FB: 2024 Bowl Games

[AustinDevil]

Put me squarely in the "happy for Riley" camp. Hard to say that he made the wrong decision, assuming his goal was to try and win a ring. He may or may not get it, but his decision put him in the best possible position to make it happen.

A lot of folks here were cynical about his departure and seemingly heartfelt statement about his time at Duke. I think it's likely that he truly enjoyed Duke but wanted a shot to play as late in the season as possible.

I don't think he's likely to make a splash in the NFL. He could find a roster spot somewhere, but he doesn't have first string talent. This next game will likely be the biggest competitive moment of his life.

Good luck, Riley!

I agree but would go further--his goal could have been, and likely was, just to play on a bigger stage and there's no doubt that ND FB is a far bigger stage than Duke FB. Winning a natty--if he does--is only gravy. And of course the exposure improves his NFL prospects (from negligible to minimal, but still).

I'll also recognize that taking this attitude enables me to justify feeling OK with Duke FB taking Mensah, and Duke MBB taking their pick of players. I just wish we didn't play in New Orleans next year, but can't fix that part.

 

[sagegrouse]

Defenders can face guard receivers outside of the NFL, so turning to play the ball is not something a defender must do to avoid a penalty at this level (or below).

That combined with essentially zero contact made it a bogus call. The way Warren adjusted his body - turning to face the ball while jumping and having his momentum carry him backward - simply made it look like there was some meaningful contact ... which there wasn't. It had shades of Roach on Davis in '22.

Hell of a game. ND's kicker picked a hell of a time to revert to pre-transfer form. I guess it applies to the whole team, but imagine going from 0-for-2 on FGs vs. Northern Illinois to this.

Moreover, the ball was short and not watchable by the receiver, given enough the position of the other defender, who intercepted it. Contact was minimal.

 

[BrummieDevil]

It was a soft call, but it's also not worth debating too heavily due to the game's outcome. More than anything I just want to make sure it is clear to everyone that in college football you can legally face guard without ever playing the ball.

Considering the same crew did both Georgia-ND and Penn State-ND (poor to questionably), let's hope they don't get the championship game as well.

In fairness, I finally saw an angle of the interception that makes it look more like PI ... but it is from a perfect, crazy angle that's nothing like what the refs had on the field. It's still iffy at best to me when you consider the underthrow and the INT happening in front of where the contact was on a bang-bang play.

 

[kshepinthehouse]

Moreover, the ball was short and not watchable by the receiver, given enough the position of the other defender, who intercepted it. Contact was minimal.

The short throw only helps the argument that’s it’s pass interference. Face guarding prevents the offensive player from coming back to the ball on a short throw.

 

[kshepinthehouse]

It was a soft call, but it's also not worth debating too heavily due to the game's outcome. More than anything I just want to make sure it is clear to everyone that in college football you can legally face guard without ever playing the ball.

Considering the same crew did both Georgia-ND and Penn State-ND (poor to questionably), let's hope they don't get the championship game as well.

Sure you can face guard. But you’re a lot more likely to commit a penalty in doing so.

 

[sagegrouse]

Strange game. It looked like Penn State would win in a breeze. I figured 31-7, or something similar. Riley had a deer-in-the-headlights look in the 1st half. ND was losing linemen right and left.

Then, the FG drive at the end of the half. ND looked much stronger in 2nd half, but game decided on mistakes.
-

 

[Mike Petrik]

I feel kind of bad saying it, but I think [Riley] made a wise decision to transfer.

If he wins a natty, then probably yes.

 

[BrummieDevil]

Sure you can face guard. But you’re a lot more likely to commit a penalty in doing so.

Probably, but it's not illegal on its own as many believe.

What's interesting is that ND was called for a worse PI on the same kind of play against Georgia and there's a chance it was the exact same official (or officials) throwing the flag.

At the very least, I really wish announcers didn't feel it is their duty to cape for every call the officials make. They acted like the below play was a brutal mugging.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1874970445021368536

 

[Mike Petrik]

Strange game. It looked like Penn State would win in a breeze. I figured 31-7, or something similar. Riley had a deer-in-the-headlights look in the 1st half. ND was losing linemen right and left.

Then, the FG drive at the end of the half. ND looked much stronger in 2nd half, but game decided on mistakes.
-

The Nd OL played much better in the second half and allowed a rushing game to emerge. That changed everything.

 

[Mike Petrik]

Put me squarely in the "happy for Riley" camp. Hard to say that he made the wrong decision, assuming his goal was to try and win a ring. He may or may not get it, but his decision put him in the best possible position to make it happen.

A lot of folks here were cynical about his departure and seemingly heartfelt statement about his time at Duke. I think it's likely that he truly enjoyed Duke but wanted a shot to play as late in the season as possible.

I don't think he's likely to make a splash in the NFL. He could find a roster spot somewhere, but he doesn't have first string talent. This next game will likely be the biggest competitive moment of his life.

Good luck, Riley!

I agree with that. Other than foot speed he really doesn't have NFL QB talent. But other athletes with sub-par talent still become skilled enough to succeed because they are really smart and really competitive. I would not count Riley out.

 

[SamHouston]

If ND was Riley Leonard’s dream school, why didn’t he go there as a freshman? He could have walked on in FB or BB.
I know I am in the minority, but he left the only D1 school to offer him a FB scholarship in the middle of his junior year.
Please don’t toss out the NIL argument as a key component. Riley Leonard was going to be financially secure regardless.

 

[Mike Petrik]

If ND was Riley Leonard’s dream school, why didn’t he go there as a freshman? He could have walked on in FB or BB.
I know I am in the minority, but he left the only D1 school to offer him a FB scholarship in the middle of his junior year.
Please don’t toss out the NIL argument as a key component. Riley Leonard was going to be financially secure regardless.

