If I remember correctly, Maurice Clarett was going to be ND's first early enrollee a few years ago, but Davie was fired before the paperwork went through. Which worked out for the best I suppose.
billy | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 9:37 am | #

Kudos to all that were willing to take on this change. This includes the incoming students, the coaches, the admissions folks, as well as, the professors of their various colleges and the supporting tutors and first year of studies personnel. I also hope the dorms which these folks move into are supportive, as I imagine they will be.

Go ND.
atepesm | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 10:43 am | #

Hey Phil, drop us an email at bluegraysky@gmail.com. Thanks.
Jay | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 12:25 pm | #

Can someone explain to me the specifics of how this works (I know, I'm the last to still not understand). They count against last years class limit? Do they lose a year (is last year their redshirt year)? Sorry for the obvious questions...
Matt | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 1:21 pm | #

Pat, your comment: 'Let's be honest, the spring semester at Notre Dame should more accurately be named "the winter semester with two great weeks of spring weather when you really should be studying for finals".' couldn't be more true. From 1989 to 1992 during my 4 Springs at ND, I don't remember one of them being decent until May.

I usually don't get into the recruiting stuff that much, but this coupled with the Sam Young piece has got me excited. Only 222 days until the 2006 opener at GT!
Irish Rat | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 2:01 pm | #

Matt - When a player is an early enrollee, the program has the choice of whether the player will count towards the 25 man limit of the current class or the previous year's class. Since ND expected to take 25 in this year's class and last year's class didn't come close to 25, there was room to "include" Stewart, West, and Aldridge as part of last year's class. It does not affect their playing eligibilty though and they will be on the same standing as everyone else that comes in during the fall semester.

Next year, ND can still take an early enrollee recruit, but seeing as how this year's class has reached the 25 per year max, the EE must count towards that year's current class. And of course, all of this must be done with the 85 program scholarship limit in mind.

It's a bit confusing, but the NCAA tends to have that effect on things.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 2:06 pm | #

Has Notre Dame gone the football factory route, and given up its status as a university that takes academics seriously?

Seems like Notre Dame is going down the slippery slope that will make it the Florida State of the midwest.

Shame on the near sighted fanatics.

What is next?

A. Battle fatigues for the team on road games?

B. Criminal lawyers on retainer?

C. Specialized sports dorms full of hoochies?

I can just imagine Beano Cook shaking his sizable head in disbelief....

.
Seamus O'R. | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 2:30 pm | #

Nice try Seamus.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 2:42 pm | #

Shame on you, Seamus. Your logic is flawed in that . . . well, I guess there is none. I guess you missed the part about these kids already having college credits to their resumes. Real football factory material there. If you are a real Irish fan I say, wake up! Most likely you need to just toddle off to your own boards dedicated to the real FSU of the Midwest - you know, the one in Columbus.
Thundershaker | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 2:56 pm | #

Pat, I think you might be incorrect on one account. By my tally, Notre Dame has 28 verbally committed recruits. 3 of them just enrolled early, and 1 (Yeatman) is technically not committed as a football recruit. I think that leaves one more scholarship available in this year's class allotment of 25.

Speculation as to what this means? Well, Charlie can use it up this year, or he can have one extra scholarship to offer to a great recruit for next year. Jimmy Clausen is supposedly interested in early enrollment. I realize that his commitment as a member of this year's class or next year's class doesn't matter. It's just an extra schollie that Charlie can really use over this year or next.
Stitch | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 4:14 pm | #

I wonder to which dorms the 3 guys are assigned. Quite honestly, if I arrived at ND in January with a foot of snow on the ground and they made me live in the Manor, I might be on the next flight to see Coker at Miami.
Gipper | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 4:26 pm | #

Right Stitch, we do have one scholarship left. My mistake. If ND doesn't give it out before Signing Day then next year there will be room to add an early enrollee as part of this class.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 4:31 pm | #

All three recruits are in Keenan Hall.

a fellow Knight,
Chris
Chris S | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 4:45 pm | #

Hopefully one of them lives in room 202--shared by yours truly and Joe Montana.
Pink | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 5:07 pm | #

Thundershaker:

1. Shame on me???

I am not ashamed of sticking up for principles that are not run-of-the-mill-lowest-common-denominator
thinking.

2. My logic flawed???

Going for the quick fix never works. In the long run, some of those academic type athletes, and there are a few, will opt for a better percieved academic institution of higher learning.

3. Real FSU of the Midwest...the one in Columbus?!

Ohio State, the real FSU of the midwest? Nah, OSU is more like the Miami of the midwest.

