JotCast | Notre Dame Live Chat May 25, 2022

Notre Dame Live Chat May 25, 2022

Eric Hansen

3:14

OK, that's going to have to do it for today. I've got another commitment coming up. Thanks for all the great questions. With all the big recruiting weekends ND has coming up in June, we'll do a couple of these next month.

3:13

Bob, it's not that Notre Dame won't provide avenues for five-star athletes to make money on their name, image and likeness once they get to Notre Dame. It's that they won't offer money as an inducement to sign. Those are two different things. One is within the rules. One is not. The 2023 recruiting cycle is like nothing we've ever seen. 2024 may have an even different dynamic. So for me to talk in absolutes would be disingenuous. But ND is on a trajectory to have its best recruiting class since the Holtz/Vinny Cerrato years. So in an incomplete sample size, Marcus's formula is working. As far as national title vs. development of championship people, Marcus Freeman is of the opinion it's not one of the other. it's both. Is he right? We're going to find out soon.

Guest

3:05

Bob, Lansing. Eric the NCAA came about because the universities could/would not regulate themselves. The NCAA has been a self serving dysfunctional organization that has arbitrarily punished some schools/individual athletes while ignoring others. With all the guard rails off with NIL, plus the ongoing side deals it now seems that a school like Notre Dame trying to sell the 40 yr. investment with a real degree is largely out of the hunt for the 5 stars who see coming out of high school millions to be first and last an athlete. Wonder if you truly think that Coach Freeman can sell enough of the top 5 stars consistently to be student/athletes without providing the big $? And is it truly important to win national championships or to develop champion people of mind, body, spirit.

Eric Hansen

3:05

Pete, thanks for the feedback on the series. Part 2 comes Friday, Part 3 early next week and Part 4 late next week. NIL makes my body hurt too sometimes. To sustain, all the things you mentioned in your question, PLUS evolving with NIL (sorry) as it evolves. That means doing it within the rules but ND continuing to seek out new inititatives that maximize opportunities for its student-atheltes. The second part of it is win. If ND becomes a perennial 8-4 team, Marcus Freeman isn't going to come ff as quite as charming.

Pete Cuozzo ND ‘82, Naples FL

3:00

Hi Eric, last week was 40 years since my ND graduation. We didn’t know how to spell “NIL” in those days. I wanted to ask you an NIL question today but I got too stomach sick attempting it. So on to “recruiting, recruiting, recruiting” (excellent Part One in your Big Picture series BTW). What do you see the Irish having to do to SUSTAIN the recruiting success/momentum we’ve achieved under MF’s leadership (e.g., casting a wide net, multi-coach interaction with a recruit, early offers, etc.)? Thanks…as always.

Eric Hansen

3:00

Damon, shoot me your email, because I need to ask someone at ND. I know some of the players have an email listed for NIL inquiries on their Twitter or Instagram accouints, but a lot of them do not. My email is ehansen@insidendsports.com. Good question.

Damon from Nashville

2:58

Eric, thanks for doing these chats. Speaking of NIL, what is the best way (if I was interested in obtaining a player’s autogragh, for example), to go about doing that?

Eric Hansen

2:55

If they were to circle back to committed QBs who are lite and who they's possibly have a shot at, I'd look at Jackson Arnold.

Cheryl from Royse City texas

2:53

If ND doesn’t land Moore, which QB should ND try to get???

Eric Hansen

2:53

Tony, I have to be honest with you. I should have left this question in the queue. Usually when the overture is happening, I'm making a mad dash for the men's room. Maybe one of other chatheads can help. I know there have been times where the students made the L for Lou and the W for Wlllingham. M's and F's (for Marcus Freeman) seem like more of a challenge. Maybe just a generic chop?

Tony, lake Mary, fl

2:46

Hey Eric, glad to have these back. Hope you got a breather. My question I likely item 4782 in your to-do list, but do you what hand signal the stadium is supposed to make during the playing of the 1812 overture at the beginning of the 4th quarter. This is the one where we make the gesture of the initials, or some variation of them, and move your hands up and down with the time of the piece? I have been trying to play around with some options

Eric Hansen

2:46

Tom. I haven't asked (but I will), and I think it's kind of a cool idea that doesn't take away from the team dynamic.

