How will recruits respond?

[Pachuco]

While only time will truly tell, Notre Dame's tough/disappointing loss to USC forces the hopeful/dreadful question:

How will high-school recruits who attended the game respond?

The Irish fought back valiantly, but USC was stacked as usual and looked poised for a majority of the game. The stats reveal their dominance.

The recruits witnessed both the heart and the holes of ND. With the date circled on the calendar for a whole slew of recruits, some of them highly touted nationally, the USC game was definitely a dividing line.

Hopefully, the heart trumps the head, and ND finds a way to win out with inspiration.

It would be great to hear what the visiting players thought of their experience.

Any word?

Floyd better work his magic off the field, because we sure could have used him on it.

 

[BGIF]

How will high-school recruits who attended the game respond?

How will high-school recruits who attended the game respond?

Are you really an ND fan?

Most ND fans know Floyd, who you mentioned, watched USC dismantle ND 38-0. So did Rudolph, Crist, and the rest of the sophomore class - after a 3 win season.

Te'o and fellow freshman starters, Tausch and Turk, chose ND after a 38-3 whipping by USC and an even more embarassing collapse to Syracuse.

As an ND fan, you'd know that no ND player on the roster has seen a win over USC so what exactly is the point of your question?

 

[kmoose]

Are you really an ND fan?

Most ND fans know Floyd, who you mentioned, watched USC dismantle ND 38-0. So did Rudolph, Crist, and the rest of the sophomore class - after a 3 win season.

Te'o and fellow freshman starters, Tausch and Turk, chose ND after a 38-3 whipping by USC and an even more embarassing collapse to Syracuse.

As an ND fan, you'd know that no ND player on the roster has seen a win over USC so what exactly is the point of your question?

I think it's a legitimate question. This game, had we won, could have swayed some top recruits to choose ND. I think it's natural to wonder if losing pushed some of them away?

 

[The hawaiianassassin]

i would like to think that the defensive recruits seen it as an opportunity. to not only beat one of the best teams in the country. but to lock down some playing time i didnt get to go to the game but from tv it seemed the stadium was rockin and as for the offensive recruits.they should see their selves as weapons on our offense i think we do pretty good with the recruits especially since we played a hard close game

 

[IrishNation53]

I think that the recruits at the game saw what can happen when a team comes together and fights until the end. Especially on the defense, we need some new secondary personal. Any recruits in attendance to todays game that are a CB,SS, or DB should be chomping at the bit to verbally commit, i say this because they could legitimently fight for a starting job as a freshman.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Chris Martin was heard to have said after the game to a friend (it sounds like he was saying it to Kendall Moore, but loud enough for Weis to hear, "Next year, put me in, coach."

This was reported by a SI/CNN writer. He saw up close that he could start next year, just like Manti is starting right now. I think we're back on top with Martin, firmly IMO...

 

[callmesir]

we've got a solid class

we've got a solid class

But we really need a couple of marquee guys like seantrel henderson, or Anthony Barr, otherwise this is just a filler class... We need another class like 2006.

 

[Pachuco]

I've been a fan since I was 8 yrs old . . .

I've been a fan since I was 8 yrs old . . .

I was at the House that Rockne built, when Notre Dame defeated Penn St. on a two point conversion in the now infamous Snow Bowl. In fact, I had to use the restroom during the last play of the game, and I was so worried I was going to miss the end. Yet, when I finally made my way to the bottom of the stadium, I witnessed Reggie Brooks score for the victory right in the left corner opposite Touchdown Jesus. I was there when ND defeated Florida St. to become the No.1 team in the nation. And I was devastated along with the entire Irish nation when Notre Dame lost to BC the following game. I love Notre Dame football. Period.

BGIF - We had a very difficult loss today, but you need to check yourself before you use your moderating experience to make false judgments of fans new to these boards.

I brought up Floyd specifically because I know he chose ND after witnessing a USC blowout. Since we weren't able to capitalize on his immense talent today, hopefully he can serve as a very persuasive advocate for visiting recruits who might be on the fence after a tough loss.

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see how recruits evaluate their experience at ND in the weeks to come.

 

[Pachuco]

Thanks for that update on C-Mart, NDinL.A. Has someone posted on the breakdown of recruits who were in attendance? The vast majority were already verbals, right?

 

[BGIF]

But we really need a couple of marquee guys like seantrel henderson, or Anthony Barr, otherwise this is just a filler class... We need another class like 2006.

