Category: Notre Dame Football

Expectations for Notre Dame QB Commit Buchner High

California signal call and Irish commit Tyler Buchner has high expectations for his career in South Bend.

When you look at current recruiting rankings of quarterbacks, there is no doubt that you will see Notre Dame’s class of 2021 commit Tyler Buchner with the nations best. Just in the last two days, he has been highlighted by two different recruiting services as being someone to watch out for.

Starting out at Rivals, Notre Dame was grouped with the ACC as they looked at recruiting superlatives so far  for the 2021 class. Buchner was viewed as the best out-of-state commit, as Mike Farrell, Rival’s National Recruiting Director, has some nice things to say about the future Irish signal caller as they “once again going to California for a quarterback and landing a very good one.” Rivals has ranked Buchner as the 43rd overall player and the 2nd rated dual-threat quarterback in the nation.

With that high ranking, Buchner will have a lot of eyes on him and over at 247Sports named him as one of 10 recruits from the 2021 and 2022 class who will become household names. Four of those ten players are quarterback, as they are easily the most familiar faces in the sport. Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong thinks the eyes of the nation will be back on Buchner when he arrives on campus as “there will be an opportunity for Buchner to win the job upon his arrival.”

It wasn’t just Buchner highlighted in their article, as Notre Dame targets RB Will Shipley and RB Gavin Sawchuk were also featured. If the Irish are able to land either one of these talented running backs, pairing up with Buchner would be a killer backfield.

Buchner is the 50th best prospect and 3rd dual-threat quarterback according to 247Sports, making him a consensus top 50 recruit for the 2021 class. The California native will have plenty of expectation immediately when he arrives on campus, with starting as a true freshman not out of the question. I for one, am extremely excited to see how Buchner’s career in South Bend plays out.

Notre Dame’s Swarbrick on College Football in 2020

Swarbrick also goes on to say the next “mile marker” to have an idea as to when students may return to campus will come when a decision is made on if those taking summer classes will actually be on campus or if they’ll all be done online.

Notre Dame athletic director is quoted Wednesday night in Pete Thamel’s most recent piece about whether or not there will be college football in 2020.  The Yahoo! Sports reporter gets quotes from other administrators but states the most important thing that needs to happen before we can even begin to think there will be college football as we know it this fall:

But for those looking for hints of hope for college football’s return, they should start with the clearance for students to return to campus.

Thamel and Yahoo! reached out to a dozen different administrators nationwide, Notre Dame’s Jack Swarbrick being one of them.

Swarbrick points out the mixed messages of telling students to stay home and athletes to come to campus if the conditions don’t abate.

“It’d be very hard to do,” Swarbrick said. “There’s a liability. Some of the dynamics of the game being what they are. The nature of it is such that there’s significant risks.”

Swarbrick also goes on to say the next “mile marker” to have an idea as to when students may return to campus will come when a decision is made on if those taking summer classes will actually be on campus or if they’ll all be done online.  For what it’s worth, earlier this week Ohio State announced they were moving all of their in-person summer classes to only being online.

Swarbrick is also quoted at the end of the piece with the following:

“Nothing quite matches the unique issues that are created by the activity being integrated into an academic institution,” Swarbrick said. “There’s nothing like it in other sports.”

The whole piece is worth reading if you’ve got a few minutes to spare (again, link is posted in the first paragraph here).  Until we start to see students showing up on campuses around the nation we aren’t going to see players suiting up.  It’s kind of common sense but makes a lot more sense the more you think about it.

Listen: Full Brian Kelly Interview on WSBT

Brian Kelly went on the Sportsbeat at WSBT in South Bend on Wednesday afternoon and spent 20 or so minutes discussing everything related to what’s been going on in and around the Notre Dame football team in these truly unique times.

Brian Kelly went on the Sportsbeat at WSBT in South Bend on Wednesday afternoon and spent 20 or so minutes discussing everything related to what’s been going on in and around the Notre Dame football team in these truly unique times.

The headline grabbing content was his comments on Kirk Herbstreit who Kelly does not agree with whatsoever when it comes to if the 2020 college football season will be played as normal.  I discussed that already and why it comes off as a tough look for Kelly who is usually more PR-saavy.

Listen to the full interview by clicking here.

Other topics you’ll hear include but are not limited to:

-A message from Kelly to Notre Dame and college football fans everywhere in regards to corona virus

-Kelly’s thoughts on a truly one of a kind recruiting cycle and how he hopes uncommitted recruits handle the duration of their respective recruiting processes

-How Notre Dame is keeping track of player workouts and rehabs during this time away

-Kelly shares his ideal start date for team activities to begin that would allow for no changes to the game schedule for 2020

So take a listen and if you like feel free to share your thoughts on the interview, your likes and dislikes and anything else on our Facebook page.

