It seems like Notre Dame football is at a major crossroads, with significant changes happening after an impressive 14-2 season. Despite the success, it's clear that the program's staff turnover is creating some big challenges for head coach Marcus Freeman. But it also looks like Freeman is working diligently to navigate these changes by bringing in some strong new hires.
Chris Ash replaces Al Golden
The decision to replace Al Golden with Chris Ash seems strategic, especially considering Ash's background with defensive backs and his leadership beside Luke Fickell. Golden's style was clearly popular, so it'll be interesting to see if Ash’s fiery approach can maintain that same level of success. His expertise should complement the strong defensive talent already present, but the transition could still have its bumps.
Ja’Juan Seider is a big get
With the talented trio of Jerimiyah Love, Jadarian Price, and Aneyas Williams at running back, having someone with Seider’s track record will certainly keep that position as a strength. His experience with developing 1,000-yard rushers at Penn State is a major win for the Irish.
A new GM (Mike Martin)
The search for a new General Manager is definitely an intriguing one. The evolving nature of college football’s rules around recruiting, the transfer portal, and NIL demands a savvy, experienced leader. Mike Martin seems like an excellent choice to help navigate this new era, and building out a robust scouting department could help the Irish gain an edge on the competition, especially with such a complex landscape.
Building for Long-Term Success
All in all, Marcus Freeman is making moves to stay ahead of the curve, and while there are inevitable challenges, these hires could help position Notre Dame for continued success. It's exciting to see how these changes will unfold and if they'll pay off in the long run. What do you think of these moves? Does the future of Notre Dame football look bright to you?
From the South Bend Tribune.com
After this, all I can think is Demi Jones is not ready for Prime Time as ND Spokesmen QB and leader.
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January 17. 2006 6:59AM
Art of self-defense
Recruit Jones says race factor in rumors
COLLEGE
JEFF CARROLL
Tribune Staff Writer
Despite a rash of late suitors, Chicago high school quarterback Demetrius Jones said Monday that he still plans to sign with Notre Dame on Feb. 1.
And, contrary to some of the speculation making the current rounds, the Irish verbal commitment fully intends to play quarterback at ND.
Conjecture about a Jones position change has gone from isolated speculation to rampant rumor in recent weeks, fueled by the program's just-ended flirtation with Springdale, Ark., QB Mitch Mustain. A shoulder injury Jones suffered late in his high school season only added to it.
And Jones believes there's another more sinister factor at play, as well -- his race.
"That's a no-brainer," said Jones, who is African-American. "Of course there's still a racial thing when it comes to quarterbacks."
Mustain's mother Beck Campbell confirmed to the Tribune Monday that her son and Notre Dame had mutually parted ways on the recruiting trail.
Even when Mustain, the No. 1 QB prospect in the estimation of most recruiting services, was in the picture, though, Jones said he never wavered on his own commitment to ND -- as a quarterback.
"Last time I checked, that's what I got offered for," said the 6-foot-4, 200-pounder from Chicago's Morgan Park High School. "I don't understand -- if they wanted Mustain so bad, they probably would have dropped me.
"That's just the people who are not experts about football, who don't really know anything. They bring up that position-change stuff. These are people who sit at home with their computers with nothing to do all day, every day. All they do is take breaks at their jobs. They get on the football forum and they bring up that type of stuff. It never crossed my mind about playing another position, unless it's by choice."
A Mustain signing would have given the Irish three consensus Top 100 quarterbacks, also including Mechanicsburg, Pa.'s Zach Frazer, in one recruiting class. The potential full house was one reason some armchair experts forecast a Jones switch.
The racial aspect is further beneath the surface but, Jones said, still undeniable.
He is aware that Notre Dame's last two starting black quarterbacks, Carlyle Holiday and Arnaz Battle, were switched to wide receiver during the course of their careers in South Bend. And if he didn't know it before, he found out from plenty of rival recruiters. Jones told Irish Sports Report in its Nov. 13 issue that opposing coaches have tried to use those examples to sway him away from ND.
But he is also aware that Notre Dame's last national championship team in 1988 was guided by a run-first quarterback, Tony Rice, who also happened to be black.
"I just don't understand people's motives in there," Jones said, referring mostly to Internet fan forums. "It's a stereotype (we) have to live by. I don't know if anyone was watching the BCS games, but a quarterback is a quarterback. If you're a dual threat, the more the merrier.
"It isn't my job to try to figure people out. At the same time, I just don't understand their motives. When someone's winning for them, which I will be doing for Notre Dame, you've got to take the good with the bad that comes with it. The stereotypes, the race, the hatred, you just have to accept that with it."
The merits of mobile quarterbacks have been at issue lately in all levels of football. While Vince Young led Texas to a Rose Bowl victory with 200 yards rushing against USC and Ohio State's Troy Smith tortured ND in the Fiesta Bowl, the NFL playoffs have been dominated by traditional pocket passers. Atlanta's Michael Vick, considered a revolutionary talent at one time, was unable to get his team into this year's playoffs.
Also this season, a key figure in the Philadelphia NAACP stirred up controversy when he accused Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb of essentially turning his back on his race by becoming more of a pocket quarterback than he was in his first few years in the league. A few years ago, conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh said McNabb was lauded with unwarranted praise by a liberal-slanted media.
It's no surprise which side of the debate, with its implicit and uncomfortable racial undertones, that the mobile Jones falls on.
"If Brady Quinn could've scrambled, we could've won the Fiesta Bowl," Jones said. "They were blitzing him just like they were blitzing Vince Young and Troy Smith. If Vince Young couldn't scramble, you think Texas would've won the Rose Bowl?"
Jones also said he'd take Quinn as the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft if the ND quarterback was coming out this season, which he isn't.
Jones said Monday there is no reason to worry about his shoulder -- he's been rehabbing it, forgoing his senior year of basketball at Morgan Park to do so. He said it is "80 to 85 percent" right now.
Though he said rhetoric by opposing recruiters is "getting ugly" as signing day nears, he's 100 percent committed to Notre Dame.
"There are two positions everybody in America knows -- they know who the president is and they know who the quarterback at Notre Dame is," Jones said. "That's motivating."
Staff writer Jeff Carroll:
jcarroll@sbtinfo.com
(574) 235-6382