JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Dec. 2, 2020

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Dec. 2, 2020

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Mike from Pennsylvania

2:34

Hi Eric, hope you had a great Thanksgiving. Is there any update on an offer for Curlee Thomas Jr(SDE from Nolan Catholic in the 22 class)? I've seen the recent offers to WDE and was just curious.

Eric Hansen

2:31

I too think it deserves an asterisk, but not for the reasons you mentioned. For the sacrifices so many people made to make this season happen. For the courage to try. For the obstacles overcome and adapted to. It's been my favorite season to cover ... not that I won't welcome normalcy next season.

Edpalm beach

2:30

No matter how anyone spins it this season is a asterisk.....the atmosphere at stadiums never a factor....teams playing shorten schedules...lack of spring practice plus pre season practice....your take on the whole inschalada

Eric Hansen

2:29

No! Why?

Mike from Denver

2:29

Do you see any chance the ACC will cancel the championship game assuming both ND and Clemson win this weekend?

Eric Hansen

2:29

It's really not prudent to invest too much in star rankings this early in a recruiting cycle. When Notre Dame extended an offer to Kyle Hamilton, he was the No. 66 safety per 247 sports and unranked by Rivals in his class and a three-star prospect. When he signed, he was the No. 1 safety per 247sports and No. 15 player overall nationally. Because of the pandemic, the evaluations of 2021 and 2022 prospects is going to be spotty. That said, if Notre Dame didn't think they were elite prospects, they wouldn't have offered them. They didn't, for instance, offer Alohi Gilman's or Julian Love's little brothers.

Tom from Downers Grove

2:22

Hi Eric, it looks like we are taking Kevin Bauman's and Kurt Hinish's brothers in the 2022 class. I know recruiting brothers is nice but given the size of the 2021 class and the low rankings for these players, isn't it unwise to fill up spots with them?

Eric Hansen

2:22

Mr. Weiss, thanks for the question and you can call me Eric. Clark Lea has a longer track record as an assistant coach, so Clark Lea is my choice in 2020.

Gabriel Weiss from South Bend

2:21

Hey again, Mr. Hansen, thank you for taking the time once again for us fans. Hypothetically, if you had the choice between the two for head coach, would you rather have Clark Lea after a couple seasons at Vandy or Tom Rees if he continues the superb recruiting and offensive domination trend?

Eric Hansen

2:20

There are ... there's a second phase coming to the Guglielmino Athletics complex, which is not going to get a lot of play or momentum during a pandemic and athletic financial crisis. Eventually, that will come.

Stephen from Toledo OH

2:19

I know AD Jack Swarbrick has been investing heavily in football with the upgrades to locker rooms, the additions to the stadium and even new practice facility to keep up with other big programs and help with recruiting. Are there any other rumblings about what’s next?

Eric Hansen

2:19

Tom, Kirk did apologize for the suggestion that Michigan could be "tanking it." I think that was the right thing to do. H had no evidence that they were. I think the Big Ten really boxed itself into a corner with some of its rules and not being more flexible. If Ohio State only plays six games, the Buckeyes should not be in the playoff. There's been a lack of quality wins and convincing wins on top of the sheer numbers.

Tom from Hillsdale, MI

2:17

Eric, thanks for a great job. Any thoughts on Ohio State maybe noting getting to play enough games to qualify? What did you think of Kirk Herbstreit’s comments last night about Michigan not playing the Buckeyes? The Michigan-Maryland game has been canceled.

Eric Hansen

2:16

I would have said Claypool earlier in the year. I still will say Claypool, but Khalid Kareem would be my second choice and Troy Pride, because of need and depth, my third.

Mike, Lemont,IL

2:15

Eric, I thought that Tony Jones leaving early was a mistake as he was a move the pile 5-6 yard guy. Don't even remember hearing Williams name last year. RB depth was considered an issue coming into the year. Now looks to be set for years although I would like to see Tyree get between 6-10 touches a game. I know you do not like hypotheticals but if you could have someone back from last year's team who would it be? Most will say Claypool but I think K. Kareem would be the pick. What say you? Thanks for the chats and Go IRISH!

Eric Hansen

2:14

He's probably a mid rounder, so I would not expect him to come back, especially with him committed to playing in the Senior Bowl.

Sean, Portland, OR

2:14

No chance that Ade comes back next year? The D-Line has a lot of depth to be sure, but he has been so incredibly active and consistent all year. Very impressed with him, perhaps one of the most unsung/under-rated players on the roster.

Eric Hansen

2:13

Martin, it does not. He could renege, but I don't think he will. Because of the universal eligibility all players must this year declare for the draft.

Martin

2:12

Hello Eric, I love your work. I was wondering if you could clear something up for me. Ian Book has accepted the Reese's Senior Bowl invitation. I have seen conflicting reports, so I would like to know:. With him accepting the Senior Bowl invite, does that lock him into the draft? Thank you sir

Eric Hansen

2:12

Fred thank you for the kind words. I disagree with your assumption a one-loss ND independent can't get in. In fact, ND with one loss in 2015 was in the top four until it regressed in narrow victories over inferior teams in November. Then the Irish lost at Stanford to end that season.

