Apologies for the late edition of the Friday notes, but I was chasing a few stories for next week and hopefully they’ll come through. It was a fairly slow week news wise for the Irish, so I’ve expanded this a little bit to take a look at a few key Irish opponents as well.
* Friend of the blog, Bruce Feldman, sent over the link to his interview with incoming defensive tackle Louis Nix. It’s always nice to see a complimentary piece on the Irish at the WWL, and Feldman has always been one of the guys who seemed very fair with his coverage of the Irish the last few years, even taking loads of grief for prediction big seasons from Charlie Weis’ squad the last two years.
If you’re looking for a reason to like Louis Nix, here’s a quote that should sway you:
Nix was also upfront and honest about enjoying the spectacle that recruiting has become, a phenomenon that takes 17-year-old high schoolers and turns them into internet celebrities. When asked about being relieved that the recruiting process is over, here’s what Nix had to say.
Nix might not have the internet celebrity next year, but there are plenty of Irish fans that’ll be watching him intently.
* Eric Hansen of the South Bend Tribune had a nice article on Golden Tate’s draft status, and just how important a few ticks of the stopwatch will be.
“The biggest question is: How fast is he?” ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. reflected during a conference call with a gaggle of media on Wednesday.
“He didn’t separate from the (cornerbacks) on the initial routes. But he was great after the catch in the open field, running with the footbal. He’s not a real tall kid, but he plays tough and physical in games. He shields cornerbacks from the football effectively in tight quarters.
To me, if he runs well, he could be a late-first-round pick. If he doesn’t you’re talking about second or third round for Golden.”
I’m one of Mel Kiper’s biggest fans, and since college, on Draft Day, you can find me huddled in front of the TV for about seven straight hours, instantly agreeing or blasting NFL teams as they pick. For some reason, I find myself siding with Kiper usually, but if he thinks Golden Tate is going in the third round he’s nuts.
I’m amazed at Kiper’s encyclopedia-like knowledge of draft prospects from places like Bethune-Cookman, but his analysis on Tate sounds like a guy that’s only watched the highlights from Irish games. How many corners played bump-and-run on Tate? Other than jumping slant routes, there weren’t many times that he struggled to separate from a corner. If Tate runs anything that’s sub 4.55, I think he’s in the first round. If he doesn’t, maybe he slides into the second.
Hansen points out that Kansas City holds the fifth pick in the second round. With the Chiefs’ lack of depth at wide receiver and Weis’ first-hand knowledge of Golden, I’d be shocked if he slides any lower than there.
* Okay, I couldn’t think of anything that rhymed with Nix and ticks when it came to the NCAA, but two Irish rivals find themselves in interesting situations with the NCAA right now.
The USC Trojans are doing their best to plead ignorance to the misdoings of their athletes and coaches this week as they meet with the NCAA. I’m not hopeful, but if the NCAA doesn’t want to be looked at as complete frauds, they’ll hand down a penalty that’s befitting of the crimes that went down during the past few years under the supervision of athletic director Mike Garrett. If there’s a better example of a lack of institutional control, I’m not sure what it is.
From a great breakdown of the basics, check out Dr. Saturday’s NCAA vs. USC 101.
Meanwhile in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines find themselves caught in a sticky situation of their own making. As Michigan’s Board of Regents met to discuss the NCAA investigation into their football program, they did so confidentially. Not cool, says Michigan grad Robert Davis.
When the University of Michigan Board of Regents met this month for an update on the NCAA
The suit, filed by a U-M alumnus in Washtenaw County Circuit Court, accuses the Board of Regents of violating the state Open Meetings Act, which places restrictions on how and why such public bodies can meet in private.
Robert Davis’ lawsuit says discussing the NCAA probe isn’t a valid reason to meet privately. The Open Meetings Act allows such boards to meet behind closed doors to discuss things such as personnel issues, student disciplinary cases and consultations with its attorney on certain issues. The law spells out procedures that must be followed to go into a private session. The lawsuit claims regents did not follow proper procedure.