First of all, in a LB you look for someone who makes quick reads (decisions) and doesn't quit (on the play.) I'm not sure that Anzalone was what we were looking for. Somehow we got by without the greats Justin Trattou and Omar Hunter and we'll survive this too. I've come to the conclusion that Kelly isn't really interested in the Eagles job. (and I doubt that they're interested in him.) What he did was send a message to Swarbrick that he'd leave if the situation was right...unless there was a better reason to stay. My guess it was his asshole agent's idea. Then again maybe where there's smoke there's fire. He sure stirred up a hornets nest in ND land.
True Tom, and his fellow recruits are giving it to him via Twitter. He's a good player for sure, and he reminds me a lot at this point of Chris Martin who was ND, then CAL, and then UF and then Jr. College and now Kansas. I'm sure Gators are excited because as I said he's a very good player and if he settles down and commits to being a Gator then he should be a good player for them.
He should be a very good player for you Bill. BTW: It turns out the Irish are #1 in one final poll...one that I never heard of before...but never the less. We are Nat'l Champions in the Colley Matrix Poll! That's the good news for the day folks! Nat'l Champions the Irish
George, do you think Anzalone's defection could open the door for a 5th year for Carlo? I know nothing about the situation, but you recently wrote that Carlo does not think he will be invited back. That's why I ask. I would hope he gets a 5th year.
I don't think it will hurt, Sid. But Kelly and Carlo are not close at all. From his dad's second hand re-telling, Diaco is Kelly's waterboy and he will do anything Kelly asks without protest. Up to yesterday, no one has even broached the subject with Carlo about coming back with him directly. He is in limbo and unsettled about it. He is schedule to graduate in May. He has already been invited to play for Charlie. Rutgers would welcome him too. He wants to stay.
I wish he would stay. With Te'o gone, we badly need experience at MLB in the form of a known commodity who hits hard and defends the run well.
Kelly <t>Well word is out that Kelly is staying at ND. He needs to get busy now shoring up this recruiting class and adding a couple more by signing day. When he wins a NC he can start talking about the NFL again.</t>
Kelly staying???? I'm shocked.....no, I'm not. It did divert fans attention from the game though didn't it? :lol:
I never thought he would leave. The whole situation seemed like it was slow motion or something, I never took it to serious.
Kelly <t>I agree with you guys who say you never thought Kelly was going to leave ND but to me I think it makes a bad impression on recruiting especially this time of year. It also means that the end game for him is going to be the NFL otherwise he would have told Philly NO from the get go. If he is entertaining the thought now he will act on it sooner or later. I thought we had a coach who would be with us for 10 years......I guess not, unfortunately.</t>
As far as I am concerned, it was much ado about nothing. Here is an interview with the Notre Dame AD, which should put the matter to rest. Time to move on, folks. http://www.southbendtribune.com/spo...lys-return-to-nd-20130112,0,956463,full.story
If I'm a recruit, why would I ever want to play for a coach who the NFL never had any interest in? I'd want to play for a guy who the NFL never thought was good enough to coach there. Who would be better at developing players for the NFL???
Yeah it's great that the NFL had interest, but really I don't think that is what recruits think about or Mack Brown wouldn't have earned the name Mr. Feb. I don't think the NFL was interested in Dr. Tom...did pretty well without it. Anyway I'm glad it's over and hopefully we haven't lost momentum in the program and that we can still finish recruiting very strong and have one of the top classes. Beat Temple!! BTW: watched the Irish men today, not an esp good outing for them lost at home to an average UConn team. I certainly didn't expect the Irish to run the table in the Big East, but if you are going to be in that top 4 that gets the byes in the BET you need to win your home games.
Terry....can you say Charlie Weis? I'm pretty sure that's who Gip had in mind with his tongue-in-cheek post. :lol:
Let's review the last 7 days.... We are in an absolute euphoric state as the NC game finally arrives. Even Vegas thinks this will be a a low scoring battle. We are absolutely destroyed by Alabama. News breaks that Kelly interviewed with the Eagles within 12 hours of being taken to the woodshed. Nobody knows where he is or what he is doing. #2 verbal recruit leaves for UF ( debatable reasons but it is the kelly status that he cites ) No release of infomation of any kind for either Kelly or ND. Twitter and BB universes explode as players openly speculate on the future and fans who in "kumbayah" mode 72 hours earlier are now openly fighting with each other. Rumors circulate of a secoind interview with the Eagles while everyone spculates who the next coach will be ( Charlie Strong , Pat Fitzgerald, Chuck Martin, etc. ). Early entries arrive on campus; no HC is available to greet them. Kelly issues late night statement that he is staying; loves ND but was curious what his NFL value was. Does not rule out any future NFL opportunities. Believe me, I was over this soap opera around this past Tuesday at noon. In my view this was the 2nd time that Kelly has driven a wedge through this team, the last being his ham-handed " my guys vs. the other guys" comments two years ago referring to his recruits v Chollie's. This kind of self-imposed nonsense serves no one but Brian Kelly.
So the "soap opera" is over. He will get more money for himself and his assistants and he's getting more staff in nutrition and strength and conditioning. So all of that is good but I wish he had gone about it a different way. Next up is today's meeting with the team, there are bound to be some ruffled feelings, but maybe not so many as you might think given what people have posted that Louis Nix tweeted. If Louis is solid with Kelly then I believe the team in general is solid with him. From there it's getting recruiting back on track and closing out a very good class. It's pretty clear now from what has been posted in numerous places that Anzalone was going to flip to the Gators after the NC game and that Kelly's flirtation with the Eagles just provided him cover do it. There are some players out there who we have a shot at that will finish out this class very nicely. It will also be interesting to see what 5th years are invited back. Jamoris Slaughter is trying for a medical redshirt that would allow him back and nobody knows what is going to happen with Carlo and Fox. On other fronts, Irish men turned in a mediocre performance vs UConn and loss while the Ladies just hammered Rutgers. The struggle for the men will be to finish in the top 4 of the Big East, they can do it but not playing like they did Sat. Women should have a legit shot at a #1 overall seed but no worse than a #2 overall seed in the NCAA's.