Notre Dame's seemingly never-ending quest to "Return to Glory" hit another snag on Saturday night when the Irish were blanked, 17-0 by a very average Boston College team.And in light of that loss - which drops Notre Dame to 5-4 - Chicago Sun-Times columnist Neil Hayes wrote that Charlie Weis is now fighting for his job.
Weis left Boston, where he built his reputation as one of the game's foremost offensive minds while an offensive coordinator for the Patriots, with his career at a crossroads and his future as Notre Dame's coach very much in doubt.I'll make a leap here and assume that Hayes means this year's team has regressed since the start of the year - as opposed to them being worse than last year because, frankly, I'm not sure they could be worse than last year.
The Weis Watch is officially on, and based on the fact that his team is regressing during his all-important fourth season, justifiably so.
But assuming that's what Hayes meant, I'll take it one step further: This team is not regressing. This team simply was never good to begin with.
I mean, look at the five wins Notre Dame has this year: San Diego State, Michigan, Purdue, Stanford and Washington. Those teams have a combined record of 12-37. None has a record above .500 (Stanford is 5-5). On the flip, the four teams that Notre Dame has lost to all sport winning records.
That could be a coincidence, sure. It also could be pretty definitive proof that Notre Dame's spot in this year's college football landscape is set. The Irish are not nearly as bad as they were last year - keeping them above the Washingtons and San Diego States of the world - but they're also not a Top 25-caliber team, hence the continuing losses at the hands of quality opponents.
Today, reports indicated that Weis is considering calling Notre Dame's offensive plays. First off, for a so-called offensive guru, he should be doing that anyway. Beyond that, though, this comes off as a borderline desperate move. ND's defense has not made any palpable improvements in Weis' tenure - so if he takes over the offense and it continues to "Yakety Sax" its way around, well ... what's left for Weis to hang his hat on?
He's only 27-19 in his tenure at Notre Dame. This year's team won't finish better than 7-5 (at Navy, vs. Syracuse, at USC to close). Considering that Bob Davie was canned despite a 35-25 record in South Bend, and Tyrone Willingham with a 21-16 mark - and neither came in with the hype of Weis - it's not hard to see why Weis' time to fix this may be running out.
Chances are he'll get 2009 to do so. Notre Dame has a very good recruiting class coming in, plenty of returning guys and a favorable schedule next season. More than that, Weis still has a whopping seven years left on his contract - meaning Notre Dame would be looking at a buyout of several million dollars should Weis be asked to head out.
Of course, losses to Navy and Syracuse in the next two weeks just might open the Irish wallets.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Truly all Notre Dame fans have been waiting on next year as the year we seriously contend. That sid, Weis continues to be a disappointment in coaching and wouldn't mind him not seeing that year come to fruition.
Pretty hard to keep up that "GENIUS" I.Q. when you can't steal the other teams signals.
Don't care what you say, it's still Willingham's fault.
What's the ND record agains teams with winning records this year????
How did that Clausen kid do again?? FOUR picks?
I think Regis even said "they just haven't been able to get the coaching right since Lou Holtz left" (I do paraphrase).
Or could it just be that.....NOTRE DAME SUCKS???
You gotta blame someone.
When Notre Dame hired Charlie Weis, I warned some of the staff that they had hired, "An NFL Coach". "What does that mean, " they queried”? Having spent six years in the NFL as an exec. I am keenly familiar with the people skills of professional coaches. I explained the mindset and demanding nature and expectations of a Pro Coach to the ND staff I talked to. Professional level coaches are in a word, “Perfectionists”. They expect an athlete to be a polished product, with knowledge of the fundamentals. The assistants might spend some time teaching but not at the level needed when dealing with 18 and 19 year old college students. They don‘t waste their time concerning themselves with the color of uniforms as some college coaches do.” They expect those details to be handled and concentrate their efforts on the big picture. You don’t pay coaches multimillion dollar contracts to worry about the design on warm up jackets. It turns out, Weis had to make the adjustment to coaching kids. He initially came across as very demanding and arrogant to those he dealt with. "He is not well liked here," exclaimed the one of the ND staffers who questioned my comments from two years earlier. But Weis has changed a great deal this past year.
