I wonder if it has anything to do with who will be applying for a 5th year of eligibility next year. That would open more spots for available scholarships. When does that happen? Do we know who is thinking about it yet? Mike Anello is the biggest name I can think of, but I know there are others. I don't think Evan Sharpley is interested.

So he and our future punter come from the same school? That'll be nice to have a pre-established continuuity there. Long snapper is one of those positions where you never, ever, want to hear the name of the person who plays there unless he makes a sweet tackle after hustling downfield. It should be nothing short of automatic. I'm glad to hear we're taking steps to make that happen, especially if we have room in our scholarship limit.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 11:48 am | #

Good to hear! Keep that Catholic pipeline flowing.
NDdallas | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 12:06 pm | #

This is still a bit of a headscratcher for me.

Maybe Charlie foresees us punting a lot.
Jay | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 12:17 pm | #

Welcome to Notre Dame, Jordan!

Given all the troubles (and resultant bellyaching on the blogs) for our special teams the last few years, I like that we're focusing on this with scholarships. Now let's hope that the incoming special teamers live up to their scholarships.

As for 5th years, PLEASE COME BACK Mike Anello - you embody Notre Dame, and should be a shoo-in for special teams captain. As a former ND varsity walk-on (no, not football) myself, the idea of going from walk-on to captain is heartwarming.
OderName | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 12:25 pm | #

This is still a bit of a headscratcher for me.

Maybe Charlie foresees us punting a lot.

Or shotgun/spread offensive sets.

It's a very useful skill, and it's not like the young man isn't a good regular snapper already, or that he couldn't be taught to be one. We'll see...
DJ | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 12:28 pm | #

This is a really bad idea. I understand that long-snapping is a special skill set and is one of those things that is often overlooked, but did we really need to offer a scholarship for it? Not to mention a scholarship to a kid from FLORIDA? How is he going to handle snapping in the cold, mud and generally shitty conditions of South Bend from mid-October on? I can't believe there isn't a long-snapper from the South Bend or Chicago area that can't get the job done, and is willing to walk on to the team, with the hopes of grabbing a scholly as a junior or senior. This just blows my mind that we can't get a kid from the midwest that is used to long-snapping a frozen football, and opt instead to give a full ride to a kid from Florida that HASN'T EVEN VISITED THE CAPUS YET. Horrible, horrible decision by Weis et al.
WyoMike | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 12:34 pm | #

This was not a horrible decision at all. Do NFL teams waste a roster spot on a long snapper? Yes they do. It isn't that crazy at all. I'm glad that we're trying to fix the holes identified in our roster. We haven't filled all of our available scholarships in a long time. One bad snap on a punt or field goal can lose a game. Relying on an unknown to make those pivotal snaps might sound like a good plan to you, but if I were the coach, and I wanted to retain my job, I would recruit the players I needed to win. Your plan for improvement can't be that you hope you get a good walk-on to try out.
Christian | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 12:49 pm | #

WyoMike | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 12:34 pm |

You're kidding, right?
DJ | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 12:49 pm | #

I echo DJ's comment above. It is my sincere desire that the ESPN description is a joke.

I mean, really?
Floyd Gondolli | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 1:14 pm | #

Christian is correct. Good move. NFL teams have a roster of 53 and they reserve one for a long snapper. ND has 85 scolarship spots. They should not reserve one for a specialist long snapper???? What is even better is that Coward has been doing it for Ben Turk for a few years so they will know each others nuances from the start.

As for a FL kid, using the logic above by wyomike, anyone who handles the ball should come from bad weathe and the midwest. I quess Claussen and Crist, since they come from So. Cal, must be a waste as well. I t would seem with some people, no matter what ND does, it is wrong.
JP | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 1:29 pm | #

Everyone in Cleveland was livid when the Browns 'wasted' a fifth round pick on long snapper Ryan Pontbriand in 2003 despite scouting reports that he was the best long snapper in the country.

With Pontbriand long snapping, the Browns haven't had a punt blocked, Phil Dawson's 83.3 field goal percent is among the best all time, and Pontbriand made the Pro Bowl last year.

Moral of the story: is it normal to waste a scholarship on a long snapper? No. Might it be worth it if he's the best? Yes.

Welcome to ND, Jordan.
Pops | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 1:30 pm | #

With deficiencies along both lines, I'd be way more interested in bringing in a few 2-3 star DL and see if one can blossom like Brian Smith.

Misplaced priorities continue...

