How could this recruiting year be sooooo good and this season on the field be sooooooooo bad?
jim / redondo beach | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 10:15 am | #

A recruit who has no concerns about a 1-7 record may be looking for an easy path to being a starter.
mr.reality | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 10:21 am | #

Why no mention of Jonas Gray?
The Butobi Brothers | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 10:27 am | #

It's not just an indication that Floyd wants to get on the field quickly. I think it's primarily a sign that something was right about the mood on the sidelines, especially among the younger players. (Kenny Page was so excited by his visit that he almost committed on the spot, and Jonas Gray committed just after Floyd did.) Weis has kept these kids from getting discouraged, and convinced them that they're going to turn things around for this team. That's a pretty significant accomplishment given how poorly things have gone this year.
John | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 10:35 am | #

Great news re Floyd and Gray. On a side note, Mike Frank hinted that there may be some dissention (perhaps that's too strong of a word) between the upperclassmen and freshman/sophomores on this team. I wonder if this explains some of the performance this year?
jn | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 10:44 am | #

Must be on the offensive side of theb all because the D looks tight as a unit.

Pat Kuntz is coming back next year right? Love that guy,
PM | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 10:49 am | #

I am not surprised about floyd commitment. There is no better school for any young kid to go to the be a student atlete than ND. I recently visited two universities, one being ohio state and the other being cincinnati. Ohio state I went there on game day, I wanted to experience other school game day to see what the fuss is. Ohio state has a decent big campus. The stadium looks like it had been recently renovated which could attract young kids and parents alike, but the fans that is another story. The game day atmosphere is different, too many fans wannabes, most of them aren't into the game or their team. They just like to wear those jerseys. After the game there is nothing classy about it. Many drunk fans starting fights among themselves. I don't know if any parent would like to send their kids in that kind of environment to study or represent that, if they had a better choice. Cincinnati on the other hand, is definetely a community school nothing more. ND offers something special to their kids, great education and if you have special football skills you will have a chance to display that on saturday in front of faithfull fans on national tv. Yes ND has struggled this year but the fans and alumni make that place very special. I was at the BC game and we were 1-5 but one of the fan next to me flew from california to watch the game. The state ND is in right now, might take this year and next year but will change for the better we just have to believe. As for CW, he did make mistakes and he is definetely learning this year.I am starting to sense that he is determined to change that. No good coach would want to leave their job like that, he is a winner and winner always find a way to get it done. I wish he would run the ball more. Go Irish
Jean | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 10:49 am | #

What I hope is that this year gives Coach Weis a bitter taste of humility that the clubbings of the last two bowl games hasn't. I hope Coach Weis focuses on player development with increased vigor.

All the talent in the world doesn't help if this staff doesn't develop it.
Sean Fitzgerald | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 10:50 am | #

Hey Butobi - you know how it works - we've been giving pretty much every recruit his own post for nearly 3 years now. We also like to wait a day or so as more quotes, video links, etc, tend to surface. The Jonas Gray post is coming.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 11:01 am | #

The future sure is bright. I think the lack of bodies, leadership, and talent in the Senior and Junior classes really killed us this year.

I don't know of any other team out there, even historically (ND included), has ever had to face this kind of lack of players in the top two classes. Somebody show me one and I'll show you a losing team.

We will be back. Charlie is building for the future. If he switches to full contact practices twice a week (as he hinted he might), I would bet a lot of cash that 2009 will be a fantastic season.

Thank God for the good news in recruiting. What would ND football be like if we still had the molder? Man I don't even want to think about that!
ND Fan | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 11:05 am | #

The look on Floyd's face when the Gopher hack urges him to go to UM is priceless. He has that look that says "You're kidding me, right?"
Rome | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 11:23 am | #

Look at out schedule next year, there is tons of room for improvement.

S06 SAN DIEGO STATE (Win)
S13 MICHIGAN (Loss)
S20 @ Michigan St. (Loss)
S27 PURDUE (Win)
O04 STANFORD (Win)
O11 @ North Carolina (Win)
O25 @ Washington (Win)
N01 PITTSBURGH (Win)
N08 @ Boston College (Loss)
N15 @ Navy (Baltimore) (Win)
N22 SYRACUSE (Win)
N29 @ Southern Cal (Loss)

Basically I predicted wins and losses based on teams we should beat and teams that we have historically struggled against-i.e. MSU. You could put Purdue there but with the way the defense is progressing, I don't think they will be able to be as effective as they were the last two years. Right there you have an 8-4 gator bowl bound team. Beat BC and MSU and you have a 9-2 team. Drink the Kool-Aid and they could be 11-0 going into USC.

