Ask Merckxe525 aka Dear Abby

[Kingbish01]

Generally speaking:

- The majority of these perceived issues have already been addressed, and tweaked.

- NIL, while already addressed, will continue to evolve.

- Admissions for high school, and portal recruits has already been addressed, but like NIL, will evolve further.

- Notre Dame's focus on academics will always eliminate it in some recruit's minds, and that's even more the case now.

- None of the other listed topics are significant roadblocks.

Overall - and I've mentioned this on numerous occasions - while the program will continue to evolve, there are no longer any remaining roadblocks significant enough to stop Notre Dame from competing, and winning a national championship.

I'm not saying this to you, but generally:

This program just played for a national championship in Marcus Freeman's 3rd year as a head coach, and is being built to do so regularly moving forward; so, I remain a bit surprised that so many people are under the impression that so much still needs to be changed/is still holding Notre Dame back.

In fairness some of us remember ND not being able to win (or even compete) in a major bowl game in 20+ years...and that was even after BK had us in the Natty in year 3. It's gonna take a lot for us fans to truly believe ND can compete with the SEC and OSU's on a regular basis. Glad Freeman has the program where it is today, and I'm fully confident.....But I've been tricked before.

 

[DONTH8]

Agree completely. They bought and paid for that championship

Not even just the roster but Chip Kelly too, and to some extent, Knowles. They went all out last year. I think they knew Chip was probably a 1 year guy.

 

[Kingbish01]

Not even just the roster but Chip Kelly too, and to some extent, Knowles. They went all out last year. I think they knew Chip was probably a 1 year guy.

Which is brilliant on their part, because in 5 years MAX...Nobody is going to care or even remember that they bought their roster or coaches....As long as that banner is still hanging.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I understand that, but it was readily apparent, in my humble opinion, that Ohio State was clearly the better team with the more talented roster. Sure, we had key injuries, but so did Ohio State. I credit the team for fighting back and making it interesting, but Ohio State let off the gas...While I think we’re better than all the other Playoff teams (Texas and Oregon would have been interesting games) and were firmly the second best team, there was just a considerable gap between us and the champion (just like in 2012, 2018, 2020). That’s why I asked what was the biggest challenge to getting us off third and sliding into home plate. We’re close…very close…considerably more than in the past 30 years.

I stongly disagree with this take. What injuries did Ohio State suffer that wasn't on their OL? Truly compare the injuries and don't blanket statement that shit. We finished 2nd with a massive amount of lost talent on the sideline. Imagine playing Ohio State with a nearly fully intact roster and *only* 2 OL injuries.

This was nothing like 2012, 2018 or 2020. We beat everyone but the number 1 despite the injuries.

Our top offensive weapon was limited to like 6 touches, probably shouldn't have played.
Our AA CB was out.
Our AA DT was out
Our AA NG/DT was hobbled.
Our top 2 DE/vypers were out
2 starting OL still out

Take away Ohio State's top offensive weapon, their best CB or top 2, their best interior DL and their 2 best DEs and it would've been a really fun game. Or let us have all of our players back and play with everyone healthy. I think we go toe to toe. They had the better offense but I think we would've put a shit ton of pressure on Howard.

This wasn't a repeat of any past performances, this was evidence that ND has made gigantic strides forward. Now Freeman has to keep the momentum in our favor. So many young stars are ready to put ND back at the top. We must be better at generating pressure on the QB against elite teams and we need a QB who can make fact, accurate decisions.

 

[Irish5Saint]

Merck, what was the issue with Brandyn Hillman? Was it a case of him not following the guidelines admissions set for him, or more so with admissions being vague about what they would accept and pull the rug out from underneath him?

 

[Free Manera]

Changes:

- Scouting will be run in an NFL-like style.

What do we mean by this? I.e. how will it be different from the scouting in previous years?

First time caller long time listener, I'll hang up and listen thanks.

 

[The Backer]

@Merckxe525 -- you mentioned that the staff/program has its own system for evaluating players. Whatever they're doing seems to be working well, as we've seen a ton of early contributors from Freeman era recruiting classes. Do you think there's some sort of systematic bias in 3rd party recruiting rankings (On3, 247, etc) that artificially deflates rankings for players that wind up at ND? I've been as disappointed as anybody with the lack of "5 star players" but the reality is we're seeing the staff identify and develop guys into star level players very early into their collegiate careers.

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

- He's very well liked among the majority of the team.

- Many players have credited him with completely changing their physique, and enabling them to perform at a higher level.

- Some have questioned if his approach contributed to the mass injuries on this past year's team, but after looking into it, ND doesn't feel his approach is problematic.

So, he remains on solid footing, and enjoys the confidence of the entire program.

I thought the team was well conditioned, fast and physical this year. When you push the outer limits of what our bodies are intended to do, injuries happen. I really liked what i saw this year.

