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SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- He isn't going anywhere, and he shouldn't. The relentless ways of his Fighting Irish players down the stretch Saturday night at Notre Dame Stadium against Southern Cal bought Charlie Weis more time.So here's the deal: Weis will last the rest of this season as Notre Dame coach. He also will return next season, and who knows? He might stick around with the Fighting Irish to finish his 10-year contract that expires after the 2015 season.
Whatever the case, there should be a moratorium on Weis bashing despite Notre Dame's 34-27 loss to Southern Cal in another huge game. That's because his players keep demanding as much. They could have collapsed in the final seconds against Michigan State, but they didn't. The same goes for their squeakers over Purdue and Washington that involved an extra dose of passion from everybody on the field.
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This time, Notre Dame players did their part to pull Weis away from the swinging guillotine that constantly is dangling over his neck after they watched their bigger, faster and better opponent surge to the edge of a blowout. With Southern Cal gouging Notre Dame's defense to take a 34-14 lead near the start of the fourth quarter, and with the game-long roar among the Irish Nation becoming only a whisper, those Notre Dame players had every right to call it a night.
No, to call it a season.
They didn't.
"What we did today showed a lot to the country," said Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen, who nearly led the Notre Dame Our Mother (you know, the Notre Dame alma mater) of rallies for his team after Southern Cal's last score with a couple of touchdown drives. At the end, he even fired three passes into the end zone from the Southern Cal 4, but he couldn't connect. Added Clausen, "I'm so proud of this team. We keep fighting when we're down. I think that's what the team is all about."
You only do what the Irish just did against Southern Cal if you have at least some talent, and if you have more than a little pride, and if you like your coach.
Just like that, the previously lousy Clausen remembered he was a Heisman Trophy candidate, and he played like it. Then Golden Tate grabbed the most clutch of his eight catches for 117 yards in that fourth quarter. In fact, soon after Notre Dame began its comeback attempt by racing 88 yards to the end zone, Tate caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Clausen to pull the Irish to within 34-27.
There was even a frantic dash for the Irish inside the final five minutes, when they raced from their 22-yard line to the Southern Cal 4. Along the way, Notre Dame faced fourth-and-10 from its 29, with Clausen firing a pass that Robby Parris stretched high to grab for a 13-yard completion. He was knocked silly enough afterward by Southern Cal defenders to need help off the field.
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Kansas State coach Bill Snyder yells instructions to his players during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009 in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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South Carolina running back Kenny Miles (31) reaches for his fumble as Alabama's Rolando McClain (25) defends in the first half of their NCAA college football game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. Alabama recovered the fumble. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
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Kansas State running back Daniel Thomas (8) falls into the end zone to score a touchdown as he is tackled by Texas A&M defensive back Terrance Fredrick (7) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009 in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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Alabama coach Nick Saban walks on the sidelines in the first half of their NCAA college football game against South Carolina at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
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Southern Mississippi quarterback Mertevious Young (14) gets tackled by defensive end Gerg Terrell (94), cornerback Deante' Lamar (16), and defensive tackle Frank Trotter (62) in the first quarter of a NCAA college football game in Hattiesburg, Miss. Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Steve Coleman)
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Southern Mississippi quarterback Martevious Young (14) prepares to pass the ball in the second quarter against Memphis during a NCAA college football game in Hattiesburg, Miss. Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Steve Coleman)
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San Diego State wide receiver Demarco Sampson, left, catches a touchdown pass in front of BYU's Ross Williams, right, during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
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Memphis tight end DajLeon Farr (11) gets tackled by Southern Mississippi defensive back Andre Watson (12) and linebacker Ronnie Thornton (56) in the second quarter of a NCAA college football game in Hattiesburg, Miss. Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Steve Coleman)
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BYU running back Harvey Unga (45) breaks the tackle of San Diego State's Kwincy Edwards (24) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
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BYU quarterback Max Hall (15) holds the ball out as he scores on a run in front of San Diego State's Leon McFadden (20) and Larry Parker (7) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
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You don't sacrifice yourself that way if you don't like your coach.
