Last Train Ride

After three years and 556 posts I have decided for a variety of reasons to stop posting.  I will leave the Blog up for a year if there are any posts or pictures you are interesting in downloading.  Go IRISH!

ND Recruiting Class of 2012 – Minus Three

What do Tee Shepard, Gunner Kiel, and now Davonte’ Neal have in common?

**  All three Rival 5 – Star Recruits.

**  All three offensive players.

**  All three from the class of 2012.

**  All three leaving the Irish.

Tee left for academic and Notre Dame acclimation reasons (rumor).

Gunner for depth chart reasons (rumor).

Davone’ to go home to Arizona and help father his six week old son (rumor).

So to add to the injuries of Chase Hounshell (shoulder), Amir Carlisle (broken collarbone), the transfer of Gunner Kiel, the transfer of Davonte’ Neal, and the latest rumor, the transfer of Justin Ferguson, that is five bad things.  Former head coach Lou Holtz said bad things happen in three’s, ---wrong again.

Let’s hope this is it.  Keep in mind, spring practice has just started and a lot can happen.

Irish Amir Carlisle and Injuries

There are very few photos of Amir Carlisle in a Notre Dame uniform and in most of them he is carrying or using a crutch.

Well the internet rumor is that Irish wannabe running back Amir Carlisle has suffered yet another injury.  This time an unofficial reported broken collarbone.  The kid cannot catch a break.  (Sorry lousy pun.)

He was basically let go by USC and Lane Kiffin over ankle and knee injuries/issues in which the Trojans were not willing to maintain a precious scholarship during the drastic NCAA punishment period.

Coming to Notre Dame in January 2012, he was granted immediate playing time by momma NCAA.  Then Amir broke his ankle before spring practice and then had subsequent nerve damage issues which caused him to Red Shirt all of 2012.

Now a broken collarbone to suffer through during spring practice and 7-7 unofficial workouts this summer.  It would appear he can physically be ready for fall practice, however, what about mentally and being behind four or five other running backs?

The NFL does not look kindly to injury prone running backs that traditionally have about a three year window to succeed in the NFL.

A classmate or fellow player needs to head down to the Grotto and lite a row of  candles for Amir.

Funk City and Other ND Ruinations

Guess it started with getting our butts kicked down in South Beach. 

Then this Manti Te’o thing, I was alright with it until I watched the Dr. Phil interview with the moron who thinks he is a girl.  Now I don’t know what to believe about Manti’s manhood or sexual leanings.

The one highlight since getting clobbered by Nick and the Boys has been the number four ranking for the Irish 2013 recruiting class.

Brian Kelly and his flirtation with the Eagles which had all the drama of a pimple-faced kid asking out the head cheerleader for his first date.  Text book example of how NOT to look for a job.

The NFL Combine was a bit underwhelming for a number of players including Te’o and Zeke Motta.  It will be interesting to see how the Irish seniors do at the ND’s pro day.

Jamoris Slaughter did not get another year of eligibility which really hurts his chances at the next level.

Now this Gunner Kiel transfer announcement.  You have to really wonder what he was thinking coming out of high school.  Indiana, LSU and Notre Dame, no good fits anywhere, figure he has one shot left. 

I guess it means that Everett Golson is the real deal and Gunner did not see himself starting or getting any meaningful playing time.  I’d always thought Andrew Hendrix was the odd-QB-out and he still may be.

Then to top things off, the Pope ups and quits.

Here is hoping spring practice will prove interesting and solidifying running back, linebacker, and OL.  No injuries and no more transfers.

An Early ND Look Ahead To The 2013 Campaign

Before final decisions on fifth year players are determined.

Before the Blue-Gold Game is played.

Before spring (and first year) academics sort themselves out.

Before any transfers.

Before any practice and training injuries.

Before any Early Enrollees and First Years getting homesick.

Before any mischief by players.

Even before the recruiting class of 2013 even starts summer school in June.

Korzo78 on the NDNation Rock’s House bulletin board has posted the below analysis/opinion of the 2013 schedule.  Good for him.  We need to keep the momentum going after getting our butts kicked by the Red Tide.

