Bobref

Kelly scores big, getting exactly the guy he targeted as the new defensive coordinator. https://und.com/marcus-freeman-to-join-notre-dame-as-bob-hinton-defensive-coordinator-linebackers-coach/ NOTRE DAME, Indiana — University of Notre Dame Dick Corbett Head Football Coach Brian Kelly announced the addition of Marcus Freeman to his coaching staff Friday. Freeman will serve as the Bob Hinton Defensive Coordinator, and will work directly with the Irish linebackers. The hiring will be effective at the conclusion of the University’s standard employment process. “As we looked into finding someone to run our defense, it was important to find the right fit for our program and Marcus and his family are just that,” said Kelly. “He has had great success on the field, both running a defense and in his direct work with his linebackers. Additionally, he is considered among the elite recruiters in the coaching ranks. “The work Marcus has done elevating the programs he has been a part of speaks for itself, but equally as important is the exceptional work he has done in building relationships with his staff and players. Marcus was our top choice to become our next defensive coordinator, and we are pleased he and his family will be joining us at Notre Dame.” Freeman comes to South Bend from his former post as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at the University of Cincinnati, a position he held beginning in January 2017. The Bearcats (9-1) made national noise in 2020-21, entering bowl season as the No. 8-ranked team in the nation and winning the American Athletic Conference Championship, the program’s first outright league title since 2009, when Kelly served as Cincinnati’s head coach. Cincinnati made an appearance in the Chik-Fil-A Peach Bowl, falling by a narrow margin to No. 9 Georgia, after an undefeated regular season. Cincinnati’s defense ranked in the Top 20 nationally in several categories for 2020-21, including being ranked 13th in total defense (324.6 yards per game) and eighth in scoring defense (16.8 points per game) among all FBS teams. In addition, the Bearcats were third in team passing efficiency defense (101.25), 14th in rushing defense (111.1 yards per game), 15th in red zone defense (0.735 rate), 17th in fourth down defense (0.375 rate), 16th in team sacks (3.0 per game) and 10th in turnovers gained (21). Standout Bearcat cornerback Ahmad Gardner garnered multiple All-America selections, being named to the FWAA and USA TODAY first teams, in addition to the Associated Press, AFCA and The Athletic second teams. He was also named first-team All-AAC. Prior to his 2020 success, Freeman has been part of a UC staff which coached the Bearcats to back-to-back 11-win seasons in 2018 and 2019, the 2019 American Athletic Conference East Division Championship and consecutive bowl-game wins in the 2018 Military Bowl and 2019 TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl. The Bearcats finished atop the 2019 AAC ranks in scoring defense for the second-straight season and ranked among the league’s top three in rushing and total defense. In 2018, Cincinnati led the American in rushing defense, scoring defense and total defense and ranked among the Top-15 in the NCAA FBS in all three categories. Prior to Cincinnati, Freeman spent four years at Purdue, where he coached linebackers all four seasons and served as the Boilermakers co-defensive coordinator in 2015. He is credited with transforming the Purdue linebacking corps into a strength with multiple notable disciples, including: Markus Bailey, 2016 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection and leader of the Boilermaker defense with 97 tackles; Jimmy Herman, winner of Purdue’s Guy “Red” Mackey Award and the Noble E. Kizer Award, for exemplifying the overall success of the University’s intercollegiate athletics program and earning the highest GPA among football players over the 2016 calendar year; and Ja’Whaun Bentley, a USA Today Freshman All-American in 2014 and voted a captain by his teammates prior to the 2015 season. Freeman coached linebackers at Kent State from 2011-12, where he guided inside linebacker Luke Batton to second team All-Mid-American Conference honors in 2012 after finishing with 143 total tackles, including 80 solo stops. Outside linebacker C.J. Malauulu was a third team all-conference selection in 2012, recording 72 total tackles. Freeman started his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater, Ohio State, in 2010, as the Buckeyes went 12-1 with a victory in the Sugar Bowl. A four-year letterwinner for the Buckeyes from 2004-08, Freeman earned second team All-Big Ten honors in 2008, while helping lead Ohio State to four conference titles, three BCS bowls and two trips to the national title game during his career. He played in the 2009 Senior Bowl and was a fifth-round NFL Draft pick of the Chicago Bears, spending time with the Bears, Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans before a medical condition ended his playing career. A 2007 Ohio State graduate, Freeman earned Academic All-Big Ten and academic all-district honors. In 2011, he earned a master’s degree in sports management from Ohio State. He graduated from Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio, and was a Parade All-American. Freeman has a daughter, Bria, and he and his wife, Joanna, have six children: Vinny, Siena, Gino, Nico, Capri and Rocco.

