Iowa State's Rhoads calls out schools trying to get prized recruit to flip

Iowa State doesn't get too many blue chip football recruits, so when they get a commitment from one they have to fight hard to keep it.

Hours after grabbing the national letter of intent from one of the most sought-after high school football players in the state, Iowa State football coach Paul Rhoads tossed jabs at a pair of teams that tried steering him away.

Rhoads talked up the future Cyclone and ripped schools trying to take him away.

“That’s Allen Lazard’s National Letter of Intent,” Rhoads said of his four-star crown jewel recruit. “Let me talk about Allen Lazard a little bit.”

“He’s not going to a school in northern Indiana,” Rhoads said of Lazard, a high school all-American. “Boy, they wasted a lot of time and money. He’s not going to another school in this state, who feverishly tried to call him about a half a dozen times in the last week.”

Rhoads isn't referring to Valparaiso and Northern Iowa. Those were shots directed at Notre Dame and Iowa for trying to steer Lazard away from Ames, Iowa.

“Much to the dismay of people in this room who wasted a lot of space and time challenging his words of commitment, he’s going right here to Iowa State University,” Rhoads added. 

Lazard is considered the crown jewel of Rhoads’ class and has been the subject of constant questions regarding his commitment to Iowa State. Lazard continued to visit Notre Dame after he first committed to Iowa State more than a year ago.

I can understand Rhoads' apparent frustration but he should know that recruit poaching goes on all the time. It's all a part of college football and if a school like Iowa State gets a player of Lazard's ilk, Rhoads can expect the big boys to keep coming after them.

Notre Dame's Jerian Grant dismissed from the basketball team for an academic issue

The Notre Dame basketball team’s chances of making an impact in its first ACC season have taken a severe hit with news that star guard Jerian Grant will miss the rest of the season for academic reasons.

Grant, a preseason All-ACC selection who is averaging 19.2 points and 6.2 assists, announced his own suspension with a statement posted on the Irish’s official web site.

“It is with regret and sorrow that I inform you that I am no longer enrolled at the University of Notre Dame due to an academic matter that I did not handle properly,” Grant said in the statement. “As a result, I am no longer part of the basketball program and will not be on the court competing with my teammates for the remainder of the 2013-14 season. I take full responsibility for my lack of good judgment and the poor decision that I made.”

The 6-foot-5 junior indicated in his statement that he intends return to Notre Dame next year and earn his degree. Because he already redshirted as a freshman, he will only have one season of eligibility remaining.

"It is my full intention to return to Notre Dame as soon as possible following the 2014 spring semester. I intend to do whatever it takes to earn my degree and finish out my college basketball career here. I understand that there is a process that I must go through in order to come back to school and I will be patient with that process."

Grant is the second high-profile player to be lost for the season by a top ACC team because of an off-the-court issue. On Friday, North Carolina announced it would not seek reinstatement for its top returning scorer from last year, P.J. Hairston, because of NCAA eligibility issues.

Notre Dame will play Boston College at Fenway Park in 2015

Notre Dame will begin playing five games per season against ACC opponents beginning next season due to their agreement that permits the Irish to play in the league in other sports. That won't keep the Fighting Irish from having a high profile national schedule like they always do.

The Irish have scheduled a "home" game against ACC member Boston College to be played at the home of the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park.  The game will be part of the Shamrock Series. The Irish will also begin a home and home series with the Texas Longhorns and will not play a Big Ten opponent for the first time in more than 100 years. With a college football playoff on the horizon Notre Dame is looking to boost it's strength of schedule.

"Our schedules the next three seasons, combined with our 2012 and 2013 schedules, truly exhibit Notre Dame's intention to celebrate our independence," says Notre Dame vice president and director of athletics Jack Swarbrick. "We will be playing in virtually every corner of the country and will have a strength of schedule that will serve us well in the new College Football Playoff format."

“We play coast to coast. Jesse Harper made that decision a hundred years ago. It changed the trajectory of the football program and the university, and we’re not going to stray from it,” Swarbrick said.

Here's a look at Notre Dame's schedules from 2014-2016.

 2014

Aug. 30, RICE

Sept. 6, MICHIGAN

Sept. 13, vs. Purdue (at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis)

Sept. 27, vs. Syracuse (at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.)

