Eric Hansen: Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat, yes-wind-chill-factor-is-a-thing 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 this week and next week. Remember, if you miss the live show, you can catch up anytime on YouTube. And if you missed the special Saturday ND Football recruiting version, you can catch up here.
► The Inside ND Sports Podcast will drop this Wednesday, and will have a transfer portal focus. The podcast can be listened to via SoundCloud or on your preferred podcast platform including: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podbean and Pocket Casts.
Related Content
► Notre Dame football DC Al Golden becomes Broyles Award finalist
► ESPN's 'College GameDay' will be live at Notre Dame before CFP opener
► Ranking Notre Dame football's 25 signees in 2025 class
► How Notre Dame and '24 CFP field stack up against '23 champs and each other
► Finally, at WSBT Sports Radio 96.1, we’re rolling toward Notre Dame’s College Football Playoff opener on Dec. 20. Darin Pritchett and I will be together on Wednesdays and Thursdays leading up to the game on Weekday SportsBeat (96.1 FM, 960 AM, live streaming at wsbtradio.com). The weekday shows run from 5-6 p.m. ET. I’m also part of the Gameday SportsBeat crew, and the pregame show that runs on Saturdays before every game. You can download all episodes, including the pregame shows, as podcasts.
As far as this week's chat …
PLEASE include your name and hometown along with your question(s).
Here are the rules ... typically:
Eric Hansen: They've been rescinded for the playoff run ... but the unwritten ones ... no whining, no 17-part questions, no manifestos will be strictly enforced.
OK off we go ...
Manny from San Pedro: Eric!!!!!!!! Playoffs!!!!!!!!!!! Do we anticipate any players entering the portal before the playoffs are done or will this happen only after ND is eliminated.
Eric Hansen: Manny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Playoffs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Really good question to get us started. So let's set the parameters of the portal cycles this offseason and then talk about how it applies and doesn't apply to the Irish. The transfer portal opened on Monday and will remain open until the end of the day on Dec. 28. There will also be a spring window of 10 days from April 16-25. For playoff teams, like Notre Dame, there will also be an additional five-day window if those teams are eliminated after Dec. 28. When the portal opened, the Irish had three players in it -- two of whom had been medical hardships and not on the active roster -- defensive linemen Aiden Gobaira and Tyson Ford. Also in the portal is CB Jaden Mickey who elected to opt out of the season after four games to preserve a redshirt year.
So what's next? I know head coach Marcus Freeman really wants the focus to be on the College Football Playoff and not the portal, so while there are some things going on behind the scenes, you will go word salads publicly when you ask about them and even a lot of those privately. The numbers of incoming players and outgoing players, based on expiring eligibility, don't align that there would be no additional transfers. Also, ND is going to be active in shopping and won't wait until after the CFP to get started. They have been scouting players and putting together a prospects list since July. The question is when would ND's outgoing players need to go public?
If ND wins Dec. 20 and advances, I still think that would be at a minimum. If the Irish win two playoff games and are set for a Jan. 9 semifinal, then it gets sticky. No keep in mind, players can do things through agents and third parties without actually being in the portal, but it can be difficult logistically. If their desire is to transfer to another school in time to start winter semester at that school, it gets dicey if ND reaches the semifinals. ND's own winter semester starts just days after the semifinal and a week before the national championship game. So the five-day window at that point might not work ... spring would be better. But again don't expect much news this week or next, either coming or going regarding ND.
Beau Harvey from Rockwood, Tenn.: With the loss of Riley Leonard after this year, not going into the portal for a QB for next season, and very much noticing it seems to be very beneficial to have a true dual threat QB if you want to win nowadays (not too many Trevor Lawrences around), is there a QB on this roster that has the same running ability as Riley Leonard, but with a better deep ball? Angeli seemed to have the better arm; he could escape the pocket, but not the level of Leonard. Carr and Minchey do not have enough college game film to base anything off. Hebert, again who knows. Who do YOU think will be the starter next year? Most think it's Carr's to lose, but I'm not sure yet what to think. Is Carr that much better than everyone on the roster?
Eric Hansen: HI Beau, and it's something I've given some thought to throughout the year. And you're right having a dual-threat skill set is a big plus if that QB is truly good at both. In terms of best runner among Steve Angeli, Kenny Minchey, CJ Carr and Blake Hebert, it's Minchey. And No. 2 is Tyler Buchner, who's on the roster as a wide receiver. But the other three are mobile enough that it doesn't hamstring what Mike Denbrock wants to do with the offense. As for who will be the 2025 starter, I would not rule out any of the three who are already here, but my pick is Carr. Is he the best at this moment? No, Angeli is. That's why he takes No. 2 reps in practice. Does Carr have the highest ceiling? Yes, I do think he does and maybe higher than anyone going back to the Charlie Weis Era.
