A stuffed 20 minutes today, with a rock music theme as Charlie Weis had it blaring the entire time:
- They moved practice inside to the Loftus Center.
- Song list went as follows: 1. Glory Days by Bruce Springsteen; 2. Runaway by Bon Jovi; 3. Hungry Heart by Bruce Springsteen; 4. Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi; 5. Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen. Then we were booted.
- With the music blaring, the practice seemed upbeat. Rhema McKnight seemed especially hyped, doing a little breakdance before falling to the ground for stretching and then a hand-wiggle while he went to stretch out Jeff Samardzija.
- Scouts from the New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans were in attendance.
- Athletic Director Kevin White and Associate Athletic Director Stan Wilcox -- both Long Island natives -- were there, too.
- Second group of offensive linemen during drills today: Brian Mattes, Eric Olsen, Dan Chervanick, Matt Carufel and Paul Duncan. Mike Turkovich was on the third line. Who knows if this means anything, but it could hint that Carufel could be one of the freshmen making the trip.
- Freshman walk-on fullback Dex Cure -- best name on the team -- lost the ball during a high-step drill when assistant coach Michael Haywood tried knocking it out. After the next run through, he motioned to Munir Prince to tuck the ball tighter.
Also, some observations from Irish Insights World Headquarters (otherwise known as the Martin's Supermarket in South Bend.)
- Former Notre Dame basketball coach Digger Phelps was food shopping wearing a University of Washington basketball shirt.
- The Santa Clara women's soccer team was eating lunch there.
We'll have more after practice and we're heading to Atlanta on Friday.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

We're making progress.
Posted by: 73Champs | September 01, 2006 at 10:17 AM