`Nasty” was the word of the day.
And not “nasty” as in the way Charlie Weis promised his Irish would play when Notre Dame hired him.
This was a day in which whispered accusations gave way to outright hostility, a day on which two prominent recruits dissed Notre Dame, and Illinois was left defending its recruiting practices after signing a top-15 class.
The tone was set early by a New York Times story headlined: “Illinois Has Rivals Fuming About Its Recruiting Coup.”
Fired Michigan State coach John L. Smith questioned how a school whose team went 4-19 over the last two seasons could attract such a top-notch class, telling the newspaper: “If they had a winning program and all of that, it would be a different deal. If they had the greatest facilities in the world, then maybe they could sell them. But what are they selling?
“Where there’s smoke, there’s probably fire,” added Smith, whose Spartans were the Illini’s only Big Ten victim this season.
Northwestern even entered the fray, with Wildcats receivers coach Kevin Johns telling the New York Times: “We’re recruiting two different types of character, two different types of kids. They can get in almost any kid that they want. We have to go through academic admissions.”
Illinois coach Ron Zook downplayed the controversy, saying during an interview on ESPNU: “Today is a day for our players. I know this: If that’s all [the Times] can find after all the time they spent, that just makes you feel that much better about the program.”
In December Zook told the Tribune: “There are no skeletons in our closet.”
During a Wednesday conference call Zook said accusations of “impropriety . . . the notion that not all was up to snuff [are off base.]
“For people to say those things. . . . One, we’re not going to have people like that in our program. Two, if you get to know our people, you’ll realize they are not that way,” Zook said. “For the most part we know where [the accusations] are coming from. It’s a shame for people to throw things out there and try to take away from a great university and program.”
Illinois officials wouldn’t acknowledge it, but there’s little doubt they suspect Notre Dame is behind the accusations.
The two teams battled over the last few months for three prominent recruits: Washington, D.C., receiver Arrelious Benn; Simeon defensive end/receiver Martez Wilson and Hubbard running back Robert Hughes.
Benn and Wilson signed with Illinois; Hughes is bound for South Bend.
Notre Dame contends Benn gave one of its coaches an oral commitment months ago that wasn’t publicized. Those are considered “silent” commitments.
Last week Justin Trattou, a defensive end from Ramsey, N.J., who had committed to Notre Dame in May, switched to Florida. A key factor in his decision was Greg Mattison, Florida’s co-defensive coordinator and former Irish defensive coordinator.
The Irish lost two more players Wednesday: Greg Little, a receiver from North Carolina who committed to the Irish in November, announced he would play for the Tar Heels.
Nothing, though, can top the tale of Chris Little, a 6-foot-5-inch, 342-pound lineman from Georgia who’s not related to Greg.
Little committed to Florida State on live TV during the Jan. 6 Army All-America Bowl. Then he switched to Notre Dame, explaining that he was confused about his mother’s preference. On Wednesday he declared he would attend Georgia.
“All’s fair in love and recruiting,” CSTV analyst Tom Lemming said, “but I’ve never seen anything like this. Some kids are more of a pain than they’re worth. The self-entitlement of some players now is completely out of control.
“Committing early now just means that one school is the leader. It’s a bull’s-eye and tells the other coaches which school they should bad-mouth.”
For his part, Weis said the word “commitment” needs to be redefined in recruiting.
“If you’re married,” he said, “you shouldn’t be looking at other women.”
Weis said he would push for the creation of an early-signing period, so players who commit early would not be hounded by rival coaches. Weis would like that period to culminate with an Aug. 1 early signing date.
Even if the American Football Coaches Association cannot gain approval on that from the NCAA, Weis said he would change the way he solicits commitments in the future.
“No soft verbals, no silent verbals, no quiet verbals, OK?” he said. “Either you’re committed or you’re not committed. . . . I think we have to define exactly what the rules are.”
But Notre Dame took a shot from Benn in that regard. He told the Washington Post in a story published Wednesday that Irish assistant Peter Vaas, whom the school let go after the season, peppered him with text messages and phone calls after he had committed to Illinois.
Benn provided one such text message to the Post dated Dec. 17. It read: “FYI, ILL is telling Robert Hughes that they will build their offense around him. Didn’t they tell you that? Coach Vaas.”
Weis’ reply?
“You ask me if coach Vaas sent him texts. Sure he sent him texts,” he said. “You probably could go ask the kid if he committed to us beforehand too–see what he says to that one. It comes down to those silent verbals, all that other type of stuff.
“I don’t think coach Vaas was trying to do anything unethical. . . . [Benn] should wish him well and not point a finger.”