-Domer96
Domer96 | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 1:37 pm | #

I totally agree, WyoMike. I'm sick of these recruits coming from other parts of the country. We need to recruit only in the Chicago, South Bend, and Mishawaka areas.
me | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 1:39 pm | #

Could some of this focus on special teams be a result of meeting with Beamer last spring? If nothing else, Va Tech is known for their special teams play. Might be a trickle down of Beamerball-cum-South Bend.
Matt J. | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 1:40 pm | #

sounds like recruiting is starting to slip as well
Fiji4Free | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 1:51 pm | #

okay, is anyone else worried that we're getting a guy who is 225 pounds and he's going to be a long-snapper? Can he block? Is he really going to hang with a 325 lb noseguard?

I like that he's a specialist, but I worry about whether he can do the job. There probably are few guys who can snap the way he snaps. That doesn't necessarily make me feel great.
teo | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 1:56 pm | #

you guys look too much into this....wait a few years before you judge...If you never hear the kid's name, then that will be a good thing.
CommonSense | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 2:08 pm | #

teo - Long snappers generally aren't as big as offensive centers because they don't generally have to "block" defensive linemen the same way. On punts they have to snap and run down the field and try and make a tackle. On field goals they snap and hold their ground for a second or two.

JJ Jansen, who was picked up by the Packers and was going to start before getting injured, was listed at 6'3", 242 at ND. I just looked at Alabama's current depth chart. Their starting long snapper is 6'0", 218 pounds.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 2:10 pm | #

Great comment, Jay. In fact the Packers previous long snapper was in his 40's. Reportedly he would snap and just run off the field. In fact I've heard that of other NFL clubs. This position is a very specialized one. Welcome Jordan.
JP | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 2:16 pm | #

Congrats, Jordan!! Welcome to the ND family!
me | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 2:23 pm | #

On punts it's actually illegal (15 yard foul) to wack the long snapper while he is 'defenseless.' This pretty much guarantees the offense that WAS punting a first down and makes long snapper blocking virtually unnecessary.

Long snapping is critical. If you can get a good long snapper it strikes me that it's worth a scholarship. There's plenty of guys on scholarship that will see much less field time than the long snapper.

I'm amazed when powerhouse teams (like FSU of the past) lose huge games because they didn't adequately recruit special teams.
imafreak | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 2:33 pm | #

Long snapper and punter that have already worked together for several years. Sounds like a no-brainer to me. If we ever get into a tight, big game again, it could be the crucial factor. And the punter's uncle is in the NFL.
ND67Aquajock | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 2:36 pm | #

I'd rather see ND get a kicker who can put the ball past the 10 yard line on kickoffs!
discNDav | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 2:38 pm | #

Special teams and turnovers win football games. That's why the punt is the most important play in football. Nothing hurts a team more than a blocked punt. Conversely, nothing helps more than being able to pin a team after being stopped on offense. A good special teamer is priceless (see John Carney, Hunter Smith, Steve Tasker, Joshua Cribbs, et al.)

There can only be one concern, and that's consistancy. Vanderjagt is the most accurate kicker in NFL history, and currently does not have a job. If he would have come as a preferred walk-on that would be great, but I see absolutely no problem trying to get a great long snapper.

Special teams and turnovers win football games.
Mark | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 2:42 pm | #

DJ,

Perhaps not punting, but lots of extra points.

Without thinking hard about it, I can recall 4 missed field goals this year that were the result of botched snaps. One of them was against Syracuse and cost the game. On several punts, Maust had to reach to catch the snap, taking longer to get it off. Not sure if the blocks were on those or not.

It is a penalty to block the long snapper. If I had a choice between giving the last scholarship spot to a 5* DL and a long snapper, sign me up for the DL every time. That is not the issue.

I too am worried about recruiting drying up. We need at least one more DL, and I would like one more OL in this class.
Andy T | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 2:43 pm | #

I know long-snapping is essential to the special teams play, and picking up a scholarship long-snapper would be a good idea on a team that doesn't have a lot of holes to fill. But ND does, especially along the o-line and d-line. If this kid is going to long snap and be in contention for a spot on the two-deep, fine, give him a scholarship. But if his only role on the team is long-snapping, this is a huge blunder when the lines (and linebackers) need holes filled. He should have been given the option to walk-on, and prove he can handle the ball in crappy weather before he got a scholarship.

And no, I don't think we should only recruit in South Bend or Chicago. But a few more from around the area wouldn't be a bad thing. Look at who our some of toughest, nastiest players are: Pat Kuntz, from Indiana; Brian Smith, from Iowa; Mike Anello, from Illinois; Kyle McCarthy from Ohio. Zibby was from Chicago and Quinn was from Ohio too. I'm not saying we should only recruit in the Midwest, because there have been a lot of tough ass kids from Florida, Texas, and California (Jeff Faine comes to mind), but we need more blue-collar, mud and blood kids from the midwest. I'm wondering what role playing 3 star kid that could blossom into a star won't get offered a scholarship because one is taken up by a long-snapper.