Oct. 4, STANFORD

Oct. 11, NORTH CAROLINA

Oct. 18, at Florida State

Nov. 1, vs. Navy (at FedEx Field, Landover, Md.)

Nov. 8, at Arizona State

Nov. 15, NORTHWESTERN

Nov. 22, LOUISVILLE

Nov. 29, at USC

2015

Sept. 5, TEXAS

Sept. 12, at Virginia

Sept. 19, GEORGIA TECH

Sept. 26, MASSACHUSETTS

Oct. 3, at Clemson

Oct. 10, NAVY

Oct. 17, USC

Oct. 31, vs. Temple (at Lincoln Financial Services Field)

Nov. 7, at Pittsburgh

Nov. 14, WAKE FOREST

Nov. 21, vs. Boston College (at Fenway Park, Boston)

Nov. 28, at Stanford

2016

Sept. 3, at Texas

Sept. 10, NEVADA

Sept. 17, MICHIGAN STATE

Sept. 24, DUKE

Oct. 1, vs. Syracuse (at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.)

Oct. 8, at North Carolina State

Oct. 15, STANFORD

Oct. 29, MIAMI

Nov. 5, vs. Navy (site TBD)

Nov. 12, vs. Army (at Alamodome, San Antonio)

Nov. 19, VIRGINIA TECH

Nov. 26, at USC

While it's true that Notre Dame will get a boost from a national schedule, the Irish should leave the patsies like UMass, Nevada, Army and Rice off the schedule. I guess you have to fit in some wins somewhere.

  

Notre Dame's Louis Nix out for rest of the season

Notre Dame nose tackle Louis Nix III will miss the last two games of the Irish's season coach Brian Kelly told reporters. That could also include the bowl game if the team elects to play in one.

Nix has undergone surgery to repair a torn meniscus as the Fighting Irish prepare to take on BYU.

Nix has been banged up this season. He missed a game against Air Force due to tendonitis and a shoulder injury was suffered in a game against USC.

This is a big blow to the Irish defense as they'll have to go against a BYU team that has been solid on the ground this season.

Nix is expected to be a high draft pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. Getting surgery now rather than waiting until after the season will give him more time to rehab and prepare for the NFL Draft. It would make sense to get it taken care of now with the Irish not competing for any big bowl game or championship and Nix still in position to be drafted highly if he is in optimum shape.

That all depends if he decides to come back to school for the 2014 season.

Notre Dame will be without Louis Nix against Air Force

The Notre Dame defense will be without a big part of their defensive line.

Defensive tackle Louis Nix suffered a shoulder injury last week against USC and hasn't practiced this week. He won't be playing in this Saturday's game versus Air Force.

Head coach Brian Kelly says it's knee tendinitis that will be keeping Nix on the sidelines. Nonetheless, the Fighting Irish will miss the big man's presence. Even though Air Force is 1-6, the Falcons average around 54 carries a game using the triple option.

Brady Hoke says Johnny Manziel would play behind Devin Gardner if he was at Michigan

Michigan head coach Brady Hoke made an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show to hype the upcoming game between Michigan and Notre Dame.

This game will be the last in the storied rivalry until further notice due to Notre Dame's ACC commitments.

During a question and answer session of the interview Hoke was asked about Texas A&M's Heisman winning quarterback Johnny Manziel. The answer Hoke gave Patrick surprised many.

Patrick:    "If Johnny Manziel's your quarterback …"

Hoke: "If Johnny Manziels's our quarterback, he'd probably be playing behind Devin Gardner"

"We try and educate the kids here that this has always been about the team, the team, the team," Hoke said. "If they're going to celebrate and they're going to express themselves, do it with your teammates. Do it with the other 10 guys who are on the field that helped you make whatever great play happen where you feel you need to celebrate. Grab a teammate. Get together with them."

Hoke isn't knocking Manziel's ability, just his character and being a good teammate.

Hoke obviously has faith in Gardner despite his relative inexperience, but any coach in the nation would probably take Manziel over their current starter unless it's Teddy Bridgewater or Tajh Boyd. If I left anyone out let me know.

This is what Hoke does. He sells his program and his players. He's all about Michigan and is intent on getting the Michigan brand into the conversation when you mention the elite programs in America. Besides, as a coach you have to pimp your own quarterback, even if he only has seven career starts under his belt.

