Kelly held a press conference today. Usual stuff, new coaches are great, we'll work harder, I'm going to coach smarter, etc. Nothing surprising. Except ... we are not going to IMG for a week during Spring Break. He said that even though it was legal that he didn't want to be that team that gets something that will be illegal in under the deadline. Also as has been previously reported he's giving up play calling. He said that in his exit interviews the majority of players want him to be more involved in the team overall, rather than so much with the offense. He said that last year when they let BVG go and he spent more time with the defense that they all liked getting more attention from him.
This bothered me a little. It seems like Kelly is throwing in the towel on recruiting stud DL's. Makes me wonder if this is a ND problem, that we can't recruit stud DL's no matter who the HC is or is it a Brian Kelly problem from having 2 DCoord in a row who didn't like to recruit.
ND <t>Terry,<br/> <br/> I liked most of what Kelly was saying with the exception of what you already mentioned on being able to recruit certain types of DL at ND. <br/> <br/> I did like what he had to say about turning the play calling over to the new OC and being more involved with the team on both sides of the ball. Hopefully he keeps his word on that. He's made good hires all around as far as I'm concerned. Now he just has to manage it all instead of coach it all. Let the coordinators and coaches do what you hired them for and hold them responsible. Do that and he may be the coach at ND for a few more seasons.</t>
I also think he made some good hires, but the proof will be on the field next year. As I've said before this will not be an untalented team next year, if they are prepared well and coached well they can win a lot of games. Dook sucks! :evil:
The number of DL's that we've recruited and lost either before signing day and even after signing day is depressing. And even when they actually make it to fall practice, we lose them like Lynch. Kelly's probably being a realist on this.
Patrick Pellini, son of Bo is going to walk on at ND. He's a Cardinal Mooney kid, must be pretty sharp academically, walk-on kids don't get breaks on academics. Sid can confirm that.
I'll bet that young Pellini will find his way on to special teams. Looks like we are waiting on three guys. Not sure if the three are all sure things or what but if they all sign then the class is 21 guys. We lost out on some guys who we just got started too late on like the Yeast kid, but did succeed in flipping a few at the end. If the Owasu kid signs that is a big win since he made his last visit to Mich State and seemed to like it quite a bit. Beating Dantonio for a defensive kid is a good win. Signing Day Schedule (All times ET) Dillan Gibbons: (SIGNED) Josh Lugg: (SIGNED) Jonathon MacCollister (SIGNED) Drew White: (SIGNED) Jon Doerer: (SIGNED) Cole Kmet: (SIGNED) David Adams: (SIGNED) Kurt Hinish: (SIGNED) Darnell Ewell: (SIGNED) Michael Young: (SIGNED) Jafar Armstrong (SIGNED) Avery Davis: (SIGNED) Jordan Genmark-Heath (SIGNED) Upcoming Announcements Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa: 12:00 p.m. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah: 1:45 p.m. Kofi Wardlow: 2:15 p.m. 2017 EARLY ENROLLEES CJ Holmes Brock Wright Robert Hainsey Aaron Banks Isaiah Robertson
Well we got the kid from Hawaii, Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa. Hope he's as good as the last kid we got from Hawaii! 2 more to go.
Well the last 2 guys are in, 21 in total. A good not great class. No CB's, no big time pass rushers. Best is OL and TE's. Rivals has us sitting at the #13 spot, I won't be surprised if we don't drop a little from there. I guess given the poor season, the staff turmoil, etc it's about the best we could hope for this year. Hopefully a good year next year and the new staff being more interested in recruiting that 2018 will result in a top 10 class.
They recovered well from a disastrous desertion rate after the season. New coaches, new players. Kelly swears he will now be a traditional HC and oversee everything and not get into play calling. That sounds promising. Right now, oddly enough, he is the biggest question mark.
ND <t>Well looks like we finished on a good note on signing day, especially on defense. 247 Sports has ND as the 11th ranked class(if you buy into the class ranking stuff) so all things considered, a good not great class. Biggest need still at CB. The Irish appear to have finished ahead of teams like, T A&M, Miami, Penn ST., Stanford, Clemson, Tenn Etc. Coming off a 4-8 season it's a little solice. Obviously, you start thinking what a even 9 win season would have produced. Maybe a top 5, definately top 10. It is what it is though. <br/> <br/> As you mentioned Terry, we have talent on hand now. We should have a 9 or 10 win season this year. We have what most would consider a much better staff now. Kelly needs to get his act together or it's his last season. As much as I was calling for his head mid-season, I'm hoping things go right this coming season. I do not want to see a HC change as it sets you back another 3 yrs on evereything. I beleive that Kelly can do this, he's shown glimpses but.....we'll see, we'll see.</t>
We only got 2 top 100 kids, Hainsey and Wright and neither in the top 50. That pales in comparison to Chollie's 2007 class that had 7 top 100 players with Golden Tate at 101. Again with the poor year and no effort from BVG when he was here and then no DCoord for the rest of the season it's not surprising we lost out on a lot of good defensive players. Also again, I have hopes that Elko/Lea and Elston will not let that happen for 2018. Good year on the field, esp with a much improved (hopefully) defense could certainly result in an excellent class.
I chose not to start a new topic for this news. There are huge changes to the stadium and to the ticket prices and seating and the stadium. This link explains those changes: http://www.und.com/genrel/2017-ticket-info.html
What do you think of the new pricing Sid? It seems to sense to me I am not sure when i'll be able to get back to see the new stadium. But sounds like it will be a better fan experience.
Terry, I haven't spent much time with it, but on the surface, it looks very inviting, especially for the younger crowd. I think it will go a long way toward changing the "crowd attitude" in the stadium from one of "OK" enthusiasm to one of much more vigorous enthusiasm. For my part, I've attended many more games in the so-called cheap seats than in the seats between the 30s, so I won't mind paying less for seats for which I used to pay the same as the folks on the 50 yd. line.
Jac Collinsworth said last night on his XM Radio show that he's hearing rumors that Malik Zaire is considering the Gators. He was effusive in his praise of Malik said he was going to be great where ever he goes in 2017. Wisc and UNC are still in play.
ND <t>While I wish Zaire the best, it will take the right offense for him to be successful. Does Florida play a spread?</t>
Irish men got a "must" win last night vs Wake Forrest. We really live and die by the 3pt shot, Bonzie Colson is great inside esp given he's much shorter than most teams inside players, but teams like UNC who have multiple excellent big men are just too much for the inside challenged Irish. For us to finish like we need to in the regular season we can't afford any off games by our shooters. Irish Women are rolling along, they do have an excellent post player in Brianna Turner and another big in Kathryn Westbeld who has been battling an ankle but is getting better. They should either win or finish 2nd in the ACC regular season and same for the ACC Tournament. FSU is the team likely to beat them going down the end, if they beat FSU then that is a very good sign.