Speaking of pointing fingers, ESPNU analyst Mike Gottfried angrily defended Zook over the New York Times story. Gottfried apparently remains close to Zook, whom he hired as his defensive coordinator at Cincinnati in 1981 and at Kansas in 1983.
After calling the story a “cheap shot,” Gottfried held up a copy and said, “This is not true. The Bill O’Reilly [program] on Fox [News], he has been after the New York Times all year about getting on President Bush . . . inaccurate facts and all that. This is inaccurate also.
“What has happened is there’s a Midwest university that’s out there that has lost some players to Illinois. They’re crying, they’re complaining: `There must be cheating going on because why wouldn’t the players come to our school and why are they going to Illinois?’
“I wouldn’t wrap dead fish in this paper, the New York Times. I don’t care about it, and it’s wrong.”
It was that kind of day.
BIG TEN
Indiana
%%
PLAYER P HT WT HS/HOMETOWN
Chris Adkins CB 6-1 176 Indianapolis
Jeff Boyd DL 6-2 275 Indianapolis
Kevin Burrus DL 6-2 295 Indianapolis
Dane Conwell LB 6-0 220 Upper St. Clair, Pa.
Zach Davis-Walker RB 5-8 186 Plantation, Fla.
Max Dedmond TE 6-5 242 Evansville, Ind.
Jarrell Drane S 6-2 178 Plantation, Fla.
Matt Ernest WR 6-2 175 Crown Point, Ind.
Mitchell Evans QB 6-3 190 West Milton,Ohio
Josh Hager OL 6-7 260 Florissant, Mo.
Chris Hagerup P 6-5 205 Whitefish Bay, Wis.
Darius Johnson LB 6-0 220 Highland Park, Mich.
Fred Jones DL 6-4 242 Tyrone, Ga.
Andrew McDonald OL 6-5 281 Indianapolis
Ian Reeves LB 6-0 220 Ferndale, Mich.
Tyler Replogle LB 6-2 230 Centerville, Ohio
Teddy Schell QB 6-5 210 Barrington
Eric Thomas DL 6-4 250 Cleveland
Dennis Zeigler OL 6-7 315 Indianapolis
Iowa
PLAYER P HT WT HS/HOMETOWN
Christian Ballard TE 6-4 270 Lawrence, Kan.
Jordan Bernstine DB 5-11 200 Des Moines
Broderick Binns DE 6-2 245 St. Paul, Minn.
Bryan Bulaga OL 6-6 290 Marian Cent. Cath.
Jacody Coleman LB 6-3 240 Beaumont, Texas
Lebron Daniel DE 6-2 220 Cleveland
Mike Daniels DT 6-1 240 Blackwood, N.J.
Bruce Davis LB 6-0 225 Cleveland
Cedric Everson DB 6-1 175 Detroit
Zach Furlong TE 6-5 220 Xenia, Ohio
Adam Gettis OL 6-4 235 Lincoln Way East
Cody Hundertmark DT 6-4 260 Humboldt, Iowa
Marvin McNutt QB 6-4 195 St. Louis
Diauntae Morrow DB 6-0 190 Cleveland
Dezman Moses LB 6-2 215 Willingboro, N.J.
Tyler Nielsen LB 6-4 215 Humboldt, Iowa
Jevon Pugh RB 5-10 210 Naples, Fla.
Allen Reisner TE 6-3 220 Marion, Iowa
Colin Sandeman WR 6-1 195 Bettendorf, Iowa
Abe Satterfield DB 6-1 180 Erie, Pa.
Tyler Sash DB 6-1 200 Oskaloosa, Iowa
Markus Zusevics OL 6-5 240 Prospect
Michigan
PLAYER P HT WT HS/HOMETOWN
Zion Babb WR 6-3 190 Montbello, Calif.
Artis Chambers DB 6-2 185 Ft. Wayne, Ind.
Toney Clemons WR 6-2 205 New Kensngtn, Pa.
Marell Evans LB 6-3 220 Richmond, Va.
Vince Helmuth FB 6-1 235 Saline, Mich.
Junior Hemingway WR 6-3 205 Conway, S.C.
Brandon Herron LB 6-2 215 Stafford, Texas
Avery Horn RB 5-11 195 Hanford, Calif.
Mark Huyge OL 6-6 280 Wyoming, Mich.
Ryan Mallett QB 6-6 235 Texarkana, Ark.
David Molk OL 6-2 280 Lemont
Austin Panter LB 6-3 240 Athol, Kansas
James Rogers DB 6-1 195 Madison Hts, Mich.
