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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2013 Photo Illustration by Grant Tobin and Steph Wulz 2 THE OBSERVER | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2013 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM INSIDER COMMENTARY RECRUITING No place to hide in Teams stake reputations Michigan Stadium on high-profile matchup nearly as well as Robinson By MIKE MONACO Michiah Quick and Florida de- games kind of validate people’s Jack Hefferon — and can actually throw the Sports Editor fensive tackle Anthony Moten, opinions on where Notre Dame is Sports Writer ball, too. as well as those who have not ex- as a program.” Michigan’s defense has On Sunday, Irish coach Brian pressed any interest. Frank said Notre Dame sim- The dress rehearsal went several new faces and will Kelly downplayed the impor- “February is still a long ways ply has not extended offers to a off smoothly enough. Some attack the Irish in ways they tance of the Michigan-Notre away and, at this time last year, great deal of 2015 prospects yet. bumps here, some early haven’t seen before, forcing Dame rivalry. On Tuesday, [freshman safety] Max Redfield One player with an Irish offer, kinks to work out there. Rees and new play-caller Kelly similarly dialed down the and [former Irish commit] Eddie however, is Minnesota defensive But Saturday night, the Chuck Martin to adjust on discussion of a recruiting ri- Vanderdoes weren’t on the radar,” end Jashon Cornell. ESPN rates curtain will truly rise on the the fly. And even if Notre valry between the two Midwest Frank said. “Opportunities open Cornell, who hails from the same 2013 Irish. And if past trips Dame can handle the 11 programs. up with other teams. There may school (Cretin-Derham Hall to Ann Arbor are any indi- Wolverines on the field, there “When you’re recruiting na- be other prospects that aren’t on High School) that produced for- cation, some theatrics will will still be over 100,000 tionally and you’re out, Michigan the radar right now. I think those mer Irish receiver Michael Floyd probably ensue. of them to deal with in the is going to be there in the recruit- are the kinds of things that mat- and current freshman receiver The Big House will be stands. ing process for us, but we’ll see ter for 2014.” James Onwualu, as the No. 1 packed, and the bright lights Most of the focus this week the West Coast, we’ll see the As for the class of 2015, Sunday overall player in the nation. will be on once again. Two has been on how to classify South,” Kelly said at his weekly was a big day in recruiting even Though Cornell is expected years ago, they were turned the Notre Dame-Michigan press conference. “I mean, I though there were no commit- to visit Michigan this weekend, on in Michigan Stadium for rivalry, or whether it is even don’t know that Michigan shows ments or decommitments to or Frank said the Irish still have a the first time, and most of a rivalry at all. (It is a rivalry, up more than any one school from Notre Dame. strong shot at landing the 6-foot- the Midwest turned out for and it’s one of Notre Dame’s because we’re all over the coun- With the calendar flipping to 3, 245-pounder. Frank mentioned the show. top two. Moving on.) try. It’s a blend of virtually all the September, communication is how Floyd and Irish freshman of- Those lights will expose But it doesn’t matter if schools throughout the country.” now allowed with prospects in fensive lineman Steve Elmer took Brian Kelly’s squad, one way Saturday is Notre Dame’s last Irish recruiting expert Mike the class of 2015. Coaches may visits to Notre Dame opponents or another. They got the trip to the Big House, what Frank spoke before Kelly’s news send personalized letters to re- when they were being recruited compulsory result against the history of the two schools conference Tuesday and echoed cruits and are allowed to reply to by both schools, watched Notre Temple, but the process is, or who is chickening out the same sentiment. Frank said and send e-mails to high school Dame lose and ended up com- could use some work. The of what. Saturday’s game he doesn’t believe the rivalry is juniors. mitting to the Irish anyway. offense showed its ability to matters — not because of the as important to head-to-head As it stands now, Notre Dame “Jashon Cornell is a tremen- hit home runs, but its stable series’ past or future — be- recruiting battles between Notre has received just one commit- dous prospect and Notre Dame