While his comments are in italics, ours are in normal Times New Roman.

Last year, ND was coming off an 8 win season and facing a schedule with six teams who had won 10 games the previous year. Just about everyone agreed that it would be one of the nation’s most difficult slates. Many expected an eight or nine win season. Didn’t turn out that way as MSU, BYU, SC, and Michigan slipped from the previous year.

This year, ND is coming off a 12-1 season and faces only two teams with 10 win seasons. Maybe, a few teams will rise up and have good seasons, but at this point, the schedule seems quite manageable.

Temple (4-7). Good opening game fodder. Should help ND break in a number of new offensive players.  This game should be fun.  On the downside, the Irish have been flat against opening day cupcakes before.

Michigan (8-5) Year 3 for Hoke, who has done well. The Skunkbears have recruited well. Gardner is an intriguing QB. Night game at Michigan. Toughest game on slate? It is also the last game in Ann Arbor concerning the contract between two stored programs.  Look to Michigan for an all out assault.

Purdue (6-7) New coach. Could be a letdown game like last year.  Although Tommy Rees had to win this game last year for the Irish, Purdue is an embarressment to the Big Whatever.

MSU (7-6) Lost a lot of talent. Also losing a bit of luster with Michigan’s reemergence. Mediocre QB play last year lead to many close losses. Tough team, could be tough game but ND is the better team.  Mark Dantonio has more tricks up his sleeve than Doc Holiday, you never know.

Oklahoma (10-3) Victim of high expectations. Ten wins but program seems a bit stale. Mediocre recruiting class this year. New QB, which is never good, Stoops probably will be looking for payback. Will the Sooners come back roaring on all cylinders or pucker up and take a beating like last year?  Glad this game is at home.

Arizona State (8-5) Pitt. circa 2013? Decent team, decent coach, Irish letdown and it could be a close game.  The game will be fun.

USC (7-6) Lane Nero fiddles as USC burns. Maybe, the biggest wildcard in college FB. Rebirth or firing the coach? Lot of physical talent; mentally, mush. Another team with an inexperienced QB.  Glad this game is at home.  Did I just say that above?

Air Force (6-7) Should be a W.  We need to limit our schedule to one academy team.  After 2014 and the ACC five game rule we probably wil.

Navy (8-5) Should be a W.  I sure hope so.

Pitt (6-7) Irish should be ready for the Panthers this time. Another W.  Man, what a game last year, this is a trap.

BYU (8-5) Tough team but very winnable game. Ho Hum.

Stanford (12-2) Toughest game on schedule? A true aspirational peer: Stanford on a nice run lately. Will ND need a signature win to cement its post season placement?  In tree hugger country, could be tough.

Much different than last year at this time. Hard to see any definite losses, like Okla. and USC last year. No one really knows but looks like a lot of wins.

Three walkovers: Temple, AF, Navy.

Irish should beat Pitt., ASU, and Purdue comfortably if their heads are screwed on straight.

MSU and BYU will probably show up to play but can’t match ND’s talent.

Not sure what to make of Okla. and USC. Talent is there but something is missing.

Toughest games at Michigan and Stanford.

In sum, Irish look BCS bound. Double digit wins seem quite reasonable.

Yes, 9-3 would be disappointing.

I have to agree, Michigan and Stanford (both away) appear to be problems.  There is always the bite you in the butt game/team that plays over its' head to contend with as well.

EDITORS NOTE:  If Korzo78 or any of his buddies read this post, please contact us to give credit and by-line.

The ND Football Class of 2017

 Well the fax machine in the Notre Dame Athletic Department got quite a workout last Wednesday.  24 new lads, you can read all about it just about in any sports media.  We won’t plagiarize here.  The Irish ended up being rated/ranked number 3, if you believe in rankings and ratings concerning 18 year old recruited kids.

So what does all this mean for the Irish?  Are there any loose ends?  What pieces of the puzzle for another championship run this year or maybe next year need to be placed on the board and interlocked?

