I hope everyone had a wonderful and joyous Easter weekend. I spent the day watching my neighbor's kids trekking all over my yard in an endless attempt to find those last hidden eggs. My neighbor hides eggs with a degree of difficulty that makes finding the lost city of Atlantis look like a walk in the park. I mean does he really think a six-year-old will look in MY mailbox? And just who does he think will be cleaning up the rotten ones that never get found? Oh well, that's a story for another day.

Following Easter's themes of celebration and rebirth, we look ahead to spring ball. Just one week away and counting, the new look of the Irish will begin to take shape. In case you're wondering, yes, I can make any day of the year symbolic of Notre Dame Football. Here are my three biggest questions to answer this spring.

First, who will lead the new West Coast style offense that Coaches Willingham and Diedrick will be implementing? Carlyle Holiday is the incumbent and is the most athletic QB of the bunch, hands down. How much his athleticism can compensate for his erratic passing skills is something to watch. He does have a year's experience under his belt, which certainly won't hurt his case. 

Matt LoVecchio is the bookworm of the group.  He's a student of the game and loves to watch film, which is why he was the most prepared to take over when Arnaz Battle went down two years ago. However, he hasn't been the same since the Fiesta Bowl debacle and a new offense might not be what his already shaken confidence needs. 

The wildcard is, of course, Jared Clark. He's the best passer of the bunch and totes a bona fide hand canon. But he has next to zero game experience. I doubt a year's learning curve is what Willingham has in mind for his goals of restoring Irish football to prominence. 

My bet - the new staff tutors Holiday to throw well enough to make the offense run and tailors some of the playbook to take advantage of his blazing speed and overall athletic ability.

Question number two, who is going to catch those passes? David Givens and Javin Hunter are gone. The top two receivers are Omar Jenkins, with seven whole catches, and Arnaz Battle, who can't seem to stay healthy no matter what position he plays. Jenkins, like fellow receivers Ronnie Rodamer and Lorenzo Crawford, is still young. One of these guys may step up and become the big time threat that this offense will need to flourish.

Battle has great size and has the potential to be an outstanding WR. He switched positions because the former coaching staff firmly believed he could be one of the nation's premiere wideouts and even play on Sundays. But if he can't stay healthy, it won't matter.

My bet - Incoming freshman Maurice Stovall and Rhema McKnight will have to learn the offense quickly when they arrive in August because they will see a lot of game time this year.

Finally, on the other side of the ball, who will provide the defensive leadership that made last year's unit so good? Gone are Anthony Weaver, Grant Irons, and Rocky Boiman. Weaver did his talking on the field, setting the example and tone for a defense that needed it.

Boiman, in addition to posting great numbers, embodied the ideal "linebacker mentality" and was a vocal locker room presence. He will be sorely missed. Also, don't forget about the loss of Irons. While injuries made it so his potential was never fully reached on the field, he was a vital part of the squad with his team mentality and love of the game.

This spring, someone will have to step up and take the place of these three, both in the locker room and with their play on Saturday afternoons.

My bet - Shane Walton will continue to provide a great example in both areas, now however, in a larger role. Darrell Campbell is due for a breakout season and should provide a spark to a defensive front that will miss Weaver and Irons desperately.

Those are my three biggest concerns this spring. If those three questions can be answered by April 27, all things Irish will be looking a whole lot better. So, celebrate the rebirth of Irish football and get ready for spring ball. I've got to go pick rotten eggs out of my bushes.