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Post being replied to

taking 10-15 JUCO guys a year wouldn't help ND at all by jt

for one, there aren't enough real difference makers at that level to contribute at ND, and secondly (more importantly) for the most part juco kids are not a good cultural fit at Notre Dame. Last but not least, Notre Dame already recruits at a high level (and it should be higher, to be honest) and already fills in with transfer portal guys (whom they use to cover up either past recruiting or development issues, whichever term you prefer to use).

As to this "bond between students and student athletes" that gulf seems to be getting wider by the years. Athletes are encouraged to live off campus so that they can pocket the excess housing allowance (and it's their only source of income, as they aren't allowed to have part time jobs). Athletes are steered into specific majors (not at ND necessarily, but at many schools) and towards specific professors. Training table is often at the field house and not at the cafeteria, etc.

In short, your vision of the ideal of college football and what makes it special largely doesn't exist any longer. It's truly unfortunate and the result (IMO) of greed at the top levels of school administration.

But hey, Gene Smith and Jack Swarbrick (two Notre Dame men) are rich, so it's all good.