 

[irishjim]

I feel it's important to note that to produce that roster, Ohio State ran a $35+ million dollar deficit. In many ways, Ohio State's roster this past year, may be the last of the "super teams".

@Merckxe525 can you clarify the deficit comment? Like do you the mean the school or a collective spent that much?

 

[IAIrish]

I feel it's important to note that to produce that roster, Ohio State ran a $35+ million dollar deficit. In many ways, Ohio State's roster this past year, may be the last of the "super teams".

Here is what Merckxe was referring to with his comment. It shocked me when reading it a few months back that they didn't have more guardrails.

Ohio State athletics reports 2024 operating expenses of $292.3 million and deficit of $37.7 million

Ohio State reported an operating deficit of $37.7 million with expenses totaling $292.3 million during the 2024 fiscal year.

www.usatoday.com

 

[Hautian Domer]

I stongly disagree with this take. What injuries did Ohio State suffer that wasn't on their OL? Truly compare the injuries and don't blanket statement that shit. We finished 2nd with a massive amount of lost talent on the sideline. Imagine playing Ohio State with a nearly fully intact roster and *only* 2 OL injuries.

This was nothing like 2012, 2018 or 2020. We beat everyone but the number 1 despite the injuries.

Our top offensive weapon was limited to like 6 touches, probably shouldn't have played.
Our AA CB was out.
Our AA DT was out
Our AA NG/DT was hobbled.
Our top 2 DE/vypers were out
2 starting OL still out

Take away Ohio State's top offensive weapon, their best CB or top 2, their best interior DL and their 2 best DEs and it would've been a really fun game. Or let us have all of our players back and play with everyone healthy. I think we go toe to toe. They had the better offense but I think we would've put a shit ton of pressure on Howard.

This wasn't a repeat of any past performances, this was evidence that ND has made gigantic strides forward. Now Freeman has to keep the momentum in our favor. So many young stars are ready to put ND back at the top. We must be better at generating pressure on the QB against elite teams and we need a QB who can make fact, accurate decisions.

I meant the NC game was somewhat reminiscent of the 2012, 2018, 2020 games. At least, when it was at 31-7. I give the Irish credit for fighting back, but you witnessed how hard it was to score on that first drive. Leonard was gassed and exhausted. Ohio State, in turn, cruised right down the field to tie it up. After that, we had, what...3 yards? Did we have any rushing yards for the remainder of the game? Ohio State put up 24 unanswered...they ran for 200+ and they passed for 200+. We were no threat to stop anything that they were doing and Howard was essentially perfect against a secondary consisting of Moore, Watts, Grey, Clark and Shuler. And, as we know, that secondary-group played predominately the whole season.

We were hobbled, injured and beaten up against IU, UGA, and PSU; yet, we were able to come out on top and out muscle them. Ohio State was a a different story, and I'm okay with giving credit where it's due. Call it like it is...they are a one-off "purchased" championship that happened to have the best team in football and the best player on their side (Smith). They're okay with "buying" players. It got them what they wanted. I prefer having players "bought into Notre Dame."

Would having a healthy Love, Mills, BenMo, Botehlo help? Certainly. But I still believe that Ohio State was the best team overall in CFB last year. The game most certainly would have been different, but I still think despite their losses to Oregon and inexplicably to Michigan, they are still more talented than all.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Here is what Merckxe was referring to with his comment. It shocked me when reading it a few months back that they didn't have more guardrails.

Ohio State athletics reports 2024 operating expenses of $292.3 million and deficit of $37.7 million

Ohio State reported an operating deficit of $37.7 million with expenses totaling $292.3 million during the 2024 fiscal year.

www.usatoday.com

And this is the athletic department, not the collective, if I am reading this correctly.

 

[Dale]

Yeah I don’t see how that relates to the football team and shouldn’t be used as a gauge of their roster spending

 

[BuaConstrictor]

Merck, what was the issue with Brandyn Hillman? Was it a case of him not following the guidelines admissions set for him, or more so with admissions being vague about what they would accept and pull the rug out from underneath him?

I can provide some more insight into this.

Typically, when ND recruits a player for multiple years they are able to better advise him on what classes to take during their HS career. ND Admissions loves to see college prep(CP) classes, honors (H) classes, et al.

Forgive me on the following, some dates may be slightly off, but they are within the spirit of the point..

ND didn't start recruiting Hillman until very late in the process. Fall of his senior year. By that point in time, his transcript was for the most part fully baked. He had been preparing to go a school like Norfolk St prior to ND, VaTech, and a few others getting involved and offering. ND came in and admissions/advising wanted him to take something like four CP courses over his last semester or two of HS.

Hillman, understandably balked at doing so. His HS isn't the greatest resource wise and more importantly he had done no preliminary course work that would have readied him for getting thrown unto CP courses his last year of HS. As anyone knows, those courses build on each other year over year. Hillman felt he neither had the academic foundation or the academic support at his HS to take on that ask for admissions. Thus, he did not enroll in those classes. (I've heard one version, which I can't confirm because I've obviously never seen the transcript, that Hillman opted to only enroll in one or two as a sign of good will related to the requested CP courses and passed them both.)

