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?
Top Ten of the Class of 2008. Never to early to start with these guys.
Green headlines top 10 football players in Class of '08
Posted: Friday August 4, 2006 3:08PM; Updated: Friday August 4, 2006 3:08PM
By Jon Mahoney, Special to SI.com, SchoolSports.com
There are many talented players in the Class of 2008, but we think nobody is better than Summerville (Summerville, S.C.) wide receiver A.J. Green. The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder is a playmaker extraordinaire.
He's a polished receiver for his age and is a difficult matchup for any defensive back. He's got the speed to stretch a defense, as well as incredible hands and a tremendous vertical. As a sophomore, Green caught 75 passes for 1,422 yards (19 yards per catch) and 16 touchdowns. He led Summerville to the Big 16 state final and was named to The Associated Press All-State team for the second consecutive season. He hauled in 57 passes for 1,217 yards and eight touchdowns as a freshman.
Class of 2008 Preseason Rankings
Rank Name School Pos. Ht. Wt.
1 A.J. Green Summerville (Summerville, S.C.) WR 6-4 190
2 Justin Johnson Gilmer (Gilmer, Texas) RB 6-1 210
3 D.J. Shoemate Servite (Anaheim, Calif.) WR 6-1 205
4 Darius Barksdale South Panola (Batesville, Miss.) DB 6-2 190
5 Will Hill St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City, N.J.) DB 6-2 190
6 Marcus Forston Northwestern (Miami, Fla.) DL 6-3 290
7 Kenny Tate DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) WR 6-3 180
8 A.J. Harmon Jefferson County (Louisville, Ga.) DL 6-5 300
9 Aldarius Johnson Northwestern (Miami, Fla.) WR 6-3 190
10 Maurice Simmons Dominguez (Compton, Calif.) LB 6-1 190
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/highschool/08/04/top10.football08/index.html