ColinKSU said:
Doubtful that I'm a troll considering my sister graduated from SMC in the class of '96 and my grandfather is a Notre Dame graduate and I've been a fan my entire life, but that isn't really something I need to prove to you.
Well with those credentials obtuseness doesn't seem genetic in your family. Just something you've developed on your own, I guess.
And I fail to see how that's a troll comment.
Because it's consistent with your pattern of posting. Like your hand grenade pearl.
You said that we've offered these guys. That. Means. NOTHING.
Actually it means a lot, Colin. Besides the obvious, well obvious to most people, you can't get in without an offer!
But most people familiar with ND football recruiting know it means a lot more. For a self avowed lifetime fan your lack of understanding and passion in stating your uninformed position begs the troll reference.
You know what happens when you offer a guy? You pick up your phone, call the recruit, and tell him to expect a written offer in the mail in the near future. That's it. You said we've offered these kids...ANY SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY CAN OFFER A KID.
You seem to know nothing about the ND recruiting process, Colin. Unlike Mississippi, ND doesn't send out offers in mass mailings. The coaches evaluate a prospect for football skills, of course, but more significantly they look into the prospects academic record. They get a copy of promising prospects transcripts for evaluation by ND Admissions. As you apparently know too well not everybody is ND material. It's a tough school academically, very competitive. Not every high school graduate is prepared for the rigors of ND's academics. Be it a lack of basic skills, focus, or inadequate preparation. Not all high school kid, particularly athletes, take the college prep courses needed to gain admissions to ND. You are aware that ND requires more than the minimum NCAA core courses for admission, aren't you Colin?
So an ND offer is recognition of the athletic AND academic skills deemed essential to succeed in keen competition. Keep in many of the "offers" you read about on internet services are "conditional". You don't get an scholarship offer from ND until the Admissions Department grants approval. The RB coach may think a prospects math grades look good but the academic professionals make that determination at ND not the coaches. In your longtime association with ND have you not read about prospects on visits meeting with faculty members for Admission Interviews?
That means we've offered the number one senior player at every position.
That's extraordinary! Probably the only time that's ever happened. To start with it means the talented guys appear to have the academic potential of ND. Usually 1/3 or more don't. It also means that most of those kids have expressed as least minimal interest in ND. Also a rarity. Most Top Wide Receivers and Passing QBs didn't want to play for Holtz because of the option offense. Most talented athletes didn't want to play for Davie or Willingham at all. But most of all it's recognition that the coaching staff has been working their butts off (unlike the previous few staffs) to identify, evaluate, and qualify the prospects that can succeed at ND.
Do you realize that probably 99% of the schools in the COUNTRY offer the #1 player at the position?
Despite the sophomoric hyperbole you're not close. That would mean 116 offers, Colin. I think I read one guy claiming 80. Most of the top guys are more in the 50% range.
Kent State University isn't in the lead for any of these kids, hell, they probably haven't talked to any of those kids, but it doesn't mean they can't offer them.
DING, DING, DING! IF Kent State hasn't talked to them or offered no wonder they're a bottom feeder. ND is talking, and evaluating, and offering, and following up.
Ever wonder why a player says he had 70 offers as a recruit? It's because it's not hard to offer someone if you're a coach.
It's hard if your the ND or Stanford or Duke or Vandy coach. There are some schools that value education. Then there's the KSU's of the world. How's the Filling Station, Colin?
Taking pride in offering every top player in the country
I do. Considering what it takes to get an ND offer, it is quite an accomplishment.
... but landing one or two of them a year isn't something to hang your hat on, especially when Texas, USC, Florida, or any number of other schools get 6 or 7 complete, 100%, best of the best players each a year.
Bob Davie and Ty Willingham aren't the head coaches at ND anymore, Colin. Weis and company are doing OK. ND will always be at a disadvantage to Texas, USC, and Florida because of academics, student life, geography, weather, and distance. But ND will do nicely thank you. Oh, least we forget all the ND signees are admitted not like at those other places. Last time an ND recruit wasn't admitted was 1995, Randy Moss and a guy named Jackson that starred at Miami.
Pass that Kool-Aid on my way, guys. I'll be the next one to join the cult of blind optimism.
Most of us are quite pragmatic. Hopeful but pragmatic. We know that out of 10,000 prospects ND will only get 25 at best. Out of a qualified list of about 250 ND will get less than 10%. ND will lose more than 50% of the those offered to homestate U., sick grandmothers, disenfranchised dads, more bling, easier academics, more women, more diversity, less cold, uglier helmets, less residential structure, a "player friendly" coach and lots of other reasons not all legal. We recognize recruiting is a marathon not a 40 yard sprint.
But, sure, I'm a troll. Whatever. Go Victory V or whatever USC says because I'm obviously a USC troll. No, wait, I'm a Michigan troll...I forgot. Hold on, I'll be back, I'm going to get Hail to the Victors tattoed on my back. From shoulder-blade to shoulder-blade, I suppose.
Before you get a new tatto, you ought to have the one taken off your forehead.