The football program was completely aware of this and the entire time was advocating for Hillman to admissions the entire time.

Hillman sent in his LOI..and then admissions balked at admitting him. Was Hillman admissible? 100%. Notre Dame could have absolutely admitted him to school. His grades and test scores were good enough to get in. Those CP courses were a request not a requirement, but admissions chose to make a subjective call on Hillman given that he chose to not adhere to either some or all of the CP course requests.

..and for the record...the football program was livid at admissions.

 

[The Backer]

The recruiting industry as a whole is often incredibly inaccurate. As a whole, no, I don't feel there is a bias against ND. However, there are numerous individual contributors to the recruiting industry that undervalue ND recruits to the point that it seems clear they, individually, have a bias against ND.

Thanks for the reply! Let me ask this differently -- Do you think ND views itself as landing 5 star players, even if the recruiting services disagree?

 

[Old Man Mike]

I find most of these posts of specific information hugely interesting and helpful in clarifying lots of things that some IE posters merely blow hot air about (and not necessarily usefully.) I'm amazed at this change-of-level insight, and am very thankful, much beyond clicking a thumbs-up icon.

 

[Irish#1]

I touched on this previously:

Yes, ND’s internals graded out several current players as 5 stars, that were not rated 5 stars by the services.

This doesn't surprise me at all. I've always felt the recruiting services can't be nearly as accurate as a teams own evaluations. The staff is focusing in on a select number of players while the services are looking at thousands of kids with more attention paid to 5* kids meaning they are missing on quite a few.

 

[Irishdwarte]

Merckexe and Bua, your information and posts have been fantastic. Thanks for taking the time to respond to all the questions you have been asked over the past few weeks. Completely opposite of the dipshit who was banned the other day after he threw his morning hissy fit about ND recruiting. Much appreciated fellas!

 

[GrangerIrish24]

Before anyone asks, allow me:

Marcus has been, and remains aware of the things Chad Bowden has been saying. To say that Marcus has taken a great deal of what Chad has said, personally, would be a grievous understatement.

Angry Marcus is my favorite Marcus

 

[Irishdwarte]

Keep poking the bear Bowden. Doesn’t seem to be a winning strategy for anyone who does this to Freeman.

 

[NDRock]

Before anyone asks, allow me:

Marcus has been, and remains aware of the things Chad Bowden has been saying. To say that Marcus has taken a great deal of what Chad has said, personally, would be a grievous understatement.

What’s he been saying? Things to the media or to recruits? Or both?

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

I read this board multiple times a day. How am I not aware of what Bowden is saying?

 

[Irish5Saint]

Before anyone asks, allow me:

Marcus has been, and remains aware of the things Chad Bowden has been saying. To say that Marcus has taken a great deal of what Chad has said, personally, would be a grievous understatement.

So I should hammer the ND ML in the USC game is what I am hearing, with an alt spread of ND -20.5?

 

[Calabrese's People]

"Hey kids, Notre Dames head coach hasnt even watched your film, he doesnt know who you are"...... thats messy Chad.

 

[IrishLion]

Franklin acted like a douche. Freeman crushed his soul in a semifinal, then robbed him of an elite position coach and damn good recruiter… and that wasn’t even a dude he knew very well!

Imagine what he’s gonna do to a program that’s empowering his own personal Fredo???

 

[LifelongFan]

I love Bowden saying all of this stuff while being at USC. While the dream is a contender ND every year, my other dream would be for USC to fall into irrelevancy and one day cease to be a real program. Bowden poking the bear, the best young coach in America, while he's tied his future to Bad Brisket Lincoln, is hilarious. Steal his recruits and embarrass him personally and professionally.

 

[pumpdog20]

Chad Bowden, you mother fucker

 

[Rockin’Irish]

Sounds like Chad Bowden has a fragile ego in reaction to the fact that it appears ND did not “fight on” to retain him……now he is lashing out to make himself feel better (even though it makes him look like a punk). This attitude generally is not a positive for the person exhibiting it.

 

[Old Man Mike]

While I can imagine Freeman not liking any of this, I believe that he would work his butt off to outcompete USC or anyone else under ANY circumstances --- he is a professional highly focussed leader, and hardly needs "personal" crap for motivation. I always prefer my leaders to be ice dead-eyed cold when it comes to flamers anyway. Translation: Freeman won't "need" any of this and I don't want him to be "emotional" in any such way.

Revenge, if any is needed, is a dish served cold.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Before anyone asks, allow me:

Marcus has been, and remains aware of the things Chad Bowden has been saying. To say that Marcus has taken a great deal of what Chad has said, personally, would be a grievous understatement.

Love is gonna rush for 300 yards against that horrendous defense