Ask Merckxe525 aka Dear Abby

[SoIll]

Would you want Jeremiah Love to come back next year?

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

Lol. No he is not. Yeah he's scoring points, but his team is horrendous. I would take 3 maybe 4 players on Duke over Burton.

 

[forkbeard3777]

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 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

I don't know … I think with the portal, NIL, and in his early 70’s, he had one foot out the door and headed to retirement at that point.

I’m not sure he wanted to assume another
program and challenge. The game had changed, and not in his favor. I don’t blame him for hanging it up.

The timing just doesn’t seem right. I’m not denying interest (as he also had interest in UT). Could it be to drum up more money? Possibly? But Saban and Terry, as it pains me to say this, became pretty entrenched in Tuscaloosa and that damn lake house in Georgia.

 

[jprue24]

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.

Was he someone that tried to fight every battle, too?

 

[BuaConstrictor]

I don't know … I think with the portal, NIL, and in his early 70’s, he had one foot out the door and headed to retirement at that point.

That's not what I was trying to get across...I was referring to Saban taking over in 2015/16-ish not in 2021. I was trying to draw a comparison to how few roadblocks Freeman has had post-BK relative to his experience and success level taking the job (zero) to show Saban would have had virtually none had he taken over for BK during the time periods we are discussing.

 

[ColinKSU]

Zaire was never a quality qb, he simply caught lightning in a bottle for a handful of games. He, and his family, were problematic.

I'm shocked. Shocked! Well, not that shocked.

 

[ColinKSU]

Not sure anyone here is at risk. Driskell might be borderline illiterate.

Tying this back to something we were discussing earlier....who else here is SHOCKED that Driskell was so openly standing on the table for Zaire when Zaire's parents were such an issue and funneling Driskell intel?

It's always been shockingly easy to tell who Driskell's sources are. To the point where I question the sources because I wouldn't want my child to suffer because I couldn't keep my mouth shut telling a media member who couldn't even pretend to hide my association.

 

[Katzenboyer]

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.

I've always been surprised with how Saban talks about ND. Seems like he has deep, deep respect for the school.

I also 100% believe that he told the 2020 Bama team to take the foot off the gas in the playoffs that year against ND. We had no business being on the same field as that Crimson Tide squad, who subsequently boat raced OSU a week later. It felt like Bama could have scored 70 points against us that day, but backed off when it was clear they would cruise.

 

[gregm83]

With the level of intel Merck has I'm starting to question whether he might be the literal pope.

This is the best thread on the internet.

Pope is not doing so hot right now. Not sure the replies would be this quick.

 

[BuaConstrictor]

Pope is not doing so hot right now. Not sure the replies would be this quick.

 

[gregm83]

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

high dose steroid, high levels supplemental oxygen, poor kidney function
appears he will recover in time, but several weeks of rehab to get back to baseline is what I see from the reports

 

[Old Man Mike]

I pray for Pope Francis every day --- literally every day. Not sure why he is in IE right now in a football thread, but since he has been mentioned, I'll be serious about a serious thing.

 

[TheProspector]

- 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.

Dantonio would have had a lot of success at Notre Dame.

 

[ColinKSU]

I pray for Pope Francis every day --- literally every day. Not sure why he is in IE right now in a football thread, but since he has been mentioned, I'll be serious about a serious thing.

 

[Irish du Nord]

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.

I wouldn't blame it on "a certain type of Catholic from the North" any more than I would blame it on a certain type of Evangelical from the South. His missionary work in the Philippines wasn't very ecumenical, to put it nicely.

 

[BuaConstrictor]

At the moment, early feelers would go out to Dillingham, Klieman, Leipold, Swinney, Brohm, and Lea.

I'll add a name to the list... DeBoer. Pete B would be big game hunting.

 

[thekid33]

Pope is not doing so hot right now. Not sure the replies would be this quick

Maybe he just needed some time away from the grind of the daily job to expose all the inside info he has about ND. The timeline of @Merckxe525 showing up here and the Pope being sick do seem to line up....

In all serious though, prayers for PF1

 

[BoredIrish]

At the moment, early feelers would go out to Dillingham, Klieman, Leipold, Swinney, Brohm, and Lea.

Lets hope MF sticks around for a long time.

 

[Irishdawg]

What’s ND and MF’s thoughts on the transfer portal window dates. I know there was some talk about dates moving and/or just having 1 portal window. Different schools have semesters and tri-mesters that may affect these decisions. They ok the way it is or want some adjustments?

 

[IRISHDODGER]

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.

We tailgated next to a former ND student manager. I think it was the BC game in 2011. Anyways, she said Clausen was the one player they were not allowed to tend to. Especially when it came to his elbow. She wasn’t bashing him per se…just pointing out the diva treatment he got.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

I've always been surprised with how Saban talks about ND. Seems like he has deep, deep respect for the school.

I also 100% believe that he told the 2020 Bama team to take the foot off the gas in the playoffs that year against ND. We had no business being on the same field as that Crimson Tide squad, who subsequently boat raced OSU a week later. It felt like Bama could have scored 70 points against us that day, but backed off when it was clear they would cruise.

