Tim, with due respect to your anti-Purdue bias, which I understand, in the 48 years that I've been watching ND football, going back to my freshman year in college, I've never, ever taken Purdue lightly. Even in the years when Purdue was down, the memory of past losses to supposedly inferior Purdue teams kept me grounded. Last year's game was an excellent example of what I'm saying. If Jimmy Clausen doesn't execute a miracle comeback, we lose the game. You say the game can't get here fast enough. I say I can't wait to see this game in our rear view mirror with us having a 1-0 record to start the season.
Looks like Bubba Starling really likes Coach Kelly and the Irish. The only fly in the ointment is he's a very good baseball player as well and he could end up being a top MLB draft choice. So if he is he'd have to decide whether or not he wants to be a MLB player and take the money and forget college or is college important to him. Supposedly Kelly really likes this kid but wants him to commit to being a college player (baseball/football). If he wants to consider MLB if he's drafted high, then Kelly may take 2 QB's in this class or not take Starling at all and go with another QB. Personally I think that with Rees, Hendrix and Massa in this class, and given that it's unlikely that all three will play as freshman and that 2 of them will likely redshirt, that our QB depth will be just fine going forward if Starling goes to baseball after the draft. Maty Mauk (class of 2012) is going to be one of the top QB's in that class and Kelly already has a great relationship with Maty and with the whole family. It would seem to be an upset if Mauk doesn't chose the Irish, also there is a kid from Fla named Cox who is also highly rated and likes Kelly. So if Starling wants to Verbal I think Kelly should take him and let the chips fall where they may.
ND <t>Sid,<br/> <br/> Of course you're right about Purdue and that's what really fires me up sometimes about them. I've been an ND fan myself for some 40 years now and I guess I too can recall too many instances when the "boilers" despite not having much of a team managed to pull off a win over a heavily favored Irish team and in some cases but a real hurt on their chances for a NC. <br/> <br/> I let them get to me way too much. If they are not spoiling ND's season they are messing with Indiana's basketball fortunes. They are like something stuck to your shoe, you just can't shake it off. <br/> <br/> Oh, I'll be glad like you to put them in the rear view mirror after ND takes care of them at SB. I just want the day to get here faster so I don't have to listen to their fans telling me how they are going to beat the Irish this year. If this game were at Ross-Aide I guess I would be worried but it's not and I'm not. Just bring it Purdue.</t>
ND <t>Terry,<br/> <br/> I agree on Starling and ND is really looking good for the future at the QB position. <br/> <br/> If Kelly puts a descent number of wins on the board, he'll get this recruiting back on track in a hurry.</t>
Weather for Spring game is forecast to be 65 and 70% chance of rain right now. If it is a wet field I hope Kelly holds out Crist and lets Montana and Rees do all the quarterbacking. We can't afford a set back to Crist, we need him 100% Sept 4.
I see Connor Hanratty committed to the Irish. Lordy, I hope he has his mother's smarts. His dad lived next door our junior year. My roomie would type his papers for him. He'd also edit the papers. He'd add little things.....like verbs :!:
Sid delivered another Dwenger kid as he promised! I think we need to get Sid a part-time job as scout/recruiter when he retires!
ND <t>Terry,<br/> <br/> Well it wasn't too wet and Crist did get a chance to play and looked pretty darn good to me. Montana started a little slow but seemed to pick it up a little as the game went on. Big drop off after Crist on the part of all the other QBs though.<br/> <br/> A. Allen looked good and C. Wood looked really good on a couple of plays. <br/> <br/> Also, T.J. Jones the freshman was impressive.</t>
Also Jarett Grace a LB from Cincinnati committed to the Irish today. So it might have been a wet/cold game we picked up 3 kids today. All quality kids, dare I say Notre Dame kids!
Montana's stats were better than Crist's. I'd say he more than held his own. That Sid Baker is a bad mother.... Shut your mouth! I'm just talkin about Sid..... we can dig it. [/quote]
Here is a link to the highlights from today's Blue-Gold Game. Among the highlights are Carlo's(#44) INT in the second quarter. This kid has a nose for the ball and a knack for the big play. Put he and Teo in the middle and that will shut down everything between the tackles. The Offense was featured in this scrimmage with the defense going about 85%. That was by design according to Kelly. http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/college-football/blue-gold-game-highlights-217084
More good news. TE Ben Koyack had a great visit and says it's between Ohio State and ND. Kelly threw 15 passes to the TE in the B&G game, showed that TE's will be important. Looking good.
And...... <t>Did you catch the game the joung fresman Jones had at wide out? That is a good looking kid.</t>
LOL! As much as I would like to take credit, I can't. Never saw the kid yesterday. My son's twin 3-yr. old boys were so active that we left the game at halftime. My only comment about the game is that Montana really looked good, poised and on target for the most part. Hopefully his performance yesterday will translate to the season and he will be a solid backup QB. Beyond that, I was so busy helping to corral the boys that I can't add to what already has been written here. One interesting experience. As we were walking to the monogram tent before the game, I heard a guy on a cell phone approaching on my left. It was Terry Hanratty walking at a brisk pace. I heard him say as he passed me, "I talked to reverend McCoy." I'm thinking he might have meant his teammate, DT Mike McCoy and the "reverend" term was a humorous reference.
Here is a Youtube video of Springmann talking about his commitment. The African American kid next to him is the other D-1 recruit from Dwenger, RB Reymound Wright. <object width="480" height="385"><p...e" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>