Chat Transcript: Putting the Sam Hartman saga at Notre Dame in perspective
Eric Hansen: Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat, the "It was 70 yesterday but it snowed today" edition.
Some quick programming notes:
► If you missed the last episode of our aspiring-to-be-viral Notre Dame Football YouTube show, Football Never Sleeps, it keeps its shelf life long after the live presentation. We’re back in our normal Monday at 7 ET time slot. Remember, if you miss the live show, you can catch up anytime on YouTube.
► Tyler James and I will be back with a new podcast on Thursday. On our most recent Inside ND Sports Podcast, former Irish QB and two-sport player Evan Sharpley discussed his expectations for Riley Leonard, how a QB competition should be handled, if he would have transferred under today's rules, football futures for Tyler Buchner and Drew Pyne, what ND should learn from Sam Hartman transfer experience, how the staff can develop Kenny Minchey and CJ Carr this spring, the challenge of being a two-sport athlete, like Drayk Bowen and Jordan Faison, during the spring, and more. The podcast can be listened to via SoundCloud or on your preferred podcast platform including: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podbean and Pocket Casts.
► Finally, we’re in the midst of a busy football offseason at WSBT radio season, and Darin Pritchett and I are together this week Wednesday and Friday on Weekday SportsBeat (960 AM, live streaming at wsbtradio.com). The weekday shows run from 5-6 p.m. ET. You can download episodes as podcasts.
As far as this week's chat …
PLEASE include your NAME and HOMETOWN with your question(s).
Here are the rules, all being enforced today:
Eric Hansen: Let's get rolling.
Tim from St. Louis: Eric - Appreciate the chats. Think its by far the best ND experience/ Pod Cast available. For the first time in many years the Cardinals opening day pitcher may be hard to predict. Who do you think it will be? Now that the Sam Hartman experience has run its course from commitment to ND through the Senior Bowl (NFL draft/ free agent, pending) how would you put a bow on the whole thing ? What would NIL investors opinion be on the same experience, in your opinion ? Keep up the great work.
Eric Hansen: Hi Tim. Appreciate the baseball question, though you and I might be the only ones interested in the answer (Sonny Gray has been announced as the OD starter). ... But I love the question about Sam Hartman, and I think a lot of fans can relate to that. I think people will look back at Hartman perhaps differently as time goes by, but right now for a lot of fans it feels like the present you wanted for Christmas that ended up breaking and not being as cool as it looked on the commercial. That is not how I see him, however, and I get that I am in the minority. I really think Sam Hartman's hints that he would play in the bowl game and then reneging on that soured those who were not already disenchanted. If he does not latch on and eventually do well in the NFL, that will color his story as well. For me, he was the right QB at the right time, paired with an inexperienced offensive coordinator who wasn't ready for that pairing. His positive influence on young QBs Steve Angeli and Kenny Minchey, their development and their work habits is tangible.
His leadership met and exceeded Notre Dame's standards. He actually had very good numbers, just didn't deliver the storybook narrative, and again that's not all on him. It's interesting to me, because it's really tamped down expectations for Riley Leonard, and that's not necessarily a bad thing for Riley. Again the way he departed made him feel like a mercenary, and I do think that's unfair. I think he was all in for Notre Dame. And I think he was worth the investment.
Rich from Key West: It appears to me like there will be substantial pressure on the starting defensive ends early in the season to produce. I can't see the coaching staff being very patient with the starters if they are in their last year of eligibility and not coming thru with the desired results. Do you think the day one starters will still be getting the lion’s share of the minutes by the time mid season rolls around?
Eric Hansen: Hi Rich, Notre Dame is likely to play deep rotations at both defensive end positions. If there was not the belief that Jordan Botelho would likely continue to grow and improve, he wouldn't have been invited back. And if the Irish didn't think Duke transfer RJ Oben had the potential to give ND something similar to what it got from Javontae Jean-Baptiste last season, they would have left him in the portal. At the same time, there are some intriguing young players who could push for larger roles. So it's not about impatience. It's about developing the depth and competitive atmosphere and then flexing that depth on game day,
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Tom from Boston, Mass.: Hi Eric, happy chat day. My question is that with Loghan Thomas coming in at around 200 pounds and having experience at LB from his HS tape, do you anticipate him beginning his career in the LB room and potentially growing into an edge rusher? The kid has a good motor and i feel he offers versatility but wondering where you stand on this one?
