'21 NC RB Will Shipley (Clemson Verbal)

[IrishLion]

Consolation prize for those of us who are totally Not Butthurt about the decision of a high school football player:

Recruiting guys and ND beat guys have consistently said that Tyree is a better between-the-tackles runner than Shipley, so if you're going to miss on one 'big' target between two classes, I'd take the guy that fits what Tommy wants to do*.



*Of course you need to start landing BOTH of those targets consistently to win a championship, but ND is working through that process and trying to get those types of footholds between the '21 and '22 classes. Let Tommy and Taylor get established for a season, then reevaluate with the '22 class on how things go with top targets.

 

[Wingman Ray]

Not everyone is gonna pick ND. Doesn't make them bad kids, or stupid kids. Yet anytime someone goes somewhere else you just love to blame them.

Yes, ND is a great school. If you have the opportunity to attend ND, especially for free, you would be wise to take it. Some kids are going to make different choices. Maybe they don't want to go to school in northern Indiana, maybe they don't wanna go to a Catholic school. In Will's case, we had some legit data points to show that even beyond the degree, he would be wise to come here with Taylor to reach his NFL pay day. Didn't work out, Clemson also has a legit argument to say his NFL chances would be better at their school.

Clemson is a good school in its own right. Will's brother goes to Penn so the Shipley's clearly value academics. Going to Clemson doesn't make Will or the Shipley's liars/bad people. It's not an elite university but it's not community college. But you will jump on any chance to insult his intelligence and character for not picking your favorite team.

Im not arguing any of this. What I am saying is that the kid knew for quite a while and just drug ND out. Clemson has done nothing different to change his mind. So the deal is that he knew, he just wanted the attention from ND knowing all along what he was doing.

I could understand the guy if Clemson's coach popped in and wowed him last week or Clemson made an over the top hire that just sealed the deal for him but they didnt. Everything they needed to do they did months ago. The kid just didnt have the character to turn down the free love from ND when he knew what he was going to do all along. This is exactly like the average guy catching the best looking girl in schools attention, talking to her daily and doing all he can to get her to go to the prom, getting great feedback from her and all kinds of smiles, only to find out she is going with the QB that asked her four months ago and hasnt done a thing for her since except be a popular guy.

I have no problem with a player picking a team over ND. I have a problem with lack of character. This guy knew all along where he was going and just let ND prostitute itself to the extreme just for kicks.

 

[IrishLion]

Im not arguing any of this. What I am saying is that the kid knew for quite a while and just drug ND out. Clemson has done nothing different to change his mind. So the deal is that he knew, he just wanted the attention from ND knowing all along what he was doing.

I could understand the guy if Clemson's coach popped in and wowed him last week or Clemson made an over the top hire that just sealed the deal for him but they didnt. Everything they needed to do they did months ago. The kid just didnt have the character to turn down the free love from ND when he knew what he was going to do all along. This is exactly like the average guy catching the best looking girl in schools attention, talking to her daily and doing all he can to get her to go to the prom, getting great feedback from her and all kinds of smiles, only to find out she is going with the QB that asked her four months ago and hasnt done a thing for her since except be a popular guy.

I have no problem with a player picking a team over ND. I have a problem with lack of character. This guy knew all along where he was going and just let ND prostitute itself to the extreme just for kicks.

Or, just maybe, he wanted to hear what ND had to say about campus life and academic programming via the Zoom meetings that ND has been hosting for him the past couple of weeks, and now that he's heard that info, he feels comfortable making a 'final' decision?

Don't you want to get all the facts before you make a decision?

He had all the facts on Clemson (maybe, we don't know what they've talked to him about recently; you're making an assumption that their pitch hasn't changed at all).

But he DIDN'T have all of the facts on Notre Dame. They needed to find ways to relay to him what they would usually sell at the big junior day event.

And they did that the past few weeks.

So he wasn't stringing them along for 'attention.' He was giving an honest listen to their non-football sales pitch.

So quit trying to trash the kid for his decision just because you don't like it and can't see past your own assumptions.

Were you in his Zoom meetings? Can you read his text messages?

No?

Then you don't actually know anything. And if that's the case, quit trashing the kid's character.

ESPECIALLY since the ND beat guys have all said that regardless of who he picks today, he's one of the best young men they've covered.

