Here are a couple must reads for Irish fans. They are blog posts by some old guys who used to play, coach and teach. It's about their trip to ND for the ND/USC game. Trust me you'll be glad you read them. Recruiting Trip to ND The Notre Dame Experience
Terry, I think I mentioned this last year, but Jeremy (Fl Bucks) is a member of the Champs Sports Committee. It is open to anyone, and is a pretty good deal. They have weekly breakfast meetings, discuss (and vote at the end of the year) on whom to invite to the Capital One and the Citrus Bowls, host the Citrus Parade, and have a bunch of off season functions and sporting sponsorships as well. Jer gets to scout a game for the committee each year...last year he got a big Ohio State game (can't remember which one) but he had pre-game lunch with the team, got to watch from both the press box and sideline, got to go to Tressel's post game conference, and everything paid for except his transportation and hotel. He has been to a Notre Dame-Purdue game at W. Lafayette, and I can't remember what others. The guys who are lucky enough to scout games at Penn State (it's kind of a draw and a points-priority thing) are actually invited to JoPa's house for supper Friday night.
Stu, now that you mention it I remember you saying that...sounds like a sweet gig to me! BTW ask him what are the chances of Notre Dame vs FSU in the Champs Sports Bowl? Is that their top choice?
A very interesting article on our punt return issues. Kevin Carretta is one of my son's closest friends. Former Special Teams Player and Current Special Teams Coach Talk About ND Punt Return Problems
No returns and failed to stop the only fake punt run against them. Puts new meaning in the word "agressive" doesn't it?
According to Rivals he was a 4.5 coming out of HS. I don't think his foot speed is an issue. I doubt though at this level he can make that first guy miss like so many of the top punt returners.
I've seen Goodman enough to know 4.5 is accurate (for the 40 YARD dash, Gip :wink: ). What has happened to him happens to a lot of HS studs when they get to the big time. They are fast but not quick. If Goodman catches a pass on the run, he can outsprint his defender, but from a standing start he's at a disadvantage. IMO he's back there for his hands because 95% of the time the other 10 guys on the punt return team can't keep the punt team from getting to the returner before the ball arrives. Until we solve that problem, it doesn't matter who is back to catch punts. To bash Goodman alone is to not recognize the bigger issue with the punt return team.
Well that was a less filling type of win. I'm glad for the win, and our defense played like their ambien finally wore off at halftime, the offense looked like it might get untracked but then they didn't. I keep wishing that Tommy Rees would improve and show me why I should have faith in him, but that didn't happen tonight. Our offense would be so good if we just had a QB as good as the qB Kelly left behind at UC...Zach Collareos. More tomorrow...I'm going to bed now.
a win is a win, but we are incredibly talented and incredibly inconsistent. This is going to be a long road with Rees at QB.