"Well, anyone who doesn't realize the fight that's in the Fighting Irish is missing the boat," said Weis, whose team nevertheless dropped to 4-2 and likely out any rankings worth mentioning. Not only that, Notre Dame just lost to Southern Cal for an eighth consecutive time, but remember: the Irish were outscored 76-3 in the previous two games in the series. So, to be fair, they have a ridiculously long ways to go just to become competitive with Southern Cal.
Added Weis, "If you haven't watched the last five games, it's every week the same thing. Would I like to not be in that situation? You betcha. But go all the way back to Michigan [which was a last-second loss to begin the season]. Every week, this team is a bunch of fighters. I'm proud of the fight."
He should be. History is filled with examples of players who vanished mentally, physically and spiritually during games when their coach was under siege -- by alums, media, by fans, by campus officials and even by those players. Not so with these Notre Dame players, not when they had an unofficial chance to cut their ties with Weis during this nationally hyped game that was becoming another significantly embarrassing game for Notre Dame against Southern Cal.
Anyway, there was Friday night, when Raghib "Rocket" Ismail became a Notre Dame icon turned football preacher during a loud and large pep rally on campus. He kept screaming the first of his three mantras, "It ends tonight," which was his reference to Southern Cal's winning streak over Notre Dame.
Then Ismail switched mantras: "This is not a game."
Finally, with all of the boosters inside Rocket's head threatening to explode after he reached even higher decibels, Ismail implored the players on Notre Dame's current football team, the coaches and the tens of thousands gathered: "Let's go get it."
They didn't get it. Instead, the Irish almost got it against sixth-ranked Southern Cal, but "almost" is for losers.
Well, usually. At this point in the wobbly Charlie Weis regime, "almost" is the same as "improving," which means a couple of things: Notre Dame still isn't among the elite, and we still don't know if Weis can get the Irish there.
It's just that as long as Weis' players want to try to get there with him, you have to give the guy a break.
Terence Moore is a national columnist and commentator for FanHouse. He is a frequent panelist on "Rome Is Burning," an ESPN show hosted by Jim Rome, that is seen Monday through Friday at 4:30 PM ET. Moore spent more than three decades working for major newspapers, including 26 years as an award-winning sports columnist for the San Francisco Examiner and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He resides in Atlanta.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-17-2009 @ 11:25PM
BOBBY said...
Weiss is just so arrogant,he is a total ass to the media and is not as good as he might tell you he is. Get over him and just write the story. He has an advantage most coaches do not.
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10-18-2009 @ 2:02AM
Bruce said...
And how about Claussen??? He said "we showed the country a lot tonight." Yep, you sure did-- you showed it how to LOSE. If "almost" got you anything in football, then Navy would be ranked #1 in the country for "almost" beating Ohio State. By the way, Jimmy-- did you happen to forget that this was a HOME game, in front of one of the most unfriendly (and rudest) student bodies in the NCAA?
Personally, when I check the sports pages on Sunday morning, I always look to see if my team won, AND IF NOTRE DAME LOST. That makes for a perfect day!
10-17-2009 @ 11:48PM
Larry Hobbs said...
Good article Terrence.
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10-18-2009 @ 12:18AM
Bobby Dodd said...
How much longer are you guys going to kiss Charlies fat ass?? Any other coach would be LOOONG GONE.
What's Fat Charlies record against ranked opponents at ND????
What's Fat Charlies record against teams with winning records at ND????
Two Words: NOT GOOD.
What a joke.
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10-18-2009 @ 3:03AM
lpish said...
Yeah, keep 'im.
Suckers!
10-18-2009 @ 12:13AM
southwestmba said...
Why am I not allowed to bash the coach? Notre Dame has a top 5 or 10 recruiting class every (according to the so called experts), but they constantly underachieve. They have played up or down to the level of their competition this whole year. That is a sign of poor coaching. Weis won with Ty Willingham's athletes and hasn't done squat since, but Ty got the ax and Weis gets a free pass. Overhyped, overinflated, overpaid, hold him accountable already.