Eric Hansen: Hi Tom. I did a story on Loghan Thomas recently that will give you more depth on what you've asked. ... Freshman DE Loghan Thomas sizing up his path to playing time at Notre Dame ... But no, Thomas has already put on some good weight and hopes to be at 230 by the time the season starts. He is working with the vyper ends, not the linebackers.
Dave from DC: Hi Eric, are the 2024 transfers who aren't technically enrolled at Notre Dame yet - like Beaux Collins - permitted to practice with the team this Spring?
Eric Hansen: Hi Dave, Beaux Collins (Clemson) and Rod Heard II (Northwestern) are both living in South Bend, Ind., this spring while completing their degree work at their respective schools remotely. They CANNOT practice with the team this spring in the formal 15 spring practices, including the Blue-Gold Game. Nor can they participate in team lifts, etc. What they CAN do is watch practices, lift and have access to the strength staff on non-team lifting times, attend team meetings and work out informally with teammates on their own time, watch film on their own time.
Patrick, Fort Wayne, IN: Good afternoon Eric. Northern Indiana is in full February swing with Tuesday's high temp at 70 and snow overnight. On a recent Inside Sports podcast, Tom Lemming was not overly impressed with Deuce Knight and the all the hype he has received. I noticed ND aggressively recruiting a top 2026 high school QB. What do you make of Deuce Knight's evaluation and ND's pursuit of Brady Smigiel?
Eric Hansen: Hi Patrick. I'm not sure I completely agree with your assessment of what Tom Lemming said about Deuce Knight on the podcast. Having has many conversations with Tom about Deuce outside the podcast, I feel comfortable that Tom believes Deuce Knight, ND's 2025 QB commitment, has plenty of talent, but he didn't necessarily show it to the full extent last season in which Knight split the season between two high school teams in two states. So he does believe Knight is raw and needs a good year of development in his senior season. I think that's a fair assessment. Great athlete who needs to channel that into actual consistent production. As far as the 2026 group and Brady Smigiel, I like that Notre Dame has cast a wider net with the 2026 group, but that Brady is included and there's already some relationship-building going on there. I know Rivals right now has him as the top QB prospect in the 2026 class at the moment with a lot of evaluations ahead.
Ray from Dallas: Eric - Longtime reader of your chat transcripts but my first question. I have been reading about the possible playoff scenarios after the ’25 season. One had it expanding to 14 teams with some number of guaranteed slots for the BIG and SEC and the elimination of conference championship games. I can't visualize how 14 teams would work. At least not very well. I can easily visualize how 16 teams would work with no conference championship games. Also, with 16 teams, I don't know why the BIG and SEC would need guaranteed slots, especially with 16 playoff teams. If playoff teams are selected based on rankings they would probably each have about 4 playoff teams anyway. I realize this is all far out speculation at this point but I'd like to hear your thoughts.
Eric Hansen: Hi Ray. Thanks for lurking and reading all these years and for taking the plunge and asking a question. And it's a good one. Feel free to ignore the "no bare feet" rule this week. .... Yes, you're right about some of the talking points that have surfaced with the playoff format beginning in the 2026 season. We're apparently set for 2024 and 2025. For me the way a 14-team playoff would work, and this is me speculating, is giving the top two seeds byes and then everyone else has a first-round game. So 3 vs. 14, 4 vs. 13, 5-12, 6-11, 7-10, 8-9. ... I think adding a round would not pass and would be bad for college football. Say giving some teams a double-bye as they do in some of the postseason conference basketball tournaments.
