Gipper, you're going to have to do something to avoid going over 85 scholarships. Just like the rest of us peons. 8)
I've nothing against JUCO kids, for the most part they don't fit for ND. Most kids go to JUCO because they have some academic problem that prevents them from going Div 1. Certainly there are kids in JUCO who are academically qualified but their talent coming out of HS doesn't attract any Div 1 scholarships. ND does set up the kids to graduate in 3 1/2 years, summer school is a big part of that and it's not just ND. It's why so many kids are able to do the grad transfer all over the country.
Terry, junior colleges allow kids who do not qualify for entry into 4 yr institutions a chance to establish an academic record and move into the universities and eventually play. It seems many go to schools other than the ones they initially committed to. I don't know the reasons for that. Anyway, there is no way for a coach to plan for staying at the 85 scholarship limit. If they stop right at 85 they run the danger of going way under due to medical, academic, and hardship issues. If they go over the 85 counting on those losses and those losses don't materialize then they have to do something unpleasant. It's a no win spot unless you are willing to perpetually having fewer than 85 players on scholarship. 8)
No doubt that is true kp, during the Weis years we frequently were under the 85 limit when August rolled around. It usually meant the available scholarships were given to worthy walk-ons. It was never more than a couple of kids. That's why I like the term roster management. While nobody talks about being "forced" to transfer that would be a bad look for the program. But I have no doubt (but no knowledge) that some players are encouraged strongly to look elsewhere to continue their college career..ie transfer. Most Grad transfers are kids looking for playing time as opposed to kids who are stars and looking for a better program to showcase their talent. Again I'm figuring a lot of those grad transfers have had conversations about whether they will be offered a 5th year by their current school. Then there are the kids who end up quitting football for injury reasons and getting a medical scholarship. I'm sure most of those are legit, but there might be a kid or 2 who the coach likes but doesn't see him playing in the future even if he rehabs back to 100% and offers him the medical so he can stay and graduate. NCAA scholarships are still 1 year scholarships, and legally the school doesn't have to renew them. But practically I have never heard of a kid who says they didn't renew his scholarship.
Back to ND/Syracuse... Kelly said in his press conf yesterday that Book is a full go, that he's going to run the full offense including running the football himself. Of course you have to consider that coaches are loathe to give the opponent any edge in preparation and tell them he's not 100% and he won't be running the football, etc. Again it's not the NFL, coaches get to lie about injuries and degree of health with impunity. Most of the ND gurus, see this as a somewhat high scoring game with the Irish winning a close game. Weather continues to look good for Saturday in NYC. A lot of the Midwest and NE is having bad weather though.
This ND-Syracuse game is almost like an SEC Title game in that it is a real test for a solid playoff contender and by winning it that team ( the Irish) can almost punch their ticket to the CFB playoff. Glad it is on tomorrow's light slate of CFB.
Yeah, but really for the Irish the last 2 games are like title games. That Syracuse is #12 certainly makes it interesting. But then we have to beat USC in L.A. something that has caused Irish teams a lot of pain over the years. The worst was in 1970 the Irish were unbeaten and ranked #4 going to USC and lost to an unranked USC team. They then beat #1 ranked Texas in the Cotton Bowl. While it's pure speculation as to what might have happened if we take care of business at USC, but we ended up #2 and I think if we had been undefeated and beaten #1 ranked undefeated Texas on a 33 game winning streak we would have jumped Nebraska for the Nat'l Title.
ND <r>it's pretty simple for the Irish. Barring several turnovers and lots of big penalties, and if the Irish are who they are suppose to be as indicated by the rankings, they should win. If they don't then they will probably drop way down in the rankings and justifiably, not contend for NC. Obviously I'm hopeing for the win. <E></E></r>
Just not getting it done in the redzone, keep shooting ourselves in the foot. That goal line play might have been a good spot to bring in Wimbush and sneak it or something. Instead Book trips and throws the pick in the endzone.
20-0 at half could have easily been 34-0 but for the red zone woes. That call for the last TD was a great call, totally fooled the Syracuse defense. Syracuse has stuffed our running game but Book has made them pay he's thrown for 250 yds in the 1st half. Hopefully they can get the running game going in the 2nd half. While I can't say for sure, but the scheme Pitt used on us stopped our running game and then Northwestern also used that scheme and stopped our running game so it could be that Syracuse has watched the film and decided to do what Pitt and Northwestern did on defense because Syracuse this season has not been a great run stopping team...till today.
I was a little worried that I may have jinxed the team when I booked a room in Miami Gardens for 12/28 and 29. No problems. Remember 'Cuse was averaging 45 pts. a game. with 4 min. to go all they have to show is a missed chip shot FG. Don't know how many times a visiting team had to go coast to coast in a week but this team seems to be up for it.
Remember, this is a Syracuse team that led Clemson for almost the entire game before losing by 4. They beat Clemson the year before that. These guys aren't dog crap. ND easily handed them and finished them off on the ground. I'm currently flipping between SC/UCLA and Michigan/Indiana. Today's 'boring slate' of games has proven rather exciting today.
Solid win by the Irish. Offense wasn't as sharp today, but still ended up with almost 500 yds and Dexter got loose for one of his big runs. If we'd been sharp today I think we'd have scored 50. Syracuse DL really sort of handled our OL and kept us from running consistently, the two big runs by Wimbush and Dexter make our running stats look better but we had a lot of runs stuffed or very short gain. I though Ian Book didn't look as crisp throwing the ball today, again his stats would say otherwise but he missed throws he wasn't missing before the injury. But really how do you complain about and 33 point victory when you were only favored by 8 or 9 points. We'll never know how much the injury to Dungy affected the Syracuse offense, he wasn't killing it before the injury but still if he'd been healthy and played the whole game it certainly could have been closer..or not. Our DL was beating the Syracuse OL and our DB's were for the most part really playing well. Looks like we probably came out of the game healthy. BEAT SC!
No on really talks about our defense and that's just fine with me. All I hear about is Alabama and Michigan when it comes to defense, and that's just fine with me. Let all the games play out, if we take care of business, they'll have no choice but to talk about the winner.
ND <t>All that talk by the sports media and fans of every 1 loss team in the top 10 this week was just that. Talk. The Irish came out and CRUSHED that Juggernaut known as Syracuse. Gave up exactly ZERO TDs, yes ZERO. The IRISH ARE 11-0 AND DESERVE THE #3 RANKING AND THEN SOME. i can't wait to get to LA and play usc.</t>
^^^ I agree with George. One last hurdle left until the playoffs. The dreaded USC Trojans in the land where strange calls and stranger plays go against the Irish. The boys will have to come out inspired and determined to bring this home. USC's bowl eligibility and their entire season rests on this game. I hope we throttle them.
ND <r><QUOTE><s> </e></QUOTE> <br/> You mean the Irish have a chance to totally wreck their season and deny them a bowl game? What could be more motivating? Oh yeah, a chance to play for the NC!!! Game on!! I'm with Corey, THROTTLE THEM!</r>
Hope you guys are bringing your own refs... They let USC get away with crap the WWF wouldn't! :shock: