this point. We know what ND is.

The Mandate is about as real as me stating my mandate is to be the first person SpaceX Starship takes to the moon and back.

 

[Irish du Nord]

I think the reality is the Admin is able to do what they want more with Freeman than with Kelly. And that has a negative impact on the FB Program. The Admin see the University as a University first with not much room to compromise for the Football Program. They claim high standards for football on the field and a so-called National Title Mandate, but they don't mean it. We are much closer to Stanford than we are to Michigan - and nowhere near as committed to UGA, Bama, OSU, TAMU, LSU and OK.

These schools do NIL and have no problem getting kids in into admissions.

So I think the realization that Kelly held the Admin's feet to the fire more because he was more experienced, confident and a bit of an egotistical asshole and would tell Swarbrick what needed to be done. Now Swarbrick is in charge.

Which is why A&M has been ranked ahead of us zero times in the last 5 years?

Michigan has made the playoffs twice and been bounced in the semifinals twice. Sounds familiar.

OSU last went in 2020 (a year they played 8 games total). Sounds familiar.

Oklahoma hasn’t made it past the semifinals either and recently lost their coach to a career changing bag. Sounds familiar.

LSU beat Bama but looked really bad against UGA and Tennessee and also blew a game to a less talented FSU team. Sounds familiar.

We are not closer to Stanford than any of these teams. Quit the trolling. None of us are happy about how the administration has been handling recent events but the situation doesn’t warrant your catastrophizing.

 

[IrishTusker]

I think the reality is the Admin is able to do what they want more with Freeman than with Kelly. And that has a negative impact on the FB Program. The Admin see the University as a University first with not much room to compromise for the Football Program. They claim high standards for football on the field and a so-called National Title Mandate, but they don't mean it. We are much closer to Stanford than we are to Michigan - and nowhere near as committed to UGA, Bama, OSU, TAMU, LSU and OK.

These schools do NIL and have no problem getting kids in into admissions.

So I think the realization that Kelly held the Admin's feet to the fire more because he was more experienced, confident and a bit of an egotistical asshole and would tell Swarbrick what needed to be done. Now Swarbrick is in charge.

Correct. It is a university first.

Having said that, I don't know the details of this case. It is possible that admissions is being arrogant/delusional here. My only point is that the university has to retain the right to have academic standards for athletes. What those standards are (they aren't the same as for everyone else, for recruited athletes anyway) is of course subject to debate. In this case it might be something minor that should not have been a deal-breaker. I don't know.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

My bad, we're discussing two different things. You're saying no matter what, it shouldn't bother you because it's not a part of your "real life".

Understood.

I'm arguing from a fan's (fanatical person's) perspective. My attachment to ND football is by all accounts irrational: it doesn't affect my day to day per se, I never attended the university, I have no family connections. I'm just a 40 year old married man with kids who works 40-50 hrs a week, works hard to be invested in his children's lives, tries to do work around his house and yard, tries to make his wife happy and has a guilty pleasure in following a historical football program that is in-state and represents the best Catholic education in the country. I find reasons to support my fandom but most of them are tacked on after the fact.

It's irrational for me to be posting this on a Tuesday morning amidst a very busy workday but I do it because it's a part of my own personal 'great distraction'. We all determine how much distraction we'll allow ourselves as we go through life and as we invest more time/thought into the distraction, we naturally become more attached and impassioned (irrational). So, having determined I'm an irrational fan and I'm interested enough in ND doing well and winning a championship that I post on here, I think it's reasonable to voice my disappointment that we lost one of our best signees from the 2023 class, at a position of need no-less.

I'm glad you are only tacitly interested/connected to the football program and feel no emotion during the ups and downs in the offseason. I am that I am.

You said yourself, the sky isn't falling. Should they have admitted Hillman? I think so, yeah. That's about as far as I'm going to take it. I'm not going to dive into why Kelly left and or why Freeman might leave because of this. That's not a reaction that comes to me when I read the news about Hillman.

I'm disappointed. I'm not sad or angry or making a part of some big picture stance that the university doesn't care about football.

 

[SeekNDestroy]

You didn’t offend me.

You were a dick. And you said it like a dick.

How was I a dick? I just wanted to know what happened. My friend was a student there at the time and was really upset about it.

 

[Irishdrunk]

Which is why A&M has been ranked ahead of us zero times in the last 5 years?

Michigan has made the playoffs twice and been bounced in the semifinals twice. Sounds familiar.

OSU last went in 2020 (a year they played 8 games total). Sounds familiar.

Oklahoma hasn’t made it past the semifinals either and recently lost their coach to a career changing bag. Sounds familiar.

LSU beat Bama but looked really bad against UGA and Tennessee and also blew a game to a less talented FSU team. Sounds familiar.

