Can we please not create unrealistic expectations for this kid?
Did I miss the posts about him winning two Hiesman's? A Butkus? A Consensus All-American? A 4 Year Starter?
I did read, "if he's half as as good as Mike Anello" - also a walk-on who was not a very good DB but excelled in his role on Special Teams. Somebody noted he probably wouldn't see the field for three years. Somebody else noted he would learn under Te'o. He didn't say he would be Te'o.
The majority of posters seem to see this kid as being a contributor during his time at ND and being an asset to the team and the University.
He went to one of the most prominent high schools in the country and had two four stars as teamates. Every coach in the country has seen him on tape, and they didn't see fit to offer him a scholarship.
He did go to a prominent program with two hot shot skill players, Wittek and Blackwell, yet Schmidt was the captain of that team and was the TEAM Player of The Week - 3 Times. Did you watch his video or are you just reacting to your interpetation of posts in the thread?
"Every coach in the nation"? If we're suppposed to temper the enthusiasm shouldn't we also temper the hyperbole?
I don't know if every coach in the country has seen him on tape, particularly as he was on the other side of the ball from Wittek and Blackwell. And he was offered a scholarship from Air Force and Cincinnati. And he could get a free Ivy League edition from Penn which might come in handy.
The comments here are just setting grossly unreasonable expectations. If he contributes, that would be awesome, but we need to ramp things back to what's likely, rather than what's possible.
Somehow I can't conceive of Kelly, Holtz, or Weis saying to their players, "I want you to ramp your expectations to what's likely, rather that what's possible. Don't visualize breaking a tackle and taking it to the house, just visualize a 2 yard gain."
Ivory Covington made a $9 million tackle but NOT because he thought of what's likely to happen when a 170 pound CB takes on a 240 pound TE with a head of steam. He had a can do attitude and he executed "The Tackle!"
If David Ruffer played to people's expectations he'd still be kicking for Siegfried Hall. He never played high school ball. When he missed his first kick, a PAT, in '08 the fans wanted him sent back to Siegfried Hall. Similar remarks when 33 of his 35 kickoffs in '09 didn't reach the endzone. Fortunately he expanded our expectations of what's possible and he earned a scholarship doing it.
Play Like A Champion, Joe!
