The first day for high school players to commit to colleges and universities is over. And it appears that the Irish did very well.
As a college football fan, you can get geeked about the potential impact of new prospects, envisioning ND gridiron glory with the next Rocket Ismail or Joe Montana.
Over the years of following ND football, I became jaundiced about the ability of successful recruiting to predict successful game day performance. And I think it's because, for some years before Brian Kelly became the coach, players perhaps with oodles of potential weren't realizing their potential - weren't being developed by their college coaches.
It appears that's over, and that four and five-star prospects will help ND improve and ascend again to the highest tier of college football.
Last night, a five-star prospect named Eddie Vanderdoes, a defensive tackle from California, signed with ND. He waited until 8 PM EST, an unusual thing, and he selected ND.
I suppose players select teams for countless reasons - some good, some maybe not so good. But a quote from Vanderdoes published in Irish Illustrated last night resonated with me, having visited the ND campus several times in the last 25 years.
The post went: "Call the Mayor: Eddie Vanderdoes picks Notre Dame. He is profoundly relieved and ecstatic and says 'I love South Bend!'" (Bolding, italics mine).
Amen to that, brother. And as the ushers say in the football stadium as you make your way to your seat, filled with anticipation: "Welcome to Notre Dame!"
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