Agreed. We ND fans were so desperate for post season relevancy that we were just happy for the backdoor cover…LOL.

Say what you want about Sark, there’s no doubt he took his foot off the gas in the 2014 game in LA when the Irish pretty much mailed it in. He could’ve scored 100 that day. That was the game where you could see a changing of the guard from Golson to Zaire.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

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.

That explains a lot b/c he’s never showed any respect for ND football. Part of it is his extreme SEC bias. I think another reason is he & Urban were so close and in 2005 they were making fun of Weis’ “schematic advantage” line.

To his credit, he changed his tune this year when he was doing CFP analysis and was really effusive about ND. And as you noted in your last statement, I’ve heard the same thing from folks who have interacted with him regarding his kindness.

 

[INLaw]

The weird South Bend tribune article about a player having sex with a a female professor’s daughter while she watched right at the same time Jalen Guyton left.. go

This guy asked an interesting question…

Suit claims Notre Dame academic coach coerced athletes into having sex with her daughter

Faculty member arranged encounters in exchange for academic favors, suit says. University says allegations unfounded.

www.indystar.com

 

[GoldenGoose]

As of today, I don't see Marcus leaving for 10+ years.

Even if the NFL came knocking?

 

[spoonidentity]

At the moment, early feelers would go out to Dillingham, Klieman, Leipold, Swinney, Brohm, and Lea.

Nice list. Dabo would embrace the unique aspects of Notre Dame completely. As goofy as he is, some say disingenuous, he also seems to have an affinity for the history of ND.

Lea has done well at ND but I don't know if he has the "je ne se quoi" that we've found with Marcus Freeman.

Dillingham is young, energetic, and players love him just like CMF. It will be interesting to see his trajectory, don't know enough yet but 5 years from now? Very possible and potentially very good fit. Scottsdale is home and ASU is his alma mater do he wouldn't be easy to get.

The rest? Good coaches but I get too much Brian Kelly abrasiveness from them and don't think they would be really embraced at ND

 

[NDWarrior]

Hey Merckxe, what are your thoughts on why Tommy Rees appeared to struggle recruiting top QBs throughout his ND tenure? Even with CJ Carr, the desire to be here seemed to come from more his end. And I think we were lucky with Kenny Minchey were it was just a better school for him in the end. And he favored Tyler Buchner over JJ McCarthy; and actually, I think he would have rather had Drew Allar vs. Steve Angeli if he could have made it happen (thankfully, he didn't). That said, he did a much better job developing 3-star QBs: Ian Book, Jack Coan and Jalen Milroe at 'bama (ok maybe Jalen is more 4-star, but did have his challenges / need development). Thanks

 

[arrowryan]

Why did DMC settle so much on last year’s RB cycle? He rarely misses a single eval, let alone two in one cycle.

 

[IrishColts17]

Merck/Bua: it's been a pleasure reading your insights.

Which of the following rumors are true?

-JJ McCarthy preferred Ohio State, ND, and Michigan in that order.

-ND had their pick of Leonard and Howard.

-Jalen McMillan and/or Lathan Ransom would've come to ND with the bare minimum effort from BK.

Also, could ND have landed Klubnik?

 

[Kingbish01]

At the moment, early feelers would go out to Dillingham, Klieman, Leipold, Swinney, Brohm, and Lea.

Would someone like Kiffin get looked at? I know it's all for fun, but that's a pretty underwhelming list to me. I always put ND is the same conversation as the big boys....and (IMHO) if UGA, BAMA, OSU or even UT opened up tomorrow. I'd almost bet my life not one of those guys would land any of those jobs. Am I wrong or crazy?

Edit: Outside of maybe Swinney to Bama for obvious reasons, and Dillingham may end up being great. But ND shouldn't have to take gambles on young unproven coaches like they did with Freeman every time they need a HC...Even with Freeman killing it.

 

[Rocket 94]

As of today, 60/40, stay. However, he's not particularly happy.

I have thought Burton would leave not for money but a chance to be in the NCAA Tournament. I would think that might entice him to find a team that needs a final piece for the tournament next year. Not sure if ND will be tourney bound next year.

 

[Katzenboyer]

Nice list. Dabo would embrace the unique aspects of Notre Dame completely. As goofy as he is, some say disingenuous, he also seems to have an affinity for the history of ND.

Lea has done well at ND but I don't know if he has the "je ne se quoi" that we've found with Marcus Freeman.

Dillingham is young, energetic, and players love him just like CMF. It will be interesting to see his trajectory, don't know enough yet but 5 years from now? Very possible and potentially very good fit. Scottsdale is home and ASU is his alma mater do he wouldn't be easy to get.

The rest? Good coaches but I get too much Brian Kelly abrasiveness from them and don't think they would be really embraced at ND

I agree with your points, with exception of Dabo. I think he would struggle mightily at ND, and his schtick wouldn't work.

Clemson is, for all intents and purposes, the ideal spot for him and his quirkiness. I think he wouldn't last more than 2-3 years if he ever decided to answer Mama's call and go home to Bama.