CMHDomer: Eric: Howdy from a fellow (ancient) OSU J School alum. I have long admired your work. Question: I understand dire need for depth at CB next year, but given the raves you and others have voiced about Dallas Golden's two- way potential, I wonder if you think Denbrock et al should give him a serious look at field WR during the Spring?
CMHDomer: Eric: sorry, as my handle implies, I live in Columbus US OH.
Eric Hansen: CMH thanks, now I'm curious if you are more ancient than me. ... and thanks for the compliment. I don't anticipate that would be what the Irish do, but I don't think this is a silly question. I think how the roster fills out with the transfer portal will factor in, as will the progress of guys like Micah Gilbert, KK Smith, Logan Saldate and Cam Williams in winter workouts. I think he's the best recruit in the class, whether he plays corner, safety or wide receiver. But I do expect him to stay at corner.
John from Villa Park, Calif.: Thanks for your great coverage of ND football. I am reading a lot of analysts saying the first four byes should not be awarded to conference champions. Wasn’t this rule put in so ND would not be able to get a bye as an independent.? Do you think they will change it so ND could get a first round bye?
Eric Hansen: Hi John. The rule was put in place thinking there was going to be five strong Power 5 champs and maybe another good one from the Group of Five champs. So one of those Power 5 conferences wouldn't even get an automatic bid. What happened was realignment and the Big Ten and SEC having so much more resources and being so much better and deeper than the Big 12 and ACC ... and now there's no Pac-12 (yet the No. 1 team is a former Pac-12 team). Former ND athletic director Jack Swarbrick designed the 12-team playoff and lived with ND and non-conference champs having a ceiling at 5 seed to get a deal done and knowing those teams didn't have to play in a conference championship game. So, that's the why. Now where do they go from here?
My sense is that we'll see changes when all the contracts get reworked for the 2026 season, but perhaps even for 2025. But if the playoff moves to a 14-team format, and there's momentum for it, why not wait until 2026. In that format, just two teams get byes. I think that is a solution that will work for everyone.
Marie from Atlanta: Hi Eric, I hope you’re having a great week. You must be excited to be attending the first ever playoff game on a college campus. What are the key position group matchups that Notre Dame will need to win in order to be sure to defeat Indiana? Is there any particular position group where you feel Indiana has a significant advantage over ND? Can you name one player on offense and one player on defense that is a potential breakout player during the playoffs? I know this has come up in several chats/podcasts during the season and that you’ve run the numbers of the teams in the playoff pool, which teams does Notre Dame match up best with, and which teams are the worst matchup for Notre Dame? Finally, who’s in your Final Four and who are you picking to win it all? As always, thanks so much for hosting the chat and the great insights.
Eric Hansen: Hey Marie. If ND makes it all the way to the championship game, dinner in Atlanta for you and your family is on me. Thanks for your 'A; game questions. ... Let's start at the end and work backwards. My Final Four is Texas, Oregon, Boise State and ND. I have Oregon beating the Irish in the title game. I do not have any money bet on any of that, so please don't try this at home. ... The reason I have ND making it to the finals, is I think the teams they match up better with are on their side of the bracket. And I think the three toughest matchups, not the three best teams necessarily but three that line up numbers-wise as a challenge are Oregon, Ohio State and Tennessee in that order. I think Clemson would have been the most favorable first-round matchup.
As far as breakout players for ND ... if they haven't broken out yet, I'm not sure they will this year LOL, but let me name two players who must rise to the occasion and then two whose role/prowess might expand. The two musts -- Christian Gray at CB and Beaux Collins at WR. Two who I think will move more into the spotlight -- TE Mitchell Evans and going out on a limb here, but I think Jaylen Sneed can help with pass rush. ... Finally, ND needs to win on the line of scrimmage and I think that'll be the difference in the game. That's where IU had problems with Ohio State and Michigan.
And finally, is this a good week? Marie, I've covered national championship games and MBB Finals Fours and lots of other cool stuff and this 12-team playoff between the team I started my career covering and the one I cover now is as good as it gets.