Just remember: "Ask not for whom the bell tolls....IT TOLLS FOR THEE!!!"


(greetings to Matilda)
Seamus O'R. | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 5:20 pm | #

uhhhhh... seamus? say what? (you cram these words into mine ears against the stomach of my sense... i would respond with another macbeth line, but i like this one better)

the folks involved are more than academically qualified for the university. the early entry thing allows them to get adjusted to the collegiate atmosphere before the football season starts, along with allowing them to get a leg up on the adjustment to the preparation level required for collegiate sports. as long as there aren't poor students getting in this way, it helps all involved, including helping the early admits achieve that whole "student athlete" thing that most schools have trouble with. i don't see how there's ANYTHING here that "erodes" the reputation of the university.
tedwick | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 5:50 pm | #

Well maybe the Keenan Review will send them packing...I'll tell you what, I had two bags full and a backpack at the ready after the first "screw your roomate."

Seamus, forget the academic critique, let's start talking about the social retardedness on campus. That's the real scandal.

Focus your iris(h) there.
Yago | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 6:01 pm | #

As for the weather, it is uncommonly beautiful right now here in South Bend.
Matt | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 6:05 pm | #

The Manor would be a shock (says the Manorite) but at least it wouldn't be Carroll....
Nate | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 6:23 pm | #

What ted said, Seamus. Your rant borders on a personal attack on these young men, all of whom to my knowledge are considered good and possibly excellent students. Early admission has nothing to do with easing up on academic requirements, unless you attend Miami where South Beach Culture 101 is only offered in the Spring (5 credits).
Thundershaker | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 6:25 pm | #

Matt, there are three truths in life:

Death, taxes, and there being no such thing as Spring in South Bend.
Irish Rat | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 6:26 pm | #

Ah, yes. The "football factory" comments begin again. By definition, when the rants about ND "selling its soul" start, we must be on our way to a national championship soon.

Never mind those annoying facts like top grad rates among athletes, degrees that don't include Football 101 (3-5 credits, depending on the school), lack of athletic dorms (and none scheduled for construction), etc.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 6:47 pm | #

To: tedwick & Thundershanker & JohnWA

RE: ND going the FSU route


Laddies, not to be a purist or anything, but if and/or when ND becomes just another football factory, like FSU, LSU or SMU, just remember the following old Irish Proverb:

"You never miss the water till the well has run dry."


(Matilda, do not hate the haters.)
Seamus O'R. | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 7:21 pm | #

SMU? As in Southern Methodist? OK, this guy is definitely pulling our legs.
Phil K. | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 7:27 pm | #

Let's not knock the Manor. It's may be old and fairly crappy to live in but it is warm as hell (almost unbearably so) and right across the quad from SDH.
Go Irish.

P.S. We also throw the best parties.
Manor Man | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 7:30 pm | #

Indeed, Manor Man, we did. The Manor Christmas SYR was the stuff of legends...

Too bad the kiddies today don't know what an SYR is.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 7:49 pm | #

It's never spring until the Masters tournament is on television. That's always been my yardstick. Although so far it's been warm enough to play outdoor sports. I'm digging that. Plus with eastern time you get more daylight than Chicago. All in all... not bad so far.
alli 07 | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 8:30 pm | #

Easy there, Nate...as a four-year Vermin undergrad, I represent that remark about Carroll Hall. Have you not seen the intramural football juggernaut that has been growing there?

And besides, it is the closest dorm to SMC!
c-stone | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 8:49 pm | #

C-stone:

I knew some vermin would pipe up! If you wish to claim your proximity to SMC as a benefit, more power to you--I had some Carroll friends, mostly good people for living in Michigan. My comment was only made in response to the guy who talked about trekking in the snow from Morrissey. At least I didn't need a snowmobile like my Vermin friends.

Of course, the smarter ones just signed up with an airline and got the frequent flier miles for their trips to class...
Nate | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 9:36 pm | #

Oh, and that intramural football prowess is likely because of the brutal training program...10 hour hikes to class tend to get you in shape.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 9:37 pm | #

Thank God almighty for this brilliant football fan. Amen to every word he says.

www.onepeat.com
Brad | Email | Homepage | 01.23.06 - 11:29 pm | #

Pancake breakfast is the stuff of legends. Fight on!
IslandDomer | Email | Homepage | 01.24.06 - 8:34 am | #

espn.com's Bruce Feldman has an interesting point in his most recent blog entry.

"Although I do believe the talk about how many blue-chippers were scared off in the past because they believed Notre Dame wouldn't allow them to enroll early, it is likely to get overblown as some revisionist history seeps in. Case in point: Myron Rolle, the blue-chip DB who is already taking classes at FSU. He was not very interested in ND anyhow."

