JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat March 30, 2023

Notre Dame Football Live Chat March 30, 2023

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Sean, Schaumburg, Il

12:58

Eric, I was on vacation in Florida during the last chat. No, I was not drunk. I do like watching/listening to Football Never Sleeps. It would have prevented my diatribe/rant. However, it remains clear that the ND administration is reluctant to embrace NIL. They'll be left behind. An ND degree isn't as valuable as the admins think. I have a family member with a degree from there and they aren't able to utilize it. The Op-Ed was tone deaf. How can you in your position ask the tough questions that need to be asked of Swarbrick without sacrificing access to him/admins? I know how tough it is. I won some college journalism awards in sports writing. I'm a collegiate level game official. Coaches/ADs, sometimes, don't like the answers/rulings I give them or, in my previous role, the questions I asked. But, isn't that part of our role as journalists? Asking those tough questions? I think you're great at what you do. I appreciate the insight/candor. Be well.

Eric Hansen

12:57

I don't think it's the money in college sports they're objecting to. Father Jenkins wrote an opinion piece years ago lauding the concept of NIL. It's the uneven playing field. It's the threat of changing the culture of college athletics. It's the unchecked and unpunished misuse of the NIL rule that I believe they're objecting to. My short, incomplete, oversimplified opinion is that college sports needed to evolve with more player rights. But I do have concern that twisting NIL into something it was never meant to be does threaten to create a college sports world that some people will fall out of live with.

12:53

And in this particular instance, this is an essay, not something in which there were questions asked and points clarified. I am aware Jack did a podcast or two that did allow questions, bot help improve the context. I did not have a chance to listen to those. ... I would like to pose those questions myself and have been told I'd eventually have the chance to do so. At that point I'd write something more comprehensive. In using the example you gave, I do think you're missing their point. (more, ,,, here I go with the multiple screens, and I'm only scratching the surface).

12:47

Tom, I enjoy big-picture questions as much as the day-to-day kind of conversations. The problem with the bigger-picture questions is that unless they're presented with a very specific or narrow point for me to focus on, it really lends itself poorly to this format in terms of keeping things moving and me not writing a novel that does on for several screens. (more)

Tom from Sister Lakes MI

12:34

Hi Eric, I know you'd rather answer questions like "who do you think the starting guards will be", but those things will sort themselves out eventually. By now I'm sure you've read the article Jenkins and Swarbrick published in the NY Times last week. As an alum and big football fan I must say I'm conflicted about the letter. I get that they are trying to be voices of reason and leadership in these perilous times for college athletics and football in particular. But they are also the ones responsible for putting ND in the position of needing to feed the money beast. TV money begets Campus Crossroads which leads to higher ticket prices then a need for indoor practice facilities and brings us back to negotiating bigger tv contracts so they can pay big salaries to coaches. On one hand I applaud their efforts but I'm afraid they placed ND on the back of the tiger and now they can't get off. Your view?

Eric Hansen

12:33

Jeff, it also confused me as I got ready to write the story. Here's what happened. Kollie actually came in first for his interview. He didn't mention an injury. There was nothing visually that suggested one, and he has looked full-go in the practices periods the media has witnessed. Then Golden came in, and made his comment. It was an exceptionally short availability for him, so sneaking a follow-up in on the injury didn't happen. After asking around, we surmised Golden was talking big-picture and taking into account the old concussion issues and not anything recent. I chose to take that part of the comment out, as to not confuse the reader and try to speculate.

Jeff from Phoenix

12:22

Good morning Eric, my question is about the interviews and articles yesterday regarding Prince Kollie. In his comments, Al Golden said, among other things about PK, “We’ve got to get him healthy”. Then Prince himself said nothing about a current health problem and I couldn’t find anything in your article about PK and recent health issues. Are the problems that Golden is referencing the miscellaneous issues/concussion from 2022? Or is there something currently that Golden is referring to? Looking forward to PK really thriving this fall. Thanks-

Eric Hansen

12:22

Hi Len, thanks for tuning into Football Never Sleeps. ... to your question, I wouldn't anticipate the WR group hindering the passing game, but rather the opposite. So far that's what we're seeing in practice. One thing to keep an eye on in gauging your expectation is if a dominant "field receiver" emerges. That is a receiver who lines up to the wide side of the field who can take the top off a defense. That makes everyone in the offense better, including the running game. And that's why you want to keep an eye on Tobias Merriweather this spring, to see if he starts to become that player this season.