We are not closer to Stanford than any of these teams. Quit the trolling. None of us are happy about how the administration has been handling recent events but the situation doesn’t warrant your catastrophizing.

I am sorry you are having problems adjusting. Its about financial commitment and ability to deliver quality players and coaches. Coaches that win games and facilities that are great, NIL, open Admissions. Our "Gap Closing" 2023 class is now barely Top 10. We started last year Top 5. We are now Pre-Season Top 15. The Off Season showed the lack of commitment by the Admin.

I think many either are realizing or will realize how much heavy lifting Brian Kelly did against this Admin and his ability to get the most out of his players and good coaching just to get us to the CFP. Everyone crapped on him and now we would be thrilled to be Top 5. But I guess I am being a "Troll".

 

[Sea Turtle]

How was I a dick? I just wanted to know what happened. My friend was a student there at the time and was really upset about it.

Good for you friend. Vandy is an amazing school. So is their hospital. My children were born there.

 

[SeekNDestroy]

You didn’t offend me.

You were a dick. And you said it like a dick.

I went back and reread my post. I can see where you thought I was being a dick. I should’ve worded it better. I apologize.

 

[IrishTusker]

I am sorry you are having problems adjusting. Its about financial commitment and ability to deliver quality players and coaches. Coaches that win games and facilities that are great, NIL, open Admissions. Our "Gap Closing" 2023 class is now barely Top 10. We started last year Top 5. We are now Pre-Season Top 15. The Off Season showed the lack of commitment by the Admin.

I think many either are realizing or will realize how much heavy lifting Brian Kelly did against this Admin and his ability to get the most out of his players and good coaching just to get us to the CFP. Everyone crapped on him and now we would be thrilled to be Top 5. But I guess I am being a "Troll".

We'll continue to see how Kelly does at LSU. What we do know is that he lost, badly, to the best team in the country. So the same as at ND. The fact that the best team is not 'Bama' is the reason that he beat Bama.

 

[Irish#1]

You didn’t offend me.

You were a dick. And you said it like a dick.

Been a while since we had some action at the Y!

 

[Irishdrunk]

We'll continue to see how Kelly does at LSU. What we do know is that he lost, badly, to the best team in the country. So the same as at ND. The fact that the best team is not 'Bama' is the reason that he beat Bama.

Okay I will take the bait Tusker.....you do realize ND was Preseason 5 and finished 18th with Freeman last year and Kelly took over an Unranked LSU squad and finished 15th. Coaching matters.

Do I think as it stands now - especially with this shitshow of an offseason - that Kelly is more likely to make a run at a Natty? Yes I do. ND's Admin isn't serious about Nattys and LSU's lives for it. Kelly has two more season to get it done or he will be gone.

 

[SeekNDestroy]

Been a while since we had some action at the Y!

My reputation precedes me.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

 

[stlnd01]

Okay I will take the bait Tusker.....you do realize ND was Preseason 5 and finished 18th with Freeman last year and Kelly took over an Unranked LSU squad and finished 15th. Coaching matters.

Do I think as it stands now - especially with this shitshow of an offseason - that Kelly is more likely to make a run at a Natty? Yes I do. ND's Admin isn't serious about Nattys and LSU's lives for it. Kelly has two more season to get it done or he will be gone.

Side note but since this thread’s a dumpster anyway…

I’m curious when you think the statute of limitations runs out on citing last year’s preseason ranking as evidence of anything. You bring it up constantly. Who cares?

 

[Irishdrunk]

Side note but since this thread’s a dumpster anyway…

I’m curious when you think the statute of limitations runs out on citing last year’s preseason ranking as evidence of anything. You bring it up constantly. Who cares?

Sorry about these facts getting in the way of your happy narrative that ND is in a better place since Kelly left.

You no doubt think ND will be at minimum 10-2 this season too.

 

[Sea Turtle]

I am sorry you are having problems adjusting. Its about financial commitment and ability to deliver quality players and coaches. Coaches that win games and facilities that are great, NIL, open Admissions. Our "Gap Closing" 2023 class is now barely Top 10. We started last year Top 5. We are or will realize how much heavy lifting Brian Kelly

[/QUOTE

Our last two successful coaches left on their own to coach other schools because of the University. One has the most wins all time.

That kind of says it all.

 

[stlnd01]

Sorry about these facts getting in the way of your happy narrative that ND is in a better place since Kelly left.

You no doubt think ND will be at minimum 10-2 this season too.

I actually think we should be 10-2 this coming season, yes. Whether we will or not, I don't know. Depends on a lot of things. And I wouldn't necessarily say Notre Dame is in a better place than we were under BK, nor would I say we're in a worse place. We're probably about the same, IMO. At least now that we have a decent QB.

