Recruiting Summary by KLB
KLB
February 9, 2000

    Notre Dame coach Bob Davie, suffering enough stress from a season to forget, had to plunge into a worse abyss two months ago.  It wasn't bad enough that he work schedule had to increase due to the start of the recruiting season.  It wasn't bad enough that there was a glaring lack of blue chip recruits this year who didn't academically qualify for Notre Dame.  It wasn't bad enough that the Irish were nearly shut out of California and its deep pool of prime recruits.  On top of this, the NCAA, licking its lips to put the hurt on the Irish over a " major violation" that any other school would have not even bothered to report, held its decision at least a month after it had to further damage recruiting efforts.

    Never-the-less, the Irish had a class ranked between eight and fifteen, which is a near miracle given the obstacles above.  Davie and Co. landed eight blue chippers, plus ten more solid recruits.  Not one member of this class leaves many shaking their heads as to why they will be wearing blue and gold.  The QB need was addressed, three very talented receivers were brought in, and, finally, a decent group of defensive lineman will be added.  The late defection of Anthony Crosson to Boston College hurts, though.

    With so few top recruits eligible, the Irish staff had to look beyond rating and get players that weren't highly rated but had the potential to be stars.  In doing this a few recruits were landed that were not on anyone's tope 100 lists but might make an impact in the years to come.  Names such as Jason Sapp, Kyle Budinscak, and Preston Jackson fit into this category, and are reasons why Bob Davie deserves a temporary respite from the criticism he has received.

Here's a review of the eighteen signees.
 

Garron Bible - Another prospect who I leave to the coaching staff.  I've heard that he was offered by neither Texas nor Texas A&M, which is disturbing if true.  Never-the-less, he has good speed, and can play both corner and running back.

Kyle Budinscak - End who will be converted to tackle.  Good prospect, as the Irish always seem to need help at DT.  In fact, it is getting a little tiring.

Jared Clark - Strong and mobile.  Good speed to go with large size.  Might be moved to linebacker, though his arm is rumored to be the best of the four.  Played on average team, and could be a huge pleasant surprise.

Jerome Collins - High school WR projects as a tight end or linebacker.  Good size and speed.  Will need a year or two to develop.

Lorenzo Crawford - Love this kid.  Put up huge stats his senior season, and has so much playmaking ability that he reminds of Peter Warrick.  Excellent speed.  Was a surprise pick up because of his prior commitment to UNC.

Derek Curry - Similar prospect to Anthony Denman.  Excellent instincts and hitting ability.

Vontez Duff - RB was not a priority this year, so grabbing Duff was a luxury, and what a luxury it is.  This kid can outright fly and already has polished running back skills.  Track star who is rumored to be as fast as Alan Rossum.

Abram Elam - Most scouts project him as an excellent DB, but he apparently committed to the Irish with the promise that he would be given a fair chance at QB.  Expect Davie to keep his promise.  If he doesn't make it, this kid has the tools to become a solid safety.

Mike Goolsby - Senior season was not as good as his junior, but this kid had thirty scholarship offers before the '99 season even started, and can outright play.  Lack in stats may be due to the fact that he missed some playing time on the '99 campaign.  Has been criticized as taking downs off.

Caryle Holiday - Star QB with excellent running and  passing skills, as well as a strong arm.   Is said to be the best of the four that would fit into Rogers' system.  Best attribute may be that he is already polished.  If everything goes well, he will back up Battle this fall.  Might pressure for starting job.

Preston Jackson - Corner who wasn't highly rated but excels in coverage, something ND needs.  Lacks size, but then again most good corners do.

Omar Jenkins - Played on a small time football team for a private school.  I'll have to trust the coaching staff on this one since I don't know much about him.

Matt LoVecchio - Outstanding quarterback who has excellent abilities and the attitude of a true winner.  First commitment in the class of 2004.  Despite being a drop back passer, he has speed (4.55) to spare to become an option QB.  Good scrambling ability.

Billy Palmer - Underrated star who will probably start after Jabari Holloway graduates.  played for a big time high school program.  Good speed, hands, and overall athletic ability.  His brother is Florida QB Jesse Palmer.  Can also play at defensive end, though looking at his brother makes one wonder if he can get bigger while maintaining his speed.

Greg Pauly - Tough strong, blue chip lineman who can penetrate and stop the run as well as pass rush.  The tope member of this class, he is a GREAT addition.

Ron Rodamer - West Virginia star has drawn comparisons to Randy Moss.  Doesn't have Moss' speed, but everything else checks out.  Suffered an injury his senior year which is a concern.

