Blanton is reported to be a STRONG Irish lean if not a silent commit. He has told the coaches at VT as much.

No silents this year per Charlie! Good news though if true. Go Irish!

Im okay with a strong Irish lean.

Where did you hear that subway?

Where did you hear that subway?

 

No, I think he heard it at Quiznos.

HelniND Flew over my head for five seconds

Maybe VT will bribe him with a few Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyake subs

No silents this year per Charlie! Good news though if true. Go Irish!

 

I think that a silent is okay. But, the condition (as with a public one) is that you can't talk to other schools during that time.

 

I actually suspect that there will be some silents as we get into the season. That way, we can have a couple of announcements at the AA game.

I think that a silent is okay. But, the condition (as with a public one) is that you can't talk to other schools during that time.

 

I actually suspect that there will be some silents as we get into the season. That way, we can have a couple of announcements at the AA game.

 

This has become a bit of a ritual for me, but I'll post it again anyways.

 

From Charlie Weis's 2007 Signing Day Press Conference:

 

No soft verbals, no silent verbals, no quiet verbals, okay? Either you're committed or you're not committed.

Football Signing Day Press Conference Transcript

 

Its the response to the 9th question asked, if you want the whole thing.

We'll see. I think that there are strategic reasons for silent verbals.

 

While I understand what Charlie said, there are always exceptions.

We'll see. I think that there are strategic reasons for silent verbals.

 

While I understand what Charlie said, there are always exceptions.

 

I know what you mean, but I wouldn't expect those exceptions to come any time soon, particularly this year. The Arrelious Benn fiasco is still fresh in his mind. From both a PR perspective, as well as a personal one, Weis really wants to avoid more shenanigans like that.

 

He might be more willing to listen and believe if a kid stops visiting or talking to other schools when he says, "I'd like to silently verbal to ND", but Weis won't rely on that verbal no matter what IMO. He's a pretty proud guy, so being caught in a compromising position is the last thing he's willing to risk again. From my perspective, I think Weis feels that the risks of a blow up like he had last year outweigh the rewards of a televised AAA commit.

 

But in his response, he did indicate that the whole topic is a topic that he and Ianello are subject to revisits and modifications, depending on what new experiences they have. So your idea isn't completely baseless or anything like that.

ND's already had silent commits this year, I think people are taking Weis words out of contex. I don't think he will except a silent commit now and have the person commit at the AAA game or the signing day but Fleming committed weeks before announcing as did Crist.

 

I don't think he minds a silemt verbal if you tell him that they want to do it in few weeks and announce because of this or that reason but he won't do another Benn silent commit and allow kids to visit and whatnot.

Well... I don't think he minds hearing silent commit, but I just don't think he'll rely on it, and chalk it up as one on the board like he has in the past. He probably takes it as, "We really have an excellent shot to land this kid", but not as a verbal. Silent verbals allow kids to talk to other coaches, and take other visits, which is NOT in the definition of a verbal commitment - something Weis has made a strong point of emphasis. So... will he listen to a kid when they say they want to silently verbal? Yes. But will he take it as a commitment? Absolutely not. Its a subtle difference, but it means a lot.

 

I guess the way to sum it up is the way a kid behaves hasn't changed with silent verbals, just Weis's treatment of them.

Basically the kid tells Weis that he's going to choose ND, but won't announce it for a few weeks. He won't take visits during that period, which is allowed but if he is going to take any visits during that period then we will still be pursuing other guys at that position like usual.

Read this from a VT poster....

 

"Recent article states that he dosen't know where that rumor got started that he was goin to ND but it was completely false-He claims no favorites at this time."

 

---------Which makes more sense to me than a father giving his sons information out like that out of nowhere.

I think the off season recruit following is starting to get to me, when I'm thinking about the validity of some stepdad figure posting information about Robert Blanton's recruitment on an online forum... I think thats where I draw the line, or else I'm in too deep. I guess that makes IrishKnight a braver person than I...

 

We've got a great shot at Robert Blanton, no matter how you slice it. The coaching staff has made him a huge priority, and we're continually hearing good things as of consequence. Maybe its just that the ND fanbase is more vocal than others, but it seems to me that we're the lead dog for Blanton. But, it ain't over 'til its over, so we'll just have to wait this thing out.