All Things Notre Dame - The Clashmore Mike Memorial Thread

[iam416]

The OSU "insider" says it's dinner tonight with the Deckers and UFM, then OV day tomorrow with dinner at Eddie George's with the other OVs. That info, I personally believe is 100% accurate. There's zero, I mean zero, question he's visiting at least tomorrow.

but in the end, it's a testament to UFM being a MFer in recruiting. So be it...Kelly got caught with his pants down...it happens...but it better not happen again.

It's a testament to a perfect confluence of events f'n ND. Nothing more, nothing less. You know the story; I know the story. This isn't some sort of voodoo bullshit by UFM; this UFM fully capitalizing on the advantage he was given. That's it.

And -- look -- if he loses a coordinator that is primarily responsible for a kid's recruitment to the school that is probably the kid's 2nd choice -- it very well may happen again. That's just bad luck.

[WM Wolverine]

Decker is another guy that should've been OSU's all along, like Pittman.

[iam416]

Pittman and Kalis should have been Buckeyes all along. Decker and Dodson probably would have, BUT the old staff F'd up their recruitment and may have not offered. UFM had a lot of ground to make up with Decker-far closer to Kalis than Pittman. That's why I'll hold back celebrating until he actually commits.

[Clashmore Mike]

Go ahead and celebrate...

I saw that D. Neal didn't commit and plans on taking the balance of his visits...someone said he may not make a decision until March.

[iam416]

Neal is the only I haven't read anything on, yet. The other 3 either did commit or would have (Perkins, IMO, does not have a "commitable" offer -- and OSU will take Jamal Marcus ahead of him if they can land him).

Neal, though, is still out there. I doubt UFM is waiting until March for a commit, though. So, if that's his story, that doesn't look good for OSU.

[iam416]

So, this my Neal update. The coaches are going to Arizona tonight to meet with him tomorrow. They're scheduled to go to Virginia to meet with Caleb on Thursday. Strikes me as a rather obvious Plan A/B thing.

[Clashmore Mike]

The bit about Neal and March comes from his father. The quote is as follows:

“He didn’t commit to Ohio State,” Luke Neal said. “He’s not going to commit to anyone yet.”

In fact the recruiting process is not even half over for Neal.

“We got started on the process a little later than most,” Luke Neal said. “So he probably won’t commit to anyone until March.”

“He has three more pending,” Luke Neal said. “He goes to Arkansas this Friday. Then he will take visits Jan. 27 and Feb. 3. One of them will be North Carolina. We are trying to figure out the other one.”

[Clashmore Mike]

ND boards were in melt-down mode last night and this morning...but...like the class full of 3rd graders that recruiting does to CFB fans...there is all kinds of excitement in the air.

The Armstead brother transferring from USC was on campus last night, and supposedly had a tremendous visit. Word had it that Cal was in the lead here with Auburn also a competitor...but ND just got a potentially huge boost from Sarkisian at UW, who has raided the Cal coaching staff...including the DL coach.

Far less likely, but every bit as exciting, is the rumor that Gunner Kiel is in a car driving North to South Bend. The rumor goes that fallout from the MNC title loss at LSU has been disconcerting enough that Kiel is questioning stability.

I have very little faith in the 2nd rumor...

[iam416]

Yeah, I know what Neal's father says. Eh, we'll see. I'd be shocked if waited until March.

Armstead is great news for ND. That seems like it probably has legs. Kiel, eh...hard to say. If he's having a change of heart -- which won't be the first -- he'll want to stay in the Midwest.

[Clashmore Mike]

Kiel, eh...hard to say. If he's having a change of heart -- which won't be the first -- he'll want to stay in the Midwest.

Well we're getting past the smoke and into the fire. Per Mike Farrell, Kiel will be coming to ND.

https://twitter.com/#!/rivalsmike

Huge momentum swing for us...but makes me nervous...I think this kid might be a head case. Regardless, it's a huge boost in terms of the last week. May help us out for Agholor and/or Neal.

Armisteads to decide tonight.

[iam416]

Watch what they do, not what they say. A visit from Kiel is a big deal.

[UMStan White]

It was reported here in Indy that Kiel had already started classes at LSU. It was also reported that his brother left IU. Kid does seem to have issues.

[UMStan White]

According to the latest reports, he plans to enroll at ND tomorrow. Great get by ND but I'd be concerned about a guy who committed to two other schools and then changed his mind a third time. THe Kiel brothers are beginning to look a lot like the Forcier brothers.

[Clashmore Mike]

I hear you Stan...and don't necessarily disagree. Regardless, QB is not at all a position of need with this class. The positive here is the timing...like I said upthread. ND had lost 2 of its top six recruits in the last ten days. All other circumstances aside...and on top of a two game losing streak...that stinks of meltdown. Certainly competing coaches are going to frame it that way.

Pulling a five star QB is never a bad thing....if Kiel helps us with some WRs and/or some OL in closing out strong...then meltsdown in spring practice...it's still a boost for us.

[iam416]

It's a great pull, though I don't really see it helping pull others. Still, that's a great way to stem the tide, for sure. Congrats, Clash.