It's mid October, there's almost 5 months left in this recruiting year. This is a Marathon not a sprint.

Many of the recruits ND's still chasing are thought to be making late decisions at the AA Bowl and such. Meanwhile ND can win out, continue to show progress, and finish in the Top 10. 10-2, and then a bowl win, and possible trip to NYC for Jimmy, perhaps a Biletnikoff Award for Tate, or a Mackey for Rudolph will all keep ND in the media and in the eyes of recruits. Charlie and assistants will stay in their ears.

I have no personal information but reading the tea leaves leads me to believe that Barr and Martin wil be Irish in Feb. If Nix pulls the trigger, it could accelerate some others making decisions as remaining slots dwindle.

My key needs guys are the OLs, Henderson, Stone, James, and Linder. I really like to see some early Irish commits out of that bunch. I like Lombard but he needs a lot of company for the ND OLines to return to the dominant days. ND's TEs were neutralized as pass receivers Saturday as they were necessary pass blockers. We need a pair of dominant OTs so the TEs can raise havoc downfield.

 

[BGIF]

Thanks for that update on C-Mart, NDinL.A. Has someone posted on the breakdown of recruits who were in attendance? The vast majority were already verbals, right?

Check the recruiting forum. There's a thread on Official Visits List that shows who was scheduled to come. Updates will come in drips and drabs. The recruiting services usually dont get to talk to the recruits until they get home or at least in transit home. Many will want to speak with mom and dad before releasing a decsion. Some may wan to sit on their decision as they may have promise a HS Bowl to make an annoucement at the game.

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]ND Verbals Scheduled to Visit
Chris Badger, S, Provo, Utah, Timpview HS
Spencer Boyd, CB, Cape Coral, Fla., Cape Coral HS [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Blake Lueders, DE, Zionsville, Ind., Zionsville HS
Chris Martin, DE, Oakland, Calif., Grandview HS (Aurora, Colorado.) [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Prince Shembo, LB, Charlotte, N.C., Ardrey Kell HS [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Lo Wood, CB, Apopka, Fla., Apopka HS [/FONT]


Other '10 Recruits Scheduled to Visit
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Giovanni Bernard, RB, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., St. Thomas Aquinas HS
Corey Cooper, WR, Maywood, Ill., Proviso East (ILL)
Seantrel Henderson, OT, St. Paul, Minn., Cretin Derham Hall
Jordon James, RB, Corona, Calif., Corona HS
Tai-ler Jones, WR, Gainesville, Ga., Gainesville HS (Stanford Verbal)
Lamarcus Joyner, CB, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., St. Thomas Aquinas HS
Brandon Linder, OT, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., St. Thomas Aquinas HS
Kendall Moore, LB, Raleigh, N.C., Southeast Raleigh HS
Louis Nix, DT, Jacksonville, Fla., Raines HS (unofficial) (Miami verbal)
Kyle Prater, WR, Hillside, Ill., Proviso West (Southern Cal Verbal)
Cody Riggs, CB, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., St. Thomas Aquinas HS
Dietrich Riley, S, La Canda, Calif. St. Francis HS
Joshua Shaw, CB, Palmdale, Calif., Palmdale HS
James Stone, OT, Nashville, Tenn., Maplewood HS [/FONT]

And there were a bunch of prime time '11 Recruits on hand.

 

[jason_h537]

Before this game it seems like ND would have to win to convince these guys to commit. After i think, at least defensevely, that we opened some eyes.

 

[wakeuptheechoes]

I am curious. If you were a recruit would you prefer to go to a school that may require you to sit on the bench either 1, 2, 3 years. Or go to a school that you could see playing time in your fist year as Teo has done. (I'm not saying that is what made his mind up, I'm just using his playing time as an example) As a 18 year senior I wanted to go somewhere where I could play and play soon. Yes, I was egotistical but deep down I was also afraid. I always wanted to go to ND. In the late 70's I had seen two players older than I, that were very good from my area Eddie Hornback QB go to ND and never play, and Ray Jones RB go to Pittsburg and not play much. My overall goal was to play in the NFL I had good reason to believe I could as an 18 year old, even today at 48, I wonder what if sometimes, I'm 6-1 weigh 240 and still bench 300. I didn't think then this was a pipe dream. Anyway a knee injury my senior year ended any such consideration. I don't even know if I would have been offered anything. But it was on my mind.