Instilling trust in your players is part of your job, and this was the perfect answer.

Brady Hoke says Notre Dame is 'chickening out' of rivalry game with Michigan

The Notre Dame-Michigan football game is a storied rivalry. From Harry Oliver's 51-yarder to Desmond Howard's diving grab, the game has had plenty of epic memories. The Fighting Irish are one of Michigan's main rivals along with Michigan State and Ohio State. Too bad the rivalry will be put on hold from 2015-2017.

There was already a two year break scheduled for 2018-2019, so there will be at least a five year break in between games.

The reason, Notre Dame will be scheduling ACC teams in the future since their other sports teams will be a member of the conference.

Michigan coach Brady Hoke doesn't like the fact that the Irish won't be playing the Wolverines and went as far to say that the Irish are "chickening out" of their game with Michigan.

 "The Notre Dame game, that rivalry, which they're chickening out of," Hoke said Monday during the West Michigan Sports Commission Annual Luncheon at the J.W. Marriott in Grand Rapids.

The remark drew thunderous applause from the crowd.

"They're still gonna play Michigan State, they're gonna play Purdue, but they don't want to play Michigan," Hoke continued. "I don't know how they made that decision ... I really do ... But anyway, that's a great national rivalry game. It's a great game."  

I don't really care for Notre Dame but with conference realignment it just made the game more difficult to play. With a beefed up Big Ten schedule I would think Hoke might want to play a lesser team so his team can remain in the college football playoff chase.

The teams had been operating under a three-year rolling contract -- meaning, either program could cancel the series with three games' notice. Notre Dame served Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon with that notice in the moments leading up to kickoff of last year's game at Notre Dame Stadium.

Anyone that follows college sports knows Notre Dame is all about the money. That's why they have all their teams except football in the ACC so they can remain independent and keep all their television and bowl money to themselves. So now they can schedule the Dukes and the Wake Forests of the world and cancel out on Michigan. Michigan brings in more money than Purdue or Michigan State, but in my eyes I feel the Irish view those as more winnable games.

Gunner Kiel transferring to Cincinnati

The travels of Gunner Kiel will have another stop added. Kiel announced that he'll be transferring to Cincinnati and will be eligible in 2014.

For those that remember, Kiel was the top rated passer by Rivals.com and Scout.com while in high school at Columbus East (Ind.). Kiel announced that he was going to Indiana which would've been a major coup for the Hoosiers. Kiel then spurned the Hoosiers for Les Miles and LSU. Kiel the changed his mind again and decided to sign a letter of intent with Notre Dame.

Kiel did not play and watched another freshman, Everett Golson, lead the Fighting Irish to the national championship game. Which leads us to today and Kiel announcing that he'll be a Bearcat.

"Cincinnati was the best fit for me because the relationship I have with coach (Darin) Hinshaw is like nothing else. He is a great overall person and is someone I know I can get coached by. The group of guys I'm going to be around is second to none. I love where (Cincinnati) is heading and the future is bright."  

The transfer could be a good move for the young quarterback, as ESPN's Joe Schad is also reporting that Bearcats coach Tommy Tuberville plans to implement a pro-style attack that will better suit Kiel's skill set than Notre Dame's spread did. It's also a recruiting coup for Tuberville, who now has an elite talent around which to build his offense.

It can work out if Kiel decides that he actually wants to stick around.

Notre Dame's Kelly on Eagles' radar

Notre Dame head coach, Brian Kelly stated that he had no desire to leave Notre Dame. However, he did leave a crack in the door.

“For me to say I’ll never coach in the NFL -- I have no idea,” Kelly said on Friday. “I’m not trying to be evasive. It’s the truth of the matter. It’s all about timing.”

Now it appears the Philadelphia Eagles may walk through that crack in the door with an offer for Kelly. According to reports, the Eagles have interviewed Kelly and will meet with him when he returns from a trip out of the country.

With the personnel the Eagles have, hiring Kelly could work out for them, but he's also a career college coach that has no credibility with players in the NFL so it could turn out badly. I'm not saying it won't work but the Eagles may want to go with someone other than a college coach with no NFL experience. After the way the defense has played the past few years they might want to get a coach with a defensive background. 