First here are a couple of pieces that may have been missed.  Notre Dame has a freshman punter and kicker to add to the class of 2017 in preferred walk-ons Andrew Antognoli (punter) and John Chereson (place kicker).  Hopefully these pieces will turn into future athletic scholarships down the road for Andrew and John.  Both punter Ben Turk and kicker Nick Tausch on scholarship turned out just so-so.

It would appear that the Irish have enough athletes to field a true punt return and kickoff return squad and no more talk about lack of talent and afraid to put the defensive starters out there to block and tackle in the open fearing injury.

Some pieces that have to fall into place:

An answer is needed from the NCAA on Jamoris Slaughter (S) and his appeal for a final year of playing eligibility.  My god, the man will have a doctorate by the time he leaves Notre Dame if approved.  Jamoris has been designated one of eight Irish invited to the NFL Combine so the sting of final rejection may not be so bad.

The kicking walk-ons pretty much answer the question on whether Nick Tausch will return for a fifth year.  If he has a goal in kicking for the NFL, maybe a lower division school where he can play immediately would be the solution for him.

Tight end and inside linebacker are lacking in experience and questionable depth.  However, that’s what coaches get paid for. 

Apparently there are enough slots left to offer both Carlo Calabrese and Dan Fox fifth year scholarships.  After all, they applied and add some great experience in the middle of the defensive backfield.  Hope that happens.

Here is the bad piece of the puzzle that can’t seem to fit.  Everett Golson, Tommy Rees, Andrew Hendrix, Gunner Kiel, Malik Zaire.  You cannot carry five quarterbacks on scholarship.  The logical odd man out is Hendrix.  The problem is practice repetitions to prepare and action on the field.    Expect Hendrix to transfer after spring practice and when school lets out in May.  Everett is the guy to beat out.  Tommy is the preferred short term backup, Gunner is the competition and the quarterback to have ready and Malik will be wearing a redshirt.

We here at the Station are excited about the Irish and are looking forward to the vanilla Blue-Gold game to get some depth chart questions answered or at least give us something to write about.

P.S.  The entire coaching staff is in place for at least another year and that is a good thing.

Time is of the Essence for Manti Te’o

First of all, I believe Manti Te’o innocent until proven otherwise.  Second, Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick and his staff did an outstanding job in protecting the University and in initially defending and advising Manti.  Third, the ball is in his court now and the game clock is ticking away.  There are still too many questions and inconsistencies being raised by a media previously burned by a lack of research, due diligence and poor reporting.

I’m not sure what Manti’s handlers are waiting for in getting this scandal over with and behind them.  It is going to take another statement and a question and answer session with a group of media reporters to end it all. 

The story is on the BBC and been ridiculed by all the late night comedians.  It has reached the dragging out and stung by rumors, falsehoods and second guessing stage.  It is not going to go away even with Lance Armstrong temporarily taking the heat.

What is at stake now is Manti’s professional football career, lucrative endorsement deals and most importantly his name and reputation.  Not to mention his mental health.  Who will want to buy a sub after watching a Subway commercial with Manti munching and talking about how great subway sandwiches taste?

If he found out on December 6^th that he was the victim of a cruel hoax, the clock started ticking then on how much time he had until someone involved or someone knowledgeable of the hoax would break the story.  Deadspin.com claims they received an anonymous email, who knows who believe.

The agent(s), lawyer(s), family and true friends need to get Manti ready for the examination and cross examination now!  The prepping was already done by lawyer Jack Swarbrick.

We are behind you Manti.  God Bless.

Notre Dame and Leaving Early for the NFL

It appears 73 college underclassmen have declared for the NFL draft and will be leaving school early.  The 73 is up from 65 last year and 56 in 2011.  Sign of the times or economy or both?  Just another example of the lure of big bucks and what a business college football has become?

How does this affect the Irish?  In two ways.

1.  Tyler Eifert and Cierre Wood will be part of the 2013 draft as both have now decided to forego a fourth year of eligibility.  It is noteworthy that both have been at Notre Dame for four years and did not play their freshman years.  Eifert graduated in December and Wood’s academic status is unknown.  We have stated previously that Wood is making a mistake however he has a daughter to provide for and is looking to the short term.  We hope he gets invited to the NFL Combine and can get drafted or at least picked up as a unrestricted free agent.