Eric Hansen: Before we get to the next question ... here are the five finalists for the Broyles Award, which goes to the nation's top assistant coach:
ARIZONA STATE – Marcus Arroyo, Offensive Coordinator
INDIANA – Bryant Haines, Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers
NOTRE DAME – Al Golden, Defensive Coordinator
TENNESSEE – Tim Banks, Defensive Coordinator
TEXAS – Pete Kwiatkowski, Defensive Coordinator and Outside Linebackers
Len from the Jersey Shore: Hello Eric, and thanks for hosting. I have to admit I am looking forward to the 12 team playoff. I wasn't sure it would work at first. There are some ranking and seeding kinks to work out, and a bracket of 14 would eliminate an automatic high seed for lower ranked conferences. However, conferences landscape has changed dramatically. The SEC and BIG 10 should be considered TV money cartels, more than conferences. That being said here is a fun factoid. Going back to the days of a true Big 10, a Pac 10, a Big 8 and a Southwest conference the bracket would have the following. Big 8 no one; Southwest Conf. SMU, Texas ; ACC Clemson; SEC Georgia, Tennessee; Big 10 IU, Ohio St.; Pac 10 Oregon, ASU; Group of whatever Boise St; Independents (of which there were many teams) Penn St and Notre Dame. Only one zero and no conference with more than 2. When you remove the Cartels it becomes a fairly balanced field. No question and thanks for all the great coverage!!!!
Eric Hansen: Len, thanks for the factoid and for the exclamation points!!!! Can never get too many of those!
Jack from Strongsville, Ohio: Hi Eric. I must first say did you see that Rocky Colavito passed away yesterday. A great outfielder and slugger for the Indians in the 1950s and 1960s. My questions. How important is the home field advantage to the Irish in the playoff game? Of the 4 sites, South Bend, Austin, State College, and Columbus, which home team benefits the most by having the game on their campus? Thanks as always for your great work.
Eric Hansen: Hey there Jack. I had not heard about Rocky, and you know where I was born, so you know I know who that is. ... I think all four teams would be favored if you flipped the venues, but I do think it's a notable advantage and I would say Ohio State/Tennessee is the one where it would show up the most significantly, although if the Buckeyes get off to a slow start, the crowd in Columbus might boo both teams. ... and thank you!
Mark Czar from Grand Rapids, Mich.: Last year CJ Carr participated in bowl game practices. Will any early enrollees this year participate in playoff practices? With the possibility of multiple postseason games - that could be extensive practice time. CJ Carr was the first time I recall an early enrollee getting practice for bowl prep - new rule? EH you are the best.
Eric Hansen: Hi Mark. I don't think that will happen this December, though I believe QB Blake Hebert was trying to arrange his schedule to ATTEND some practices. It's a good question for me to ask Marcus on Sunday. Thanks for the idea and the kind words.
Pat from Bordentown, N.J.: Eric - Do you think Jack Swarbrick saw the chaos/uproar that giving byes to conference champs would cause and subtly pushed this on purpose to point out the lack of real importance of conference championships - I.e. Jack was playing chess while the rest were playing checkers? I’d like to think so and picture him sitting home with a bourbon by the fire laughing hysterically.
Eric Hansen: Hey Pat, well, he may be drinking bourbon today, and may have a fire going but not because of that. He was playing diplomat, which I think is more like Connect 4 than Chess.
Lorne from Reno, Nev.: Thanks, as always, for the chat. Lane Kiffin is right (hard as that is to say), opening the portal before bowl games is dumb. There are going to be some bowl games with badly depleted teams and likely some horrible games. But the idea is to allow players to transfer before the next semester and, you know, go to school. If you open the portal after the bowls, players won't be able to transfer until after the spring semester. Any thoughts on how to solve this issue?
Eric Hansen: Lorne, if I can solve this issue, I want NIL money for doing so! I do think the portal window opening for five days after a team is eliminated in any playoff or bowl game after Dec. 28 was a good move, but the rest of it I'm not sure can be solved without say labor laws and players unions and collective bargaining. Most kids want to get into a school for spring semester and want to take visits and make a good, sound decision. And if they wait too long, then they won't be able to transfer until the spring window and have more limited options. I think what will happen, especially if/when the playoff expands to 14 teams, is bowl games as we know them will start to wane. Maybe have a Group of Five tourney ... and/or like NIT for football?
Mike from Phoenix: Eric, 1st time watching of your podcast. Good stuff! Do you take any satisfaction from Iowa state losing 3 games as their fans weren’t happy with you for your early rankings of that fraud team? Indian held OSU to its lowest rushing output of the year. Was OSU without 1 or 2 OL starters for that game? Do you see a possible position change down the line for James Flanagan moving to the DL like his dad? Can ND use any player for the next 4 games and still maintain a redshirt? If so, do you see any players who have limited action so far being used in the playoff games? Cheers! Go IRISH!