Fred from Richmond

2:10

Eric, It’s always a pleasure to read and comment on your site. I have been following Irish football my whole life, being born and raised in Akron my father and uncle played football with Ara in High School and were life long friends. I have always been a firm believer in Irish football independence, however since being in a conference this year I have changed my mind. It’s imperative to have a realistic chance these days to make the playoffs you need to be in a conference. Without a conference we need to go undefeated, which is just too difficult. In a conference you can win the conference championship with a loss and still get in. We can still keep a rivalry game or two but I believe we must get with the times and make it full time with the ACC, what is your opinion on this?

Eric Hansen

2:10

Sam Howell coming into the game was sixth nationally in yards per completion and first among Power 5 QBs. Phil Jurkovec was 59th. You do the math.

Austin Boss (Austin, TX)

2:09

Kelly said post-BC, that Ian Book as the 'difference in the game' and pre-NC that Howell threw 'the best deep ball in the league'. Were those shots at Jurkovec?

Eric Hansen

2:09

I saw a report the other day that his son Skip said that Lou is improving but still has a way to go in his recovery.

Gi from San Juan

2:09

Please give us an update on Lou Holtz’s condition

Eric Hansen

2:08

I took this question, because quite frankly the part about "pushing Clark Lea for other jobs" ticks me off big time. I'm not pushing Clark to take another job. I'm reporting reality. That's MY JOB. And if you can't deal with reality that successful programs have assistants other teams will want to interview, then you need to bury your head under your pillow for a few weeks every December so you're not put off.

Jeff from York, PA

2:06

Hi Eric, What is the status of Flemister? We need a few more four or five star recruits to make this a really good class. Who do we have a chance of landing? Also, please stop pushing Clark Lea for other jobs. He is the coach to replace BK. I used to be against promoting a guy who didn't have head coaching experience to the position of head coach. Bob Davie is a perfect example of the kind of disaster that can result from this policy. However, Clark Lea is not Bob Davie and we should do everything we can to keep him at ND.

Eric Hansen

2:06

Not sure yet. They may put off the press conference stuff until the week after the ACC Championship Game or just make his normal Thursday presser recruiting oriented.

John from Appleton WI

2:05

With the early signing period starting the day before the ACC championship game, will ND be doing their normal production surrounding the players that sign? Will Brian Kelly have any press conferences for it?

Eric Hansen

2:05

Above my and a lot of other people's expectations. What has surprised me has been his ability to be unpredictable (and effective while doing so) when it matters.

Denny from Beaverton

2:03

Hi Eric and thanks for the chats...I look forward to them. How do you describe the job Tom Rees has done as Offensive Coordinator in his first year. I realize you could probably write an article about this but what is the one thing that has really struck you or maybe surprised you about his job performance?

Eric Hansen

2:03

Thanks, Chad. I do feel bad about the questions I don't get to, which is why sometimes I just fly through my answers without proofreading them and then clean them up later before posting the transcript. If Notre Dame makes the playoff, I will arrange my schedule to have one big marathon session. To your other question, Lambeau Field in Green Bay hands down. If gravity will allow, I want to do a Lambeau leap.

Chad, Denver

2:00

Eric, I love your work and I'm very grateful for these chats during this crazy Covid football season. A few weeks back the chat went into "overtime". What would it take for this chat to get into double overtime? If the season was not interrupted by Covid what away venue were you looking forward to covering ND at and why?

Eric Hansen

2:00

I would anticipate Zeke will play. He's listed at the top of the depth chart and Kelly didn't indicate otherwise. But if not, I'd expect Josh Lugg to play center and Dillon Gibbons to play guard ... or Kraemer, which is a very remote possibility. .. as of now the ACC Championship Game will have fans capped at 7% of Bank of America Stadium's capacity, which would translate to 5,279. That number could move up or down in the coming days. We'll keep everyone posted on or website.

ND Harvey from Philly

1:57

E, always a pleasure to talk. If Correll can’t play on Saturday will Grunhard get the start, also what’s the chances the Wake game gets canceled. Will the ACC championship game have fans and how many. Thank you. Be Safe. Go Irish

Eric Hansen

1:54

Clemson, Notre Dame, Florida, Bama.

Adam

1:53

Hi Eric! Adam from Grand Rapids MI. Hypothetical question.. If ND loses to Clemson by 10 in the ACC/Champ, Florida knocks off Bama in a close SEC/Champ, OSU goes 5-0 and is left out of B1G/Champ, who is your playoff 4?

Eric Hansen

1:53

Bill. Best recruiting staff, best coaching staff. Team with the highest ceiling and a real chance to reach it. Since the early signing period is coming up in a couple of weeks, I think Lea staying through the playoffs is realistic if he were offered a head coaching job he was interested in. If you're Swarbrick I'm not sure you could offer anything re future ND opportunities, because that might not be Swarbrick's call to make.

Bill 1000 Oaks Ca

1:50

Do you agree this is Kelly’s best team & coaching staff? If you were the AD what if anything would you want to do to keep Lea in place at least thru the playoffs and if he ultimately leaves pave a way for a return to ND? Seems like a real treasure and very like able. GR8 team win!! Go Irish and please stay safe Eric!!

Eric Hansen

1:50

Kevin, thanks. I think the last thing you have to worry about ND being in a game with Clemson is complacent. A loss by the margin of the 2018 playoff game would certainly amp up the arguments for teams like Texas A&M and Cincinnati.

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