2025 Master Thread

NDPhilly

NDPhilly

Philly Torqued
Messages
13,803
Reaction score
9,259


Definitely wasn’t the last second bag.

Would be very very happy with this class if we signed a high end skill talent like Gideon Davidson, that’s really the missing piece.
 
NDohio

NDohio

Well-known member
Messages
5,574
Reaction score
2,333
NDPhilly said:


Definitely wasn’t the last second bag.

Would be very very happy with this class if we signed a high end skill talent like Gideon Davidson, that’s really the missing piece.
Click to expand...

Yikes. Clemson with the 30th ranked class and Dabo's refusal to go into the portal? That's a set up for some tough years.
 
IAIrish

IAIrish

The Dude Abides
Messages
1,202
Reaction score
1,255
Jiggafini19Deux said:
He nearly got the BC job. I'm wondering if he is in line for a DC job before Mickens. He's coached DL, LB, ST and RB in his career so far.

I think AW is going a good job coaching what he's got from what I can gather, but that's for MF and Golden to decide ultimately. Wonder if the kids like him in the locker room?

Whatever happens, call Harland Bower at Duke for the next DL coach. He was already a grad assistant at ND under BK.
Click to expand...
I like Bower, but think I'd opt for Larry Black. All the things you mentioned are try for him as well.
 
IAIrish

IAIrish

The Dude Abides
Messages
1,202
Reaction score
1,255
NDPhilly said:


Definitely wasn’t the last second bag.

Would be very very happy with this class if we signed a high end skill talent like Gideon Davidson, that’s really the missing piece.
Click to expand...

Did davidson sign?
 
SDIrishFan

SDIrishFan

Well-known member
Messages
1,052
Reaction score
1,346
NDPhilly said:


Yup, basically would be one of Kelly’s best classes, but a small step down from 22-24 (which really equates to one top 100 player).

Can’t be the norm, but hardly a momentum killer. Should expect more in ‘26.
Click to expand...

Again, if the "new strategy" is we're going to take a few less HS kids and a few more portal guys that have proven they can play at the collegiate level, I'm good with that (especially if we can get the university to soften it's stance on undergrads)
 
I

Ian77

Member
Messages
58
Reaction score
67
Me2SouthBend said:
This entire defensive backfield haul is going to be absolutely awesome. Bookmark it. It’s loaded w studs.
Click to expand...
Which is so great to see. About time Mickens' coaching paid off on the recruiting trail. I don't know what his career ambitions are, but if he wanted to become the Hartline of DB's, I'd be a million percent okay with that. Hartline can coach, but it's just a lot easier when the tip-top best players in the country are lining up to play for you, and people who know much more than me about defensive X's and O's say that Al Golden's system works best with a badass back end.

With the portal, I can see ND getting a lot of help if they can get Admissions to keep it cool. When your alumni base is filled with grads of one of the best business schools in the country, they're more willing to pump up an NIL fund geared towards proven value than raw potential. Yes, pay out for the KVA's and Goldens, but savvy investors will happily pay to get a great year out of a JJB or a (pre-injury) Jeter.
 
I

INLaw

Hardcore chooch
Messages
4,257
Reaction score
3,763
Jiggafini19Deux said:
I know the Mom Huggers and Hot Pocket guzzlers can't say it is a Saban-like class, but a lot of the pant pissing over the last few months has been hyperbole and then some.

Wouldn't trade places with Miami, USC, FSU or Penn State right now.
Click to expand...
I mean i hug my mom eat hot pockets and at my age i get the undie drizzle and thanks to jardiance sometimes my boxers stick to my thigh. But why u gotta call me out.
 
Jiggafini19Deux

Jiggafini19Deux

What do you hillbillies want?
Messages
11,088
Reaction score
10,295
You win some, you lose some. Some flip to you, some flip from you. It's a process and it never really stops. I think the way recruiting is covered, marketed and packaged to us plays a major role in the perception of the players, the class overall and the job the coaching staff is doing in the process. I think it does more harm than good, and for a very long time I subscribed to all of it and put more time and money into it than I ever should have. When you wonder why so many of these athletes and big time programs act as entitled and enabled as they do, maybe don't clutch your pearls so hard. It's all pretty obvious.

In this era, I hope the ND coaches sign as many HS recruits as they can retain. Time is going to tell, but I think we're going to see a lot of mixed results out there among the big players when it comes to dropping crazy money on talent coming out of high school or through the portal. Ohio State right now is the big glaring example of the elephant in the room. All the money they spent on that roster and they're a two loss team talking about potentially firing their coach.

I'll take stability and consistency every time. Sure, you take a few risks and make a few bold moves, but if you're living like it's the Wild West you're going to live and die by the gun. Build me a physical roster that runs the ball on offense with a defense that knocks the snot out of people. Smart dudes that bully ball their way around Saturdays for four months.
 
stlnd01

stlnd01

Was away. Now returned.
Messages
11,743
Reaction score
7,336
Jiggafini19Deux said:
In this era, I hope the ND coaches sign as many HS recruits as they can retain. Time is going to tell, but I think we're going to see a lot of mixed results out there among the big players when it comes to dropping crazy money on talent coming out of high school or through the portal. Ohio State right now is the big glaring example of the elephant in the room. All the money they spent on that roster and they're a two loss team talking about potentially firing their coach.
Click to expand...
The crazy thing is Ohio State spent a lot of that money on retaining their own roster, and (relatively) proven portal grabs like Howard, Judkins and Downs. That's the "smart" approach, compared with throwing money at high school kids. Ohio State's at least still going to make the playoffs, unlike A&M or Miami with their bought-and-paid-for recruiting classes.

Weirdly enough, I think a school like Notre Dame that focuses, from the start, on the long game, with a staff like ours that can develop players and maintain a good culture, is as well-positioned for sustained success as you can be right now.
 
Jiggafini19Deux

Jiggafini19Deux

What do you hillbillies want?
Messages
11,088
Reaction score
10,295
stlnd01 said:
The crazy thing is Ohio State spent a lot of that money on retaining their own roster, and (relatively) proven portal grabs like Howard, Judkins and Downs. That's the "smart" approach, compared with throwing money at high school kids. Ohio State's at least still going to make the playoffs, unlike A&M or Miami with their bought-and-paid-for recruiting classes.

Weirdly enough, I think a school like Notre Dame that focuses, from the start, on the long game, with a staff like ours that can develop players and maintain a good culture, is as well-positioned for sustained success as you can be right now.
Click to expand...
All true. Important to note, however, that much if not all of what they did a year ago to get to this point was in an effort to beat Michigan. Which they did not do. That game is the reason their 66-10 (46-5) coach isn't enjoying his time so much. He's 1-4 in that game and really good against the rest of their opponents.

I think the reasons, the "why", have to matter to that long game you speak of. That's a great term and is precisely what I'm getting at.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top