Awesome! Very nice highlight video . . .
Jack Burton . . . Me | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 9:42 am | #

Add another NJ recruit who has committed...Somerville, NJ, Immaculata High School junior Theo Riddick

http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll.../NEWS/ 804240336
Jim '72 | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 9:44 am | #

That guy scares me
Dahx | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 9:54 am | #

This is one (the only?) recruit that CW landed that Willingham also would have. Not because Ty was aware of his superior athletic ability or anything, but because he would have ran into him at the turn and liked the way he hit his 5-iron.
Annnonnn | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 10:26 am | #

Is that Terry Tate? "You drink the joe, you make some moe'!"
Brian | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 10:35 am | #

Check this out, there will be more days like these. Be sure to turn up the volume.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f...h? v=f06gPCnGyzg
ARIrish | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 10:46 am | #

Always like to see ND get commits along the line.

By description, Stockton sounds a lot like Trevor Laws. It'll be great if he gets anywhere near that level of ability.

Great pickup for ND.
atepesm | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 11:06 am | #

I watched a lot clips of the blue gold game from the up camera. The turf looked outstanding. I'm assuming this must be the new turf? Can anyone confirm? I'm still worried about the O-line. It seemed as though big holes didn't open up until late in the blue gold game.
Chris | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 11:36 am | #

It is the new turf -- from the same turf farm in Colorado that supplied the new playing surface at Wrigley Field.
DJ | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 12:16 pm | #

"Pain trains coming.... WOO WOOOOO!!!!"
Brad | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 12:25 pm | #

When a newly commited recruit says what Tyler Stockton said about coming to ND, we cannot go wrong.

CW and his coaching staff are off to a great start again. While we may not be able to take 22+ in the class of '09, quality will be important.

While it is far too early to project such things, another top 5-7 class would be sweet, and so would the future of Irish football.

Tyler Stockton, we welcome you to ND Football.
Ted Eberle | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 1:13 pm | #

Looking at the picture of that dude, all I can think of him saying to the opposing offensive lineman prior to the snap of the ball is, "You're ghosting us m*$&%^!*%&#er! I don't care who you are back in the world. You give away our position one more time I'll bleed you, real quiet, an' leave you here. Got that?"
GO IRISH!!! | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 1:28 pm | #

Another Article about Theo Riddick:

This weekend Notre Dame got the No. 3 running back in the country when Oxnard, Calif., product Cierre Wood gave the Fighting Irish his verbal commitment. Little did anyone know Coach Charlie Weis and the rest of the staff also picked up another running back commitment as well this weekend, this one coming from Somerville, N.J., native Theo Riddick.

Theo Riddick ran all over the competition as a junior for Immaculata High School as a junior, carrying the ball 172 times for 1352 yards and 23 touchdowns for the season. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound running back had already hauled in offers from Rutgers, Penn State, Boston College, Northwestern, Pittsburgh and Virginia, however in the end Notre Dame came out on top.

“I called Coach Charlie Weis on Sunday and told him that I wanted to give my verbal commitment to the University of Notre Dame,” Riddick explained to Scout.com on Monday. “He was very excited about it and said that I made a great choice and just walked me through the pluses of Notre Dame again. He said he was really excited to have me on board and asked me how he was supposed to sleep that night.”

With players like Robert Hughes, Armando Allen, Cierre Wood and James Aldridge already in the fold we asked Riddick what he thought he brought to the table and what his approach would be to the competition he’ll face.

“Coach Weis just told me that I have the talent to play and what I put into it is what I’ll get out of it,” Riddick stated. “He said there were not guarantees and that I was going to have to work for it. I look at the situation at running back and think that if you want to be the best you have to compete with the best, so we’re all going to be family there in the backfield. Armando Allen and I have the same running style and I think he’ll help me learn a lot when I get there. He’s going to be a great player and I want to be one too, so I always look at the positive side of things and know I can learn from a guy like him.”

