Where should Notre Dame focus on recruiting?

[wjasonp71]

I have a question. Why does Notre Dame struggle to recruit down south or do they? I am of the feeling that the southern kids dont want to go up North. They enjoy the sun the beaches, not the snow and cold. I may be wrong that is why I am asking opinions from guys and girls that have followed recruiting longer than I have. I know there is supposedly alot of SPEED down south but isnt there enough talent in Chicago, Ohio, Michigan, California, and the Northeast? Or does ND need to recruit nationally? I guess I am just a frustrated ND fan at all the southern kids being turned off by their own thoughts or the thoughts of rival coaches about the distance and weather. I have been to South Bend many times, since I was 13 and I cant think of any other place I would rather be and I have lived in Texas my whole life.

 

[SoCalDomer]

we get recruits from the south. not in as large a percentage as the SEC schools, but that's not surprising. those are home state schools those kids have grown up watching and wanting to play for.

plus, for kids who don't really care about getting an education and are using college as the NFL minor leagues, the SEC schools don't really care about making sure they get one or graduate.

I believe ND has better success recruiting nationwide than most schools. the SEC schools don't recruit as well outside of the south. USC doesn't recruit as well away from the west coast.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

wjason I agree with what SoCalDomer said. ND does recruit nationally every year. Being ND and recruiting in SEC country and Texas is tough. Those kids are born and raised to grow up and play for the home town team and (for the most part) that's what happens.

That doesn't mean ND doesn't get anyone. Last year alone you can look at Ian Williams and Armando Allen from Florida. The year before they got Sam Young out of Florida and Chris Stewart from Texas.

Recruiting kids who grow up dreaming to play for (let's just say) Miami is tough. The kid knows the program, is used to the warm climate with girls in bikinis, knows he won't have to do much in the classroom, and let's face it...SEC sends A LOT of kids to the NFL.

If you are 17 or 18 and being recruited by ND you are probably wowed by the history and tradition. Then you think about how much smaller it is as a school and a town. Then you think about how challenging it can be academically. And how cold it will be December through March.

On top of that you remember that ND went 3-9 this year after getting beaten handily in its last two bowl games.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

On the other side of the spectrum...

ask Michigan and Florida how hard it was to try and get Braxston Cave out of Indiana

 

[SoCalDomer]

Thought it would help the discussion to post this info:

2008
Robert Blanton Matthews, NC
Braxston Cave Mishawaka, IN
Lane Clelland Owings Mills, MD
Dayne Crist Sherman Oaks, CA
Sean Cwynar Woodstock, IL
Joseph Fauria Encino, CA
Steven Filer Chicago, IL
Darius Fleming Chicago, IL
Michael Floyd WR St. Paul, MN
Mike Golic West Hartford, CT
John Goodman Fort Wayne, IN
Jonas Gray Detroit, MI
Ethan Johnson Portland, OR
Dan McCarthy Youngstown, OH
Anthony McDonald Sherman Oaks, CA
Brandon Newman Louisville, KY
David Posluszny Aliquippa , PA
Trevor Robinson Omaha, NE
Kyle Rudolph Cincinnati, OH
Jamoris Slaughter Stone Mountain, GA
Hafis Williams Elizabeth, NJ

2007
Armando Allen Hialeah, FL
Jimmy Clausen Westlake Village, CA
Taylor Dever Nevada City, CA
Gary Gray Columbia, SC
Robert Hughes Chicago, IL
Duval Kamara Hoboken, NJ
Aaron Nagel Lemont, IL
Kerry Neal Bunn, NC
Andrew Nuss Ashburn, VA
Emeka Nwankwo Hollywood, FL
Steve Paskorz Pittsburgh, PA
Mike Ragone Cherry Hill, NJ
Matt Romine Tulsa, OK
Brian Smith Overland Park, KS
Harrison Smith Knoxville, TN
Golden Tate Hendersonville, TN
Brandon Walker Findlay, OH
Ian Williams Altamonte Springs, FL

 

[chgocub23]

yeah there is something about your home state, and the thought of being away from home. and plus, they think those schools can get you into the nfl faster...although it's probably the other way around

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Well, the speed is largely not in Ohio, Indiana, or Vermont. There is a greater concentration in the south, but that doesn't mean we focus there. We go after prospects, not geography.

 

[Irish_jordan07]

I think Nd is gettin some speed in this year and speed aint just down south

 

[IRISHDODGER]

There's many reasons for ND's perceived lack of southern recruits.

1. Winning cures everything. Compete for a NC (not just a BCS bowl invite based on reputation) and the kids will come. Look no further than the Holtz era.

2. Current recruits are too young to remember when ND seriously contended for a NC (1993), so when they hear "tradition", it falls on deaf ears. History is relative to age.

3. Every top team is televised nationally nowadays. The SEC's top games are on CBS while ABC broadcasts the national powers regionally. ESPN picks up the other top games as well as 2nd & 3rd tier SEC/Big10 games.

4. Winning cures everything. Did I already say that?

I give Weis & staff tremendous credit for recruiting nationally...especially in the south. Increase the amt. of commits in Florida, Texas & Georgia while starting to snag players out of Mississippi & Louisiana; and you'll know ND is a nat'l power again.

