Really encouraging to hear about Marcus Freeman. He had a good Blue/Gold game last year and I always thought he could be a productive TE. Remember, he was 4 stars coming out of high school; having been down on the depth chart for all these years shouldn't be seen as indicitive of his capability--he was behind Fasano, after all.
It's him and Carlson this year (+ Rueland, but he's a freshman). I think we can count on him to step up.


IG
IrishGuard | Email | Homepage | 03.23.06 - 10:19 am | #

Sorry guys, but I just can't pass this up.

Yeah, sure, Bob Golic did a stint with Saved by the Bell, but what you really should know about him is that he was a two sport athlete at ND.

Yes, long before the likes of the Shark, Bob Golic was a two sport athlete at ND.

He played football and he wrestled.

His junior year he finished something like 3rd in the nation in the heavyweight division. That's college D1 wrestling. You know, the sport that Iowa dominated for 15 years, like North Carolina did for women's soccer.

In fact, I think he only lost one match his junior year, to a 350lb wrestler from Oklahoma who was NOT all muscle. Remember, Bob was a linebacker, he just didn't have that kind of size.

I'm not positive, but I think he beat everyone else he wrestled his junior year. What does this mean? It means that there was only 1 other big man in all of college wrestling that was better than Bob. He was that tremendous of an athlete.

Bob's senior year he dropped out of the NCAA tournament because he didn't want to risk injury in the face of the NFL draft. However, he was the odds on favorite to win everything his senior year.

Other things about Bob?

He was a tremendous all around athlete. His mom was a swim coach, so I was even told the big guy had a pretty impressive kick turn. . .

I know a few other stories, but this should be enough for now.

Definitely lots to feed on from Weis PC.
atepesm | Email | Homepage | 03.23.06 - 11:04 am | #

I agree with Coach Weis. Brady:Heisman::Notre Dame:National Championship.
SeanH | Email | Homepage | 03.23.06 - 11:25 am | #

I think that Darrin Bragg could wind up being quite a pleasant suprise at receiver over the next year or two as he gains experience. People forget that his brother was an All-American WR for UCLA not too long ago. It'll be great to see Grimes and West get some PT as well.

I'm gonna say it right now, I think Rhema will be a top 5 WR in the whole country this year. That guy has magnificent hands, and don't forget that his knee injury was not nearly as devastating as a medical redshirt would leave us to believe. He came very close to playing only 2 weeks after his injury.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 03.23.06 - 11:27 am | #

this is just hearsay, so dont take this as 100% true, but i heard from a player on the team that rhema's injury was actually a lot worse than anyone let on. the whole business of him maybe coming back last year was just to throw off opponents and there was 0 chance of him coming back. this guy said that it was going to be tough to even get him fully ready for this coming season. hopefully rhema rehabs well and gets in gear without a problem, but just letting you know what i heard. he was in full uniform for fiesta bowl practices (obviously no contact) so i think that's a decent sign.
mike | Email | Homepage | 03.23.06 - 11:47 am | #

If we can get a speedy WR to come out of the slot and Freeman is that improved, Brady should have no problem distributing the ball. Shark's height and athletic ability make a fade pass almost impossible to defend. If they double up on him, they leave Rhema with room, whom I agree with Brad, will be a AA-level receiver if he's good to go after the injury. Top that off with a guy that can get down the field and draw a safety with him. . . How many days until the opener?!
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 03.23.06 - 12:11 pm | #

Agreed atepesm. That's why I followed up the Saved by the Bell joke with the bit about his incredible production on the field as an All-American senior.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 03.23.06 - 12:14 pm | #

College wrestling? What's that? Thank you very much, Title IX...
Gipper | Email | Homepage | 03.23.06 - 2:45 pm | #

College wrestling . . . Title IX . . . There's a monster story there. I can't comment on it for another 4-5 years, but you'll hear me when the time comes . . .

Its definitely a stain that I would say less than dozen people really understand what happened at ND.

Oh man, don't get me started.

RIP Bucky O'Connor, sorry ND ripped you off.
atepesm | Email | Homepage | 03.23.06 - 3:19 pm | #

May be off topic, but how will they play the Blue-Gold game with only 7 offensive linemen? Will some play on both teams?
Tom | Email | Homepage | 03.23.06 - 3:26 pm | #

I say they do the BG game with 3 offensive lineman, and two extra receivers and D-backs. All out, baby.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 03.23.06 - 3:29 pm | #

Good thing we have womens crew, though.
Gipper | Email | Homepage | 03.23.06 - 3:32 pm | #

Haha, I actually met some of the women's crew team this year, they're pretty cool. But it definitely didn't sound like they were competing for glory like most of the rest of Notre Dame athletics.
Scott | Email | Homepage | 03.23.06 - 4:30 pm | #

Tom - only 7 scholarship lineman. Walk-ons will fill out the rosters. Maybe a few guys will see double-duty but I doubt it.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 03.23.06 - 5:02 pm | #

I was really just saying that tongue in cheek. I knew some crew girls at ND. They were cool and dedicated. You'd have to be dedicated to wake up and go workout at the same time everyone else was stumbling home from Bridget's.
Gipper | Email | Homepage | 03.23.06 - 5:30 pm | #

Jesus - I never realized the Golic on Saved By The Bell fame was the brother of Mike Golic. Wow!
Eddie | Email | Homepage | 03.24.06 - 8:29 pm | #

Hey, without the ladies, the FIghting Irish would have been shut-out of national championships lately - Women's fencing; soccer, basketball... In fact, maybe ND should become a women's school and St. MAry's a men's.
Yago | Email | Homepage | 03.26.06 - 11:32 am | #

Interesting idea there Yago. Fightin' Irishwomen just doesn't sound right though....probably screws up the licensing revenues too...:)
Scott | Email | Homepage | 03.26.06 - 11:54 pm | #

The crew team does well, but the thing hindering them is the lack of facilities. If you would see the boathouse, you would know what I mean. The teams that are up there competing for NCs have great facilities to attract recruits. The fact that the St. Joes river sucks, and its cold most of the year doesn't help either. While nature you can't control, a nicer boathouse would go a long way.

And besides, there are few schools that can actually compete for an NC in rowing. All of them being on coasts. What we should be shooting for is a consistent team bid in the NCAA championship.
Patrick | Email | Homepage | 03.27.06 - 11:25 am | #

Hey, you Title IX whiners---if you don't like the rules, don't take the government's money, like Hillsdale College.

Once again, the golden rule proves true--he who has the gold, rules.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 04.01.06 - 4:55 pm | #