I think 14 teams only make sense if the Big Ten/SEC are going to get their way with a power play of having four automatic qualifiers each. And I don't like that idea at all. You're right. In most years, those leagues would get four teams each in a 14-team field on merit. But last year would not have been one of those years. The fourth Big Ten team was Iowa, No. 24 in the final CFP rankings and vastly overrated at that. That's messed up. I don't think the SEC and Big Ten can pull that off at this time. I'd like to see the playoff stay at 12. Let's have a couple at that number before changing the format and the number of teams.
Tom from Toronto: (On tdy at Nokomis Florida) Hi Eric, looking back a number of years, Dan Devine won his national championship in year 3, as did Lou Holtz. While those were voted on by the media, and things have changed, it is interesting to note that this coming year is Marcus Freeman's third. He has surrounded himself with a strong coaching and support staff, and has recruited a strong team. All things being equal, if the stars align and ND can avoid a wonky loss, do you think that it is reasonably possible that Coach Freeman can pull it off this year? I have to say that the quality of the questions that you are getting in the chats keeps improving as does the quality of your answers and insights. I learn more and more each chat. Thank you again for your excellent work and to the chatters for theirs.
Eric Hansen: Tom, the Florida weather agrees with you. I'll give you an A+ on the compliments. Yes, year three has been a telling year both ways for Notre Dame coaches. From the advent of the AP rankings Era (1936-present), you have Frank Leahy winning a national title in year 3 (1943), Terry Brennan going 2-8 in year 3 (1956), Joe Kuharich 5-5 in 1961, Ara a national title in 1964, Dan Devine a national title in 1977, Gerry Faust 7-5 in 1983, Lou Holtz national title in 1988, Bob Davie 5-7 in 1999, Tyrone Willingham 6-6 in 2004, Charlie Weis 3-9 in 2007 and Brian Kelly played for a national title and went 12-1 in 2012.
So, there's no ambiguity about what Year 3 signifies for a Notre Dame head football coach. Now do the new dynamics — NIL, transfer portal, etc., affect the timeline? Maybe. Can/will Notre Dame win one this year. If either one of us predicted that, everyone would assume we did that after attending Happy Hour. Can ND? If the Irish did, it would be like 2012, where it was a big surprise and all the tumblers would have to line up perfectly. I do think making the playoff and winning a playoff game is a realistic goal/dream/prediction/expectation.
Len from the Jersey Shore: Hello Eric! We don't want either of these spins whomever the starting QB at ND is in 2024. Don't sign with ND out of High School as they will always take a starting QB from the portal Or, just as bad, don't go to ND thru the portal because you may not start and you might lose that year of eligibility. How does CMF have the spin be, we have a competition at all positions including QB and the best candidate for QB will be named to start. Thanks for hosting Eric!!
Eric Hansen: Hi Len. I must be undercaffeinated today, because I'm not completely clear on what your question is, but let me take a stab at it. The fears that Notre Dame has wrecked high school quarterback recruiting by its participation in transfer portal QBs isn't supported by what is actually happening in recruiting. Notre Dame signed CJ Carr, it's first top 50 overall Rivals prospect at the QB position since Brian Kelly signed Gunner Kiel in the 2012 cycle. They're in the process of stacking three Rivals250 QBs in three straight classes, Kenny Minchey-CJ Carr-Deuce Knight, something that never happened during the Brian Kelly Era.
And ND has been received tremendously so far by the top-tier 2026 quarterbacks. So Marcus Freeman's spin is the same as his reality. The best player will play. And if you don't want to compete, Notre Dame isn't the right place for you. But the thought and goal right now is that the Irish will not have to go back to the portal for a potential starter in the next cycle. I think that's realistic.
Marie from Atlanta: Hi Eric, I hope you’re having a great week. With the recent ruling last week, which is allowing student athletes to openly negotiate with collectives, now that it would no longer technically be illegal. Do you see Notre Dame collectives such as the FUND upping the ante and competing with some of these other schools that are utilizing pay for play for recruits? Also, do you think this is just a start down a path which will ultimately lead to athletes being employees? If that is the case, what do you think the timeframe would be before that would happen? With Spring practice right around the corner, can you pick one player on offense on one player on defense that absolutely no one is talking about that could surprise all of us? As always thanks for hosting the chat and all your great insights.
