Shaq vs Toma - r u kidding me!?!?!

[chadder20]

I totally agree! The things I seen him do at GVSU when I lived in Grand Rapids were amazing considering the talent he had there. What a program he ran! I was pulling for Kelly to be hired when they hired CW...... BK somehow gets usable talent from everyone on the sideline!!!

For Shaq, I think BK knows what the real story was and he doesnt seem like its bothering him all that much.

 

[IrishInFl]

My favorite thing about GVSU is when they lost to Minnesota-Duluth in the 08 playoffs

 

[connor_in]

I think Troy Aikman is probably the best-case transfer scenario.

And Eric Olsen didn't end up too badly.

But back to Shaq and "measurables" -- IMO speed and quickness may be the most overrated characteristic of WR's. Route-running, catching, reading holes, etc. are all equally important. And you can't give up on a route during a crucial 3rd down at Michigan.

Think about it: Reggie Wayne and Toma probably have about the same speed.

To bring an example to this point, if anyone has been following the Colts this preseason, they have a few WR trying to make the team (hard to do with their quality and depth currently). However, if you've seen them or check the box scores, the ones that seem to have the greatest flash (speed and quickness) seem to be dropping a lot of balls. My guess is the guy who catches the highest percentage of balls thrown his way, not the fastest, will probably be the guy who makes the team.

 

[FWIRISH]

I have seen the 4000 responses on every website out there regarding the Shaq situation. The only ones I care about are those coming from Kelly. Those are the comments that slightly concern me. Don't get me wrong, I am an HUGE kelly supporter, but I think as he even suggested, he is going to continue to learn things are different at ND than other schools. One of those is the fact that you will have some top level star athletes that he never had to deal with at GVS, CMU or UC. Sometimes he may have to do some things to keep these kids engaged that goes against his normal operating procedure.

One of those actions would be to list a Shaq Evans as the number 2 WR on the depth chart to help keep him engaged. Even BK said today that Shaq was coming along and would have been in the mix to play this fall. So, you list him the Number 2 and give both he and toma some PT.

Even BK said we should not pay too much attention to the depth chart, so why not list the guy who likely has the bigger upside even if he is slightly behind. Are any of you telling me that you believe Toma has a bigger upside than Shaq??

What BK is learning with the Shaq situation is that these 4 and 5 star kids are a different breed and they have choices if you do not play them. They will not necessarily sit around and happily ride the pine. When BK was at these other schools, many of those kids were just happy to be on a D-1 ride. At ND the players were likely being courted by every BCS school and know they can still likely play at many of the schools if not happy at ND.

If BK had listed Toma would have been your 3rd stringer, we likely would not be in this situation. Because toma is not going anywhere. Trust me, he is tickled to in South Bend with his buddy Teo.

For those that think I am off my rocker here, I will place a 2 year bet with you. I bet Shaq becomes much more successful at his next school than Toma at ND. I will bet two tickets to the 2013 home opener!!!

By the way, those who were not so concerned about getting two WR in this recruiting cycle better get concerned. 2011 will be NO FLOYD, KAMARA, SHAQ.

I take Toma any day over Shaq. He plays with heart and balls. Plus, he wants to be here. He will be a fan favorite very soon. And yes, Toma has huge upside.

 

[tankjeep]

BlueandGold.com // Motivational Means

“Motivation is simple. You eliminate those that aren’t motivated.”
— Lou Holtz

Good article on Motivation and coaching styles by Lou Somoygi, Blue & Gold

i'm getting goose bumps for the first game. bk's got me wrapped like a lil school girl!!!

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I think Troy Aikman is probably the best-case transfer scenario.

Exactly the point! There is a hell of a difference between a badly broken ankle that causes an athlete to loose a whole year, (remember the quarterback that came in brought a revisited wishbone and the NC), and someone who leaves for more playing time, or leaves in a temper tantrum. This whole conversation is really about building character. CHARACTER WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Leading to this comment being right on:

I think WaveDomer is eluding to a deeper issue that I have a hard time dispelling based on the facts and comments presented to date. Where there is smoke, there is fire. This whole issue pushes me (even) further into the BK fan club. Team first, always.

 

[wallym]

By the way, those who were not so concerned about getting two WR in this recruiting cycle better get concerned. 2011 will be NO FLOYD, KAMARA, SHAQ.

The depth at WR doesn't concern me. Flloyd leaving after this year would be tough as he's the best in the country. Kamara has failed to impress since his freshman year, and Shaq was a whiner who didn't want to work for PT.

Goody, TJ Jones, Daniel Smith, are all solid, and Deon Walker, Toma, Collinswerth, have high upside. You can even split Rudoph, Eifert, and Ragone out to cause serious matchup issues.

Depth at WR is fine.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

Exactly the point! There is a hell of a difference between a badly broken ankle that causes an athlete to loose a whole year, (remember the quarterback that came in brought a revisited wishbone and the NC), and someone who leaves for more playing time, or leaves in a temper tantrum.

