What are your thoughts on........?

[We_Are_ND]

Notre Dame playing one home game a year now across the the country to give other fans a chance to see the Irish?

Like? Dislike?

Is it really a home game? or more of a local attraction to indifferent fans?

Do we have a big following in San Antonio?


I guess it's cool, something different. I think it is gunna be so weird to see a Notre Dame home game on NBC, at night, in a different stadium. I kinda got a feeling we will bust out the green jerseys for this one, just because it is supposed to be a special game, prime time, and should be a win.

 

[kmoose]

Notre Dame playing one home game a year now across the the country to give other fans a chance to see the Irish?

Like? Dislike?

Is it really a home game? or more of a local attraction to indifferent fans?

Do we have a big following in San Antonio?


I guess it's cool, something different. I think it is gunna be so weird to see a Notre Dame home game on NBC, at night, in a different stadium. I kinda got a feeling we will bust out the green jerseys for this one, just because it is supposed to be a special game, prime time, and should be a win.

I think it's great. It gives more people a chance to see the Irish. I just had to sell my tickets to the Washington State game. I sold them, in about 10 minutes, on the San Antonio Craigslist. No kidding........it was 11 minutes, from posting the ad to the email from Paypal, saying that the money was in my account. The guy and his buddies are Texas A&M fans, but wanted to go see a Notre Dame game.

 

[IHateMarkMay]

It would be interesting, but I think that is what they are trying to do with the neutral site games. Personally I think traveling to the Mecca of College football would be worth it. However, I grew up in the shadow of the dome.

 

[Dacian_Irish]

I believe it helps recruiting also....

 

[jason_h537]

I like it. Great idea and can spread the fanbase.

 

[The hawaiianassassin]

i just hope they come to tennessee soon getting tired of driving to south bend twice a year at least my mother still lives there and i can leave the kids with her LOL

 

[IrishAlum1997]

Can't wait. Sitting in row 4 in the corner of the end zone. I'll be the crazy wearing my kelly green #10 jersey. You'll see me when Golden snares that fade route in the first quarter.

 

[O'Aviles]

My two cents

My two cents

I live in San Antonio and because I am one of those "living Pay check to pay check" sort of fellas, the trip to South Bend has been only a dream. The fact that they are coming here is huge. I bought my tickets the day they went on sale and even though I am gonna be able to touch the Alamodome ceiling (because I am sitting so high up) from my seat, I will be cheering so loud that the old timers that can actually attend ND home games in person will be telling me to be quiet!!!

I think it's great - GO IRISH!!!

 

[mick2]

Yea its awesome i think they are coming to florida in 2011 i will be there fo sho! and also i think they may be scheduling a game in Dublin Ireland for 2012.

It helps recruiting and spreads an already national fanbase.

 

[PADOMERNUT]

I like it and if there are any locals to the San Antonio area any reccomendations for good places to eat and drink would be appreciated!

 

[WabashFalcon]

If we're gonna do this, rotate games between Texas, Cali, Ohio, and Florida. Hobknob with the states with the biggest high school football powers.

 

[mick2]

If we're gonna do this, rotate games between Texas, Cali, Ohio, and Florida. Hobknob with the states with the biggest high school football powers.

I think thats the goal, but its supposed to be warm weather states. so fl, tex, georgia, cal. etc.

the "speed" states, where you can play football all year long.

 

[devolg]

I like the idea for various reasons including the possibility of helping with recruiting but I also think its great for the fans. Notre Dame has the largest widespread following across the country & this is a great way to take Notre Dame football to them especially in geographical areas we don't often play.

On the flip side as IHateMarkMay stated, I also grew up in the shadow of the Dome & as a local I live & die for this time year & the home games. The atmosphere around the South Bend/Mishawaka/Elkhart is magical. I love seeing the blimp fly over my house on its way to the game or being in downtown South Bend at a bar with other fans & being able to walk outside & hear the roar of the stadium even though you're a couple miles away. ND may be a Catholic school & Sunday might be the Sabbath, but around here this time of year, Saturday home games are the Holy day.

ND Football fans are the greatest fans in the world & the greatest place to be in the world is right here in the South Bend area with them for a home game weekend.

 

[weisbank4]

I dont care for it. Its like that NFL game in London. Stupid.

If its a home game play it in South Bend. Washington State playing Notre Dame in Texas? None of it makes sense.

If you want to help recruiting, bring recruits to South Bend. The place sells itself practically.