Eric Hansen: Hi Marie. I should have mentioned this with an earlier question. We're going to have Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com on the podcast Thursday and do a deeper dive into some of these national issues, including the playoff and the things you're asking about, so it might be worth tuning in for. ... These are great questions that have complicated answers. I will try to simplify my thoughts. Both what's going on with the NCAA not being allowed to enforce its own rules and what's been going on with the National Labor Relations Board are both pushing for more dramatic changes to the amateur sports model, though they are on two different tracks. But let me address your upping-the-ante question. What we have been seeing nationally this year as opposed to the previous cycle is few schools being willing to invest widely on incoming freshmen and more willing to invest in proven transfer portal players. Both have the potential to lead to abuses, including players being openly recruited off someone else's roster.
Again, the podcast may provide you with more detail and clarity, but in my opinion no one really knows exactly how this will play out. Or when. ... A player no one is talking about? Does that even exist at Notre Dame? 😂 OK I am going to dig very deep and say WR Micah Gilbert on offense and LB Kahanu Kia on defense. Thanks for another round of great questions.
Tony from Lake Mary, Fla.: Hey Eric. Glad to hear you have gotten some spring-like weather in SB. Maybe Punxatawney Phil was right? One quick question and one comment. I assume that with Al Golden signing the extension that he would still be interested in the right HC or NFL DC if it came along? And I have really appreciated Charleston Bowles' coverage and articles. His stories are well written and his recruiting coverage is clear and concise. I wanted to make sure you got that feedback.
Eric Hansen: Hi Tony. Thanks so much for the feedback with Charleston. He has been great for us, and is very quiet and humble, and I'll make sure he knows how you feel. ... I am thrilled with the weather here, even with the roller coaster effect this week. We'll be back to springlike temps this weekend ... I think if Al Golden was going to leave for another job at some point, it's much more likely to be an NFL job than a college head coaching job at this stage of his life. Typically, when you sign an extension, the contract is easier and less expensive for either side to vacate the closer it is to its conclusion. So there's no guarantee he would stay all four years, but I don't think his intention at this point is to go shopping for a new job next winter, if that's what you're asking.
Ryan from Mars, Pa.: Good Afternoon Eric which running backs will do The best with Audric going to the nfl i think Payne love and Price will have a Good Season coming up Go IRISH ☘️☘️🏈🏈
Eric Hansen: I think the four RBs who will likely have the more defined roles coming out of spring -- out of the six who will participate in spring practice are Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price, Gi'Bran Payne and Kedren Young, and in that order. I think Love and Price's reps will be a much more equitable split than say last year at the top of the depth chart, kind of like the 2022 rep split between Audric Estimé and Logan Diggs.
Griggs from Dallas, Texas: Hi Eric, with the two '24 backs early enrolling and adding to the absolute stable of talent at the position, do you envision any transfers or are you confident in there being a way to keep everyone involved, engaged, and encouraged given the sheer volume of talented, young studs in the room. An excellent and unfamiliar problem* to have at ND!
Eric Hansen: Hi Griggs. I've stopped being surprised at transfers. Notre Dame is over the limit on scholarships and may yet add players after spring, so there is going to be post-spring attrition at some positions. That's already baked in. If anyone can make that many running backs happy, it's Deland McCullough. The RB who does not have a clearly defined role is sixth-year grad Devyn Ford. He is highly valued on special teams, and that might be a big enough role to make him happy.
Sean from Portland, Ore.: NDFB has a huge 2025 recruiting class comparatively to other schools. Deuce Knight being courted strongly by SEC schools... ND seems to do pretty well at identifying 3 star/low 4 star recruits that will eventually be bumped up. Talk me off the ledge though: It feels like this class is ripe to getting poached by schools with lower NIL ethical standards... some of these kids seemed bound to leave via other schools throwing bags at them. Am I totally wrong?