Renaldo Sagesse DL 6-4 315 Montreal
Ryan Van Bergen DE 6-5 260 Whitehall, Mich.
Donovan Warren DB 6-0 175 Long Beach, Calif.
Steve Watson TE 6-4 235 Cherry Hills, Colo.
Martell Webb TE 6-5 225 Pontiac, Mich.
Michael Williams DB 6-0 190 Camarillo, Calif.
Troy Woolfolk DB 6-1 180 Sugarland, Texas
Michigan State
PLAYER P HT WT HS/HOMETOWN
Andre Anderson RB 5-9 182 Barrington
Aaron Bates P 6-0 190 New Concord, Ohio
Garrett Celek TE 6-5 240 Cincinnati
Kirk Cousins QB 6-3 181 Holland, Mich.
B.J. Cunningham WR 6-2 200 Westerville, Ohio
Mark Dell WR 6-2 185 Farmington, Mich
Chase Dumphord OL 6-5 320 Paris, Ky.
David Duran TE 6-5 235 Marietta, Ga.
Joel Foreman OL 6-3 291 Highland, Mich.
Antonio Jeremiah DL 6-5 295 Hilliard, Ohio
Ishmyl Johnson DL 6-5 260 Rahway, N.J.
Greg Jones LB 6-1 220 Cincinnati
Ashton Leggett RB 5-11 220 Muskegon, Mich.
Jared McGaha OL 6-6 275 Powell, Tenn.
Kevin Pickelman TE 6-3 240 Marshall, Mich.
Arthur Ray Jr. OL 6-3 294 Mt. Carmel
Chris D. Rucker WR 5-10 172 Detroit
Chris L. Rucker DB 6-2 185 Warren, Ohio
Ryan Wheat DL 6-5 308 Flint, Mich.
Oren Wilson DL 6-3 290 Teaneck, N.J.
Minnesota
PLAYER P HT WT HS/HOMETOWN
Duane Bennett RB 5-9 190 O’Fallon
Clint Brewster QB 6-1 190 Denver
Chris Bunders OL 6-3 305 Maple Grove, Minn.
Justin Chatman RB 5-9 165 Mesquite, Texas
Marc Cheatham WR 6-2 210 Oakland
Durrell Clark-James DB 6-1 190 San Francisco
Ryan Collado DB 5-9 165 Cincinnati
Trey Davis OL 6-2 275 Farmington, Minn.
Serge Elizee DT 6-1 300 Miami
Tray Herndon WR 5-10 170 Jacksonville
Harold Howell DB 5-8 160 Jacksonville
Anthony Jacobs DE 6-2 265 Northfield, Minn.
Collin McGarry TE 6-4 230 Stillwater, Minn.
Ryan Orton OL 6-4 265 Eden Prairie, Minn.
Shane Potter DB 6-1 195 Clearwater, Minn.
Eric Small DL 6-2 265 Naperville Central
Andre Tate RB 6-2 215 Mendota, Minn.
Kyle Theret DB 5-11 185 Denver
Curtis Thomas S 6-1 190 Aldine, Texas
Jimmy Thompson WR 6-1 180 Hayward, Wis.
Logan Uu LB 5-10 225 Oakland
Ryan Wynn OL 6-5 240 Plymouth, Minn.
Ohio State
PLAYER P HT WT HS/HOMETOWN
Evan Blankenship OL 6-3 300 Monaca, Pa.
Eugene Clifford DB 6-2 190 Cincinnati
Donnie Evege DB 5-11 185 Huber Hts, Ohio
Daniel Herron RB 5-10 200 Warren, Ohio
Cameron Heyward DT 6-6 280 Suwanee, Ga.
Jermale Hines LB 6-2 205 Cleveland
Nate Oliver S 6-0 195 Lakewood, Ohio
Rocco Pentello S 6-0 195 Westerville, Ohio
Brian Rolle LB 5-11 210 Immokalee, Fla.
Brandon Saine RB 6-1 205 Piqua, Ohio
Dane Sanzenbacher WR 5-11 175 Toledo, Ohio
James Scott DB 5-10 165 Daytona Bch, Fla.
Solomon Thomas DE 6-5 225 W.Chester, Ohio
Devon Torrence S 6-1 190 Canton, Ohio
Taurian Washington WR 6-2 180 Orchard Lake, Mich.
Penn State
PLAYER P HT WT HS/HOMETOWN
Drew Astorino DB 5-11 185 Edinboro, Pa.
Quinn Barham OL 6-3 270 Durham, N.C.
Ryan Breen P 6-2 205 Clarkston, Mich.
Chris Colasanti LB 6-3 209 Leonard, Mich.
