'12 MD ATH Ronald Darby (Florida State Signee)

[Rocky2820]

they don't mean as much considering our field is specifically designed to hinder their speed.. if we get a different field (turf), then these athletes become much more valuable.. as is right now, skill might be more important, but what do I know?

Any school willing to hire Brian Kelly as coach and embrace his philosophies should also be willing to install field turf.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Swarbrick is rumored to have already arranged for a DD Grassmaster system to be installed this summer.

 

[SaltyND24]

they don't mean as much considering our field is specifically designed to hinder their speed.. if we get a different field (turf), then these athletes become much more valuable.. as is right now, skill might be more important, but what do I know?

The USC's and Oklahoma's and (insert most SEC teams) of the world have just as much skill as we do at each position and much more speed than we currently do...So while our grass is aimed at limiting that speed, it at the same time limits the speed that we do have...thus making it a complete wash. Put DeAnthony Thomas on our field and he's still going to be faster than what we have...The speed that Darby was adding to our class is the thing that we will desperately miss. Wright, Poole, etc. may have a comparable skill set, but Darby's speed is what set him apart

 

[irishpat183]

Swarbrick is rumored to have already arranged for a DD Grassmaster system to be installed this summer.

Nice....

but I don't buy the whole "grass hinders us". The two teams playing for the national title tonight both play on Natural grass home fields.

it's about the difference in athletes.

 

[irishpat183]

The USC's and Oklahoma's and (insert most SEC teams) of the world have just as much skill as we do at each position and much more speed than we currently do...So while our grass is aimed at limiting that speed, it at the same time limits the speed that we do have...thus making it a complete wash. Put DeAnthony Thomas on our field and he's still going to be faster than what we have...The speed that Darby was adding to our class is the thing that we will desperately miss. Wright, Poole, etc. may have a comparable skill set, but Darby's speed is what set him apart

Exactly.

 

[SaltyND24]

Exactly.

Yup...lol No matter the surface, fast is fast...On my previous post, it came off as if I thought Darby was long gone, but having read all the posts last night, I know we still have a chance. So IF we weren't able to get him back, then we would miss his speed.

 

[ThePiombino]

Assuming that Ronald's de-commitment sticks, I think where this hurts ND the most is not at the CB position. While it might take a little longer to get where we want to be without Darby, we will get there. We have an impressive haul already, plus a couple of other potential stud verbals. Where we are truly hurt by this is in the return game and overall image of the team. Darby could have been (and still might be) part of the catalyst that forever changes the stigma of the slow, plodding ND football team. That, above anything he MIGHT do on the field, is where I feel we are hurt the most by this.

That said, he deserves to do what is best for him. I obviously hope that means ND in the end, but if not- I bid thee, young Ronald, farewell and best of luck!

 

[irishpat183]

Assuming that Ronald's de-commitment sticks, I think where this hurts ND the most is not at the CB position. While it might take a little longer to get where we want to be without Darby, we will get there. We have an impressive haul already, plus a couple of other potential stud verbals. Where we are truly hurt by this is in the return game and overall image of the team. Darby could have been (and still might be) part of the catalyst that forever changes the stigma of the slow, plodding ND football team. That, above anything he MIGHT do on the field, is where I feel we are hurt the most by this.

That said, he deserves to do what is best for him. I obviously hope that means ND in the end, but if not- I bid thee, young Ronald, farewell and best of luck!

Here, Here! Good luck to him.

 

[Irish To The Core]

And the meltdown continues. Too many of you get too up when a kid verbals and too down when one decommits. Have you not paid attention to recruiting before? Until NSD don't get tto excited. The coaches are still out recruiting back ups. It is the way it goes.

 

[Buster Bluth]

 

[koonja]

Has Darby said whether or not ND is still being considered? If he said yes, did it sound tongue and cheek or do we still have a chance?

 

[TerryTate]

Given the whole brevity thing with Cooks, you'd think we were out. Who knows if this staff can pull another Ishaq/Niklas/Martin/Lynch/Golson/Nix/Tuitt...

 

[georgia irish]

come back nitro we need and we want u

 

[irishtrinity]

Anyone seen this video like a week or two ago? Listen 2 min mark....
Ronald Darby.wmv - YouTube

 

[ND NYC]

Assuming that Ronald's de-commitment sticks, I think where this hurts ND the most is not at the CB position. While it might take a little longer to get where we want to be without Darby, we will get there. We have an impressive haul already, plus a couple of other potential stud verbals. Where we are truly hurt by this is in the return game and overall image of the team. Darby could have been (and still might be) part of the catalyst that forever changes the stigma of the slow, plodding ND football team. That, above anything he MIGHT do on the field, is where I feel we are hurt the most by this.

That said, he deserves to do what is best for him. I obviously hope that means ND in the end, but if not- I bid thee, young Ronald, farewell and best of luck!

In terms of what we desperately need (lockdown corners) we have 1 this cycle (so far). Tee. The rest are safeties.
Darby and his skill set at CB was/is a HUGE need for this team and this program, in 2012 campaign and beyond.
Of course he would of started on special teams from day 1 but i think he would have easily challenged for one of the CB positions as well-this fall.
Getting wright and/or poole is the only outcome that cures the darby decommit wound as they are true CBs.