Eric Hansen: Hi Mike. Thanks for watching Football Never Sleeps. We really enjoy putting that together. ... I do NOT take satisfaction from Iowa State's downfall. Most Iowa State fans I've come across are classy, know their football and know trolling an AP voter is not only a bad look for them and unproductive. But sometimes the trolls of your fanbase get the attention. ... Ohio State has had to reshuffle their O-line late in the season because of injuries, and I think that's where the Buckeyes are most vulnerable. ... I would be surprised if Flanigan flipped to defense. I think he can get in the mix for significant playing time at tight end as soon as next season. ... Yes, ND can use any player throughout its postseason run without burning a redshirt year. Yes, I think there will be some freshmen who could help on special teams coverage and return units.
Mike from Phoenix: Eric, additional question if I may. Number 1 concern is finals. ND has traditionally not played great ball during midterms. Any concern with finals? Thank you
Eric Hansen: I can't answer this is great detail yet, because I'm still tracking down some specifics, but with two weeks to prepare (ND only practiced once before knowing its opp, but lifted and conditioned that week) and the way practices and finals are being structured, to my understanding, it is not ideal but it the headaches are being minimized, if that makes sense.
Doug from Sunny Florida: Eric, normally bowl teams get 15 practices prior to the game. Is that rule the same for the playoff teams? How about playoff teams with a bye? Will first round playoff losing teams still be allowed full practices to continue afterwards?
Eric Hansen: Hi Doug. Eric from frigid Indiana but kind of sunny. .... The 15 practice mythology was just that. There was no written rule about 15 practices. Coaches often used that number, because they were trying to make a point about how valuable those practices could be and comparing it to spring practices, of which there are actually 15 ... unless there's a global pandemic. ... So how many do they get? What they can fit each week within the NCAA's 20-hour rules when school is in session. When it's not, that cap is lifted. So if ND advances to the quarterfinals, they could theoretically practice more.
But you have to balance that with the chance you may be playing four additional games and balance it with recovery and balance it with maybe less is more at certain times. Could teams practice after they're eliminated? It doesn't make sense to. No. They would not do that.
Gene from Wyckoff, N.J.: Eric, on the final exam front, my son is a sophomore at ND. Two nights ago he was at the library studying for finals and sent me a picture of Jeremiah Love two tables away, doing the same thing. His note to me was that it looks like the team is balancing workload just fine. Of course, my reply was "Love it!!! No pun intended".
Eric Hansen: Gene, thanks for chiming in. And so does that mean that if Love will conquer all, that means he did well on his exams? Ugh. Dad joke, sorry, and maybe not even rising to the level of a Dad joke.
Adam from Dayton, Ohio: Eric, Thanks for being the best. Super pumped/nervous for this playoff to start! A few questions. 1.) Big picture, I think it is clear Marcus Freeman has elevated recruiting. Still, I think it is fair to say there is another level that must be reached. Wide receiver, bigger defensive tackles, elite pass rushers, etc. Is there reason to think Marcus can get there still, or have the changes in college football essentially assured that Notre Dame will never reach the talent levels of the peak Holtz years? 2.) Playoff matchups. What issues does Indiana present, and where could they cause problems for ND? With Georgia looming large, where would you put them on the list as far as "bad" matchups? I.E., the teams that you would think, :man, not sure ND can get this done"?
Eric Hansen: Hey Adam, thank you for the compliment. I was in your city for Thanksgiving ... or at least a suburb of it. ... 1) I think it's reasonable to question/frown about the wide receiver and defensive line recruiting in this cycle, knowing that the star ratings may or may not align with what happens down the road. But I think there are two elements we must factor in on looking at talent acquisition in this day and age that is not congruent to the Holtz Era standard ,,, and that is transfer portal and player retention from your own roster. If you sign the No. 1 or 2 class and half those guys are gone in two years and it's the good half, then that matters a lot. Also think about the transfers on this year's team and how they impacted ND making the playoff, some more than others. Jordan Clark is someone you might not think of, but he's been huge. And in that sense, yes I do think ND is recruiting/getting transfers/retaining at a high enough level to compete for titles.
2) Indiana's passing game could be a challenge, just in how efficient and consistent it is. The Hoosiers don't make a lot of mistakes. Statistically they are very balanced on both sides of the ball. There's a lot to like about the Hoosiers. When I covered them, Indiana could get some elite players, just not in great numbers, so you tended to see them clustered on one side of the ball or the other (usually offense). With the portal, coach Cignetti was able to fill a lot of holes on both sides and some of them were his old players from James Madison. I've got another question coming up in a bit on Georgia, so let me take a deeper dive on the Bulldogs there.
