JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Jan. 20, 2022

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Jan. 20, 2022

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Eric Hansen

3:37

OK, that's going to have to do it for today. Thanks for all the great questions. We'll do this sometime next week, depending on the breaking news cycles. I'll keep you posted on the message board and on Twitter @EHansenND as to the date and time.

3:35

Ha. Thank you and of course not! I'm beyond humbled.

Jeff from Phoenix

3:34

Wow! I just saw your sportswriters hall of fame honor! Will you now answer chat questions by the name, "Eric Hansen, HOF '22"? Congrats on the recognition-

Eric Hansen

3:34

If Marcus had left to go to LSU with Kelly, the recruiting class would have been been gutted and the 2023 class might have as well.

Kellen Hartman from Lansing

3:34

Do you think ND still hires Freeman if they knew that Moore, both WRs would flip along with Elston leaving and potentially crushing our 2023 recruiting class? Seems like not only did Freeman lose momentum it's going wildly the other way. Still love the guy, but it's been an ugly few weeks.

Eric Hansen

3:33

John, I'm running out of time, and this is something I'd like to talk about in more depth at another time. Yes, there is a commitment for upgrading the facilities (but not an overhaul), and at least now there's a coach who makes upgrading the facilities worthwhile. The fact that ND was on the brink of getting the CWS last season gets recruits' attention.

John - Fort Wayne, IN

3:29

Hello Eric - I haven't seen this question asked before and I've wondered about it for years. Often times players recruited by Notre Dame are recruited as 2 sport athletes that intend to play both sports in college - let's say football and baseball. While our football facilities are some of the best in the country, our baseball facilities are not up-to-par with other elite baseball programs. Have you heard of any push to upgrade our baseball facilities in order to be considered among the elite facilities in college baseball? I believe if an elite two sport athlete, football and baseball, is considering Notre Dame then the baseball facilities could make a major impact on their final decision. What are your thoughts? Thanks!

Eric Hansen

3:28

Thanks, Mike. Well, they certainly can read what I write and what others post, but I would be surprised if they took my suggestions.

Mike from Maricopa AZ

3:28

Hi Eric, It seems to me that you, your fans and many other "Golden Domers" have great insight into ND football. Do you ever share your thoughts with the football staff and if so, do they ever take your advice? Thanks and keep up the good work!

Eric Hansen

3:27

You did miss it. We had it in a special section at the SB Trib in the summer of 2020. If you email me, I can try to send you a link, but I'm not sure if it's behind the pay wall.

Jason from Grand Rapids MI

3:26

Perhaps I missed it, but with Kelly gone, was there ever a detailed review on the UM blowout? Love your chats!

Eric Hansen

3:26

Thanks Kevin. There are a few JT Daniels questions in the queue, but no one else was clever enough to pair it with a Ramones question. ... JT won't enroll at his new school until summer, so there's not a rush here. Again, given that you don't know what will happen in the spring from a health/injury standpoint and given his talent, I think you have to be diligent in making contact. That doesn't mean you make the move, but you need to establish whether there could be a fit. You can decide whether to make the move in May. ... For the Ramones song, It's I Wanna Be Sedated, followed closely by Sheena is a Punk Rocker.

Kevin from Chicago

3:21

Hi Eric. Really enjoyed your work over the years. Any chance JT Daniels transfers to ND? Also, what is your favorite Ramones song?

Eric Hansen

3:18

Thanks Tom. As we speak, Carter is driving a moving truck to the site of his new job. I'll let him announce it in the next few days. He has an incredibly bright future. We still talk all the time.

Tom in Virginia

3:17

Hope all is going well with your new gig. You are among the very best. Wondering how Carter Karels is doing these days? Always appreciated his work and very disappointed when he was let go.

Eric Hansen

3:17

Kelly was always resistant to give the job to a first-time coordinator. He felt less apprehension on the offensive side when he promoted Tommy Rees, because he could involve himself more in the offense if he needed to be. He did hire Clark Lea without experience, but Clark had Mike Elko's system down pat and Brian finally came around to it after kicking the tired on some experience guys after 2017. So Mike got passed over under Kelly for Elko, Lea and Freeman. I think he's just frustrated period.

Peter, Providence, RI,

3:13

I was very disappointed to see Mike Elston leave. Everything I have seen says he was a great role model for the players and a fine coach. However, I think it would be as unreasonable to expect Freeman to hire a DC with no prior DC experience at his first HC job, particularly at a pressure cooker like ND. My questions are: 1) Why Kelly never gave him a shot as DC at ND; and 2) whether Kelly gave him consideration as the DC at LSU? If the answers are no, it seems that he should be more frustrated with Kelly than Freeman and ND, since he had been with Kelly for so many years. I appreciate your thoughts. Thank you. Peter, Providence RI

Eric Hansen

3:13

It's hard to think of one that wouldn't interest me, but safeties and corners need to step up, and I'll keep a close eye on those two. Can't wait to see what HH does with the O-line.

Rog in STL

3:12

Given that most of the contributors to this years team are already known. What position group are you most interested is seeing at spring practice? Is it linebackers/rover or some other group?

Eric Hansen

3:11

Fritz, I'll call you after the chat to help you sign up. Didn't want to publicly post your phone number.

3:10

Not out recruiting, but remotely, yes.

Tim Irmo SC

3:10

Are the new coaches who haven’t been announced by the school yet allowed to be out recruiting?