And by the way, JJ Jansen was a walk-on that was given a scholarship in 2007, two years AFTER he started long-snapping exclusively for ND in 2005.
WyoMike | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 2:49 pm | #

I'm of the opinion that if the long-snapping thing doesn't work out for the young man, perhaps Weis could train him to be the first quarterback in human history to throw passes backwards and through his legs.
Pete | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 3:00 pm | #

Pete I believe that was actually Neil Lomax, Portland State.
Mark | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 3:06 pm | #

Mark

Respectfully disagree. Football games are won and lost with line play,not special teams and turnovers.

-Domer96
Domer96 | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 3:33 pm | #

Boys and girls: You have 85 scholarships to give and 4000 guys from which to find a long snapper, many of whom would kill for the job. The Sunday guys recruit snappers because they have a hard limit on players. If you start a freshman at left tackle it's because you have no one better (bad). If you recruit a long snapper, you have few other takers for scholarships(VERY BAD). This is not a positive. Let's get real. We are done with the four and five stars...then again that may not be a bad thing.
Domerplayer | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 4:00 pm | #

Domerplayer - There is no rational reason to think ND is done with four and five star recruits. Let's tone down the doom and gloom hyperbole.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 4:29 pm | #

How many punts did Maust have blocked this year? A better long snapper could have probably helped that. A better snap on the 28 yard FG against Syracuse would have sealed that game for us, and gotten us a 7-5 record.

I imagine the thought process with Cowart was this. Charlie was hoping to get a walk-on to fill the role going forward. He watched several blocked punts and a bad FG snap cost us at least 1 game. So he decided to ensure that someone was coming aboard to compete for the job. Sounds like a pragmatic approach to me. What the hell else do you want?
aaron b | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 4:34 pm | #

Congrats to Cowart. Its good to see ND's staff paying attention the minute details of special teams.
atepesm | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 4:36 pm | #

And to answer the above on the 5th year petitioners. According to Hammond and Hayden during the Cuse game. The guys who have applied are:

Anello
Scott Smith
McCarthey
Paul Duncan
Ray Herring
aaron b | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 4:36 pm | #

A bad long snap did not lose the game for us against Syracuse. 41 yards rushing against a team that was giving up over 200 a game lost that game for us. Our o-line is horrible on run blocking, and this scholarship does nothing to fix that.

Good luck to the kid and all, and I hope he does well at ND, but this scholarship makes no sense. NFL teams have a player devoted to long-snapping because if he sucks, they can cut him. Is ND going to cut this kid if he can't handle the ball? No way in hell, because then we are just a football factory, don't care about the kids, etc etc.

It looks like the coaching staff can't figure out how to develop a long-snapper, or Mike Golic regressed from high school, since he was supposed to be our long snapper for the next couple of years.
WyoMike | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 5:09 pm | #

Domer96- I'll respectfully disagree. Turnovers and poor special teams play are killers that can neutralize dominant line play. Every position / every play counts.
Mike | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 5:12 pm | #

Pat (or whoever might know),

What does it mean to be a "preferred" walk-on? Do they get something beyond "regular" walk-ons, but not full rides?
Matt '09 | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 5:12 pm | #

Any chance he's got a large frame that can pack on another 50-80 lbs? Because then I'd see the logic, because he could back up the center or something. Otherwise...while it's nice and all, I agree with others that there are other priorities.
Nate | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 5:19 pm | #

Wish this was about Teo or Jenkins but whatever. Welcome to the family kid.
VicPaul | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 5:34 pm | #

WyoMike, just because the run game was below average does not replace the point that better special teams play would have put at least another win or two on the record.
Lowayne | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 6:42 pm | #

Matt, a preferred walk-on does not have to go through walk-on tryouts. They come in as a member of the team, the only difference being they don't have a scholarship.

Domer... I agree line play is important. However, when you talk about talent being equal, special teams and turnovers are why you lose three double digit halftime leads. Look at USC. ND has actually sent quite a few offensive and defenive lineman to the league. But why has Pete Carrol been dominate over the Irish? Look up their turnover margin. It's astounding.

We have 4 and 5 star recruits, but whenpeople use the "we're young" excuse what they really mean is we don't play special teams well and we don't take care of the football.
Mark | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 6:51 pm | #

Timmy O'Neill, who was a preferred walk-on, wrote a book about his experience. I haven't read it yet. Anybody read it out there? Is it good?

Will Mike Anello, who as we know was a non-preferred walk-on who became a player much preferred by all except opposition kick returners and kickers, write a book?

What will the title of Anello's book be, if he writes one?

