Irish Insights

Attention! We're Moving! Attention! We're Moving!

Anyone got a forklift?
Yep, we here at Insights are moving. No, we're not leaving the paper (sorry, boss), but rather this humble little blog is changing addresses.
So starting tomorrow, switch over your bookmarks to http://www.journalgazette.net/irishinsights.

We'll be posting over there -- already started, actually -- from now on so eventually our first site will become obsolete. Yes, we're sad about it, too. It's a different look and we're hoping to add more and different options in the future. As far as comments over there, you have to register your e-mail first, but you only have to do it once so it shouldn't be too much of an issue.
Sorry for the inconvenience. If anyone has any questions, feel free to e-mail me at [email protected].
See you on the other side.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Hansbrough To ND?

Ben Hansbrough took a visit to Notre Dame's campus over the weekend and liked what he saw.
"It went really well, that's all there is to it right now," Hansbrough said Monday. "Give me a couple days and maybe we'll be talking a lot more."
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound sophomore guard is looking to transfer from Mississippi State, where he started 28 games for the Bulldogs and averaged  10.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and shot 35.8 percent from the three-point line. He also shot 41.5 percent from the floor.
Going through the recruiting process a second time, Hansbrough also has a better idea of what he's looking for.
"What makes you happy as a basketball player and a student," Hansbrough said. "I think Notre Dame is a great fit for what I'm looking for."
He said he'll have a decision in a couple days.
Should he pick Notre Dame, Hansbrough would be the only new face in South Bend in 2008-09, but would have to sit out a year due to NCAA transfer rules. He'd be eligible right as a bunch of spots open up in the Irish rotation with the graduation of guard Kyle McAlarney, swingman Ryan Ayers and forwards Zach Hillesland and Luke Zeller. So at least three starting spots could be up for grabs by then.

Oh, and if you didn't know, Hansbrough is the little brother of North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough. And here's a YouTube tribute to Ben:

-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Bettis To Speak

Commencement speakers are always a tricky thing. Some can be funny. Some, like Rudy Guiliani at mine at Syracuse in 2002, can be famous and newsworthy and others can be state senators or somebody local.
Others can be a disaster.
This is the world Jerome Bettis is joining this week. The former Notre Dame running back and Pittsburgh Steeler will talk to the Duquense graduating class Friday at the A.J. Palumbo Center.
It should be an interesting speech, as Bettis is beloved in Pittsburgh and he's a pretty good public speaker.
Of course, the most famous commencement speech of all time never actually happened. The "Wear Sunscreen" speech, rumored to be given by late author Kurt Vonnegut to MIT, was actually written in 1997 in the Chicago Tribune by Mary Schmich. It is, by far, one of the better non-speech speeches we've heard/read.
-By Michael Rothstein of the Journal Gazette

Notre Dame Free Agent Signings

Unlike last season, when Darius Walker's free agent signing took almost a week, Notre Dame's undrafted players quickly found free agent homes.
Linebacker Joe Brockington is headed to Buffalo, running back Travis Thomas to Cleveland, long-snapper J.J. Jansen to Green Bay.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Sullivan To Minnesota

Notre Dame center John Sullivan is headed to Minnesota. The Greenwich, Conn., native was selected with the 187th pick during the sixth round. It's a good position for Sullivan, as the only center the Vikings have on the roster is Pro Bowler Matt Birk. And there is only one left guard, too, in Steve Hutchinson, another Pro Bowler.
So he'll be able to learn and potentially take over one day as Birk has been in the league 10 years and Hutchinson seven.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Drafted Before The Party

The relief -- and the selection -- came before many people even showed up.
Tom Zbikowski was planning on having about 150 people at his house at some point Sunday to celebrate his being drafted into the NFL. But the announcement came sooner than expected, as Zbikowski went in the third round to the Baltimore Ravens with the 87th pick.
We caught with Zbikowski a couple hours later after he hung up with the Ravens.

Irish Insights: It was maybe a little bit earlier than you thought. Take me through your emotions today now that it's done and all that.
Tom Zbikowski: "Yeah, definitely I was up at 6:30, 7, excited that this was going to be the day. Hopefully it would happen sooner than later. We were kind of sitting around, had like four TV's on and everyone's watching ESPN or the NFL Network in different rooms doing their own thing. They called my house and my dad yells my name and I knew as soon at it happened and everyone in the house knew. I picked up the phone and my mom and my sister were jumping up-and-down non-stop and starting to cry and everything."

II: When your dad yells your name, are you watching the TV so you know who it is?
TZ: "Nah, not really. I knew who was coming up pretty soon and any time he yells my name like that I know A) I'm in trouble or B) it's something important I gotta get there. So I definitely knew something was coming up pretty soon."

II: When you see it's Baltimore, is that a good fit for you? Is it a place you wanted to go?
TZ: "I think it is. The way they play defense and everything and definitely with Under Armour being out there, too, you're in-and-out of that city a couple times this year. It's a nice city and they have great football fans and we were in that stadium when we played Navy, too, so it's a great stadium to play in."

