'16 CA WR Javon McKinley (Notre Dame Signed NLI)

Pops Freshenmeyer

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clark lea had reached out to the offense's parents to discuss things throughout the year....did you want him fired in the middle of the season?

Plus it's pretty hard to shake things up during or on the heels of a CFP appearance. So Chip got effectively demoted midway through this 10-2 year, ND kept it out of the media and then things ended with a quiet parting. I think it was handled reasonably well, all things considered.
 

Irishize

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Plus it's pretty hard to shake things up during or on the heels of a CFP appearance. So Chip got effectively demoted midway through this 10-2 year, ND kept it out of the media and then things ended with a quiet parting. I think it was handled reasonably well, all things considered.

I think you are correct based on our limited insight to the program. When they were 12-0, it’s hard to justify changing much. After Clemson & Michigan, it makes it much easier.
 

texbender

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clark lea had reached out to the offense's parents to discuss things throughout the year....did you want him fired in the middle of the season?

My comment is directed more at this situation not being recognized and dealt with earlier. Ever since his departure, we keep hearing of players that were ready to bail. Long couldn't have become what he was overnight. And how many left previously because of him? You are what you are, so his character should have been exposed a while ago.

I agree CBK was able to go through the season without a firing that would have been a huge distraction, especially down the stretch. It's telling that Long has not found a new home yet.

As a manager of several dozen people myself I can attest that I too have acted too late at times when the signs and warnings were in plain sight for me. Lesson learned.
 

Circa

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At the end of the Virginia Tech game, Book ran in the TD and the camera panned the sidelines. Long was In serious anguish good/bad IDK. He was rubbing his temples and was the only one that wasn't celebrating...
I'm just curious If his duties were pulled before that drive.
If I can find It I'll post It.
Edit: He was calling plays that last drive but at the 251:46 mark you see what I was referring to.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hZmPw3aKeX4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
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domer13

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At the end of the Virginia Tech game, Book ran in the TD and the camera panned the sidelines. Long was In serious anguish good/bad IDK. He was rubbing his temples and was the only one that wasn't celebrating...
I'm just curious If his duties were pulled before that drive.
If I can find It I'll post It.
Edit: He was calling plays that last drive but at the 251:46 mark you see what I was referring to.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hZmPw3aKeX4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I think the coach rubbing his temples was Coach Elston. I could be wrong though.
 

stlnd01

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I think the coach rubbing his temples was Coach Elston. I could be wrong though.

Not sure who it is but it's not Long. Not to Zapruder film this, but if you watch the offensive huddle on the sideline a couple plays before the TD, Long - who's talking to Book as Book heads out on the field - was not wearing a white hoodie. The coach rubbing his temples was.

Also, God, when I was a student I'd sometimes get headaches by the end of the game in the student section (tho perhaps the beer wearing off was a factor?). Can't imagine how loud/intense it must be as a coach on the sidelines.

Either way, good luck to Chip and I hope McKinley comes back next year.
 

stpeteirish

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not sure why all this stuff about Chip Long ended up in the McKinley thread but I watched the replay of the Book TD run and McKinley drove his man into oblivion on that play and he was the wideout on the side that Book ran to.
 

Irishize

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not sure why all this stuff about Chip Long ended up in the McKinley thread but I watched the replay of the Book TD run and McKinley drove his man into oblivion on that play and he was the wideout on the side that Book ran to.

Rumor is that Long being OC soured Javon on returning. Now w/ Long fired, he’s reportedly rethinking coming back to play next year. This was reported on Irish Illustraed podcast by Tim O’Malley. It is still rumor based on one source telling him this.
 

BGIF

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At the end of the Virginia Tech game, Book ran in the TD and the camera panned the sidelines. Long was In serious anguish good/bad IDK. He was rubbing his temples and was the only one that wasn't celebrating...
I'm just curious If his duties were pulled before that drive.
If I can find It I'll post It.
Edit: He was calling plays that last drive but at the 251:46 mark you see what I was referring to.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hZmPw3aKeX4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>


You apparently have a much higher resolution monitor and a wider video than I have ... or you just read a lot more into a video than what's there.

Book scored at the 51:20 mark than he and the team run to the stands where he and the fans celebrate like they just won the game. I'll bet the whole stadium was rocking then ... BUT they didn't WIN the game, There was an extra point that had to be made to make it a win.

By the time Book runs passed the first coach (puffy coat & white hat) THAT coach is gesticulating wildly at the players to get off the field and back up in the players area before they draw a FLAG. Coach (Polian I assume) realizes the the Extra Point kick is essential and the celebration is chewing up the clock. There's another coach (Kelly?) a step or two on the field apparently walking back to the ND sideline AFTER celebrating the TD some 25 seconds ago.

Looking to the right none of the players and sideline staff are jumping with glee. They already did that ... they too are now moving their attention on the NECESSARY GAME WINNING Extra Point Attempt.

Yes there's a coach with his head down rubbing his face half a minute after the TD. Was he rubbing his temple, again I have to differ to run better resolution monitor, as I replayed that clip half a dozen times and can't tell what he's rubbing ... or was he rubbing? Could he have been wiping away tears of joy over the last play? Or did he get hit in the face, poked in the eye by another TD sideline celebrator half a minute before?

Or was he merely pushing back his hat and earphones that might have slipped forward during his off camera celebratory leap?

Congratulations to those coaches on the field that were focus on the necessary extra point for the win and exhibited professionalism in getting the XP team on the field and in position to execute while getting the exuberant offensive team off the field to avoid a penalty.
 

stlnd01

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so is McKinley back or not? Has he announced anything?

