2025 Fall Practice Thread

[Dale]

I'm actually starting to think that the program is actually getting pissed with the ND beat media...
...this is what happens when you try and build cardboard walled practices.
Just give the media a little damn availability.

I mean I would rather the team get what they want over the media?

 

[sfk324]

I'm actually starting to think that the program is actually getting pissed with the ND beat media...
...this is what happens when you try and build cardboard walled practices.
Just give the media a little damn availability.

They have availability. That's what yesterday afternoon was. That's what the BG game was (teams are beginning to cancel spring games, how would the beat feel about that?) The beat wants more access because they need content to justify subscription prices off the heels of last season. Marcus isn't going to change for their convenience, especially when they are apparently willing to just whip out their Jump to Conclusions Mat to produce content.

 

[arrowryan]

I'm actually starting to think that the program is actually getting pissed with the ND beat media...
...this is what happens when you try and build cardboard walled practices.
Just give the media a little damn availability.

I think this started with recruiting info and now with real team info. Brice basically saying Minchey is the starter probably didn’t help.

 

[IrishWayDomer]

They have availability. That's what yesterday afternoon was. That's what the BG game was (teams are beginning to cancel spring games, how would the beat feel about that?) The beat wants more access because they need content to justify subscription prices off the heels of last season. Marcus isn't going to change for their convenience, especially when they are apparently willing to just whip out their Jump to Conclusions Mat to produce content.

Yesterday was closed to media.

 

[sfk324]

Yesterday was closed to media.

Practice was closed to media. They had a press conference with Marcus, Denbrock, and Ash. That is availability. It's not the availability or access the beat wants because they can't get enough content out of that. That's not Marcus' problem.

 

[arrowryan]

Media having extremely limited access and O’Malley wasting one of his two questions by asking the DC who the starting RG will be was hilarious.

 

[DomeFieldAdvantage]

Practice was closed to media. They had a press conference with Marcus, Denbrock, and Ash. That is availability. It's not the availability or access the beat wants because they can't get enough content out of that. That's not Marcus' problem.

Sure it is. Them forcing out the statement that there is no starter yet shows why it is. There is a demand for information. Freeman has limited the supply and nature abhors a vacuum. So, low quality information gets spread. Freeman can either be okay with that and really force the team to shut out all outside distractions or he could get more high quality information out there. Right now it seems like they're doing neither.

 

[Dale]

Does anyone actually care if the media gets the access they want if Freeman believes limiting it gives us even a 0.1% chance better chance of beating Miami?

 

[sfk324]

Sure it is. Them forcing out the statement that there is no starter yet shows why it is. There is a demand for information. Freeman has limited the supply and nature abhors a vacuum. So, low quality information gets spread. Freeman can either be okay with that and really force the team to shut out all outside distractions or he could get more high quality information out there. Right now it seems like they're doing neither.

Spreading low quality information without attempting to verify it is the fault of the person who spreads it. Marcus' job isn't to feed the beat information or provide content they can sell to subscribers, it's to coach the football team. The fact that the beat runs with low quality information instead of saying something like "you know what we know right now, which isn't much. Good, reliable information just isn't forthcoming at the moment. We had a feeling this was going to be a tight-lipped camp when they closed practices to outside media, but that has endured a bit longer than we anticipated" is the problem. And running with low quality, poorly-sourced information is poor journalism by any standard and only serves to make someone who is tight-lipped be even more unwilling to accommodate these people.

 

[SDIrishFan]

Media having extremely limited access and O’Malley wasting one of his two questions by asking the DC who the starting RG will be was hilarious.

I can't believe he did that. TO is a professional, thats a intern mistake. Was he trying to be funny?

 

[ab2cmiller]

Does anyone actually care if the media gets the access they want if Freeman believes limiting it gives us even a 0.1% chance better chance of beating Miami?

If that's a real scenario ..... then yes I care. It's stupid as hell to limit the media access for 1 in a 1,000 chance it effects the outcome.

 

[stlnd01]

Sure it is. Them forcing out the statement that there is no starter yet shows why it is. There is a demand for information. Freeman has limited the supply and nature abhors a vacuum. So, low quality information gets spread. Freeman can either be okay with that and really force the team to shut out all outside distractions or he could get more high quality information out there. Right now it seems like they're doing neither.

Yep. It’s media relations 101.

The beat reporters’ job is to talk about stuff. That is what we (their paying customers) are paying them for. If the program doesn’t give them enough to talk about, they will fill the space as best they can, even if they are just trading half-baked rumors.

Some programs (and other institutions covered by the media) are fine with that. Hunker down and let the rumors fly. Whatever. But if you make the decision to not share any useful/interesting information, you probably shouldn’t get pissy about rumors.

 

[Huntr]

Does anyone actually care if the media gets the access they want if Freeman believes limiting it gives us even a 0.1% chance better chance of beating Miami?