From some current and past players to staff whom I had the opportunity to talk to this year, he has been described as a, “changed man”. He is more approachable and a coach the players and staff are beginning to appreciate. I believe someone sat him down and explained the facts of life to him.
Weis is a recruiter extraordinaire. The previous head coaches left him very little talent. For example, contrary to a popular tale, Tyrone Willingham did not recruit Brady Quinn. He was recruited by his best high school buddy Chinedum Ndukwe, who now plies his trade with the Cincinnati Bengals. Quinn was considering offers to Ohio State and Michigan. He chose Notre Dame after Chinedum’s father convinced Willingham to make him an offer. In 2007 there was 1 senior starter on defense left over from the Willingham era. Weis spent two years sculpting Brady Quinn into a pro-ready quarterback.
However, as with many Div 1 Universities, the Notre Dame machine is driven by money, big money. The South Bend airport had to expand it's parking ramp just to accommodate the number of private jets on game weekends. You can stand on campus and watch the air show approaching the airport on a Friday before a game.
These deep pockets are extremely short on patience and expect a traditional ND powerhouse overnight, in spite of the change in the entire college athletic culture.
I for one, hope these big supporters will continue to support the current Notre Dame President Fr. Jenkins and the newly hired AD Jack Swarbrick. I am hopeful that common sense will prevail and everyone will back off of the criticism of the current football situation and watch for the results in the 2009 season. Then, if there is no progress, light the coals.
“NDNation”, is a non-affiliated web site populated with some of the most fanatical ND critics you will find. They do not speak as an official mouthpiece for Notre Dame and display that disclaimer on the front page of their website. However, the members will start a negative thread that gives little or no credit to the current coaches no matter what the circumstances. They have been fanning the fires for the past two years and are ready to fire Charlie Weis already. Most, have little or no real professional or Division 1 college athletic department experience, but read their comments and you would think you are reading the comments of experts. If you are not depressed about the current situation at Notre Dame, just read NDNation and you will be.
Notre Dame is a wonderful family and its supporters have to recognize that other schools are stronger and more competitive then in days past. It also has to be recognized that Notre Dame has more restrictive recruiting standards then most other schools and as a result, it will have a very difficult time ever reaching the heights of old.
Last, to think that any coach including Charlie Weis does not feel the pressure to win, that is ever-present, is foolish. I remember sitting in a locker room with one of the coaches on our team and having him say to me, “Don’t these people realize that I am aware everyday that if we don’t wing games, my ass is out of here?” Don’t worry Weis critics, he is aware.
Weis is also aware that he got his offensive " genius" reputation by cheating. More baffling to those outside the ND Nation is that ND has enabled a cheater to remain as Head Coach of their "fabled" program. Heck, they canned George O for fudging his resume. Weis gets a pass by denial ? A half million dollar fine by NFL to Pats Head Coach. No wonder he left for college job before the they could prove SpyGate was an organized scheme by the Pats for years . Shame on Notre Dame for burying their heads in the sand. Admit you made a mistake. ND talks rightousness but dropped the ball on this occasion.
Thank You,Thank You,Thank You, i ve been saying this ALL year, when all the screaming from Nutter Dumb fans started about them NOt being in the top 25 cause they had won 4 or 5 games,they SU&K!! Clausen is a JOKE, like his loser brothers, Nutter Dumb plays NO ONE and when they play an average BC them they get shut out,,all is right with the world, Bush is gone and ND su%ks , again!! thanks irish you ve made my year again!! this is better than buying my new vette this year!!
what are people supposed to feel sorry for notre dame. not a chance. there are a handful of yearly powerhouse college football programs, struggling. suck it up, give weis next year and if he fails, then kick him to the curb. besides if they win 6 games at least their bowl eligible.
Benny Hill reference... always funny.....like midgets on tricycles and tourettes.