I kind of figured the Skowronek addition signaled he wasn’t, b/c they’re pretty similar players. But there’s been no actual news. So, maybe? Maybe he’s waiting on the OC?
Would love to have him back, even if mainly for blocking and locker room purposes. And it sure looks like we’ll have the scholarships.
 

IrishLion

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There’s a chance that ND doesn’t approve a 5th year because of the legal trouble, despite how he’s rebounded as a model student athlete.

Maybe they’re trying to help him find a soft landing without going through the transfer portal?
 

BobbyMac

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Did he graduate at the break or does he graduate in June?
 

NDohio

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There’s a chance that ND doesn’t approve a 5th year because of the legal trouble, despite how he’s rebounded as a model student athlete.

Maybe they’re trying to help him find a soft landing without going through the transfer portal?

I have heard in several podcasts that he if he doesn't play at ND, then he probably will not play at all. That his decision is not about "to ND or not to ND", but more "to football or not to football"...
 

BobbyMac

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NDInsider had a story up saying Javon was coming back. But now that story's link doesn't work.

Stay tuned.
 

T-Boone

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NDInsider had a story up saying Javon was coming back. But now that story's link doesn't work.

Stay tuned.

Unless he is not welcome or has a great job offer, I just don't get why he wouldn't come back.
 

Circa

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I love the kid... man. He needs to switch his position and get into the grind as far as I'm concerned. Tough sledding with our incoming receiver group. I think he would be deadly good at a few positions. Defensive backfield to start....

But, what do I know?...
 

stlnd01

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I love the kid... man. He needs to switch his position and get into the grind as far as I'm concerned. Tough sledding with our incoming receiver group. I think he would be deadly good at a few positions. Defensive backfield to start....

But, what do I know?...

What would he switch to? Too tall and slow for corner. Not thick enough for D End. I guess maybe safety but we're pretty stacked there next year. He could put on a few pounds to play a pass-catching tight end - the Tremble position - but that's not so different than what he does now.
And Javon's a good enough blocker that he'll see the field. If he can step up his pass-catching game, even better. I like him a lot as a locker room guy and insurance in case something goes sideways with Austin, maybe more than that.
 

Circa

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I think the coach rubbing his temples was Coach Elston. I could be wrong though.

I see.
There was a very clear shot of him and his disenchantment. Your right with this replay
@ 250:04 you can watch Brian Kelly coaching the offense and it's obvious Coach Long Is in disarray... He Is trying but... as we all know now only trying.
Just so everyone's on the right page. It was Javon McKinley who sprung the block that gave Ian the TD to win the game.
 
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House16

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I see.
There was a very clear shot of him and his disenchantment. Your right with this replay
@ 250:04 you can watch Brian Kelly coaching the offense and it's obvious Coach Long Is in disarray... He Is trying but... as we all know now only trying.
Just so everyone's on the right page. It was Javon McKinley who sprung the block that gave Ian the TD to win the game.

I'm not giving up on the way the game changed. It was something spiritually that happened.
It happened regardless of the way NBC and their Peacock wants to rebroadcast it.

Lol what?
 

FightingIrishLover7

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This lil quote alone gives me a woody....

"Both McKinley and Skowronek would likely fit best at the boundary receiver position, but new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees may have different plans of how to align Notre Dame’s wide receivers."
I really can't wait to see what Rees has to offer.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but when Tommy was QB didn't Floyd spend a lot of time nearside and even some slot work?

I know Book is capable of hitting the boundaries, but I think moving the WRs around and mixing up their "location" could cause some nice match up issues. It will also make it easier for "quick hits" to his big body targets.
 

BobbyMac

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Apparently this announcement isn't real, per ISD?

It’s a story with SBT sources, saying he wants to come back. It’s not confirmation from him or the team.

The story in the second tweet is pretty clear.
 

stlnd01

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It’s a story with SBT sources, saying he wants to come back. It’s not confirmation from him or the team.

The story in the second tweet is pretty clear.

The story almost makes it sound like the biggest hangup is whether the team wants/has room for him. I can't imagine why that'd be an issue.

His one mistake aside, McKinley by all accounts seems like a high-character kid, who has stuck out a college career that probably didn't go quite as he'd hoped, and last year worked his way into being an important contributor to our offense, even if it didn't always show up on the stat sheet. Also I think there's benefit to having fifth-year guys in the program, even if they're not frontline starters. And we'll have the scholarships.

Really hope this works out.
 
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koonja

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The story almost makes it sound like the biggest hangup is whether the team wants/has room for him. I can't imagine why that'd be an issue.

His one mistake aside, McKinley by all accounts seems like a high-character kid, who has stuck out a college career that probably didn't go quite as he'd hoped, and last year worked his way into being an important contributor to our offense, even if it didn't always show up on the stat sheet. Also I think there's benefit to having fifth-year guys in the program, even if they're not frontline starters. And we'll have the scholarships.

Really hope this works out.

I'd imagine it's a "can he make a difference" question moreso than his character.

I'm guessing Austin and the NW kid easily beat him out for the big WR spots. Then we have a handful of l
Little speed dudes.

He's certainly not a need IMO.
 

stlnd01

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I'd imagine it's a "can he make a difference" question moreso than his character.

I'm guessing Austin and the NW kid easily beat him out for the big WR spots. Then we have a handful of l
Little speed dudes.

He's certainly not a need IMO.

He's not a need unless Austin flunks another drug test or Skowronski has more ankle problems, in which case I suspect we'd rather have him than not. Even if he's the No. 3 big WR I see no downside to having Javon McKinley on our football team.
 
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