Ask Merckxe525 aka Dear Abby

[IrishLion]

That's not who punched Clausen lol

 

[SeekNDestroy]

I recently met Tebow and took the opportunity to tell him he should have gone to ND. He told me that he visited for a BC game with absolutely miserable weather and ND lost. He claimed that not a single coach ever met with him despite his traveling all the way up there and it really irritated him--although he somewhat understood considering the circumstances. He added that, as a result, he had really wanted a chance to play ND in college and get back at them.

Side note: he really couldn't possibly have been kinder and he's also built like a freight train.

I just find it hard to believe someone with his religious background would ever truly entertain attending ND. Strongly anti Catholic. They literally attempted to convert Catholics in the Philippines to their brand of Christianity.

 

[FWIrish4]

Bua and Merck can correct me if I’m wrong, but I heard it was Armando Allen’s (or another RB’s) weed dealer that gave Jimmy the black eye

 

[SeekNDestroy]

Facts, and I believe you. He may have been the guy that could walk in and win it all.

Nick Saban could certainly have won a title with the 2015 team.

 

[BuaConstrictor]

Bua and Merck can correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m almost certain it was Armando Allen’s (or another RB’s) weed dealer that gave Jimmy the black eye

It was no one related to or connected to the team at all. Literally just a random drunk at CJ's.

 

[Rockin’Irish]

Promise you it was very legitimate. Saban didn't need leverage at Bama. He was basically naming his price on all his contracts.

and if there was a guy with the pelts on the wall to get ND to change some of it's tired ways..it was Saban.

Saban is also a pretty solid Catholic and has admitted he has been an ND fan since he was young.

 

[SeekNDestroy]

Saban is an old school guy, loves a challenge, and I think people generally underestimate what ND means to a certain generation of football people.

Some of the timeline is foggy but I think he had some interest after 15 and/or 16...as well as after 18.

He was also a rumored name back during the Davie period...and there might have been a time in there during the Weis years.

Saban has always kept tabs on ND.

On NDNation at the time, both Saban and Jon Gruden were heavily intimated to have been in negotiations/serious discussions to become coach in 2002. I also remember reading on NDNation about Clausen being punched by a drunk guy at CJ’s.

For years, NDNation was a really good message board with lots of insider information. Today, it’s virtually unreadable.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Okay I’ll bite. How’s Pope Francis’ health really doing?

 

[Irish4life]

- The national championship appearance bought Kelly a lot of time. If 2012 doesn't happen, Kelly never makes it through 2016.

- Close enough that Swarbrick put out feelers.

- Swarbrick would have looked at Stoops again, Saban, Dantonio, Whittingham, and Mullen.

That is a very, very interesting alt history timeline for the program. I would imagine a guy like Saban or Stoops would've demanded a lot out of the university....would be very difficult to imagine the control required being given up to either of those guys.

 

[ab2cmiller]

- The national championship appearance bought Kelly a lot of time. If 2012 doesn't happen, Kelly never makes it through 2016.

- Close enough that Swarbrick put out feelers.

- Swarbrick would have looked at Stoops again, Saban, Dantonio, Whittingham, and Mullen.

I must have PTSD because I think I blacked out for a second.

 

[Madmasher67]

It was no one related to or connected to the team at all. Literally just a random drunk at CJ's.

This guy says "YOU'RE WELCOME."

 

[IA4irish]

Ok, since I'm up talking to friends:

Yes, Saban would have come to ND more than once. In fact, one time, the ND jet came down to meet with him, and he indicated he'd fly back if they presented him with a contract. (The source is rock solid)

What so many don't understand is that ND has, and will always be far more attractive to certain big name coaches than outsiders believe.

As for Clausen: Well, he had a bad tendency to get hammered at bars, and run his mouth just a bit too much.

Re: clausen - This is what i have heard as well. He was at the bar running his mouth. Some random person didn’t take kindly to it and popped him. It sounded like Clausen earned it. People knew the guy and I don’t think anything ever happened to him. People knew Jimmy was good, but they didn’t exactly love him personally

 

[rtrn2glory]

It was no one related to or connected to the team at all. Literally just a random drunk at CJ's.

After Marcus gets his statue I'll start the go fund me for this guy's

 

[FWIrish4]

It was no one related to or connected to the team at all. Literally just a random drunk at CJ's.

Wait til I call my source today and tell him he made me look dumb on IE

 

[IA4irish]

Merckxe and/or bua: hate to even ask because I sound like a jilted ex-lover, but do you have any insight on what the program thought about the Keon Keeley situation then and now? Did we ever reach out to him the past two years about transferring? He seemed like as close to a sure thing as you could get and right now he’s only played in 5 games. I don’t even think he has a tackle registered.

 

[ozzman]

Merckxe and/or bua: hate to even ask because I sound like a jilted ex-lover, but do you have any insight on what the program thought about the Keon Keeley situation then and now? Did we ever reach out to him the past two years about transferring? He seemed like as close to a sure thing as you could get and right now he’s only played in 5 games. I don’t even think he has a tackle registered.

They've answered this question. Keeley had influence from his family. He's reached out to ND a couple times but it appears the ship has sailed

 

[NDFAN2008]

Marckxe if or when Freeman ever does leave you would you consider you top coaches to replace him? I think I would go with the following in order.
1. Elko
2. Brohm
3. Fickell
4. Seider Throwing this name out there because I think he has potential to be a great coach down the road.

 

[forkbeard3777]

I just find it hard to believe someone with his religious background would ever truly entertain attending ND. Strongly anti Catholic. They literally attempted to convert Catholics in the Philippines to their brand of Christianity.

