So much about the coaches. So much about Jimmy and Golden and their leaving.
But, to me, the Irish will go as far as Dayne Crist takes them. Crist is the story this off-season. This is his team. And this has as much to do with what ND's new leader does off the field as it does on it.
Let's not forget, Dayne is the kid that signed up to play at ND right behind the Lebron James of CFB. He's a kid that held together a recruiting class through a 3-9 year - a class that ended up consensus Top 5, and considered by many to be the #1 class in the nation that year.
Crist is the kid that works out in the gym as much or more than his peers. He's a gym rat. He's a worker. And he took on as much of a leadership role as a player could as a backup QB - he led by his work ethic, and by supporting the guys around him.
Now, it's Dayne's turn. Even hurt, this is his team. He's the type of guy that others will follow. He steps up, he does it right, he's a leader.
I'm not sure when he'll be healed, and when he'll be able to play again full speed. It may not even by August, who knows. But make no mistake, Dayne Crist is the leader of this team. As he goes, so go the Irish.
We're in good hands.
Let's get it done, Dayne.
Let's go #10, let's go. Get the boys goin'.
By undnut January 29, 2010 - 11:26 am
I keep picturing that absolute laser of a TD he threw to Goodman against WSU. That was a jaw-dropping indication of the kind of ability Crist has. Good to hear he’s doing the requisite grunt work to get ready.
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By OC Domer January 29, 2010 - 3:08 pm
Foe what it’s worth, my sources report that Dayne looks perfectly healthy when seen around campus. No noticeable limp, no braces, crutches, etc…
Of course, walking through the chow line in the dining hall is different than dodging defensive ends in the pocket, but it’s good to see that he at least looks to be healing well.
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By SDI January 29, 2010 - 7:14 pm
Charlie took a little heat for describing Crist’s injury as not too bad considering it dealt with knee ligaments. Some speculated that he was trying to inject some good news into the mix when things had started to go bad to distract everyone. But truth be told, I don’t think Crist’s injury was as bad as ACL/MCL injuries sometimes are, so it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he made a speedy recovery and was full go by the time August rolls around. Even if he’s only 75 percent of the way there this spring, he can still be involved in a lot of the 7 on 7 drills to work on his timing with the receivers and to learn the new offense.
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By wait what January 29, 2010 - 8:16 pm
I’m sorry, did you just call Jimmy Clausen the LeBron James of college football?
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By The Biscuit January 29, 2010 - 8:29 pm
Wait What: one of the recruiting gurus called Jimmy that back when he was a Jr. in HS. Thousands of recruiting sites and blogs did so as he came out of school. I used the term, but I didn’t make it up. Point is that he came on board with a #1 QB recruit directly ahead of him, and that took balls. BALLS.
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By undnut January 29, 2010 - 11:01 pm
Wait What: Would have preferred the Babe Ruth of college football?
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By Matt Pfeifle January 30, 2010 - 12:39 am
Good to hear Dayne is doing well around campus! I agree with undnut that the TD he threw during the WSU got me excited. Hope fully there is plenty more of that this upcoming season. Good luck Dayne!
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By ted e January 30, 2010 - 3:26 pm
OC Domer’s sources on campus are to be appreciated. (Could that be his daughter by chance?) To see Dayne walking on campus with no apparent problem(s)…great news.
My wife and I were in San Antonio, and I can still picture that pass. Only a few plays later, all of that appeared to be in danger.
Now we have so much to look forward to with the new coaching staff and their emphasis on player development.
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