2.  The early declarations will also slightly affect the 2013 schedule.

Michigan State lost 3

RB Le'Veon Bell -- This guy always seemed to be in Notre Dame's defensive backfield carrying the football.

DE William Gholston -- This guy always seemed to be in Notre Dame's offensive backfield tackling someone who had the football.

TE Dion Sims

Stanford lost 3

TE Levine Toilolo -- This guy is good. 

TE Zach Ertz -- So is this tight end.

CB Terrence Brown

 

Oklahoma lost 3

S Tony Jefferson

LB Tom Wort

WR Kenny Stills

Southern Cal lost 2

WR Robert Woods -- Nonfactor this year against the Irish, no so in 2011or 2010.

CB Nickell Robey

 

Now this is unheard of, LSU is losing 10 underclassmen to the draft.  Talk about a football factory.  Will Les Miles be able to reload?  Does he have gray-shirts waiting in the wings?  Guess the graduation rate at LSU is nothing to brag about.

We want to be the first to say it.....

Go Irish.  Beat Temple.

Things Are Looking Up For The Fightin Irish

Is the glass half full or half empty after the kester kickin we took down in South Beach?

The Program has never been stronger and here’s why.

*  The coaching staff is intact.  No defections to head coaching jobs or career moves this year.  However we would encourage Coach Brian Kelly to look towards replacing Scott Booker as Special Team’s Coach and bringing in someone to generate some life and respect for Special Teams.  Of course that starts with the head coach wanting to chance his present philosophy.

*  Six early enrollees to add to the mix during spring practice in April. 

**    Alex Anzalone – OLB

**    James Onwuala – WR

**    Malik Zaire – QB

**    Steve Elmer – OT

**    Mike Heuerman – TE

**    Corey Robinson – WR

Five, count them five quarterbacks for spring practice.  Competition, players pushing players always a great thing.  However we suspect Hendrix may become a casualty and take his skills elsewhere.

**    Everett Golson

**    Tommy Rees

**    Andrew Hendrix

**    Gunner Kiel

**    Malik Zaire

*  No early departees.  Louis Nix is coming back for his senior (Academic) year.

*  Currently the number one recruiting class for 2013 and there are still a number of quality recruits available.

*  After the Oklahoma victory an undercurrent and feeling that the Notre Dame Football Program is coming back to the national stage and respectability.

*  Those injured this past year are coming back to help the program.  Adding depth and competition for playing time.

**    Alex Welch – TE

**    Amir Carlisle – RB

**    Austin Collinsworth – S

**    Jamoris Slaughter – S

**    Lo Wood – CB

**    Luke Massa - WR/QB

**    Matt Hegarty - C

**    Ronnie Stanley – OT

**    Tate Nicholas – OL

*  A 2013 schedule similar to the one this past year when we went 12-0.  New meat includes Temple, Arizona State, Air Force.  Oklahoma and USC at home.  Schedule in fact may be a little easier.

*  A recruiting system that apparently works.  Coordinators, coaches recruiting prowess, official and unofficial visits, home visits, daily contact, selling the Program, admission office support and whatever else, it all seems to be working like a well oiled machine.

*  An absolute ton of positive publicity, good press, led by Manti Te’o and his unbelievable year.

*  Fifth year seniors returning.

**    Zack Martin

**    Chris Watts

**    Carlo Calabrese, Dan Fox, Cierre Wood (If there is room and they want to return).  Calabrese is the most likely.

*  Some interesting changes coming and already here to the Program.

**    NBC contract renewal.

**    Well deserved coaches contract extensions and salary increases.

**    Tom Hammond being replaced by Dan Hicks as the play-by-play announcer for NBC.

**    Continuation of the Shamrock Series in Dallas against Arizona State.

**    The unveiling of the five game ACC included football schedule in 2014.

**    The introduction of sideline, locker room and candid videos of the players.  Great for the fans.

**    The professionally done video series done throughout the year about the team and players.

We only see great things ahead.  The glass is half full.  Pour some more in please.