Lmaoo fuck no

ETA: this is probably colored by my general disdain for these clowns as a whole. Some are ok to good at what they do, most are not. I don't gaf if their subs are starving for content or not.

 

[stlnd01]

If that's a real scenario ..... then yes I care. It's stupid as hell to limit the media access for 1 in a 1,000 chance it affects the outcome.

This too. The idea that limiting media access to a college football team meaningfully helps said team win games is way overblown. These are 20 year old football players, not the CIA.

 

[Dale]

The 0.1% was clearly an exaggeration but practice viewings across the country get limited for any sort of gain possible. Even more than game advantage is portal purposes.

 

[Dale]

These are 20 year old football players, not the CIA.

ND football is a multi million dollar brand

 

[stlnd01]

ND football is a multi million dollar brand

Yes, which is why they should embrace free media, not shut it out.

In particular I think every time we put (many of) our players in front of a camera or serious print reporter like Sampson, it highlights what impressive young men (many of) them are, in contrast with, um, lots of other college football players.

 

[Irish4life]

The longer this goes on the worse I feel about the QB for this team. No matter who wins it.

 

[StPaul_Irish]

Hey guys, what are we talking about?

 

[Dale]

Yes, which is why they should embrace free media, not shut it out.

In particular I think every time we put (many of) our players in front of a camera or serious print reporter like Sampson, it highlights what impressive young men (many of) them are, in contrast with, um, lots of other college football players.

Agreed. And ND gives media probably more interviews with players than almost any team in the country

 

[GrangerIrish24]

Hey guys, what are we talking about?

Our anger and anxiety toward things we have zero control over.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Devin Brown lost out on the Cal Job grass isn’t always greener

 

[stlnd01]

Hey guys, what are we talking about?

Debating media relations strategy while awaiting the release of any actual news, of course.

 

[SDIrishFan]

Devin Brown lost out on the Cal Job grass isn’t always greener

To Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, wasn't he the guy a lot of folks around here said we should go after?

 

[IrishWayDomer]

All this QB talk reminds me of my most euphoric moment as a ND fan in my whole life, when Riley took the opening drive and ran it 100 times down OSU's throat, ultimately stepping into the end zone with a look on his face, straight into the camera of "I won't be stopped" with full confidence. He wasn't even celebrating, he looked at the camera like "duh".

Given the playoffs to that point, the expectation that OSU was unbeatable, and how much I loved Leonard. Dont think I've ever felt that much euphoria as a fan as that moment.

Did I call for him to be benched after NIU? Of course, Im only human after all.

 

[Irish du Nord]

Pete doesn't know ball

Spartan fan, can’t be helped

 

[Irish du Nord]

Donuts and Pauling are the 2 surprises for me.

Hope that means Donnie is balling the F out this year.

Donnie getting a C and Onye getting the starting nod makes me want to buy stock in this Defense

 

[DomeFieldAdvantage]

Spreading low quality information without attempting to verify it is the fault of the person who spreads it. Marcus' job isn't to feed the beat information or provide content they can sell to subscribers, it's to coach the football team. The fact that the beat runs with low quality information instead of saying something like "you know what we know right now, which isn't much. Good, reliable information just isn't forthcoming at the moment. We had a feeling this was going to be a tight-lipped camp when they closed practices to outside media, but that has endured a bit longer than we anticipated" is the problem. And running with low quality, poorly-sourced information is poor journalism by any standard and only serves to make someone who is tight-lipped be even more unwilling to accommodate these people.

They're going with what information they have. From what others here have said, the information they got from their source seemed to be true, but out of context. How are they supposed to know its out of context when they are not allowed to know any of the context?

And if its not the beat putting out info, its pseudonymous message board members putting out almost completely unverifiable insider information. Again, nature abhors a vacuum. We will talk about something, even if its completely made up.

Finally, I think you miss the point of this whole thing. Yes, Freeman's job is to win. That's why I said he could choose to get the team to ignore all the outside voices and only concentrate on themselves. But he didn't do that when the forced II to put out the repudiation of the starter information. So, if you're not going to completely ignore the outside world, then you need to try to manage it. And that is what allowing reporters more information is. Its not about helping them out, its about helping your team not have to deal with unfounded rumors that could distract players.

 

[ulukinatme]

 

[sfk324]

Does anyone actually care if the media gets the access they want if Freeman believes limiting it gives us even a 0.1% chance better chance of beating Miami?

Nope. He's run a tight ship since day 1, and it bothers me 0%. There are 2 other things I feel comfortable saying about how he runs the program: 1. If he can trust you, you'll be rewarded --this goes for players, coaches, and everyone else around the program. Conversely , if he can't trust you, don't expect him to give you anything; and, 2. He has a thick skin, but a long memory. A good number of the beat comes up lacking on these fronts. And frankly I don't care much if guys like Prister, Sampson, Fortuna, Driskell, etc, get exposed as the huckster doofuses they are in the process.