Michigan doubles down on Harbaugh. Love it! https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/30675288/michigan-coach-jim-harbaugh-reach-contract-extension Michigan, football coach Jim Harbaugh reach contract extension Adam RittenbergESPN Senior Writer Jim Harbaugh has reached a contract extension to remain Michigan's football coach through the 2025 season, athletic director Warde Manuel announced Friday. A source confirmed to ESPN that the new deal includes a lower base salary and many performance incentives. Harbaugh had one year left on his initial contract at Michigan, which paid the coach slightly over $8 million in 2020. "I continue to believe that Jim is the right man to lead our program in pursuit of Big Ten and CFP championships," Manuel said in a statement. "Our program didn't achieve at a level that anyone expected this year but I know those setbacks will drive the coaches, players and staff moving forward. Jim is a tireless worker and competitor. Following the completion of the season we talked for many hours on what it will take for Jim to lead and get us back on the right trajectory." Michigan and Harbaugh began discussing a new contract after the team's regular season ended in November. Harbaugh spent much of the past few weeks vacationing in California but returned to Ann Arbor this week, a source said. Why Jim Harbaugh and Michigan recommitted now, and what comes next In a statement, Harbaugh thanked Manuel and university president Mark Schlissel, among others. "Over the past few weeks, Warde and I had discussions that have been honest, open, insightful and constructive in moving our football program forward. Discussions that I look forward to continuing over the months and years ahead," Harbaugh said. "We have a plan. "There is work to be done and challenges to be addressed. These challenges are being addressed as we continue to strive for excellence in the classroom and championships on the field, a message that I hope is noted in the language of our agreed-upon contract." The Wolverines finished the 2020 season at 2-4, canceling their final three games because of COVID-19 concerns within the program. Harbaugh, a former star quarterback at Michigan, is 49-22 in six seasons at the school and 34-16 in Big Ten play but is coming off by far his worst season at his alma mater. Michigan won 10 games and finished in the top 15 in three of his first four seasons but has yet to defeat rival Ohio Stateand has dropped four straight bowl games. Michigan fired defensive coordinator Don Brown last month, and six other assistants have contracts that expire Sunday. The school said in its release that Harbaugh was "in the process of evaluating and putting together his staff for the 2021 season."

Just curious as to your reasoning. I would think you’d welcome the opportunity to test the Trojans against a program like St. Ignatius.

I believe the Iggys play at Byers Field in Parma when they’re at home.

Just to add a little context, Warsaw was 8-3 last season. Dublin Coffman was 8-1 in Div. I. According to Calpreps Project a Matchup tool, on a neutral field, Coffman wins 44-13.

Aaahhh, lacrosse fights! Brings back the memories. Like football fights ... only the players are armed. Remind me to tell you about the time the Irish played at Denver ...

It’s incredibly difficult. Very hard to juggle preventive officiating, even-handed enforcement, and punishing the instigator to get it stopped. That’s in addition to all the other officiating you have to do during the game.

I’m sorry. But even in this age of PC, I can’t believe anyone would take this seriously. This is a joke, right? One of those internet hoaxes?

It would be the perfect setup. Low expectations = low pressure. #1 pick in the draft. Tons of cap space.

Maybe you could consider adding Tri-West, Triton, and Triton Central.

I’m pretty sure some smart people are going to look very closely at those, and other issues, before they throw $12 million/yr. at anybody.

I haven’t really been involved in the discussion, but I’m sure there’s some of that, too.

