link to the transcript from willingham's presser about '04 recruiting class. ya know, the one that just had ZERO players picked in last weekend's draft? this is what we've been up against for the past 5 years, essentially. god, this would be funny if it weren't soooooo sad...

 

 

http://www.ndnation.com/boards/showpost.php?b=football;pid=138204;d=this

Edited April 27, 200915 yr by BlackIrish42

edit: had one player drafted (bruton-broncos)

 

bruton was a junior. not a member of the '04 class...

you beat me to it BI..........

there is just weis' initial half class now, then we will be free of the talent gap.

I still think that the traditions and leadership of the team suffered as much as the talent level under ty. I think he did his best to break down what was here before him in order to institute his program, and by that i mean so he wouldnt be held accountable to the previous standard. That is still taking time to recover.

Seventeen man class...nine jumped ship at some point in '05...so this really was an eight man class. Combine that with the fifteen man class in '05 and people wonder why we sucked in '07. A whole class was missing! Especially when you take away DJ Hord, Joey Hiben, and Derrell Hand from the '05 class. Twenty recruits total from '04 and '05. We're lucky Charlie and Co. works as hard as they do recruiting...

Good posts.

 

So many people just don't understand the situation Ty put us in. This is another example of Weis taking one for the team. He mentioned the inexperience in 07 but he never specifically blamed Ty. He shouldered the responsibility and continues to take an absolute beating from the media for ND's mediocre seasons. He is not a magician who can make players appear out of thin air. This year is the true beginning of the Weis era with his coaches, his players, and his systems.

and the most galling thing? the way ty acts in the presser like taking two lineman in the '04 class was fine. sure, THAT'S not a problem in the making! aargh! that guy!!!!

I've said it a few times, but it is worth repeating...

 

TY WILLINGHAM >> NCAA Death Penalty.

 

We will watch the once proud Huskie Program slowly crawl back from oblivion... the UDub community seems to be more patient that ND Nation, and they don't have to recruit nationally to collect players... but still... wow...

 

In other news, Ty's handicap has improved 2 strokes since he went to UDub.

Good posts.

 

So many people just don't understand the situation Ty put us in. This is another example of Weis taking one for the team. He mentioned the inexperience in 07 but he never specifically blamed Ty. He shouldered the responsibility and continues to take an absolute beating from the media for ND's mediocre seasons. He is not a magician who can make players appear out of thin air. This year is the true beginning of the Weis era with his coaches, his players, and his systems.

 

totally agree with that 1st sentence.

 

actually an example of that is today when I was watching CF Live on ESPN. They were talking about how ND only had 1 kid drafted (Bruton). And after Desmond Howard bashed ND for a lil' bit, the host asked if that was CW's fault or because of the previous coach. And Howard said he didnt know. No shit, just b/c you were good doesnt mean you're gonna be a good analyst. Everyone with a clue knows that Ty Willingham left the cupboard empty. That's what made it so easy for him to get fired at ND & at Washington. Hell, even Stanford was brutal with the players Willingham recruited after he left. Like another poster said, TW is the death penalty for a college football program. This is CW's first year with over 80 schollies, that's saying something right there. On top of that, the team is loaded with 3 star and above talent with plenty of 4 star guys. TW's recruiting classes were 3 star guys and below with a couple 4 stars sprinkled in there. I'm not saying ND will be back to winning championships every year b/c it's so tough to do that esp when the SEC schools are raking in all that talent, but ND will be back to competing for a NC and that's how you can ask for. Like CW said, ND hasnt been in the discussion for a long time and that's a problem. That's going to change esp if we can win this year.

Good posts.

 

So many people just don't understand the situation Ty put us in. This is another example of Weis taking one for the team. He mentioned the inexperience in 07 but he never specifically blamed Ty. He shouldered the responsibility and continues to take an absolute beating from the media for ND's mediocre seasons. He is not a magician who can make players appear out of thin air. This year is the true beginning of the Weis era with his coaches, his players, and his systems.

 

 

And notice that CW never ever brings any of these facts up when his team is getting bashed in the media about such few signees. HE takes the heat so that he doesn't inadvertently say something that would demean the guys that were seniors last year or this year. I have my reservations about CW's coaching ability, but this is an example of one of the things I love about him. There is no doubt that he loves those players like they're his own kids IMHO.

And notice that CW never ever brings any of these facts up when his team is getting bashed in the media about such few signees. HE takes the heat so that he doesn't inadvertently say something that would demean the guys that were seniors last year or this year. I have my reservations about CW's coaching ability, but this is an example of one of the things I love about him. There is no doubt that he loves those players like they're his own kids IMHO.

 

hear, hear!! well said. as a contrast, how many *minutes* do you think it take urban liar or spurrier or lane kiffen to start bitching publicly about what the previous coach had left if *they* had a situation like CW did when he took over?

 

and btw, the guys at ndnation actually did a whole breakdown of teams who actually suffered the 'death penalty' and ND DID suffer the same as if we had the 'death penalty' as far as scholly players goes. un-freakin-believable.

 

never forget, people. never forget...

CW doesn't bring up poor TW recruiting because those players of TW... became his players, and he is faithful and loyal coach.

 

It would just be unseemly to throw guys you need to play under the bus too..

 

Thankfully, that's not CW's style

I AGREE CW IS THE COACH AND ITS HIS PLAYERS , HE WILL DO THE RIGHT THING., OK SO TY DIDN'T DO OR GET THE JOB DONE , I SAY THATS ENOUGH LETS MOVE ON AND SEE WHAT THE IRISH CAN DO FROM HERE ON OUT . GO IRISH ENOUGH TY TALK . imo

Bruton was a SENIOR and part of the '05 class. There is no way in hell he could leave early for the draft. Though you are correct that he wasn't part of the '04 class. Bruton was a project coming in, but his freshman year was 2005. Which means 2006, 2007, 2008. Four years. He played a lot of special teams his first year which left no room for a fifth year.

Bruton was a SENIOR and part of the '05 class. There is no way in hell he could leave early for the draft. Though you are correct that he wasn't part of the '04 class. Bruton was a project coming in, but his freshman year was 2005. Which means 2006, 2007, 2008. Four years. He played a lot of special teams his first year which left no room for a fifth year.

 

i think when he said junior he meant year behind this class.

 

 

Another person from this class that signed an undrafted free agent contract was Ronald Talley from Delaware

I agree with BlackIrish - NIE WIEDER, NIE WIEDER, NIE WIEDER - for those that don't speak German, it means "Never Again"