I'd argue the real reason is the opposite of Jvan's joke.

I'd argue the real reason is the opposite of Jvan's joke.
by IrishJosh24 (2021-01-04 12:54:20)

In reply to: What is it then exactly? posted by Endthecursein05

We don't get traction with many top-100 recruits because they are not idiots. They know exactly what they'll get from places like OSU, Clemson, and Bama - multiple chances to win a title and a pathway to the NFL. And they know exactly what they'll get from ND - one or two chances to be embarrassed in a meaningful bowl and a possible path, largely depending on position (WR, TE, OL, yes; QB, no) to the NFL.

Based on our results and Kelly's leadership, we basically have to hope that the best football players in the country come to our school for non-football reasons. Maybe it would be more accurate to say that we hope to hope the best football players in the country value their educations and post-grad networks more than they value their football futures. Occasionally, that works out, and it's great. It's true that a Notre Dame player (1) will graduate, (2) with a meaningful degree, and (3) will leave with a national network of potential employers if football doesn't work out. OSU, Clemson, and Bama aren't competing on that front. Their players are less likely to graduate, more likely to have less meaningful degrees, and will, at best, have strong regional networks post-graduation.

But the top-100 guys are likely thinking about college as a springboard to the NFL. I'm not saying we shouldn't sell what makes us unique. We should. It adds a ton of value. But we have to be able to sell some football success too. Not just a 10-win season, but a big bowl win, a real chance to be the best.

Right now, we can't. So it's really hard to convince a top-100 player that his best shot at a title or the NFL is Notre Dame. It's especially hard when the coach doesn't think his time is best spent making that pitch.

Clemson, for one, graduates its players. *

About 10% fewer than ND.

I didn't say those schools don't graduate any players. Of course they do. I said football players at those schools are less likely to graduate and also more likely to graduate with less meaningful degrees.

They send way more kids to the NFL early

which is a significant chunk of the 10% difference in grad rates.

Maybe. I haven't dug into the numbers so much.

It doesn't seem relevant to the point I was making about graduation likelihood.

In fact, if anything, the fact that Clemson is sending more players to the NFL supports the broader point I was making about Clemson having a better football story to tell.

We don't sell all of the benefits

and we apologize for all the work they'll have to do.

The name, image, likeness stuff should be an incredible boon for ND. The school could get creative with degree programs while keeping the rigor in place academically. It's all possible with a little less tunnel vision.

And we don't have to convince all 100 of them to come to ND

Five or six per year would be nice, and entirely possible. They're not all dumb mercenaries despite what Jack and Brian would have us believe.