Weis has rebuilt the ND recruiting machine from scratch & he's used the most logical formula:

1. Re-establish a stronghold in Chicago metro area. This was deemphasized by the last 2 regimes.

2. Compete/beat the Big 10 (esp. PSU, OSU & UM) for top recruits in the midwest.

3. Continue expanding borders to reach all fifty states.

 

[Sureal]

Bottom line, recruit where the best players are.

 

[MirageSmack]

There's many reasons for ND's perceived lack of southern recruits.

2. Current recruits are too young to remember when ND seriously contended for a NC (1993), so when they hear "tradition", it falls on deaf ears. History is relative to age.

Not so sure about this comment. On it's face I would believe it's true, but almost all our recruits this year cite history and tradition as a reason for coming to ND. I personally think it still matters, although not as much as 20 years ago.

 

[BDIrish4ever]

Bottom line, recruit where the best players are.

AMEN!!

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Not so sure about this comment. On it's face I would believe it's true, but almost all our recruits this year cite history and tradition as a reason for coming to ND. I personally think it still matters, although not as much as 20 years ago.

Of course OUR recruits will cite the history. It's so long a history that it has become a "kneejerk" adjective describing ND's f'ball program as much as "superior academics".

If you think kids in Dade & Broward County in Miami (for example) give a shit about what ND did 15+ yrs ago, then we should have the #1 recruiting class every year w/o even trying.

Tradition/History didn't mean shit when Ty was recruiting for the Irish. And we should all know b/c if anyone tried to let the Notre Dame name recruit itself, it was Ty & his staff.

 

[Clausen2Kamara]

I think CW and co have done an outstanding job this year.

Priorities:

1. Lock up Indiana's top prospects. (Goodman and Cave) Check.
2. Make Chicago our backyard. (Filer, Fleming, Cwynar) Check.
3. Recruit Cali hard and pull some upsets. (Crist, McDonald) Check
4. Take advantage of other programs's problems. (Robinson, Gray, maybe Martin) Check.
5. Get at least half of your top targets. (Floyd, Filer, Robinson, Rudolph and Johnson) Check

 

[aaronb]

As a transplanted hoosier that lives in the south, here is my take.

1. Kids in HS right arent old enough to remember ND dominance. Parents do, but its just a name to Kids. Robert Blanton said as much when ND first contacted him.

2. While I'm from Indiana, and I love to ski and snowmobile. It sure is alot nicer to come and do those things. Then leave and come back south where the climate is temperate. You cannot fully appreciate this unless you live in the north. Then live in the south.

3. Everything down here is college football and the SEC. Professional sports arent as big in the south. Mainly because outside of Atlanta, there arent many cities with major 4 sports franchises. The sportstalk circuit all over the south is about college sports. And everyone sings the SEC praises as the "top of the mountain". Therefore kids that grow up down here tend to think they " made it" when they sign on for SEC football.

4. College pride is a HUGE deal down here. Going to school at local SEC institutions means that you can assure yourself of a nice soft landing spot on the job front right here in your home town. That cannot be understated.

 

[IrishGrizz]

I would like him to focus on 1 thing- speed . Besides the charactor issue, which sets ND apart from the rest of the big powers, That is what hurts ND on alot of the match-ups. Im I all wet on this- have I been listeneing to the talking heads too much? I would like to see some fast LBs that are alittle bigger than Crum.

 

[Doomsday Device]

If you can find one of IUB's posts from last year, he shows that Notre Dame had more success grabbing players out of the south then any other non-SEC or ACC school. I think relatively speaking, the staff does a good job of targetting players in the south.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

As a transplanted hoosier that lives in the south, here is my take.

1. Kids in HS right arent old enough to remember ND dominance. Parents do, but its just a name to Kids. Robert Blanton said as much when ND first contacted him.

2. While I'm from Indiana, and I love to ski and snowmobile. It sure is alot nicer to come and do those things. Then leave and come back south where the climate is temperate. You cannot fully appreciate this unless you live in the north. Then live in the south.

3. Everything down here is college football and the SEC. Professional sports arent as big in the south. Mainly because outside of Atlanta, there arent many cities with major 4 sports franchises. The sportstalk circuit all over the south is about college sports. And everyone sings the SEC praises as the "top of the mountain". Therefore kids that grow up down here tend to think they " made it" when they sign on for SEC football.

4. College pride is a HUGE deal down here. Going to school at local SEC institutions means that you can assure yourself of a nice soft landing spot on the job front right here in your home town. That cannot be understated.

I live about two hours west of you in Little Rock. I definitely agree w/ your take on college f'ball in the south. Being in Memphis, you're caught in the crossfire of Ole Miss, UT, Memphis & Arkansas fans. At least you got Gus's Fried Chicken & Rendevous Ribs!

The good thing for the Irish is that all they have to do is start challenging for NCs & winning BCS bowl games & they'll appear on the radar of ALL the top players in every state incl SEC territory.

 

[dylan020]

haha im not sure how bad you guys got it in the 'northern' south but down here in bama....holy crap! I honestly get asked damn near every week are you Auburn or Alabama, and you should see the faces when they hear ND!!! Ive worked at a moving company through school for 3 years now and have seen probably 10-12 guys just up and quit so they can have their buddy/gf pick them up to go watch the boys play...they dont mess around, love it or get the F out of our state!!! haha