My awkward suggestion: 'I'm Tired of Wearing this Unitard.'
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 7:39 pm | #

*Correction: 'I'm Tired of Wearing This Wrestling Singlet'.

Wikipedia tells me that a unitard is not to be confused with a wrestling singlet.
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 7:41 pm | #

Timmy O'Neill's book is def worth picking up.
Chris M | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 7:54 pm | #

Thanks Pat for your positive response to DomerPlayer.

I cannot believe the negative responses which are elicited for everything Weis does.

Many of the responders must not be aware that the same high school that gave us Cowart has also given us another recuit in this class, Punter Ben Turk, and current players Wenger and Sam Young.

Sounds to me like a great idea to keep that pipeline open for ND.
Ted | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 8:39 pm | #

Nate, Long snappers, in most cases, have absolutely nothing in common with centers other than lining up on the ball and sending it back through their legs. A center is essentially a guard who is keen enough to recognize and call out defensive formations, then quickly and efficiently get the ball into the QB's hands. A long snapper is merely a guy who can throw a nice, tight, crisp spiral through his legs. Anything else he does is a bonus. He's really not expected to be much of a blocker, and if he is able to run well as an early releaser on punt coverage, bully for him. Basically, he is expected to just get the ball back in a hurry, and on a mark.
Thus, gaining 50 to 80 pounds and becoming a real center is not in the cards. If he's not already an extremely dominant position player in high school, he certainly won't become one at Notre Dame.
The upside to this strange phenomenon is that he can pretty much spend his entire life with the punter/holder and kicker, and won't have the constraints of being a position player with other practice and meeting obligations who just moonlights as the long snapper. This kid is a true specialist, and will be able to solely focus on his craft.
Now if Charlie goes out and gives a scholarship to a PAT/FG holder, then we'll know he has lost his mind, since the punter, a receiver, or a backup QB almost always handle that role on every team at every level.
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 9:51 pm | #

It is possible that ND got a commit they wanted in long-snapper Jordan Cowart because it increased their chance in getting 2010 OC prospect Brandon Linder.

Having Wenger, Young, and incomings Turk and Cowart might be strong enough a ND-STA gravitational pull to win him over a couple of Florida schools to come to ND.

I'll take ND offering Cowart for two reasons: 1) They needed the best long-snapper in the country. 2) Linder.
NYC I22 | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 10:11 pm | #

The most important thing we need are D-line commitments, followed closely by O-line. Of 18 commitments, we have 1 DL (Stockton) and 3 OL (Bullard, Martin, and Watt). Long snapper sounds like a good idea, can't we get both? After all, we have 7 scholarships left.

We have offered to 14 DL, seven of whom have verballed elsewhere. If we can sign some of the 7 uncommitted, we may be okay. This begs the question why can't we land the DL recruits, but I think spending one on an apparently qualified long snapper seems reasonable.
Sam | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 10:15 pm | #

LOL, Voice. Maybe that's what Swarbrick is looking for.
Sam | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 10:19 pm | #

Besides good recruits on OL and DL, I would not mind seeing another linebacker or 2 and another wideout.
GB | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 11:19 pm | #

Voice - I was tongue-tied reading this thread and read your reply, exhaled and went back to my happy place. Okla - it doesn't matter. if you're snapping in cold or mud- it's a clean dry ball, you're not the one catching it. Oh, and I booked my flight to Oahu today :)
Burbank Steve | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 11:30 pm | #

Long snappers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V...h? v=VN6AFq2qqaE
GB | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 11:37 pm | #

I don't think D-line recruits will come like other positions because of the 3-4 base scheme we run. It is not very sexy for a D'lineman since the job is essentially to try and "eat up" blocks.

We'll have to settle for getting the best quarterbacks and long snappers in the nation.
Steve | Email | Homepage | 12.09.08 - 11:38 pm | #

Pat, I hope you are right as you are far more attuned to the recruiting picture than am I, but scholarships can be stored. For the life of me, I cannot remeber a top program that used one on a long snapper. Help please, or again I must say this is Charlie scheming for Sunday when he's playing on Saturday. As for doom and gloom "hyperboly" you might remember that I remained optimistic that Charlie would figure it out all through last year and early into 2008. No more. He will throw a few guys under the bus in the hope that motion will once again be confused with progress but frankly, I see nothing to be optimistic about with him in charge. Not gloom and doom, just honest appraisal from where I sit. We field two teams: one which is very young, full of holes but which plays very hard and which has improved game by game. The other is lacking in leadership, passion, skill and sound football sense. The head coach runs the latter. We can see it; recruits can see it. Pat, you know this program better than any contributor to this terrific blog. Give us a reason to be optimistic with this guy in charge.
Do it after the bowl. I fear the outcome and will want/need/require some encouragement.

Merry Christmas to all. Go Irish
Domerplayer | Email | Homepage | 12.10.08 - 12:28 am | #

Sounds like we're preparing to play for FG's & Punts, not a good sign. Just another 'NFL' thought process. Does Oklahoma play for 3?
Gabby | Email | Homepage | 12.10.08 - 7:11 am | #

It was a good offer. "Special teamms sets the tone for the game". That was a quote from Urban Meyer. Florida is really good on special teams if you hadn't relized. You can watch them playing for the NC on Jan 8/09. Does anyone remember the rocket? His Kick returns on SECIAL TEAMS were incredible. I think Urban Meyer coached special teams that year????

But enough with that....(wishing it was nd playing that night).

Long snaping is a pivital part of the game. The quicker the ball gets off to the kicker/punter the faster Mike Anello can make a tackle. Does anyone remember the blocked kicks this year? I do, it can give an opposing team momentum if they block a kick- especially in the second half. If the ball gets back there faster and not blocked the scholarship is well worth it.
NOEL | Email | Homepage | 12.10.08 - 7:54 am | #

Because this article brings up special team aspects of ND, can someone please tell me why Eric Maust continues to hold for PATs and FG attempts? Although I do understand that many missed FGs have been asa result of poor snaps, but I can specifically remember many instances where he was just unable to handle the snap (e.g. Syracuse FG that pretty much cost Nd the game). Sharpley is a solid baseball player and should have descent hands, not to mention QBs usually have steady hands (or they should)and are frequently found as holders for FGs. Can anyone address why Maust would have been initially chosen as ST holder and continues to do so?
Biggs | Email | Homepage | 12.10.08 - 9:23 am | #

Unlesss you think Weis doesn't completely know what he is doing, why don't we leave this alone. Most of us don't know a thing about any of the recruits until we hear of them being signed.

And ya know, the recruits read this site and it sure doesn't inspire me to go to ND based on a lot of the reads.
captain jack | Email | Homepage | 12.10.08 - 9:28 am | #

Biggs-
My guess is the reason Maust was chosen as the holder is because he's the best holder on the team.
kmf | Email | Homepage | 12.10.08 - 9:36 am | #

Biggs,

I remember something about Maust being the holder for Walker (left-footed kicker) while Sharpley is the holder for Burkhart (right-footed kicker). Not sure what the difference would be necessearily, but perhaps Maust is left handed and has a more natural catching/holding motion from that side. You're right, though, usually the backup QB is the holder.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 12.10.08 - 9:41 am | #

Remember when Samardzija was the holder? Was that just his senior year or his junior year, too?

I guess you want a guy who can roll out and run/ throw it in case of emergency, and Samardzija is thought to have something of an arm.
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 12.10.08 - 9:49 am | #

I'm not big on questioning who a coach offers a scholarship to. If the staff thinks this kid fills a need-then the offer is fine by me. Weis knows he only has 1 year to do something great anyway, so there has to be reason for the choices he makes.

That being said, I hope the staff is putting on the full courts blitz for Teo, Jenkins, and some defensive lineman.
www.southbendblarney.com | Email | Homepage | 12.10.08 - 12:04 pm | #

Here's the Onion's take on long snappers. Very funny:

http://www.theonion.com/content/ ...son_long_snap_a
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 12.10.08 - 2:16 pm | #

More Onion.
http://www.theonion.com/content/ ...s_called_before
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 12.10.08 - 8:52 pm | #

Rutgers AD Mulchay to step down after probe.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/ne...po38& refer=home
jim masterson | Email | Homepage | 12.10.08 - 8:54 pm | #

Biggs, I believe Maust is the holder for Walker while Sharpley is the holder for Burkhart. I don't think anybody's asked Weis why he set them that way. One possibility that occurs to me is that as a special teams player, Maust wouldn't have the QB work that Sharpley has as the primary backup to Clausen.
Mr. Wednesday | Email | Homepage | 12.11.08 - 3:01 am | #

Aquinas is now #1 H.S. team in the country. That's a good thing.

http://highschool.rivals.com/vie....asp? ra_key=457

Welcome to ND, Jordan.
84Alum | Email | Homepage | 12.11.08 - 7:30 am | #

Mr. Wednesday,

I think it probably has something to do with the fact that one kicked if 'left-footed' while the other is 'right-footed', as to why there are different holders. It makes it easier to just practice holding it one way, rather than switching.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 12.11.08 - 8:43 am | #

Guys,

I love you, but come on. This is just more positive proof that CW, despite the last two seasons, is absolutely, positively, unwilling to do anything different. The problem here is not one of smarts (although that is increasingly becoming debatable), its purely of ego. Why do you recruit a long snapper? Because on Sundays a long snapper is important to special teams. The problem is, that we play on SATURDAYs, and any other program (including NDs past teams) would never ever give up a scholarship for a long snapper.

I don't know what this says about our recruiting. Undoubtedly we can't be any better off than we were at the start of this season. What I do think this says is that Charlie is absolutely committed to continuing the same failed tactics and strategies that have gotten us into this mess...because he's won a couple of Super Bowls...and this is how you do things on Sunday.

This is the problem. Stretch plays don't work. Single backs don't work. Throwing the ball against a team that's playing cover two and dropping their LBs back into coverage DOESN'T WORK. Did you see CWs comments following the USC game? He was surprised that they didn't pack up box? Why Charlie, is it a surprise to you that they focused on our passing game???? Maybe because WE HAVE NO RUNNING GAME!!!

Let's be honest here. Following the meetings and the media, CW has learned NOTHING. The first sign of that will be in the Hawaii game when we do NOTHING different.

I agreed with the decision that CW shouldn't be fired this year. But the writing is on the wall here folks. Until he wins, I don't see the need to be positive about any of his decisions. Least of all this one.

Jordan, welcome to ND. Congrats to you and best of luck.

Go Irish.
Ed Smithe | Email | Homepage | 12.11.08 - 12:58 pm | #

Actually Ed, Michigan offered a long snapper a scholarship last year.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 12.11.08 - 2:01 pm | #

There were a couple of really interesting points in today's SBT column by Eric Hansen. First, it sounds like the decision to use only 10 of the 15 available practice days relates not only to the early bowl date, exams, etc., but to the coaches deciding to focus on recruiting instead of practice. Can anyone here confirm or explain why such a trade-off has to be made?

Second, Hansen quotes Tom Lemming as saying that the successful recruiters are Weis, Ianello, Latina, and Polian. He goes so far as to say: "A lot of the assistants have recruited no one. Again." Not knowing much about recruiting, can anyone here explain what determines which coaches are successful? I always thought it odd that I'd hear Latina is a great recruiter, when it didn't seem like that many o-linemen were coming in. I assume that means he recruits for other positions?

Lastly, the Hansen article made the prospects of getting more d-linemen this cycle sound pretty slim. Would it be too risky to use 3 or 4 scholarships on less well-rated prospects for that position?
Louie | Email | Homepage | 12.11.08 - 2:06 pm | #

One other thing that was recently mentioned in the SBTribune is that the University has formed a committee to review game day hospitality. ND News and Information has an article from mid-October, and there is an online comments form also posted. I know there have been discussions in the BGS comments about security crack-downs and such, and I don't recall seeing mention of this effort by the administration to reach out to fans and stakeholders. Sorry if this is a redundant mention...
Louie | Email | Homepage | 12.11.08 - 2:14 pm | #

I don't care about what day of the week we play on. (refering to the we play on Saturday vs Sunday posts). Both NFL games and College games are won by the same criteria... You have to have more points than the other team. I am full heartedly in support of criticism of Charlie Weis' coaching ability... but saying that it is unwise to fulfill a position of need is a dumb argument. It isn't like we're not looking for defensive linemen and offensive tackles, we just haven't been successful in landing them.

I'm glad that we got a good long snapper. We also have a kicker and and a punter coming in.

Anyway, I understand that some of you are upset about CW's coaching ability, but if you think that he is a poor recruiter, you need to look at last year's 3-9 record and then look at our recruiting ranking via scout and rivals. Say what you want about the man, but he is a hard worker and a great recruiter.
Christian | Email | Homepage | 12.11.08 - 3:15 pm | #

I just read on Awful Announcing that Andre Ware is going to be one of the announcers for the bowl game. Wasn't he the guy who spent the entire '07 Purdue game talking about receivers "climbing the ladder" and complaining abou Charlie not playing the younger guys more often in '05 and '06? I am definitely not excited about listening to him for 4 hours.
Jade | Email | Homepage | 12.11.08 - 3:42 pm | #

Andre Ware is a system announcer.
Mark | Email | Homepage | 12.11.08 - 3:48 pm | #

I like this quote by Lemming in the article.
"But they were more talented than 11 of the 12 teams they played.It's time they showed it on the field."
GB | Email | Homepage | 12.11.08 - 4:02 pm | #

There's 34 bowl games, not enough announcers and I'm not giving up my Christmas to do the game.
captain jack | Email | Homepage | 12.11.08 - 4:06 pm | #

Random note... Urban Meyer on ND as "still his dream job."