II: Did you immediately think about that when you heard it was in Baltimore?
TZ: "Uh, a little bit. You're thinking about guys like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, that you're going to be able to play with these guys."

II: What did Baltimore tell you? Did they give you an idea of what your role might be or what they envision for you early on?
TZ: "Obviously being on special teams, trying to contribute, and then work my way up in the secondary."

II: Having Ed Reed in front of you, is that one of the best case scenarios for you?
TZ: "Yeah, definitely. Having that guy in front of you, watching him play and get history back on what he's seeing, trying to learn as much as possible from him."

II: When you're going through all this, is it more relief that it's finally over or are you just stoked right now?
TZ: "It is more relief, just knowing where you're going to play is the biggest thing. Knowing the coaching staff and where you're going to be living and now all my boys are trying to go and find Baltimore Ravens jerseys."

II: They aren't going to wait for them to make one with your name on it?
TZ: "Nah, man. Everyone's trying to get black and purple as fast as possible."

II: Is Baltimore a place you thought you might end up?
TZ: "Not really. I talked to them a couple times but when you go through the process you're not sure where you're going to end up. I knew they needed some safety help and some special teams guys."

II: So were you like 'OK, that could be a fit?'
TZ: "Now, looking back on it, that's where they were looking but going through the draft every team that comes up you hope that's the team but now that it's Baltimore you know what type of defense they play and that they need help at safety."

II: What was Saturday like for you?
TZ: "It was good to see Trevor and John go and I'm happy for them but as a competitor you want to be drafted as high as possible but third round isn't too bad for a safety."
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Building Legos And A Career

Before Saturday's NFL Draft, John Carlson said he wanted to avoid watching the festivities that would decide his future on ESPN. And he ended up being successful in that -- although his wait ended a little sooner than he thought.
Carlson was building Legos with his 5-year-old nephew when his fiancee ran over with his cell phone. The whole Carlson household in Litchfield, Minn., became excited as he ran to find a quieter room.
Then, he found out he'd become a Seahawk, selected with the 38th overall pick in the NFL Draft.
We caught up with Carlson, who estimated he had 30 people in his house Saturday, a few hours later.

Irish Insights: Take me through your emotions when you see Seattle pick you and you're the second tight end taken.
John Carlson: "Honestly, I wasn't even watching. That was kind of my plan throughout this process. I knew that when the time came, I would get a phone call. Actually, I was playing with my 5-year-old nephew putting together a little Lego set and my phone rang and my fiancee ran the phone over to me and I picked up and it was Seattle."

II: Did you immediately drop all the Legos?
JC: "I sprinted to a quieter room because everyone kind of got excited when I got a phone call."

II: Did you even think Seattle was a possibility?
JC: "Well, I knew they had a later pick in the second round so it could be an option. I knew they needed a tight end but I wasn't sure if they were interested in me or a Fred Davis or (Dustin) Keller, but Keller was gone. I knew they needed a tight end but I didn't know they were going to call me."

II: After you hear you are going to Seattle, take me through your emotions then. Do you click on the draft then? Is it pandemonium?
JC: "It was crazy. My fiancee gave me a big hug and I was talking to all the coaches and everything and I was trying to get everything set up for my trip out there but it's really surreal. I don't know if it's even hit me yet."

II: Do you know much about Seattle? I know you guys were out there a few years ago.
JC: "I've been there twice, once for our game and another time previously. I have family in Portland, Ore., so that was the last time I was out there, visiting them. It's a beautiful city, from what I saw of it last trip, and I couldn't be happier to be a Seahawk."

II: Has the family from Portland already got in touch with you and said 'We're going to see you a lot more?'
JC: "Honestly, I haven't had a chance call anyone yet. I've been setting up my trip out there for minicamp and answering phone calls from the Seahawks so I haven't talked to them yet. I'm going out tomorrow for a press conference, which will be Monday, and then I have a mini-camp starting Thursday next week."

II: Like you said, it hasn't necessarily hit you yet. When do you think that might happen? Would it be when you go to sleep tonight, like 'Whoa, I'm a professional now?'
JC: "That's a good possibility, I'll lay down tonight and finally have a chance to sit and gather my thoughts because a lot is going on right now. But I'm really excited and extremely happy to be part of the Seahawks organization and I can't wait to get out there and start working."

II: How many friends and family do you have around you?
JC: "I got my immediate family, my older sister, her husband and their two kids. My older brother and his wife. My younger sister. My fiancee and her parents. My parents and close family friends. There's probably 30 people here in my small house in Litchfield, Minnesota."

II: Is that the most people ever in your house?
JC: "Yeah, probably. We like to get together as a family. I wasn't planning this as a party but as an opportunity for the family to get together. We were hoping it would turn into a party and it has now."

