Pat, maybe I'm being a bit too provincial here but couldn't you have included Harrison Smith in that list of talented DB's you mentioned?
Knoxville Irish | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 12:09 pm | #

AND...cue up Butch Davis' whining.

What high school did he attend? I might have missed it in the write up.
Matt J. | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 12:20 pm | #

Sorry. I read the Trib's article. He's from Matthews.
Matt J. | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 12:22 pm | #

Knox, I think Pat was talking strictly about our corners...wasn't a knock on H. Smith, who looks like he's going to be a spectacular safety for us.
Jay | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 12:36 pm | #

Speaking of Harrison Smith...The kid is an exceptional athlete and I am extremely glad he gets to learn toughness from Zibby. Not only will Zibby's fifth year pay obvious dividends in'07, I believe that the incredible influence he will have on all the DB pups will reap rewards for years to come.
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 12:43 pm | #

Right Jay, I was just talking about cornerbacks.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 1:04 pm | #

My apologies to Pat and others, I was thinking that his reference was to all DB's and not just the CB position.
Knoxville Irish | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 1:07 pm | #

"the days of ND's secondary being a national punchline are hopefully over"


Wow. Never did I think I would ever actually hear(read) such a statement. The last 4 years have been bitterly, terribly awful. Nothing would please me more than to see a Top 20 pass defense. Imagine...
Brad | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 1:18 pm | #

Welcome, Robert. Please don't wear #15. (and someone please convince Mr. Ferrine to give it to an offensive player).
Nate | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 1:23 pm | #

Wow... watching him recognize, turn, and run down the back in the flat was impressive. INTs are often due to bad throws, but the football acumen displayed on that last play is encouraging.
I hope Coach Brown teaches these boys up as good as he recruits!
Whitey | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 1:34 pm | #

Anybody else notice how many of our recruiting reports say, "He also had offers from [among other places] Michigan"? I checked the Rivals lists for our guys, and nine of our fifteen also were interested in UM but committed to us. Conversely, only one of their six had ND on the list but went to Big Blue.
Unfortunately, I don't have the premium access to Rivals to know if UM actually offered these guys (any help here?), but I certainly like those little recruiting-war wins.
BlueDevilDave | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 1:46 pm | #

How many of those Irish commits who also had offers from Michigan would be wearing ND hats right now if Corwin Brown were not our defensive coordinator? I'm guessing maybe 2-3.

Welcome Blanton!
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 2:00 pm | #

"Not all highly recruited cornerbacks turn into college stars . . ."

Clifford Jefferson, call your office!
Lujack City | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 2:29 pm | #

BlueDevilDave,

You are exactly right. While it's entirely typical for us to go head-to-head with UM for recruits, you don't typically see us get into real heated battles with them over players. More often, at least it seems to me, you see some guy who picks UM and has ND listed somewhere down on his Top 5, or vice versa.

This year, in particular, we've really gone out up against UM in some tough recruiting battles, and I really believe that what has tipped the scales in our favor is, without a DOUBT, Corwin Brown. It seems as if every single player we see commit specifically cites Brown as a major reason, obviously/especially the big load of D players we've been bagging. ND desperately needed to bag some big time talent and depth along the defensive side of the ball this year, and in my opinion Brown has done more than his fair share of going out there and convincing those kids that ND is the place they want to be (not UM!).
Brad | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 3:39 pm | #

I like the numbers. In addition to being a good recruiter, CB is a former UM player. So if you're considering ND and UM, and if a good coach, good player, and Michigan guy is telling you not to go to Michigan, but to go to ND...I think the numbers are a little less surprising.
Again, a lot may have to do with CB being a great recruiter, but any head to head battles with UM we have an almost insurmountable advantage because of his experience with both schools.
Duh | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 4:02 pm | #

To those that asked about ND vs. UM recruiting:

If my memory serves, these are the following players that UM offered that eventually picked ND (its more than half our recruiting class - and the list is likely to grow):

QB Dayne Crist
WR John Goodman
TE Kyle Rudolph
OL Braxston Cave
OL Lane Clelland
LB Darius Fleming
NT Omar Hunter
DB Robert Blanton

From that list, three were mentioned as UM leans at one point or another in the recruiting process (Blanton, Clelland, Hunter). Not all of it has been Corwin Brown, but he's definitely helped.