 

[MNIrish14]

Has Darby said whether or not ND is still being considered? If he said yes, did it sound tongue and cheek or do we still have a chance?

Per 247, Darby confirmed that ND still has a legit shot at landing him, something changed which caused him to back away from the commitment (don't know what). It all sounds genuine.

 

[irishtrinity]

Per 247, Darby confirmed that ND still has a legit shot at landing him, something changed which caused him to back away from the commitment (don't know what). It all sounds genuine.

Thats better than just droppin us.....

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

Per 247, Darby confirmed that ND still has a legit shot at landing him, something changed which caused him to back away from the commitment (don't know what). It all sounds genuine.

Sounds fresh.

 

[kmoose]

“I like Notre Dame, don’t get me wrong, I love it. But I’m a good track runner as well and Notre Dame is a football powerhouse, not really a track one.”

It sounds to me like Darby is looking for a place that will showcase not only his football skills, but his track skills as well. Hopefully he will be Irish, when it counts.

 

[IrishMoore1]

I ran track at Notre Dame. I guess being 3 time Big East champions in men's and women's isn't enough. OUCH

 

[Irishnuke]

It sounds to me like Darby is looking for a place that will showcase not only his football skills, but his track skills as well. Hopefully he will be Irish, when it counts.

He knew ND wasn't a track powerhouse when he committed. He's just trying to find a way to justify it to people.

 

[ThePiombino]

He knew ND wasn't a track powerhouse when he committed. He's just trying to find a way to justify it to people.

Nothing has changed on ND's end, I agree with Nuke here. My guess is that he was surrounded by the wrong people at the UAAA game and they probably brought to light some things he may or may not have realized. As long as Kelly utilizes his in-home with Ronald, I'm not sold on him being out of the picture. Kelly will bring up the relevant facts about ND (football and beyond). If that's enough for Ronald, so be it. If not, then on to plan B, whatever that may be...

 

[rocket66]

Just my opinion, but I think the continued pursuit of Yuri Wright and other cb's set him over the edge. A little love and sugar from the coaching staff will get him back during the next contact period.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Just my opinion, but I think the continued pursuit of Yuri Wright and other cb's set him over the edge. A little love and sugar from the coaching staff will get him back during the next contact period.

Seems like it was the other way around. Darby's wavering commitment over the last 5-6 months prompted the staff to prepare contingency plans. And thank God they did.

 

[kmoose]

He knew ND wasn't a track powerhouse when he committed. He's just trying to find a way to justify it to people.

Yes, it's always just that easy, isn't it? I mean, you know exactly what is going on in this kid's head, right? It's impossible to believe that maybe track took on a new importance to him, in the past few months, right?

 

[tadman95]

I'll plead ignorance here but how well does football and track mesh when trying to do both? Seems like you you could be really good at one and good at the other, but not really good at both.

The competition level gets ratcheted up considerably at the college level, upped again at the pro level.

Just seems like going into college you have to start leaning one way or the other?

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Yes, it's always just that easy, isn't it? I mean, you know exactly what is going on in this kid's head, right? It's impossible to believe that maybe track took on a new importance to him, in the past few months, right?

I'd imagine Clemson, FSU, and USC have been negatively recruiting against ND in myriad ways, one of which is ND's lack of an elite track program. That deficiency is probably better suited for public consumption than most of the crap they've been feeding Darby, which is why he mentioned it.

That said, Lax's original point still had merit. Darby has always been "football first", and our lack of an elite track program didn't seem to bother him at all when he committed. I, too, am skeptical that that factor has weighed heavily on his decision.

 

[ThePiombino]

Just my opinion, but I think the continued pursuit of Yuri Wright and other cb's set him over the edge. A little love and sugar from the coaching staff will get him back during the next contact period.

I offer this question- let's say Darby ultimately left because of this reason (and for the record, I don't believe that's what it was), and he were to say to the coaching staff that he would re-commit ONLY if they stopped pursuing Wright, Poole, and whomever else is on ND's radar. What do you think ND should do? I'll even go so far as to say, let's say the staff was relatively confident that they could land the commitments of both Wright AND Poole- what about then?

This is pure curiosity, not trying to bust balls.

Seems like it was the other way around. Darby's wavering commitment over the last 5-6 months prompted the staff to prepare contingency plans. And thank God they did.

Are you suggesting that, in retrospect, the pushes for Poole and Wright were not to ADD to the DB class but to fill a soon-to-be-created hole left by Darby?

 

[Rocky2820]

I'll plead ignorance here but how well does football and track mesh when trying to do both? Seems like you you could be really good at one and good at the other, but not really good at both.

The competition level gets ratcheted up considerably at the college level, upped again at the pro level.

Just seems like going into college you have to start leaning one way or the other?

There has been lots of conversations in the Arik Armstead thread about the subject of playing two sports in college. Football and track are actually two that I see being relatively easy in college because so many of these guys are working to improve their speed in the offseason anyway.

 

[ryno 24]

Not necessarily because they are different seasons. People do it all the time. Jeff Demps won the national championship in both track and football