Friday, January 8, 2010

Welcome Back, Nate!


It's been busy at home and at work despite it being the "holiday" season, so my blogging has suffered recently. But I wanted to bring to you one interesting tidbit that I haven't seen reported elsewhere. Reliable sources are telling me that Nate Montana, lately of the Pasadena City College, will be returning to Notre Dame for the Spring semester (which starts next Tuesday) and he will be playing football in the Spring.

I'm not sure Nate got what he wanted out of his time at PCC, but I am glad to see him back under the Dome. With Jimmy gone to the NFL (by way of the operating room) and Dayne Crist stuck on the sidelines (by way of the operating room), the Irish need some bodies in the mix at quarterback heading into Spring ball. In very limited action during last year's Blue & Gold game, Nate looked very good throwing the ball. He seems to have his dad's knack for throwing a very catchable ball, right on the money.

Joining Nate in the mix (I am assuming Crist will still be at least somewhat limited in the Spring) will be early enrollee Tommy Rees and possibly current wideout John Goodman, who has some QB experience in his background. Also on the roster at QB are walk-ons Brian Castello (6' 2" 191 Lbs. from Pittsburgh, currently a Junior) and Matthew Mulvey (6' 3" 197 Lbs. from Del Mar, CA, currently a Sophomore). With a new coaching staff, a new offense, and a gimpy Dayne Crist, you have to figure the competition at QB in the Spring will be wide open and I wouldn't presume to rule anybody in or out at this time. Who knows which guy might "get" Brian Kelly's offense first and surge to the lead? Will the smartest guy be the best fit? The mobile guys? The big-arm guys? We'll see.

Of course, everyone is still hoping that Coach Kelly will in fact get Andrew Hendrix's name on the line that is dotted come signing day. If that gets locked down Notre Dame will have plenty of talent at the quarterback position come August. Experience will be another matter entirely. We'll find out very soon what kind of coach Brian Kelly is.

At any rate, welcome back to Notre Dame, Nate Montana. And good luck!

16 comments:

Clay said...

I realize I may be nitpicking, and I'm not saying that Nate Montana doesn't throw a catchable ball, but didn't he only throw like one pass in the spring game? I'm not sure about that, I'm just saying. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=I%27m+just+saying

OC Domer said...

Clay - No doubt it's a small sample size. But work with me here. It was a really nice throw down the seam, splitting the safeties. It was better than most of Clausen's throws down the seam, in that the receiver caught it in stride and kept going.

I know I wear Golden Dome-colored glasses.

Clay said...

Hey, no one's ever accused me of being an ND Football pessimist, either. I'm just cutting your onions, bro. And let's face it, the kid's a Montana. He's GOT to have IT.

OC Domer said...

And just for the record, Nate was 2-for-2 for 51 yards, including a long completion of 34 yards. That's 25.5 yards per attempt, and 25.5 yards per completion.

Clay said...

No way you just checked spring game stats. That's awesome. I stand corrected. If you really wanted to blow me away, however, you would have given the QB rating for his 2 for 2 for 51 yard performance.

valpodoc said...

Let's face it, we would all like to be at the game when the announcer calls "Montana in at quarterback..." Load's of warm fuzzies and hopes soaring high.

OC Domer said...

Clay - That's an NFL passer rating of 118.75.

I'm just sayin'

Whiskey said...

You guys are out of control! The funny part is that I had this exact conversation in my own head while reading the post. "OC might be right, wait he's only thrown like 2 passes in the spring game, doesn't matter he's a Montana!!!!" Then I open up the comments and you guys already had the conversation. Good stuff.

Anonymous said...

I was also at the Spring game and Nate impressed me with his throws and when he was warming up.

TBoneND

Anonymous said...

I was also at the spring game and I was wayyy to fucked up to remember anything but the D playing duck duck goose. Good post.

-Todd

Anonymous said...

I was also at the Spring game, and I will add the positive that I felt Nate was impressive in his brief appearance. What I really like is the potential depth that may bring our Irish.

ted e

Anonymous said...

Anyone check out Nate's stats from the Pasadena City College football website from this past season?

Anonymous said...

Montana,Nate 5 games: passing efficiency 62.29; passes/completions/interceptions 88-31-5; completion percentage 35.2; total yardage 324; touchdowns/longest completion/average yards per game 2 25 64.8

source:http://www.pasadena.edu/athletics/football/teamcume_027.htm

Nate apparently was one backup quarterback among several. Make of this information whatever you wish. I think what he accomplishes in spring practice will be much more important than these numbers.

Anonymous said...

What's up, I'm new.

Anonymous said...

What's up, I'm new.

Anonymous said...

Good for Nate. He was three and a half miles from the Rose Bowl. That's the closest a Notre Dame player is going to get to the National Championship game for at least twenty years.

(on a more serious note, no ND fan has a problem with a kid going to a city college for a bit, then re-matriculating to Notre Dame?)