But none of that has anything to do with our preseason ranking going into 2022, which was worth about the paper it was printed on. Anyone who looked our actual roster and saw all that we were losing on offense would be nuts to say we'd finish in the Top 5. But we finished 5th the year before so that's where people voted us. That's not Freeman's fault.

 

[Grahambo]

So anyway…I wish Hillman the best.

On to the next.

 

[indianamouse]

Sorry about these facts getting in the way of your happy narrative that ND is in a better place since Kelly left.

You no doubt think ND will be at minimum 10-2 this season too.

I believe it’s in a better place since Kelly left, and when Freeman starts winning big I’m going to enjoy seeing you eat crow.

 

[NorthDakota]

Okay I will take the bait Tusker.....you do realize ND was Preseason 5 and finished 18th with Freeman last year and Kelly took over an Unranked LSU squad and finished 15th. Coaching matters.

Do I think as it stands now - especially with this shitshow of an offseason - that Kelly is more likely to make a run at a Natty? Yes I do. ND's Admin isn't serious about Nattys and LSU's lives for it. Kelly has two more season to get it done or he will be gone.

I would argue that preseason rankings are based in large part on prior season results. LSU was hot garbage the season before. Didn't matter what they had coming in/coming back. They weren't gonna be ranked.

Frankly, preseason rankings shouldn't exist.

I believe it’s in a better place since Kelly left, and when Freeman starts winning big I’m going to enjoy seeing you eat crow.

I think so too. Thank Brian for leaving ND a better place than he found it, but he wasn't gonna get us over the hump.

 

[Sea Turtle]

I REALLY liked the addition of Hillman in this class. Seemed like a great get by Freeman, like a rabbit out the hat. With that said, what is the full story?

IF it was an admissions issue, hopefully Freeman will learn to tighten this process up more if he is going to sign players with particular academic challenges. I know that students who have struggles in the classroom need a ton support and consistent accountability. Yes, ultimately, it is up to the student athlete to make it happen, but ND needs to be proactive on the weekly accountability aspect (which I presumed they were good about).

IF it’s NIL, well that is a much bigger issue we know isn’t getting solved without serious overhaul and likely even some concessions ND will never make if it leans too heavily on principles that are unpopular. I know that often translates as ND being cheap, but there are some moral/practical/team aspects that need sincere discussion when turning high schoolers into overnight millionaires.

It’s weird being an ND fan, because maintaining “values” is sort of part of the deal. I think there are better solutions than what we’ve been witnessing overall considering the amount of money the Uni pulls from football. There’s an ethics question willfully ignored there too if we are discussing principles. But ND will never be Alabama, OSU, LSU, etc. in terms of NIL or academic standards. It just wont be.

Nobody is saying that we should be like Alabama and LSU and OSU.

How does Vanderbilt sound? Or Boston College or Virginia? Those are peers. And there is just no excuse to be turning down players that these schools are willing to admit.

Vanderbilt is ELITE. It is upper crust. It is ranked 13th nationally while ND is 19th. Check out this comparison.

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/compare/1840-3535/university-of-notre-dame-vs-vanderbilt

This is why so many are pissed and frustrated on all of the sites. ND isnt even trying to work with the football program.

 

[GATTACA!]

It’s weird being an ND fan, because maintaining “values” is sort of part of the deal.

MFMF needs to walk in on a BoT meeting like

 

[dublinirish]

Heavy “it’s Hillman’s fault” vibes on the II podcast this week


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[ndfanatic78]

Heavy “it’s Hillman’s fault” vibes on the II podcast this week


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Thats because they always carry NDs water for them. Prister couldn’t put his nose any further up NDs ass with as much bs he spews on their behalf. He’s not a reporter he’s ND’s spokesman.

 

[StPaul_Irish]

With our new found depth at corner, have to think one of, Lewis, Barnes, Tucker moves to safety right? I have heard multiple talking heads saying/thinking S could be Lewis's best position.

 

[ab2cmiller]

Heavy “it’s Hillman’s fault” vibes on the II podcast this week


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You can bash on Admissions all you want and may certainly be right in regards to ND needs to relax admission standards.

But in the case of Hillman, I really don't understand how the fault can't lay at the feet of Hillman. Unless you believe that admissions changed their minds...... the only other option is that admissions gave the conditional clearance that allowed ND to accept Hillman's commitment. There had to be conditions that Freeman and Hillman agreed he had to meet to be granted official admittance. They may or may not have been reasonable conditions. There may or may not have been extenuating circumstances. But he knew what the conditions were up front (even if they were unreasonable) and he agreed to meet them. Evidently he did not meet those conditions.

 

[FWIrish4]

Heavy “it’s Hillman’s fault” vibes on the II podcast this week


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I thought this was interesting because why didn’t they bring up Loy’s thought that ND could have made this work? He is their colleague so i thought it was weird not to acknowledge the other side of the coin when someone who works for you is saying different.