'16 FL WR Kevin Stepherson (Notre Dame Early Enrollee)

[Crazy Balki]

Oh shoot, I thought Balki had threatened to contact ND directly when no one would source their info that Neal didn't leave of his own accord.

I tried, but they blocked my calls...

 

[Crazy Balki]

Also, apparently WNDU.com is reporting that Stepherson is indeed suspended the first 4 games of the season. I for one am shocked and befuddled.

 

[BGIF]

ND receiver Stepherson suspended four games

ND receiver Stepherson suspended four games
By Alex Wilcox & Eli Gehn | Posted: Sat 12:02 AM, Aug 26, 2017

Irish wide receiver Kevin Stepherson has been suspended the first four games of the season for a violation of team rules, a source inside the program tells NewsCenter 16's Alex Wilcox.

Stepherson will miss games against Temple, Georgia, at Boston College, and at Michigan State. The first game he will be eligible to return for is the home game against Miami (OH) on Sept. 30th.

Head Coach Brian Kelly said at his post-practice press conference Thursday evening that he "can neither confirm, nor deny," wide receiver Kevin Stepherson's status of being suspended for Notre Dame's season opener against Temple.

...

For at least since the Holtz era the phrase "can neither confirm, nor deny," has been used as NotreDamespeak for ran afoul of Res Life or ND academic requirements. If Kelly wanted to bench him he doesn't need to comment at all or could easily have said, "Those that are ready to play, will. Those that aren't, won't."

 

[Shamrock Theories]

Welp...Shrug

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Why doesn't Kelly just come out and say it? What's the point in brushing it off? They announce other ResLife issues, why not this one?

 

[OCIrish]

Why is everyone worried about what Kelly says, or doesn't say???? Stepherson isn't playing at least, according to the report, the first 4 games of the season. How about we worry about when he plays when we see him on the field??? We've got enough talent to make up for it, let's see who steps in and starts making plays!

 

[OCIrish]

Why is everyone worried about what Kelly says, or doesn't say???? Stepherson isn't playing at least, according to the report, the first 4 games of the season. How about we worry about when he plays when we see him on the field??? We've got enough talent to make up for it, let's see who steps in and starts making plays!

Sorry, I shouldn't have said "everyone".....more like why are some people worried???

 

[ThePiombino]

Sorry, I shouldn't have said "everyone".....more like why are some people worried???

Because SOME PEOPLE feel an inexplicable level of entitlement when it comes to matters or Notre Dame football...

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[Irish#1]

Why doesn't Kelly just come out and say it? What's the point in brushing it off? They announce other ResLife issues, why not this one?

I would guess maybe FERPA may be part of the reason. Especially if the team rule centered more on the school side as opposed to strictly football.

Because SOME PEOPLE feel an inexplicable level of entitlement when it comes to matters or Notre Dame football...

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Wait! We're not? I thought that was granted automatically when you become a fan of ND football?

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Maybe we could avoid bumping this thread for 4 weeks until Stepherson is back on the field scoring TDs?

Did I just trigger a debate?

 

[koonja]

Maybe we could avoid bumping this thread for 4 weeks until Stepherson is back on the field scoring TDs?

Did I just trigger a debate?

Do you think he'll actually get real time this year? When has BK been reasonable about letting players out of the dog house. He's like the slowest coach ever to trust his players once they're in. See Greg Bryant, Justin Brent, etc.

I predict Stepherson basically doesn't play football this year.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Do you think he'll actually get real time this year? When has BK been reasonable about letting players out of the dog house. He's like the slowest coach ever to trust his players once they're in. See Greg Bryant, Justin Brent, etc.

I predict Stepherson basically doesn't play football this year.

I won't disagree with that. But my thought as of this moment, which is maybe 50% logical and 50% driven by fandom, is that Stepherson is relieved to have this announced. He begins to put in work because now he knows the destination. I expect he'll earn reps in game 4 in a limited fashion.

I expect game 5 will feature more reps for Stepherson. I think Kelly/Long will give him reps to prove himself. He needs to prove he's indispensable, then he'll slowly gain more reps.

But I could see it going the other way, where he chooses to sulk, Kelly keeps him on the bench and he decides to transfer this spring.

My inner fan is hoping for the former. I'll continue to expect the best from our players and I'll be disappointed if that's not how it plays out.

