NDFB Hoopla

Welcome to the first NDFB Hoopla of the new year!

• By George, it's O'Leary! The recent hiring and firing of former Irish coordinator Mike Haywood at Pittsburgh reminds me of the great days - five to be exact - that Notre Dame had George O'Leary at the helm.

• In a shocking twist, Florida hired former Irish head coach Charlie Weis to be offensive coordinator for the revamped Florida pro-style offensive attack. Part of the reason for Weis attending Florida is so that Charlie Jr. can coach again - this time as a student assistant.

• Frank Verducci, the former Notre Dame offensive line coach under Weis, has been reunited with Weis at Florida in the same position.

• Jack Swarbrick reportedly listened to the same sales pitch recently scooped up by Florida. Weis approached Swarbrick after the 2009 season with the pitch of signing Will Muschamp to be defensive coordinator at Notre Dame for 2010 season with Weis manning the offensive coordinator position for the same season.

• Senior wide out Duval Kamara did not travel with the team to El Paso, and is not enrolled for his final semester at Notre Dame. While circumstances surrounding his departure are unknown, NDFB wishes him the best.

• The South Bend Tribune is reporting former Irish quarterback Jimmy Clausen is enrolled for the 2010 spring semester. Although it appears he will be returning, Stanford QB Andrew Luck was widely rumored to be selected by the Carolina Panthers with the #1 overall pick. Perhaps Jimmy is preparing for life beyond football already?

• Junior TE Kyle Rudolph has officially declared for the 2010 NFL Draft. Rudolph is expected to be the first tight end taken in the draft.

• Check out the Army All-American game tomorrow on NBC at 2 PM where blue-chip recruit Ishaq Williams will make his college selection known. The linebacker from Brooklyn, NY is choosing between ND, Syracuse, and Penn State.

• Irish sophomore guard Alex Bullard announced he is transferring to his home state Tennessee Volunteers. It's hard to fault Bullard who wants to be closer to home after losing his father this past season. NDFB wishes Bullard the best in his life and football career and will miss him in an Irish uniform.