You know, everyone talks about the expense involved in traveling distances for away games. But has anyone attempted to quantify that additional expense? I have a good friend who has worked for many years for a company that provides transportation services to the Chicago Public Schools. I asked him what the marginal increased cost would be to take a school bus full of players on a 150 mi. rd. trip vs. a 40 mi. rd. trip. The answer is it costs about $125 more for the longer trip, almost all of which is accounted for by the increased cost of the driver. So, when you’re talking about expense being a barrier to some realignments or scheduling issues, now you have a number to put on it. Question: If, for example, Penn were to move to the Duneland, how many DAC fans would they have to draw to a game at Penn to make up the increased travel costs, compared to the kind of gate they get from the visitors when they play one of the South Bend schools?

Sign me up for this.

If you need to use someone else’s “disrespect” as your motivator, you’re in trouble.

What is going on in the bowl games this year? This wasn’t the only game that saw multiple unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, guys squaring off, I mean, it’s crazy. You’ve got multiple guys opting out for whatever reasons (don’t get me started on that), and on the other end of the spectrum, guys in an all out brawl at the end of a totally meaningless game. I don’t get it.

Hey, IU had a breakout season. Just bad luck that the QB went down. Let’s hope that sort of season becomes the norm instead of the aberration. But come on ... comparing them to ND in terms of the “treatment” they “should” have gotten? You’re fast eroding your credibility.

I can’t emphasize enough to the non-officials out there: when you see the crew huddle like that, it is NOT a sign of uncertainty. It is good crew communication and mechanics. Plays are sometimes like puzzles. They have to be put together one piece at a time.

Yes, the specific foul is illegal participation. Here’s the play from the Case Book: “9.6.2 SITUATION C: K1 free-kicks the ball toward the sideline. R1 runs to a sideline and intentionally steps out of bounds. While R1 is still out of bounds, he intentionally touches the ball as it nears the sideline. The ball is declared dead by the covering official. RULING: Illegal participation by R1. (4-3-1, 6-1-9)” Since the foul occurred while the ball was loose during the free kick, the 15 yd. penalty is enforced from the previous spot, and we re-kick.

Tyler Buchner, IMO, is The Chosen One who will lead us to the promised land. https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/2021/tyler-buchner-207639 I agree that in the last 4 yrs. or so, the Irish have closed the gap. They finally have a defense that can play. Their o-line is the best in the country. Solid skill position players ... except for a game-changer at the QB position. If he lives up to his billing, this kid could be the one.

And, of course, nothing will ever top the brawl at the 1971 Bucket Game in Bloomington. Players, fans, cheerleaders, mascots, everyone was involved. For God’s sake, the marching bands were duking it out with one another! That’s the ultimate!

The first college playoff game I ever officiated was a Juco game at College of DuPage in Illinois. They were a national power, and were crushing the visitors late in the game when their linebacker intercepted a pass on the visitors’ sideline, went out of bounds, and got drilled very late. He got up looking for somebody and all hell broke loose. It happened right in front of me, so when the two guys squared off, I got between them. By this time, they had each other by the facemasks. They were both about 6’3” and 230#. I put a hand on each player’s chest, and shoved them apart ... of course, they didn’t actually move. Not so much as a millimeter. That’s when I knew I was in trouble. We were at the center of a seething mass of people. I realized my feet weren’t actually touching the ground. The mass moved all the way out of the bench area and on to the track, and me along with it. When order was finally restored, I reported the fouls to the Referee (Tom McCabe, a long time Referee in the MAC). Then he asked me “Where is the out of bounds spot?” I told him I had no idea. His response was “well, you better make something up pretty quick.”

The accepted mechanic is to “find the line” on change of possession plays, i.e., the first down to start a possession, so long as the possession doesn’t start inside either 20. For the most part, the decline in measurements is a consequence of the increasing prevalence of turf fields, with their precision markings.

We all deplore fights. They don’t belong in the game. I’ve ejected dozens of players (and others) over the years for fighting. Nonetheless, stuff happens occasionally. I’m not talking about a couple of guys shoving one another after the play. I’m talking about actual Donnybrooks involving multiple players/personnel and lasting a while. What’s the most memorable one you’ve seen?

Excellent. This reminds me of Bo Schembechler obstinately refusing to kick away from Rocket Ismail. This will probably work out the same way.