Watch – Lou Holtz Address Coronavirus (Like Only Lou Can)

As a people we’re as down and out about this as I’ve ever seen us about anything.  Fortunately, the right person to boost morale is on the case and has been for sometime, I just hadn’t seen it until today.

I have to apologize. I usually feel like I do a good job seeing everything the Twitter world has to offer because both of my jobs require me to spend far too much time on it.  With that said, I missed something that I should have seen literally weeks ago.

Corona virus has undoubtedly sunken spirits nationwide.  If you don’t know someone who has gotten sick you’re fortunate and if you don’t know someone who has lost their means of income as a result of the epidemic then consider yourself even luckier.  As a people we’re as down and out about this as I’ve ever seen us about anything.  Fortunately, the right person to boost morale is on the case and has been for sometime, I just hadn’t seen it until today.

Since we always analyze what coaches say, let’s treat this no differently:

“Land of the free and the brave but it doesn’t have to be the land of the stupid!”  – and we wondered why players would have ran through a wall for this guy.  Just that alone makes me want to question every single action I’ve taken since Covid-19 came into our lives.

“Work together” is his plan to fix the issue. Great coach-speak going on.  Even if in this case it actually has value in fighting the problem.

“I’m an old man…” will be used as a drop on sports radio stations nationwide if they get their paws on this.  Even if it did add value to the point he immediately went on to make.  And yes, Lou, you are correct in your statement.

I think I counted four times where I entirely could not tell what Lou was saying.  That’s somehow fewer than I would have guessed going in.

And Finally –

Wearing a Masters pullover while an open can of A&W sits out and a “Play Like A Champion Today” poster is on his desk is the only way I want to ever picture Lou Holtz in my head if there isn’t a football game being coached.

Notre Dame Football: It’s Safe to Say Brian Kelly Disagrees with Kirk Herbstreit

Thursday saw Brian Kelly make an appearance on the SportsBeat on 96.1 FM in South Bend and the Notre Dame football coach was asked about Herbstreit’s comments.  Let’s just say – it’s safe to believe he doesn’t so much agree with the ESPN analyst.

Last week Kirk Herbstreit was on ESPN Radio and was asked his thoughts on the chances of football, pro or college being played as we know it this fall.  Herbstreit offered is opinion and it didn’t come with much optimism.

Thursday saw Brian Kelly make an appearance on the SportsBeat on 96.1 FM in South Bend and the Notre Dame football coach was asked about Herbstreit’s comments.  Let’s just say – it’s safe to believe he doesn’t so much agree with the ESPN analyst.

Listen, I hope like all getup that Kelly is right and that college football goes off without a hitch in 2020.  I do however also think it’s a bit wrong to go after Herbstreit this hard for answering the question he was asked.

Look at New York City, look at Florida largely shutting down the state today and look how big everything involving Corona-virus has become.  Now do you think it’s a two foot putt that college football will operate as normal with 80,000 or so fans packing stadiums all over the country?

Herbstreit is an educated man who happens to cover college football and usually does a very good job of that.  Just because his profession is in sports doesn’t mean he isn’t informed enough to think logically on his own.  I get why Kelly is upset but it doesn’t take a scientist or doctor to figure out that there is a growing chance that Herbstreit is right.

The city of Toronto has shutdown regular operations until at least June 1.  Kelly goes on to say that ideally, workouts would begin by the middle of June in order to get things timed out perfectly for college football.  He already stated previously with Scott Van Pelt of SportsCenter that July 1 would be the necessary date to get things going by in order for a regular season schedule to be played.

Again, I can’t put into words how much I hope Herbstreit is wrong.  It’d mean good news for a nation and a world that could use some right now and it’d mean that we’ve largely beat a pandemic nationwide.  I hope and pray for that to be the case, but again, I’d be lying if I said I was optimistic in it happening.

We’ll post a link to the entire Brian Kelly interview once it gets posted to their website.  We’ll also look at what else the Notre Dame head coach had to say in a later post so be on the lookout for that this evening.  Stay safe and have a good night. -NS

Football Recruiting Drama – Will Shipley Sent Blake Fisher What?!!?!

Notre Dame is in the news – I hesitate to call it that – because of what a certain star running back from the 2021 recruiting class sent one of Notre Dame’s highest ranked commitments in the ’21 class.

College football recruiting is a funny thing.  I know, that’s not exactly breaking news but it’s amazing what becomes news.

Well, Notre Dame is in the news – I hesitate to call it that – because of what a certain star running back from the 2021 recruiting class sent one of Notre Dame’s highest ranked commitments in the ’21 class.

You’re asking yourself right now – what in the world is this guy talking about?