Tom from Miami

2:45

Eric, do you think ND will put the players names on the jerseys? Seems like a great idea considering NIL opportunities.

Eric Hansen

2:45

Jose, in answering your question, I am not co-signing on some of the phrasing in it. I disagree, but let me answer it. First, let's see how ND finishes the 2023 cycle. If they end up with a top 3 class, does that make the question irrelevant? Second, it's not just about the admissions bar. If you let someone in Notre Dame who can't compete in the classroom or doesn't have the motor to work hard for it, then what do you gain when they flunk out in a year? Notre Dame -- and this includes the coaching staff -- evaluates a prospect's desire and ability to compete in the classroom. There aren't "jock" majors to hide in. So to admit someone who isn't a fit is a disservice to the academic mission as well as to that individual.

Jose from Albuquerque, NM

2:33

Eric, thank you for taking my question. I've asked two previous questions in the chats mostly centered around NIL/portal. You've graciously answered both questions and the theme of both answers centered around NIL not really being the issue, transfer credits, etc being the bigger concern. Jack Swarbrick echoed that in a recent interview. I'm anxious to hear your personal opinion on the following: Why does Notre Dame pretend its student athletes are the same as the students who get in based solely on academic achievement? If the university would be willing to admit that the vast majority of scholarship athletes wouldn't be admitted to the school if it wasn't for football (IE solely on academic achievement), why are they creating a "worst of both worlds" situation where you handicap yourself just enough to not be able to recruit the kids who could win a national championship but are lenient enough where the kids you do grant admission to in large part aren't on par academically with a "normal" student?

Eric Hansen

2:32

Because the implication is that NIL was applied for direct pay-for-play. And while there may be some legal loopholes, it's not as the rule was intended to be used. Jimbo is offended over the suggestion that A&M is doing something unsavory.

David - NY

My question. Why is Jimbo Fisher so irate about the Saban statements and news narrative about his recruiting class? Nothing illegal (I don’t think) and I was impressed reading about how organized they were with NIL packages. So why is he so insistent on trying to tell people NIL didn’t play a role in recruiting?

2:30

Thanks as always for these chats!

Eric Hansen

2:30

Ok Roger with no hometown. If you're talking about training camp? That starts in August. If you're talking about summer school? That starts June 13. The players have limited time with the coaches in the summer, some OTAs in June. But most of their time is spent with director of football performance Matt Balis in the weight room and then conducting players-only practice sessions with no pads.

Roger

2:25

When does summer camp start?

Eric Hansen

2:25

Joey, it doesn't sound like you're making predictions for entertainment purposes only. The trick in making season win total predictions is projecting. Tyler Buchner's not going to be the QB he was last year. Neither is the offensive line. But determining HOW MUCH better is the secret sauce. And August training camp will provide additional information on ND and other teams. Right now I have ND as a 10-2 team. My mind may change in August.

Joey G. Philadelphia, Pa

2:20

Hi Eric, I’ve seen lately on some sites game predictions on upcoming season for Norte Dame. They range from 9-3 to 11-1. I can understand the optimism for the defense, but I have some doubts on offense. O line will need to be vastly improved from last year. Receiving corps needs to be healthy and show dramatic improvement from last year. Then there’s the QB. If it’s Buchner he’ll need to improve on his passing in order to match production of Coan from last year. So looking at what production we have coming back and the inexperience at QB. I’ll say 7-5 with losses being Ohio St, BYU,Clemson, USC and Northb

Eric Hansen

2:20

OK Matt. All six of those guys you mentioned -- and that's Jason Moore for those who are wondering -- are scheduled to visit in June. Freeling, Moore and Tease are coming the weekend (June 10-12) that all the previously committed 2023 guys are coming. That could move up a timeline or two. Greathouse and Bell come in the next weekend, with Jagusah likely coming for a weekday visit after that. I'd say of those five Moore is probably closest to a decision. Jagusah wants to take all his visits. I don't see these six dragging things into the fall.