Andrew Dailey LB 6-3 220 Massillon, Ohio
Jon Ditto WR 6-3 221 Monroeville, Pa.
Stephon Green RB 5-10 184 Bronx, N.Y.
Kevin Latham DE 6-3 233 Greensboro, N.C.
Josh Marks OL 6-4 300 Catawissa, Pa.
Nerraw McCormack OL 6-5 300 Bronx, N.Y.
Derek Moye WR 6-5 185 Rochester, Pa.
Chimaeze Okoli DE 6-5 275 Virginia Beach, Va.
Ako Poti OL 6-5 300 Daly City, Calif.
Chaz Powell RB 6-1 184 New Freedom, Pa.
Devon Still DE 6-5 250 Wilmington, Del.
Nathan Stupar LB 6-2 220 State College, Pa.
Joey Suhey WR 6-1 205 Loyola Academy
Nick Sukay DB 6-2 200 Mt. Pleasant, Pa.
Andrew Szczerba TE 6-6 260 Wilmington, Del.
J.B. Walton OL 6-3 275 Indian Head, Md..
Stefen Wisniewski OL 6-3 275 Bridgeville, Pa.
Purdue
PLAYER P HT WT HS/HOMETOWN
Jared Crank Fb 6-2 230 Richardson, Texas
Dan Dierking RB 5-10 185 Wheaton Warr. S.
Nickcaro Golding DE 6-4 220 Evanston
Gerald Gooden DE 6-3 220 Hooks, Texas
Wayne Gravesande WR 6-0 175 Irvington, N.J.
Devarro Graves LB 6-3 200 Folkston, Ga.
Malcolm Harris RB 6-0 185 East Orange, N.J.
Tyler Haston LB 6-3 210 Avon, Ind.
Joe Holland DB 6-2 205 Indianapolis
Ryan Kerrigan DT 6-5 230 Muncie, Ind.
Colton McKey TE 6-6 215 Woodlands, Texas
Josh McKinley DB 6-2 210 Leander, Texas
Nick Mondek DE 6-6 245 Naperville Central
Preston Numa DT 6-2 275 Kenner, La.
James Shepherd OL 6-7 300 Crofton, Ky.
Derrick Sherman WR 6-0 170 Cincinnati
Justin Siller QB 6-4 200 Detroit
Charlton Williams DB 6-3 200 Tamarac, Fla.
Wisconsin
PLAYER P HT WT HS/HOMETOWN
Zach Brown RB 5-11 205 Royal Palm, Fla.
Patrick Butrym DL 6-4 245 New Berlin, Wis.
John Clay RB 6-2 220 Racine, Wis.
David Gilreath WR 5-11 170 New Hope, Minn.
Mario Goins DB 6-1 180 Copperas, Texas
Jasper Grimes DL 6-2 275 Riviera Beach, Fla.
Aaron Henry CB 6-0 180 Immokalee, Fla.
Kyle Jefferson WR 6-4 190 Cleveland
Rob Korslin TE 6-5 240 Brookfield, Wis.
Quincy Landnghm DB 6-0 205 Bloomfld Hills, Mich.
Otis Merrill DB 6-0 185 Cleveland
Louis Nzegwu DL 6-3 225 Platteville, Wis.
Josh Oglesby OL 6-7 320 Milwaukee
Cody Rose QB 6-4 185 Elmwood, Wis.
Kevin Rouse LB 6-1 225 Joliet Cath. Acad.
Blake Sorensen LB 6-1 210 Eden Prairie, Minn.
James Stallons QB 6-6 190 Macomb, Mich.
Nick Toon WR 6-3 200 Middleton, Wis.
STATE
Eastern Illinois
PLAYER P HT WT HS/HOMETOWN
D.J. Brown DB 6-1 180 North Chicago
Trevor Frericks DL 6-1 266 Quincy, Ill.
Tim Gritzman TE 6-4 250 Lockport Twp
Ryan Grossman OL 6-4 302 Glenbard South
Julian Harvey OL 6-4 250 Thornwood
Torie Haywood WR 5-11 160 Jacksonville
Willie Henderson OL 6-2 270 Lafayette, Ind.
Luke Hockaday QB 6-2 185 Maroa-Forsyth, Ill.
Darieon Hood RB 5-9 175 St. Rita
Charles James DB 5-8 170 Ft. Lauderdale
Jacob Jean-Charles DB 5-10 193 Miami
James Jones DB 5-10 190 Delray Beach, Fla.
Matt Klein LB 6-0 215 Buffalo Grove
Seth Knolhoff OL 6-5 300 Carlyle, Ill.