 

[kmoose]

I dont care for it. Its like that NFL game in London. Stupid.

If its a home game play it in South Bend. Washington State playing Notre Dame in Texas? None of it makes sense.

If you want to help recruiting, bring recruits to South Bend. The place sells itself practically.

I don't think it is going to make a huge difference in recruiting, but I don't think it will hurt, either. Imagine the kid from Texas who tells Weis, "Coach, I'd love to come to ND, but if I go to Oklahoma, my mom can come to a game or two." Weis, "Well son, we play in San Antonio this year, and in Dallas in 2012. So she will have a chance to see you play, with us, too."

Might be the difference, for a top flight guy who is sitting on the fence.

 

[KeepItCatholic]

And if he's a 5* big shot recruit, we can secretly offer his mom a pad in South Bend and a car and an allowance, go USC style baby !! ha kidding of course..

 

[JefMaj]

Doesn't bother me - otherwise most likely it's an away - or home and away - so 7 - 4- 1 is okay with me. Reminds recruits that no matter where you go - there you are.... I mean, there are a butt load of ND fans that will show up to see you.

 

[mick2]

yea it brings the irish to the recruits rather than having the recruits come to the irish.

Playing in hawaii definitely played a huge role in us landing teo.

this san antonio game could really help us land some recruits in texas.

 

[BGIF]

If we're gonna do this, rotate games between Texas, Cali, Ohio, and Florida. Hobknob with the states with the biggest high school football powers.

Texas, Florida, and California are obvious objectives as is the NY metro area. The problem is finding opponents. ACC and SEC opponents are out in Florida as their Conference TV contracts require them to use that network. They've already balked at the NBC connection. As has the Big 12 in Texas, hence WSU. I assume we won't see a Pac 10 Team playing ND in San Diego either.


The TV contract conflicts greatly restrict the opponents. Alabama will play Clemson or VaTech in Atlanta but would they travel to Dallas or San Diego to play ND? It could be a bonanza for them recruiting wise but I don't think they'd do it. Forget UF, the Gators rarely travel outside SECland.

I saw Alabama play Rutgers in the Meadowland about 25 year ago. Now Rutgers is too big to play in the Meadowlands.


As for the post about ESPN, they would love to broadcast these ND games so their chiding the arrangement should be expected.

 

[BGIF]

... If you want to help recruiting, bring recruits to South Bend. The place sells itself practically.

It does for kids that already have ND on their list AND have meet the tougher academic requirements that ND Admissions requires. But ND routinely uses half their allotted NCAA Officials or less each year as many are screened out and don't get invited.

The point is getting the younger ones interested in ND earlier so they'll consider ND when they officially become recruits. Getting to them earlier helps ND coaches get them through ND Admissions. What's the point of getting a reccruit on campus as a Senior if he still needs 3 math of science courses for ND Admissons to say "O.K." and only has one semester left to comply? Get them interested as 9th or 10th graders and you have a chance to inspire them to take the required courses.

Carson Palmer, David Terrell, Jarett Payton, and a host of other big name recruits might have ended up at ND had they not been told as HS Seniors they had to take additional courses to get into ND. USC, UM, and Miami was willing to take them without requiring more work. They all took the easy route.

Also I don't believe ND is allowed to "recruit" (provide tickets, entertain, locker room visits and such) at barnstorming games as they are off campus. Recruits have to pay their own way to these games but can generally do so without the big bucks for airfare.

This is marketing not sales. Your planting ideas, establishing rapport, getting them to ask for more information. It's a smart idea particularly as the other coaches have done their best to keep Weis (and Carroll and Saban) off the recruiting trail.

 

[weisbank4]

It does for kids that already have ND on their list AND have meet the tougher academic requirements that ND Admissions requires. But ND routinely uses half their allotted NCAA Officials or less each year as many are screened out and don't get invited.

The point is getting the younger ones interested in ND earlier so they'll consider ND when they officially become recruits. Getting to them earlier helps ND coaches get them through ND Admissions. What's the point of getting a reccruit on campus as a Senior if he still needs 3 math of science courses for ND Admissons to say "O.K." and only has one semester left to comply? Get them interested as 9th or 10th graders and you have a chance to inspire them to take the required courses.

Carson Palmer, David Terrell, Jarett Payton, and a host of other big name recruits might have ended up at ND had they not been told as HS Seniors they had to take additional courses to get into ND. USC, UM, and Miami was willing to take them without requiring more work. They all took the easy route.

