Tony Alford

[NDBoiler]

Good luck to Alford. Seemed like he was loyal, and professional. I thought he did a fine job with backs, and a A+ job with recruiting. CSU will be sorry they didn't grab him.

As for ND...well, HCs benefit from fresh heads in the room, so to speak. Kelly will find a good coach...the trick is, can he recruit the South East?

Eddie Gran, if I'm not mistaken.

GoBEARCATS.COM Eddie Gran Bio - University Of Cincinnati Official Athletic Site University Of Cincinnati

Denson is from Florida and Gran coached at FSU, so it's probably a safe bet that both can be effective in recruiting the southeast or at least Florida.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

A "football first" college experience is one where players major in what amounts to Underwater Fire Prevention, don't have to go to class, have zero academic responsibilities, and basically focus all of their efforts on football. You may find winning in such a way a path ND should emulate, but as an alum I don't.

You're absolutely right that ND shouldn't become a football factory and reduce their academic standards.

That said, the assumption that a kid who goes anywhere but Notre Dame is not interested in and will not get a good education is totally off base.

 

[Classic Irish]

Eddie Gran, if I'm not mistaken.

GoBEARCATS.COM Eddie Gran Bio - University Of Cincinnati Official Athletic Site University Of Cincinnati

According to that bio, Gran lost a daughter to holoprosencephaly. That's a horrible condition.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Denson is from Florida and Gran coached at FSU, so it's probably a safe bet that both can be effective in recruiting the southeast or at least Florida.

Gran is a serious long shot. He's an OC with Gunner Kiel at QB for another two years. I doubt he leaves to become a RB coach.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

According to that bio, Gran lost a daughter to holoprosencephaly. That's a horrible condition.

I saw that. Can't imagine losing a child at that age.

 

[Classic Irish]

You're absolutely right that ND shouldn't become a football factory and reduce their academic standards.

That said, the assumption that a kid who goes anywhere but Notre Dame is not interested in and will not get a good education is totally off base.

I never said that and totally agree with you. I realize that ND isn't for everybody.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

I never said that and totally agree with you. I realize that ND isn't for everybody.

I inferred from this comment.

Any player that would choose Ohio State over an ND degree belongs at Ohio State.

It seemed very dismissive of any possibility to get a solid education anywhere but ND. But I don't want to put words into your mouth.

 

[texbender]

sorry to lose coach, but now it's NEXT GUY IN.

 

[Classic Irish]

I inferred from this comment.



It seemed very dismissive of any possibility to get a solid education anywhere but ND. But I don't want to put words into your mouth.

I don't want to continue derailing this thread, so here's the last I'll say about it. Yes, one can get a very good education at most places if the student is inclined to do so. And a player who goes to Ohio State can get a good education there if he applies himself (e.g. Krenzel). But I think it's a bit naïve to think that most (not all) players who go to a place like Ohio State go there for the education. I think we all know what the real appeal is.

 

[BoredIrish]

Eddie Gran, if I'm not mistaken.

GoBEARCATS.COM Eddie Gran Bio - University Of Cincinnati Official Athletic Site University Of Cincinnati

Wow... Gran was the Rb coach with Tuberville at Auburn when he coached Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown. 2 Rb drafted in the same year in the top 5 picks if I remember correctly.

Quite the resume.

 

[kmoose]

Wow... Gran was the Rb coach with Tuberville at Auburn when he coached Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown. 2 Rb drafted in the same year in the top 5 picks if I remember correctly.

Quite the resume.

Ronnie Brown went #2 to the Dolphins, and Cadillac Williams went #5 to the Buccaneers, in 2005. Impressive indeed.

 

[Classic Irish]

So it's now looking like Gran instead of Denson? Any solid info out there or are these just names being bandied about?

 

[Irish Fam]

I would assume they are just throwing some names around.

I haven't heard anything of substance at this point.

Personally, although Gran's resume is quite impressive, the opportunity to bring Denson, our all time leading rusher, back and let him sell ND as a successful grad is very intriguing.

 

[IrishLion]

I'd be shocked if Gran left his OC spot at UC to be a RB coach. He's set up very nicely with that UC offense for the next few years.

But, stranger things have happened I guess.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

Ronnie Brown went #2 to the Dolphins, and Cadillac Williams went #5 to the Buccaneers, in 2005. Impressive indeed.

I may be wrong, butI also believe Brandon Jacobs from the Giants was a member of that team as well before transferring. Pretty sick talent on one team.

