Honestly do you think.....

[Golden_Domer88]

Honestly do you think ND football will be in the top 5, and maybe a NC by 2008-2009?

With so much talent coming into South Bend, we all get so excited about what could happen. But do you really believe that we can hang with the big boys? The big boys being USC, LSU, Florida, Ohio State and Auburn. They get sooooo many top prospects especially USC. Hell USC got 8-9 5* players in this years class. But many will say that stars do not matter, but in reality, they are ranked that high for a reason and USC and the top schools in the nation are demonstrating that highly ranked players will win the BIG GAME.

Sure we got Jimmy Clausen, Armando Allen, Good OL, Greg little, Gary Gray, JT, and on and on. But will these players and last years class beable to compete with the giants of college football? We all believe it because we have never had good classes in a very long time. Just face it, USC, LSU, and Florida will dominate again year after year, untill we get the top players that they get.

 

[irish4life99]

This is enough gloom and doom for one night. . We heard the same thing about Miami, Nebraska, now USC blah blah blah. But the fact is that the problem is when getting on top is staying on top. Keeping the nuculeous of a great team together goes beyond just the top talent. The problem about having a top team including it's staff is keeping it together. USC has lost more than half it's coaching staff this year again. Same thing happens to other teams also. Personally, I think Pete is already gone this year, just waiting till after LOI day to announce.

ND is bringing in the talent that can compete w/anyone any game. But a NC is a bit about luck too. Don't worry, ND will be there soon. You'll see.

 

[Golden_Domer88]

I believe we will be in the NC run from 09 and on.

 

[irish4life99]

I think we'll be in a position to compete for the NC every year starting in the 08 season. By 09 we'll have the best OL that most of us has ever seen at ND. Just like Lou Holtz. You could throw almost any backs behind his OL's and they looked great. Now, the D just has to catch up a bit.

 

[Golden_Domer88]

I believe the D will work out just fine with our new D coordinator. Next year will be the year for Defensive studs in recruiting to flock to ND. Book it....

 

[irish4life99]

I believe the D will work out just fine with our new D coordinator. Next year will be the year for Defensive studs in recruiting to flock to ND. Book it....

Man, I hope so. I'm a little worried about Brown's experience, aren't you?

 

[GoshenGipper]

Yes, I do as long as ND can get some consistant and quality play on defense. BTW, with the talent they've been assembling lately I don't think you can leave Texas out of the current "Big Boys".

 

[Clausen2Kamara]

It helps when OSU's class is barely ranked in the top 25. Tressel is an overrated recruiter.

 

[IrishFanDC]

It will be an uphill battle.

It will be an uphill battle.

Honestly do you think ND football will be in the top 5, and maybe a NC by 2008-2009?

I sincerely believe it will be an uphill battle due to one thing - academics. Academic standards are so high at Notre Dame and, in the world we live in with never-ending watchdogs on patrol, Notre Dame will struggle to compete in both recruiting, retaining, and fielding excellent young men who put both parts of student-athlete in the same body.

If you listen to the way many an athlete at any other college or university today gives an interview, it's amazing that these guys can put cogent thoughts together on a page past the 8th grade level. At Notre Dame, even a guy like Zbikowski - who many could poke at as a Rocky Balboa kind of personality - is actually a fairly bright-sounding and seemingly intellectual person.

During the last era of Notre Dame's reign as a respected title team (c. 1987-93), it's my understanding that standards slid a little and not every Notre Dame football player was the image of the model student. It took the slide in standards, when not so many people were paying attention, to field exceptional athletes.

Unless something Earth-shattering occurs to these standards, Notre Dame is stuck.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

2008 & 2009 should be pretty damn fine years...I expect Top10 in both.

 

[Fighting_Irish9]

Honestly do you think ND football will be in the top 5, and maybe a NC by 2008-2009?

With so much talent coming into South Bend, we all get so excited about what could happen. But do you really believe that we can hang with the big boys? The big boys being USC, LSU, Florida, Ohio State and Auburn. They get sooooo many top prospects especially USC. Hell USC got 8-9 5* players in this years class. But many will say that stars do not matter, but in reality, they are ranked that high for a reason and USC and the top schools in the nation are demonstrating that highly ranked players will win the BIG GAME.

Sure we got Jimmy Clausen, Armando Allen, Good OL, Greg little, Gary Gray, JT, and on and on. But will these players and last years class beable to compete with the giants of college football? We all believe it because we have never had good classes in a very long time. Just face it, USC, LSU, and Florida will dominate again year after year, untill we get the top players that they get.

Until we start recruiting well on defense too....I don't think so

 

[Satans Little Helper]

It helps when OSU's class is barely ranked in the top 25. Tressel is an overrated recruiter.

