Things seem dead on the Gator recruiting front. But our new coach seems to play things close to the vest and it's hard to get information. #6, that would be quit an achievement. I like the way you guys spend the off season with all this news.
Bill I would be very surprised if we were in the top 15 when the Coaches and AP preseason polls come out. We have a lot of good things to look forward to but we also have a lot of questions to answer, too many to be highly ranked.
I hope so Bill, but I thought that after Willinghams first season, and after Charlies first 2 seasons...only to be disappointed. So we'll wait and see.
Terry, sounds like the Gators and the Irish are in much the same place as waiting and seeing. I imagine though that Notre Dame will be ranked ahead of the Gators when the first polls come out. I am enthusiastic about our new coach though. This is the first time we have hired an assistant coach for our coach since Gahlen Hall was promoted to Head Coach after Charlie Pell left in 84.
Irish are about to get their 10 verbal, South Bend Washington RB/Lb, David Perkins, who only recently recieved and offer from ND will verbal this week to Brian Kelly. I don't know much about him, but a lot of ND boards are scratching their heads with the offer and the quick verbal. He's a good athlete, but a lot of people (none of whom coach for ND) are underwhelmed by him and feel like he's a B lister. We'll see. Kelly has spent a career coaching up B and C listers, at his highest level before ND, Cincinnati, he rarely even got a snift from a 4 star player he made his living with 2 star players. So maybe he see's something in this kid that fits his eye. David Perkins to ND
Head scratcher with that one. Maybe he has a sister that babysits for the Kellys. At least we know he won't leave school because he's homesick. About some of the preseason rankings, I think some publications take into account how the team finished last season, the favorability of the schedule (MSU and SC at home) and most importantly the number of returning starters. I think that that bodes well for the team if they don't take hits in the areas where they're thin.
ND <t>I'll reserve judgement on the Perkins kid. He does have some offers from some pretty good schools though(Tenn, Oregon) and Scout gave him a 4 star rating(I'm sure he will be a 3 on Rivals). I guess you have to give Kelly and his staff the benefit of the doubt as they have done pretty good so far. <br/> <br/> I got my Phil Steele 2011 magazine today so now I have plenty of reading to keep me busy till the season starts. I use to buy all the pre-season rags but his seems to be the only one worth it so it will be the only one I buy. By the way, Manti is on the cover of the one I got(National).</t>
re: David Perkins Remember, as a local kid from South Bend, there's no guesswork for the coaches. I'm sure they know everything about this kid and where he fits into their plans right down to what he eats for breakfast. They could have held up their offer on him until much later in the process next year and still would have signed him; so the fact that they offered now tells me that the coaches think he's a sure thing. Who ever heard of Rocky Boiman until he impressed the coaches at a camp? Or Jeff Samarzija who was a local baseball recruit? Wasn't David Ruffer a walk-on kicker from Bill & Mary? I could site example after example of "no-star" kids who became All-Americans or legends at Notre Dame and so could you guys. This kid Perkins is already rated much higher than any of them and he was offered, because they've seen him play with their own eyes... I don't think there's any question why they offered him or what position he will play. I refer you back to Mr. Hughes personal destruction of USC last year in Los Angeles. After the game, Lane Kiffin said, "We didn't know they could do that." Remember also that the Irish coaches know how bad Roberson's injury was. I think young Mr. Perkins is our new powerback...
Once apon a time... Back in 1993-94, UCLA had an unknown, no-star, QB who led them to the Pac10 title, the Rose Bowl and multiple victories over USC. His name was Wayne Cook. Who? Where did they find him? Bruins head coach Terry Donahue used to spend Friday nights at high school football games, because his daughters were cheerleaders. While attending one of his daughter's performances, he noticed that the QB in her school was 6'5" with a cannon for an arm and the ability to stay cool under pressure. After watching the kid for a few games, he met him in the parking lot afterward and got his daughter to make the introductions. It was the only offer that Wayne Cook ever got. Donahue knew what he was looking for...
Well as I said before Kelly has a history of coaching up players as before he came to ND no 4 * player would even talk to him, so he made his bones with 2* and 3* players at UC and probably unranked players before that. I also remember Kelly describing the type of players he wanted and it wasn't so much by position but by size/speed and skill I seem to remember he wanted what he called "Big Skill" players for LB.
ND <t>Well Michael Floyd is a step closer to being fully reinstated. Kelly says he will be allowed to participate in summer workouts/training and practice this fall. Unless he messes this up somehow, he'll be starting and probably catching some TD passes in the opener against USF. He is probably the difference between a 8 win and 9 or 10 win season for the Irish this year. One fowl up before the season starts and he never plays for ND again. <br/> <br/> Stay away from the booze young man and you'll probably have a nice SR season followed by a good sized NFL contract next year.</t>
mich <r>The boys may have a hard time beating scum if they wear those cause they will be laughing their butts off! <E>:lol:</E></r>
Steve Paskorz transferred to West Va. He's graduated and was not offered a 5th year by Kelly. This makes the 3rd Irish player who has graduated and not been offered a 5th year to transfer to another Div1 program. Good luck to them all. Paskorz never had much impact during his career and didn't play at all last year.