ND <t>supposedly practice today is a full blown scrimmage with the QBs live. <br/> <br/> From what I'm reading, looks like Kelly is not going to name a starting QB until fall which I guess is smart in some ways if you want to keep both kids on campus. I'm still for starting MZ but hope EG stays.</t>
Interesting weekend...Irish Baseball swept #7 FSU at home, ND Softball swept BC, and ND WLAX beat Michigan in the historic first ever meeting between the two programs. Irish Womens basketbal unexpectedly lost Jewell Lloyd to the WNBA. She's the first Irish woman to leave early for the pro's. Only a few do so, first because the WNBA has strict rules to prevent it, having to either graduate or be 22 during the year you enter the draft. I hope it doesn't become a trend. There really isn't any known reason for Lloyd to leave, the usual reasons of course are anticipated riches, but womens basketball doesn't provide that, and then there are dire family circumstances like Louis Nix III having 13 or 14 siblings. But Jewell herself just thanked everybody and said she felt it was time, so good luck to her. She is bound to be close to her degree and I hope she finds time to take the additional courses and graduate.
ND <r><QUOTE><s> </e></QUOTE> Yes, I think you're right Terry. <br/> <br/> <br/> The practice Saturday brought still more attention to young Mr. Tillery. He's going to get plenty of playing time his freshman season. <br/> <br/> Also, this C.J. Prosise at the RB position seems real. Getting a lot of reps.</r>
To me after Tillery the surprise of the spring is C.J. Prosisse. I didn't know how fast he was, I know he ran away from those LSU DB's on the TD run in the bowl and they were amongst the best in the SEC. But from what I've read he's been impressive when he gets to the 2nd level...gone. Smythe seems to have had a good spring, as has Folston, and Ronnie Stanley has also been impressive. The whole thing with Ishaq still seems to be up in the air and it's an academic thing beyond what the other guys who were booted had to deal with. So not a lock he'll be readmitted to ND. Pass rush still seems to be a problem, of course it might be because our OL is so awesome!! Overall lots of positive stuff coming out of Spring drills, and it fuels my feeling that this team will be very good. We are over the limit roster wise so a few guys will not be invited back, although I expected Barrattti to end his career and take a medical he seems determined to play. Heureman is probably never going to play and might consider a transfer. It's not clear to me how many guys we have to prune 2 or 3 or more???
OK I'm beating Tim to this!! Romeo Okwara's brother committed to the Irish today, his name is Julian and Mike Frank said the kid is a player, better prospect than Romeo.
Jewell Loyd was selected by the Seattle Storm with the #1 overall pick in the WNBA draft. It's the first #1 pick in ND history. She obviously made the right decision. I also just read that ND is the first program in the 19-year history of the WNBA draft to produce a top 4 pick in 4 consecutive years. Now, if we can just find a way to beat Uconn.
I wish she would have stayed and played next year. But I wish her well and she has stated that she will be back to get her degree. There is a video out there of a South Bend TV reporter asking Muffett after the banquet about it and Muffet was pretty frank that she was blindsided by Jewell leaving, doesn't think it was a good decision, etc. I could understand where she was coming from but I think those were ill advised remarks, once it's done the coach just needs to thank her for what she's done and wish her well. Privately she can say what ever she wants. Jewel herself has an article out going over her life, and doesn't really say exactly why she chose to leave now, other than playing professionally has always been her goal. Jewell was very complimentary of ND and all it has done for her and vowed to return for her degree which she will proudly put on her wall. Money wise she's not going to make a lot next year in the WNBA 45-50K but she can make 200K or more playing overseas after the WNBA season so financially she's not making a bad decision and if she finishes her degree she'll always have that if basketball for some reason (injury) doesn't pan out for her.
Get ready. Blue and Gold game tomorrow morning! I'm sure it will bring it's usual less than exciting game but heh....we get to see the players have some fun.
Liam Eichenberg is at Ohio State this weekend, it's expected that he will make his decision sometime next week. It's between Ohio State and Notre Dame. ND guys feeling pretty good that he will chose the Irish. If so that's a big win in Ohio for the Irish, Kraemer and Eichenberg are supposedly the two top OL in Ohio for 2016. If he does come, some think that ups our chances with Wisconsin OL Ben Brederson.
After the BG game yesterday, the Men's Lacrosse team took on NC in front of a sell out crowd. The No.1 Irish scored 3 goals in the last 2 min. to beat No. 2 NC 15-14 in a terrific game.
Given how we beat Syracuse and how we won yesterday, this team has a refuse-to-lose mentality. Tough bunch.
A while ago, I had a pleasant email exchange with the ND Lacrosse coach. A distant relative in Connecticut is a high level HS Lacrosse player who is being recruited by eastern schools. My cousin, his grandfather, sent me his highlight video. I sent it to the ND coach and commented that I did not expect a reply, that I was doing it for a relative. He sent back a very nice note thanking me for my interest in the program and saying tactfully that their 2016 recruiting class is full. The tone of his email was one of humility and respect.