JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat April 2, 2020

Notre Dame Football Live Chat April 2, 2020

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Jack Strongsville Oh

12:47

Eric. Hope that you and your family are safe during this crisis. That was a nice interview with Jack Swarbrick. This is an inside baseball question. Is your job easier when the ND football team is having a great year or (God Forbid) a terrible season?

Eric Hansen

12:46

There are things we can learn from countries with flatter curves than we have, and also the ones that are ahead of us in moving through this. ... Ultimately, I think there's a governmental layer that's going to supersede what the NCAA or individual schools and conferences want to do. Keep in mind, there's no frame of reference here, so we're very much learning as we go.

Joe from Georgia

12:43

Dr. Fauci was asked last night (Wed.) if it should be a requirement that there are zero known/ongoing cases of the flu before he would recommend allowing sporting and concert events to resume. He notably refused to accept that as the standard and spoke of some variability. Do you believe it should be the standard and/or will it be the standard set by the NCAA?

Eric Hansen

12:43

Wow, Alex. You just blew me away in a good way. Thank you for every word of that. And prayers to you and your family.

Alex from Jackson, MO

12:41

Eric! Greetings from a fellow STL Cards fan. I pray all is well for you and your family. I don’t really have a question about ND, for a change. I have more of an observation. I miss MLB so much. I love the game, but didn’t realize how much until it was taken away. I assume you feel the same. I truly hope for a full college football season. I hope every fellow fan on here is staying healthy. Wanted to say thank you for what you do, and being one of the true good guys in the business. You taking your time on here means more than you realize. Thank you, sir!

Eric Hansen

12:41

Erik, he's keeping that very close to the vest, and I think that's smart. There's no advantage to making that a public debate. I'm not sure why anyone would be opposed to it, including the Notre Dame coaches. If he has a lawyer, I think he'll get immediate eligibility.

Erik (Granger, IN)

12:38

What possible reason could PJ have for immediate eligibility waiver at BC, and do you think it will be granted?

Eric Hansen

12:37

Jim. that's something I will look into. I'm sure they're given guidance as to what to eat, but they may lack either the discipline or the means to eat the way they're supposed to. Training table, which started at the beginning of the Kelly Era, was a game-changer. The cost to do what you suggest, though, may be prohibitive. Again, great question, and I'm going to chase it in the coming days. I have heard that some of the players are having trouble maintaining their ideal weight. You have to do the best you can in these times.

Jim from Raleigh

12:35

Eric, Just read your interview with BK. Would love to know what the approach is for proper nutrition. When I played two sports back in the '80s, our "nutrition" was the South Dining Hall if it was still open after practice. Or box lunches on the team bus. Now it is a science. I am sure there are more than a few players who cannot afford proper meals or will possibly revert to poor meal selections (fast food). Can the program ship food, provide funding for local purchasing or delivery? I would think that this is just as important as physical training. Maybe even send a personal chef for each guy!

Eric Hansen

12:34

Kent, thanks. From what I've read, and I try not to overdo that, available/quick testing and a vaccine are the game-changers, So if you can tell me when those things will appear, I can answer your question.

Kent

12:32

Kent from Indy. Keep up the great work. Question: At what point would you feel comfortable going into a stadium with 80,000 strangers after being isolated for so long? Even if an all-clear is sounded, and the season resumes, do you envision half empty stadiums? Thanks!

Eric Hansen

12:32

OK, since we're chatting live, I'm going to go very much off the top of my head, so keep that in mind. Best assistant of the Kelly Era: Mike Elston. Best assistant since I've been covering football? Urban Meyer. Favorite interview? So many. Louis Nix III jumps out at me. Dayne Crist was really, really good. Corwin Brown, when his world was right, was a fascinating guy. Non-sports figure would easily be Father Hesburgh. Player who surprised me the most? Two of them are on the team now: Drew White and Ade Ogundeji. If I really thought long and hard, those answers might change. I like the questions.

Justin in Philly

12:27

With the all time lists becoming popular to fill the void in the absence of sports at this time, let's hear yours. Best assistant coach you've covered at ND, favorite interview, favorite player, and the player who surprised you the most in exceeding their potential?

Eric Hansen

12:26

RC, I do hope to do that story when it's relevant and feasible. Right now it's on the back burner. I have gathered some info, but there are still a lot of holes. When we know when football is back and can talk to people in person, it's going to make for a much more complete picture.

RC from Albany

12:24

Hi Eric - I hope that you are holding up well. I am really looking forward to your article on last year’s Michigan game - what occurred in the preparation and on game day that resulted in such an unexpected & frustrating outcome. And more importantly what can be done to help avoid a repeat in the future. For some reason the Michigan loss bothers me more than the meltdown in Miami and the playoff loss to Clemson. Any preliminary insights you can provide on today’s chat? When do you expect to publish? Thanks. Stay safe

Eric Hansen

12:24

I would love any semblance of football at this point or in the summer. Anything. Because if football is back, that means people are safe, they're back to work and I can hug my grandkids again. But in practical terms, I don't think we'd need to see a lot when they're conditioning. As the season got closer to a starting point, that's when access would be the most valuable.

denis

12:21

Denis from Niagara Falls, On. : Hi Eric. Strictly from a personal, professional and journalistic viewpoint, what would you like to see regarding a camp, fall practice, etc. to allow you to enjoy a full opportunity to "catch up" on the new season should that happen? I guess I mean what would be your ideal schedule?

Eric Hansen

12:21

I am stunned that you know I had one. I have made a list of goals that I want to accomplish during this time of social distancing. Mastering the Instant Pot is actually on the list. Grilling is still my favorite.

Chris from Sugar Grove IL

12:19

With the shelter at home orders in place, how's it going with the your Instant Pot?

Eric Hansen

12:19

Pat, during our interview with Brian Kelly Wednesday night, he acknowledged there are some extra layers of challenges during this time that are affecting Notre Dame more than other schools. ND's trump card has been getting kids on campus. When they can't do that (and won't until at least June), it makes it easier for kids to get impatient to get the process over and just stay closer to home. Kelly told us they are preaching patience with the recruits. I do think the momentum has slowed way down, but if ND can pick things up in the fall with visits, I think there's a chance to regain it.

Pat St. Paul MN

12:15

Hope you are surviving the apocalypse! This is a great diversion for sure! Wondering if you think the early recruiting optimism is waning or just on hold with everything else? It seems like a large number of the high OL targets will end up elsewhere and there doesn't seem to be a ton of momentum on defense in general. Overreaction? Boredom and looking for things to nitpick?

Eric Hansen

12:15

I do. And Carter Karels had a nice piece this week in which a source very close to decommitted WR Deion Colzie dismissed the notion that ND didn't push hard enough. There may have been lapses in past year with certain recruits. I don't think there's a pattern or hint of that in this cycle.

Tim in Atlanta

12:11

With regard to committed recruits do you think ND coaches keep enough contact or recognize which ones need more hand holding.?

Eric Hansen

12:10

OK, I'll start with will America overcome? We are so blessed to live in a country with so many strong, intelligent and resilient people. I am very optimistic about that we'll not only overcome this, we'll be better on the other side because of it. ... As far as the ND-Navy game being played in Ireland, the two schools have talked about some what-ifs, as Jack Swarbrick alluded to in the Q-and-A. But as of now, the game is still on as scheduled in Dublin. I think, if needed, the game could be moved to Annapolis on short notice, but it will really come down to whether playing football and travel are both safe at that point in time. I sure hope that is the case.

ND Harvey Philly Pa.

12:05

E, Hope all is well. The "Gang from Grays Ferry" is making the road trip to Dublin, in your opinion do you think the game will go on. We (America) will overcome....Stay Safe....Go IRISH!!!!

Eric Hansen

OK,let's get things rolling.

12:05

I'm hoping this can be a bit of a fun diversion to what's going on in the world. So if you have some questions off topic, I'll try to answer them as well. But keep in mind, I may be a little slow when I get out of my lane.

12:03

The second is a story based on the wide-ranging interview Darin Pritchett and I did with ND head coach Brian Kelly Wednesday evening on Weekday SportsBeat: https://www.ndinsider.com/football/brian-kelly-provides-a-peek-into-no...

12:02

In case you missed them, here are a couple of stories I published in the past couple of days ... the first a Q and A with Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick: https://www.ndinsider.com/football/q-and-a-with-notre-dame-ad-jack-swa...

11:58

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