Some guys I'm uncertain of when it comes to UM offers are Joseph Fauria, Anthony McDonald, and Sean Cwynar. I doubt any of them got an offer, but perhaps Fauria (anyone know?).

As for the ND offer that UM got:

TE Brandon Moore

...who picked UM about a month after ND had wrapped up its recruiting efforts with TE's.

Some of that may have to do with ND knowing they didn't have a shot at such and such a guy that ended up at Michigan, but a lot of their guys had legitimate interest in ND at some point, but they never got an offer.

Translation: Notre Dame is getting the guys Michigan genuinely wanted, while Michigan is getting guys that only got a sniff or two from ND.

Michigan's list will certainly pick up in the future, since more of their guys are waiting to take official visits this fall. But in the opening round, Corwin & Co. have landed more than a couple body blows to UM's recruiting efforts.
Carl | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 4:26 pm | #

I remember an old BGS post from before last season where one of the BGS guys stated he had a big man-crush on Charlie Weis.

As of this week, I have a big man-crush on Corwin Brown.

See comments below from Blanton's step father -

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/re...? playerId=46900

Blanton has picked Notre Dame over a host of schools including Virginia Tech and his father, Robert, spoke with the Journal Gazette about his son's decision. "(Defensive coordinator) Corwin Brown killed everybody. When I realized that was going to happen, I called coaches from Virginia Tech and told them they would have to step up if they wanted R.J."
jaisn | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 4:42 pm | #

Most important recruits left on the board:

Floyd
Filer
Johnson

Getting all three would probably lock up a top 5 class.

Assuming we get all three, the icing on the cake: one more OL (Patchan, hopefully), a third WR (Butler, hopefully), and two more DB's (let's say Slaughter and McCarthy).

Good grief that would be a good class.
NDDL99 | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 5:28 pm | #

Good article much better than that plagiarized nonsense over at ndnation.com......do the guys that run that website ever have an original thought???
Josh Holmes | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 5:47 pm | #

come on Josh...they basically just post links to ND stories across the ND sites. If you can do better, start your own ND site.
boywoNDer | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 6:02 pm | #

These are the guys ND is a major player with and have at least a 50% shot with:

RB: Carlton Thomas
WR: Mike Floyd and Brice Butler (ND, FSU, USC)
OL: Kenny Page
DT: Marcus Forston (slightly less than 50% prob. but looks like a Miami-ND battle)
DE: Ethan Johnson (ND vs USC)
LB: Steve Filer and Etienne Sabino
DB: Jamoris Slaughter and Dan McCarthy and Jeremy Brown

If I had to guess, I would say the Irish take 7 more and they get Thomas, Floyd, Johnson, Slaughter, and Brown...and then two others but I dont think we end up with McCarthy (tOSU or Stanford), Filer (Michigan or U of I), Sabino (Miami or UNC), Forston (Miami), Page (??), or Butler (Fla. St.)
Jason | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 6:24 pm | #

boywoNDer...no need too


http://tinyurl.com/2u39l9
Josh Holmes | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 8:24 pm | #

That's one heck of a nice article you wrote and all the extra links make it better than anything out there I've seen so far.

Thanks a lot!!

You've been on my list of favorites for a while because of quality and insight like this...
Jack | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 9:20 pm | #

Well played, Josh.
Fighting Binny | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 9:23 pm | #

There was one guy Corwin Brown let slip away... http://youtube.com/watch?v=X6j_GnIb2pY
Fighting Binny | Email | Homepage | 06.21.07 - 9:26 pm | #

Trivia: Blanton can high jump 6'6" while Harrison Smith can high jumpm 6'4" (while winning the State HS Decathalon).

Both are studs...Welcome!
Andy | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 2:32 am | #

I can high jump almost seven feet, but that's just the tips of my fingers.
T-Schaef | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 2:50 am | #

John Carlson once high jumped over the Golden Dome. True story.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 8:08 am | #

no Brad, that was Jamarcus Russell...he did the restoration a few years back, and as a tribute to the Almighty, jumped the Golden Dome.
David | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 8:43 am | #

John Carlson is the new JaMarcus Russell. And though I haven't seen him high jump over the dome, I did personally witness him jumping over the library. Went right between Jesus' arms. Very impressive.
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 10:04 am | #

Enough already. This is not remotely entertaining. Right up there with tOSU is Righteous.
Beat that Dead Horse | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 10:22 am | #

It's worth noting that when we go up against UM for a defensive recruit, we are going up against Ron English; a guy who appears to have more than a pinch of defensive mo' himself. Although it is difficult for me to write his name without imagining him as a film star.