Brian K from South Bend: Hi Eric!!!! I've heard your analysis on Georgia, key metrics and not fixating with the name on their jersey evaluating this year’s team. I don’t disagree with that, and I'm also a "numbers guy". Let's assume ND defeats IU and plays the Dawgs in the Sugar Bowl. What makes you optimistic ND's metrics would still match up well versus Georgia? Georgia’s run defense would give ND an advantage on paper. Texas also had an advantage on paper running & passing in the SEC Champ game. Georgia's dominant D won that game against a more talented team. Georgia’s coaching staff experience and talent level is still very dangerous (I assume you agree). But - Mike Denbrock’s calling plays, ND Left-side OL has been inconsistent, and Love/Price have run very strong all year along with Riley Leonard's contributions at QB. How would Coach Eric Hansen devise his game plan to use Georgia's strengths against them on D and formalize an opportunistic attack to win this CFP game? Thanks for entertaining this question.
Eric Hansen: Hi Brian. Not saying it would be easy, and Georgia's numbers are hard to put into context because of a couple of things ... the competition level they played (four wins against playoff teams, two losses to teams in the top 16) and the fact that maybe they can put it all together in the playoff and play to the level they were expected to. If ND does win, I'll handle this is great detail, but I'm happy to give you some key points today. Georgia's numbers are almost shocking. In the BCS/Playoff Era EVERY national champ has ranked in the top 25 in at least three of these statistical categories. Rush offense, pass efficiency, rush defense, total defense and turnover margin. How many does this Georgia team check? Zero. And even when you compare them to Georgia's own standards, they don't measure up. The first number listed is the 2024 Bulldogs, then 2023, 2022 national champs and 2021 national champs:
Rush offense: 98-20-19-36
Pass efficiency: 30-4-5-6
Rush defense: 36-18-1-2
Total defense: 25-9-9-2
Turnover margin: 62-43-65-49
Georgia got outrushed in both of its losses, to Alabama and Ole Miss decisively. It wasn't the only game they got outrushed. Ga Tech outrushed them 260-108 and took them to eight overtimes. Kentucky outrushed them 170-102 and lost 13-12. So it matters. And what does ND do as well or better than any team in the playoff field? Run the (damn) ball. 10th in rush offense, 3rd in yards per carry. Now Georgia has the coaches and athletes to try to scheme something up and put the pressure on ND's passing game to win... but ... Also Texas is one of the worst running teams in the field 64th. They're also very turnover-prone. Both things bit them in the SEC title game and in the first meeting between them.
Finally, ND's stress point is run defense. That may be where the Irish are most vulnerable, though Howard Cross III coming back helps a lot. And Georgia is the worst running team in the field. Trevor Etienne being healthy helps. And maybe having Gunner Stockton at QB gives them a run dimension with him that the Bulldogs didn't with Carson Beck, but they lose what Carson Beck does well. So, again NOT AN EASY TEAM by any means. They earned that No.2 ranking with the schedule they played. But it's not the Georgia team of 2021-23. Not yet, at least. … How much does the run game matter to ND? Marcus Freeman as a head coach is 27-3 when his team wins the rushing battle, including 10-0 this season. The Irish are 3-6 when they get outrushed under Freeman.
Patrick from Fort Wayne, Ind.: Good afternoon Eric, I have watched IU football on several occasions this season and have been impressed by their discipline and hard-hitting defense. Throughout the season, they displayed few weaknesses. However, they've had injuries on the offense line. Michigan and Ohio State exploited this vulnerability with pressure up the middle that flustered QB Kurtis Rourke. His confidence was noticeably shaken and his ineffectiveness turned IU into a running team. ND is inconsistent pressuring QBs. How do you think Al Golden will attack IU and corral their high-powered offense?
Eric Hansen: Patrick, this is another instance where having Howard Cross III makes you better. Despite missing three full games and part of a fourth due to an ankle sprain and getting off to a slow start to begin the season with a cranky hammy, he is second on ND in both sacks (4) and tackles for loss (5.5) this season. And even when he doesn't get the sack, his pressure up the middle creates opportunities on the edges. But it will take more than him. And I think with Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa out for this game, the guy I have a hunch who might find a pass-rushing role in this game might be Jaylen Sneed. But yes, pressure and mixing up coverages is going to be key against the nation's No. 1 team in pass efficiency.
Doug from Sunny Florida: Eric, as a follow up to your response regarding additional practices after a team is eliminated in the playoffs, I'd like to think that additional practice time for the younger players (any non-returning players) after elimination would be very beneficial. Especially for teams such as ND who will have a new QB next season being able to have a lot of meaningful reps or for super-early enrollees getting their feet wet with their new team with coach-led practices. In ND's case, I think it would help solidify/question Angeli's status as next year's starter as well as any other position battles. Do you agree?