Dayne Crist Leaving Notre Dame

Dayne Crist lost two seasons to injury at Notre Dame. He also lost playing time to back-ups Tommy Rees and Andrew Hendrix. Now he's going somewhere to regain the luster he once had when he arrived as a highly regarded quarterback recruit.

Crist asked for and was granted a release from Notre Dame.

The school confirmed the big-armed, 6-foot-4, 235-pound Crist met with Irish coach Brian Kelly on Friday to pursue the release. Crist will graduate this month with one year of eligibility remaining, rendering him eligible to play instantly anywhere he goes.

"Dayne and I had a good conversation Friday and I have granted him permission to speak to other schools," Kelly said. "Dayne has been a valuable member of our team the last two years and if he feels he needs to look for a better situation then I think we owe that to him."

All that means is that Crist will be following the Russell Wilson plan. Ironically Wisconsin ia one of the schools listed along with San Diego State and Utah. The Badgers will be looking for a replacement for Wilson after he used the NCAA rule that allowed him to play immediately after transferring from North Carolina State.

Maybe Crist can regain some of the five star status he had before he arrived at Notre Dame.   

Nate Montana Busted For DUI

Nate Montana, son of Joe, has been flying under the radar since transferring from Notre Dame and winding up at Montana. 

Nate decided to go out and make some news by going out and getting busted for a DUI early Friday morning. Way to go and show that you're different from your father.

The 21-year-old Montana, who joined the UM football squad earlier this year, was arrested about 3:15 a.m. Friday after a Missoula County sheriff's deputy stopped his northbound car on Van Buren Street for allegedly driving 39 mph in a 25 mph zone.



Deputy Ken Guy was sitting in his cruiser at the corner of Holly and Van Buren streets when his radar picked up Montana's car.


The traffic stop turned into a DUI arrest when Guy smelled alcohol.

Nate also had a little trouble producing his driver's license and did poorly on the sobriety tests (twice). Montana also declined to take a breath test. There were other passengers in the car but they weren't cited for anything.

Why didn't young Montana have one of the others drive or call a cab or something? That would've been the most logical solution. Also, I'm not ripping on the town of Missoula, but what is there to do that late at night?      
He definitely hasn't done his father proud.

Wake Up The Echoes

Word on the street is that the Notre Dame-Miami rivalry will be restarting in 2012.

 The Hurricanes and Fighting Irish will play Oct. 6, 2012, at Soldier Field in Chicago, then play a home-and-home starting in 2016 at South Bend, Ind. They play in Miami the next season. Even though the series dates back to the 1950s, this rivalry really got going in the 80s with Miami's emergence as a player on the national scene.Notre Dame leads the series 15-7-1.

In 1985 the Canes whipped the Fighting Irish 58-7 in coach Gerry Fast's last game. I personally enjoyed it as Miami blatantly ran up the score with no regard. On the flip, if you can't stop the backups, don't complain. That's why I couldn't be a broadcaster. I'm a bit biased. Going into the 1988 game Notre Dame supporters coined the contest 'Catholics vs. Convicts'. Notre Dame won the game and that was also the last time the Fighting Irish won the national title. During the 80s and early 90s this was a game that was a deciding factor in the national championship race. Notre Dame won the last game in the series in 1990, 29-20.                                                                                                                                                                             

I'm anxious to see this series get started again. I hope both teams are nationally relevant by the time this game rolls around. I would love to see the pregame trash talk and pushing and shoving that teams aren't allowed to do these days. Wake up the echoes.

Screw Notre Dame!

What I say here probably won't matter much.It might ruffle a few feathers and it might not make much sense.But screw Notre Dame.Notre Lame is more like it.