 

[NDIrish88]

Ok dude......quit acting like a butt hurt little 12 yr old. This isn't the first time a high ranked kid didn't pick ND, and it certainly won't be the last . Quit yer crying and move on........so tired of the whiners

I'm not butt hurt. I'm just calling it as I see it. Also Taylor basically lived in North Carolina to get Shipley and if Rees and Kelly would have put in the time, things may have been different.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I'm not butt hurt. I'm just calling it as I see it. Also Taylor basically lived in North Carolina to get Shipley and if Rees and Kelly would have put in the time, things may have been different.

Why can't they at least try to open a satellite campus in the Carolinas?! - NDI88

 

[FDNYIrish1]

A great football player decided to play for arguably the best program in the country right now. Sounds like we made it a heck of a competition. Maybe there’s no blame to go around, but he’s just going to college where he feels most comfortable. He had to make a decision sooner or later, hopefully Taylor can pivot off and pull something out of his hat.

 

[PANDFAN]

Had nothing to do with Rees and Kelly. Driskell gonna Driskell.

yeah, he's second rate and just been really spiteful

 

[StPaul_Irish]

I mean I have my feelings ect…. but do we know that this is 100%? Is there ANY CHANCE we have our minds blown later?

Someone, Anyone?

 

[Irish#1]

Disappointing to say the least, but not going to rag on a teenager.

1. In hindsight, it does appear that he was always going to go to Clemson, but was giving ND the opportunity to change his mind. Staff gave it a good run. Pandemic sure didn't help.

2. While he was the main focus, it would have been nice to have one or two other options slowly percolating in the background. There are some kids that don't want to know they are option #2 even if they aren't rated as high.

3. Everyone gets 24 hours after the announcement to bitch and moan, then we move on. lol

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I mean I have my feelings ect…. but do we know that this is 100%? Is there ANY CHANCE we have our minds blown later?

Someone, Anyone?

My reverse McGregor theory would support this...

 

[NDdomer2]

no points for second place - only dollars into the hands of 247 and the likes. On to the next one. Now Taylor really has to earn his money. He showed he'll put nose to the grind stone. I'm interested in where this ends.

 

[CanadalovesND]

Shame.

He was always going to be a tough pull out of NC. Didn’t sound in the slightest that Taylor, Kelly or Rees were outrecruited.

I only wish we didn’t put all of our eggs in one basket. I know we were recruiting some running backs, but Shipley was the only big name guy we had a chance at.

That being said, there are many high school RBs in America that are capable of being P5 starting caliber players.

It’s just too bad we could get an elite one. The staff will find a good fit in some other prospect. Early Signing Period is still seven months away. Let’s have a little faith.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

All you guys questioning the kids character for not following your timeline or expectations are too emotionally invested in recruiting.

If he picked ND you’d be cheering the fact that maybe Clemson lost a chance with another recruit bc Shipley held his decision until the end. You’re just mad he didn’t pick ND.

I used to obsess over where 18yr old athletes were gonna play football too.. then I had a family, got busy with a career and later realized it’s pretty juvenile interest.

And investing emotions into Notre Dame Football recruiting is basically self sabotaging. Kelly saying “we shop in a different aisle” is a nice way of saying the vast majority of stud athletes don’t want to come here.

I think the staff is doing a great job all around.

 

[OCIrish]

I'm not butt hurt. I'm just calling it as I see it. Also Taylor basically lived in North Carolina to get Shipley and if Rees and Kelly would have put in the time, things may have been different.

Yeah, you are because you've gone on and on about it......GTFOI!!!!! It's quite annoying after while

 

[IrishFanJMercy]

Maybe we should start recruiting like Clemson they have taking 2 RB's every year since the last 3 classes.

 

[Luckylucci]

I'm not butt hurt. I'm just calling it as I see it. Also Taylor basically lived in North Carolina to get Shipley and if Rees and Kelly would have put in the time, things may have been different.

Seriously, need to stop believing everything that Driskell says. The dude just makes shit up. This did not come down to relationships.

 

[greyhammer90]

We landed Tyree, we lost Shipley (I think our odds would've been much better if he had gotten back on campus).

I'm glad we've got a staff that is mixing it up and is getting after the 5 stars. You don't land all of them, that's the nature of going trophy hunting.

 

[IrishFanJMercy]

Maybe we should have taking Tirek Murphy

 

[benneboy]

I'm not butt hurt. I'm just calling it as I see it. Also Taylor basically lived in North Carolina to get Shipley and if Rees and Kelly would have put in the time, things may have been different.