Eric Hansen: Doug, your curiosity and points are well-placed and well-supported, but college football has changed a lot in the past few years. If ND were too lose in the first round, their attention would be getting the roster set for 2025 ... meaning meeting with players about 2025, setting up visits for prospective incoming transfers and allowing the outgoing ones to move forward with their plans. I don't think they'd even be allowed to practice after that, and even if they were I don't think three or four days of practice with the Xmas holiday stuck in the middle of it, would make a marked difference for any of those players. They can make those gains in other way, including the QBs throwing on their own with receivers and working with private QB coaches. Not knocking your question, just trying to answer it in the reality of today's college football.
Scott from Greenville, S.C.: Hey Eric, great FNS show on Monday and also enjoyed your chat with Lemming. Really great info for all of us. Lots going on obviously! Playoffs, recruiting class signed, portal is open, and recruiting for the coming years. I'm curious from your perspective, what you feel is the most difficult aspect coaching a program like ND must be? I can't imagine the time they spend in tge office, in the field, etc. As a boomer ( Oct 1960), I know I couldn't handle the schedule any more. I guess it's similar to a sports journalist. You are the best Eric!
Eric Hansen: Scott, thanks for watching both shows. The one with Lemming is always interesting, because Tyler isn't there to help with the techie issues and, well, it's kind of like what happens when parents leave grocery money for their kids and then head out of town for the weekend. ... To your question ... I think the most difficult aspect at the moment is all the changes and all the ones to come and not knowing exactly when and exactly what those will look like and having a plan and alternative plans that cover all of that. Along the same lines, maintaining a college football culture in an era when money and the dynamics that come with that will challenge that culture. And of course winning, winning consistently and winning big on top of all that. And thanks for that nice remark at the end of that, with the exclamation point! Manny should have trademarked that when he had the chance!!!!
Sue from South Florida: Hi Eric, What does your Crystal Ball tell you about retaining our present coaching staff next year?
Eric Hansen: Hi Sue. My crystal ball functions more like the Magic 8-ball with short word-salad answers, so I will tap into my gut feel, which may be indigestion. ... Here goes. I can not remember a year when every ND assistant came back in at least the last 15 years. And across the country, when you have success, people want to hire your assistants. And I think plenty of ND's will be in demand. Mike Mickens at the top of that list as a defensive coordinator. But that doesn't mean he'll go. My best guess and my Magic 8-ball's best answer is that Marcus and the coordinators will be back and others. I think QB coach Gino Guidugli will have some tempting offers and probably LBs coach Max Bullough as well ... to be coordinators.
James from Placitas, N.M.: Enl’honneur de la récouverture de la cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris le 8 décembre 2014, vos règles peuvent-elles être modifiérs pour permettre de poser des questions en français ? Ma question est la suivante …étant donné les commentaries de l’entraîneur de l’Indiana Cignetti lors de la conférance de presse d’hier concernant la préparation de cette semaine pour l’attaque de Notre-Dame en analysant leurs trois premiers et dix jeux préférés, les trois jeux de troisième essai les plus utilisés, etc., Notre -Dame-serait elle sage de lancer profondément sur le premier essai et de couri sur le côté large du terrain sur les troisièmes essai, ou sont-lis devenus réticents á diminuer leurs jeux de quatrième essai très acclamés et leurs faux punts par déférence envers notre service d’ urgences de l’hôpital cardiaque local qui a remarqué une légère augmentatin des visites aux urgences pendant les diusions de Notre-Dame Peacock brodcasts¿
Eric Hansen: OK, James. I realize I did not specify questions needed to be in English, Gibberish or some combination thereof for me to accept them, so I will have to add that to the future rules list. So for today ... Escargot, oui oui, merci, ooh la la.
That's all the French I know. Let me go to Google translator and I'll give you a real answer.
I would say if Indiana coach Curt Cignetti really wants to know what might work best against Notre Dame's offense, he should ... Google it!
Madden Lee: The way CFB has played out this season, could ND have made it even if they lost to USC?
Eric Hansen: No way.
Bob from Oxnard, Calif.: On the atrocious interception at USC, do you think Riley expected his receiver to stop for a back shoulder throw (despite Riley taking all the blame in the press conference)?
Eric Hansen: Yes I do.
Mike from Rockville, Md.: Hi, Eric! Thanks for these chats! Why do you think our pass defense wasn't as solid against USC? Did Christian Gray have a bad game? Were USC's receivers better than anything we've faced? Something else?