Please understnad, I am not posting this about me I am only trying to give you a perspective of a kids mind. Probably, if I hadn't been hurt and if ND had offered me a scholarship I would have gone but only because that was a dream since I was 8 or 9 years old. Any other school and playing time may have been a factor and I don't know what my decision would have been Many kids are like this, if they have dreamed about a particular school all along, that is where they will probably go if offered a scholarship and we probably had no chance anyway. Otherwise it is up in the air and simply a matter of what they see as the best path for them to the NFL. Because trust me anyone good enough to get a football scholarship to ND, Mich, PSU, OSU, Florida, LSU, USC, OK, Texas or any other major program is thinking NFL at the age of 18.

So what would you do? What would be the factors of your decision? Would it simply be this team was ranked in the top 5 last year. Or would it be this team has the potential to make a run and I could get some playing time?

If I have come off as bragging, I apoligize. After all I have nothing to brag about at least in that regard I am a 48 year old with a banged up knee, sufferening from arthritis in both, that goes to work just like everyone else trying to make a living. No better no worse.

 

[Brown]

Pachuco, great question, as I'm sure it's on almost everybodies mind. Please continue to contribute to the forum, your first collection of posts in this thread are bangers.

Anyway, I think every person has their own reasons/desires of what they're looking for at the next level. A good recruiter's job is to find out what those desires are and then market the program as a place that meets them.

I don't think we won or last any recruits with the performance on the field last night, which is good, imo (and we certainly have a lot to offer, off the field, for any prep-stud: major nat-TV contract, beautiful campus, tradition/prestige, modern-facilities, cutting edge equipment, NFL relationships, elite recruitting classes of recent/big recruiting budget, expensive/experienced coaching staff, etc)

 

[NDinL.A.]

FYI: Weis won't be having his normal Sunday press conference because he'll be meeting with recruits all day into the late afternoon.

He took a huge gamble using SC as a showcase game, and the way the boys stepped it up in the 4th, I think it'll pay dividends. It was an electric atmosphere, and in talking to my in-laws in South Bend, the school and the town was buzzing. If I'm a defensive recruit, I see a place where I can play early, a la Te'o. And if I'm on offense, I see a dynamic offense that will prepare me for the pros. And O-line recruits will see a line coach who turned a POS o-line into a decent one with only a few months tutalege (I have no clue how to spell that damn word!).

I think many recruits will have ND at or near the top of their lists after this weekend...

 

[Riddickulous]

FYI: Weis won't be having his normal Sunday press conference because he'll be meeting with recruits all day into the late afternoon.

He took a huge gamble using SC as a showcase game, and the way the boys stepped it up in the 4th, I think it'll pay dividends. It was an electric atmosphere, and in talking to my in-laws in South Bend, the school and the town was buzzing. If I'm a defensive recruit, I see a place where I can play early, a la Te'o. And if I'm on offense, I see a dynamic offense that will prepare me for the pros. And O-line recruits will see a line coach who turned a POS o-line into a decent one with only a few months tutalege (I have no clue how to spell that damn word!).

I think many recruits will have ND at or near the top of their lists after this weekend...

It's spelled tutelage.

Personally, I think we'll land a couple of recruits because of what Jimmy Clausen and the Irish did yesterday.

On a side note, I think the offensive line will be as good next year as they are this year.

 

[BeatSC]

It's spelled tutelage.

Personally, I think we'll land a couple of recruits because of what Jimmy Clausen and the Irish did yesterday.

On a side note, I think the offensive line will be as good next year as they are this year.

Agree on the line, we might be a bit smaller but should have some quicker feet. If parents are involved with their kids in the process they should favor ND. We gradutate players with a great network and not many other schools that vie for the top kids can say that.

How did we do after the 2005 game? I think it worked out OK. As it has been mentioned if I were deciding where to go I would rather get on the field with a team that is competitive and play than saying look at my ring when I never played and brought water to the team.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Reports are coming in, and recruits and commits have been VERY impressed. CW rolled the dice having so many studs in for this game, and although we lost, the common theme from the recruits and commits seems to be that the atmosphere was electric, the team's heart and fight were evident, the ND players are great guys, the team chemistry is fantastic, the entire weekend was unbelievable, and ND is a special, special place. We put ourselves in great position with guys like Henderson (dad LOVES what ND has shown the, this weekend), Tai'lor Jones, etc...

 

[IrishRamMan10]

LETS DO WORK