Matt from LA

2:08

do you have any insight on timelines for guys like Jagusah, Freeling, J Moore, Greathouse, Bell, and Tease?

Eric Hansen

2:07

I went through that earlier, but I wanted to mention that freshman Billy Schrauth -- who should be fully healthy come June -- may have the highest ceiling of any guard on the roster. But he is a true freshman.

Steve From DFW

2:05

Hi! How will our Guard lineup shake out? Crowded with 3 who all need to play! Thanks!

Eric Hansen

2:04

Hugh, Notre Dame is in a holding pattern at WR. There are rumblings about perhaps 2023 WR commit Braylon James reclassifying and playing this fall, but I think that's really remote and I don't think it's a great idea. As fas as Tobias, he's smart, confident, mature and fast. He's recently run a 10.93 100 and has been under 22 seconds in the 200. My questions would be does he have the physicality and can he assimilate the playbook quickly? I'd bet on him not against him for both. But realistically how much production is a freshman wide receiver going to give you? If he can get you 15-20 catches, that's significant.

Hugh Jaynus, Brown Gap TN

1:59

With regards to depth at WR, are the Irish still pursuing transfer portal candidates or is the roster essentially set at that position. Also, what do we think the probability is that Tobias Merriweather is able to secure some playing time this fall? Thx!

Eric Hansen

1:59

Hi Frank, thank you. I've got the Xavier Watts bug too, am fascinated by his career path to this point. The fact he wasn't flipped back to receiver in the spring (and he had the choice) speaks to both his and the coaching staff's belief in his future at safety. Joseph, Brown and Griffith all could be gone in 2023, which means Henderson and Watts likely as the starters that season, with Justin Walters, Peyton Bowen, etc., providing some quality depth. When I talk to other ND players (on offense), they rave about his tackling and physicality. The area that needs the most work is coverage, which will come with experience. Safeties coach Chris O'Leary believes he can play at least five in a rotation. So Watts would be a part of that plan.

Frank Leehung, Timberland NH

1:51

I hope all is well. My question relates to Xavier Watts, who became one of my favorite defensive athletes to watch late in the season last year. A dynamic playmaker with the ability to come up and play run support as well as provide a strong, fluid presence in coverage. With new blood in the secondary in Joseph, veterans like Griffith remaining, and other younger emerging talent at the position, how do you anticipate Watts' role panning out this upcoming season? Has there been any sense of how he is being used thus far through x amount of practices and live looks? Also, excited to see Ramon Henderson play more and continue to develop haha! Good things on the horizon..

Eric Hansen

1:51

Tom, thanks for sharing your story. ... I was floored when Brandon Joseph told me about his credit transfer ordeal. I can understand setting high standards, but there needs to be reason applied. And I believe from talking to Jack Swarbrick that he feels it's his job to talk to the deans and look at the credits with a more open mind -- not compromise standards, but look at them more fairly.

Tom from Maryland

1:45

One thing that really shocked me in part one of the Big Picture Series was the comment about the player who transferred from Northwestern. You implied that some of his credits did not align with the admission department at ND. If this is the case with Northwestern than ND needs to make some changes in admissions policy. He wasn't coming from some institution that offered "basket weaving." I have some personal experience with this issue. In 1980 I decided I wanted to transfer from my college to another one. I had taken Financial and Intermediate Accounting and received an A in both classes. The school I wanted to attend would not accept these credits even though they used the same textbooks that I had used. I was indignant and thought it was preposterous. I concluded the school was run by elite snobs. I took my Division II ability to a different school and received my degree from them.

Eric Hansen

1:44

Favorite food at a BBQ? 1. A boneless ribeye steak, medium rare and 2. Ribs. Sides? 1. Baked beans. 2. Mac N Cheese with a close third bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers on the grill.

