The National University of Notre Dame

[irishunclebill]

As Notre Dame fans we often bemoan, and rightfully so, the negative attention that is shown to the Notre Dame football program on a national basis. However, we often forget that it is that same national attention that also makes the Notre Dame football program the most popular program in the country with the most extensive and geographically diverse fan base.

Nowhere is that more evident than in national recruiting. The current 2008 class of 17 Notre Dame football recruits hail from 12 different states, California, Illinois, Indiana, Georgia, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio, and Oregon. Every geographic region of the country with the exception of the Southwest is represented on this group. 5 are from the Midwest, 4 from the West Coast, 4 from the South, 3 from the Mid-Atlantic, and 1 from New England.

No other school in the current Rivals Top 10 rankings comes even close to this either in terms of states or regions represented by their current recruits.

UCLA- 21 recruits, 20 from CA, 1 from TX.

Texas- 19 recruits, 18 from TX, 1 from CO.

Texas A&M- 19 recruits, 18 from TX, 1 from CA.

Georgia- 17 recruits, 9 from GA, 2 from NC, 2 from FL, 2 from AL, 1 each from SC & VA.

Oklahoma- 15 recruits, 11 from TX, 1 each from OK, NM, NJ, & GA.

Nebraska- 14 recruits, 5 from NE, 3 from CA, 1 each from MO, CO, ND, OH, TX, & IA.

Florida State- 12 recruits, 9 from FL, 2 from PA, 1 from VA.

USC- 10 recruits, 9 from CA, 1 from TX.

Ohio State- 9 recruits, 6 from OH, 1 each from PA, TX, & FL.


Nebraska with 8 states represented has the second most diverse geographic group of the Top 10, but 9 of their 14 recruits are from the Midwest. Georgia has 6 states represented, but all of their recruits are from the South. The rest of the Top 10 is dominated by home state recruits except Oklahoma which is dominated by Texas recruits.


In 5 short months Charlie Weis and Corwin Brown have assembled a very impressive and diverse group of recruits that not only reflect their outstanding recruiting skills, but also reflect the tremendous national appeal of the University they represent, and in only his 3rd full year of recruiting Charlie Weis has firmly re-established Notre Dame as the pre-eminent national recruiting power.

[notredomer23]

Great post IUB. realistically, we can have recruits from 15 different states by NSD. Atleast 14 different states probably garunteed(Floyd Minnesota and Brown Florida.

[NDGirlzRock]

That's one of the best qualities of ND football. I think it represents a more balanced and true picture of what our society should be today. Diverse and focused on the education of the young man before just funneling them through the preverbial football factory model of many other institutions. ND creates individuals that play football, not just the one dimensional approach adopted by the other big programs. Rock-on-Irish!!!!

[NDChatt]

If we had Brown last year, would we have gotten Chris Donald and Ben Martin? I hope next year the look back and see what they could have been a part of kick themselves for not comming our way.

[scooper]

If we had Brown last year, would we have gotten Chris Donald and Ben Martin? I hope next year the look back and see what they could have been a part of kick themselves for not comming our way.It's not like they went to a program not known for defense. Those Tennessee boys can get after the ball. So no, they probably won't be kicking themselves as they are in a decent situation.

To answer your question, it's hard to say what would have happened had Brown been there from day one. I'd like to think he would have landed them.

Two big contributing factors to losing those guys were the poor showing in the Sugar Bowl and the canning of the Minter, who had been their lead recruiter. So, in essence, bringing in Brown may have cost those two-though we can't argue that it wasn't the right move. We basically traded those two players for every guy Brown has landed and will continue to land.

[NDChatt]

It's not like they went to a program not known for defense. Those Tennessee boys can get after the ball. So no, they probably won't be kicking themselves as they are in a decent situation.

To answer your question, it's hard to say what would have happened had Brown been there from day one. I'd like to think he would have landed them.

Two big contributing factors to losing those guys were the poor showing in the Sugar Bowl and the canning of the Minter, who had been their lead recruiter. So, in essence, bringing in Brown may have cost those two-though we can't argue that it wasn't the right move. We basically traded those two players for every guy Brown has landed and will continue to land.

