JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Dec. 29 2021

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Dec. 29 2021

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Eric Hansen

1:42

Joe, thank you many times over. And I'd be happy to share a beer or cocktail, though DURING the game might break protocol. Maybe after? Thanks again.

Joe from Waverly, NY

1:41

Eric -- I'm a Notre Dame alum and long-time admirer of your reporting on the ND program. This is my first time contributing to the chat. Your objective & insightful stories, interviews, comments etc. are the best there is. This became even more evident during the roller coaster of the last month in the ND universe. However, you saved the best for last with the incredible story about your family's Christmas traditions in last week's chat. It is obvious where the balance in your reporting originated. My New Year's wishes are for peace, health & happiness for your entire family, that you continue to provide your insight on ND football/university for years to come, and that I get to share a beer or cocktail with you during a 2022 football game. Go Irish !!!

Eric Hansen

1:40

See previous answer.

IrishMike, Altoona,PA

1:40

Happy New Year Eric and thank you for hosting these chats! Harry Hiestand is rumored to be a candidate for the OL coaching position! Harry is know as an excellent technician, but not as a renowned recruiter! Is he a fit for Marcus Freeman’s assertion that all of his assistants must be able recruiters?

Eric Hansen

1:37

2013: McGlinchey, Elmer, Montelus, Bivin, McGovern. Elmer would have had an NFL career if he had wanted to do that.
2014: Q Nelson, Bars, Mustipher, Byrne.
2015: Ruhland, Hoge, Tillery ... Tillery was a stud O-line prospect who got flipped to defense because of need. Would likely have been an All-America O-lineman as well.
2016: Eichenberg, Kraemer, Boudreaux
2017: Banks, Hainsey, Lugg, Gibbons
2018: Patterson, Dirksen, Mabry, Luke Jones
So what am I missing? Other than 2018, there's not a lot to knock here.

1:35

Finally, to your Hiestand question. Here's who signed during the six cycles in which Harry was at ND (and Harry left before the 2018 cycle was complete).

1:34

Thank you Tom and same to you. Let me answer the last of your questions first. Based on both the talent, the numbers, and who else is on the depth chart. The three I would add are DT Jayson Ademilola, WR Avery Davis and WR Braden Lenzy. Bo Bauer at linebacker would be a close fourth. But you need numbers and quality at WR and Ademilola has the potential to play at an All-American level. As far as Nick Lezynski, who is serving as interim special teams and linebackers coach, I think he is a viable candidate for special teams coach permanently, but he's going to have to beat out to very good external candidates. (more)

Tom Kennesaw, GA

1:16

Hi Eric, I hope that everyone in the Hansen family had a great Christmas and best wishes to y'all for a Happy & Healthy New Year!!! IMHO Recruiting is heading in a great direction. Despite a couple of good prospects jumping ship, this year's class still had 14 players rated in the Top 200. 2019 we had 8; 2020 there were 10 and last year there were 9 in the Top 200. That looks like a nice, healthy increase to me. That being said and the emphasis Coach Freeman is putting on Recruiting how do you see that impacting his assistant coaching hires for someone like Harry Heistand? Nick Lezinski(?) seems to be well thought of in the ND program. So do you think that he is a viable candidate for the ST coaching position? Seems like a great place for him to move up onto the coaching tree. If you could pick 3 players to return next year NOT named Foskey, Patterson or Austin, who would they be? Thanks for keeping us so informed all year and talking us off the ledge from time to time. Go Irish!!!!

Eric Hansen

1:15

Dave, thanks. And Happy New Year to you and yours as well. Rocco Spindler is going to be a star. Period. Just not this year. He's been healthy and working toward competing for a starting spot in 2022. Keep in mind, Blake Fisher and Joe Alt are the eighth and ninth freshmen to start at some point on the O-line as first-year players in the past 50 years. Only three of the nine have been guards. And none of ND's recent first-round draft pick O-linemen played as true freshman (Zack Martin, Ronnie Stanley, Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey). So no one should be disappointed. It's normal. ... I don't think Jack Coan will get drafted, but I do think he'll get a chance to compete in a training camp as an undrafted free agent.

Dave from Livonia, Mi

1:08

Hi Eric, I wish for you and your family a very happy and healthy New Year. I have 2 questions - one is on Rocco Spindler. What is his status? Is he healthy? I see Blake Fisher is back and ready to play in the bowl game. It seems like both came in highly regarded. But Blake seems to have progressed more than Rocco. Is that a fair statement? Rocco's dad Marc was on a local radio interview a couple of months ago and though he didn't say too much the feeling was there was disappointment in his playing time. My other question is on Jack Coan. What do you think his future is in the NFL? Middle round draft choice or even undrafted. Always respect your opinion and love the chats.

Eric Hansen

Let's do this.

1:07

Since this is the last chat, the "no bare feet" and "no drinking" rules have been rescinded ... except for me.

1:06

PLEASE include your name and hometown along with you question.

OK, let's me on to the fun stuff -- your questions.

The live chats will be a part of the new venture as will the podcasts. The podcast just will have a different name.

1:05

So essentially I'm giving you a word salad, but reluctantly so.

1:04

We'll still be covering Notre Dame sports, but at a new site that we're not at liberty to reveal until midnight on New Year's Eve.

After 33-plus years, I'll be walking away from the Trib on Friday night and on my own terms. I'm very blessed to be able to say that. And Tyler James is coming with me.

1:03

This not only will be the last chat of 2021, but it will be the last live chat I'll be doing for the South Bend Tribune/ND Insider.

1:02

Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat.

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