JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Nov. 14, 2019

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Nov. 14, 2019

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Eric Hansen

2:51

That's going to do it for today. Thanks for all the great questions. And thanks for not testing me too much with manifestos. I did avoid them, as I stated I would. We'll be back to do this all over again next Thursday, and then will have a special Black Friday chat for Stanford week.

2:49

Agreed.

Tim - Pleasant Prairie WI

2:49

Thanks for the reply on my Power 5 question. I know it won't fix everything, but I thought it was at least a start toward teams playing more challenging non-conference opponents rather than the ridiculous, cupcake teams we see some of them scheduling. On a positive note, it appears that this year's Committee is elevating SOS to a higher level than past committees have.

Eric Hansen

2:48

It's going to be a 50-50 split with Wisconsin both in Green Bay in 2020 and Chicago in 2021.

Ed in Louis

2:48

As a home game, how hard will Wisconsin Tix be next year via lottery. Will ND get most of the tickets?

Eric Hansen

2:48

sean, I do think Brian Kelly has his admirers, but I don't think they're as loud as his detractors ... at least not on social media. I think the perception of him would change if he won a national title. I know getting to the playoff changed the way a lot of national media perceived him.

Sean - Colorado

2:46

Eric - thank you for your reporting and this forum.

Saturday’s win against Duke was the 88th for Brian Kelly at Notre Dame. This surpasses Leahy, and puts him less than a half of a season away from Ara. The current team is also 29-6 over the past 2.75 seasons. With two more wins, this team matches Holtz’s run from 91-93 (31-5-1). Win out and win the bowl game, and the team matches the 88-90 run for most wins over three seasons. There is a lot of noise thrown at BK. In your opinion, why isn't he getting any shout outs as he climbs the ND coaching ladder?

Eric Hansen

2:46

Mike, if I could get those figures, I'd share them. It's something worth looking into, but I think your instincts are going to be correct about a private school wanting to and being able to keep things private.

michael

2:45

Mike from Voorhessville, NY .Maybe a little off target for a chat, but a long time reader. Have you ever written an article on what costs ND travel entails. You see all these articles on the big pay days creampuff teams get paid to visit, but I always wondered with planes, hotels, buses, food, cheerleaders, bands, etc what does it really cost to take ND on the road.
I know ND is a private school so it may not be that easy to get an accurate figure but thought it might be an interesting article sometime. Keep up the good work

Eric Hansen

2:44

Cherry Grove near year is one of my favorite places on this planet. I'm envious of you ... even if it's cold there right now.

Patinmbsc

2:44

Eric, you're a wise man ! It is Myrtle Beach and it's freezing. I enjoyed the VA Tech game this year. Just got thawed out from that and now I'm froze again

Eric Hansen

2:44

For those arguing that particular point, yes. But we have seen three non-champs make the field (including ND) and one of those win the national title. .. You should be confused. There's a lot of incorrect analysis by people who should know better out there... Thanks for the kind words, bu the way.

Tom from Virginia

2:42

Eric, thanks for the chats. You are absolutely the best in the business. I've heard many times that Notre Dame should not be considered for a spot in the CFP due to their lack of a conference affiliation and therefore no conference championship game. Perhaps I'm confused, but does that argument imply that a team would also have to win or at least be involved in the conference championship game to be considered for the CFP? Alabama for example this year.

Eric Hansen

2:41

Navy.

Steve Findlay Ohio

2:41

Which will be a more formidable opponent, BC or Navy?

Eric Hansen

2:41

Chuck, I'll let your opening statement stand, since you didn't ask me to comment on it and I've answered similar big-picture questions from others in recent chats. So to your questions. I don't think there's been any restrictions on how open the playbook has been and opening it further I wouldn't think would ensure a 10-2 finish. Most important is running, stopping the run and winning the turnover battles in games against Navy, BC and Stanford. ... as far as wide receiver recruiting, it needed to pick up and it has in both the 2020 and 2021 cycles.

chuck @ Brigantine, NJ

2:38

Hope that you had that well deserved Martini after last week's Chat! After watching LSU-ALA, we devoted Irish fans may want to resign ourselves to the fact that a Top 10 finish annually is more realistic and positive than a NC. The top 4 teams have too much overall speed and ... too much creativity in scheme and adjustments. Urban might make us better due to his creativity but not a NC. Lets all feel better and relieve the stress when we lower our expectations. Questions, oh Great One: Will the Irish open up the playbook to finish 10-2 or not, given the O-Line woes/injuries? Do speed receiver recruits feel that ND is an opportunity for them or a negative if they commit --- 2 questions, sorry, enjoy a toast to a close Irish victory over Navy!

Eric Hansen

2:37

Fred, thanks. I haven't seen enough of C'Bo to invest in more carries than I'd give to Jones, Armstrong, Smith or Davis. He played well against Duke, but can he catch the ball? That's an important skill set in Chip Long's offense for running backs. So what I'm saying is I'm not buying or selling on him right now. I need to see more in the spring.

Fred K from Richmond Va.