“I think I’ve shown that once I can get past the line and get on safeties, corners and linebackers I have the ability to make people miss and take it to the house,” Riddick added. “I’m a very versatile player and catching the ball is no problem for me at all. I know I need to work on my blocking and my main focus right now has been working with my strength coach to get bigger. I’m up around 190 pounds right now and want to be around 200 pounds by the fall.”

What is it that made the New Jersey native choose to make the Irish his choice?

“First of all, Notre Dame is very similar to my high school in that it’s a private college and secondly, I’m used to being part of a tremendous tradition which Notre Dame obviously has,” Riddick offered. “Lastly, academics played a huge role for me because they are top-notch in that area. When I looked at everything it just lined up and that combination is really what caught my attention.”

Riddick’s parents were sure to make sure this is what their son really wanted…

“My parents asked me if I was sure this is what I wanted because a commitment is a commitment, so you can’t break your word,” Riddick stated. “They treated me like a grown man and asked me if this was the choice I was comfortable with and I told them definitely. They trust my decision and are excited that I’m going to such a great school. Notre Dame is known globally and anyone around the world knows what Notre Dame is. It’s awesome to have the chance to get an education there period, let alone on a full scholarship while I play football.”

Riddick earned first-team All-Conference and second-team All-State honors at running back as a junior for Immaculata. He also played some free safety for the team, intercepting five passes as a junior.

Keep that recruiting train going...
LADomer | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 1:56 pm | #

Anna: When I was little, we found a man. He looked like - like, butchered. The old woman in the village crossed themselves... and whispered crazy things, strange things. "El Diablo cazador de hombres." Only in the hottest years this happens. And this year, it grows hot. We begin finding our men. We found them sometimes without their skins... and sometimes much, much worse. "El cazador trofeo de los hombres" means the demon who makes trophies of men.
Jack Burton . . . Me | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 2:15 pm | #

Hate to piss this Dude off. Stockton welcome to the family. Please don't eat me.
Paul | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 2:21 pm | #

The demon who makes trophies of men?!?!?

That is fabulous! I cannot stop laughing.

Seriously, though, how about Riddick's parents: "a commitment is a commitment, so you can’t break your word"? Sounds like the staff has found yet another solid citizen.
Fitzwater | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 3:10 pm | #

What the heck is that from? I can't place it.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 3:29 pm | #

Now betraying my own cinematic ignorance, I have it on good authority that the "demon" line is from Predator.
Fitzwater | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 3:51 pm | #

I love the fact that Riddick committed in a classroom.
WyoMike | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 5:07 pm | #

"Over here..."
GO IRISH!!! | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 5:36 pm | #

Off topic for a moment (again)...

I'd say it's this kind of ND decision-making that makes us look elitist. Suppose SC insisted we play them in Chicago instead of at ND, we'd be insulted. But when the shoe is on the other foot?

RU won't play Irish after rejecting terms
Friday, April 25, 2008
BY TOM LUICCI
Star-Ledger Staff

Rutgers won't resume playing Notre Dame in football in 2010 as had been tentatively planned -- or at any time in the foreseeable future.

Unwilling to move his school's home games off campus and to Giants Stadium for when the Irish were due to visit New Jersey, Rutgers athletic director Bob Mulcahy announced yesterday that the proposed six-game series -- first made public three years ago -- was off.

"Rutgers entered into discussions about a possible long-term series with Notre Dame, but at the end of the day both schools could not agree about the site of the games," Mulcahy said in a statement issued by the school. "We feel Rutgers' home games should be played on-campus at Rutgers Stadium."

Mulcahy declined further comment when reached by phone and asked about the collapse of a series he engineered and trumpeted three years ago.

The schools had never officially gotten past the discussion stage, even though Notre Dame is listed on the tentative schedules Rutgers has released for 2010 and 2011.