Eric Hansen: Mike there were a few things at play here ... 1) Christian Gray did have a bad day. 2) USC had an excellent strategy, try to keep the ND defense on the field as much as possible -- they did 79 plays, a season-high and Gray and Leonard Moore played every one of the. 3) Throw waves of really good wide receivers at ND's DBs and try to wear them down. Checkmark. 49 passes was a season high to defend. ND was also coming off a game where they had to defend 9, yes 9 pass attempts. 4) USC protects its QBs better than most of the teams in the playoff field and Jayden Maiava upped the ante there by having better ability to extend plays than Miller Moss and by being fearless in the face of 14 pressures. All those things factored in. All are fixable, but having more CB depth would be helpful.
Ken from Steel City: Hi Eric, excitement abounds as we prepare for the first ever playoff game at Notre Dame Stadium. Generally speaking, I really dislike the matchup and am not a fan of the two in state schools playing. You might guess my question… how do we keep the red out of the house that Rockne built? I was impressed with how the staff handled the OSU game last season but I would like even more Notre Dame fans in the stadium. Will we show up and show out and impact the game? Or, will the high prices lead to 30-40% Indiana fans at the game? Thanks for all you do and here’s hoping for 4 more wins!
A follow up. Any chance you can reach out to someone at the University to see if we can get the Dropkick Murphys to South Bend for the game on the 20th? Maybe they play shipping up to Boston before the game or at half time with the band. I don’t have the pull to make it happen, but you just might!
Eric Hansen: Ken, I addressed this with AD Pete Bevacqua during a three-part series in the spring. THIS is the part that pertains to your question if you want more depth: LINK ... The short answer is Indiana does receive an allotment ... will they be able to significantly increase it beyond that? It is easier to control that or at least manage it with digital ticketing. So if there's red, I doubt it would be a sea of red, but more like puddles. As far as my influence with musical acts coming to Notre Dame Stadium, I have influenced one musician to watch a game at ND Stadium this year, though it was his idea and he's the guy who wrote and sings the Football Never Sleeps theme music, Piano Man Steve Lungrin (awesome guy and awesome talent, Google him). And the only band I tried to influence was back in the 1980s. I ran into the Ramones after their concert at The Agora in Columbus as they were boarding a tour bus of sorts and asked them to come have a beer at my fraternity house. And Joey Ramone seemed into it and he was vetoed. So, I don't think I would be much help.
Kevin from Calgary: Despite the idiocy of it, do you think Nick Saban’s rant about teams not booking non-conference tough opponents for fear it will cost you a playoff spot (Alabama lost three conference games and Clemson lost to Georgia but made it) will have an impact on teams going forward? (I’m sure ‘Bama is looking at dropping mighty Mercer as a result). It seems to me the selection committee is feeling some heat. As always, love the chats!
Eric Hansen: Hi Kevin. I don't think the issue is and was non-conference scheduling. I think the issue is and will be imbalance in the conference schedules in mega-conferences. That seemed to hurt teams more than anything. And let's look at Ole Miss for instance. Non-conference games were Furman, Middle Tenn, Wake Forest and Ga. Southern. That's not what kept them out. I have a lot of respect for Saban and enjoy him doing TV, but this was a bad take, not even at rat poison standards. ... and thanks for being part of the chats.
Bob from Loganville, Ga.: Should we expect the names on the back of the jerseys for the playoffs? Curious if they will continue with that same tradition followed in the past for bowl games. Go Irish!
Eric Hansen: Bob, there are things regarding college football I am very passionate about. This isn't one of them. I am indifferent on this issue. I would guess no they do not put the names on, but just a guess. And not saying it's not worth YOUR passion. It just isn't mine.
Ryan from Frankfort, Ill.: Good afternoon, Eric. What do you think about the play of Donavan Hinish? He looked good when he stepped in for Cross. GO IRISH 🍀🍀🍀🏈🏈🏈
Eric Hansen: Hey Ryan, I know before you moved, you and the Hinish family were from the same neck of the woods. I think Donovan did a good job, and considering the volume, better than good. Before Howard Cross got hurt, Nov. 8 against. Florida State, Hinish had never been into the 30s with his snap counts. He played almost 40 against Virginia and Army and a whopping 64 against USC. Cross is a step up, but Hinish can be very valuable in a rotation and playing a snap count in the 20s.
Chris from Memphis: Eric, did Tommy Rees end up on Georgia's coaching staff after Saban retired from Alabama?
Eric Hansen: Passing game specialist and tight ends coach with the Cleveland Browns.