First, I don't know why you think he'd be financially secure regardless, since his NFL prospects were and continue to be quite uncertain. Second, a walk-on seldom gets a fair shot at playing time, let alone starting. Third, his great-grandpa played for ND, and he grew up a fan. Finally, it is hard to resist a natty opportunity. Yes. I'm disappointed, and do feel ambivalence, especially since he was a team captain. But I've made my peace with it.

 

[BrummieDevil]

If ND was Riley Leonard’s dream school, why didn’t he go there as a freshman? He could have walked on in FB or BB.
I know I am in the minority, but he left the only D1 school to offer him a FB scholarship in the middle of his junior year.
Please don’t toss out the NIL argument as a key component. Riley Leonard was going to be financially secure regardless.

Students transfer all the time, so I don't see why there is an expectation that student-athletes would be any different.

And you answered your own question: he chose to pay $0 to attend an elite university instead of $85,000/year to attend another.

 

[Stray Gator]

The Nd OL played much better in the second half and allowed a rushing game to emerge. That changed everything.

Exactly right. Not only did it make the rushing offense more effective, but by doing so, it helped to facilitate ND's passing attack, which was completely overwhelmed by Penn State's defensive pressure in the first half. Even though it improved in the second half (maybe because Penn State's defenders got worn down a bit), I was surprised at how poorly Notre Dame players blocked throughout the game -- and not just the offensive linemen (who were the worst offenders), but it appeared that running backs, receivers, and even punt return special teamers regularly whiffed on routine blocking assignments.

In any event, I thought it was a highly entertaining game, with plenty of exciting plays by both teams on both sides of the ball, and enough genuine drama to keep the viewing audience in suspense right to the end. That's the way all playoff games ought to be.

 

[wavedukefan70s]

The Nd OL played much better in the second half and allowed a rushing game to emerge. That changed everything.

They had a few younger players step up .that rb quit trying to select holes to run and hit them wide open aswell on that first drive after the half .it really changed the momentum .
I love the run game .
I may be wrong .i just don't see anyone stopping ohio state .

 

[BrummieDevil]

Exactly right. Not only did it make the rushing offense more effective, but by doing so, it helped to facilitate ND's passing attack, which was completely overwhelmed by Penn State's defensive pressure in the first half. Even though it improved in the second half (maybe because Penn State's defenders got worn down a bit), I was surprised at how poorly Notre Dame players blocked throughout the game -- and not just the offensive linemen (who were the worst offenders), but it appeared that running backs, receivers, and even punt return special teamers regularly whiffed on routine blocking assignments.

In any event, I thought it was a highly entertaining game, with plenty of exciting plays by both teams on both sides of the ball, and enough genuine drama to keep the viewing audience in suspense right to the end. That's the way all playoff games ought to be.

I wonder how much of a difference, if any, it made that ND was coming off a really physical game with Georgia as opposed to a game against Boise State. Couple that with having two fewer days of rest than Penn State might explain a slower, less sharp start.

 

[cato]

If ND was Riley Leonard’s dream school, why didn’t he go there as a freshman? He could have walked on in FB or BB.
I know I am in the minority, but he left the only D1 school to offer him a FB scholarship in the middle of his junior year.
Please don’t toss out the NIL argument as a key component. Riley Leonard was going to be financially secure regardless.

Really? That is like asking a lawyer that didn’t get a job at their first choice law firm out of law school why they started as a first year at a different firm instead of applying to be an intern at the first law firm. There is zero parallel between trying out to be a walk on and entering a school as a recruited athlete.

Disagree with Riley. Fine. Think poorly of someone you don’t know. Fine. But use stronger analogies to justify your feelings — if you feel a need to justify them.

 

[jv001]

Really? That is like asking a lawyer that didn’t get a job at their first choice law firm out of law school why they started as a first year at a different firm instead of applying to be an intern at the first law firm. There is zero parallel between trying out to be a walk on and entering a school as a recruited athlete.

Disagree with Riley. Fine. Think poorly of someone you don’t know. Fine. But use stronger analogies to justify your feelings — if you feel a need to justify them.

I don't get that some Duke fans hate on Riley and root for the basketball players that transferred. Most of them transferred to better themselves for more playing time, to play a position they thought they should be playing or to put themselves in a position to play professionally.

GoDuke!

 

[duke79]

First, I don't know why you think he'd be financially secure regardless, since his NFL prospects were and continue to be quite uncertain. Second, a walk-on seldom gets a fair shot at playing time, let alone starting. Third, his great-grandpa played for ND, and he grew up a fan. Finally, it is hard to resist a natty opportunity. Yes. I'm disappointed, and do feel ambivalence, especially since he was a team captain. But I've made my peace with it.

Agree with you here, Mike. Yea, I wasn't happy that Riley left Duke but I understand why he would go to ND (at least a few steps above Duke on the college football ladder) where he might have the chance to play for a national title (would never have happened if he stayed at Duke) plus he would have to adapt, for one year, to a new coach and coaching staff (I may be wrong here; I can't remember if Riley left after Midnight Mike made his move to A&M?). Plus, I don't know how much ND offered Riley for an NIL package but I have to believe it was more than he would have received at Duke (and he may never make it in the NFL, so he has to make as much as he can, right NOW). I wish him the best of luck and hope that ND wins the national title. From everything I've seen, RL seems to be an upstanding individual. It's hard to root against him, IMO.

 

[kshepinthehouse]

In other news, Allar says he was trying to “dirt” that ball he threw an interception on. Sure looked to me like he was trying to make a play. If he was truly trying to “dirt” it, that’s probably one of the worst attempts I’ve ever seen.