Eric Hansen: Hi Sean. Poaching has been going on, both ND doing the poaching and getting poached, since before my hair was completely jet black. Actually, in the Brian Kelly Era, ND typically came out ahead over time in that area. I think this particular coaching staff learned from the 2022 cycle and has a better read on kids who want to use ND as a place-holder and ND is less willing (or not willing at all) to take a commitment from a player like that. That doesn't mean ND won't lose another player to decommitment, but I think they've done a good job of mitigating and minimizing the frequency of that happening.
Aaron from Washington, D.C.: Hi Eric, thanks for today's chat. If I understood Mike Denbrock correctly, I think he said that he intends to utilize more frequent 11 personnel to create increased situations where he's getting the ball in playmakers hands. It seems to me that Notre Dame has seen a good amount of success with 12 personnel -- both to support the running game and in the passing game because of the high talent level at tight end. What do you think about this shift to more 11 personnel? Wouldn't that require a learning curve for the offensive line and receivers to support the running game with less tight ends? It could be a difficult transition with a number of new offensive line starters this year. Should we infer that we will likely see less of Notre Dame's talented tight end depth regularly on the field?
Eric Hansen: Hi Aaron. I did not hear him say that or interpret what he said as such. What I did hear him say was how he has a greater appreciation of finding mismatches with heavier wide receiver sets and how that can work in concert with an effective running game. So in essence, he wants to do both and be good at both and not be hamstrung by an undying commitment to 12 personnel when an opposing team's weakness can best be exposed by 11 or even 10 personnel in a particular game or situation within a game. I think this is an enlightened way of thinking, and something that would have benefited Notre Dame in some of its games last season.
Sean from Portland, Ore.: Thanks for the answer to the previous question. I have a follow-up: With as big as the 2025 class is now... and the number of potential targets still on the board that I am hearing about... Is there potential for the later commits to cause a numbers issue for the class in total? Would ND ask some players to decommit, depending on the numbers?
Eric Hansen: No, ND would not take a commitment and then intentionally recruit over a kid. Sometimes it's hard for me to answer these questions, because I'm not sure what people are hearing and from where. There's a lot of garbage out there. So from what I know, I don't see the numbers crunch you are perceiving. It's not like ND is recruiting positions that are already "full."
Domer Bob from Oak Brook, Ill.: Both Tom Lemming & I have done extensive research on WR LEX CYRUS--he consistently runs 4.3/40s & 4.4/40s-quite possibly THE FASTEST HS FB PLAYER in the entire nation--we have been pushing ND to definitely take CYRUS----Your thoughts & comments,please.
Eric Hansen: Hi Bob. Tom Lemming — a longtime and respected recruiting analyst — and I have discussed Lex Cyrus and Tom's affinity for him. He does have an offer from ND. Right now, he's a three-star recruit and ranked as the No. 69 wide receiver in the class. Given who has already committed and who's at the top of ND's board, I don't think Lex is being prioritized as this time. Obviously, things can change. Will Fuller was a three-star recruit for almost his entire recruitment and at one time committed to Penn State before getting a late ratings bump and committing to ND. Elite speed doesn't always transfer to elite production. I trust Tom's opinion, and we'll see how this plays out long term.
Ray from West Michigan: Greetings Eric! I’m sorry that my question got cut off last week, and I missed your note to complete it, because my day job called me away from the chat. Lol Here’s the question, hopefully in full: I totally get that so much of college football success, i.e. winning a natty (and better yet) building a dynasty involves getting all the best pieces on the chessboard. That includes culture, recruitment, facilities, coaches, etc. it’s like the functional equivalent of building an army. As a fan on the outside looking in, it looks to me like CMF is accomplishing just that. I like the direction the program is going. My question, however, goes to CMF’s lack of experience in “big games” and the impact that in game decision making can affect and separate the merely good head coaches from the great ones. Coach Dan Campbell from the Lions made some aggressive and thus costly decisions this season, and therefore was much second guessed afterwards.