 

[NDdomer2]

Bryant or Brent also had people who regardless of dog house or not were just flat out better, imo.

we might not have that for Stepherson (outside ESB), if he serves his time and meets the requirements i think he plays.

 

[stlnd01]

Bryant or Brent also had people who regardless of dog house or not were just flat out better, imo.

we might not have that for Stepherson (outside ESB), if he serves his time and meets the requirements i think he plays.

Yeah. He (and Coney and Dexter Williams) got lots of reps last year after the initial incident last year. One has to think the staff wasn't wild about their extracurricular activities, but they got on the field once their suspension was through.

In the past, guys like Redfield and Shumate, Jarron Jones and Tillery basically never stopped playing through various levels of dog-house-dom. B/c they were our best options on the field at the time.

Stepherson may not play if other guys are better in practice, but if he performs in the top tier of WRs, he'll play once he serves his time.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Do you think he'll actually get real time this year? When has BK been reasonable about letting players out of the dog house. He's like the slowest coach ever to trust his players once they're in. See Greg Bryant, Justin Brent, etc.

I predict Stepherson basically doesn't play football this year.

Brent wasn't in the rotation because he struggled to beat out those in front of him, which is why he moved to RB. He simply wasn't comsistent enough a player his first two years. Same with Bryant, then he transferred after being suspended. I'd say we don't know enough about this scenario to judge what Kelly will do once KJ is back.

 

[GATTACA!]

Do we know when he'll be back?

 

[RDU Irish]

I think he was next to Wimbush during the alma mater - would never guess he was suspended from the body language. Looked like kid soaking in a win with his team.

 

[NDRock]

Do we know when he'll be back?

Hopefully this week. We need another WR.

 

[Henges24]

Think it's been well noted by members in the know ALONG with the Talking Heads that it will be four games. The kid is probably grateful that he is still on the team.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I think he was next to Wimbush during the alma mater - would never guess he was suspended from the body language. Looked like kid soaking in a win with his team.

Did not see the alma mater, but I did see in the post-game presser that Brandon specifically mentioned the alma mater...Said it was a great priviledge to be seeing it after a victory, etc...Went on to say that he was standing next to Studstill and someone else (forget who, but believe it was a white player).

 

[GATTACA!]

Hopefully this week. We need another WR.

My thoughts exactly

 

[RDU Irish]

Did not see the alma mater, but I did see in the post-game presser that Brandon specifically mentioned the alma mater...Said it was a great priviledge to be seeing it after a victory, etc...Went on to say that he was standing next to Studstill and someone else (forget who, but believe it was a white player).

Well he was into it - kid was loving the experience, not sulking or feeling sorry for himself. Wrapped up with his QB is good juju, IMO.

 

[dwshade]

I think he was next to Wimbush during the alma mater - would never guess he was suspended from the body language. Looked like kid soaking in a win with his team.

It was Devin Studstill (14) and Durham Smythe (80) standing next to Wimbush.

 

[Domina Nostra]

It was Devin Studstill (14) and Durham Smythe (80) standing next to Wimbush.

I think we can all agree that even if he wasn't physically with Wimbush singing the alma mater, he was still there in spirit. And that is what's important.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

It was Devin Studstill (14) and Durham Smythe (80) standing next to Wimbush.

Thank you, I knew I remembered Studstill for sure, but I couldn't remember the other (just that it was a white player, I was actually thinking Nic, so not far off lol)

Did anyone spot where/if Kevin was celebrating thought? Kind of interested now.

 

[dwshade]

Never saw Stepherson but I wasn't looking for him so I have no clue.

 

[dwshade]

I think we can all agree that even if he wasn't physically with Wimbush singing the alma mater, he was still there in spirit. And that is what's important.

Kind of like Ara? Well probably not.

 

[dad4aa]

Looks like KJ could be getting some reps next week. Wish it was tomorrow.

Kevin Stepherson could return to lineup soon

 

[NDdomer2]

His return could really boost our offense, or it could look identical to what it does now and he makes little difference. Hard to say at this point.

I still would like to see him playing though. Could at minimum make EQSB's life a little easier.

 

[snoopdog]

It's actually comical that there is no official reason why KS didn't play the first 4 games.