The series was supposed to be split evenly under the original outline -- three games at Rutgers, three at Notre Dame -- but the Irish wanted the games in New Jersey moved to the new NFL stadium at the Meadowlands.

Rutgers was unwilling to do that, said someone with knowledge of the situation who is not authorized to speak on behalf of the school. When the $102 million renovation of Rutgers Stadium is completed in time for the 2009 season, the facility will seat approximately 55,000.

Moving games off campus following expansion defeats the purpose of upgrading Rutgers Stadium, school officials feel.

Head coach Greg Schiano has been steadfast about playing games on campus and not moving them to the Meadowlands, regardless of the opponent.

Meanwhile, Big East rival Connecticut, faced with a similar situation in scheduling Notre Dame, had to strike a compromise with the state legislature for a six-year series with the Fighting Irish starting in 2011.
Jim '72 | Email | Homepage | 04.25.08 - 6:59 am | #

Personally, good for Rutgers. From an outside perspective, it would have to be ridiculous to insist all games in New Jersey be played off campus. While Rutgers might not be a USC or Michigan, they're not San Diego State. And as a low-blow, they've won a few bowl games in the past couple of years...
ND Alum | Email | Homepage | 04.25.08 - 8:59 am | #

On the Rutgers topic, first of all, I believe we HAVE played SC in Chicago. It's been a while, but I digress . . .

I have been to an ND-Rutgers game in Piscataway, and it was a pretty miserable experience. The campus and the town was COMPLETELY unprepared for the deluge of cars that descended upon it. It is no exaggeration to report that it took me a solid four hours to get from Phila to my parking spot. If I were an ND sports administrator, I think I would question whether it makes sense to return to Piscataway -- especially if there will be MORE ticket-holders trying to find their ways to the game than the last time.

(Admittedly, in reality, traffic concerns are probably much further down the list than such factors as money, money, money, and money, but again, I digress . . .)
Fitzwater | Email | Homepage | 04.25.08 - 9:03 am | #

Off topic, but that clown Demetrius Jones is still yapping about ND to the Chicago Tribune.

I defended him when he transferred and attributed it to his being a confused kid, but he needs to just let it go and move on. He's better off now at Cincinnati and ND is definitely better off without him. Let. It. Go.
kmf | Email | Homepage | 04.25.08 - 9:46 am | #

kmf, interesting article re Jones. I'm afraid the internal divisions on last years' team ran deeper than I'd even imagined.
jn | Email | Homepage | 04.25.08 - 10:03 am | #

"We feel Rutgers' home games should be played on-campus at Rutgers Stadium."

I think that sounds pretty reasonable.

>Insert tirade about how our committment to play a 6-4-1 schedule prevents us from scheduling more prominent teams than Rutgers in the first place.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 04.25.08 - 10:07 am | #

Well Rutgers should have thought of that before they became freaking rutgers
Matt | Email | Homepage | 04.25.08 - 10:40 am | #

I don't think its unreasonable for Rutgers to insist on playing their games at home, but I also don't think its elitist for Notre Dame to insist on playing in a larger stadium (although I realize we have played in smaller venues, including Air Force and Georgia Tech).

However, if this is such a big issue for Kevin White, he should have thought of it before he committed us to playing so many games against the Big East. Here are the home attendance figures for the Big East in 2007:

60400 West Virginia
53170 USF
43663 Rutgers
39881 Louisville
38205 Connecticut
35009 Syracuse
33315 Pittsburgh
30246 Cincinnati
Steve R | Email | Homepage | 04.25.08 - 11:11 am | #

I just read the Chicago Tribune article posted about Demetrius Jones. I defended that kid (actually quite ferociously, now that I think about it) at the time of his transfer and all that mess. But I can be fairly certain that I will never defend him again.
Jade | Email | Homepage | 04.25.08 - 12:17 pm | #

So, basically, Jones handled the situation with ND about as poorly as he could possibly have handled it:

1. Team installs and practices an offense centered around him; he thinks so little of it that he misses a mandatory meeting.

