JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Jan. 30, 2025

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Jan. 30, 2025

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Eric Hansen

3:21

OK. I am out of time and on to transcript mode and then women's hoops. Thanks for all the great questions. We're going to continue to do this on a weekly basis while the news cycle is still loaded. Maybe all the way until and through spring. I will push out something on social media as to which day next week. Thanks again.

3:19

Len!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your exclamation points saved you. A two-screen question? OK, let's go ... Al Golden was trying to adjust. Ohio State and Chip Kelly just kept having great counterpunches. OSU's execution was off the charts. I don't think they didn't know Will Howard could run, but they had to give up something and leave themselves vulnerable and Ohio State kept finding those in the first half. As far as the O-linemen stuff, Pendleton go passed over when Schrauth came back from injury. Passed over again when Jagusah came in for Rocco in the Penn State game. Great kid. Wants to start in 2025. Likely wasn't going to happen at ND in 2025.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Len from the Jersey Shore

3:16

One more questions for today. I saw on game when I watched that Bill Schrauth on one play where he ended up on his back put his arms up and waited for teammates to help him up. It was long enough that it seemed to conform my assumption from his play that he was not 100%. Have you had a chance to find out if he was injured in that game? Looked like a core injury. Second part, if both starting guards had significant injuries, did Sam Pendleton feel he could of helped but was left out of any rotational play time? He was only O linemen I was surprised left.

3:15

Hello Eric!!!!!!!!!!! I was able to watch the game and besides eye discipline on defense, reading keys and confidence in yourself (especially CB), and not getting to the QB on third down, I was brought back to a conversation you reported with Al Golden way earlier in the year concerning halftime adjustments. Coach Golden told you that sometimes if you wait to halftime it is too late to make adjustments, that adjustments needed to be made during the game. Second quarter needed defensive adjustments to avoid a second quarter ala Clemson with Love out and Donte V in. Sounds prophetic. Do you recall that conversation? Seemed Ohio St , as an example if ND defense did not account for QB run, just took advantage of that. Especially on 3rd down. Do you think ND needed to better self scout tendencies on third and more than yds 5? Seemed OSt had answer for everything ND defense did in that situation.

Eric Hansen

3:15

Denis, every time Notre Dame is successful, I am asked about lowered standards, and when they stink, I get asked about higher ones. How that relates to a house of cards, I have no idea. I know it was an episode of the Brady Bunch way back when. But I do not think Notre Dame is adding players who can't compete in the classroom. And if you listen to clips of the player interviews, they all have a better grasp of the English language than I do. So ...

Denis from Niagara Falls, Canada

3:13

Hey Eric. As far as I'm aware, Notre Dame has not had much of a problem with players regarding academic issues. I believe Marcus freeman is responsible for have the requirements/ standards loosened somewhat. Is this true? Is a house of cards being constructed? Could you talk to this situation? Thanks very much and all the best to you.

Eric Hansen

3:13

We're in the lightning round here, because I have women's basketball coverage tonight, so no wiggle room for overtime. So sorry in advance for the great questions I can't get to. ... To your questions, Kevin ... it's the price of success that people are going to want to hire your coaches and they are going to want to grow in their careers. It happened to Nick Saban all the time. So flesh wounds is a good way to look at it, good metaphor. In fact, great metaphor, is it for sale? Chad Bowden was not central to NIL management and now with direct payments coming, that dynamic changes again. His value was more on the recruiting/evaluation end of things. He'll be missed. He can be replaced.

Kevin from Calgary (via Huatulco)

3:09

Hola, Eric!!! I’ve missed a few chats and am currently escaping the cold of the Great White North here in Mexico. Thanks for keeping these up in the dead of winter. There have been a few changes in the coaching/management since the NCF most significantly the loss of Al Golden. Should Irish fans be confident that as long as Marcus Freeman stays put the losses will be no more than flesh wounds, or is losing a coach of Golden’s status alone (since the D is what got us to the final) a greater cause for concern? Also, how important was Chad Bowden to NIL management?

Eric Hansen

3:08

Hi Tom!! What a ride, indeed. In talking to Mike Denbrock, briefly, after the game, that Angeli question didn't come up, but Denbrock did offer they knew they couldn't do the Riley Leonard carries nine times on a drive thing more than once. Could they have put Angeli in? Maybe. But Leonard was really good at escaping one of the best pass rushes in football. I'm not sure Angeli would have, but I do have confidence he would have processed well when he did have time.