of running backs struggled cause it’s all about this year. Dame and Michigan. ment from the class of 2015. has a really, really good shot with at times to grind out yards. Can the Irish offense take “It’s been interesting when Offensive lineman Jerry Tillery, him but I think when you’re the The defense is as deep as care of the football? Can the you talk about this game. I think a 6-foot-7, 312-pound tackle from No. 1 prospect, or certainly one of it has ever been but showed defense contain an explosive really before it was a lot more Shreveport, La., pledged to the the top defenders in the country, some rust at every level last dual threat? And can this important in the grand scheme Irish on June 22nd. ESPN rates you’re going to have a whole lot of week. And the kicking game year’s Irish squad show that of things when you talk about Tillery as the 18th-best tackle and teams coming after you,” Frank is still a Touchdown Jesus- last season’s success was no recruiting and going head-to- the 205th-best overall player in said. “But you know he’ll be down sized question mark, which fluke? head with players,” said Frank, the nation. for a Notre Dame game as well is exactly the opposite of We’ll get those answers who runs the ESPN-affiliated Frank said Saturday’s contest and we’ll just have to see how it what you want in a hostile, Saturday, in Notre Dame’s Irish Sports Daily. “I don’t think with Michigan will go a long way plays out, but I think Notre Dame primetime environment. first big opportunity of the Notre Dame and Michigan go toward sculpting the opinions is in real good shape with him.” The opponent will be year to show what it can be. head-to-head for a lot of players of other prospects in the junior ready and pose a challenge ‘GameDay’ and the ESPN nearly as much as they used to. class. For more on Notre Dame that will give the Irish ev- cameras will be out in Ann Why that is? I think Notre Dame “Right now those prospects recruiting, check out Mike Frank’s erything they can handle. Arbor. A small country will has broadened their base a little are forming their opinions on irishsportsdaily.com. Email Mike Vegas has the Wolverines be packed in the stands. A bit and tried to get players from where they think Notre Dame is at [email protected] as three-and-a-half point top-20 opponent will be wait- all over the country.” headed as far as the direction of and tell him The Observer sent favorites, which by the stan- ing on the field. And those While the rivalry may not be the program,” he said. “Was last you. dard bettor’s rule of thumb lights, exposing and illumi- ramped-up within the region, year a one-season fluke or is this for home field advantage nating, will be shined down Frank said he believes the per- a legitimate top-10 program at Contact Mike Monaco at (part of any good Irish on the Irish once again. formance of each team in prime- this point? I think these types of [email protected] Catholic education), means It’s showtime. time can be helpful in the same these teams are about as national recruiting picture to PaiD ADVERtiSEMENT even as they come. Contact Jack Hefferon at which Kelly alluded. Career antagonist Denard [email protected] “Where I do think [the rivalry Robinson was vanquished The views in this column game] matters is you’ve got two in his final act last year, but are those of the author and big, traditional schools going now Michigan returns with not necessarily those of The head-to-head and both are ex- Devin Gardner, who can run Observer. tremely respected programs,” Frank said. “And I think it mat- ters a lot to people who are inter- ested in maybe leaving home and looking at a school like Michigan or Notre Dame. If they see that Notre Dame can beat another big-time regional school, it kind of validates the choice to attend Want to cover Notre there. “So I think even more than Dame football? Want bragging rights, it has to do with how each school is perceived and to sit in the press box? the direction each program is headed.” Write for Sports. Frank said he expects Saturday’s game to have a major Email Mike Monaco at impact on recruits in the class of [email protected] 2014 as well as the class of 2015. The class of 2014 already has 16 commitments, but Frank said the game could impact seniors from across the nation, including those already interested in Notre Dame like California athlete INSIDER NDSMCOBSERVER.COM | FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2013 | THE OBSERVER 3 By MIKE MONACO leadership started long be- them.