When considering Notre Dame`s chances of repeating as national champion, most pundits have pointed out the tough schedule the Irish face this year.
They didn`t expect Notre Dame to be its own worst foe. But that`s what the Irish faced Wednesday.
The university shot itself in the foot with announcements by coach Lou Holtz that three of his key starters from last year won`t play because of academic and disciplinary actions.
All-America linebacker Michael Stonebreaker, who apparently battled back from a potentially career-threatening injury suffered in an auto accident, and Tony Brooks, Notre Dame`s second-leading rusher last season behind Tony Rice, have likely seen their final playing days for the Irish.
The university`s Office of Student Affairs, which operates independently of the athletic department, suspended Stonebreaker from the team for his senior year and refused to allow Brooks to re-enter school for disciplinary reasons, Holtz said.
Another serious loss was George Williams, left tackle on the dominating three-man defensive front of the Irish. Williams was ruled academically ineligible for the season because he failed to maintain a 2.0 grade-point average for the spring semester which included a summer session in which he achieved passing grades.
Holtz also announced that Braxton Banks, who shared fullback duties with Anthony Johnson last year, will miss the season because of a knee which failed to adequately respond after surgery.
The losses mean another year of shuffling players to new positions after the Irish had looked relatively established following spring practice.
Donn Grimm will take Stonebreaker`s position at inside linebacker. Bob Dahl, who backed up Jeff Alm at the other defensive tackle, will get first crack at plugging the void left by the 277-pound Williams.
”There is some trepidation at the present time,” Holtz said in trying to assess the impact of the losses, which will also result in a lack of backup experience. ”As we approach the season, we have 14 positions on the second team who have never played a down.
”We have a tradition,” Holtz continued. ”Notre Dame has a way of rising to the occasion, but we do have probably more question marks at this stage than we did a year ago.”
In addition to the potentially deleterious impact on the Irish football fortunes this season, the losses demonstrate the lengths to which Notre Dame will go as an institution to preserve what it perceives to be its integrity and reputation for academics and discipline.
There are some here who believe the penalties for Brooks and Stonebreaker are similar to a jail sentence for jaywalking, though they won`t comment publicly.
The fact is Stonebreaker and Brooks would never have been disciplined in such a severe manner at other schools.
Even in Williams` case, Notre Dame`s required 2.0 grade-point minimum is higher than the floor set by the NCAA for continued academic eligibility.
”Many times what seems to be a very, very minimal offense elsewhere seems to be quite major here,” Holtz said. ”That`s Notre Dame and that`s how they operate this university. And they have been awfully successful.”
Brooks` departure, in particular, came as a shock.
He was barred from spring practice for violating an undisclosed university regulation earlier this year. He was also ticketed for leaving the scene of an accident, which caused property damage, and driving without a valid license.
He withdrew from the university in the spring, citing ”personal reasons,” but attended summer school and did well academically, according to Holtz.
Throughout the summer, officials with the athletic department and coaches said Brooks had seemed to turn things around and was expected to play.
”It`s incredible. I`m shocked,” said Ricky Watters, the starting tailback who was expected to split rushing duties with Brooks. ”We were just talking about the Pony Express together and everything being renewed for the upcoming season.
”It`s a whole new dimension that`s been dropped on us, now.”
Stonebreaker, if healthy, would have been the top contender for the best linebacker in the country this year.
He was involved in an auto accident earlier this year in which he suffered career-threatening injuries and was charged with driving under the influence.
He pleaded guilty and worked off 80 hours of court-ordered community service.
Even though he has his regular driver`s license back, he is under a university ban from driving on campus.
Recently, according to a statement he released, he moved a friend`s car about 300 feet from a no-parking zone in front of his dorm.
The university disciplinary action apparently stems from that incident. The Office of Student Affairs will not comment, citing confidentiality between the student and the school.
Just days ago, after a summer of painful rehabilitation, Stonebreaker had passed physical tests which would have allowed him to start scrimmaging with the team. He no longer experienced double vision and he regained the strength in his legs lost by the immobility of a dislocated hip.
Holtz said he expected that Stonebreaker would have made it back from his injuries.
”This is something you wonder why,” Holtz said. ”No one can make these decisions unless you have all the facts and I don`t have all the facts. ”Do I have remorse? I have tremendous remorse. Do I feel down? Do I feel depressed? I feel tremendously depressed.
”Am I bitter at the university? No.
”The things that make Notre Dame the most difficult place to win make it the easiest place to win-the discipline and the caring which transcend onto to the football field.”
