While Notre Dame fans were watching Monday night’s BCS National Championship Game with friends, family, strangers or by themselves, members of the Irish 2013 recruiting class were in a Facebook group chatting about the game.
Obviously it got ugly, but Irish linebacker commit Alex Anzalone made one thing clear to his future teammates.
“I told them this wasn't happening when we get there,” said Anzalone, who said he’d touched base with all of the current commits since the game and all told him they’re still solid with their decisions.
Defensive lineman Jacob Matuska has been committed for a while.
“I committed last March and when I made that commitment I was going to stick to it,” he said. “Notre Dame may not have won the national championship this year but they had an amazing season. And why does anybody commit to a school? Because they think they can come in and get a quality education as well as have an opportunity to win a national title.
“That is what me and the rest of the guys of 2013 are looking to do. We want to come and bring back a national championship to the University of Notre Dame and we committed to doing that and one loss isn't going to change it. We are still proud commits to the university and are looking forward to our careers there.”
Hunter Bivin has also been committed since last spring.
“All of our offensive linemen have,” he said. “I feel like everyone is solid.”
The outlook from the recruits’ point of view is that if anybody is looking around, they wouldn’t want them anyway.
“If any recruits are second-guessing their commitments because of last night than they're committed for the wrong reasons,” tight end commit Mike Heuerman said.
"I think the ones that don’t stick only show their true colors of non-commitment to the program and that’s better for us,” quarterback commit Malik Zaire added. “The journey has only begun and it starts with our 2013 class. The sky’s the limit and we want to finish the job as the mob.”
Cornerback commit Cole Luke was straightforward.
“I'm not going anywhere,” he said.
Safety Max Redfield just committed to the Irish last week and isn’t having any second thoughts.
“I am 100 percent committed to the Irish team, family and fans for the rest of my life,” he said.
Defensive lineman Isaac Rochell was equally firm.
“I love Notre Dame,” he said. “I committed prior to the football season for a reason! I'm Irish through and through!”
Cornerback pledge Devin Butler looks forward to getting the chance to right what went wrong last night.
“We all know last night was tough to watch, but there is nothing that our class would love more than to get back to the Natty and hold up the crystal bowl, not only for our satisfaction but for the fans and for everybody who has worn the gold helmets.”