OsceolaNews.com - Fox pledge of historic proportions

Dan Fox doesn't have the story committed to memory.

But at this rate it's just a matter of time before he does.

The outside linebacker from Rocky River, Ohio gave a verbal pledge to Charlie Weis on Thursday during a campus visit, a commitment literally 70 years in the making. That story will make Fox a surefire halftime feature on NBC years from now, although the 6-foot-4, 219-pound athlete should produce headlines with his play too.

"I'm just ecstatic," Fox said. "I'm so happy. I can't wait for it. It's going to be great."

Hopefully as good as the story of how Notre Dame and Fox first linked.

As the tale goes, in the early 1930's Fox's maternal grandfather, Richard Power, traveled from Ireland to Chicago in search of work. With the great depression making jobs scarce, Power got a tip that an Irishman could find employment in South Bend at Notre Dame. He traveled east.

Once in South Bend, Power took a janitorial job at Notre Dame for the next two years from 1932-34, eventually meeting a family that took him home by train to Erie, Pa. Power eventually returned home to Ireland, married, and then immigrated to the United States in 1953. He'd eventually buy a bar named Sullivan's and settle in the Midwest.

"That's what supported us," said Kathleen Fox, one of seven Power daughters and mother of Dan Fox. "It's just gone full circle for us with Danny. It's unbelievable. I'm so thrilled."

Notre Dame likely feels the same way after Fox selected the Irish over Virginia, Michigan State and others. Fox is the sixth verbal commitment in the next Irish class and second from a linebacker after Carlo Calabrese committed last month.

The standout at St. Ignatius, which produced Irish juniors John Ryan and Robby Parris, figured if he ended up in South Bend for good it wouldn't happen until the summer. He'd been told by Notre Dame that he needed to audition for an offer at camp, but that all changed when Weis called two weeks ago with a scholarship offer.

Fox played it cool with Weis but knew right then where he'd ultimately sign.

"In my heart I knew," Fox said. "I really liked some other schools though. I liked Virginia a lot. I liked Michigan State a lot. But it's Notre Dame. I couldn't pass it up. It's the best school in the nation."

In addition to committing to Weis, Fox talked with recruiting coach Brian Polian during the campus visit, his third this year. The four-star prospect also attended a junior day and the Blue-Gold Game. That extended contact let Fox learn where he fits into the Irish scheme. Linebackers coach Jon Tenuta told Fox that he projects at the Sam position.

That suits Fox just fine.

"I'm going to be blitzing a lot," Fox said. "Coach Tenuta told me I could come off the edge real fast. He said that the best players will play on his team. I like how much this defense blitzes. That one of my favorite parts about football."

But Fox, who posted 76 tackles and three interceptions last season, knows how to drop into coverage too. In the 3-4 scheme those drops figure to be an asset Tenuta and defensive coordinator Corwin Brown employ often. Fox said his ability to read quarterbacks is part instinct, but he credited St. Ignatius head coach Chuck Kyle and secondary coach Bryan Massinen too. An extended athletic r?m?lso plays a part.

"It's basketball, it's running hurdles, it all combines into playing football," Fox said.

Historic family connections don't hurt either, although Fox could use raconteur lessons about his grandfather.

"I'm pretty bad at telling that story," he laughed.

No worries.

For Fox, practice will make perfect.

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