I'm kind of getting the feeling that Weis is going to encourage Tate and Clausen to leave early. I don't think they'll need much encouragement but with Weis most likely gone, he has no incentive to play the devil's advocate. I think Weis will be an ND guy forever but he seems pretty jaded right now listening to recent comments.

Its probably best for them if they go. It might be some bitterness because he is about to be fired, kind of like when Ty told Justin Tuck to go pro after the '04 season.

I'm kind of getting the feeling that Weis is going to encourage Tate and Clausen to leave early. I don't think they'll need much encouragement but with Weis most likely gone, he has no incentive to play the devil's advocate. I think Weis will be an ND guy forever but he seems pretty jaded right now listening to recent comments.

 

Can I ask where your getting the feeling from?

 

Golden may have different interests at heart than Clausen. Golden has the potential to be drafted and play pro baseball as well.

 

I don't know which sport if any is his preference.

I think both Jimmy and Golden should leave, but for different reasons. Jimmy is going to be a high first round pick, and the risk of injury is too great. Golden on the other hand, I don't think comes from a rich family and should take the money ASAP.

As much as I disliked seeing Justin Tuck go pro, was it the wrong decision? You could very easily make the argument that Ty was right.

 

On this front, whether or not Weis makes the recommendation or not, we have been talking for a while about whether or not Tate and Clausen would come back. That means that it has been on all of our minds that they might go pro. To say Weis is pushing them out the door due to bitterness is nothing more then sour grapes on some fans part if you ask me. Both guys are up for major awards and have skills that translate well to the NFL. Unless they learn they won't be higher draft picks, I'd recommend they go early too. Anyone who says otherwise isn't looking out for the best interest of the kids.

I think Jimmy should go given where he will be drafted.

 

Personally, I think that Tate is an unreal athlete but has a long way to go in terms of becoming an NFL ready WR. His route running and blocking skills are average at best.

 

Now, you put the balls in his hands, he has skills that most in the NFL do not have right now.

 

Only thing I look at is the number of WR's who have come out early over the years and were not top 15 picks have not done well traditionally.

 

I wish them both well in whatever it is they do.

Out of both of them, I think Jimmy needs the extra year more than Tate.

 

Tate has some of the best hands I have seen (and I am not just saying that because he wears Blue and Gold) and his skills with the ball in his hands is something that is not taught. His weakness (as many have mentioned) is blocking and route running.....but neither of these areas are truely "weak" they just aren't elite. Blocking and Route running can be improved upon by proper coaching in the NFL.

 

With Jimmy, I think there are a lot of areas where he would benefit from having another year to start....but with the loss of Tate, and with an almost entirely new O-Line I am not sure JC would be able to put up the numbers he did this year.....and as a result could drop on the NFL boards if he sticks around a year.

 

I guess what I am saying is that Tate and JC should definitely go pro.

Tate has some of the best hands I have seen (and I am not just saying that because he wears Blue and Gold).

 

Laughing because remember the early case of the dropsies he got this year? Man, am I glad he shook those real quick.

 

Have to say, Tate is right up there with Rocket and Bettis for excitement factor when he had the leather in his mitts. it was a pleasure to watch him. Would love one more year, but he's earned the right to move on.

Its been awesome seeing Tate and Clausen do their thing this year but now it almost seems like a waste. They are probably the two most exciting and dynamic players we've had or will have for a while (floyd is awesome but not as much of a highlight reel as Tate) and they stared on two .500 teams. Their personal accomplishments are amazing and if this team had done what it should have, they would be 1A and 1B for the heisman.

Laughing because remember the early case of the dropsies he got this year? Man, am I glad he shook those real quick.

 

Have to say, Tate is right up there with Rocket and Bettis for excitement factor when he had the leather in his mitts. it was a pleasure to watch him. Would love one more year, but he's earned the right to move on.

 

Don't remind me. I was at the house of a Michigan fan during the scUM game. I was talking about how Tate would catch anything.....then "it" happened.

ISD article on Weis/Tate - I would say it sounds like Coach thinks he is ready:

 

http://www.irishsportsdaily.com/football/1401-golden-finale

I'm kind of getting the feeling that Weis is going to encourage Tate and Clausen to leave early. I don't think they'll need much encouragement but with Weis most likely gone, he has no incentive to play the devil's advocate. I think Weis will be an ND guy forever but he seems pretty jaded right now listening to recent comments.

 

REALLY ? Is that why he is still selling the committed recruits on the 40 year decision of Notre Dame and why we haven't lost a single recruit (scratch Martin, who is still 50/50). When Tony Hurd came out and said he was going to open up recruiting and telling people close to him that he was leaving ND...Charlie picked up the phone and personally sold him on staying with ND.

 

So, how about we put the knives away when it comes to Charlie. The guy has worked as hard as any coach I can remember in my lifetime. He is an ND man, who "gets" the history and tradition of the school. His ego has never gotten in the way of him doing his job, and he has left the program far better than where he inherited it and got the program back in the living room of the elite recruiting battles...

 

So if you want to claim that CW is going to push Tate out the door, because he has a high draft stock, will be coming out in a weak group of WRs in this draft class (compared to next year) and will follow up on the promise he made to him as a recruit to get him ready to play at the NFL level, present him with advice and evaluation from NFL scouts and general managers as to where he stands in the talent pool and give him the opportunity to make the decision that is best for him and his family...than yes. I assume he is going to keep his word and allow Tate to make that decision. But don't paint the picture that Golden was going to return next year if it wasn't for Charlie giving him the advise to leave...that's just silly and irresponsible.

One thing that everyone says about Charlie is that he is a straight shooter. (Sometimes too much so, like his interview this past weekend....)

There is no doubt that he will be a straight shooter with Clausen and Tate as far as what they should do next year. I would be curious to know Tate's 40 time right now because IMO that will make or break his draft status.

Look, we can dislike how this team has performed under CW but you'd be hard pressed to find any evidence that CW would be anything but professional in his evaluation of these two athletes. Say what you want about coaching, but Charlie is an great person who has done a lot of positive things for many people. He has been great in the community as well. I don't by the possibility of him sand bagging ND out of spite.

I personally think Tate is more NFL ready than Clausen right now. Really because Clausen's position is harder. Clausen has the arm to make all the throws, but he doesn't make many deep-post throws over the middle like he'll have to in the NFL. Plus I just think he could use the extra year to work on going through his progressions.

 

Tate is ready in my oppinion, however I don't think that many NFL scouts agree with me that he's a top 20-25 pick. So it might be best for him to come back too.

 

Ultimately I think if either of them comes back it'll be Tate. They both could go or they both could stay though. Idk.

Here's the thing with Tate and the NFL. Does anyone think he's not as good if not better than Antwan Randel-El? He went pretty high I believe and did fairly well. Sure he was a little taller, but a similar type do it all player none the same.