Cory Leman LB 6-0 197 Champaign
Kevin Mahoney OL 6-6 315 Springfield, Ohio
Tafari Mahou WR 6-1 200 Morgan Park
Rory Mammano OL 6-4 270 Champaign
Alain Marcelin LB 6-0 215 Mirimar, Fla.
Nick Martinez DB 6-0 208 Mirimar, Fla.
Nick Nasti LB 6-1 227 Plano
Eric Rettke OL 6-3 280 Sandburg
Lorence Ricks WR 6-1 180 Ft. Lauderdale
Guy Williamson OL 6-4 330 Mahomet-Seymour
Illinois State
PLAYER P HT WT HS/HOMETOWN
Eric Brunner DL 6-2 260 Greendale, Wis.
Charles Dennis OL 6-3 290 San Antonio
Tyler Doering OL 6-5 290 Barrington
Christopher Garrett DB 6-0 175 Concord, Calif.
Jarrett Karn OL 6-4 260 Spring, Texas
Drew Kiel QB 6-3 212 Columbus, Ind.
Marcus King WR 6-4 195 Bloomington
Mark Martin LB 6-0 235 Milwaukee
Mitchell Moore RB 6-0 205 Warren Township
Antwan Ryles LB 6-0 215 Orlando
Raymond Sankey DE 6-2 222 Proviso East
Cameron Thompkins DB 6-0 175 Sanford, Fla.
Cody White TE 6-5 240 Bloomington, Ill.
Wesley Williams DL 6-2 245 Ann Arbor, Mich.
Keenan Wimbley DE 6-2 255 Ocoee, Fla.
Southern Illinois
PLAYER P HT WT HS/HOMETOWN
Deji Abdul Karim RB 5-10 200 Oklahoma City
Joe Allaria QB 6-2 190 Edwardsville
Bobby Brenneisen QB 6-1 185 Sacred Heart Griffin
Chance Coda FB 6-3 230 Grand Rapids, Mich.
Kyle Dougherty P 5-10 185 Merritt Island, Fla.
Jeffrey Evans WR 6-0 200 Ft. Myers, Fla.
Stephen Franklin LB 6-1 220 North K.C., Mo.
Rashad Graham DB 6-1 180 Russellville, Ala.
Tyler Graves OL 6-2 290 Hutchinson, Kan.
Connor James LB 6-1 210 Mattoon
Travis Littles DL 6-1 260 Hoover, Ala.
Korey Lindsey DB 5-11 180 Baton Rouge, La.
Mike McElroy WR 6-2 185 Lowell, Mich.
Steven Morse DB 6-2. 185 Ft. Myers, Fla.
David Pickard OL 6-4 280 River Forest
C.J. Robertson TE 6-1 230 Neuqua Valley
Jason Seaman DL 6-4 255 Mahomet-Seymour
Alex Smith DB 6-2 185 Funiak Springs, Fla.
Matthew Van Dril OL 6-4 280 St. Charles North
Larry Warner RB 5-7 180 Vicksburg, Miss.
Frederick Wright LB 5-11 202 Ft. Valley, Ga.
Kendrick Young DL 6-1 235 Taylorsville, Miss.
Western Illinois
PLAYER P HT WT HS/HOMETOWN
Clinton Barley DL 6-3 300 Wichita, Kan.
Justin Brown QB 6-2 180 River Forest
Anthony D’Astice LB 6-2 220 Addison Trail
Teague Dentino LB 6-3 230 Metamora, Ill.
Brandon Dixon OL 6-6 280 Sarasota, Fla.
Chris Fuchs P 6-1 190 Pembrke Pines, Fla.
Josh Gabelmann FB 6-0 225 Bettendorf, Iowa
Josh Galloway DL 6-2 250 Reno, Nev.
Mike Garoppolo LB 6-2 230 Rolling Meadows
Brandon Heard RB 5-9 195 O’Fallon. Ill.
Cameron Koehne DL 6-5 245 Indianapolis
Mike Lamphear OL 6-4 240 Hinsdale South
Dave Oswald DL 6-6 235 Cary-Grove
Enock Presendieu OL 6-4 285 W. Bradenton, Fla.
Quinntavius Smith DB 6-0 180 Riviera Beach, Fla.
Todd Speight WR 5-7 155 W. Bradenton, Fla.
Mike Stieren DL 6-1 215 Sacred Heart Griffin
Vince Veltre LB 6-2 215 Gibsonia, Pa.
Trent Yancy WR 5-8 180 Simeon*
*–last at Pasadena CC
———-
tgreenstein@tribune.com
%%
%%
%%
