re: Dave Francis He was really down the last time that I talked to him. His team, Diamond Ranch High School in Pomona, CA, won only eight games last season, despite having a High School All-American cleanup hitter. They play in a tough league and their pitching just wasn't good enough. His best arms were all young kids and that's always a recipe for disaster. Kids come out of Little League Seniors thinking that they can just blow it by high school hitters or toss it over the middle of the plate to get strikes and it just doesn't work that way. Dave's dad once told me the story of when he was the American Legion baseball coach in Chino. He had a hot shot young pitcher named Johnny Monger and they were playing against the greatest American Legion team of all time: El Segundo... a team that included several future MLB stars, including; Ken Brett; two other Brett brothers; and Rick Monday. He warned Johhny NOT to throw the ball over the plate to Monday, but he didn't listen and gave it a try. According to Dave's dad, that was the longest home run that he ever saw on any level...it still hasn't come down yet, and left town on it's way to the Pacific Ocean as hot shot Johnny stood on the mound and cried... One problem that you can't correct is age: you can't make them older. PS. Rick Monday was the first player selected in the very first MLB player draft in 1965 and Ken Brett was the fourth player selected in 1966. George Brett was the brother who was too young to play on that team.
re: Eifert Thank God. In a school that's famous for great tight ends, he's one of the better one's the Irish have had. We need him!
Nice story about Dave. Made me reminisce about some of my coaching experiences on a much lower level. Re: Eifert. HOORAY! Here's a nice article from the SBT on Eifert's Decision: Eifert's Decision Mkes Dollars and Sense I had forgotten that he has two years of eligibility remaining.
This is bigger than any recruit we might get. This kid has hands and speed that you cannot coach. Huge development.
ND <r>I said it before when Manti announced he was coming back and I'll say it again now. As they usually do when it comes to ND, the sports media completely blew the effect of Coach Kelly's statement regarding players he recruited and those he inherited out of proportion. Eifert's own words couldn't say it any better:<br/> <QUOTE><s> </e></QUOTE> Nuff said</r>
...and once again I must nod in agreement with Senor Senior Leadership. It's a necessary ingredient of championship teams. If the seniors provide it, the coach's job gets much easier...
Not only did the mens and womens basketball teams beat very good teams today, but the mens hockey team went to Minn and beat the Gophers. And as JO'Co said, ND football coaches convinced Amir Carlisle that all the great actors have ND roots and that South Bend is the new Hollywood!
During my 40-year reunion five years ago, I toured the then-new performing arts center at the south edge of the campuse, close to the intersection of Notre Dame Avenue and Angela Blvd. I am not an artsy person, but I was blown away by what was inside. One architectural aspect that amazed me: There are 5 performing theatres inside the building. Each theatre is built on a separate foundation to eliminate noise bleed from one theatre to another. It's possible that Carlisle was impressed enough with the building and the theatre program to believe that he could be the next George Wendt. :lol:
I still can't imagine how Kelly pulled this off. It's a recruiting classic for the ages. To give you an idea of what Notre Dame was up against to land a film acting major... I played high school football with a guy named Greg Snyder. He was UCLA's starting middle linebacker for three years in the early 1970's. His summer job was riding a horse on television, as a bad guy in episodes of Bonanza. That was a typical summer and/or part-time job for UCLA and USC football players...
BTW- The folks at USC are in shock. The Carlyle transfer has rocked the program from Little Kiffin all the way down to the fan in the street. This kid was currently the #2 TB on their depth chart and the coaches were just crazy about him. He had an excellent chance of being the Trojan's top ball carrier next season and nobody saw this coming...
Well win some lose some, Ronald Darby a 5* CB decomited from ND today. He's been shaky for awhile, commited after the Blue/Gold game in the Spring b ut then got happy feet and wants to take all of his visits and see the world.
Sid and Mike are the only guys who could relate to this I guess. I don't remember much or anything about Johnny Dee and certainly nothing about the old Field House where basketball was played. But I did find this pretty interesting that ND students were pretty hard on the opposition. But this old SI article from that era was pretty interesting. Including the part about Dee having a part time law practice in Denver in the off season. Never happen today. Johnny Dee