Bedraggled, forlorn, wrapped in sweaty wet armor, the Irish Legion made it through the season and sees the lights of home. Signing day is just around the corner and pretty soon, we can all take a deep breath until the spring game.
Before we ride of into the extra large sunny sunset, I have an opinion on recruiting.
Recruiting sucks.
It is what it is. No more, and no less. Grown men cry over where a 17-18 kid chooses to play college football. They take personal affront when a recruit spurns their beloved home team to go play elsewhere. How dare they indeed.
The reality is that one recruit rarely, if ever, decides the course of a program. You will always have "the great ones", your Newtons, Tebows, Bushes, and on and on and on. But more often than that you'll just have a bunch of good players, getting the job done. If you don't get that five star defensive lineman you have been dreaming about at night I have two things to say.
1.) Doesn't anyone else find it a bit weird to be dreaming about a kid anyway....
2.) Your program will be just fine come kick-off
They might not have as good as a pass rush, or maybe someone surprises but when its all said and done, if you don't have the right coaches and a solid team, no "great one" can carry everyone.
Imagine if Tebow didn't play a Florida but rather played at, say Vanderbilt, or Wake Forest? Chances are he doesn't win two NC's and a Heisman. He would still be a good player, but give Percy Harvin some credit here.
For Notre Dame, the infatuation with stars, rankings, ratings, and Aaron Lynch is borderline insanity.
News Flash: Aaron Lynch is a great player, but there is a "great player" every year. There will be another great defensive linemen to be had next season as well. Give the kid a break, its a tough choice and a big decision.
Certainly, to Notre Dame fans we are sure in the education and tutoring he will receive and be part of a 99% graduating rate which is FAR superior to Florida State's. But to kids these days, they see a degree as a degree, alumni networks be darned.
For the record Aaron, you have the ability to play any defensive end position in any scheme, don't let Florida State keep lying to you saying that it is speed versus power and your more of a speed player. It is the fact that your the combination of speed AND power that will allow you to be a good defensive end in any scheme. Lots of players are fast and fail, many players are powerful and also fail. Ethan Johnson is going to put up some really nice numbers next season and he is more of a first step then power guy, like Mr. Lynch. But, without a doubt Florida State is selling him that in the 3-4 he wouldn't get sacks, would just be asked to set the edge and not rush the passer, etc etc. That in the 4-3 he could be a monster getting after the passer and putting up huge sack numbers, etc etc.
Bologna. But its to be expected. Kids like to see themselves a certain way and Lynch isn't sure if he could really do what everyone thinks he could do in the 3-4. Misinformation wins again.
So he wants to party, be the big star in town, have nice weather, then he should (and likely will) go to Florida State. He could be the next Justin Tuck at Notre Dame, but at Florida State, he becomes nothing more than a 4* toy just like all the other toys Florida State has in their chest. There are a long list of good to great linemen who played at Florida State in the 90s. Some have had great careers, some have went pro. But when it comes down to it, he will be just one of a long line.
But he's probably ok with that. He's a good kid according to people who talk to him regularly, who actually KNOW him. I wish him well in his decision, I would love to see him bookend the other side with Tuitt, but as soon as I hit "Publish Post", I'm going to sleep.
Kelly has managed to get the team playing at a high level. Notre Dame ended on a good note, something that hasn't happened for a long time. Lots of talent coming in, and lots of talent still there. I have no worries. People still sit around and wonder "What if Justin Tuck had come back for the 2005 season?"
I walk away from those people. Looking to the future and living in the now is all that really matters, so who cares about the rest? Whats past is past and after signing day, this all becomes the past. I barely care now, I will care even less then.
But for now, in closing. Go Irish, a Legionnaire has returned.