  Everyone that knows anything about college sports knows that Notre Dame joining the Big Ten makes perfect sense.Geographically,academically,and also from a sports standpoint.Especially football.They already play conference teams such as Purdue,Michigan,Michigan State and throw in a various fourth team.It just doesn't make sense to Notre Dame.Notre Dame athletic director,Jack Swarbrick,says that the Fighting Irish will remain an independent.Sure Jack,take all your NBC money and stay in your corner.In my opinion that's what it all comes down to is money.They have no confernce tie-in,and when bowl season rolls around,they  don't have to share any revenue amongst 11 other parties.Sure they're in the Big East for basketball reasons and in the CCHA for hockey.To me,that seems transparent,because if they werent affiliated in other sports there might be some rough times in South Bend.Who remembers what Notre Dame was like in college hoops before joining the Big East.Who even knew they had a hockey program.Only a diehard would know that.They clearly think they're better than everyone else.Why?I have no answer to that.Ask the people in Cincinnati if they echo that sentiment.Personally,I can't stand their arrogance.True,the college sports atmosphere is better when Notre Dame's good,but I love the fact that their football team isn't very good right now.I hate to be biased,but there are more people than me who feel this way.I wish they would get off their high horse and join a conference.It makes no sense.There are no more high major independents in college sports outside of Army and Navy and I wish someone would pick them up.The last of the mohicans needs to join the party.If I were a school president or one of the head honchos in one of the Big Six conferences,I would not schedule Notre Dame.I know it won't happen.But if enough did they would have to play a crappy Independent schedule.Directional schools,1-AA,and Confernce USA opponents would be on that schedule until they joined a conference.I know they have the name,but if the Big Ten expands and there is major realignment,I would hope that takes place and eventually the not so Fighting Irish would get squeezed.That hollow,undefeated record wouldn't mean jack to the BCS.I know there are some know it alls that and Notre Dame fans have an argument that would blow me out of the water,I would hope that happens to the high and mighty Notre Dame.They have the name,they just don't have the game.Irish honks can't fight that one.       

Notre Dame better get it right with Kelly

Brian Kelly is leaving Cincinnati to become the head football coach at Notre Dame.The not so Fighting Irish better hope they actually get it right this time.Since I've been paying attention to college football,Notre Dame has been atrocious at hiring coaches.There have been a few times they had it right.Such as Dan Devine and Lou Holtz.Let me run this down.After Devine retired they decided to go against the grain and hire a high school coach.Not just any high school coach,but Gerry Faust from the mighty Cincinnati Moeller.Surely a huge step up for anyone let alone a high school coach.Faust lasted for 5 uninspiring seasons before being dumped for Lou Holtz.That turned out to be a good hire as he kept the Irish in national championship contention,winning it all in 1988.Also Holtz who had a habit of staying one step ahead of the NCAA just about everywhere he coached,stepped down in 1996,making way for assistant Bob Davie.Now,Davie wasn't that bad,but he wasn't that good either.He brought in talent,but didn't seem to coach it up.After Davie,it was Tyrone Willingham's turn at the helm of this sinking ship.Willingham came in with a bang with a 10-3 season beating higher ranked opponents Michigan and Florida State along the way.After that was a disaster, as he went 11-12 over the next two seasons,and wasn't bringing in highly rated recruiting classes.His class of 2004 recruits was judged to be the worst in 20 years at Notre Dame.He subsequently was let go and bought out of his contract.That gave us the Charlie Weis era or should I say error.Weis came riding in with his Super Bowl rings and NFL championship pedigree.That didn't seem to matter to the rest of the college football world.Weis go off to a fast start,going 9-3 and going to the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State.He helped improve the offense, Brady Quinn especially,as Quinn wnet on to break numerous school passing records.Wesi went 10-2 in his second season,but was walloped in the Sugar Bowl against LSU.After that the bottom dropped on the program as he went 3-9,7-6,and 6-6 in the following seasons that sealed his fate.Thing was Weis wasn't their first,second ,or third  choice for the job.The man they wanted most,Urban Meyer packed his bags and went to Florida.Now that brings us to the next "hot" name in the coaching community,Mr.Brian Kelly.After winning two national championships in his 13 years at  Division II Grand Valley State,Kelly took his show to Central Michigan and made them relevant in the Mid American Conference after the tumultuous Mike Debord reign.He coached the Chippewas to the 2006 MAC championship before taking the job at Cincinnati.He coached the Bearcats to a winning effort in the International Bowl.He then turned the Bearcats into a major player in the Big East with 3 10 win seasons and back to back Big East titles and BCS bowl berths.Now he has the task of building Notre Dame into a national contender once again.He has won everywhere he's been,so he's more than able for the job.But will the academic guidelines and someimes tough schedule derail his efforts.We'll see.He's gonna hit the ground running because he won't be coaching Cincinnati in their Sugar Bowl game versus Florida.The players will get to South Bend,the only question that remains is will it all translate on the field.Bottom line, this hire will have to be a grand slam or he too could be gone within five years.