looks like we may be getting a transfer from Florida with 5th yr eligbilty. CB I think. could play immediately. [/i]
Yeah there is some chatter about Cody Riggs, who is looking for a Business Grad School to get his MBA. He's graduated and would not have to sit out a year, would be a 1 and done though. He says that Academics is why he is leaving UF.
Cody Riggs article: http://college-football.si.com/2014/02/06/cody-riggs-florida-transfer/?xid=si_ncaaf
"Academics" is a broad topic. I don't think he is inferring that Florida's MBA program is not desirable: "Riggs sees going elsewhere for graduate school as a chance to expand his network. Riggs is the son of former NFL All-Pro running back Gerald Riggs. Cody Riggs said he grew up around a non-profit organization his parents started — Florida Youth Track and Field. “I want to impact my community with that degree,” he said. “When a student that isn’t an athlete goes somewhere else for graduate school, they’re applauded. Same for coaches when they leave a school and it’s better for their family and future. When an athlete does it, though, it’s viewed as a problem.” https://news.warrington.ufl.edu/2013/03/hough-graduate-school-of-business-ranks-in-top-15-among-u-s-publics/ Sounds more like a broadening of the horizons... if indeed it's an academic thing vs. a you're not gonna be first string edict by Muschamp.... etc.
Some Juco hotshot flipped on Florida because the school wanted him to carry an 11 credit hour workload in school. He signed with Arizona State instead, presumably because they don't care if attends class or not.
It's likely that whatever type of masters degree Cody Riggs is seeking is not offered by Florida. My understanding of the rule (subject to correction by someone who knows better) is that you can play immediately if the school you choose offers a program not offered by your present school. At this point, no one knows where he is going, it's clear that he is an outstanding young man and a credit to the university and its football program. He has made known his respect and love for the school, his teammates and coaches and what his future plans are. Florida fans should be proud that he has represented their school. Whether or not he chooses to attend ND, I'm glad I learned of this young man. He's a winner.
Hockey was 1-1 vs the Maine Bears. It's been a tough season for the guys on Ice, first year in Hockey East hasn't been very good. Mens Basketball outclassed by North Carolina as we sink to the bottom of the ACC, no tournament action this year not even NIT, maybe a losing record. Womens Basketball crushed Syracuse today, before a huge crowd at Notre Dame. They probably have doubled the mens attendance this year. Baseball coming up soon, the ACC is a top baseball league and we weren't doing all that well in a poor baseball league, so unless we over achieve the Irish will likely be at the bottom of the ACC this year. No clue on Softball
Story about Nic Weishar (pron. Wish-er), TE recruit. Have your kleenex handy. http://espn.go.com/blog/notre-dame-football/post/_/id/19630/nic-weishar-honors-his-brother Blake Barnett plans to graduate in December and enroll early. http://bleacherreport.com/tb/dcnV6?...m=newsletter&utm_campaign=notre-dame-football
Barnett <t>maybe JO'Co can give us a little more info on this Blake Barnett kid from CA but MAN...talk about a moble QBs with a great arm...holy cow!!! Watching his junior year video was just amazing! What kind of opposition are we looking at with Corona Santiago HS cause he just runs away from everybody!! and he is enrolling early? Yes, oh yes! get this kid to SB now!</t>
Blake Barnett is a friend of my grandson Brendan. They've been attending camps and passing leagues together the last several years and they both shared the same QB trainer. According to Brendan, he wasn't surprised when Blake chose Notre Dame, because he's a life-long Fighting Irish fan. They both are. He also said that Blake is a little taller than the 6'4" he's listed at, because Brendan is 6'3" and he said that the difference in their height is more than 1 inch. <iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/rl0n5Z3_EOI?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0"></iframe> Santiago HS in Corona played one of the toughest schedules in California and lost several close games with one of the youngest teams in the state. Let's take a look at some of those games: They lost their opener to Hart HS 56-49 when Barnett led a furious comeback that fell short. His team scored 42 in the 2nd half, including 28 in the 4th qtr. alone. He tossed 5 TDs in that one. BTW- Hart HS is a pipeline to UCLA. It has been a rare year for the Bruins in the last 40 when they didn't have at least one Hart QB on the roster. Cal also recruits Hart on a yearly basis... Santiago was pounded by Mission Viejo 58-35. MV is a traditional state power coached by all-time QB guru Bob Johnson. His son, former USC QB Rob Johnson is his OC and they've won more titles the last 20 years than almost anyone. Barnett was a one-man show in a losing cause... They lost to local powerhouse Upland twice; by one point each time. They were two of the most exciting games that I ever saw, and the second one was in the playoffs to eliminate Santiago in the final seconds. Barnett passed and ran for nearly 500 yards in the first game and nearly 400 yards in the second one. What made these games especially interesting, was Upland's QB, Tyler Halinski, was the supposed "best" QB in the state, before the season began. After these two games there was a new King of California: Blake Barnett. BTW- Halinski played at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame as a sophomore, then at Upland last year. Rumors say that he may transfer to Damien for his senior year, now that Brendan is gone. His father also played at Damien... I could ramble on-and-on, but here is the short version. IMHO Blake Barnett may be one of the greatest QBs to come out of California...ever. He's a better athlete than any of the QBs Notre Dame has on campus right now and he's a great student/straight arrow/Irish fanatic who BELIEVES that he can walk in and beat anybody he's seen there. He's a great kid, a superior athlete and he fears nothing. I can't wait to see him get his chance.
Barnett <t>JO'Co,<br/> <br/> Thanks for the info. Looks like this kid may really be as advertised!</t>
Sounds like a perfect fit for the Irish, there is another Calif QB who is also very highly rated named Rosen who plays for St. John Bosco. He supposedly was interested in Stanford as well and Barnett was solid for the Irish both he and the dad were so excited to get the offer and supposedly wanted to commit on the spot but decided to go home and make sure...but they called back and pulled the trigger right away. Always lots of outstanding QB's in So.Cal Everybody I've read gives this kid a double thumbs up for his potential.
I'm always amazed at the number of Catholic High Schools in So.Cal with high end football program producing top level talent. Here in Houston we have fewer Catholic HS and most of them are a notch below the Public Schools in terms of athletics. In fact Strake Jesuit is the only Catholic School that competes in the Public school league. They struggle to be competitive in football they play in the highest level of the public school leagues. They do pretty well in sports like Basketball and Soccer, Cross Country, etc. But football they just can't compete. In So. Cal it's the Public schools that seem to struggle to compete with the Catholic Schools.
Not Jim but Hendrix came out of HS having played in a heavy run offense, he'd didn't throw the ball that much in HS. But everybody looked at his body type and arm strength and figured he'd mature into an excellent college QB. Even Urban Meyer tried to get him down to Fla when he was still there...he was thought to be Tebowlike. This kid is a QB first who has the mobility to make you pay if drop back off of him.