Truth be told, Willingham's firing had much more to do with Rolle's decision to mark ND off his list than early enrollment. But per Rolle's own lips he did have interest in Notre Dame before that.

“I visited Notre Dame with my family last year, and really liked the school. We toured the facilities, met some players and coaches, and came away really impressed,” explained Rolle. “Coach Willingham was there, and he sat down with us for two hours. I really liked him. I think I really connected with him. I enjoyed the conversation and I was very impressed. Notre Dame ended up changing coaches, so everything changed for me.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 01.24.06 - 9:28 am | #

Don't get me wrong - I am a Manor alum myself. Maybe Aldridge would've enjoyed a nice pat on the ass from Fr. Bill Seetch. Who didn't, really?
Gipper | Email | Homepage | 01.24.06 - 9:32 am | #

Can we make it a point to not respond to anything Seamus says from now on? He's obviously a troll, or Wilbon in disguise which is even worse.
Matt | Email | Homepage | 01.24.06 - 12:55 pm | #

Looks like Matt is trying to discriminate against good 'ol Seamus.

Now Seamus knows what it feels like to be black (or "chocolaty" like the New Orleans mayor says) and be discriminated upon on this blog site......

But Seamus will not back down.....

Someone has to be the conscious of ND and stick up for what is right and not for what is expedient!
Seamus O'R. | Email | Homepage | 01.24.06 - 1:31 pm | #

Ah,Pink K it must be nice to be young. SMU indeed was a powerhouse at one time and subsequently received the DEATH penalty for it's pro team playing in College.
Jack | Email | Homepage | 01.24.06 - 3:16 pm | #

At least you guys still have a dorm to talk about. My pathetic dorm Grace Hall(though not as bad as Flanner or St. Ed's), is now a freakin' admin building! I get mail from 1100 Grace Hall- weird. I wonder if they found the beer cans we put in the ceiling when they remodeled.
Irish Rat | Email | Homepage | 01.24.06 - 4:56 pm | #

Is there ANYONE out there who remembers the Dillon BIG RED not losing an interhall football game 4-years straight?! (no kidding, honest). Or the Dillon Pub (now a study lounge) where the Indiana State Police put the kabosh on what was once a ND/SMC institution, under the guise of the trumped-up charge of "operating a bar without a liquor license"? (Although that was precisely what we were doing, every Friday and Saturday night).
Dozier | Email | Homepage | 01.24.06 - 9:55 pm | #

Jack:

I agree with you....

These young laddies that do not know their college football history....as the old Spanish/American philosopher said:

"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

George Santayana
Seamus O'R. | Email | Homepage | 01.25.06 - 12:49 pm | #

Dozier, what years were those? I remember when I played for Grace in 89 and 90 that Dillon was pretty darn good. We lost in the playoffs both years to Off-Campus, so I know they were pretty good in that period (having almost all seniors had at least something to do with it).
Irish Rat | Email | Homepage | 01.26.06 - 12:28 am | #

Irish Rat: I was there Fall '82 through Spring '86 (I am an '86 grad). Actually, it was Dillon Hall's '84 class that never lost an interhall football game 4-years straight. We continued to have good teams, but the undefeated streak ended sometime in the Fall '84 (the Seniors on that year's team would be '85). "Glory Days".
Dozier | Email | Homepage | 01.26.06 - 2:31 am | #

Irish R. & Dozier:

As the old Bruce Springsteen song says.....

"Glory Days....they pass you by....in the wink of a young girl’s eye

Now I think I’m going down to the well tonight...

And I’m going to drink till I get my fill...

And I hope when I get old I don’t sit around thinking about it

But I probably will

Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture

A little of the glory of, well time slips away

And leaves you with nothing mister but

Boring stories of glory days...."



Sad but true, unfortunately....
Seamus O.R. | Email | Homepage | 01.26.06 - 8:07 am | #

History is never boring, Seamus.
Continue the stories. Long live Big Red!
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 01.27.06 - 11:11 am | #

As for the football factory comments, Notre Dame is simply becoming the same thing it was in the 20's, 40's 60's 80's and now 00's. That is a school with a powerhouse football team that has "boys who can read and write" as CW says, that can also play some ball.
As for these 3 bearing the cold "winter" semester, they are only exibiting qualities that our lady of the lake has stood for- education and hard work, and as of this fall sportsmanship and superior athletecism.
Matt-ohio | Email | Homepage | 02.14.06 - 11:32 am | #