Len from the Jersey Shore

12:17

Hi Eric! Listening to you and Tyler on You Tube right now. Good show. A comment and a question. I was concerned about Al Golden and his adjustment back to coaching in college. I was glad during his interview he said he was reviewing last year to evaluate what defenses worked and what additional wrinkles might be needed. Hopefully along with the tweaks to the schemes that the D line emerges. My question was on WR's. There is legitimately a lot of talent based on various recruiting ratings. What about the WR's as a group could possibly stop the passing game from succeeding this upcoming season?

Eric Hansen

12:17

Mike, sometimes there are added responsibilities, but most often it means they've been given a raise. As Marcus Freeman mentioned recently, all 10 of his assistants generated interest this offseason from NFL teams or college teams and most elected to stay.

Mike from Rockville, MD

12:14

Hi, Eric! As always, thanks for the chats! I've seen BK give similar positions/titles to assistants of "Run Game Coordinator" and "Pass Game Coordinator." To me, this always smelled like adding a title to bloat someone's resume who might be looking to move up to OC or DC somewhere else. Am I naive? Do any added responsibilities come with these titles?

Eric Hansen

12:14

Hi Jason. You can take volume AND be selective simultaneously. They're not mutually exclusive concepts. I think the two guys they've secured commitments from so far, project more as inside guys. ND needs to get some tackles in the class. How many total will depend upon whether ND loses linemen to the transfer portal in May and whether they add a guard from the portal post-spring practice. Caleb Johnson has already expressed his desire to transfer and is no longer on the team, so that's already one additional prospect ND will want to add. I'm guessing the number will be around five total. Andrew Kristofic and Zeke Correll are the only two with expiring eligibility, but both Alt and Fisher will be draft-eligible and may have to make a tough decision next January.

Jason from Grand Rapids, Mi

12:09

Hey Eric. I saw the commitment of Anthonie Knapp. Along with Jones already in the fold does ND take as many OL as the past two years or will they be more selective going forward?

Eric Hansen

12:08

Hi Joey G. ... Well, I'm glad they didn't work peanut butter-and-banana sandwiches into the analogy. ... Jaden Greathouse came in as the most likely to see early action, and it could still turn out that way, but Rico Flores has impressed me the most so far in the small sample size. His burst, his fluidity, confidence ... just plays like he knows what he's doing and that he belongs. Braylon James has had his moments as well. Now, Saturday, we'll get to see a full practice, which I hope means some scrimmage periods and at least competitive situations. I'll update my opinion based on that, but I expect Flores to fare well.

Joey G. Philadelphia, Pa

12:04

Hi Eric, Hope all is well with you! Read a funny post the other day on BR. It went like this. The University of Notre Dame has become like Graceland. A tourist attraction nothing more nothing else. And the football team is like Elvis been dead for decades but still loved. Lol I've been hearing some good reports on freshman WR Rico Flores. Of the 3 freshman WR's who do you see as the one with a legitimate shot at a significant contribution?

Eric Hansen

Let's dive right in.

I'm in an exceptionally good mood today, so I am rescinding the "No Gambling" rule for today.

12:03

Please note the rules.

12:02

As for today's chat, please remember to include your NAME and HOMETOWN with your question(s).

A quick programming note:
► If you missed this week’s live episode of our weekly offseason Notre Dame Football YouTube show, Football Never Sleeps, you can catch up anytime on YouTube. In our latest episode, Tyler James and I discussed Notre Dame's first week of spring practice, what developments have been made, what questions still need to be answered along with the latest on the recruiting trail. And we answered viewer questions.

12:01

Greetings and welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat on a day that kind of actually feels like spring here in South Bend, Ind.

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