2:35

Mr. Hansen, As you can see I have great respect for your journalism, every time I see Cibo Flemster with the ball in his hands it is exciting, why is he not getting the ball more often. He has an incredible ability to follow his blockers and make explosive cuts off of his blocks. I know there are two other backs who are ahead of him but sometimes you just have to get the best talent on the field. I think a back like him helps open up the offense just like what we saw from Book running the way he did against Duke. Has anyone mentioned this to Coach Kelly?

Eric Hansen

2:34

I think I said Tuitt, though Tillery could hold his own. I'm not sure how Hinish matches up with the triple-option. He has one tackle in two Navy games in his career. Lacey mike make sense, but I think Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa may have a really strong aptitude for playing well against it.

Erik (Granger, IN)

2:33

Thanks for being here! You mentioned on the podcast that we don't have a Jerry Tillery on the team to blow up the center and take away the fullback dive. What about Jacob Lacey? He's obviously not Tillery, but could this be a game where his physicality will help, or do you think the team will ride Hinish in that role?

Eric Hansen

2:28

thanks

Patinmbsc

2:28

Great insight on the conference situation.

Eric Hansen

2:28

When the starter has been struggling, as Ian at times has, I would say investing in getting the starter right makes sense and takes precedence over all.

Joe from Georgia

2:27

Long and Kelly seem to have decided to call planned QB runs more consistently, which necessarily increases risk to Book's person. Yet, they once again kept him out there well after the game was decided. Your thoughts, please, on the extended playing time for the starting QB all season, despite the risks, and the need for a back-up to gain game experience.

Eric Hansen

2:26

Chad. Thanks for the kind words and the question. I would say the differences between ND and some of the other schools you mentioned are access, coaches' personalities, the degree of commitment by those schools to traditional media. It's great to cover a school where football matters.

Chad From Denver

2:20

Eric, I like your work and I'm glad you continue to write about the boys at the Bend. Is there anything different about your job covering Irish football than say someone covering other big programs like USC, Georgia, or Michigan? I realize this might be difficult to speak to but just curious to see the college football world a little more through your professional lens.

Eric Hansen

2:19

Pat, I'm going to assume mbsc is Myrtle Beach? I don't think he said they're not top-rated opponents, but in ND's tiered pricing system, they are not premium opponents. Simple as that. The game in Ireland is Navy's home game, not ND's. It's their choice to stage that game where they want.

Patinmbsc

2:19

Hi Eric. AD Swarbrick said in a recent release that Virginia Tech Navy and BC are not top rated opponents. I find those comments condescending and too be honest, insulting. If Navy is not a top draw, don't move it to Ireland next year and go to Annapolis instead of all over the place. His comments don't line up with any reasoning. Your thoughts.

Eric Hansen

2:19

2:16

There are three things that could coax ND to join a conference. 1. Losing access to playing for a national title in football. 2. Losing a place to house their basketball teams and Olympic sports teams. 3. The end of the NBC contract and nothing to take its place. THAT'S IT.

Remember, if ND gets snubbed (and they didn't last season) in a playoff berth scenario, we aren't that far away likely from an eight-team playoff. So then access wouldn't be an issue.

ND's grant of rights deal with the ACC means if it joins a conference in the next two decades, it would have to be the ACC.

2:11

Jeff, I do get asked about this a lot, but you had a different wrinkle in it, so here goes one more time.

Jeff B from Oklahoma City

2:10

Eric, My question is about Notre Dame joining a conference. Would there ever be a scenario or trigger that would move Notre Dame to join a conference? Not making the CFP with an undefeated season and good strength of schedule? If that ever happened is it a slam dunk they move in to the ACC or would they make another move? I have never thought the ACC made sense and the Big 10 would be a better fit if they ever did that.

Eric Hansen

2:10

Joe. I think the QB thing is fluid, but as of today, I'd say both QBs return. I think if Brendon Clark jumped over Phil, that would make for a different dynamic as far as Phil is concerned. ... Unless Kevin Austin steps out of his path to reinstatement, I would expect him to be a starting wide receiver next season.

Joe Williams Bay Wi

2:08

Hi Eric Great insight as always My question is do you think that if Ian Book returns next year does Phil Jurkovic transfer and what do you see as the status of Kevin Austin going forward

Eric Hansen

2:08

Sean, I'm sure there are a lot of film junkies who'd agree with you. It's interesting. Ken Kareem, Khalid's dad, does drills with his son in which Khalid is blatantly held, so he can deal with that reality from a physical and mental standpoint and not let it stop him.

Sean from Oahu

2:05

Eric - maybe I’m just being a homer, but it seems like opponents o-lines are getting away with constant blatant holding against our d-line. Does anyone else not see this?

Eric Hansen

2:05

Ken, thank you. From pure on-field achievement, it'd say Nick Rassass, who went on to be an All-America safety. For a variety of reasons, on and off the field and what he's done since his ND days, I would say Pete Schivarelli.

Ken-Pensacola

2:02

Eric- As always “Great” chats! In your estimation, who is the best “walk-on” player ever to play at ND?

Eric Hansen

1:53

i'll take the over. Especially if ND can play with the lead.

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