Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/499410
UPON FURTHER REVIEW TODD D. BURLAGE scholarships split among the sopho- more through fourth-year senior classes, and Kelly might find him- self at 91 scholarships, or six over the NCAA limit. So where does Kelly go? Scholarships extended to walk-on players come on a year-by-year basis and are not automatically renewed, meaning Connor Cavalaris, Montgom- ery VanGorder and even Schmidt — all of whom were given scholarships as walk-on players — are not guaran- teed to get the aid again this year. Suffice to say that Schmidt, last year 's team MVP, is safe to have his scholarship renewed, but if Cavalaris and VanGorder return to walk-on sta- tus, two scholarships are freed up and 91 becomes 89. History suggests general attrition — be it through academic issues, legal problems or typical transfers — will help to naturally trim the scholar- ship roster down as well. At least one player has transferred from the Notre Dame program every year since even before Lou Holtz took the coaching job in 1986. Speculating on specific transfers is guesswork at best, but the candidate profile rarely changes; younger play- ers buried on the depth chart with little chance of earning much, if any, playing time. These players often put in the work during spring ball while finishing out this academic semester in preparation to move on in the sum- mer. Thirty-four players in the 10 recruit- ing classes from 2004 to 2013 trans- ferred away from Notre Dame. With all due respect to senior safety Nicky Baratti — who participated in spring ball — three shoulder surger- ies have kept him off the field for all but two games the past two seasons, which might make him a medical hardship candidate, similar to for- mer Irish players Tony Springmann, Danny Spond, Brad Carrico and Bart- ley Webb, all of whom were forced into early retirement due to injuries. Scholarship uncertainty also sur- rounds defensive lineman Ishaq Williams, another of the players suspended all of last season. Kelly in- dicated there are no guarantees Wil- liams would have his scholarship re- newed if he applies for a fifth season and is granted reinstatement this sum- mer. So perhaps Williams might rejoin the team as a walk-on to help ease the Irish numbers crunch? Experience indicates this roster abundance will work itself out, and Kelly doesn't appear overly concerned or panicked about the trim down with about four months still remaining before the 2015 season opener with Texas. "It's a salary cap," Kelly said matter of factly, heading into the spring game. "You've got to get to your salary cap. We'll get to 85." A difficult challenge, indeed, but a welcome one given the roster shortage Notre Dame coaches have faced for more than a decade. ✦ Todd D. Burlage has been a writer for Blue & Gold Illustrated since July 2005. He can be reached at tburlage@blueandgold.com