My point is that this years baptism by fire will help out tremendously next year during a schedule that others have called one of the softest in recent memory. Now Pitt could turn around and so could Washington, but assuming they don't, they should be able to make lots of progress.
PM | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 12:00 pm | #

If Floyd's so great, why didn't he announce by arriving at a big press conference in a Hummer?
Powlus4Prez | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 12:19 pm | #

There are no Hummers in Minnesota. Only mosquitos.
AM | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 12:24 pm | #

One thing that I see happening is this year's Sophomore and Junior classes are really going to have to work hard in the off season if they want playing time next year. The current Freshman and the incoming class next year are so talented, players will have to get bigger, faster, and better if they want to stay on the field. I think the people who have transfered saw the writing on the wall with the talent level already on campus and the group about to arrive and knew it would be tough to get playing time.

Better times are ahead for all of us. Keep the faith and GO IRISH!!!
Jason D | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 12:34 pm | #

Sean,

I agree re: player development.

I suspect the team discord is based on player views of the staff.

I don't have much confidence in Latina, Polian, Powlus and Mendoza.

If fans like us don't have confidence in several staff members, what do you think the upper classmen must feel?

Many members of current coaching staff = NO NFL for position players. That sucks!
ThE LoSt BoY | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 12:38 pm | #

Yes, next season's schedule is looking a bit kinder and gentler, but UNC is no longer a gimme (Butch Davis has them playing much more competitively this year...still not winning much, but playing teams close). And they did beat Miami.
highnoon | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 12:57 pm | #

NDFAN asserts :
" I don't know of any other team out there ... has ever had to face this kind of lack of players in the top two classes. Somebody show me one and I'll show you a losing team ".
The University of Connecticut was ranked by Scout.com as tied for 82nd with the intake in the Fall of 2003 ( ND was 5th ); UConn was 79th in 2004 and 59th in 2005.
Both schools have 9 players on the roster who would typically have graduated in the Spring of 2007 , and 22 slated to do so in the Spring of 2009. UConn has 19 due to graduate this Spring and ND 16 .
In the years 2003-2005 UConn never had a 5 or 4 star recruit and only 5 three star ones .
a c sullivan | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 1:07 pm | #

Will CW have a QB ready to wing the ball to Mike?
Subway Alumni | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 1:09 pm | #

Since the announcements were right on top of each other, I just thought there would be a "super sized" post on these two guys. But, Gray decommitting from Nebraska is big news and worthy of an individual post. Now if only ND could throw Robinson into that mix.
The Butobi Brothers | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 1:12 pm | #

PM hit it right in his earlier post. While some will say it is much too early to be thinking about the next season, I like that. When the Irish take the field one week from Saturday, let's hope that is when we will begin to see a hopeful beginning leading to next September.

It is awesome to think about these 17-18 year old young men who are thinking about the future...not the present. Too bad so many "supporters" of the Irish cannot do the same.

I wonder what they will be saying when the Irish turn it around next year.
Ted | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 1:46 pm | #

Lost,

I can understand ND fans being upset or disappointed with the coaching work of Latina, Polian & Mendoza but I don't buy into Powlus and would ask what is or what are your specific criticisms with him? Seems to me that it is very difficult to judge his work this year given the inexperience of our QBs and the rather poor OL play we have seen. I'm not saying you are wrong but I just don't see how we can fairly judge at this point.
Knoxville Irish | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 2:16 pm | #

jn, you made a comment about Mike Frank hinting towards desension between the jrs/srs vs. the fr/so. Well, I say "GOOD".

The underclassmen outnumber the elders, and the underclassmen are Charlie's guys, whereas the elders are leftovers from [NAME REDACTED]. Some has shined, and continue to play some great football in the hopes of playing next year (i.e. Laws and Carlson).

The rest of them couldn't play squat on a Div IV high school team in Alaska. Many of the upperclassmen have collectively failed to prove that they belong on the field, and the production numbers from the freshman and sophomores are showing that. Aldridge, Allen, and Hughes are our best runners - underclassmen. Kamara, Tate, and Parris are our best receivers - underclassmen. I still think Young is our best offensive lineman, although some may disagree. Olsen beat out everyone, and Wenger gets some playing time, too. Clausen is a much better QB than Sharpley, and when he is completely healthy, he will be very good. Walls is an excellent DB, and both OLB positions are dominated by freshman (Smith and Neal).