I don't want to get in the way of your and BGIF's continuation of the venerable tradition of changing the subject, but wasn't the question

"Name a player that has transferred to another Division I school and improved his career"?

 

[IrishLax]

I have one: Ronald Talley. Got no PT at Notre Dame, was a dorm legend for his antics (anyone in the student section has seen the Ronald Talley shirts), transferred and is now on the Green Bay Packers.

 

[IrishInColumbus]

What about the QB at Connecticut and the TE at Stanford? haha

 

[IrishMoore1]

I'm starting to think that Deion Walker was overrated coming out of high school.

 

[BGIF]

What about the QB at Connecticut and the TE at Stanford? haha

Frazer has done better but he would have backed up Clausen and I suspect Crist. Reuland's been mentioned.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

Reuland at Stanford had to play against Carlson his first year, and then Kyle Rudolph the rest of his career he had absolutely no chance of beting out either one of them and probably saw it that way and left.

Frazer same thing. Was he really going to beat out one of the best passers ever at Notre Dame in Jimmy? I think not, and he realized that as well and he took off to get playing time. And they were probably recruiting Dayne while he was still there and really saw the writing on the wall.

They didn't want to be backups and they left. Same way with Shaq, couldn't handle being a back-up and bolted.

If BK builds a winner, we will start drawing more and more top level talent.

Go Irish!

 

[TDHeysus]

The depth at WR doesn't concern me. Flloyd leaving after this year would be tough as he's the best in the country. ...... You can even split Rudoph, Eifert, and Ragone out to cause serious matchup issues.

Depth at WR is fine.

With Shaq's uncertain status, the WR depth for next year I think does become a concern.

Rudolph wont be back either. He is more of a lock to go than Floyd is. Rudy, in all likelyhood, will be the number 1 TE in the country, definitely a top 10-15 pick. Guaranteed Rudy is gone, you can make a huge argument that NOT leaving would be a mistake. Unless it is priority number 1 to Rudy to graduate, i say there is no way he stays, moreso than Floyd. (If a TE is a top 10-15 pick, he doesnt gain anything by coming back for another year; his draft status will not improve much at all as a TE; more than likely it could only drop - see taylor mays) Plus, Eifert is behind Rudy, ready to come in and pick up right where Rudy will drop off. only making it easier for Rudy to move on.

Lets say Floyd has an off year, and drops to the 3rd WR in the draft. That still, more than likely puts him in the top15-20 of the draft.

I think even worst case scenario says that both players are gone after this year.

ADDED: even if Floyd got hurt like he did last year, he would still put out 'feelers' to see where he would fall in the draft; if the feedback was positive, he could still go even with an injury scenario

I would like nothing more than to have both of these guys back for next year, but at the same time I understand they have to do with is right for them

 

[Junkhead]

I'd like to think Floyd and Rudy will want to come back next season to win a National Championship. I suspect Floyd stays, Rudy goes. We'll see. Back on topic, good luck to Evans, but with us seemingly on the upswing now, it doesn't bother me. I guess I actually trust the coach for the first time in way too long.

 

[irishandy]

I'm starting to think that Deion Walker was overrated coming out of high school.

I hope Deion Walker will get to see the field this year.

 

[DirtySecret]

You put a guy who doesn't deserve to be on the depth chart higher than a guy who's proven day in and day out that he's a better player, and forget about ONE player, you start to lose the TEAM. I'd be like, Why work hard if it's going to be a caste system around here?

As much as I hate to see a local kid who I've really been rooting for leave, I'm glad that a no-name recruit from Hawaii who most people thought was a wink-wink package deal with Manti Te'o has earned a spot on the 2-deep. Good for him. (And if there's anyone on the team I DON'T want to piss off, it's Manti.)

Shaq is going to UCLA, and where was Robby Toma destined to go before changing his mind at the last minute? UCLA.

I never thought he was. The first thing I did was search you tube for his highlights. After watching them, I thought he was pretty damn good.

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

what stood out to me was that BK said...."it was a one way conversation." I read that as Shaq did the talking...and BK said..ok...so I assume that BK is not loosing any sleep over it.

 

[HawaiianIrish]

Robby your time to shine.... I have no doubt that you will make your Family, friends, HAWAII and NOTRE DAME very proud.

Shaq best of luck to you...May you find the happiness that you did not find at Notre Dame.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

what stood out to me was that BK said...."it was a one way conversation." I read that as Shaq did the talking...and BK said..ok...so I assume that BK is not loosing any sleep over it.

That coupled with the fact that he didn't put any restrictions on where Shaq could sign shows me he isn't very afraid of seeing Shaq on the other side of the field. I think if Shaq was really that good, he might have said he couldn't sign with any team ND plays or something like that.