Eric Hansen

3:10

Never say never.

Steve from St Louis

3:09

Any chance you return to Sports Beat? Used to enjoy you and Darren on my drive home,although my drive home now consists of walking upstairs from the basement office.

Eric Hansen

Welcome to the family, @CoachMaseND!

➡️ und.com/irish-tab-bria…

#GoIrish

3:09

Ok, the first of the coaching hires is now official. Special Teams coordinator Brian Mason has been fully vetted!

3:05

Bert, thanks. You give me way too much credit. it was not intentional.

Bert from Windermere

3:05

I read “…. and Tyler James is coming with me”. I had read Tom Brady say”….and Gronk is coming with me”. Did you paraphrase on purpose? Wish you the best.

Eric Hansen

3:05

Hi Joey. Going into spring, the biggest concern about Tyler Buchner in 2023 isn't whether he's ready. It's whether he can be as involved in the running game and stay healthy. Maybe this will make you feel better ... heading into this year's national championship game, eight of the teams that won the title were quarterbacked by first-year starters and the other four by second-year starters. Stetson Bennett of Georgia could probably be classified as one or the other (he started 5 games in 2020), but I'd put him in the first-year starter category, so nine out of the last 13.

Joey G. Philadelphia, Pa

2:55

Hi Eric, With all the fan base hype on Tyler Buchner. Do you think Marcus Freeman is going to go into next season with just Buchner and Pyne as the QB’s. That to me is a big gamble going into your 1st season as head coach. Or do you see him bringing in a QB from the transfer portal?

Eric Hansen

2:55

I think if there is a long-term injury to any of the QBs in the spring, then that forces their hand to do it. They have the luxury of the spring to see how things play out, both from a health standpoint and a development standpoint of Buchner, Pyne and Angeli. I do think a fourth QB makes sense if you can find the right player for the right role.

Robb, Colorado

2:52

Eric, do you see the coaching staff bringing in a veteran QB to see as a solid back up to Buchner? What happens to Pyne if they do that?

Eric Hansen

2:52

It is kind of like Oprah giving away Buicks, in a way. "You get a title." It's a way to give them prestige and a pay raise. Sometimes there is functionality to the title. Sometimes there is not. It doesn't bother me if I don't have to type in the whole title each time I mention the coach.

Tony, Lake Mary, FL

2:47

Eric, I was reading an article regarding Coach Alford from Ohio State being promoted, potentially as a result of Coach Freeman pursuing him and at the end it mentioned this: "With Alford's promotion, Ohio State now has Kevin Wilson as its offensive coordinator, Brian Hartline as its passing game coordinator, Justin Frye as an associate head coach for offense and Alford as the running game coordinator. None of them are them will call plays for the offense, however, as Ryan Day will retain that responsibility." I thought it was bizarre that there is both an offensive coordinator and an associate head coach for offense. What on earth can be the different items in those job descriptions. And then to think that neither call plays. So I get that there are ways to generally justify promotions for retention, but board of directors approving this seems silly. Curious if you think differently.

Eric Hansen

2:47

Your gut is right. He was not offered the DC job, but rather a change to be a position coach. The setup for the bowl game wasn't ideal, but Mike was in charge. Yes, he feels slighted.

Denny from Beaverton Or.

2:45

Hi Eric; A few chats back I asked you the question if you thought Brian Kelly offered Mike Elston the DC position at LSU but my question didn't make the list. My gut tells me no. Elston did not distinguish himself in the last game by not making any defensive adjustments in the second half but I wonder if he was truly in control? I think he has given alot to ND for many years and probably feels slighted and decided to leave. Do you share any of these thoughts or have any other opinions?

Eric Hansen

2:45

Notre Dame has three players in the bowl game ... TE Holden Staes, WR Tobias Merriweather and OT Aamil Wagner. LB Niuafe Tuihalamaka, who's already in school, is flying out today (Thursday), but is not expected to play.

TimLeahy

2:40

Who should ND fans watch for in the Polynesian Bowl Saturday night?

Eric Hansen

2:40

Hey Kevin. Thanks for your question and analysis. I agree with parts of it. Keep in mind, Lorenzo Styles could very well be WR No. 1 in that group. I think you could love with 8 WRs, but what are the chances all eight are healthy for the whole season? And consider the injury history over some of them. The portal is so bloated right now and will be in the spring, the quality available, I think, will surprise you. And some who are interested have egos that will tell them they won't be a depth piece but a star. That might not be realistic, but that's the way they think. Tyree full-time in the slot means less Avery Davis and only three running backs. Tyree moving between roles would be my preference. I don't think Watts will or should move back to WR. He could be a starter in 2023 with Griffith and DJ moving on after the season and possibly Joseph too if everything goes right for him. Yes, 2023 is a big year for Chansi Stuckey and Tommy Rees in recruiting.

Kevin from Memphis

2:34

Hi Eric! WR has been a big topic this off season. Is ND better off standing pat with what it has at this point? Here me out. It appears ND is not going to land a WR in the portal any better than the combination of Lenzy, Wilkins and Davis. What legit WR is going to come to ND to be a depth piece? Also, ND seems to be tapped out of valid '22 WR options. ND has 8 WR's in the room right now, but ND could expand its "WR's" with Tyree in the slot and Mayer split out. I'd love to see lots of 12 and 13 this year. Possibly Watts can come back over to WR. ND should focus the WR search on the class of '23 and '23 transfers.

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