I liken the upperclassmen to the way my mother-in-law treats my wife - since my wife is her step-child, and not her actual birth mother due to a divorce and remarriage by my father-in-law, my wife doesn't get treated with the same level of respect, appreciation, and love that my her half-sister gets. In the same way, Charlie didn't give birth to the seniors and juniors on the team (except for a few, but those were latecomers and Charlie was just picking up the slack of [NAME REDACTED]), and I think there may be the early signs of resentment between the upperclassmen and the underclassmen because of this.

I am still excited about the rest of the season - heck, I have tix for AF and it will be the first time back for me since 1995. But I am immensely more excited about next year. The team will be left with very few players from [NAME REDACTED]'s tenure, and the leaders on the team will be Charlie's guys. No more resentment, no more upperclassmen "step-children" poisoning the house, and hopefully no more guys leaving the program because they haven't earned the right to become starters.
chrisnd | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 2:41 pm | #

AM said that there are no hummers in Minnesota. I heard that Daunte Culpepper and a lot of other Vikings all got hummers on a party boat a couple of years ago. Where I live you can only get hummers on a ferry. FYI.
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 2:42 pm | #

ChrisND: Interesting comments about upper vs lowerclassmen. However, I do not buy it. Charlie would favor the best player available at any position, even if that player Bo Schembechler IV.
Thomas | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 2:55 pm | #

a c sullivan:

While I'm sure that all your information is probably correct, UConn has also played a ridiculously easy schedule to date. They would probably be having much the same success as ND facing ND's brutal schedule.
Jade | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 3:14 pm | #

"In the years 2003-2005 UConn never had a 5 or 4 star recruit and only 5 three star ones."

give me a break. uconn should've lost to temple. did you see that call the end of the game? they also probably should've lost to louisville because of the "fair catch" that went for a TD. uconn would probably be 1-7 with ND's schedule.
Schultz | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 3:21 pm | #

That fair catch was the most ridiculous call I have ever seen. right after the game clock hit 0:00 in the 4Q, the UL coach ran, sprinted, to the official and basically gave him an earful. Man they blew that call. That could cost Louisville a bowl game.
PM | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 4:14 pm | #

chrisnd: If there is a split between the upperclassmen and lowerclassmen ... if there is a rift between "Charlie's guys" and "Ty's guys," then shame on the coaching staff for not making it clear that they are all "ND guys" -- period. You talk about the "stepchildren" spoiling the house -- remember, Quinn, Smardzija, Stovall -- those are guys you are putting in the "stepchild" category. It doesn't seem like anyone had trouble embracing them.
rays15 | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 4:17 pm | #

to chrisnd -

I am as disappointed as anyone, but I think referring to Notre Dame football players as "step-children" who may "poison the house" is way out of bounds.
I don't care who recruited them - they're family ...
Pete | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 4:24 pm | #

Chrisnd,
I hope charlie treats all the players with respect regardless who recruited them. As for recruiting ranking it really doesn't matter unless these kids have better coaching or passion for the school and the game. I am glad for those freshmen and sophomore that are performing good but they do need leadership and it comes from experience. The seniors that are playing now, happened to have little experience but that is not because they have been recruited by the previous coach. The problem now is that some of the seniors with limited amount of experience had to assume leadership roles. Again cw should be hold accountable for that. How can we not have 2 experienced running backs or wide recievers out of team that went to 2 bcs bowl games?. This same problem is starting develop. In college you use all the weapons you have they are all learning. If you have 5 running backs used them, don't wait until everyone is gone to start deveoloping new starters. I keep hearing that we have an identity problem, can anyone tell me if we are running football or a pass happy football? This should be an easy fix with the O line no holding and qbs with no experience and recievers dropping balls. 5 running backs, should be our solution and rotate them on game day like USC did. Everything will follow. There is definetely a need of a good established running game.
Jean | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 4:31 pm | #

Speaking of step-children, Brady Quinn just did an interview wearing a USC jersey. I think he lost a bet.
Thomas | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 4:50 pm | #

The being treated as 'step-children,' inference has never been articulated by Coach Weis.
If anything he has gone out of his way to praise the ball-players he found on arrival.
For him to do otherwise would be unseemly and an extremley poor reflection on the values of "Our Lady's University."
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 4:53 pm | #

