Andrew Luck Returning to Stanford
Stanford’s Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback surprised a lot of people on Thursday when he announced he will be returning for his senior season. Luck, widely regarded as the top prospect in the draft, was expected to forgo his senior season by most draft experts.
Luck led Stanford to a 12-1 season including an impressive performance in Stanford’s big win over the Irish in Notre Dame Stadium in October. His breakout season included a trip to the Downtown Athletic Club in December and an Orange Bowl MVP performance over Virginia Tech earlier this week.
There was little doubt Luck would have been picked #1 overall had he left. Reports surfaced this week that the Carolina Panthers, owner’s of the top pick in the draft, had already decided they would select Luck if he chose to leave early. Those would be the same Carolina Panthers who used a second round pick on former Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen last year. With Luck returning to Stanford, not only does Clausen get some job security, but he could also get a new weapon to throw to if Carolina opts to select Georgia’s AJ Green.
With Luck returning for another year in Palo Alto, the Notre Dame schedule for 2011 just got a bit more difficult. The Cardinal was going to have a rough time replacing Luck if he left for the NFL. The loss of Luck combined with some key offensive line losses, would have forced Stanford to take a big step backwards offensively no matter who their coach is in 2011.
Speaking of Stanford’s head coach, for now Jim Harbaugh is still the head coach at Stanford and one of his potential NFL suitors, the Miami Dolphins, have decided to keep their current head coach Tony Sparano. The Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers, however, are still reportedly very interested in Harbaugh’s services.
Regardless of who is coaching Stanford next year, Luck returning potentially sets up a great Thanksgiving weekend match-up between the Irish and Cardinal. After Notre Dame finished the season 4-0, expectations will be raised for 2011 – especially if Michael Floyd decides he wants to return for his senior season like Luck.
It has been normal for Notre Dame-USC games on Thanksgiving weekends to be marquee match-ups, but this year it looks like the Stanford game could fill that void. That is of course, if Notre Dame plays like they did over the final four games of 2010 throughout the 2011 season.
Frank Vitovitch has been Co-Owner and Editor in Chief of UHND.com since joining forces with Kyle Flavin in 1999. Since that time, he has written over 2,000 articles covering Notre Dame football, recruiting, and basketball. He also works with all staff and external writers on all articles published on UHND.com. Frank's love for Notre Dame football started at a young age watching Rocket Ismail give opposing coaches ulcers in the late 1980's. By day Frank works in marketing and holds a degree in Digital Media from Drexel University. Frank's work has been cited by online/print editions of NBC Sports, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated and has been quoted on air by ESPN's Collin Cowherd. He's conducted interviews with Notre Dame legends Rocket Ismail, Randy Kinder, Lee Becton, Reggie Brooks, Michael Stonebreaker, and Ned Bolcar among others over his 20+ years of covering Notre Dame football. He's also been published in the print edition of USA Today Sports Weekly and the USA Today College Football Preview multiple times. Other Published Works/Citations for Frank Three Reasons Notre Dame Will Beat Alabama - USA Today Notre Dame Suspends WR Kevin Stepherson, RB C.J. Holmes Indefinitely - Bleacher Report Notre Dame / Ohio State Fiesta Bowl Preview - Eleven Warriors Brace Yourself: The Fighting Irish are Relevant Again - Sports on Earth Interviews with the Enemy: A Q&A with Frank Vitovitch of UHND - Yahoo! Sports Five Good Minutes: Notre Dame Football Preview With UHND.com - BC Interruption Vicious Electronic Questioning with UHND - MGO Blog
Luck shapes up as a winner on and off the field. Great kid and, dare I say it, exemplar.