1:42

Tom. I hope you have a great summer yourself. ... I think one of the reasons Marcus Freeman didn't frame the spring quarterback competition as Tyler Buchner's to lose was so that the team could see who the better QB was when each was on equal footting with equal opportunity. ... As far as getting off to a good start, that certainly builds confidence. And given that the best four defenses in 2022 (based on 2021 rankings) could be in games 8-11. So he's going to have to be better in November when he is in September. The qualities that playoff quarterbacks share are a very high passing efficiency ranking and minimal turnovers. Think top 15 nationally in passing efficiency. I do think Buchner has the respect of his teammates. And I think Pyne does too for his work ethic and attitude. (more)

Tom, Kennesaw, GA

1:31

Hi Eric, I hope that you have a great summer. Confidence by a team in the team's QB is an important factor in the overall success of any given season. Do you think that Tyler Buchner has shown enough in his play thus far to generate that confidence? Given his role as a backup last season if he wins the starting job as most expect how important do you think that it will be for him to get off to a good start in the first 3-4 games? Even with a possible loss at OSU, what do you expect him to see in his play that says he is a playoff caliber QB? I am presuming that he is well respected by his teammates, what do you say? Thanks again for all of your hard work to give us the news behind the scenes. What is your favorite food and two sides at a summer cookout??? Mine are burgers with dogs a close second. The sides are a good potato salad and baked beans. Go Irish!!!

Eric Hansen

1:30

Coah Matt. Longtime recruiting analyst Tom Lemming (he's older than me!) tells me constantly, being a great recruiter starts with hard work and perseverance. I'll add to that the ability to evaluate talent and fit, the ability to build strong relationships — where it's very difficult for a prospect to tell you no, the ability to build trust and .. authenticity. Kids can spot a phony. Every recruit we talk to lauds Marcus Freeman for his genuine interest in their lives beyond football and the frequency he keeps in touch.

Matt from Kansas City, MO

1:24

Coach Hansen, can you help me understand better what makes a "dynamic" recruiter. I hear all about this coach is a dynamic or (insert synonym here) recruiter. I imagine all coaches talk to prospects and travel, what makes someone like Al Washington or Tommy Rees, or Marcus Freeman really stand out from peers?

Eric Hansen

1:23

Len. Thanks for the feedback on the OSU podcast. ... Nick Saban used the word parity, but his issue was cheating. The misue of NIL. That was his accusation and I see it. I think a lot of people can get behind that concept. Where it got ugly was in Jimbo's denying there was cheating, Jimbo Fisher implied Alabama was doing some of that PRE-NIL and that he had evidence of such.

Len from the Jersey Shore

1:12

Hi Eric, Thanks for hosting. I was trying to get a head start on the first game of the season so I found Buckeye talk and listened to see what they were saying about the Sept 3 game. And guess who was their guest. None other than Eric Hansen. It was a fun listen. Good job by you as always. My question is a general college football one concerning the recent verbal feud between Saban and Jimbo. Years ago Wellington Mara, the owner of the football Giants, agreed to share revenue with the entire NFL. The Giants could get, as the New York team, a lot more money than other franchises. The SEC did a phenomenal marketing job and put forth a great business model to promote that conference creating money and notoriety for its members. And now Saban is concerned about parity as soon as another team leverage has passed his. Is he trying to head off the money from Stanford tech billionaires? Isn't he a little late to the parity party? Your thoughts?

Eric Hansen

1:12

Let's say he does not. What do you do with Correll? Play him at center when Patterson comes back healthy and move perhaps the best returning center in college football to guard? Or keep Patterson at center and let Correll and Kristofic battle it out at left guard, which happened last year? Harry told me in the spring Rocco Spindler is also good enough where he could overtake an established guard, but it hadn't happened by the end of the spring. I'm not sure Josh Lugg lit the world on fire in spring, but he was physically compromised at times. I like Patterson at center calling out protections and fronts. We'll see if HH agrees. But the guard battles, however they play out, are going to be interesting.

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