II: What did the Seahawks people tell you and the indication they've given you?
JC: "There's an opportunity and they need a tight end. Nothing is promised to me and I don't have anything guaranteed but I have an opportunity to earn a spot, which is great. It's all you can ask for and I'm excited to get out there."
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Laws To Philly

And then there were two.
Notre Dame now has two second round picks as Trevor Laws was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 47th overall pick.
The Eagles now have two Irish defensive linemen as he'll join Philly's second round pick last year, defensive end Victor Abiamiri.
Laws, who had 112 tackles, five pass breakups and four sacks as a senior last year, will compete with former USC products Mike Patterson and LaJuan Ramsey, Texas Tech's Monte Reagor, Brodrick Bunkley, Jeremy Clark and Kimo von Oelhoffen for one of two starting defensive tackle spots.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Carlson To Seattle

Notre Dame didn't have to wait too long to have its first player picked in the 2008 NFL Draft.
Tight end John Carlson was the second tight end picked Saturday, going to the Seattle Seahawks in the second round with the 38th overall pick. Carlson spent his draft day at his hometown of Litchfield, Minn., with his family and his fiancee. Carlson led Notre Dame last season with 40 catches for 372 yards and three touchdowns.
Seattle is a good fit for Carlson as the Seahawks were looking for a tight end. The current Seattle depth chart has Will Heller as the starter with Jeb Putzier, Joe Newton and Zac Alcorn as backups.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

More With Tom Zbikowski

We sat down at length with former Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski last weekend as he put final touches on preparing for this weekend when he'll finally find out what NFL team he'll be drafted by.
Here's some things that didn't make our story on Zibby.

• His first car, a 1991 white Cadillac Seville with red interior, cost him between $1,800-2,000. It also had a La Cucaracha horn that he'd often hit around his Arlington Heights, Ill. neighborhood. When he got to Notre Dame, he brought the car and drove it around campus for his first two years.
  "It used to crack people up," Zbikowski said.
  He said the windows were tinted and that he might look into buying another '91 Seville for his transportation although he fell in love with the Cadillac Escalade he was driving recently.
  But at Notre Dame, the car made Zbikowski stand out immediately.
  "There's an Escalade there, a Mercedes there, ya know, all new cars," Zbikowski said. "Then there's this thing with the La Cucaracha horn and (stuff). It's like 'Who's this kid?'"
  Soon enough, everyone at Notre Dame found out.
• Zbikowski said he currently doesn't have an e-mail address and that his computer is broken.
• As of Sunday, the Panthers, Jaguars, Ravens and a few other teams inquired about Draft Day and emergency Draft Day phone numbers for Zbikowski.
• Zbikowski felt the Senior Bowl really helped his stock.
  "People saw me play in person and saw the athleticism and covering skills when I was covering the tight ends, too," Zbikowski said.
• His favorite memory was a 75-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown against Michigan State in 2004. It was his first college touchdown and helped make his name early as a playmaker.
• He said pretty much every NFL coach brought up last season.
  "A lot of them, they all get their shots in," Zbikowski said. "Coaches are ballbusters, too. They are like 'Oh, what happened?' It's like 'Do you have five hours to talk? Plenty of (stuff) happened for why we went 3-9.''
  He also said every interview included some boxing talk, mostly of Zbikowski reassuring teams his career is over as long as he's playing football.
• While Zbikowski said he wants to play for any team, the Bears hold a special place for him. He grew up watching them in the suburbs of Chicago.
  "Obviously I'd love to play for the Bears, don't get me wrong," Zbikowski said. "It makes it a lot easier, too. You get to stay home, family and friends, every one of my family and friends wants me to play there because they are Bears fans."
• Zbikowski planned his St. Maarten vacation the second Notre Dame became bowl-ineligible. It ended up rejuvenating him mentally, but food poisoning took its toll physically.
  Still, he needed to get away.
  "I was like 'When's the banquet, I need to get out,'" Zbikowski said. "I'd have killed someone if I had to come home. At least you're gone for a week and the season should be forgotten by then, especially if you're not in a bowl game.
  "We at least won our last game."
• Since the beginning of the season, Zbikowski said he hadn't watched SportsCenter. He has, though, seen Cubs games and there was one on his kitchen television as we chatted, followed by a boxing match and then a first-round hockey playoff game.
• Zbikowski was surprised how many players at Notre Dame actually read fan message boards. And he knows the consequences, too, of a constant news cycle with anonymity attached to it.
  "I read them a couple times and I was ready to kill somebody," Zbikowski said. "You have people that are supposed to be your fans that are just endless on badmouthing you and your teammates.
  "I don't know if I had any problems with (trusting people) but a lot of people will say one thing and then write it all over the message boards. One of the first times I ever asked anybody, I'm like 'Do you subscribe to these, do you write on these, do you look at these because if you do, I'm not going to talk to you because I know you're just going to go.' How easy is it. No one knows what your name is and what you're going to write on it.
  "For me, I don't want to talk bad about anybody but I was raised a lot differently. If you're going to say something, you better own up to what you say, not have an assumed name and hide behind it. If you're going to say something, you'd better back it up."

-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette