Bobref

Driver’s Ed?

Time to turn the page to 2023. This article suggests that, despite what appear to be fine recruiting classes for 2023 & 2024, the Irish risk falling behind in future recruiting wars if they don’t change their practices relating to NIL and the transfer portal. Currently, ND uses NIL to help roster players, but they do not use NIL to recruit high school kids. Similarly, ND only recruits the transfer portal for sophomores to be and grad transfers. https://slapthesign.com/2023/01/01/notre-dame-football-adapt-left-behind/ Notre Dame football: Adapt to NIL or be left behind The Notre Dame football program is on a different playing field than the biggest programs in the country regarding NIL and the transfer portal. If the Irish want to be playoff contenders, they must adapt or be left behind. The first issue the Notre Dame football staff faces is being outbid for high school recruits looking to secure early financial benefits. While the Irish are helping their current players with NIL income, they’re not using it to pursue high school recruits. Though Marcus Freeman is genuinely one of the best recruiters in the country, even he can’t compete with the promises and money being thrown around by the big-time NIL players. Name, image, and likeness is becoming a pay-for-play workaround for many big-time schools. Notre Dame football has already lost multiple major recruits to the new NIL rules. For example, according to 247Sports recruiting insiders with Oklahoma, Notre Dame, and Oregon, NIL was a significant factor in Peyton Bowen’s commitment to first Oregon and second Oklahoma. But, to be fair, can you blame a high school kid for wanting immediate financial security? (These are notes listed on premium message boards by various recruiting insiders. Check them out at 247Sports with a VIP subscription to see more.) If the Notre Dame football program wanted to become a significant NIL player, there’s no question they could do so with ease The problem becomes two-fold when you look at their academic standards for recruits and transfers. Many teams not consistently landing top recruits can secure them in the transfer portal. Thanks to their transfer academic standards and regulations, Notre Dame doesn’t have that luxury. Not only will they fall behind in initial high school recruiting, but it’ll be tough to make up for it in the transfer portal. Not to mention, NIL will still be a factor in the portal as well. The fact is that Notre Dame will either have to adapt to the new landscape of college football or be left behind. Were Marcus Freeman a head coach ten years ago, Notre Dame may already be a perennial championship contender. While it’s not impossible to create a playoff contender with the new rules, it doesn’t help when you’re playing by a different set of rules than everyone else. No doubt, should Notre Dame change their ways in these two areas, it’d be a powerhouse in college football. However, given how volatile the situation is, don’t expect changes from the university anytime soon.

Great games … but generally unsatisfying outcomes.

I didn’t mean to suggest that only defenseless players can be the victims of targeting. Only that it is much easier to “target” a defenseless player than one who is not.

By rule, a runner is only defenseless when his forward progress is stopped and he is being held up, or when he’s already on the ground.

Keep in mind the critical fact that the runner was not a defenseless player. That makes all the difference when deciding whether to call targeting.

This is the controversial replay overturn of the Michigan TD. The Wolverines coughed it up on the next play in what might have been the pivotal play sequence of the game. This is an unbelievably close play. It embodies several fundamental concepts about catch, possession, etc. Call on the field by the back judge, who was in pretty good position, was a TD.

That’s what everyone says … until the call goes against your team. People need to understand there are limits to human performance. Perfection is not attainable.

That play was really, really close. Controversial either way. If Michigan had taken care of business, no one would have said anything. Having said that, I don’t think the crew is having a great game. The roughing the passer call against TCU was not a strong call.

I thought Buchner played like a QB of immense talent … who hasn’t seen game action in 16 weeks, About what I expected.

You’ve got to admit — Michigan vs. Ohio State for the National Championship would be the biggest college football game in memory.

You’re absolutely right that the Bears don’t need to use the #2 pick to get a high quality WR. All the better. Trade down with that #2 to some QB-starved team for additional draft capital.

So, you’ll be rooting for Georgia to beat Ohio State? You know, a real cynic might say you were ducking Ohio State because if the Buckeyes were to avenge their earlier loss by winning what would be the most significant game in the long history of the rivalry, it would erase all the progress the Wolverines have made in the last couple of years. Glad I’m not that cynical. I know it’s just because you hate the Buckeyes with an unquenchable fire.

The semifinal games are coming up, so I thought it was the appropriate time to start a topic on the championship. Post your predictions, observations, trash talk, etc. here. I am hoping with all my heart for a Michigan - Ohio State rematch in the Final. It will elevate what is already the greatest rivalry in college football to unprecedented heights. I know that places me in the distasteful position of having to root for Michigan Saturday afternoon, but I’m taking the long view.

Justin Fields is the franchise. Doing whatever is best for his development is what’s best for the Bears.

These kids, and the people advising them do not understand the basic economic reality: The demand by schools for, and the supply of, athletes, has not changed. There are still only so many positions available. What’s going on now is basically just re-shuffling the deck.

I got it from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. It’s no secret.

The current interplay of the transfer portal and NIL presents a fascinating, real-time case study in “The Law Of Unintended Consequences.” One that has occurred to me is that this encourages some kids to stay in school longer, rather than trying to grab the brass ring of professional football. It reduces the economic pressure. Kids staying in school longer should result in an improvement in the quality of play overall.

Draft a wide receiver first, an OL second. Use cash in the free agent market to sign at least one quality wide receiver and at least a couple of OLs. Those are the priorities.

Notre Dame really wanted him.

At this point, the NCAA is all but toothless.

Wow, Bears come out and punch Buffalo right in the mouth!

You know, there’s medicine you can take for that. 🤣