After three weeks of virtually “no news,” Notre Dame dropped all kinds of knowledge on us in a matter of hours. Your Emperor has been busy updating the Subway Domer Death Star with a state of the art bathroom and other things of that nature. In fact, when the news dropped about Tee Shepard, I was loading up the truck with 2 X 4’s. Manly shit.
I did record a podcast to “catch up” on all of the news, but after an intense recording session fueled by peach schnapps, Irish Mist, and a few bottles of Rolling Rock that were apparently older than Jack Nolan- I couldn’t publish it. It was crap, and you deserve better. (That’s saying a lot about how bad it was if you have ever listened to the podcasts before).
So, here is what I’m thinking about:
#NotreDame received commitment from WR James Onwualu. On the phone with I'm now. "Notre Dame was a strong school all the way for me."
— Jason Sapp (@Jason_Sapp) March 14, 2012
You know, I’ll wait to comment on this one in the SD Recruiting Notebook. It’ll be another chance to break out the Subway Domer Stripper, “Diamond,” and that’s where this type of talk belongs.
Moving on…
Tee Shepard is no longer enrolled at #NotreDame and has returned home to his family in Fresno, Calif.
— Brian Hardin (@DrakeADHardin) March 15, 2012
I can’t make that sound any better than it does already. This sucks donkey dick for sure. There are no CONCRETE answers as to why Shepard is no longer enrolled at ND, and to be honest; it doesn’t really matter as to the “why.” What matters now is what Notre Dame does moving forward.
This past recruiting class NEEDED at least 2 cornerbacks and the target number from the staff was 3. Now, ND added ZERO cornerbacks to a team that desperately needed to build depth in the secondary. A lot of people were already penciling in a position change for Eilar Hardy (from safety to corner), but now I think we can write that with a black sharpie and highlight it.
Although this is a big blow to an improving defense, there is really no known quantative. How much did we really know about Tee, who sat out his entire senior season in HS, as opposed to Jalen Brown who took a redshirt with the Irish? I would argue that Brown would have had a bigger impact this season as opposed to Tee. A year in the program has much more weight than a guy that hadn’t played REAL football since fall of 2010.
Depth is going to be a major concern for the 2012 season, and there is no real veteran in this group. I just don’t care about the “why” here because there is too much needed moving forward. A position that was looking dicey, got weaker for 2012- and beyond.
The NCAA has approved the waiver request by #NotreDame allowing Amir Carlisle to be eligible for competition in the 2012 football season.
— Brian Hardin (@DrakeADHardin) March 15, 2012
This is great news that was almost immediately followed with the, “awesome… Can he play corner?” response by fans across the web. Adding Amir to the mix right away, gives the ND staff a chance to sort out the depth chart at RB and Slot receiver a bit more and earlier.
I’m not the biggest fan of the RB’s and slot guys being coached by the same position coach (Alford). It’s not Alford that I doubt, it’s the overall scheme and message that it sends. For the record, I like my running backs 6’2″ 220 pounds- regardless of scheme. ND doesn’t have that. What we have, is Cierre Wood and a bunch of other guys. Does Riddick stay at RB for his last year? Does Atkinson move to the slot? Does Mahoney see early PT? Where do you put Russell in the fall?
Without Amir, these questions still exist, but now this helps the staff move forward with a better idea of what they want to do- even if we as fans don’t have a clue as to what that is.
The 83rd Annual Blue-Gold Spring Football Game at #NotreDame will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network at 1:30 pm ET on Sat., April 21.
— Brian Hardin (@DrakeADHardin) March 15, 2012
I thought this was already pretty well known. At any rate, it’s official now. The spring game should have been televised starting about 4 or 5 years ago. I’m glad that this appears to be an annual thing. There is one drawback though… It’s just weird to see ND Stadium only about a quarter full on television. Hopefully the weather matches what we have been seeing lately and attendance is decent.
Every #NotreDame home game, except for the Michigan game, will air on NBC at 3:30 pm ET. The Michigan game will be at 7:30 pm ET.
— Brian Hardin (@DrakeADHardin) March 15, 2012
This is good for a couple reasons:
- All of Notre Dame’s home afternoon games are at 3:30. None of that 2:30 or 4:30 bullshit.
- Notre Dame is playing a home night game for the second year in a row.
I think we all kind of knew that Notre Dame was going to have a night game this year, and it would be for the Michigan game. While this is certainly good news, and I forsee one night game a year at home from here on out… I do hope that they mix it up in the future. I don’t want Michigan & USC to alternate every year. Michigan State, BC, PITT… One or two of those three should be tossed in.
I’m not sure if ND & the Skunkbears will do another round of those throwbacks, but I’m down for one more.
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And that just about does it. I’m all caught up, and ready to roll. SPRING BALL IN FOUR DAYS SON!!!!!
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