There was one class which was so heralded but i cant rmember if it was the Troy Smith Class or the Ginn and Pittman Class. Either way that was the best class he has pulled in.

 

[SillyIrish]

I wouldn't be so quick to throw OSU and Auburn out there at this point. USC is on another level compared to any school and Florida will definately not have a problem recruiting in futrure and LSU has always recruited well. With that said it's only three teams and if ND can consistenly stay in the top Ten in recruiting and throw in years of top five classes ND will have no problem competing with the those teams.

 

[Satans Little Helper]

I wouldn't be so quick to throw OSU and Auburn out there at this point. USC is on another level compared to any school and Florida will definately not have a problem recruiting in futrure and LSU has always recruited well. With that said it's only three teams and if ND can consistenly stay in the top Ten in recruiting and throw in years of top five classes ND will have no problem competing with the those teams.

I hope yall are watching out for South Carolina. They are ranked right behind ND in the rivals Top 10 (ND= 6 and SC=7). If Spurrier can go the distance against FLorida with a bunch of undercalssmen he will be hell with his recruits and experience.

 

[The Menace]

not a chance-

not a chance-

Honestly do you think ND football will be in the top 5, and maybe a NC by 2008-2009?

With so much talent coming into South Bend, we all get so excited about what could happen. But do you really believe that we can hang with the big boys? The big boys being USC, LSU, Florida, Ohio State and Auburn. They get sooooo many top prospects especially USC. Hell USC got 8-9 5* players in this years class. But many will say that stars do not matter, but in reality, they are ranked that high for a reason and USC and the top schools in the nation are demonstrating that highly ranked players will win the BIG GAME.

Sure we got Jimmy Clausen, Armando Allen, Good OL, Greg little, Gary Gray, JT, and on and on. But will these players and last years class beable to compete with the giants of college football? We all believe it because we have never had good classes in a very long time. Just face it, USC, LSU, and Florida will dominate again year after year, untill we get the top players that they get.

the next 5 years will be rebuilding years

 

[GoshenGipper]

I smell a flamer.

 

[FleaFlicker]

Gotta love the Notre Dame hate you are hearing.

Guess what, we competed last year, and could have gone to the NC game if a couple breaks go one way or another. If we beat MSU in OT, and if we don't give up a 4th & 9 to USC, we are going to the NC game, simple as that.

You may not think that is "hanging with the big boys" but I sure do, and it was with less talent than we will have in 08-09, that's for sure.

Short answer, yes, recruiting only gets you so far. Only 11 guys can be on the field at once remember, I don't care if you have a stockade behind you, 11 guys are playing every play.You have to compare how USC will look every year, not collectively, collectively, they are a monster, but just remember that even though they may have 40 5-star recruits on that team, it's not like they are all playing every down.

Also, keep in mind that a lot of these recruits seem to get more *'s once they have committed to USC, it's like clockwork. Gary Gray was a 5-star, and still is IMO. Neal could easily be one as well. Don't get hung up on rankings, OSU has consistently had recruiting classes between 10-15 the last few years, and they are considered a "big boy".

Also, if ND starts to prove itself on the field more, we will get more high-end recruits, just like USC has done. And I have a feeling that the USC dynasty in FB andrecruiting will be coming to it's end soon, at least with Carroll at the helm. I really feel like he will be leaving soon.

 

[johnnd05]

I smell a flamer.

Gee, think so? (lol)

 

[weisbankaccount]

with recruiting - you want a commulative quality class and that what ND has done for 2 years straight. I wouldnt get hung up on not landing guys listed as natural LBs or natural DT's etc etc.

These are 17 year olds, just because they played a spot in HS doesnt mean thats where they go in college. Gary Godsey was recruited as a QB and ended up at Tight End at a school renowned as a Tight End factory.

 

[Satans Little Helper]

with recruiting - you want a commulative quality class and that what ND has done for 2 years straight. I wouldnt get hung up on not landing guys listed as natural LBs or natural DT's etc etc.

These are 17 year olds, just because they played a spot in HS doesnt mean thats where they go in college. Gary Godsey was recruited as a QB and ended up at Tight End at a school renowned as a Tight End factory.

Exactly. Jeff Burris went to my high school and he was an awesome rb. set state records for TDs and rushing yards. etc. Holtz said the only way you will play at ND will be DB. He said alright, and the then the 1st and goal stand in the Snowl Bowl later......

 

[GoshenGipper]

Exactly. Jeff Burris went to my high school and he was an awesome rb. set state records for TDs and rushing yards. etc. Holtz said the only way you will play at ND will be DB. He said alright, and the then the 1st and goal stand in the Snowl Bowl later......

Snow Bowl Pics

Burris still ended up playing some RB in Holtz's Full House/T-Double backfield though.