Toryan Smith Sets Visit Date

[jiggafini19]

6-0, 230 lb linebacker from Rome, Georgia Toryan Smith has set his official visit date to South Bend for October 15th, the USC game. Smith has about 18 offers right now and has Notre Dame in his top three. He has no other official visits set and is being recruited by Bill Lewis.

Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Oklahoma are among those who have offered Smith. Charlie Weis and Urban Meyer have visited during May evaluations. Lewis has visited twice and acutally coached this kid's dad at Georgia.

It looks like ND could be going up against Urban Meyer on this one. Georgia could push hard due to the family ties.

Weis is starting to attack the defensive side of the ball and is getting into SEC country too.

 

[irishtexan]

from what ive read on blue and gold, this kid is really good, i mean REALLY good. Im really excited Weis and staff are starting to recruit nationwide hardcore again.

 

[jiggafini19]

from what ive read on blue and gold, this kid is really good, i mean REALLY good. Im really excited Weis and staff are starting to recruit nationwide hardcore again.

I think the idea of playing with guys from all over the country really appeals to a lot of these guys.

What is promising is that players are sitting around waiting for ND to offer them. That is something that hasn't happened in the past. You are going to be exposed with football every week and you are going to get a degree. Bottom line.

They are going to be hauling in top 10 classes year in and year out under Weis.

 

[sblxdoc]

Not to be pessimistic, but I wonder what are the chances of all these verbal commits still signing come February, God forbid ND has a sub-par year? Just a thought.

 

[jiggafini19]

Not to be pessimistic, but I wonder what are the chances of all these verbal commits still signing come February, God forbid ND has a sub-par year? Just a thought.

And a valid thought it is.

Weis is selling the program on blind faith right now. Any type of success will be huge. Looking at thiings on June 7th, if ND wins 7 games or more I would consider that campaign a success. SC, Michigan and Tennessee have superior talent to ND and ND beat Michigan and Tennessee last year. I can see them winning 7 or 8 games and going to a bowl.

These guys are going to play within their first two years as starters. They have to. ND's current depth situation leaves a lot to be desired.

I would imagine a couple of guys could back out in the next 8 months. For the most part, I think things will be okay. The types of guys they're getting seem to be good character people who are on the level.

 

[BigIrish]

And a valid thought it is.

Weis is selling the program on blind faith right now. Any type of success will be huge. Looking at thiings on June 7th, if ND wins 7 games or more I would consider that campaign a success. SC, Michigan and Tennessee have superior talent to ND and ND beat Michigan and Tennessee last year. I can see them winning 7 or 8 games and going to a bowl.

These guys are going to play within their first two years as starters. They have to. ND's current depth situation leaves a lot to be desired.

I would imagine a couple of guys could back out in the next 8 months. For the most part, I think things will be okay. The types of guys they're getting seem to be good character people who are on the level.

i would agree. i think if we had a 1-10 season, that may cause some of our verbals to question Weis's coaching ability and consequently back out of a commitment. However, assuming we can pull off what's expected of us - 6 to 8 wins - our commitments *should* be safe. despite Weis's confidence, i would assume that he's being realistic with these recruits, and i don't think anyone has any expectations of going to a BCS game this year. Bottom line, unless Weis really screws up, i think our recruits recognize that in terms of existing talent, the cupboard is pretty bare and this year's success will be measured by how well we build a foundation for the future rather than how well we compete for a major bowl game.

 

[Guest]

Not to be pessimistic, but I wonder what are the chances of all these verbal commits still signing come February, God forbid ND has a sub-par year? Just a thought.

We could still bring in a really nice class with a bad season. Nebraska was awful last year, and still hauled in a top 5 class.

 

[LuckoftheIrish86]

We could still bring in a really nice class with a bad season. Nebraska was awful last year, and still hauled in a top 5 class.

excellent point

 

[jiggafini19]

Queens leads me to an argument I've had around the office. If a kid wants to come in and be on the fast track to the NFL, ND might be the place to do it because of the TV exposure, obviously. But look at the depth chart!! Just about every position is in need, with the possible exception of running back. I'm sure the staff is selling that. And I'm sure that's what Nebraska did too. Plus, Callahan has been to a Super Bowl. He's NFL tested. Weis has the rings and comes off a couple of big coaching trees. He can prepare guys for the NFL and have them there within three or four years....and get guys degrees with the best network of them all.

 

[guff]

Queens leads me to an argument I've had around the office. If a kid wants to come in and be on the fast track to the NFL, ND might be the place to do it because of the TV exposure, obviously. But look at the depth chart!! Just about every position is in need, with the possible exception of running back. I'm sure the staff is selling that. And I'm sure that's what Nebraska did too. Plus, Callahan has been to a Super Bowl. He's NFL tested. Weis has the rings and comes off a couple of big coaching trees. He can prepare guys for the NFL and have them there within three or four years....and get guys degrees with the best network of them all.

And I think that is what Weis is selling. Right now these kids aren’t committing to ND, they’re committing to Weis. Let’s be honest, ND isn’t what it used to be. I would argue that it isn’t even half of what it was during Holtz years. Selling ND is a tough sell these days. But ND’s history and tradition combined with Weis’ recent success and current expectations make ND an attractive place.

A sub .500 season could do damage to all of this good work. If we know that you can be certain that Weis does too.

 

[jiggafini19]

Weis is embracing the ND tradition and trying to get that in the minds of the recruits. But truly, a new history must be forged. No National Title since 1993 (I don't care what anyone says) means that the future must be the selling point, not the past.

Weis is getting guys on blind faith right now. If he wins, look out.

 

[grantland]

We could still bring in a really nice class with a bad season. Nebraska was awful last year, and still hauled in a top 5 class.

Not only Nebraska. We do not have to look past our own program to prove that great recruiting classes and great teams can come after losing seasons. Remember Holtz's first year? Irish went 5-6. However, the team lost 5 of the games by a total of 14 points. The only team that beat us bad was Alabama. In the final game of the season, we beat SC. If I remember correctly, in the first game of the season, we LOST to Michigan, but climbed into the top twenty after not having been ranked pre-season top twenty.

Not to pick on TyWillie, but contrast Holtz's first season with his. 10-3 sounds pretty good after inheriting a team that went 5-6 the year before. However, there was just something missing. This showed up in the last five or six games of that season. As we all know, we lost to BC, barely beat Navy, got our a** kicked by SC and NC State.

My point is I do not think it matters not how many games we win or lose (within reason) but how we look on the field. We will be able to tell early on whether Charlie has the team playing like they care - win or lose. I think the recruits will be able to tell also and if the guys on the team are making blocks, sticking tackles, hitting holes hard and playing the game until the last second ticks off, the kids will know and they will come. If there is a complacency and laziness about the team, they may rethink.

I do not think there will be a complacency or laziness about Weis's team. He has already run off the worst!

 

[BigIrish]

My point is I do not think it matters not how many games we win or lose (within reason) but how we look on the field. We will be able to tell early on whether Charlie has the team playing like they care - win or lose. I think the recruits will be able to tell also and if the guys on the team are making blocks, sticking tackles, hitting holes hard and playing the game until the last second ticks off, the kids will know and they will come. If there is a complacency and laziness about the team, they may rethink.
!

well put.

 

[jiggafini19]

Winning will help a great deal. If they compete when they lose and not get spanked into the woodshed, that will also be a selling point.

So you're right. The passion for the school and the game will sell itself.