Chris Badger from ND going on mission

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/23692/kelly-leads-aggressive-irish-recruiting



The writer says this is a hit to the program. But when byu players go on missions it is obviously a big benefit that nobody else has.

jonnylingo wrote:
http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/23692/kelly-leads-aggressive-irish-recruiting



The writer says this is a hit to the program. But when byu players go on missions it is obviously a big benefit that nobody else has.

I would not be surprised to see Badger never lace it up for ND.



The timing is questionable, Badger left early and went to spring camp and had all spring and summer to spend with his new team... so why the announcement now that he intends on a mission? The timing seems wierd, particularly when he'd be returning and how ND handles their players..unless he had actually turned in his papers several weeks/months ago and is just announcing it now. The kid had already been enrolled at ND and participated in a spring camp.



This kid made a big time mistake by not chosing BYU

Cracks me up how both the ESPN article at the Chicago Trib article call it a "Mormon Mission trip". And how it says the Notre Dame coaches support him going on this "trip". Talk about no understanding of what it really is at all. Having said that, I think it would be great if the Chicago Trib sent some reporter out to follow him around for a few days to see exactly what it is then write about it. Would be some great pub. perhaps if manti Te'o went, this would happen, but that ain't gonna happen.

I like Mormon Mission trip better than "taking" a mission. You serve a mission. You go on a mission. You don't take a mission.



This also tells me that ND is willing to let the kid go. No need to try to persuade a guy out of a mission if he's going to be a non-contributor.

Looks like he'll be suiting up for BYU once he gets back!

craigoscarson wrote:

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/23692/kelly-leads-aggressive-irish-recruiting



The writer says this is a hit to the program. But when byu players go on missions it is obviously a big benefit that nobody else has.

I would not be surprised to see Badger never lace it up for ND.



This kid made a big time mistake by not chosing BYU

Agreed. I thought from the beginning - Chris was making a mistake - switching from Stanford (as I remember - his Father went there) to Notre Dame. As things unfold over the next few years for Chris, I think he will admit to himself - he's made some bad judgements. Bad personal calls about where to play. The Cougs would have been a much better fit & he would have seen more quality playing time.

I never fault a kid from Utah, born here, raised here, etc. for wanting to go out of state to play ball. I love BYU football and want us to get all the best recruits, but I do see the value in going out of state to get an education. Utah culture is great and all, but you can;t fully appreciate it until you have left the place to live somewhere else. And the fact of the matter is that Notre Dame is a fantastic academic institution. I see nothing wrong with choosing between Stanford and Notre Dame. And by the same token, choosing Utah over BYU is just foolishness for the reasons outlined.



My wife wants our kids to go to BYU, but I am hoping they can get in an Ivy league school, etc because they were all raised in Utah County and I want them to experience life outside of Utah. Many of you live outside of the state and can attest to the value in it.

Lawboy wrote:
I never fault a kid from Utah, born here, raised here, etc. for wanting to go out of state to play ball. I love BYU football and want us to get all the best recruits, but I do see the value in going out of state to get an education. Utah culture is great and all, but you can;t fully appreciate it until you have left the place to live somewhere else. And the fact of the matter is that Notre Dame is a fantastic academic institution. I see nothing wrong with choosing between Stanford and Notre Dame. And by the same token, choosing Utah over BYU is just foolishness for the reasons outlined.



My wife wants our kids to go to BYU, but I am hoping they can get in an Ivy league school, etc because they were all raised in Utah County and I want them to experience life outside of Utah. Many of you live outside of the state and can attest to the value in it.

I'm virtually a lifetime out of stater so here's my 2 cents. (I do have a lot of roots in Utah, all my relatives are there and both sets of grandparents are well known in Pleasant Grove and American Fork; but we moved when I was 3 and I havent' had a permanent address there since)



There's plenty of time to experience life outside of Utah. BYU is a safe haven in my opinion.



I took classes at the Y my freshman year but after my mission, I bypassed my chance to graduate from the Y when I was accepted to a 6 yr combined undergrad/medical school in Kansas City. After all of that, I would have chosen the 4 and 4 method so I could have attended BYU. I regret giving up the experience. My other three brothers learned from my mistake and all attended the Y. I got a good education and a crappy experience. They got good educations and a great experience.



Even smart and gifted kids fall off the horse, but at BYU what you're exposed to is much much different than the fraternities, parties, etc. etc. etc. at other schools. As a parent, it's the safe bet. Don't assume that a kid (missionary or not) is immune to those influences.



As far as an undergrad education goes, BYU offers more to an LDS kid than any other school. The socialization, the gigantic pool of LDS girls (try dating in South Bend), and facilities, the football, and people that understand your priorities and where you're coming from cannot be understated. It's safe and it's smart. I'm not saying that you cant' succeed outside of BYU, but I know at BYU you can have a top notch undergraduate education and go anywhere you want to post-grad.



