The Bowen Family Enjoys Another Trip to Notre Dame
Amee Bown is the mother of four kids and two have become the focus of the college football recruiting world.
2023 safety Peyton Bowen committed to Notre Dame in January, while 2024 cornerback Eli Bowen holds close to 10 offers before he starts his junior season.
The Bowens made their third trip to Notre Dame over the weekend for the Blue-Gold Game and it was an important trip as a mother.
"It was really good,” Ms. Bowen told ISD. “The main thing I was excited about was Peyton getting to hang out with the other 2023 commits to build those relationships. To me, even if coaches change or whatever else happens within the school, if they're building their own class, then I feel they'll be OK.
“And that's what happened. They hung out all on Saturday until 1230-1:00 in the morning playing games, hanging out and talking - even the 2023 and 2024 recruits that aren't committed to Notre Dame. It was neat."
During the weekend, Ms. Bowen was able to have conversations with not only those in the football program, but several parents of commits and recruits.
That said, Ms. Bowen’s favorite moments came from simply watching her boys interact with the other recruits and just be kids for a few hours.
"It was kind of cool because Adon's dad came up and asked to get a picture with Peyton because he's the man and one of my favorite players,” laughed Ms. Bowen. “Peyton played against Jaden Greathouse and they hung out with (Rodney) Gallagher all day.
"They were sitting outside at one of the picnics racing cars and stuff for about 30 minutes. That's what I was excited about seeing - not to mention just getting back on campus."
The conversations with other parents were also an important part of the trip as Bowen was able to explain to others why her son picked Notre Dame and why she felt comfortable with the decision.
There, unfortunately, isn’t a book about how to handle recruiting, so being able to pick other parents brains is invaluable as each recruitment is different, yet similar in certain aspects.
"It's huge and that's what I was telling even some of the commits and recruits parents,” explained Ms. Bowen. “They just want to know the same thing. They want to know how we feel about it or what I see in Notre Dame.
"When you go to a school recruiting your son, you're looking at who that school recruits and what kind of kids that school is recruiting. What kind of kids does that school have on campus and does that fit in with how you perceive your kid or want your kid hanging out with? That's going to be their influence for the next four years or so."
STAFF
The Bowen family got their first experience with the Notre Dame staff last June when they came to South Bend for camp. Chris O’Leary, Mike Mickens, Marcus Freeman and Chad Bowden have been part of both kids recruitments over the last year, but Notre Dame has also went through several changes since December.
Freeman moving into the head coach role was obviously the most significant change, but you’d never know it if you were in the Bowen household, which is a positive.
"It's nice that No. 1 he's a defensive coach when you look at both of your kids positions,” said Ms. Bowen. “It's good he's defensive-oriented, but you still have to care about the offense.
"I also think with Peyton and somewhat with Eli because he's been part of Peyton's recruitment, Marcus has still stayed as a primary contact with him. He was the first commitment of his era of being the head coach and since he was one of his primary recruiters, Marcus has stayed through it to see it through.
"I think he probably talks more to Marcus Freeman than he does with Al Golden because of that. That's been huge."
Notre Dame’s Director of Recruiting, Chad Bowden, is known for his electric energy and ability to relate to every recruit that steps foot on campus.
Ms. Bowen had experienced Bowden, but she still wondered if Bowden’s energy was something he turned off and on and that was answered this weekend by numerous people.
"You kind of wonder if they turn it on when you're around or if it's going to be like that when your kid gets to the school and if it's more of a sales pitch or if that's how they are every day,” Ms. Bowen explained. “A lot of the guys who work there were like Chad is like that all the time."
ELI
The visit was a chance for Peyton to get to know his future teammates, but it was also a chance for Eli to get around the coaches and players for the first time with an offer from Notre Dame as he was offered on St. Patrick’s Day.
Cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens had sat down with Eli in October while the Bowens were in town, so it was another chance to develop the relationship.
"It was good,” stated Ms. Bowen. “This is the second time Eli got to sit down with him on a visit. I didn't go in with him in October, but I did this time to listen to what he had to say.”
Eli’s recruitment has ramped up, so each conversation means more and more and Ms. Bowen wanted to get a feel for Mickens as a coach and a person as she has done with other coaches across the country.
"It is different now that they have film from varsity football,” Ms. Bowen explained. “I always ask the coaches about what they like about them, but also what they need to work on because I want to know if they will be honest with them and to get a feel of how they would coach them. What do you think they need to work on? What did you like about their film?
"A couple of the coaches said they wanted to offer Eli in June after the camp, but they didn't want it to be part of Peyton's recruitment. That's hard for a lot of schools, especially since they go together on most of their recruiting trips."
The return trip to Notre Dame was great for the Bowen family as everyone was able to get what they wanted out of the weekend.
"I hadn't met the defensive coordinator because he didn't come over until January,” said Ms. Bowen. “It was good to get to meet him. I felt like Peyton was excited. It was important for him to feel comfortable and get back up there to make sure where he wanted to be with all the changes."
The Bowens will return to Notre Dame on June 10th for an official visit.
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