Tom from Toronto

3:05

Hi Eric, What an experience! What a ride! My question is really for Coach Freeman, but he's not here. Do you think that on further consideration it would have been better to use Steve Angelli for the two remaining offensive opportunities in the first half? Riley Leonard took some really tough hits in running the ball during the first possession, to such an extent that he threw up on the sidelines. In hindsight, it seemed that he was a step or two off on the next two possessions. It is amazing that he performed so well in the second half. Coach Freeman says to question everything, and I wonder whether there is a lesson to be learned from what happened, or didn't happen, on offense in the first half after ND's first possession. As usual, thank you for your excellent work! (just had to sneak in another "!")

Eric Hansen

3:05

Hi Jules. Not important. If it happens, it happens.

Jules, Joliet, Ill

3:04

Eric: As always, thank you (and Tyler and Bob) for all of your wonderful output. Question: In your opinion how important is it for ND to have a #1 QB in place by the end of spring practice?

Eric Hansen

3:04

Hi Mike. The 12-team Playoff Era brings with it such a different dynamic than even the four-team version. So when we're talking about measuring sticks, I think the inclusion in that field annually is the benchmark. Now can ND get to the very top and win a national title in say the next five years? I came to the South Bend market in 1988, and I walked out of Mercedes-Benz Stadium feeling that Notre Dame has a better chance of doing just that than at any time in the past 30 years. And I've been home for more than a week, and I am more confident of that feeling.

Mike, Phoenix

3:01

Eric, Do you think ND can and will go on a 88-93 run of producing top 5 teams? Will Young and Flanigan get a ring that they can give to their fathers for being cheated out of the 93 title?. I rewatched the 2nd half of the Penn state game. Lot to be excited about. How much will ND need new leaders to step up with Watts, Mills, Kiser, BMo and Leonard gone? Thank you. cheers! Go IRISH. ☘️

Eric Hansen

3:00

Don, I like your scenario and l like your compliment even more, but back to your scenario. Sometimes the co- designation has a lot of wiggle room on different staffs and difference places. Ash was a co-defensive coordinator when he was at Ohio State. Sometimes its a job share. Sometimes it's more ceremonial. Sometimes it evolves. There's a lot of speculation, and much of it off base, as it what this will mean. I'm OK in waiting to get Marcus Freeman to clarity, before I put my two cents in. But here is what I do know. Marcus is structuring it for the good of the FUNCTION of the team, not for what looks good. But again, I like your theory.

Don in Scottsdale

2:56

Eric, You and Tyler did a great job this season. Always enjoy reading what you write!! Since I've never hired a DC I'll trust Freeman knows what he's doing....but I do have a perspective. CMF wants to keep Mickens on staff and has stated he's ready for a DC position. All indications are he will be elevated to the CO _DC position. Knowing Freeman's position how many big time DCs would come to be a CO DC? No knock on Ash, but he had to get back in the game. The opportunity to coach at ND gets him in the spotlight allowing him to rejuvenate his career. Freeman gets to elevate Mickens and gives him training wheels to keep it going. Basically, Ash was the best CO DC available. Your thoughts?

Eric Hansen

2:56

hi Ryan, thanks for joining us and for having an emoji game that's WAY better than mine. I said this on Twitter/X. Xavier Watts is one of the most impactful players I've covered in my career, and I have lots of gray hair, so that's a long time. I used my third-place Heisman Trophy vote on him. That's how strongly I felt about his game and his contributions. ... I think the Va Tech transfer Jalen Stroman has the inside track, but I see a deep rotation, and I like Luke Talich, JaDon Blair, Tae Johnson and Kennedy Urlacher to all vie strongly for roles in that.

Ryan Frankfort illinois

2:53

Good afternoon Eric what do you think about the season Xavier watts had Irish fans will miss him who will start the season in his place the transfer from Virginia tech or will it be someone Else GO IRISH ☘️☘️☘️☘️🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈

Eric Hansen

Top 100 prospect from Mechanicburg, Pa. No. 3 offensive guard in that class. Really big pickup for the Irish.

2:52

Yes, while I've been typing away, Notre Dame received a verbal commitment from 2026 four-star offensive lineman Tyler Merrill.
https://n.rivals.com/content/athletes/tyler-merrill-299743?view=pv

Brian from Wauconda, Il

2:49

How big of a get is Tyler Merrill?