If I was UM AD, I'd be shortlisting English in the upcoming coaching search, and how our defenses perform on the 15th may be as important to these programs in the long run as who wins and loses.
indy | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 10:38 am | #

Give the guy #21...I have a gut feeling he's could be like Bobby Taylor. His physical description reminds me of Taylor. . .
Felipe | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 11:34 am | #

42 is taken right now, so I'm not sure on that one, but in a lot of ways watching him reminds me of Shane Walton - the last Irish Defender to be named a 1st team All-American.

21 is currently taken by Barry Gallup, so I'm not sure either is plausible.
Carl | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 12:11 pm | #

DeadHorse: No.

Voice: Carlson DID go right between Jesus's arms, but he didn't quite clear the building. He went through the top floor, causing about $450,000 in damage.

Of course, he had it all cleaned up by the afternoon.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 12:33 pm | #

John Carlson learned his incredible high jumping skills from Anthony Fasano, who once high jumped over an entire Washington Husky defensive player.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 1:17 pm | #

It'd be pretty nice to see Blanton run an interception back for a TD and do a fallsbury flop over a 6'5" would-be tackler into the endzone.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 1:30 pm | #

sorry... Fosbury Flop
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 1:31 pm | #

You're right Carl, 21 is taken by Gallup. Well, he'll have to prove himself first but #9 could be a nice fit...ala Jeff Burris. Zibby will be gone so. . .
Felipe | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 2:22 pm | #

I am a giant douchebag
Nate | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 3:00 pm | #

Actually, I found Nate's "Deadhorse: No" comment to be quite funny. Short, simple, to the point. Two thumbs up, good family fun.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 3:44 pm | #

Michigan's painful losses are the following this year:

Clelland, Hunter (ouch, ouch, ouch), and Blanton. The rest, and in particular Crist, not so much. I mention Crist because Michigan was not recruiting him, he asked for an offer, received one, then didn't visit before choosing ND. Let's just say I've been less disappointed.

Going back a year, I would have loved both Young and Romine.

Hopefully, we will pull Ethan Johnson, Baldwin, Filer, and McGuffie, and even this up a bit.

But regardless of our "battles" with ND, Michigan is averaging a touch under 4 stars. We'll be ok.
masked avenger | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 3:46 pm | #

Nice comment, Avenger. Thanks for the informed opinion, and for helping keep this blog a civilized place to argue and gush about all things Notre Dame, including our respected opponents. And especially for not referring to JaMarkus Russell even once.
indy | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 4:21 pm | #

Has anyone else mentioned this quote from Rothstein's article?

“Corwin Brown killed everybody,” said Blanton’s father, Robert Edwards. “When I realized that was going to happen, I called coaches from Virginia Tech and told them they would have to step up if they wanted R.J.”

Dang. 10-4 good buddy! Over and out!
indy | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 4:56 pm | #

“Corwin Brown killed everybody,” said Blanton’s father, Robert Edwards. “When I realized that was going to happen, I called coaches from Virginia Tech and told them they would have to step up if they wanted R.J.”

--

If Michigan seriously did pursue Blanton, why wudn't Blanton's father mention Michigan along with Virginia Tech. Just saying!

There can be many ways this can be spun. masked avenger pretty much nails our p.o.v. If you want to celebrate battles which you *supposedly* won, go ahead... these won't matter come game time.
JohnnyDrama | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 6:17 pm | #

Jonny.

Maybe Blanton's father was pushing for VT and not Michigan.

As far as recruiting battles go, they all add up. We both know that three years ago, ND didn't have a snowball's chance in hell to bag some of the players they now are landing, especially in a head-to-head with Michigan.