As far as kicking themselves, I am talking about how ut and ND's football programs are going in different directions. Living in TN, I read an article everyday that has something to do with the decline of their program. The biggest stat that is thrown out is the fact they have not won the sec east in 5 or six years, they haven't won the sec in 8 years, made a BCS game in 6 years or come close to a title since 1998. A lot of people would like to see Fulmer fired. I think the administration at ut is starting to feel the pressure from donors also. The evidence is that Fulmer was the only football coach and major sports coach that did not get a raise this year, while all of his staff did. I feel ut is nothing more than average in the sec. As for ND, we all know where our program is headed. We are gaining ground in recruiting and posted 2 consecutive 10 win seasons. We may not hit the 10 win mark this season, but we are young.
I did not know that Minter had that much to do with Donald and Martin.

[scooper]

Tennessee will be fine. Their recent fall has been nothing like what ND went through. Their recruiting hit a resurgence last year and they should start to see results on the field soon enough. The return of Cutcliffe helps. Look what he did with Ainge last season.

And yes, Minter was the lead recruiter for both of those players. I don't think either looked favorably on his firing based on their relationships with him. But who knows how strong of a relationship Brown may have built? Also, maybe his defense would not have been torched back to back by USC and LSU the way Minter's was. Those showings also contributed to losing Donald and Martin.


But again, I'll trade Donald and Marting for Corwin Brown and all of his current and future recruits. I'll make that trade any day of the week.

[NDChatt]

ut has a lot of holes to fill and the other SECE teams are just getting stronger (UF,UGA,SC). Anyway enough about ut I hope they lose every game they play.

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Good post IUB, but keep in mind...there's enuf talent in TX, CA, and FL so that they often don't need to look elsewhere, whereas we do need their states.

[mlcspinner]

that's one of the many things that makes ND great we are a " National U. " it's not just a bunch of local kids wanting to play for tx or someother college.


Go ND

[irishunclebill]

Good post IUB, but keep in mind...there's enuf talent in TX, CA, and FL so that they often don't need to look elsewhere, whereas we do need their states.

Which puts ND in the same boat as schools in 47 other states who do not match what ND and CW/CB have accomplished this year. Michigan especially has to recruit on a national level to compete every year, and head to head with ND they are getting smoked. Also, let's not kid ourselves, Urbie & the Poodle are looking all over the country, not just CA & FL. Their trick is to let the other guys do all the work and try to come in after the fact to poach a few national recruits.

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I think we grabbed the huge FSU pipe and smoked 'em all with it.

(Although look for FSU to get better also)

[rontdtarchala]

thats right and thats why its important to have a good class early so as to draw the other elite players to you...elites want to play with elites...one or two may give you another win or two it takes a strong class over all to create a national champion

[paddyman]

I have noticed that USC and Florida tend to wait later on in the recruiting year before accepting verbals. Has anyone else noticed this, and could someone provide info on that. Is that they are holding out waiting for the eleites to make choices?

[rontdtarchala]

that and in some cases to see who they are going to try and poach

[paddyman]

that and in some cases to see who they are going to try and poach

Obviously you will say Trattou to my next question, but IYO, whoelse have Pete and Urban "poached"?

IMO until LOI day, no recruit is off the market and all are fair game, unless they explicitly say so. Even then it is my experience that recruits still get stuf ffrom colleges they are no longer interested in. I believe CW did that last year to a couple of players (walker and a LB from Iowa i think).

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Our recruits were in a far different situation than one would call poaching.

[rontdtarchala]

hey hey hey now, I don't hack on too many coaches very often give me my little moments...I can't be the nice guy all the time...lol besides I can out fish any of them.....

[paddyman]

hey hey hey now, I don't hack on too many coaches very often give me my little moments...I can't be the nice guy all the time...lol besides I can out fish any of them.....

Thats ok. I just really dont get the "poaching" argument at all. I have never found anyone who can convince me what happened last year was a matter of poaching.

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Is Zooked a word?

[paddyman]

Is Zooked a word?

i think that is appropriate in the sense that the recruits were bamboozled.
yes i agree that Wlison and Benn were "zooked". Although he was an awesome recruiter at Florida, jsut could not coach.:)

[rontdtarchala]

I am one that thinks if a recruite wants to hear from other schools after verbing you can still stay in contact...I also think a prospect should remain just that till they are sure of their choice...and I think the way coach has done it this year is the best way...if you're looking so are we!