Sean from Schaumburg, Ill.: Hello, Mr. Hansen. I found Bob Morton's comment, during Into the End Zone after the USC game, about the NCAA subtly pushing ND to consider a conference, due to, at the time, ranking them 8th and having them play Alabama, as confirmation that the NCAA has a bias against ND and their independence in football. In my view, he's right. The NC State game in the remnants of a hurricane is my confirmation that the NCAA likes to stick it to ND football any chance they get. Ranking Penn State ahead of ND in the final rankings is another example. You didn't respond to the statement. I thought you kinda blew it off. What is your reluctance in acknowledging ND fans' and, now, former ND players saying outright that the NCAA doesn't care for NDs independence in football? I could provide more examples, but I'm curious as to why you don't give this viewpoint from fans and, now, alums any consideration. ND 38 Indiana 20. Go Irish!!
Eric Hansen: Sean, let me address the Bob Morton part of this first and the Into The eNDzone Show on YouTube specifically. The reason I didn't react is while Bob's talking, I'm combing through the questions to try to include the viewers in the discussion, so I don't always hear the full context of his answers. So, yes there is a limit on my multitasking skills. And the second part of that is, when Bob is on that show, I like people to get his perspective unfiltered, anyways. If they want to hear my blather on, they can watch Football Never Sleeps. And Sean, maybe this isn't the place for it, but the sky-is-falling-tone of your questions and observations gets a bit tiresome. I don't see ND football the way you do. I don't see the world the way you do. And I'm Ok with that. If you're not, I can't help you.
SOME people are NOT OK with ND's independence. SOME. Some people don't care. But to take every difference of opinion as a slight to ND's independence is a little too conspiracy-laden for what I think reality is. So, are there times ND might take a shot? Sure. Is every time things go against ND evidence of a broad conspiracy and a job at people that believe that and an insult if I don't grab a torch and a pitchfork? C'mon man.
Now I need a bourbon LOL.
Andy from Wilmette, Ill.: Hello Eric, thanks for answering the bell yet again. Is there any way to get this game in before my bedtime? This game may last until midnight. At least there is no chance of the sprinklers going off. This will be the first time in a long time that ABC camera crew will come into the stadium. Will ABC crew have full access (if it's not owned by ND) to NBC equipment? Lastly, how good is IU's defensive line? Thanks again and go Irish!
Eric Hansen: Hi Andy. I'll be up all night working on coverage and happy to do it. And If ND wins, I sense you will be happy. I really don't know the particulars of the TV equipment. I would think they have their own. As far as IU's defensive line, they've held up nicely ... very good in getting sacks and tackles for loss, No. 1 run defense in the nation. Now they haven't been tested by a rush offense ranked above No. 55 and have only faced two in the top 90, but still they have taken care of business impressively in most of their games. It's a facet of the game the Irish must win.
Matt from Austin: Hi Eric. Hope you are well as we head into the CFP! Need your help. With early signing day over and the portal open, how does Notre Dame handle the administrative side? For example, I know that the coaches recruit like crazy and comb the portal for team needs, but who signs off on the players from an academic side? Who approves or sets the NIL amounts? Does ND use the general manager approach that seems in vogue? Does Coach Freeman have a say in these matters? Sorry for the long winded question, but I thought if anyone would know the answer, it would be you. Thank you Eric. BTW Notre Dame 35-17.
Eric Hansen: Hi Matt. What the answer is today and what it might look like in six months can be different, so let me speak in generalities. Admissions determines who can get in and who can not. The GM and Freeman decide how to manage the roster and that includes where to spend NIL money. And thanks for your score prediction. I haven't gotten to mine yet.
Jim from Wheaton, Ill.: Hi Eric!!! Thanks again for these fantastic Q & A sessions- your insights and perspectives are greatly appreciated. I can’t wait to attend the first-ever home playoff game in Notre Dame history- I hope our crowd is electric! Three questions- 1) will we receive any updates on Mitch Jeter prior to the game? 2) Looking ahead to the 2025 schedule, I only count 11 games- any idea who we will add to complete the schedule? And 3) Do you foresee a high scoring game next Friday, or a low-scoring game dominated by both defenses? Thanks, Eric!!
Eric Hansen: Hey Jim, up against my next assignment so quickly ... 1) Yes, we'll talk to Marcus, players and coaches in the upcoming days... 2) It'll be Stanford or another ACC team. 3) I would lean toward lower scoring but need to study more.
Eric Hansen: OK, that'll be it for today. Thanks for all the great questions. We WILL do a chat next week, but I do have a conflict on Wednesday. So, it'll be either Tuesday or (more likely) Thursday at noon ET. I will let you know on our website and through social media. Thanks again.
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