May not be the best link, but this will give you the basics: http://blogs.usatoday.com/gameon...-meyer- not.html

My Florida contacts don't like this one bit.
LA Domer | Email | Homepage | 12.11.08 - 4:12 pm | #

Hey ...Urban could be in Hawaii this year!
Dana Payne | Email | Homepage | 12.11.08 - 4:51 pm | #

When did they take " Rainbow" from the Warriors?

What was the purported reason??
Dana Payne | Email | Homepage | 12.11.08 - 4:56 pm | #

Buck up, Jade. Since the game is not on NBC, it will only take three and a half hours.

Mark: Nicely done.
The Song of Hiawatha Francisco | Email | Homepage | 12.11.08 - 5:09 pm | #

check this line up out for the Hawaii High School All-Stars against the Mainland all starts recognize any names
QB —Bryn Renner, North Carolina

QB — Zach Mettenberger, Georgia

RB — Michael Ford, LSU

RB — David Wilson, Virginia Tech

WR — Randall Carroll, USC

WR — Shaquelle Evans, Notre Dame

WR – Jemari Roberts, Stanford

OL — Terry Alletto, BYU

OL — Michael Schofield, Michigan

PK/P — Nick Tausch, Notre Dame

DE — Montez Robinson, Auburn

DT — Chris Henderson, Texas A&M

DT — Dillon Quinn, Boston College

DE — Alex Okafor, Texas

LB — Jerod Askew, Tennessee

LB — Dorian Bell, Ohio State

LB — Carlo Calabrese, Notre Dame

LB — Zeke Motta, Notre Dame

DB — Corey Brown, Ohio State

DB — Ricardo Dixon, South Florida

DB — Marcus Trice, Oklahoma
Deluxer | Email | Homepage | 12.11.08 - 6:05 pm | #

"Once my kids are done, you know, maybe someday I'll go coach (there). I don't know. That's way down the road," Meyer says.

How long does he mean? Maybe if Charlie tanks, it will be sooner.
GB | Email | Homepage | 12.11.08 - 6:12 pm | #

Thank you Pat for correcting me.

ND's program is making similar personnel decisions to the skunkbears. I rest my case.
Ed Smithe | Email | Homepage | 12.11.08 - 7:38 pm | #

Seriously? I like this. I really do.

For one thing it demonstrates a renewed and more serious focus on special teams by the Head Coach. That alone is enormously good news to my ear.

The preservation of the punter/snapper relationship into the college years alone is an enormously good thing. How many times has it been advanced that HS athletes weren't able to perform as well in Div I without their supporting cast (i.e. JC without his HS O-line)? Easy solution to a complex problem: import the significant figures from the supporting cast to the college game.

Indeed, overall this is a relatively minor bit of good news with respect to the overall direction of the program, but to my eye it ranks firmly in the 'pro' column in the grander pro/con list.

Ryan.
ND '00
Rrryan | Email | Homepage | 12.11.08 - 8:57 pm | #

Dana,
June Jones couldn't get the local kids to try out for the football team, so they changed the Hawai'i mascot from the rainbows to the warriors. That's a true story!
Burton | Email | Homepage | 12.11.08 - 9:03 pm | #

Very interesting article by Pagna. It makes a lot of sense to me especially since this past season made no sense to me.
http://www.blueandgold.com/conte...ntent/? aid=6403
GB | Email | Homepage | 12.12.08 - 7:05 am | #

re: Random note... Urban Meyer on ND as "still his dream job."

This gives me hope. I can only imagine Urban returning to ND. It would be like the second coming of Lou. We need to get Meyer before the University of Michigan offers and we have another season of Faust-ian flashbacks.
Lee | Email | Homepage | 12.12.08 - 7:53 am | #

Grow up, Smithe
Majnun | Email | Homepage | 12.12.08 - 10:15 am | #

"Buck up, Jade. Since the game is not on NBC, it will only take three and a half hours."

Good point by you. Not to mention there will be no Charles Schwab Conversation and no endlessly creepy Tom Hammond's face.
Jade | Email | Homepage | 12.12.08 - 12:23 pm | #

And no lame Vonage commercials.
kmf | Email | Homepage | 12.12.08 - 1:40 pm | #

Does anyone know what radio station carries ND football in New York? I'd love to turn Andre Ware down to listen to Criqui and Pinkett, if possible. But I can never find the game on radio when I need it.
Hal | Email | Homepage | 12.12.08 - 2:58 pm | #

Those Schwab commercials are unbearable. The one I hate the most is the one with the guy wearing the trendy glasses, opening a bottle of wine in the kitchen of his hip, exposed-brick loft, telling me that the only thing I need to worry about with my investments is from whom I'm getting my investment advice. He's so condenscending. I want to kill him with my teeth.