Also I don't believe ND is allowed to "recruit" (provide tickets, entertain, locker room visits and such) at barnstorming games as they are off campus. Recruits have to pay their own way to these games but can generally do so without the big bucks for airfare.

This is marketing not sales. Your planting ideas, establishing rapport, getting them to ask for more information. It's a smart idea particularly as the other coaches have done their best to keep Weis (and Carroll and Saban) off the recruiting trail.

I honestly dont see how playing a game at the Alamo Dome plants the seeds to all this. I think I would rather see ND play WSU at ND Stadium and let the Orange Bowl or Fiesta Bowl plant the seeds to my future recruiting.

I see this as Notre Dame setting themselves up for more criticism and feeding the haters. "oh look ND is playing a "home" game in Texas versus a cupcake opponent"

 

[devolg]

I see this as Notre Dame setting themselves up for more criticism and feeding the haters. "oh look ND is playing a "home" game in Texas versus a cupcake opponent"

& this is different from them saying "oh look ND is playing a game in South Bend versus a cupcake opponent" how?

I loved the explanation BGIF & makes absolute perfect sense. Wasnt looking at it quite that way before.

 

[mick2]

I honestly dont see how playing a game at the Alamo Dome plants the seeds to all this. I think I would rather see ND play WSU at ND Stadium and let the Orange Bowl or Fiesta Bowl plant the seeds to my future recruiting.

I see this as Notre Dame setting themselves up for more criticism and feeding the haters. "oh look ND is playing a "home" game in Texas versus a cupcake opponent"

like jasons sig says "haters gonna hate"

thats no matter what we do, if we scheduled fl, Alabama, texas, oklahoma, usc, and lsu all in the same year. we would still get hated on.

we are a polarizing team you love them or hate them there isnt much in between.

i dont know how you cant see that this game will increase our presence in texas.

Its the idea of expanding your audience, look at nfl playing games in london. its the same sort of thing, and its a good idea.

 

[BGIF]

I honestly dont see how playing a game at the Alamo Dome plants the seeds to all this. I think I would rather see ND play WSU at ND Stadium and let the Orange Bowl or Fiesta Bowl plant the seeds to my future recruiting. ...

Well, it's not important that you see it. Charlie sees the point. From his Tuesday PC:

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Q. I know you said the other day that you are not involved in scheduling. Assuming at least the athletic directors approach you with the idea of playing neutral site games. What can happen what advantage can it be for your program?[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]COACH WEIS: Well there's a pro and a con. First of all, any area you go into, it definitely can help you in that area recruiting. But, you know, we appealed to the NCAA to try to get like a true home game, and the concession is we can have recruits go to the game, we can give recruits tickets to the game, but we can't talk to them. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]So it isn't really for us like a true home game in the fact that we can have all the recruits from the state of Texas. We can get a whole bunch of recruits from the state of Texas, and we have a bunch coming, especially 2011's. We have a bunch coming to the game, but we can't talk to them. In that case, it's not really like a home game other than the fact that they get to go to the game, which I am perceiving is going to be more like a home game than a neutral site game. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Q. One last thing. I noticed you don't seem to recruit Texas as much as I may be wrong about this coaches in the past. Is that something you hope to take advantage of here and maybe recruit there a little more?[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]COACH WEIS: Well that is really not true. You know, we have to spot recruit. We spot recruit Texas. See Mac has that deal going, that junior recruiting day, you know, where he looks down about half the state in about the third week of February. Where he brings in those 25 guys and says you take it now or you're done and they all grow up wanting to go to UT and you know that locks most of them are going. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Everyone else that goes into Texas, there is a lot of teams go into Texas besides the other fine universities in the state of Texas. Now Houston's become more competitive; they're playing top flight football. So you can't sleight any of the schools in Texas. Of course Oklahoma and everyone else LSU, all those places that go in there. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I think in our case what we have to do is we kind of not cherry pick but we have to hand pick a certain number of guys to go after. And we're still involved with people. A few people in 2010, but many more in 2011. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Q. Charlie, kind of building in that recruiting, is that do you find Texas to be a state where you need to be on kids the earliest of any region that you go into?[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]COACH WEIS: Yeah because of Texas junior day. You know, let's face it, if you like a kid and, you know, he wanted to go there and you weren't heavily involved with him long before then, you know, you already have no chance. [/FONT]

 

[irish4ever]

I think that the Irish should have one of their "neutral site" home games in scUM's Big House and play a megga powerhouse like Delaware State (cough, cough).