[NDGirlzRock]

Is Zooked a word?

I think you add Zooked to the official ND word list, along with Scum, Skunkbears, USCless, Bluckeyes, Bucknuts, Poodle, and so forth. Isms are isms! Rock-on-Irish!!!

[paddyman]

I am one that thinks if a recruite wants to hear from other schools after verbing you can still stay in contact...I also think a prospect should remain just that till they are sure of their choice...and I think the way coach has done it this year is the best way...if you're looking so are we!

I agree. I love the policy that CW has in place. Hopefully, the kids honor it.

[irishunclebill]

I gave Nebraska too much credit for geographical diversity as their last 4 recruits are all JUCO's which need to be eliminated for an apples to apples comparison. 3 of the JUCO's are from CA, and the other from North Dakota. Take them out of the equation and Nebraska's High School recruits are from 6 states with 8 of the 10 recruits from the Midwest.

[scooper]

I think you add Zooked to the official ND word list, along with Scum, Skunkbears, USCless, Bluckeyes, Bucknuts, Poodle, and so forth. Isms are isms! Rock-on-Irish!!!

I prefer buckturds.

[irishunclebill]

I prefer buckturds.


Our new girl must have missed our reference to the Cockwad. Speaking of which I have been waiting for the opportune moment to say that the use of the word Cockwad for our friend Urbie truly is a misnomer. Contrary to what some people think the meaning of the word is, the actual meaning as defined in that illustrious literary masterpiece known as the Urban Dictionary:rolleyes:, is IDIOT. Our friend Mr. Meyer is many things, but he is certainly not an idiot.

Still I like the sound of Cockwad for him better than anything else, and sometimes ignorance is bliss.

So this is for you Urbie,COCKWAD, COCKWAD,COCKWAD,COCKWAD,COCKWAD.

[stonebreakerwasgod]

He needs his own thread, so we can rant at him at will.

[NDGirlzRock]

So this is for you Urbie,COCKWAD, COCKWAD,COCKWAD,COCKWAD,COCKWAD.

Well said IUB!

[scooper]

Our new girl must have missed our reference to the Cockwad. Speaking of which I have been waiting for the opportune moment to say that the use of the word Cockwad for our friend Urbie truly is a misnomer. Contrary to what some people think the meaning of the word is, the actual meaning as defined in that illustrious literary masterpiece known as the Urban Dictionary:rolleyes:, is IDIOT. Our friend Mr. Meyer is many things, but he is certainly not an idiot.

Still I like the sound of Cockwad for him better than anything else, and sometimes ignorance is bliss.

So this is for you Urbie,COCKWAD, COCKWAD,COCKWAD,COCKWAD,COCKWAD.

Of course Urban Dictionary wants you to believe that. Who do you think owns that site?

[Lynch]

mike ragone and I actually wrote the urban dictionary. cause we are that gangster...

[irishunclebill]

Of course Urban Dictionary wants you to believe that. Who do you think owns that site?

LOL- Poached again!!! I feel like an egg.:D

[NDGirlzRock]

Why not green eggs? Goes along with Urbie's ham. Sam I am!

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Mother goose......I ....... her.

[IrishKnight1023]

It's New Jersey what do you expect everybody here wants to be something or somebody else. As of right now at the HS level, you either pretend to be black or Puerto Rican.

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I hate rap music.

[rontdtarchala]

I liked rage against the machine and I'm older than dust...

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I like 'em. Too political, but who isn't.

[rontdtarchala]

I like any musician/or groups who have the balls to stand up for what they believe...whether we agree or not...we all have opinions and thoughts and we should express them...sounds like a bunch of dribble doesn't it...

[stonebreakerwasgod]

They shouldn't express their opinions to the extent that it turns people off. If that's their goal, it succeeds.

[paddyman]

They shouldn't express their opinions to the extent that it turns people off. If that's their goal, it succeeds.

Are you saying that unpopular speech should not be allowed:confused:

[KMac151993]

This is very true about the diverse nature of the players...but look at some of those schools and where they are located: Texas, Ohio, California.....and look at where ND is located: Indiana. Those places are hotbeds, if we were located in say Texas do you want to bet most of our kids would come from there with the rich talent pool, plus most of those schools are public institutions and they will always draw the "locals."