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page 2 | ndsmcobserver.com The Observer u IRISH INSIDER Friday, September 2, 2011 COMMENTARY FOOTBALL RECRUITING Slow down: It’s not time OL Goodman visits campus to drink the kool-aid By DOUGLAS FARMER … You are looking for a lot of man wants to commit [such as Editor-in-Chief guys who could play a lot of po- Goodman], they’ll take him. It is early September in South time against Air Force that sitions.” They aren’t going to hold out for Bend, which can mean only one year — just minutes after NBC Notre Dame’s 2011 season At this point, “a lot” does not a skill guy if they know they can thing — the kool-aid is awfully announcer Tom Hammond may begin Saturday, but the rise above single digits. Frank get an elite offensive lineman.” strong. warned the one thing you don’t recruiting season began long calculates Irish coach Brian No matter what situations de- Notre Dame sits in the top 20 want to do in overtime is turn ago. Because of that, only one Kelly has seven scholarships velop among linemen and skill in both of the major polls. Some over the ball. recruit is officially coming to left to fill in the class of 2012. players, one position remains experts have the Irish as high That is the Notre Dame campus this weekend, as of If an injury were to arise, a satisfied, Frank said. as the top 10. Sports Illustrated football I know, my classmates Wednesday night. player transferred, or if Kelly “I think they are sold on the is so bold as to predict Brian know and my generation knows. Florida offensive lineman opted not to invite back cer- quarterbacks they have on Kelly and company will spend Not a year since has gone by the Evan Goodman will watch the tain potential fifth-year play- campus right now,” he said. January in a BCS bowl game. Irish haven’t lost a game they Irish take on South Florida, ers, that number could rise. “They have a lot of faith in The kool-aid has gotten very should have won – Air Force in Irish recruiting expert Mike But, for now, seven recruits will [freshman] Everett Golson and strong. overtime in 1996, a 23-7 shel- Frank said. likely join the 14 commits Kelly [sophomore] Andrew Hendrix, 9-3 or lacking at the hands of Michi- “He is a big-time player, a guy has already landed. Of those and I think that says a lot that 10-2 re- gan State the following year, who is real high on their list,” 14 commits, seven fall into the they aren’t taking another cords seem never mind the fact that it was said Frank, who heads the on- skill player category – two re- quarterback.” exceedingly a home game. And don’t even line ESPN-affiliate Irish Sports ceivers and five defensive backs That being said, a prized plausible. get me started on the 14-7 loss Daily. “He is currently commit- – as well as three offensive line- quarterback will certainly be 11-1 isn’t all to Boston College the week after ted to Arizona State, where he men, two defensive ends and a piece of next year’s recruiting that much my birthday in 2002. I was at has an older brother playing, two linebackers. class. of a reach. that one, and still try to rub my but he wants to check out his “Right now, I think the plan “It also gives them time to re- And 12-0? eyes to get the visions of green other options.” is to take one offensive line- ally find the right kind of guy in Well, it feels jerseys out of them. A slow opening weekend is man and then a bunch of skill the 2013 class.” guys,” Frank said. “It’s just pri- closer than Douglas Farmer Last year it was Navy and not unusual, as high school it has since Tulsa, Navy and Tulsa, and, for students are just as busy at the ority versus who is available Contact Douglas Farmer at … If a big-time offensive line- the 2006 Editor-in-Chief good measure, Navy and Tulsa. beginning of the year as college [email protected] preseason This is the Notre Dame I students. hype. know and love. This is the Notre “The first weekend there just Remember as a kid, com- Dame I will expect to see until isn’t a whole lot of guys com- ing in from playing football in proven otherwise. This is the ing in,” Frank said. “It is [the the backyard, all you wanted Notre Dame I keep coming back recruits’] first or second games was the sugar high from the to for more. as well. kool-aid? Just have some of this Albert Einstein once said the “You’ll start to see it for stuff. It’s potent. definition of insanity is doing Michigan State or Air Force. Looking at this schedule, ev- the same thing over and over USC will be the real big game, ery game feels winnable. After again while expecting different with at least 20 recruits com- all, Las Vegas favored Notre results. ing in.” Dame in all but one game when For the better part of 15 Even once recruits start the season’s lines opened, with years, I have drunk the kool-aid pouring in, Goodman will still the exception being the season- annually. For the better part of be unique in many respects. closing trip to face Stanford and 15 years, Notre Dame has made Most of the visitors will be a bit senior quarterback Andrew me regret the grape aftertaste. smaller than the 6-foot-4 inch, Luck. Then again, no game It is time to stop doing the same 285 pound Goodman. against Michigan, Michigan thing over and over again and “Notre Dame is on a mis- State or USC is ever a guaran- expecting a different result. No sion to find a lot of skill play- tee. Most Irish fans figure any more kool-aid for me. ers,” Frank said. “When they losses this year will come from Oh no, Mr. Kool-Aid Man. Oh mention skill, they are talking some combination of those four no. about running backs, defen- games, and Notre Dame cer- Yes, this is touted as the sive backs and wide receivers tainly won’t lose all four. deepest defensive front Notre That kool-aid may be the only Dame has trotted out in years. drink in town. Yes, senior quarterback Dayne That must be why I am ex- Crist is supposedly a more tremely thirsty — because I’m vocal leader these days. Yes, not drinking it. senior receiver Michael Floyd Typically, age brings cyni- is on a mission to be the best in cism. With each decade comes country. a new handful of memories of But these are annual occur- dreams dashed, plans gone rences, if the names are simply awry and painful disappoint- changed around a bit. ments. Obviously, in my two At some point I may drink the decades, I haven’t seen much of kool-aid again. I may even this that. year, once the Irish survive a But it is all I have seen when near-disaster against Purdue or it comes to Notre Dame football. Pittsburgh. A small sample size usually I’m just hoping it is fruit leaves room for hope, but my punch-flavored, or Orange will small sample size only includes do. Perhaps the type they serve dreams dashed, wasted talents at Fiestas, or the type with lots and the Bush Push. of Sugar in it. I began measuring my breaths by Allen Rossum kick, The views expressed in this punt and interception returns column are those of the author and I measured my joys by Joey and not necessarily those of The Goodspeed touchdowns in 1996. Observer. My first bitter tears followed Contact Douglas Farmer at a Ron Powlus fumble in over- [email protected] Friday, September 2, 2011 The Observer u IRISH INSIDER ndsmcobserver.com | page 3 ‘A more resilient man’ Crist battles through season-ending injuries and offseason competition to earn the top depth chart spot By ANDREW OWENS win.” great escapability. After two Associate Sports Editor The coaching staff has raved knee surgeries, he moved well, about Crist’s performance in fall he was able to extend plays. We When Dayne Crist snaps on his practice, both with his attitude couldn’t have somebody that helmet and runs out of the tun- and on-field performance. The couldn’t extend plays in our of- nel for Saturday’s season open- experience has affected him in fensive system, and he was able er, it will not be the first time ways that a healthy 2010 could to do that.” he has participated in the Irish not have, offensive coordinator Crist said it is not in his nature pregame ritual. But the senior Charley Molnar said. to hold back on the field because quarterback will have a differ- “Here’s what the injuries I of the past injuries. ent feeling now, having battled think did for Dayne — they made “I’m going to play with the back from a season-ending knee him a more resilient man,” Mol- same intensity I’ve always injury for the nar said. “In played with and that’s the only second con- other words, way I know how to play is with secutive year he’s really full speed,” he said. “I’m going to to reclaim the been able to do everything I can.” role of starting bounce.