Bill Lewis the ND DB coach will be retiring. Too bad he was a good coach and he was an excellent recruiter. But the surprising news is that he will be replaced on the staff by former Ga.Tech DCoord John Tennuta. This really shocked me, Tenuta had some very good defenses at Ga.Tech and was an outstanding DB coach at Ohio State under John Cooper. I think he put a lot of guys in the NFL. At Ga.Tech his defenses were a mystery to Charlie Weis in the 2x that Weis went up against him. I don't know what he'll coach on the Irish defense and he's not known to be an enthusistic recruiter, but he definitely should be a big help to 2nd year DCoord Corwin Brown. Terry
That's an interesting hire. It sounds like a good one. I agree that he can be a good mentor to Brown if the chemistry is there. Was Bill Lewis an active recruiter? I would think that Brown's energy as a recruiter could make up for Tenuta's lack of enthusiasm. I'm guessing that they covered this topic during the hiring process.
Good catch....Tenuta was/is a good one. I was very disappointed when he left Columbus. There are a ton of DB's playing on Sundays thanks in large part to Coach Tenuta. Charlie got himself a good one....I am interested in his decision as I was convinced that Tenuta had the stuff to at least get a shot at a good head job somewhere. There is a story there somewhere.... in any event congrats. The Irish D just got better without adding a single kid....
Tanuta <r>Terry,<br/> <br/> I hope this is true a cause I <B><s></s>sure as hell like it!!! <e></e></B><E></E></r>
I was surprised that he didn't land a job as a HC, although the rumour is that like Norm Chow he doesn't interview well and is not an enthusiastic recruiter both of which are problems when you are trying to be a HC. As far as DCoord I am truly shocked he didn't get a job as a DCoord, I am really surprised that Paul Johnson didn't retain him as the Ga.Tech DCoord. His defenses were always good and he did it with mostly 2 and 3* talent at Ga.Tech. I'm excited about him comming to ND and I do believe that not every coach has to be a gonzo recruiter, with Corwin Brown on the staff and Charlie we have 2 outstanding recruiters. Bill Lewis was known as one of the best recruiters on the staff though. Tim: The Story is up over on Irish Illustrated, so even though I'm sure Charlie would have liked to keep this under wraps till after the NLOI are faxed in, that's the way it's commonly done in situations like this, but the word leaked and it's out there.
tenuta <t>Terry,<br/> <br/> Looks like you're right. It's a solid story. I agree with you on wishing they could have held back on the release of this until after signing day but I seriously doubt it will change anything. Besides that, Lewis looks to be staying at ND in some capacity.</t>
Speaking of Notre Dame football, I see that Jeff Samardzjia is on the cubs 40-man roster for spring training.
This is part of a very long announcement, but it covers the most important part of the story, including quotes from Lewis and Tenuta:
Terry, I'm guessing he has a chance to make the club as a reliever. I would think that if he does not make the final cut he will go down to AAA, unless of course he gets blown up during spring training. If that happens, he might go all the way back down to AA. That's just speculation on my part.
I know Jeff started out last year as a starter and when he struggled a little the put him in the bullpen for awhile and then they moved him back to starter and eventually to the Nashville Cubs in high AA as a starter and he finished pretty strong. So I'd be surprised if they stuck him back in the bullpen, I'd think that if he couldn't be the 5th starter that he would be much better off going back down to either high AA or AAA and working as a starter. Could you forward this analysis to the Cubs Management for me!!
Terry, I think you meant to post the above in the Sonny Lubik topic. Re: JS. If the Cubs are looking at him as a starter I would think there is no way he can break into the rotation at this time and would go to AAA when the team heads north. (corrected to show he would go to AAA, not AA)
OK the guys over at EDSBS, remember they are Gators, have gotten wind of the Tenuta hire! Funny Stuff. Tenuta and Weis Btw when you read it and see Reg...think Reeg as in Regis Philbin! You'll get it quicker.
According to Tom Lemming, The Irish have a secured the commitment of Kapron Lewis-Moore the wayward Texas Aggie recruit. He'd commited early to A&M but when Fran left he decided he would look around and the Irish were one of the places he visited. But new coach Mike Sherman stepped in after the ND visit and told him no more visits or he wasn't an Aggie. So he reaffirmed his commitment to A&M. Now he apparently has backed out of that and will sign with ND....unless he changes his mind again! :roll:
Moore <r>Terry,<br/> <br/> Hope this commit from Lewis Moore is true. It definately wound be a nice <B><s></s>positive<e></e></B> ending for the Irish at the end of the recruiting season <B><s></s>for a change<e></e></B>. <E></E></r>
Keith Wells is going to announce today. It will be an upset if he doesn't pick Ohio State, but I can always hope.
Wells picks Ohio State. They will have a terrific class when it's all said and done. I will also be surprised if they don't get Pryor.