Eric Hansen

2:49

But there's not a lot of "young guy" time -- reps for players way down the depth chart that they might get in bowl prep. Yes, reps on scout team, but it's a little different dynamic. And the challenges are there (but worth it). There needs to be ample recovery time. That additionally compresses winter workouts agenda, compresses spring practice, etc. All worth the price of admission, but must be done strategically. I believe the core media will have a chance to talk to director of football performance Loren Landow upcoming at some point, and I can give you more insights then.

2:46

Hi Paul. Sometimes I don't get the best quality pods for my Keurig and the caffeine wears off this late into the chat, so I am not sure I followed everything there. So if I misunderstood, please forgive me. Notre Dame did have a few weeks of football practice and no school -- ahead of the Georgia and Penn State games and for the first few days of Ohio State prep, then they were back in school. As far as the longer season, it's a double-edged sword. Plusses are more development time for returning starting/key rotational players against some of the best competition college football can offer. (more)

Paul S, Las Cruces, NM

2:43

1st time messager!!!! Question re: the additional 7 weeks of football prep/ practice the team enjoyed with the playoff run. Usually the last game is at the end of November with an additional 3-4 weeks of practice depending on whether the team makes a bowl and which bowl. That's prep for one team. On this run, they practiced hard for about 7 weeks and played 4 good teams. I cannot help but think the additional time prepping/ practicing to play quality teams will be a benefit going into the spring and next season. Bringing in the early enrollees and exposing them to practice and game prep is also invaluable. While the grind does test your depth, I feel it helps build your depth. Is this extra time focused on football (with no school) an underappreciated benefit?........Thoughts

Eric Hansen

2:42

Hi Pogo. I don't think he thinks the defense will take a step back. I think he tried to create the best-case scenario. To me having an experienced DC with some NFL experience and head coaching experience COMBINED with Mickens on paper seems like a win-win.

Pogo from Madison WI

2:41

Always love the chats and appreciate your time. Like you suggested, I had felt Mickens had done enough and was valuable enough to promote directly to DC, particularly given a similar history with Lea proving to be very successful after Elko left. Any thoughts that Freeman may realize the defense is almost bound to take a step back and wanting to avoid putting Mickens in a no-win situation? Hence, he reached for and found someone with experience as a DC and head coach more like Golden.

Eric Hansen

2:41

Hi James, no they're not. And I had a story earlier this week in this heavy news cycle that covered that ground. It might be worth reading. Sorting through the spring intrigue of what's next for Notre Dame football ... But to answer your question, two transfers will arrive in June, WR Malachi Fields and TE Ty Washington.

James from Columbus

2:38

Hi Eric. Thanks for the great coverage during an awesome season and post season! My question is are all of the transfers into the program enrolled and on campus? Thanks!

Eric Hansen

2:38

On USC, he had this to say: “We have those great rivalries. Think about the rivalry with USC. We have every intention and every desire to keep that USC rivalry going." What Pete told me in a 1-on-1 last spring was pragmatically it may not appear on the same place on the schedule as it typically does ... down the road. But the intent is to continue. As far as getting too far down the road and theoreticals, I'm not going to get overly excited. But I do think this tweak in the ACC agreement bodes well for the Irish.

2:34

Hi David, thanks for submitting a question. If you can help me out next time, please include your hometown too. I think the ACC tweak — purely from Notre Dame's standpoint — is more about the depth of quality teams in the ACC and loving the budding rivalry with Clemson, for instance, than it has to do with USC. Now Stanford, may be another story. Do those games now count as part of fulfilling the annual ACC commitment (ND would like them to)? As far as USC, I had a chance to catch up with athletic director Pete Bevacqua in Atlanta in a group setting. I asked him specifically about scheduling and future scheduling. (more)

David

2:27

Hi Eric, First time questioner, and I think my question got deleted, so I'll try again. I have questions about the new ACC scheduling arrangement that would have ND play at least 2/3 of Clem/FSU/Miami annually. What, if anything, does this suggest about the USC series? Do we know what Pete Bevacqua views as an ideal schedule in terms of SOS? In 2029, we could theoretically play Texas, Bama, USC, Miami, and Clemson. That's a very tough top half! And maybe more importantly, it seems unnecessary to play that kind of schedule in order to make the playoffs. What are your thoughts about the ACC arrangement that is being discussed? Will it be a net positive for the Irish?