As a parent, I believe in a BYU undergrad education and believe that it can get you anywhere you want to go. BYU undergrads are a hot comodity at most grad schools (in fact BYU sends more students to medical schools than any other school in the U.S.). Ivy League education is overrated at the undergrad level (my brother went to Cornell law school and said that he would never let any of his kids go to an Ivy League school for their undergrad)



Chris Badger, first and foremost, was a Charlie Weis recruit. Whenever the new sheriff comes to town, he tends to prefer his own guys. Badger (like everyone with a brain) had to know that Weis was on thin ice yet stuck with ND. That doesn't neccesarily mean that the new staff will stick with him.

Now, out of the blue a mission annoucement comes at a very odd time, considering Badger participated in the spring and had already been enrolled at ND.

I think in terms of his football career, he made a mistake. I was on the fence about this decision, until the mission plans were announced this late. It makes me believe that ND doesn't see him as an early contributor; and considering how bad their secondary was last year, that's not a good sign.



It sounds to me like after spring ball and summer workouts that he was basically told to get it out of the way now rather than break up his football career.

He was a nobody in terms of recruitment there and might be treated like a nobody when he gets back, particularly since he wasn't even recruited by the current staff. He has gambled on his college football career and I'd be willing to bet we might not ever see him start a game in his ND career.



Badger and his family wanted the Stanford, Notre Dame thing, but I think this will ultimately come at the expense of his college football experience. It seems like a heavy price to pay, when BYU could offer nearly as much as those schools academically, (and a lot that the others can't) and more opportunity to win football games and play.



BYU is not meant for everyone, but if you're inclined to serve a mission and have serious athletic talent; I'd have a hard time telling any kid that's offered a football or basketball scholarship that they could be happier elsewhere. It's the smart and safe decision. A mission at BYU will not hurt your chances to keep your scholarship and it will not reduce your chances at playing time if you work hard to get back in shape.'



If you're not inclined to serve a mission, have little faith that you can abide the honor code (this is not an easy thing for everyone, particularly kids prone to making bad decisions) then I can understand going to a school that will not penalize you for drnking, sex, etc. This for the most part, sums up most of the 4-5 star kids that BYU misses on.



Chris Badger is a kid that would have had great success at BYU and I think he'll reget his decision.

craigoscarson wrote:

There's plenty of time to experience life outside of Utah. BYU is a safe haven in my opinion.



I could have attended BYU. I regret giving up the experience. My other three brothers learned from my mistake and all attended the Y. I got a good education and a crappy experience. They got good educations and a great experience.



BYU offers more to an LDS kid than any other school. The socialization, the gigantic pool of LDS girls (try dating in South Bend), and facilities, the football, and people that understand your priorities and where you're coming from cannot be understated. It's safe and it's smart. I'm not saying that you cant' succeed outside of BYU, but I know at BYU you can have a top notch undergraduate education and go anywhere you want to post-grad.



Chris Badger is a kid that would have had great success at BYU and I think he'll reget his decision.

Well said. Good post. Right on target!

8)

I agree with you Craigo. I hope to move to Utah in the next few years and back to a place with "too many Mormons". Where there are full quorems, you don't have to have tri and quad stake activities to get a good turnout to a stake or Youth Conf dance etc. I'll take it.

What effect does the "Riley Nelson" rule have after his mission? Does he lose a year if he comes to the Y?

jonnylingo wrote:
http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/23692/kelly-leads-aggressive-irish-recruiting

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700048286/College-football-Notre-Dame-player-going-on-a-mission.html



Good for Chris Badger- I respect his decision to serve and I wish him luck!

And now he is transferring to BYU!

Wow it's true! http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/chi-chris-badger-notre-dame-20130827,0,6441012.story



Hate to hear that his mother is sick and can't travel. Any chance he can play DB from safety?

Craigo and Ddawg, kudos. You were right on.

If you jusy look at $ and Cents - a Stanford education trumps BYU. When you look at the total paclage with an eternal family perspective - BYU wins.



Stanford, ND, USC, Cal, Ivy League, Duke, etc., are not bad choices. Very good choices. BYU is better. Now. After marriage. Sure get a law degree at Stanford for divstsity.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

The mom being sick and unable to travel usually results in a waiver on the need to sit out a year.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

so lets say he get the waiver, how does he see the field this year at the Y? Depth at CB?

Talk about a crash course on learning a defense.

stgeorgefan wrote:
so lets say he get the waiver, how does he see the field this year at the Y? Depth at CB?

Talk about a crash course on learning a defense.

No, but Sorenson graduates next year and he would have a good shot at that point with a year under his belt. i think bills is better fitted at strong saftey anyway. i have wondered if he gets switched there after sorenson.

http://www.cougarboard.com/board/message.html?id=11080155" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



Post from his brother. Chris will not play this year. He is walking on. Next year will be his first year to play for us with 3 years left.