Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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66 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY LOU SOMOGYI I n recent years, the decision of two cru- cial players to Notre Dame's upcoming football fortunes helped dictate that season's path. After the 2011 campaign, junior line- backer Manti Te'o and classmate/tight end Tyler Eifert both submitted their name for NFL Draft evaluation. Immense relief in the Fighting Irish football offices and fan base occurred when both opted to return for their senior years. One could not fathom the Irish reaching the BCS National Championship Game that season without the presence of Heisman Tro- phy runner-up and Walter Camp Player of the Year Te'o or John Mackey Award winner Eifert, the aircraft carriers on each side of the ball for the 12-1 Fighting Irish. Two years later, when defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt and tight end Troy Niklas both skipped their senior seasons to become second-round picks, their absence became a setback during a disappointing 8-5 campaign in 2014. This past winter, Notre Dame's 2015 sea- son may have been on the line — literally and figuratively — when left tackle Ron- nie Stanley on offense and interior lineman Sheldon Day on defense also submitted their names for NFL evaluation. For a while, it appeared it would be a "split decision," with Day staying and Stan- ley leaving. On Jan. 10, five days before the deadline date, Day declared he would be returning. Meanwhile, Stanley on the same day tweeted out a one-word declaration on where he stood: "Torn." Receiving counseling, feedback and eval- uations from his parents, teammates, play- ers already in the league, including All-Pro and former teammate Zack Martin, Stanley admits his head was on a swivel. Even head coach Brian Kelly paid a visit with offensive line coach Harry Hiestand to re-recruit the potential first-round pick. "It was a little more formal," Stanley said with a chuckle when asked about his meet- ing with the Notre Dame staff. "Everything is more serious when money is involved." Martin actually returned for a fifth season in 2013 because of the unique opportunity to start with younger brother Nick, but he didn't attempt to sway Stanley's decision. "He just wanted me to choose what I wanted to do," Stanley said. "He gave me information of what it was like and his per- spective. "If a guy like Zack wasn't here, it would be much easier to leave. But seeing a guy like that who's really dominated in every facet of the game, it was really something I could look to from a first-person perspective. "It definitely was not an easy decision. … I saw and heard pretty much all of it." The chance for instant gratification with a potential seven-figure contract was particu- larly alluring. "It was really difficult, especially playing in college when you don't get paid … seeing how much you could make in a year or two," Stanley said. After watching Ohio State's national title victory over Oregon Jan. 12, Stanley had a different perspective. He waited until that game would be played to see if it elicited any emotions in him about his present and future. It did, for the better. "I would say the most influential point was probably watching the national cham- pionship game and really being jealous of not being able to be at that top stage, where I want to be," admitted Stanley, who the day after that title tilt announced his own return. "I feel at peace with the decision I made. It was just an ongoing process of me looking at the mirror and asking what I really wanted to do." Seeking The Grand Stage … Again Redshirted as a freshman in 2012 while apprenticing behind future first-round pick and 2014 NFL All-Pro selection Zack Mar- tin, Stanley found himself right in his ele- ment when 12-0 Notre Dame advanced to the BCS National Championship Game to play Alabama. In his four years at Las Vegas superpower Bishop Gorman High, where he also ex- celled in basketball, the Gaels won the Class FIRST IN LINE Tackle Ronnie Stanley's return for his senior year is a vital boost to the offense A starter in all 26 games the past two seasons, Stanley turned down a chance to be a first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA