JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat April 27, 2023

Notre Dame Football Live Chat April 27, 2023

Eric Hansen

4:09

OK, I am going to have to cut if off there. Thanks for all the great questions. Sorry for any typos. I was flying through my answers, trying to get to as many questions as I could. I'll correct them in the transcript (and yours too). Still lots happening with the draft, with the portal, etc., so we'll do it all over again next Thursday at noon EDT.

4:06

Hi Len. I'll let your commentary stand and just get to your questions. No, I do not think Gerad Parker's offense would have been less-suited than Tommy Rees'. In regard to 2021, some of its business as usual for the portal era and some of it was that was a tough cycle for school to evaluate prospects and vice versa. Because of the COVID restrictions, safety Khari Gee committed without ever having been to campus and enrolled in June on his first trip to campus. There weren't the in-person visits, the national camps and combines. Some states didn't play in the fall of 2021 so there wasn't a way to confirm what you saw on old tape. I think there will be roster churn every year, but there has been for a while. Not all of that is bad.

Len from the Jersey Shore

3:57

Hello Eric, Lots to say. Thanks for hosting and giving us the forum to do so. Last week I wrote that I hoped every player would find the right decision for himself pertaining to the portal. And I asked you what position groups might have players enter the portal. You were right on Prince K. So far no OL or DL portal entries. And then there is Lorenzo S (not surprised) and Tyler B (surprised). I heard so much even from Sam Hartman about how well TB was playing especially on the move. Yet in the BG game they kept him in the pocket. And it seemed he could not find receivers. In the bowl game I saw TB find receivers. Does Parker's et al Off. less suited for TB? Is that the biggest reason to test the waters? Second the 2021 recruiting class has lost to my count 13 players (not all to portal) and has one on mission out of 27. Was this class over rated? Is this a sign of how the portal will play every year for those not playing? Or a sign of Freeman's finger on the talent he wants going forward?

Eric Hansen

3:57

Hey Jeff. We'll know more after the portal closes on Sunday. This is another instance where not being able to take a sophomore or junior (in most cases) hurts, because that's what would be ideal. Someone with experience and multiple years of eligibility, because ND has an urgent long-term need as well. Likely, they'll end up with a one-year rental and have to do this all over again next year, depending on whether Watts and Henderson stay beyond their senior seasons.

Jeff from Phoenix

3:54

Hey Eric! Where exactly is ND with securing a transfer safety? Seems like this has been overshadowed by the TB/QB news. Are there 2-3 solid candidates that could contribute AND survive the admission process? Thanks-

Eric Hansen

3:54

Pete, thanks. That reservation concept is pretty clever. You may want to go trademark that. I wish I had thought of it. The NCAA has attempted to help with the roster management by creating the two windows for football (the dates are different for basketball and other sports). That way the departures are compressed and there's time to replenish your own roster if there are unexpected departures. Unless there becomes a trend of not-so-happily-ever-afters, there may not be a self-correction coming in future offseasons. From a Notre Dame standpoint, it would help if there was a happy medium in play for a wider swath of student-athletes in good standing to be able to transfer into Notre Dame.

Pete, Naples FL

3:48

Eric, great coverage of the Spring goings-on. I was thinking the NCAA should remove the word “commitment” from all recruiting language. Perhaps “reservation” is more apropos? With players entering the portal multiple times (e.g., Jurkovec), and others being forced into the portal (e.g., by Coach Prime), it feels to me like free agency on steroids. In the case of Buchner, who has 3 years of eligibility remaining, it’s like Jurkovec redux: shortsighted. In your view, how can the portal process be improved — for both the student-athlete (yeh right) and the team — so there is more stability with roster management and a renewed focus on player development? Or has that horse left the barn never to return? Thx.

Eric Hansen

3:47

Hi Tom, and thank YOU. I'm not sure I see it as a blessing for him ... unless he wins the job at Alabama and helps the Crimson Tide to the type of success those fans are used to. I think Tyler Buchner could have really benefited from being around Sam Hartman for a year. He certainly did by being around him for 3 1/2 months.

Tom from Toronto

3:45

Hi Eric, sorry to be late to the party. I think that your sense that Tyler Buchner needed more seasoning was right on. When I heard that he was sacked on his first play in the Blue/Gold game I thought that was not a good sign. While I wish him well at Alabama, his decision may be a blessing in disguise. Do you agree? Thank you again for your great work.

Eric Hansen

Thanks to those who stayed put.

3:44

OK I am back.

3:16

I've got a radio hit in Alabama to do really quick and then will continue with a few more questions if you want to stick around.

3:15

Joey G, I'm going to let your mini-rant stand and just go to your question. Yes, I think Brenan Vernon has a path to early playing time if he shows up ready to go mentally.

Joey G. Philadelphia,Pa

3:14

Hi Eric, Wow! What a difference a week makes. Last week I told you I wasn't buying the Buchner hype. And did Buchner prove me right. Buchner looked disinterested and his demeanor showed someone that looked overwhelmed. Hartman will have that effect on a lot of QB's who try to compete with him head to head. I love Hartman's enthusiasm! Also love the way he took command of the offense. This offense finally has a QB who knows what he's doing. And will incorporate everyone into the offense. Buchner hitting the portal was a blessing! ND doesn't want players who don't want to compete. Time to move on and look forward to fall camp. With the summer arrivals coming I'm really interested to see Brenan Vernon do you think he has a chance to see action in 2023?

Eric Hansen

3:13

Thanks Denny. Remember there was a player draft (though there were some predesignated selections), so theoretically the teams should have been equal. And it wasn't like Steve Angeli was gashing the Blue defense when he took over for Hartman. ... I am very encouraged by what I saw from the ND defense this spring. If the D-line can continue to make strides and the safety depth situation is resolved, I believe ND will be better defensively than last season.

Denny from Beaverton Or

3:10

Hi Eric; I did not see the game but listened to you on the radio. Curious what the story might have been if Sam was the Blue and Tyler the Gold QB's. However my question deals with the Defense. (Maybe the Gold defense should be our #1 defense). With this being Al Golden's second year there should be less stumbles and we hopefully we will be much stronger. I don't remember how we rated on overall defense last year or even in Freeman's last year as DC. My expectation would be that we should be rated higher this year and hopefully in the 10-20 range. Do you think this is feasible this year? Four months to Dublin! Eric I look forward to your insights and will miss the weekly chats.

Eric Hansen

3:09

Hey Mike. There are two very different articles. Father John actually was a very early proponent of name, image, likeness -- in its intended form. ... What you probably are referencing are comment regarding players becoming employees, with unions, etc. That's where Jenkins and Jack Swarbrick were drawing a hard line.

Mike McFadden, Williamsport, PA

3:08

Hi Eric, I am certain I read an article a few years ago where president Fr. Jenkins and AD Jack Swarbrick together indicated if the NCAA permitted players to be paid for playing football that Notre Dame would go down to D3 football. Well, players are getting paid now & ND is still D1. Regardless, has there been any discussion/movement that you know of and/or are you in favor of, "going back to the future"? That is, the NCAA would encourage the American free private enterprise to start a 18-23 age minor football league in a city near you. Run the league exactly like the current NCAA D1 is setup. At the same time, all D1 college teams would have no scholarships for tuition or books or meals, no NIL, just fun college football as it has been for years! NCAA D2 and D3 football are currently very successful without all this transfer portal stuff. It is a minor league setup now. I am getting tired and bored of college football, IMO. Thanks.

Eric Hansen

3:07

Greg, thanks for your persistence. The big in this program is the enter button. ... I do remember the Pitt game you references. Generally, but not always, the shared numbers don't prompt that kind of accounting, but with so many starters on special teams, they do have to be careful.

Greg

3:05

Greg from NYC. Hey, Eric. Always love your chats. My question relates to special teams. AsNotre dame playing with fire having so many players sharing jersey numbers? I still cringe when I think of the 2012 season ending differently if ND was flagged for having both Chris Brown and Bennet Jackson wearing the #2 on Pitt’s missed field goal in OT.

Eric Hansen

3:05

ND's first grad transfer in football, Cody Riggs, got his MBA in a year. Worked his butt off. Jack Kiser is already in grad school and will get a master's. ... And JD Bertrand's older brother, John Michael Bertrand from baseball, earned two master's degrees in the two years he was at Notre Dame. He's playing pro baseball now in the Giants' farm system.

3:02

Given that a lot of those master's programs are two years and the players are often here for just one, the percentage isn't high. Also, there's been a trend toward taking non-degree-seeking classes for players with a legit NFL future. It helps them devote more time to football, film study, recovery, etc. There are exceptions. (more)

Norris from Singer Island FL

2:58

What percentage of graduate transfers into the football program, actually receive a graduate degree? Kudos to those who do, and to the undergraduates who leave early and later come back to finish up!!

Eric Hansen

2:58

Hi Dmitiri. I just hit on Kollie. There's a wealth of talent at linebacker, at all three positions. The present and future is bright. ... To your team chemistry question, let me leave Mike out of it, please, and not just because he can break both of us in half. I didn't hear/read that and I don't want to interpret this third-hand. So to your question, I would go with the teammates being largely supportive of the transfers and knowing their leaving for an opportunity to play right away and not because they're sick of the South Bend weather. ... No, the sky isn't falling.

Dmitri, Portland Maine

2:54

Hi Eric, how do you view the high profile transfers, and can you touch on Kollie specifically? Is it more a testament to the talent and youth emergence within the program or something else? He is a player I am high on so that one stings a bit from where i am sitting but wondering if you can offer any additional insights for context regarding his leaving..I feel there are two schools of thought regarding the high profile transfers.. 1. The Goolsby: hit the panic button, proclaim the sky is falling, say you've heard vague rumblings that the locker room is hurting, say the coaches are inept and have lost the way, so on and so forth... 2. The Non-Goolsby: players who have left had their opportunities to compete and their departure highlights the influx of talent and future promise within the program and it should be viewed as a sign of program strength versus a pain point. Thoughts? Goolsby is a good kid, just busting his balls ;)

Eric Hansen

2:53

Hi Frank, I think we'll start to hear and share those names once the portal closes on Sunday night. That's also when we'll know if there are any more departures from ND.

Frank from Royse City ,Texas

2:52

Eric, any updates on grad transfers that ND is interested in joining the team? It appears that they will be far below the scholarship limit.

Eric Hansen

2:51

He has options beyond Vandy, but it makes sense. There's Clark Lea, who recruited him, believed in him. There's a schematic fit. It's closer to home.

2:50

Hi Jim, and thank you. Someone asked me just before he hit the portal and I termed it as a coin flip. I would have not have been surprised at all had he been healthy the last third of spring practice and that resulted in no more of a role for him likely in 2023. But those final practices did not play out. And that's why I was less sure about the transfer. For Prince, it was a numbers game. I wrote this previously, he didn't help himself by taking so long to embrace the concept that just being a great athlete isn't enough. He also was hurt by really just being a fit at weakside linebacker. Nolan Ziegler, for instance, was versatile enough and open to playing middle linebacker and he was really impressive in that No. 2 role this spring. There are just too many bodies at Will/Weakside linebacker and there are no guarantees for Prince. Made strides, yes. Promising future, yes. (more)

Jim Rochester, MI

2:41

Go Cubs! First time back from the older days Eric. Loving your new role. How surprising was the Kollie move and was it simply a matter of depth or a desire to fit a scheme more like what Lea is running at Vandy?! Take Care and hope Spring comes soon!

Eric Hansen

2:41

Thanks Bill. I think it's available on Fighting Irish TV. I KNOW it's available on Peacock. Here's the link for Peacock subscribers: https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/playback/event/PCKSLE:Replay-5003531/1...

Bill from St Joe, Mi

2:39

Hi Eric, I agree with an earlier chatter that it was good to hear you back on WSBT Radio…you certainly were missed! I haven’t yet run across where I could watch the Blue & Gold game replay. Do you happen to know? I missed a lot of line play which I would like to focus on.

Eric Hansen

2:39

I'm coming over!

Stan the Stancake man

2:38

Pancakes, or rather, "Stancakes", indeed. The buzz phrase is, "They are so light and fluffy that, if you don't get syrup on them right away, they'll float off the plate.."

Eric Hansen

2:32

Hi Tom. It's a lot of change to take in as a fan. To your question, the NCAA can change or emphasize or modify the NIL rules all it wants, and it has. It just doesn't have the power to enforce any of that. Because it let states make NIL laws (and hardly universal in their scope and intent), it really does come down to an act of Congress to fix. And yes, getting that high on the agenda and getting people to agree is a challenge. At least Charlie Baker has some experience in that realm.

Tom from Sister Lakes

2:28

Hi Eric, College football has now become 13 days a year of joy and 352 days of bad storylines. Everyone rightly gripes about the real or imagined abuses of NIL, but the transfer portal is now becoming a big negative as well. We've gone from a few good ideas of letting the players make some money off their name and giving them a bit more freedom to transfer to a mess with the current state of NIL and the portal. I know we ended up in this situation in part because of weak leadership at the NCAA and recent court cases. My questions to you is: does the NCAA have the authority to change the rules regarding NIL and the portal or will it actually take an act of congress to fix this mess? Whether the NCAA and its members could actually agree on a solution is a different issue.

Eric Hansen

2:28

You and I were looking through the same lens, Ryan.

Ryan mars pa

2:28

Eric what do you think about the play of Jordan great house and Gi’bran Payne in the blue and gold game both looked good to me Go Irish

Eric Hansen

2:27

Hi Gerry. I hope I understand your question. Had Alabama poached Sam Hartman, had there been a run of starters transferring to Alabama, then you might be able to make the farm team analogy. In the portal era, backups want to play and GENERALLY don't have the patience to let that play out in a longer time frame. Alabama AND Notre Dame are desirable transfer destinations, because kids want to win and get to the NFL.

Guest

2:24

Jerry M. from Dallas, Tx. Eric, the news just came across that TB has committed to play for Alabama. It feels like ND is turning into a farm club for Alabama. TB just had to wait one year to be assured of being a starter for at least one year, maybe two. Do all clubs (other Alabama) face this?

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