 

[kmoose]

I may be wrong, butI also believe Brandon Jacobs from the Giants was a member of that team as well before transferring. Pretty sick talent on one team.

In 1990, ND had Ricky Watters, Tony Brooks, Dorsey Levens, and Jeff Burris at tailback. Then they also had Jerome Bettis and Rodney Culver at fullback. THAT was an absolutely sick backfield.

Oh, and those guys ran behind an offensive line comprised of:

Justin Hall
Mike Heldt
Mirko Jurkovic
Gene McGuire
Tim Ryan

3rd and 8 was a running down, back in those days.

 

[IRISHFAN76]

How about the "BUS" for RB coach

 

[ND NYC]

I wasn't sure it was possible to hate urban meyer any more than I already have. but ive now reached a new level of hatred for that man.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

In 1990, ND had Ricky Watters, Tony Brooks, Dorsey Levens, and Jeff Burris at tailback. Then they also had Jerome Bettis and Rodney Culver at fullback. THAT was an absolutely sick backfield.

Oh, and those guys ran behind an offensive line comprised of:

Justin Hall
Mike Heldt
Mirko Jurkovic
Gene McGuire
Tim Ryan

3rd and 8 was a running down, back in those days.

Haha, remember it well! My favorite ND running backs to be honest were always the fullbacks. The Bus and Mark Edwards. And I've always been a fan of Anthony Johnson. He was kind enough to take pictures with me back in the summer of 87 in the stadium. Still have the autograph Lou Holtz gave me after a summer practice on his golf cart as he was leaving. Stopped and talked to me and my family for a good 10 minutes. Left a huge impression on me as a 14 year old kid. I love hearing the names Todd Lyght and Autry Denson (potentially) as coaches at ND. Those were some great years.

 

[ndfi78]

Honestly, I was much more angry about Alford leaving for OSU when I thought he had turned down CSU. Now that I know CSU turned him down, I understand it more.

CSU made a mistake, IMO.

 

[ThePiombino]

Honestly, I was much more angry about Alford leaving for OSU when I thought he had turned down CSU. Now that I know CSU turned him down, I understand it more.

CSU made a mistake, IMO.

Don't see how. Alford has zero OC experience, let alone HC experience. Outside of him being an alum and exceptional recruiter, there was nothing he had going for himself over the other leading candidates.

 

[bkess8]

Honestly, I was much more angry about Alford leaving for OSU when I thought he had turned down CSU. Now that I know CSU turned him down, I understand it more.

CSU made a mistake, IMO.

How did they make a mistake when they hired Mike Bobo, very experienced and successful offensive coordinator from one of the most competitive conferences in the country?

You wanted them to take a shot in the dark by hiring TA that had no prior coordinator experience?

Going to OSU is a good move for TA to move up the coaching ladder, it just hurts that he was doing great things for recruiting here at ND.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

TA needs some work on the X's and O's, to move up in his professions. There are not an unlimited number of ways to do this. I think he found one. Meyer wanted a running back coach and dangled the resume builders, and knowledge Alford needs over the negotiating table.

 

[PLACforever]

 

[IRISH in MT]

How about the "BUS" for RB coach

I would take Jerome, Reggie Brooks, Denson, Marc Edwards, or Ray Zellers. Love the Todd Lyght hire. Him, Burris, Bobby Taylor, or Shane Walton are my favorite DB's.

Keep adding those late 80's and early 90's alum to bring back the toughness/Blue Collar days.

 

[Huntr]

I hope they get Gran on board. That guy could sell a ketchup snowcone to a woman wearing white gloves.

 

[yankeeND]

I hope they get Gran on board. That guy could sell a ketchup snowcone to a woman wearing white gloves.

Shut up Richard

Lol great quote bro!

 

[Huntr]

snowcone, popsicle. Whatever it takes.

 

[yankeeND]

snowcone, popsicle. Whatever it takes.

I hear ya bro, hope we get this one right. I am kind of on the Denson side now, but this Gran guy sounds pretty damn good as well. Should be interesting to see how this all plays out.

 

[PANDFAN]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>2016 5-star <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OhioState?src=hash">#OhioState</a> RB commitment. RT <a href="https://twitter.com/_KareemWalker">@_KareemWalker</a>: Just spoke to coach Alford..</p>— Jake Brown (@Jake_Brown) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jake_Brown/status/564872002977415168">February 9, 2015</a></blockquote>
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