Jade et al :
Please excuse my failure to be clearer in my comment on NDFAN's post .
I was not trying to suggest that UConn could have beaten USC or a majority of the teams ND has played so far this year .- even I am not quite that deranged.
UConn and ND do have a common opponent this season in Duke . UConn won 45-14 .
ND's performance in tne Duke game should be a neutral standard to answer the ongoing debate of recruiting v. current coaching, if you accept that UConn has a roster that is worse (or at least no better than ) ND's in terms of upperclassmen .
a c sullivan | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 5:11 pm | #

Mr. Masterson is correct. Charlie Weis is extremely respectful of all the players. As far as the conflict among the players, I have heard from students who know them well, writers who have picked it up, and alumni who are professionaly involved, that there is great resentment of the young guys on offense, who arrived with much fanfare, without having played a single down in college. It was enough to make me think to myself that all those horrendous long snaps and missed blitz pickups weren't accidents. I hate myself for hinking that, but, it was hinted at ahead of time. Next year, tha conflict wil be gone.
DuffMan | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 5:29 pm | #

Knox,

Too many similarities between Jimmy's experience & performance to Ron's.

Major hype, looks confused, runs around ... slowly, sacked too often, throws into the 5th row, way too many 3 + outs.

Ron had a much better run game and didn't make much out of it.

Seeing Jimmy look like Ron just brings back WAY too many bad memories.

I am still at a loss as to why CW dumped Vaas. I thought Brady played pretty well once CW came to town with Vaas in tow.

Why dump Vaas for Ron?
ThE LoSt BoY | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 5:32 pm | #

I know why guys are still coming to Notre Dame despite the fact that the Irish are 1-7 this year.... it's NOTRE DAME.
Fighting Binny | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 5:33 pm | #

a c sullivan

dude, nobody cares about your hypothetical "who is better, UConn or ND?". not to mention it's flawed logic.

stanford beat USC. you really think they have a better team?

app. st. beat michigan. you really think app. st. is better? (ok, that's a bad one)

college football games need to be viewed individually and through their own prism. you can't play connect the dots or apply the transitive property here. history shows that doesn't work.
kmf | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 5:35 pm | #

Duffman - I hadn't thought about the remote possibility that the snaps/sacks/etc were on purpose...

I am sure that both you and I hope you're wrong...
Pete | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 5:37 pm | #

I have seen a few of Illinois' games this year and have been really impressed with Martez Wilson and Aurelious Benn, two ND 'coulda beens.
They both look physically mature and are instantly among the best on the field.
Mike Floyd is that kind of player. He has Aurelious Benn - Percy Harvin talent, and, he is smart.
DuffMan | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 5:37 pm | #

It's good to see that not only is Sasquatch alive and well but coaching high school football in Minnesota.
Fighting Binny | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 5:41 pm | #

Don't click on his blogspot. We don't reward flaming.
californiadomer | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 5:53 pm | #

I believe the reason we lost Benn is because of Vaas. I also believe that is why Vaas is gone!

I read where he told Benn he had to commit by a certian date or the would pull his offer!
irishman51 | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 5:56 pm | #

I prefer the company of men.
Magglio | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 6:01 pm | #

The Vaas/Benn debacle can be read about here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ wp...7020601649.html
PK | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 6:04 pm | #

Domers,

So we dumped a coach who helped Brady Quinn develop bc of a text-tiff? Didn't CW say: "I think he left coach Vaas out to dry on that one?"

Who thinks the QB development is better left in the hands of Powlus or someone else?

I lean toward someone else.

I see the Ron-ness of Jimmy and I cringe!
ThE LoSt BoY | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 7:01 pm | #

Powlus played four years. Claussen 6 games. I guess that stacks up to an "apples-to-apples" comparison, huh? LOL!!
Lush | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 7:38 pm | #

Irishman51 - we lost Benn because a very shady, possibly illegal recruiting move by the Zooker - it had nothing to do with Vaas.
Piyachi | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 8:19 pm | #

Care to elaborate on that one, Piyachi ?
tjnd88 | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 8:23 pm | #

LostBoy, Clausen has been sacked 23 times this year. How is that Powlus's fault? Quinn was sacked 31 times last year, did that make Vaas a terrible QB coach? Powlus was a redshirt freshman when he started, Clausen is a true freshman. You cannot say that a person is a terrible coach because of his playing status. Lou Holtz should have never even tried to coach if that was the case. I can see blaming Latina for the OLine performance and I really dont think we are as strong as we were when Mickey Marotti was the strength coach, I am not enamored with Mendoza. Most kids coming out of high school never had the strength and conditioning programs that they have in college and to try to compare the strength of an 18 year old with a man of 22 who has spent 4 years in a collegiate strength program is ludicrous at best. I think that Jim Seacord is an excellent strength coach and he should help there, possibly be the new coach. I dont know why CW doesnt make Haywood the special teams coach, he is highly respected in that area. I believe there has been improvement at LB, just a lack of talent. Another thing about Vaas, there was no great improvement for Quinn from his junior to his senior year. As far as saying we should have a good running game because we have five good backs, if there are no holes to run through it doesnt matter who is carrying the ball. Great offensive lines make great backs, have yet to see a great back do it all on his own.
Doug | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 8:37 pm | #

Ron Powlus Curse!


/That is all
DayBreakBoys | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 9:01 pm | #

Question to those who said ND would be losing verbal commitments soon--why did Floyd and Gray commit??
Lush | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 9:10 pm | #

Piyachi-

Lets drop the whole Zook Crook thing. Look at us right now, we are a 1-7 football team that has been shut out twice yet we are getting top kids to commit and have the #1 recruiting class. The reality is that these are kids and they can be sold on a program's future. Obviously Zook sold Benn and Benn is having a good year and fits with Illinois' system. I was there to last year saying 'how can Illinois get these kids? Something illegal must be going on.' But sometimes things just happen. This year has made me see that.
PM | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 9:28 pm | #

Great story/profile on Floyd from Sports Illustrated.

http://www.risemag.com/main.cfm? ...articleId=11316
Eddie | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 9:36 pm | #

Great post,PM
Doug | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 9:48 pm | #

Doug,

As far as Vaas goes, how much improvement could you reasonably expect to see from Brady Quinn from his Junior to Senior year?
NavyJoe | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 10:40 pm | #

Unless you're talking about a curse, I don't think you can blame Powlus for Jimmy's performance. He's not even the actual QB coach, Charlie is. Powlus is the "can you handle the hype" coach, and I think Jimmy hasn't done anything embarrassing with regards to the media or team.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 10:46 pm | #

NavyJoe, did you see improvement in Brady from his junior year to his senior year? His TD-Int ratio was good, but I think he locked on more as a senior. I didnt see much improvement, which doesnt mean that I dont think he wasnt a great QB, by far the best in the country last year. I think Charlie had more to do with Quinn as a junior and allowed Vaas to be more involved his senior year. I dont think that Vaas was a terrible QB coach, but something didnt click with him and Charlie. There are always ways for improvement.
Doug | Email | Homepage | 10.24.07 - 11:07 pm | #

Lush:

USC beat writer Scott Wolfe for the LA Daily News had the following on ND losing recruits:

http://www.insidesocal.com/usc/ a...o.html#comments
Curious George | Email | Homepage | 10.25.07 - 1:51 am | #

Piyachi

I don't know why Vaas was fired but you said it had nothing to do with losing Benn. If that was not the reason then why was he fired. I have not hear any good reason why yet.
GB | Email | Homepage | 10.25.07 - 5:15 am | #

Curious George:
Do you believe Scott Wolfe and if so, why? My point is simple--at the very time Wolfe writes this a 5 star and 4 star recruit commit. Actions speak louder than words.

Also, did you read Pete Carroll's recent comments about the 2007 Irish? He said that you could see this coming two years ago because of ND's lack of players in the junior and senior classes.
Lush | Email | Homepage | 10.25.07 - 6:31 am | #

Something didn't click between Vaas and Weis. In other words, Vaas had his own views and opinions. That's a no-no.

I wish David Cutcliffe had stuck around after recovering from his illness. I never really understood why he didn't. Maybe he foresaw that having an ego would not bode well for his future in South Bend.
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 10.25.07 - 6:59 am | #

Voice, I agree with you here. I believe Charlie came in with a huge ego, he wanted to emulate Parcell's and Belichick. He got quite a bit of mileage off the Super Bowl rings and he really believed all the article written about him being an offensive genius. Things came pretty easily for him the first year. I hope, and believe, he has been humbled somewhat this year. This year has been a test of his character, the off-season and next year will be the truest test of his coaching and administrative skills. I hope that he learns to listen to and trust his assistants and that he sees where he needs to make the necessary staff changes and surrounds himself with top quality coaches. I believe that Ara had the best staff that ND has had and valued their input immensely, especially Tom Pagna.
Doug | Email | Homepage | 10.25.07 - 7:28 am | #

With recruiting going so well, maybe we should start 1-7 every year.
matt ward | Email | Homepage | 10.25.07 - 8:04 am | #

Lush, do I believe Wolfe? I am 50/50. Sometimes he is right, sometimes he is wrong. Who knows about this latest scoop. He refused to identify names recently, about who is transferring. He likes to poke fun at USC, calling the coach Ceasar, and generally on talk shows takes the cynical route. We will see.
Curious George | Email | Homepage | 10.25.07 - 8:11 am | #

Wolfe said he heard the recruit (not commits) info from Irish sources. What sense does that make? "Hey, some of our kids are calling your staff, just FYI!" Maybe his Irish source was a few bottles of Guinness? I'm sure the ND staff is on top of things and evidence is NO new offers have gone out. In fact, I have heard that a couple of elite recruits have contacted ND about the possibility of joining (this is post Floyd and Gray).
DuffMan | Email | Homepage | 10.25.07 - 8:27 am | #

GB - I haven't either...maybe they just didn't get along?

tj - PM me on IrishEnvy if you want to discuss it.
piyachi | Email | Homepage | 10.25.07 - 9:13 am | #

I see major shakeups coming this winter in the coaching roles:

OL
QB
OC
S&C
HMFIC | Email | Homepage | 10.25.07 - 9:49 am | #

Scott Wolf has long shown that he will print any rumor he thinks he hears regardless of validity. Anything he writes has to be taken with a large grain of salt.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 10.25.07 - 9:50 am | #

Yawn....wake me when having a Top 10 recruiting class or whatever the hell it is actually LEADS to something...
Bryan (ND Alumni '02) | Email | Homepage | 10.25.07 - 10:11 am | #

I think that maybe what I wrote about the "step-child" issue wasn't as articulate as it would have been had it been spoken word. Let me try this again.

The seniors do not appear to have "stepped it up" into a leadership role. Why?

Mike Frank hinted that maybe there is discord between the upperclassment and the underclassmen. Why?

I have heard some even mention that the team "responds" better to Sharpley because he is an upperclassmen. Why?

So really, all I was doing was "speculating" as to some of the reasons why comments like this show up. Or why the upperclassmen haven't stepped in as leaders on a team that desperately needs leaders. Or why the seniors (with the exception of a few) are losing out on playing time to freshmen.

No one can argue that for the most part, on the offensive side of the ball, the underclassmen are outplaying the upperclassmen in the key positions (people are lauding Allen and Hughes, while demanding that Thomas not play, and everyone keeps screaming for Tate and Kamara to be on the field even more). Consistent play by Laws, Kuntz, and (occasionally) bright spots by Zibby are the only reasons the defense hasn't been handed over to the likes of Brian Smith, Walls, and Neal already.

So all I was really doing was playing devil's advocate and trying to come up with some reasons as to why stuff like this gets written/said. I am not saying that it IS a "step-child" syndrome, I was just providing a "theory" to at least make people think. Obviously, everyone here has done that, which is good.
chrisnd | Email | Homepage | 10.25.07 - 10:41 am | #

remenber two yrs ago when everyone gave zook shit for his class? what do you think they will say bout weis
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 10.25.07 - 10:51 am | #

I would love for someone to explain the reasoning behind getting rid of Powlus. Tell me how he could be coaching up these QBs it is easy to sit and say get rid of the coach, why do you want to get rid of the coach. I can see the reasoning behind the OL, ST and strength coaches, but why Haywood and Powlus?
Doug | Email | Homepage | 10.25.07 - 12:28 pm | #

Doug,
I actually myself don't see how people can start suggesting who should be fired at this point. Offensive line yes we have had that problem for a little it didn't even start this season but last season. The offensive line is starting to get better and I expect to be better with these last four games. It is hard to coach kids who are also busy with school if they are students atletes then school comes first especially if most of them are freshmen and sophomores. The problem that needs to be fixed quickly in my eyes,when are we going to set up a running game that utilizes all these backs
Jean | Email | Homepage | 10.25.07 - 4:53 pm | #

Again I'm one who doesn't see a reason for firing Powlus at this point and I have no idea as to why Vaas was let go, however I too would of liked to have seen David Cutcliffe stick around here especially seeing what he has accomplished with Erik Ainge here in Knoxville. Maybe if the Vols suffer a few more double digit defeats to SEC rivals like they did against Florida and Alabama Cutcliffe might become available if Fulmer gets shown the door.
Knoxville Irish | Email | Homepage | 10.25.07 - 5:23 pm | #

no way!
bcuster | Email | Homepage | 11.02.07 - 1:01 am | #