*deep breath* . . . *in with the good air, out with the bad air* . . .
The Song of Hiawatha Francisco | Email | Homepage | 12.12.08 - 3:49 pm | #

Just relax Song, this economic downturn seems to have you a little wound up. Maybe you should talk to my friend Chuck?

And is Vonage still killing people with that whole 911 debacle? How is this company still in business?

At least we won't have to be "Saved by zero" on Christmas Eve. Toyota was driving me up the wall (with 0% interest no less.)
Mark | Email | Homepage | 12.12.08 - 4:03 pm | #

Haha, TSOHF. Whenever I see that commercial I always think "You're right, and why would I want to take investment advice from a cartoon man on TV?"
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 12.12.08 - 4:04 pm | #

Majun, what does "grow up" mean? Perhaps you ought to direct that remark to the folks that continue to believe that Charlie Weis, despite all of the evidence to the contrary, is going to rescue this program in 2009.

Given how Rich Rodriguez has run his program this year, I don't think that a gotcha answer like that should be of any solace to anyone who participates in this forum.
Ed Smithe | Email | Homepage | 12.12.08 - 4:24 pm | #

Oh and with respect to the Pagna article, he's a very good and smart guy.

Having said that, how much would anyone like to bet that CW doesn't do any of this?

Moreover, how much would you like to bet that we employ the exact same offense that we've been running for the past 4 weeks?
Ed Smithe | Email | Homepage | 12.12.08 - 4:27 pm | #

ND games during the regular season were carried in NYC on Bloomberg radio, 1130 AM on your dial.
Daniel | Email | Homepage | 12.12.08 - 5:49 pm | #

Brad, that's certainly why there are different holders. I was getting after why it's Maust/Walker and Sharpley/Burkhart instead of vice versa.
Mr. Wednesday | Email | Homepage | 12.12.08 - 9:57 pm | #

TSOHF...I nearly shat I laughed so hard! Post of the week!
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 12.12.08 - 11:30 pm | #

Mr. Wednesday,

Well, Sharpley is a left, isn't he? I dunno. My assumption is has something to do with matching them up. I wonder if either Sharpley and Maust are lefties/righties or vice versa, and if they feel it matches up in some manner.

If it isn't something like that, then they may have just arbitrarily picked which they felt more comfortable holding for, a righty or a lefty.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 12.13.08 - 7:18 am | #

Ed Smithe -

I'd bet the farm that Charlie doesn't have a clue as to what Tom Pagna writes about. With all the WR talent (not to mention RBs) we have, Flubs genius has yet to exploit it. Actually, my take is that he's been waiting for Hawaii all along - screw the BCS, as ND now opens up its Pacific Rim advantage.

Nice to see that we've "kept the connection" with Ft. Lauderdale's Aquinas, a talent cache in the middle of the nation's best talent area.

Nice to see how well we've coached up their greatest raw talent to date - everyone's one-time #1, Sam Young.

The laughs continue.
CoopersVillage | Email | Homepage | 12.13.08 - 11:54 am | #

Pat

I am surprised that you haven't directed everyone to the South Bend Trib of Friday and the most excellent front sports page story by another who has played the game.
Domerplayer | Email | Homepage | 12.13.08 - 4:13 pm | #

Too bad CW won't get a good ST coach that could teach a backup OL long snapping 101 w/o burning a scholly.

FG kicker scholly would suit us better. Problem is, FG K relies on a competent ST coach too. (Shudder-shudder Barf!)

Ahh, the genius of this fine coaching staff is the gift that keeps on giving all year 'round. Merry Christmas, Irish.
ThE LoSt BoY | Email | Homepage | 12.13.08 - 6:05 pm | #

Domerplayer,

That is an excellent article about the OL. According to the article, you were right on about the scheme and zone blocking. I guess that begs the question, whose responsibility was it? Did CW tell Latina to have the zone blocking or did do it on his own? Since, CW is head coach, the responsibility ultimately falls on him for either not firing Latina (or tell him to use different scheme) if Latina was responsible or CW should be fired for calling the zone scheme in the first place. However, this has been going on for 4 years and it still has not changed.
GB | Email | Homepage | 12.14.08 - 5:19 am | #

if pigs could fly
if ND hadan excellent coach offensive line running game and backs that flew out of the blocks to score there would be no need for a long snapper -
get weis a promo with his fellow goof golic as a shill for NUTRISYSTEM - PHOTO OF THE YEAR WEIS IN SHORTS A FLORIDA AND SC RECRUITING TOOL
WOULD YOU GO INTO A LOCKER ROOM WITH THAT ?
Anonymous | Email | Homepage | 12.21.08 - 7:07 pm | #