Lou Holtz ( seasoned coach when at ND) seemed to always push the right button and lorded his full control during a game. Saban always seemed to be a savant during games. The list goes on… In light of this dynamic, my question to your is two-fold, 1) what is your grade so far for CMF so far as making big decisions in the middle of big games, and 2) are you aware of any effort by CMF to raise his own football IQ as it relates to in-game decisions? In other words, is CMF somehow working on his “chess game?” I personally feel like CMF has come a long way from his deer in the headlights looks vs Oklahoma State in his debut, but to me this factor was the big wild card in his hire as an inexperienced coach. Inquiring minds appreciate your opinion and perspective. Keep up the good work!
Eric Hansen: Hi Ray. Thanks for resubmitting the question, this time in its entirety. I'll cut right to your questions. I think Marcus Freeman's in-game decisions are kind of what you would expect from a head coach learning on the job in the glare of the biggest spotlight in college sports. The moment has never been too big for him, and yet there have been decision that reflect not having a point of reference to lean into. I do believe he learns quickly from both mistakes and successes and that accelerates his learning curve. So if you're looking for a letter grade, I'd say C+ with optimism that grade will continue to rise in season 3. As far as your second question, Marcus Freeman is refreshingly self-reflective and extremely open to researching, learning, talking about ways to improve that aspect of his coaching. And surrounding himself with assistant coaches like Mike Denbrock and Al Golden are only going to enhance that process.
Dave from DC: Is Rocco Spindler expected to participate in Spring practice without restrictions?
Eric Hansen: I believe that's what will happen, but we'll know for sure next week.
John from Sacramento, Calife.: Thanks Eric. Love to read chat transcript. One bucket list left. ND and USC in South Bend. Wished I could have done it sooner. When CFB Hall of Fame was still there.
Eric Hansen: Hi John. I assume you're doing that in 2025? If so, congrats. And thanks for putting up with me in these chats and in the transcripts.
Pat from Wilmington, DE: Silly questions while watching the silly NBA All Star Weekend. Who on the current roster wins a dunk contest? I'll pick Leonard, Raridon and Morrison as top contenders. … Also there's been a few football and spring sport athletes but was John Carlson the last guy to do both FB and BB (Joey Brooks?). If the seasons didn't overlap, any other players of recent vintage that could have hung around Purcell as a 12th man. Hamilton and Claypool come to mind and maybe Kyle Rudolph and McGlinchey as rebounders?
Eric Hansen: Hi Pat, not silly at all for late February. Generally, I have a pretty good feel about who at least THINKS they are elite basketball players. I know which ones excelled in high school, but a dunk contest is different. I think you came up with some good ones. Off the top of my head, I'd add Aamil Wagner. Tosh Baker was on a DI basketball tract for a while and he's 6-8 so ... And Deion Colzie is a very good basketball player and elite high jumper, in track, so I'd bet on him. I'll have to ask around to see what the players think.
Everett Golson and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah are two who come to mind who could have played DI. Golson even talked to Mike Brey about it, but it never happened. I think you came up with some good examples.
Myliah from El Cerrito, Calif.: Hi Eric, thank you for your continued live chats during the football doldrums. Last week, you commented on a couple of two-sport athletes, Faison and Bowen. Lacrosse and baseball seem like reasonable crossover sports (and, of course, there are past precedents with ND football), but have you seen any more unusual ones at ND? I heard a rumor of a swimmer that tried out as a WR but didn't make it due to an injury sustained in practice... And I often think of Braves pitcher Tom Glavine, who was also an excellent hockey player. Any basketballers make it as TEs? Any edge players with a wicked golf swing? (I seem to remember Kyle Hamilton being good at golf) How about a fencer in the slot?
Eric Hansen: Myliah, love the question and similar in spirit to the one right ahead of it. The one things we're seeing a lot of recently are players with really strong lacrosse backgrounds, either putting lacrosse behind them or aspiring to play both. Track was a natural crossover, and was quite prevalent during the Holtz Era. Shane Walton. of course, game from the Irish soccer team and a non-kicker and evolved into an All-America cornerback. The year-round commitment that college sports requite nowadays makes it harder, but not impossible, for these storylines to emerge, I'll have to do some more research. Thanks again for the idea.
