Pod of Gold: Notre Dame Football

Tyler James and Eric Hansen discuss what they've been doing with sports being shut down during the coronavirus pandemic, how Notre Dame football is being affected, Irish fans' favorite football plays and the top 10 player surprises during the Brian Kelly Era. Then Tyler and Eric answer questions from Twitter (27:57) and are joined by Carter Karels to cover a recruiting world that never sleeps (49:34).

Former Notre Dame All-American cornerback Shane Walton, who played for the Irish from 1999-2002, joins the podcast to discuss the intricacies of coaching cornerbacks and playing the position, his expectations for the Notre Dame secondary, coaching against Irish QB commit Tyler Buchner in practice and more (1:37). Then Tyler James and Eric Hansen made secondary predictions in the Place Your Bets segment (23:08) before answering questions from Twitter (29:43).

Jac Collinsworth, a 2017 Notre Dame graduate, joins the podcast to discuss his return to NBC Sports, which will include Notre Dame football coverage, his path into sports broadcasting, the biggest story lines of the 2020 season, his expectations for Irish coordinators Tommy Rees and Clark Lea and more (1:24). Then Tyler James and Eric Hansen made Kevin Austin Jr. predictions in the Place Your Bets segment (25:52) before answering questions from Twitter (31:15).

Stewart Mandel, editor-in-chief of The Athletic College Football, joins the podcast to discuss the NCAA exploring transfer waivers and the potential repercussions, Notre Dame’s offseason staff hires, if the Irish can win a national championship in the next decade, Ian Book’s place among the top quarterbacks in the country and more (1:37). Then Tyler James and Eric Hansen made NFL Combine predictions in the Place Your Bets segment (27:38) before answering questions from Twitter (34:28).

Former Notre Dame cornerback Troy Pride Jr. joins the podcast to discuss his experience at the Senior Bowl, how he's preparing for the NFL Draft, how he evaluates Notre Dame's 2019 season from a team and personal standpoint, which Irish cornerbacks and wide receivers have bright futures and what the Irish should identify in a new cornerbacks coach. Then Tyler James and Eric Hansen made predictions in the Place Your Bets segment (24:46) before answering questions from Twitter (27:52).

Former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn joined the podcast to discuss the Irish promoting quarterbacks coach Tommy Rees to offensive coordinator, why he believes the offense is in good hands with Rees, whether Ian Book has reached his ceiling, if Quinn has ever considered coaching and more (1:47). Then Tyler James and Eric Hansen made predictions in the Place Your Bets segment (27:53) before answering questions from Twitter (33:06).

Former Irish center Braxston Cave joins the podcast to discuss Notre Dame's Camping World Bowl victory, how the offensive line fared for the Irish this past season, the importance of a good offensive line coach, quarterbacks coach Tommy Rees' rise to a potential offensive coordinator and more (1:40). Then Tyler James and Eric Hansen made offseason predictions in the Place Your Bets segment (22:02) before answering questions from Twitter (28:10).

The roles are reversed in this podcast with Eric Hansen hosting from South Bend and Tyler James playing the role of guest from the media hotel in Orlando, Fla. On the podcast, Tyler and Eric discuss Brian Kelly's decision to have Tommy Rees call plays and what that means for the future of the offensive coordinator position, how Kelly should handle the job opening, the challenges Notre Dame will face against Iowa State, how focused the Irish are for this matchup, tight end Cole Kmet's NFL Draft decision, Kelly's mood this month and more (2:00). Then Tyler and Eric make predictions for the Camping World Bowl in Place Your Bets (35:56) and answer questions from Twitter (41:51).

Miami (Ohio) head coach Chuck Martin, who coached at Notre Dame from 2010-13, joins the podcast to discuss his time as the Irish offensive coordinator, the relationship head coach Brian Kelly has with his offensive coordinator, the challenges an inexperienced offensive coordinator faces, Tommy Rees' coaching career, Martin's rebuilding of the Miami (Ohio) program into MAC Champions and more (1:46). Then ND Insider recruiting reporter Carter Karels joins the podcast for recruiting predictions with Tyler James and Eric Hansen in the Place Your Bets segment (27:52). Tyler and Eric end the show by answering questions from Twitter (46:11).

Former Notre Dame recruiting coordinator Vinny Cerrato, who served under Lou Holtz, joins the podcast to discuss his career with the Irish, how he became involved with recruiting and developed his prospect evaluations, the importance of building relationships and the tactics he used in doing so, the ways his recruiting background impacted his NFL scouting and front office career, his perspective of the current ND program and more. Then Tyler James and Eric Hansen make predictions for Notre Dame's awards show in Place Your Bets (24:25), provide a season recap for Keeping Up with The Joneses (29:18), hand out the Punctuation Mark of the Year (33:07) and answer questions from Twitter (36:33).