Eric Hansen

2:26

Hi The Beave. I would say WRs and interior D-line or maybe fully healthy d-line, but D-line is an area that must keep evolving as well. And I think you nailed it. Fields > than Collins. Greathouse 2025 > than Greathouse 2024. Healthy Faison 2025 > than banged-up (for much of the season) Faison 2024. I also like the rest of the rotation potentially better as well. And a QB who will have more time to throw behind a better, maybe lite, offensive line. So it is a seismic improvement? Probably not, but a significant one and necessary and reasonable evolutionary step.

The Beave. Grand Rapids

2:23

Eric: After watching and evaluating the ND v OSU game and the last couple of Natty games, I continue to believe that the biggest gap between ND and the consistently elite teams is at WR. You have next year’s starters as Greathouse, Faison and Fields and I can’t disagree. Given that we had Faison and Greathouse in 2024, is Fields enough of an upgrade over Bo Collins to significantly close that gap? Or maybe the better question is whether a healthy Faison, improved Greathouse and Fields enough of an upgrade to significantly close that gap?

Eric Hansen

2:22

Hi Sean. I sure wasn't surprised that there were O-line transfers. The numbers kind of dictated that, and Marcus' transparency with his players helps make for good decisions. You had eight players with starting experience in 2024. You have prodigies like Guerby Lambert and Will Black who are going to be starters at some point and pushing hard now. You'll have surprises, perhaps Sullivan Absher. And there are five starting positions. O-line is not normally a rotational position group. Once in a blue moon that works (Hainsey/Kraemer). Carr was an elbow. I'm sure everyone has their favorite QB in the derby, and thanks for sharing yours.

Sean, Schaumburg, IL

2:19

I'm surprised by the O line departures. Are the backups that good to force three guys who started/played a lot of snaps to leave? I hope so cuz I'm banking on Jeremiyah Love having a monster season and winning the Heisman. I, also, believe having a strong RB group will help ease the transition to a new QB. A QBs best friend is a running game. What, specifically, was Carr's arm injury? Shoulder or elbow? I'm not convinced he's better than Angeli or Minchey for that matter.

Eric Hansen

2:18

I think Mike Denbrock will also play a large role in that. But as we saw in the 2025 cycle, it's not only about good early returns, it's about the ability to close. So, stayed tuned. I spoke to Craig in Atlanta and wrote a story about it and he is encouraged that he will be back and ready for roll for the season. I did not talk to the ends, but I believe Tyler James did and they are also encouraged that barring a setback, they will be ready. I think Botelho, whose wasn't an ACL tear, is further ahead of those two. Once we get a chance for an update from Marcus Freeman, I'll share that with you all.

2:15

Hi Jim. Thanks to people like you who make these chats great. When I met with a couple of the chatters in Atlanta, Tom F from Kennesaw mentioned the consistent quality of questions. And he's right. You guys inspire me, make me laugh, teach me how many exclamation points are appropriate, give me story ideas, and have not once made me second-guess rescinding the "no drinking" rule. So thank you. To your questions, I think we're going to get a real feel for that in this 2026 recruiting cycle and the early feedback is encouraging. (more)

Jim from Wheaton, IL

2:12

Hi Eric!! As always, many thanks for these fantastic opportunities to get your insights about the Irish. I have two questions today first, do you believe that Mike Brown is at the same level of many of the other assistant coaches on the staff, specifically with regard to selling the best high school wide receivers on the opportunity to develop into NFL caliber receivers under his guidance? Recruitment of the highest rated WRs remains challenging. Second, what are you hearing with regard to realistic timelines for Traore, Botelho, and Craig to be “all systems go” from a health standpoint? Thanks, and we are counting the days until spring practice begins!!!

Eric Hansen

2:11

QB: Carr: RB Love WRs: Fields, Greathouse, Faison. TE: Raridon. OL: Wagner, Knapp, Craig, Schrauth, Jagusah.

DE: Botelho/Traore DT Rubio NG Onye DE Burnham LBs: Bowen, KVA, Sneed. S: Shuler, Stroman. Nickel: D. Smith: CBs: Gray, Moore.

2:09

Rui, I anticipated having a more normal life in between chats. I miscalculated what normalcy is.

Having said that, I made a promise. So off the top of my head, let's do this:

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