Blake Fisher, one of the nation’s top offensive tackles in the 2021 class celebrated his birthday earlier this week.  If you’ve followed recruiting at all you’re aware that Fisher is a long-time Notre Dame commitment and has been very vocal in trying to recruit top-talent around him.

Will Shipley, the nation’s top-ranked all-purpose back in the 2021 class is yet to give a verbal commitment to any program but Notre Dame has been after his talents as much as seemingly anyone.  So what is this crazy stunt Shipley pulled?

Shipley sent Fisher a birthday card through the mail.

Irish Sports Daily has more information on that with quotes from both parties (linked above).  Whether Shipley ends up at Notre Dame, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Stanford or Clemson – or heck, if he does something wild and quits football to instead join the circus, it appears he and Fisher will remain friends which is great.

I’m most surprised however by Shipley’s act of kindness.  No, not because he went the extra mile or anything like that.  Not to sound like an old man but I’m honestly surprised anyone his age knew how to send a birthday card.

Seriously – when is the last time you sent someone a birthday card through the mail?

Personally I tend to call or text the birthday-boy (or girl).  If we haven’t talked in an especially long time and I happen to look at the list of names for a day, maybe I’ll get crazy and write on someone’s Facebook wall to send well-wishes.  An actual through the mail birthday card?

Props to Will Shipley for doing something I don’t think I’ve done for anyone in probably at least a decade.

Notre Dame Football – Saturday Night Rewatch

Notre Dame is again going to stream an old game this Saturday night but it will most likely be one from long before Brian Kelly’s run with the Irish began.

Last week Notre Dame debuted their rebroadcast of the 2015 opener against Texas on their Facebook page and had Brian Kelly, Malik Zaire and others commenting along the way during the 38-3 blowout of Texas.  I’ll admit right away that the blowout type of game that was didn’t hold my attention for too long and the pier pressure of having not yet seen “Tiger King” at that point led me seven hours of watching that instead.

This weekend I have no “Tiger King” however and unless I’ve missed something, there isn’t a new binge-worthy show that’s been released in recent days.

How convenient, because Notre Dame is again going to stream an old game this Saturday night but it will most likely be one from long before Brian Kelly’s run with the Irish began.

Voting is open now on the Notre Dame Football Twitter page for which game they’ll show with two from the Lou Holtz era, one from Charlie Weis’ second season and a last-minute thriller from last year among the candidates.

I voted for 1993 Florida State.  Not just because it’s in the Final Four of our own greatest game tournament here at FIW, but because of a few other reasons:

1. 2019 Virginia Tech is still way too fresh in our minds. Had it been a year that the win saved a big-time bowl appearance then I’d be on board but at the end of the day it was “just” a thrilling come from behind victory (on the day my newborn daughter came home from the hospital).

2.  The 1992 win over Penn State is probably a huge reason I became the Notre Dame football fan that I am.  I loved Bettis and Brooks in the backfield and was a Rick Mirer apologist when the Bears traded for him years down the road.  I did however just have this on in the background while working from home last week so it’s a bit too fresh in my mind.

3.  The UCLA comeback was a thriller that saved a BCS berth (that ended in a rout).  That said, a couple of Notre Dame legends connecting late for a game-winning touchdown when just minutes earlier it appeared all hope was lost is great.  This was a classic and had it not been stacked against biggest win of my Notre Dame watching life, I’d have picked it.

4.  Notre Dame vs. Florida State in 1993 was nothing short of awesome in every way.  The hype, NBC’s “Main Street” introduction to the broadcast, Florida State taking the early lead before the Irish take complete control the majority of the afternoon before the eventual Heisman Trophy winner leads an epic near-comeback that gets batted away by Shawn Wooden.  Yeah, inject it into my veins, please.

You have only a couple hours left to vote on that on the Notre Dame Football Twitter page so go ahead and do that and in the meantime, if you haven’t already, go ahead and vote in our Final Four as we determine the best Notre Dame game (had to be a win) since 1986.

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Is Notre Dame LB Owusu-Koramoah in line to Blow Up NFL Draft Boards

After a breakout season last year, will Irish pass rusher Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah be a player who shoots up NFL draft boards?

If you follow Notre Dame Football, which you clearly do, then you know what linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah did last year. However, many fans don’t pay much attention to what other teams are doing, aside from their rivals, so there is a possibility his great season went unnoticed by many people. Those people were not NFL scouts as yesterday 247Sports named Owusu-Koramoah as the next Patrick Queen.

Don’t know who Queen is? Well, all he did was lead the LSU defense to a National Title after having a so-so start to his career. Queen doubled his career tackles total, picked up his first interception, and added 3 sacks to the one he had in his previous two seasons with the Tigers.

Owusu-Koramoah’s breakout was last year, after taking the quarterback down 8.5 times while totaling 79 tackles. The rising redshirt junior’s stats are much more impressive than Queen’s, but this is more about being a nationally known player, as “perhaps he (Owusu-Koramoah) has a little bit more name appeal nationally than Queen’s 2018 profile. But after the 2020 season, expect Owusu-Koramoah to be a household name.”

The hype train should be building for the Irish star defender after what he did last year. If Owusu-Koramoah is about to at least replicate his stats from last year, he will surely be a household name. If he can exceed those impressive numbers from his redshirt sophomore campaign, Owusu-Koramoah should be hearing his name being called in the first round of the NFL Draft.

The Notre Dame Draft Prospect Pro Football Focus Loves

One outlet that has been all about a certain Notre Dame player this off-season though is Pro Football Focus, who again has Julian Okwara going in their latest mock draft’s first round.

If you’ve consumed many NFL mock drafts in the recent weeks you’ve probably not seen many Notre Dame players selected in the first round.  It’s at best a toss-up but seeming less likely by the day, and the mock draft that a former Fighting Irish football player is selected in the first round.

One outlet that has been all about a certain Notre Dame player this off-season though is Pro Football Focus, who again has Julian Okwara going in their latest mock draft’s first round.

It’s important to remember that PFF conducts these drafts by making the picks by selecting the players they would take if they were the GM of all 32 teams, not by picking who they believe each team will take.  With that said, here is what Steve Palazzolo had to say about Okwara who they have going 28th overall to the Baltimore Ravens.

Even with the Ravens franchising Matt Judon, Okwara is a fantastic fit for their defense. They have the most versatile defense in the league, and Okwara is an edge rusher with coverage-dropping athleticism. The Ravens can continue their “positionless football” approach on defense with Okwara, who had an excellent 90.4 pass-rush grade a year ago to go with the movement skills to play off-ball linebacker if needed. The Ravens will use that skillset to keep opposing offenses off balance.

This isn’t the first time PFF has had Okwara going in the first round as two weeks ago Mike Renner had Okwara going 29th to the Tennessee Titans.

If I had to guess I’d think that coming off of injury especially hurts Okwara as he didn’t workout besides in the bench press at the NFL Rookie Combine a few weeks back.  Because of that I’ll be pleasantly surprised if someone does step up and take him in the first round.

Notre Dame Wasn’t Tight End U Until This Birthday Boy Paved Way

It’s not that great tight ends weren’t a thing before Derek Brown joined Lou Holtz and the Fighting Irish in 1988, but the high level of performance at the position wasn’t as steady as it is now.  More on that later, let’s focus on Brown, the birthday boy, for now.

Think for a second about how Notre Dame has become Tight End U in the last few decades.  Just tracking the position from now to the late 80’s is remarkable in a way to do.

In a few weeks Cole Kmet will join Alize Mack, Durham Smythe, Ben Koyack, Troy Niklas, Tyler Eifert, Kyle Rudolph, John Carlson, Anthony Fasano, Jerome Collins, Josh Owens, Jabari Holloway, Dan O’Leary, Pete Chryplewicz, Irv Smith and Derek Brown as the 15th different Notre Dame tight end to be drafted since 1992.  On average, every other year has seen a Notre Dame tight end get drafted in that time.  So let’s examine that last name listed a bit as he turns 50 today.

It’s not that great tight ends weren’t a thing before Derek Brown joined Lou Holtz and the Fighting Irish in 1988, but the high level of performance at the position wasn’t as steady as it is now.  More on that later, let’s focus on Brown, the birthday boy, for now.

Derek Brown’s numbers at Notre Dame look rather pedestrian by today’s standards, having pulled down 62 receptions in four seasons.  Eight of those receptions wound up being touchdowns while he totaled 899 yards along the way, 71 of which came against West Virginia to clinch the ’88 national title.

He was also very key in helping run an offense that required tight ends that were willing to throw their body around and get physical, something his career stats don’t show.

With Brown turning 50 today I looked up any stories or information I could find about him.  Back in 2013 he did an interview with “Her Loyal Sons” that shares the bizarre feeling he had after winning the ’88 title, why he chose Notre Dame over Miami and plenty on what he’s been up to since leaving football.

Ultimately Brown didn’t prove worth the 14th overall pick, scoring just one touchdown in his NFL career but he did raise the bar significantly for what has since become Tight End U.  There were greats before him in the form of Ken MacAfee, Dave Casper and Mark Bavaro but the regularity they came out wasn’t nearly as great, although still impressive.

Those soon to be 15 draft picks at the position in 29 years is insane. For comparisons sake though, in the17 years previous to Brown being drafted by the New York Giants in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft, five Notre Dame tight ends were drafted.  That’s not bad talent at the position but clearly after Brown ended the four year drought of Irish tight ends getting drafted at all, it’s become a regular occurrence.

Happy 50th, Derek Brown!