443, my friend. It isn't written in stone that we cant change and outrecruit and outplay the best, like Bama.Thanks for that comprehensive and clearly thought out response which I would assume took you more than 15 seconds to produce.
I hear you loud and clear and – as I recall – once got a similar “nuanced” response from when I was active on the other board.
So, here’s how I read what you’re saying:
Even though ND operates on an athlete-preferential basis as well, it does so in a LESS EXTREME WAY. It cuts corners but not as SHARPLY. This results in what you call A LESS RESTRICTED TALENT POOL THAN I IMAGINE.
Fine.
But if this is the case, doesn’t there remain a recruiting impediment that is LARGELY STRUCTURAL? It would seem so, wouldn’t it, since failing to get those same UBER-GUYS every year who wind up at OHIO STATE has been a problem for ALMOST 30 years regardless of ND’s coach?
And how many guys does that amount to a year? Does the consistent lack of 5-star recruits, IN FACT, mean the difference between beating Alabama and getting pounded? History would argue, HEY, IT SURE LOOKS THAT WAY.
So, then regardless of how wide it is – and, again, I don’t know despite my 5-star strikeout example – there is STILL A CRITICAL GAP.
In which case, just how much “TIDE-TURNING” impact can any one coach make even if the consensus is that he’s GOD’S GIFT TO RECRUITING?
Specifically, how does Marcus Freeman go that last EXTRA MILE Kelly couldn’t go unless ND LOOKS THE OTHER WAY A LITTLE BIT MORE! Or maybe A LOT MORE.
Point is, Freeman is still operating WITHIN THE SAME CONSTRAINTS. In which case, the “LAZY RECRUITER” vs. “UBER RECRUITER” dichotomy is not the critical determinant as UBER RECRUITING will only TAKE ND SO FAR.
And that includes even if ND can divert in its direction all of Stanford’s and NW’s best targets or get them to transfer to ND later. Because as I see it, that still won’t be enough to allow ND to DRAW EVEN with schools than can pull in in excess of 5 Five-stars a year. Or to be more accurate, ANYONE THEY WANT.
So, while, yes, Freeman may be able to improve recruiting INCREMENTALLY, I can’t see how – if things are as you suggest – he can improve it DECISIVELY enough to propel ND past Alabama and those of THAT ILK.
You have to play within the parameters you’re given, and of that, ND’s more restrictive talent pools have produced AMPLE EVIDENCE -- RESULTS-WISE -- over the last 30 years, leading to endless parsing exercises on how to achieve the same results as teams with GREATER FIREPOWER. Or as I like to think of it, FOOLS ERRAND NUMBER ONE AS PER ALL ND MESSAGE BOARDS.
Neither FREEMAN ALONE – nor anyone else -- takes this program to greater heights without SUBSTANTIAL ASSISTANCE FROM ND ITSELF. And, personally, I don't think that's coming as too few ND people are inclined to support it. You've said yourself you don't want it.
Me, I'm agnostic on it as I see the entire sport as we know it imploding with the result that ND may need to make its own SEPARATE PEACE. What's coming is TOTAL MONETIZATION which no power in academe can stop even if they wanted to. And they don't. They're a CARTEL and will continue increasingly to operate like one.
Jack Swarbrick is a very intelligent man, like yourself, and I hear he very much believes the Irish can win a National Championship in football. JACK is the one who hired Kelly after the Weiss, Willingham, Davie years to get back to winning. Jack also is the one who told Brian he had to change things up after the 2016 season if he wanted to stay on board. And it worked again as he made outside hires like canning his friend the strength trainer (Longo) and bringing on the best trainer in the business Matt Ballis.
After that ND upped their game yet again--winning 10+ games five seasons in a row.
Jack now has the opportunity to take ND one more step--to a NC win. He has his young energetic staff recruiting their as$s off !! #7 in 2022 and #1 in 2023 so far.
My point is--is that Jack has the most clout as athletic director of practically anyone in the Nation and he will know what changes that need to be done to compete with the best including making it more enticing for the super Five star recruits to come to South Bend.
My faith is in Jack--a much smarter man than I am and a just as passionate ND fan to right the ship for ND football !! Have faith !!