Is Riley Leonard Catholic? He’s from the Gulf Coast, which is a Catholic heavy region; however, he always struck me as an Evangelical-Protestant. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Also, if these two guys are legit, great thread. As an outsider who follows ND, it’s very interesting.

 

[NDpendent]

Is Riley Leonard Catholic? He’s from the Gulf Coast, which is a Catholic heavy region; however, he always struck me as an Evangelical-Protestant. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Also, if these two guys are legit, great thread. As an outsider who follows ND, it’s very interesting.

He is evangelical protestant but he doesn't seem to have as big of an anti Catholic bias that a lot of evangelicals have.

 

[forkbeard3777]

Ok, since I'm up talking to friends:

Yes, Saban would have come to ND more than once. In fact, one time, the ND jet came down to meet with him, and he indicated he'd fly back if they presented him with a contract. (The source is rock solid)

What so many don't understand is that ND has, and will always be far more attractive to certain big name coaches than outsiders believe.

As for Clausen: Well, he had a bad tendency to get hammered at bars, and run his mouth just a bit too much.

I just have a hard time believing this unless the timing was around the right time (Michigan State era). Saban demanded total control and unfettered authority. He didn’t answer to Joe Dean and Skip Bertman. I highly doubt his philosophy changed at Alabama. When he wanted something done (e.g., new indoor practice facility, athlete academic center, etc.), it was immediately approved. No checks and balances from the Board of Trustees, AD, etc. From what I’ve read and been told, I just don’t see that being the case at ND.

There was also a ton of smoke that Saban would replace Mack Brown at UT. Saban’s agent was speaking with Wallace Hall and that deal was very close to being done. They were purportedly writing a bigger check than all. As I’m sure you all know, many of UT’s problems are their boosters….too many like to meddle and be involved.

 

[BuaConstrictor]

Marckxe if or when Freeman ever does leave you would you consider you top coaches to replace him? I think I would go with the following in order.
1. Elko
2. Brohm
3. Fickell
4. Seider Throwing this name out there because I think he has potential to be a great coach down the road.

If Freeman fell off the face of the Earth tomorrow...none of those guys would be the top candidate for the job. That's the best I can say because when or if Freeman leaves we'd have to evaluate the field at that moment in time.

When he wanted something done (e.g., new indoor practice facility, athlete academic center, etc.), it was immediately approved. No checks and balances from the Board of Trustees, AD, etc. From what I’ve read and been told, I just don’t see that being the case at ND.

When Saban had interest most recently.....he would have had very few checks and balances. Hell, ND was so jilted by BK leaving that Freeman barely had any under the old administration and he was never even a HC before. Imagine what that looks like if Saban is the guy replacing BK

 

[BuaConstrictor]

He was at the bar running his mouth.

Clausen was at CJ's with his family and girlfriend and it started with some jaw jacking from the drunk's side about the loss earlier that day on Senior Day. Obviously Clausen popped back because..well..it's Jimmy...and the drunk guy also took some verbal shots at Clausen's girlfriend and stepped towards her. The Clausen family and others stepped between the entire ordeal and the guy basically reached through the crowd and punched Jimmy.

It was a fucking mess.

 

[Rockin’Irish]

I have one question for the Merckster and Serpent team……in the last recruiting cycle there were a number of high profile WRs indicated by the media to be leaning towards ND but then most of them ended up fading away during the summer IIRC. Did the staff make some poor moves in retrospect and if so, what are the adjustments made to prevent a repeat performance? I know Mike Brown was relatively new at the time so I’d guess that is at least part of the reason. Thanks in advance!

 

[Henges24]

What are the chances of Markus Burton sticking around next year?

Shameful bump

 

[BuaConstrictor]

Shameful bump

Tbh, I have no idea..and I don't care much.

Do people(fans) even want him to come back?

 

[Henges24]

Tbh, I have no idea..and I don't care much.

Do people(fans) even want him to come back?

Would you want Jeremiah Love to come back next year?

Yes, absolutely. Burton is a top 5 player in the ACC.

 

[Domina Nostra]

He is evangelical protestant but he doesn't seem to have as big of an anti Catholic bias that a lot of evangelicals have.

I just find it hard to believe someone with his religious background would ever truly entertain attending ND. Strongly anti Catholic. They literally attempted to convert Catholics in the Philippines to their brand of Christianity.

A lot of the African-American players at ND and everywhere else are evangelical Christians. We've also had a bunch of Mormons.

And Tebow went to play for a Catholic coach in Gainesville.

But while I don't see Evangelicals as anti-Catholic (they see themselves as trying to convert all the "lukewarm" Christians, including mainline Protestants), I do agree that Tebow's Christianity would have been a very bad fit at ND 20 years ago. It drives a certain type of Catholic from the North absolutely crazy.

 

[BuaConstrictor]

Yes, absolutely. Burton is a top 5 player in the ACC.

Burton can leave as far as I'm concerned.

 

[jprue24]

Clausen was at CJ's with his family and girlfriend and it started with some jaw jacking from the drunk's side about the loss earlier that day on Senior Day. Obviously Clausen popped back because..well..it's Jimmy...and the drunk guy also took some verbal shots at Clausen's girlfriend and stepped towards her. The Clausen family and others stepped between the entire ordeal and the guy basically reached through the crowd and punched Jimmy.

It was a fucking mess.

I think Jimmy comes out fine in the described situation. Popping off probably wasn't advisable, but I'm never the right person to pass judgement on that.

and fuck that guy for moving to Jimmy's lady friend. I'd sure as hell would escalate after that.

 

[BuaConstrictor]

I think Jimmy comes out fine in the described situation.

Ironically, the one time Jimmy didn't deserve to get punched....he got punched.

Suppose it's karma for all the other times he should have been and wasn't.