The hits keep coming for Notre Dame this week. Chris Bonds, the highest rated defensive lineman left on the board for Notre Dame commited to Alabama on Sunday after narrowing his choices down to Notre Dame and ‘Bama last week. He told the State:
“Everything just fell into place,” Bonds said. “With me getting hurt, they kind of stuck it out with me through thick and thin. I’m a big fan of their nose guard and how he anchors the line. Coach Burns talked to me about playing defensive tackle and defensive end.”
The loss of Bonds is significant because the Irish currently have just one defensive lineman in this class – Tyler Stockton – and just one left on the board – Davon Custis. Custis, meanwhile is reported to be favoring Boston College. Bonds is also an elite talent when he is healthy and would have been an excellent addition to this class.
Notre Dame’s room for error along the defensive line is lessened even more with Bonds heading to Alabama. If some on last year’s defensive line recruits don’t pan out, we will find ourselves in a rather precarious situation along the d-line again very soon.
By the way, just remember they don’t erect statues for critics.
They erect them for POSITIVE MOTIVATORS like LOU HOLTZ!
Well, not to pit coach against coach, I did not like Lou’s early exit, nor his second national title awarded to Florida State.
I guarantee you if there had been no early exit, Lou would have broken every coaching record know to man at ND.
And oh yeah, Bob Davie is a hot commodity as football coach. I wonder why nobody is beating his door down since Lou’s exit?
Last I heard, he was dreaming about returning to his old job DC with T&AM this year. They must have gotten smart too.
After this last game I am off the CW train ride officially.
It’s time for a new direction, and I would certainly welcome Lou Holtz or Urban Meyer, and C-Dog I would welcome Aaron Taylor also.
Finally, IF and that’s a big IF – CW wins the next two, a reprive may be in order if the winning restarts, but don’t look for my vote of confidence. I so strongly favor a pink slip event at this very moment.
Yeah, Rock and Leahy were by far the best. But living? Well Ara although he’s very old, and Lou who could still do it, with help. Yeah, I’d take Lou back. Add Aaron Taylor as his offensive line coach. Keep Tenuta and Brown if he wants to stay. Bring in some young offensive minds and let Lou mentor them on the leadership and motivational part of coaching, something Weis has no clue about. That formula might work and give time to one of these assistants to tranistion to head coach role once Lou truly was too old.
Nice idea, but I don’t think they’ll consider anything like that.
i LOVE lou, but best coach in ND history i just can’t agree with. that being said if he woke up this morning & said he wanted to come back, I’d be the first one at the door to greet him.
Well, Mr. Walters needs to review ND foot-ball history. Not to defend anyone, but Bob Davie took ND to 2 “minor” bowls and 1 BCS bowl, losing all; the highest ranked team he coached was #15 in the AP poll.
Ty Willingham took ND to two bowl games (Gator/Insight) losing both and havinh his highest ranked team @ #17. Thereafter, he could not recruit any worthy player for his last two years with the team, his last two recruiting classes were ranked #34 and 40 by Rivals100.com.
Now, CW took ND to two BCS bowls and, granted, losing both. Then he has the two worst seasons on ND history but you have to see the material he had to work with (recruiting classes 34 and 40 as Seniors/Juniors in 2007, and as Seniors 2008). BD and TW did not have to drag that load at all! Now, this is the end of the excuses. ND has to be in the top 15 by this time next year or CW will have to sell his house and part from ND. I heard that Urban might be interested as coaching ND is his golden dream… Let’s see
John Walters at NBC reported, as of today, Bob, Ty and Charlie have one thing in common: A .583 winning percentage. Impressive, what will it be after this weekend?
Pink Slip Time is a reality.
Hey, they brought back a 70 year old coach at Kansas to get it back on track.
This University owes LOU a shot, period. There I said it, my vote goes to Lou Holtz the best dam coach in ND history.
Anyone think Chris Petersen would come to South Bend?
Any guy that can win football games can be taught the history of notre dame and become “a notre dame guy.” If not, and our last three coaches have been “notre dame guys,” then maybe we should look to other types of guys.
I dont see Urban Meyer coming here. he’s got a good thing in FLA, why leave it??
David, at first I dismissed you’r Butch Davis suggestion w/o much thought, but as the day has gone on i’v thought about it more and more & I now think it’s atleast worth looking into. I definately feel he can turn the program around, he’s got the track record. I’m just not sure if he’s a “Notre Dame guy” or the “right fit”, but if charlie has to go (which is becoming more & more apparent by the day that he must)it’s atleast something to consider. imo.
@David
David, I enjoyed your Urban Meyer link. However, I don’t see a second offer coming. Too many people would be eating crow on that one.
Yet, it would now be an interesting move.
Well, last night the Irish Sports report said if there were going to be any changes it would be this week, based on recruiting windows. Otherwise, Charlie is good for another year. But on a definate hot seat.
Yet, if the unemotional disinterested play continues on the field, look for more recruit/player deflections.
Who cares who we get on the line. The coaching staff has developed the skilled players, but has done absolutely nothing to develop linemen on either side of the ball in 4 years. Look at other schools with similar academic reputations and with lesser rated talent. Specifically the performance of both O and D Lines of any of those teams has been better than ND, certainly in the last 3 years.
I have an uncle who is also and alum. He seems to think the University’s support for and abortion rights advocate in Obama and Fr. Jenkins support for the Vagina Monologues has incurred a bit of the Good Lord’s wrath on us.
I disagree, but you all make your own judegment.
Well that would make the point that Charlie needs to go.
Ya know, for a catholic school it sure seems like God hates us. ;-(
I just think the majority of ND alum and fans don’t know what to do. The mentality of the fans reflects that of the university. Our team sucks, and has sucked for quite sometime, but we’re getting good recruits, but we have to fire him. CW will NOT be fired at the end of the year. The message that sends our players and recruits will have devastating effects. You think it’s bad now, just wait until you get your firing. CW can do everything but play the game for them…remember that.
David,
My point is very simple. People seemed really shocked that a kid decided to go to Bama over ND when the fanbase is talking of firing their coach. Coach at the No. 1 school v. coach in a shaky position.
Regardless of what you think, these kids look foremost to the coach and then the institution.
We have one defensive lineman in this whole class…wow! We should be bringing in a minimum of 3-4 lineman on both sides of the ball every single recruiting class. This is one of the reasons why we can’t stop the rush or run the ball. We simply are soft on both sides of the ball.
Butch Davis anyone?
Honestly, i would unless i was at a skill position, or valued my education. But after watching the pathetic performance during the season of both sides of the line, i would rather go somewhere else if i was a lineman
Let’s see if any of the committed guys start jumping ship to greener pastures (see Trattou to UF 2 years ago).
More than likely he probably saw how poorly coached all the players are. If your still on the Charlie Weis Bandwagon, then i have a feeling you are the guy that always laughs three seconds late at jokes.
Because you just arent getting it.
Wait… you mean all the talk of firing Charlie Weis didn’t sway him to coming to Notre Dame. Wow! I shocked.