Mike from Rockville, Md.: Hi, Eric, and thanks as always for these chats! I often hear that ND coaches spend the off-season visiting other schools/teams to exchange ideas. Do you know if that happened this year? If so, where did they go?
Eric Hansen: Hi Mike. They usually do those in the summertime. If/when they do this summer. I'll be happy to share.
Larry from Topton, Pa.: I have heard several experts (I believe you and Tyler included) express an opinion that a 10-2 ND team may not qualify for the playoffs this year, and anything short of a playoff berth would be a failure (or at least a disappointment). I bet there are ~20 teams that feel the same way, which means there will be plenty of unhappy fans spread throughout the country. That all makes the season opener at Texas A&M even more critical. It seems to me that many Irish fans are taking that first game for granted. And I recently listened to your discussion with Carter Karels who was pretty, pretty, pretty confident in the A&M outlook... Add to it that Vegas lists A&M as the (slight) early favorites for that game, plus we are all aware of the ND road woes last season. Can you offer us any way-too-early keys to the game, that would offer us fans some ND optimism for that game? Thank you for all of your (and your team’s) audio and written coverage during the offseason (we know that Football Never Sleeps).
Eric Hansen: Hi Larry. … Thanks for the compliments and the plugs. … The thing Notre Dame fans should feel good about is the state of the defense. The Irish should be good enough on that side of the ball this season to KEEP them in every game. Not necessarily win every game, but give them a chance to win every game, including Texas A&M. There is a lot of work to be done on offense this spring, summer and in fall camp. The fact that Notre Dame invested in a coordinator the caliber of Mike Denbrock changes the ceiling of what that might have looked like under a second season of Gerad Parker. So there's optimism there will be meaningful growth and development on that side of the ball. None of that's guaranteed, but there's reasonable hope it will.
Denny from Beaverton, Ore.: Hi Eric; Coach Freeman has been head coach for two years now and has learned a tremendous amount about leading a high profile program like Notre Dame. What has impressed you the most about how he has performed during this time and conversely has he had, in your opinion, a blind spot that he is learning to overcome? From my perspective far away, I don't see his ego getting in the way of trying to honestly evaluate himself and the program. On the other hand I wonder if he, like his predecessor, has difficulty replacing someone he has hired. I realize This last point is not completely fair to Coach Freeman as he has only been there a couple years.
Eric Hansen: Hi Denny. Yep, only been here two years and he fired WRs coach Chansi Stuckey after one, so I don't see that as a valid observation of hanging onto someone too long. What has impressed me the most are two things, how involved his is in recruiting and how he's been able to adapt quickly to incredibly drastic changes in the amateur sports model. Blind spot? I'd say too much reliance on analytics, and yet I think he knows that.
Jules from Joliet, Ill.: Good day, Sir. Coach Mickens will now be coaching all of the defensive backs. I assume that he will have a GA or two to assist him. Has that position been filled? If not, are there any candidates that you know of? Thank you.
Eric Hansen: Good day, Jules. I'll let Marcus Freeman spell that out for us a week from Thursday, We're hearing special teams coach Marty Biagi might be involved as well.
Ced Walker from Saginaw, Mich.: saginaw pride who do u see being the biggest surprised on offense or defense during spring practice here come the irish trust the process the golden standard rally we are nd god country go irish love thee notre dame our mother pray for us
Eric Hansen: Hi Ced. I gave Marie a couple of surprise players who were more long shots, because that's what she's asked for. For just run-of-the-mill surprises, I'll stick with what I've been saying -- Luke Talich at safety on defense and Aamil Wagner at tackle on offense.
Eric Hansen: OK, that's going to do it for this week. Thanks for all the great questions. Spring practice starts March 7, a week from Thursday. We'll be back to chat the day before that on Wednesday at noon ET.
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