And eventually, they do matter come gametime. Hell, last year notwithstanding, ND has played Michigan pretty tough with far less talent on its side. Its natural for ND fans to be excited about recruiting some coveted players to our side for a change. What else is there to talk about in June?
Don E. Brook | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 6:41 pm | #

If I remember correctly, #15 was Cliff Jefferson's number. Rather appropriate, as I also remember that any time the ball came near Cliff, there was usually a 15 yard interference penalty.

Also, lets not be too critical of www.ndnation.com, as they originated and promoted the letter to the BOT that was instrumental in getting ridding of Malloy and Ty.
Peter | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 7:03 pm | #

JDrama - in another part of the article, it stated that Blanton's family wanted him to stay close to home. And he's not from Toronto.
indy | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 8:29 pm | #

Thanks for the insight masked avenger. ND also certainly would have offered Boubacar Cissoko if he hadn't committed to UM so early.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 8:37 pm | #

Boubacar Cissoko is certain to be an All-American, at least on the all name team.
Donger | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 11:01 pm | #

Classy, Deadhorse. Classy. Instead of simply ignoring things you don't care for, personal attacks like typing in someone's screenname and making it seem as if they're calling theselves a "douchebag" are much more mature and intelligent.

John Carlson wouldn't be impressed, though.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 06.22.07 - 11:42 pm | #

Corwin Brown may have "killed everybody", but we all know that he is no match for John Carlson.

I mean, Carlson used to go by the name Paul Bunyan, and Corwin Brown tackles like this - http://youtube.com/watch?v=X6j_GnIb2pY .
Jon | Email | Homepage | 06.23.07 - 1:22 am | #

Nate. I assure you that I did not use your screen name. I thought the "douchebag" comment was your retort to my tOSU reference, which I did choose to ignore. Obviously, it was someone else's attempt at humor. My appologies.
Beat that Dead Horse | Email | Homepage | 06.23.07 - 10:35 am | #

Everyone seems a little testy around here...the season really needs to start.
Chris | Email | Homepage | 06.23.07 - 11:04 am | #

Amen to that!
Don E. Brook | Email | Homepage | 06.23.07 - 11:19 am | #

Wait a minute, Chris. Who you calling little testes?
Don E. Brook | Email | Homepage | 06.23.07 - 11:21 am | #

Who stole your dirty undies, dude?
Matt | Email | Homepage | 06.23.07 - 11:43 am | #

Probably the underpants gnomes.

Stage 1 - Collect Underpants.
Stage 2 - ?
Stage 3 - Profit.
The Underpants Gnomes | Email | Homepage | 06.23.07 - 12:06 pm | #

Nate is a friggin' douchebag.
John Carlson | Email | Homepage | 06.23.07 - 1:12 pm | #

i heard john carlson once drank a whole gallon of milk without puking ... then he ran a marathon and beat the kenyan guy who always wins
cuso | Email | Homepage | 06.23.07 - 2:28 pm | #

Was CB literally in the game during Brooks' run? Is he the safety (#20) who came up flying and put the first hit on Reggie?
indy | Email | Homepage | 06.23.07 - 3:27 pm | #

I should have listened more closely to the audio. "Corwin Brown missing the tackle..." Awesome. This is literally a play I think you can learn life lessons from watching. Like Sun Tsu or the Five Rings. The friggin guy is unconscious and still holding onto the football!
indy | Email | Homepage | 06.23.07 - 3:34 pm | #

Miyamoto Musashi, Indy? Is he the same eastern philosopher famous for the premise that "large woman who fly upside down have big crack up?"
Don E. Brook | Email | Homepage | 06.23.07 - 5:15 pm | #

Dead Horse: No problem. Apparently, that someone still thinks juvenility passes as funny. Alas, they'll let anyone on the internet.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 06.23.07 - 5:48 pm | #

Nate, Juvenility is copying/pasting those Chuck Norris jokes that have been floating around the internet for about a year - inserting Jamarcus Russell or John Carlson's name - and then posting said jokes ad nauseum in the comments section of this blog. Even the guy who writes the d@mn blog chimed in voice his disaproval - yet you persist. You are neither funny nor original, and if you don't like people pointing out what a giant douchbage you are, well, then maybe you should stop posting such douchebag-esque stuff on Blue-Gray Sky. Or better yet just go away.
Tired | Email | Homepage | 06.23.07 - 6:48 pm | #

