ND fires Willingham

[Stallion]

yeah we'll how many Catholics have won the Heisman Trophy in the last 20 years? How many Catholics run 4.3 forties? N.D. has NOT enjoyed the recruiting success they used to own in many years. Even this year they have no 4 star recruits out about 12 commits even though the USCs, UTs, Miamis, and OUs classes are routinely filled with such players.

[gostangs]

Didn't we have a BB player a few years back that did not qualify for SMU, but somehow got into ND?

I personally think this academic excuse is all P.R. They are not that tough - and will accept a non qualifier if they need to (not knocking them - we need to do the same thing).

The reason they have dropped off is that the best athletes can be on t.v. all the time anyway in tons of schools where they don't have to work as hard to STAY in school, and where the weather is warm.(i.e Texas and Florida schools).

ND is not ever going to be what they once were, in my opinion.

[EastStang]

Didn't Doug Flutie win the Heisman. How about Vinny Testaverde. Woodson of Michigan always crossed himself in the endzone after every score, my guess he's Catholic. I'll guess a few Florida QB's were Catholics. Looking solely at the 2003 DC All Met First Team (not even the second team which had even more), which includes players from Northern Virginia, DC and most of Maryland, you get two catholic kids in the category you mentioned. WR Rice Moss (Georgetown Prep) who is now at Syracuse, Athlete Derrick McPhearson (DeMatha) who was an underclassman. You also have two linemen: Luke Warring 6'5" 310 (undecided when article was written), and Edwin Williams 6'5" 300 (DeMatha/Maryland). These are quality players from ONE metropolitan area in the U.S. Notre Dame has the whole country to draw from. Heck, DeMatha had 10 starters end up in Division 1 programs after the 2003 season.

In the rust belt these catholic ties are even stronger.

[OldPony]

Rumor has it they are going to hire Bennett