Shipley said in an interview within the last couple of months that he communicated with Kelly more frequently than Sweeney.

 

[greyhammer90]

Shipley said in an interview within the last couple of months that he communicated with Kelly more frequently than Sweeney.

But did Kelly go to his high school and give his class an ice cream party?

So much more could've been done.

 

[PANDFAN]

i don't know who needs to hear this but it seems quite a bit of you do


1. You don't get the 5 stars unless you go all in---shooters shoot...taylor did that as well as the rest of the staff---didn't work out this time, but if taylor hadn't gone all in likely we weren't even going to have the chance we did(you never know until you try)

2. because a kid didn't pick ND doesn't mean he doesn't have his priorities straight...there could be a slew of reasons the kid wants to go to other schools and THAT'S OK

3. driskell is pumping out info 1. after everyone else does and then he sends it out later like he was hearing from sources--no, he got the scoop after ALL the other sites put it out...and then sends his own spin on it how x,y,z didn't do this or that...he is not in the circle of trust the other reporters have with ND and know this for a fact! DON'T TAKE HIS WORD

 

[IrishLion]

3. driskell is pumping out info 1. after everyone else does and then he sends it out later like he was hearing from sources--no, he got the scoop after ALL the other sites put it out...and then sends his own spin on it how x,y,z didn't do this or that...he is not in the circle of trust the other reporters have with ND and know this for a fact! DON'T TAKE HIS WORD

This is his business model...

1. Don't report actual news, just do 'breakdowns' and rehash aspects of the program
2. Big news drops from another outlet
3. Driskell is the last with the news, saying "I heard on another site, so I checked with my sources..." except he doesn't actually have sources. He just says that after rehashing the news that's already out there
4. If he doesn't hear it from another reporter, he's taking message board rumors and reporting them as 'news' from 'sources'

90% of IE could do the job the same way Driskell does it, at least in terms of trying to be an actual reporter. Just wait for someone reputable with real sources to write something, then wait four hours to paraphrase that info and throw in the phrase 'checked with my sources.'

 

[gkIrish]

Haven't followed this very closely so pardon me if this is a stupid question but why can't he simply visit Notre Dame sometime in the fall or Spring and make a final decision later?

Seems to me a decommit is not out of the question if the main problem is not being able to take a visit?

 

[Chicago Domer]

What if we blow out Clemson and Tyree runs for 200 yards per game. Who knows. Maybe a flip!!!

Let’s “Win one for the Shipper” will be our slogan for that game.

 

[Luckylucci]

Haven't followed this very closely so pardon me if this is a stupid question but why can't he simply visit Notre Dame sometime in the fall or Spring and make a final decision later?

Seems to me a decommit is not out of the question if the main problem is not being able to take a visit?

He wants to be ‘done’ with the process.

 

[PANDFAN]

Haven't followed this very closely so pardon me if this is a stupid question but why can't he simply visit Notre Dame sometime in the fall or Spring and make a final decision later?

Seems to me a decommit is not out of the question if the main problem is not being able to take a visit?

He i guess wants to get it done and over with...clemson has a no visit policy if committed...so i guess we shall see if a visit happens...he says he doesn't want to decommit from a school(have heard this 1000000xs before from recruits who end up decommitting so its not out of the relm of a possibility)

 

[gkIrish]

He wants to be ‘done’ with the process.

Lol I've heard that one before from our own commits.

 

[gkIrish]

He i guess wants to get it done and over with...clemson has a no visit policy if committed...so i guess we shall see if a visit happens...he says he doesn't want to decommit from a school(have heard this 1000000xs before from recruits who end up decommitting so its not out of the relm of a possibility)

Yeah I don't know how this recruit is any different than the countless other guys who have reopened their recruitment. Long way to go I suspect.

 

[StPaul_Irish]

Our guy Blake Fisher has been RADIO SILENT on the Twitter machine. Me thinks that adds to the bad news. That and the only re-tweet from Will re: his commitment was from a Clemson page.

Sorry I am in mourning right now.

 

[PANDFAN]

Our guy Blake Fisher has been RADIO SILENT on the Twitter machine. Me thinks that adds to the bad news. That and the only re-tweet from Will re: his commitment was from a Clemson page.

Sorry I am in mourning right now.

from following recruiting for many years.....hope for the best and root for the guys who select ND...NEVER get emotionally invested