Pat (and not you, Tired) may correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe he had an issue with JR references. You don't like my jokes (all of which were original, and none lifted from Chuck Norris posts, thanks), fine with me. Personal attacks aren't warranted, and won't be returned.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 06.23.07 - 8:10 pm | #

Well...on one hand, I think the J.R. and Carlson stuff can probably stop (although, I did participate whole heartedly, I, too, am becoming a little bored with it)...on the other hand, Tired, I doubt if you're adding much more to the conversation by continuing to 'call out' Nate on his "douchebag-esque" ways. Just saying. Maybe I'm just douchebagging around too. (I'm trying to see how many ways to use the word, since it's all-the-rage)
Chris | Email | Homepage | 06.24.07 - 2:31 am | #

No, he was an insane Samurai warrior in late feudal Japan who never took a bath and killed like 60 people in swordfights using a wooden stick.

His most famous quote was 'A polar bear is a rectangular bear after a coordinate transform.'
indy | Email | Homepage | 06.24.07 - 9:08 am | #

I apologize if that last post appeared completely humorless.
indy | Email | Homepage | 06.24.07 - 10:28 am | #

An article in the Detroit FreePress about Michigan's football camp says the Michigan is "tearing up the recruiting trail." Of course this came from the author of The Wolverine.com. I hate these Michigan fans so badly, I love kicking their butts anyway we can. Hopefully this will go on to the field for a long time.
Doug | Email | Homepage | 06.24.07 - 11:22 am | #

Blanton is in the lower 15 percentile? What the heck was Hornung complaining about. If he'd known this he wouldn't have lost his job.
Judge60 | Email | Homepage | 06.24.07 - 1:16 pm | #

That Freep article is based on old information, the interview probably occurred right after camp. As most of you know, ND has muscled its way into good shape for Baldwin. Fred Smith is looking more and more like a Spartan, and Jonas Gray will not be a Wolverine if he decides anytime soon. I don't know if we offered Rhuland, the in-state tackle mentioned in the article.

Michigan still thinks it is looking good for Stonum, a WR out of Texas, and McGuffie, who is supposed to visit campus sometime soon, and UM likely will have good news on one or both sometime soon.

I haven't heard too much new about defensive recruits.

If McGuffie falls through though, grab some popcorn and enjoy a meltdown of Rojo-like proportions.
masked avenger | Email | Homepage | 06.24.07 - 2:50 pm | #

Has anyone heard whether Warren Rueland has committed to Stanford? The kid is supposed to be one hell of a wide-out, extemely strong academically, and a huge ND fan (not to mention the brother of Konrad). At least as of the Blue-Gold game, ND hadn't even made him an offer.
Don E. Brook | Email | Homepage | 06.24.07 - 3:26 pm | #

Don - He did commit to Stanford.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 06.24.07 - 5:56 pm | #

I think these words apply well for most of us who post here..."Take it easy, Champ. Why don't you sit this next one out, stop talking for a while."
Fighting Binny | Email | Homepage | 06.24.07 - 7:20 pm | #

Like clockwork, college football fans always get a little testy this time of the year. The lack of news plus the feeling that the season is closing in, yet still too far away to get really excited, leads to bickering for whatever reason.

Let's all just cool down and show each other some respect.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 06.24.07 - 7:47 pm | #

I don't know, indy, it was alright.

Something about insane warriors in the 17 century speaking wisdom about bears he never saw in his lifetime and radians struck me as kinda funny.
Jon | Email | Homepage | 06.24.07 - 11:12 pm | #

Is it too early to get a countdown going? We're almost only 2 months away!
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 06.25.07 - 2:17 pm | #

Did anyone ever see Bobby Taylor make a good tackle...college or pro? Great cover back...but his tackling technique was "jump on and wait for help".
jim / redondo beach | Email | Homepage | 06.25.07 - 2:18 pm | #

Thanks for the Rueland update Pat.

Indy, I too thought your post was funny. Not so much about the warrior or the bear but the preemptory appology to ward off any would be humor police was very funny.
Don E. Brook | Email | Homepage | 06.25.07 - 3:38 pm | #

I would take another Luther Bradley anyday.
Doug | Email | Homepage | 06.26.07 - 11:20 pm | #