Jason Sapp - Recruited as a linebacker but might go to end once he puts on some wait.  Stock soared senior year, and his forty time is excellent (4.6).  Can rush the corner with the best of them from scouting reports.

Jovan Witherspoon - Supposed to be a star receiver but was recruited little outside midwest.  Certainly has all the physical tools to become a star, and his size and speed (6'2" 200 4.45/40)  make him ready for the college level immediately.

The Bad News about Recruiting

    Recruiting is not an exact science.  In fact it's even worse than the NFL draft.  These kids are only eighteen, and looking at the depth charts it's doubtful any will make an impact next season,  with the exception of the one quarterback who performs the best this spring will back up Arnaz Battle.  The first four receivers on the depth chart are filled, so none of the incoming freshman will see playing time barring injury.  The defense is also set up and along the depth chart, and Greg Pauly will be the only one with a chance at a getting on the field in 2000.  And even the All American is a long shot.

    Summing it up, if and when the Irish win next year, it will be with the players they already had.
 

Wadsworth Resigns

    Rev. Edward A. Malloy announced today that athletic director Mike Wadsworth will be stepping down.  This move, cheered by many, was still a surprise.  What makes it even more of a surprise is that executive vice president the Rev. E. William Beauchamp will be removed from his post in the athletic department, but will retain large responsibilities in other areas at the University.

    The word coming out is that Wadsworth was fired, and this seems enough to be a logical move by Malloy.  The Irish are under probation for the first time in history.  The football program is floundering.  Wadsworth tried to bring in Rick Majerus as Men's Basketball coach, which was soundly rejected by the university's trustees.  It was under his watch that the Joe Moore case went through, revealing a firing that was botched at best.  And he stood by Bob Davie.

    But it's after looking over the facts that questions, serious ones, come to mind.

    One of the positive side effects of the Dunbar fiasco was that Notre Dame would lose its arrogant attitude towards athletics and its place in the NCAA.  And after close scrutiny of the reasons why Wadsworth was removed, I (and I'm probably alone here) come to questions whether any of this has sunk into Malloy's head.
 
    I will agree with the opinion that Wadsworth should have been removed alone for his decision to stand in total and absolute support of Davie, which is kind of like standing next to Jocelyn Elders after her pro-masturbation speech.  Much of the University's prestige lies with the football program - it presents a metaphoric symbol of what Notre Dame is about -, and Wadsworth simply took a 5-7 season for a third year coach as a bump in the road.

    Wrong move.  Entirely.

    But are the university's athletic troubles his fault?  After close examination, would it have take a super-human presence to stop some of the scandals that went on?  Let's examine the issues.

*The Dunbar scandal.  The one interesting sentence that pops up is if Dunbar's employer (from whom she stole 1.2 MILLION) did not know of this until after how the hell is an athletic director with responsibilities towards near 1,000 athletes supposed to know?  And if he did, what can he do?  Tell the players who they should and should not date?  The simple fact of the matter is that the NCAA stepped out of bounds in declaring this a major violation, if a violation at all, because of its resentment of Notre Dame.  Any other school would not have received so much as an investigation.

*The Joe Moore trial.  Davie and Wadsworth could have dismissed him on the basis of his abuse of players (OK, my name is Chris Clevenger, I'm 6'6", 320, 22 years old, and getting hit in the face by an old man for my performance from a game which I am getting paid nothing.  All ND players seem to have an excellent temperament, but I like to think one of them would have had enough pride and individuality to take that old man's head and put it through a locker - maybe I am just missing something...).  But Davie's comments were brought up in the trial and the result was a loss to a pathetic old man.  And anybody who paid attention to Moore's last years as OL coach (particularly '96) know the line hasn't fallen much at all since he left, despite what some might say.  Back to the point, the main problems is an American custom of frivolous lawsuits brought on by a society which is losing all hope of common sense.  Twenty years ago his lawsuit would have been laughed at.

*Forcing Holtz out.  Holtz resigned because he knew it was time to leave.  He has denied, even through the Moore trial, that there was any pressure for him to go.  If there was any pressure, it was from ND fans (including myself) who wanted him out.

*Rick Majerus.  ND didn't want him because god forbid a coach develops a cult of personality (Rick, Pitino, Bobby Knight, Jon Calipari, etc...).  Never mind that Majerus is an excellent coach and could take the basketball team into national prominence.  This, by the way, is not disparaging the superb job Matt Doherty has done.

    The reality is that Wadsworth's department, with the exception of the football program, is in better shape than when he came in, and in excellent shape overall.  If Malloy wants to make a statement, he can remove Davie.  If not the speculation that ND's arrogance will bring itself down can and will start, and Malloy one day might find himself the scapegoat.

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 All mail is welcomed.  klb1@keene.edu