The open spots on the depth chart next season might actually be a nice selling point in recruiting.

Are there any sophs besides sharpley that figure to play a more prominant role this year?
andrew | Email | Homepage | 06.28.06 - 12:05 am | #

Did they ever announce what Chris Vaughn was suspended for?


As far as sophomores looking to make a splash, I hope that on offense both DJ Hord and David Grimes really step up as receivers. Losing Hiben may hurt a little, but all reports seem to show Konrad is ready to do.
preetom | Email | Homepage | 06.28.06 - 12:49 am | #

How often do you see an athlete exhibit such graciousness when dealing with such disappointment? Here's hoping that David Wolke finds the perfect niche in a school of his choosing, and fame and fortune beyond that.
lyle | Email | Homepage | 06.28.06 - 3:44 am | #

As lyle said, Wolke seems like on impressive, hell of a kid. Good luck to him wherever he goes.

As far as 2007 goes, all I can say is its going to be exciting as hell to watch what Charlie does with a bunch of young, talented kids.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 06.28.06 - 8:23 am | #

Anyone notice the article on UND.com this morning? Its about a QB that transferred to halfback in order to stay at ND back in the Ara era...

"But O'Brien didn't switch schools; he switched positions, becoming a halfback in Irish head coach Ara Parseghian's full-house backfield. According to longtime Irish offensive coordinator Tom Pagna, O'Brien was the best blocking back he ever coached. "

Seems like a bit more than a coincidence to me that they put this out the day after the Wolke story.
these are my dads shoes | Email | Homepage | 06.28.06 - 8:26 am | #

So ... we'll have what, maybe 6 or 7 startes returning after next year? That's assuming some 5th year guys like Wooden and Laws stick around. Thanks for the quality of depth Mr. Previous Coach. Sounds like a prime recruiting pitch for Charlie.

Of the incoming Frosh class, who's going to have the single biggest impact this year? (More than one will probably make a significant contribution this year)

My money is on Big Sam-I-Am Young snatching the free-for-all RT spot.

Lastly, are we going to fill up this class like last year's?
IrishHoffy | Email | Homepage | 06.28.06 - 9:56 am | #

2007 will be rough but 'rough' by Charlie standards and not by Ty or Davie standards. '07 may see three losses but they won't be blowouts. Look how many freshmen Charlie played last year. Though these guys may still be a little green they will likely have at least some gameday experience by next year. For a comparison I think you have to look at Olklahoma this past season. Minus the loss to TCU @ home and I think our '07 team will be very similar to them. On the otherhand we could be very dangerous as our early season opponents (Michigan, MSU, and Georgia Tech)will have lost some key players as well and we may just be able to sneak up on some people under the guise of being so young and wet behind the ears.
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 06.28.06 - 10:08 am | #

The position battles alone for next year will be terribly interesting. While everyone will be watching the battles at QB, CB, and along the d-line, I think the really interesting battles will be on the offensive line and at WR. There are so many young, uber-talented kids coming in at those positions that it'll be nearly impossible to call who plays until opening day, and possibly into the season. Can't wait (especially if that team has to defend a NC!).
Brad | Email | Homepage | 06.28.06 - 10:15 am | #

P.S. I'd have to agree with Hoffy on Sam Young being a great possibility as an instant impact. My other money would be on someone with mad pass rush skills (Wade, Richardson?) stepping right in for some spot play. While we'd all love to see one of those young corners contribute in some way, I don't know if we will.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 06.28.06 - 10:18 am | #

After knowing Wolke for the past two years, he is definitely a class act. I am sad to see him go, but it's good to see him leave with such class. I wish him the best of luck.
chris | Email | Homepage | 06.28.06 - 11:01 am | #

Didn't both Olsen's leave too?
Yago | Email | Homepage | 06.28.06 - 10:27 pm | #

I agree that 2007 will be a lull year, relative to the Weis years before and after. I'm interested to see how Charlie deals with it.

I absolutely hate that BC comes back to play us for that one year. They'll probably have a decent shot at beating us, and if there's one team I hate losing to, it's them.

Here's hoping that Charlie crafts a team in a year and a half that puts the eagles in their place.
Matt | Email | Homepage | 06.29.06 - 3:30 am | #

Yup, Greg tranferred to Miami (Fl) where he's a stud. A Fasano, Olsen, Carlson tight end trio would have been ridiculous last year. Chris went down to Virginia and is probably going to be their starting QB.
IrishHoffy | Email | Homepage | 06.29.06 - 10:13 am | #

As good as Fasano was (and will be in Dallas), Olsen is scary good. That was a big loss when he transferred. Having his brother still around would have made me a bit more comfortable with the QB situation behind Quinn this year. Having him as an upperclass starter next year would have been the icing on the cake. Then Weis could hand the reins to the Clausen/Jones/Frazer trifecta.

Not that Weis won't do fine with what he has, but next year is going to be tougher than it needs to be.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 06.29.06 - 10:57 am | #

Chris Olsen was an '02 singee and BQ was '03, right? Would Ty have given the nod to Olsen before BQ? If Chris had stuck around a little longer, at least until Carlyle was struggling that year, would Chris have possibly been plugged in there?
IrishHoffy | Email | Homepage | 06.29.06 - 11:36 am | #

Hoffy, that's an interesting question. Quinn was only a frosh that year, and Olsen had a terrific spring game and was the default #2 behind Holiday. Olsen (and his pop) thought that Chris deserved the starting spot over Holiday, hence his disgruntled transfer. I'm sure Ty would have gone with Olsen once Holiday faltered, which makes you wonder if Quinn would have been stunted by sitting on the bench for two years instead of starting by the fourth game of his freshman year.
Jay | Email | Homepage | 06.29.06 - 12:57 pm | #

JohnWA, we wouldn't have had Olsen for next year, he got an extra year because he transferred. He would have graduated this year regardless.

As far as Olsen staying at ND, I think he definitely would have gotten the starting role over Brady. In that Michigan game Ty would have put in Olsen (who has one hell of an arm by the way) over an 18 year-old who had been on campus 3 weeks. Its funny how things work out.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 06.29.06 - 1:14 pm | #

Brad, you're right. I got my Olsen's screwed up on the year's they entered. Must remember to look things up....
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 06.30.06 - 10:43 am | #