You don’t think ND tried to recruit Lawrence? I’m sure they were on him, and I’m confident that he just wasn’t interested. Midwest cold, mandatory class, challenging courses, dorm living.....those things just don’t appeal to most football prodigies and surefire 1st round picks.
Lawrence was simply interested in what school would best keep him on his certain NFL trajectory. If you believe anything different, then there’s nothing I can do to help you.
ND was never an option for him.
Hmm.....seems Jimmy Clausen was the exact same type of prospect.
He even said going to ND was a "football decision".
More spin control.
If ND starts exhibiting an elite level of play on the field, elite players will come.
It happened for Kelly and Weis briefly with one recruiting class each.
The problem was neither was able to sustain an elite level of performance on the field and recruits over time get savvy to that.
Truth is, Lawerence and his family are very religious and hardworking, down to earth people. I'm sure ND would've gotten a long, hard look from his camp if they were playing football at an elite level.
The old cold weather, having to go to class, dorms, etc tripe is so nauseating and just utterly ridiculous.
Its pretty obvious that on a macro level elite players want to play at schools whom they determine have elite coaches that compete for national championships and place players in the NFL.
Players have varying degrees of preference for weather, local scene, living facilities, location, etc (and some actual do like things like academics and spirituality too) but those are mostly secondary considerations behind the quality of the football product on the field and the coaching they perceive they will receive.
And so you're right, Lawerence made a football decision to go to Clemson. But that does not mean that ND could not have been actively involved in his recruitment had they been able to offer a better quality product on the field. But to say he would never consider ND just because of weather blah blah dorms blah blah is just not accurate and simple minded excuse for Kelly once again offered up from the peanut gallery.
At the end of the day, Lawerence did not consider ND seriously because Kelly had a second rate football product to offer him on the field behind the likes of Clemson, Georgia, Bama, etc.
No different than when Weis had just coached Brady Quinn up to first round pick status and could whisper sweet nothings into Clausens ear about Tom Brady, Super Bowl rings, etc.