2. He plays horribly in the game (not that he was the only one, but nevertheless), and ponders his future on the sidelines during the game instead of focusing in the event that he was put back in.

3. Tells no one of his plans to transfer until he's enrolled elsewhere.

4. Admittedly drags ass in practice all week, then intentionally misses the team bus to Michigan.

I don't care how young he is/was. He acted like a spoiled child.
Lujack City | Email | Homepage | 04.25.08 - 1:09 pm | #

Oh, yeah. In the meantime, Weis and the University acted with fairness and class by saying nothing of Jones' actions and taking all sorts of unwarranted bad press.

Also, I think it's rich that Jones says Weis had a hidden agenda, yet Jones admits that he decided to transfer, enrolled elsewhere, and then dogged practice and intentionally missed the team, all without telling anyone. Pot, kettle, all that.

/rant
Lujack City | Email | Homepage | 04.25.08 - 1:12 pm | #

Stockton looks like he could play guard as well! This kid could play both ways. I haven't seen anyone with this kids size move like that in a long time. I believe Stockton's name will be included with Zorich, Young, and Laws when his Irish career ends! This dude is scary strong and fast I would start him at Nose Tackle and also get him time at Guard. I can easily imagine him blowing d-lineman and linebackers up as a Run Blocking Guard. The Future is so bright. GO IRISH!!!
dave c | Email | Homepage | 04.25.08 - 2:08 pm | #

If he can pick up the blitz, try him at FB.

Or, better yet, when we improve the Sam Young punt return unit, we can have Stockton, H. Smith, Mike Anello (he'll be a 5th year Sr.), and Ragone as his wedge. Call it the "bulldozer" formation.
GO IRISH!!! | Email | Homepage | 04.26.08 - 1:01 pm | #

Hard to believe that football player in the picture still has a year of high school to go. As much success as ND has had in recruiting the past 2 years, you just are not allowed to replenish an 85 man roster in 2.5 recruiting classes. When you come into a place with a recent history of mediocrity and absolutely NO offensive or defensive line, you have quite a daunting task ahead. The O-line recruits came first and are just now becoming real D-1 players. Neal, Smith, and Williams contributed on 'D' last year and round 2 will show up this year. A few years from now, when Mr. Stockton plants one hand down on the line of scrimmage and looks up, he will see an opposing lineman looking back at him, saying, "Oh shit". Charlie Weis took a handful of very good football players to back to back BCS games in '05 and '06. Yet, last year, with a band of kids one year above a high school all-star team, he took gambles, lost most of them, and listened to the chorus of critics question his resume, psycholgy, personnel choices and coaching staff. This year's squad, while physicaly stronger and more mature, and full of self confidence as they ride a 2 game winning streak into '08; is still not the full roster of real D-1 footballers needed to be in the Championship conversation. This will be a fun and exciting year for all fans who don't measure success by undefeated seasons. By the time Mr. Stockton is hugging quarterbacks, those fans will have no complaints either.
DuffMan | Email | Homepage | 04.26.08 - 8:55 pm | #

http://www.haloscan.com/comments...2221431/ #256232

"El cazador trofeo de los hombres" means the demon who makes trophies of men.
Jack Burton . . . Me | Email | Homepage | 04.24.08 - 2:15 pm | #

Whoever wrote this needs to know that EL CAZADOR TROFEO DE LOS HOMBRES means: THE HUNTER TROPHY OF MEN. If you want to say what you said it meant, then say "El demonio que hace trofeo de los hombres." That would make sense. and dont give me any bs. Im from Spain and know what the hell I'm talking about. And if your hispanic or mexican or whatever, then learn how to speak spanish, thats why we came and conquered your dumb asses...to teach you some spanish grammar
Nd CornDog | Email | Homepage | 04.30.08 - 3:15 pm | #