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10-18-2009 @ 12:38AM
Brandon said...
this article shows just how content notre dame has become with total mediocrity. they've settled for likening last-second victories over MSU and Purdue to past wins over top 10 teams. they compare clausen to montana because clausen can throw for 300 yds against sub .500 teams and then almost lead his team to a win against a legitimate team. does anyone else realize notre dame has been returning to glory for a decade? they rarely ever beat a team with a winning record (iirc, they've lost 18 of the last 19) and take great pride in make a USC game look close in which they were down by 20 in the 4th quarter. i mean really..does anyone at notre dame remember what it was like to be a good team? doesn't anyone in a notre dame t-shirt still want to get back to that instead of finding pride in just being competitive? notre dame has way too much talent to be anything other than a top 10 team
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10-18-2009 @ 1:29AM
allini said...
This writer is a joke. I am a USC fan and I hope fat coach stays at Notre Dame through 2015. Bill Parcells took away his play calling when fat coach was off. coor. for Jets. That speaks volumes on the fat coach.
Oh this writer is a regular on Rome's show- that says a lot as Rome has no clue.
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10-18-2009 @ 1:51AM
skoolbeans said...
FOR THOSE THAT BASH COACH, THIS IS FIRST RECRUITING CLASS FOR WEISS.
GIVE HIM AT LEAST TWO MORE TO SEE WHAT HE DOES.
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10-18-2009 @ 2:03AM
Rogerg591 said...
Great Article Mr Terence Moore. Weiss has helped 3 QB'S Tom Brady, Brad Quinn and Clawson. Weiss has a great offensive mind and this team for the 3rd year in a row is making progress. I like Notre Dame but friends this is not 1977 or 1988. Most Domer fans think that any coach can win at a High Level at the School. Lets look at the past 5 coaches Faust, Holtz, Davies and Willingham. Only Holtz had a better record than Weiss. After Notre Dame won its last National Championship the School Jerked many of their academic exceptions which was obviuos over Holtz's last few years when they were no longer in the national Championship Picture. Give Weiss a break this team never quits and there averaging over 30 points per game. Weiss hired a coach to run the defense which is starting to play better
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10-18-2009 @ 5:01AM
Sam said...
Hopefully this puts an end to the Jimmy Clausen Heisman talk. Although I know it won't be. The Notre Dame media has been promoting him in hopes a ND player will be invited to the ceremony.Tim Tebow led his team to a come from behind victory again yesterday . He should be the only player invited to ceremnoy. He is that much better than the rest.
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10-18-2009 @ 7:18AM
Hey their Boski said...
The only thing that was shown to me was that Charlie Weis does not know how to prepare a team. Or, Notre Dame recruits are just overrated. It has to be one or the other. They are the worst tackling team I've seen. Defensively, they seem like they are always in a prevent defense mode. When you see receivers open against the Irish, they are really open, and not just SC receivers, every team they play. No, no need to cut him slack, it's time to cut him loose. His game management and playing calling are over rated, evidence the 2nd quarter as they were driving, 3rd and 2, gained 1, so what does the genius call on 4th and 1, the same play, no gain, no momentum, just bad decisions, time and time again. Goodbye, Mr. Weis.
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10-18-2009 @ 8:33AM
mikerat42 said...
As long as the stadium is full ND would let Mr. Magoo coach.. Winning is good, but $$ is better...
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10-18-2009 @ 10:50AM
darylhousewright said...
Good article Mr.Moore.
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10-18-2009 @ 11:01AM
Tim said...
i love the irish but weiss is not getting it done in big games, he has proved that in recent years, never won the big games. as much as people want him gone, the only way they will cut ties is if he has another disasterous season. on the other hand. if they do get rid of weiss, there is one coach who will look to take over the reigns. coach meyer from florida will look into it. he has claimed that he wont leave florida but he has also said that coaching at notre dame would be his dream job. i think that if weiss does get the boot, meyer will take over. then back to glory for the irish
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10-18-2009 @ 11:45AM
blotdoc said...
The dumbing down of Notre Dame football has been completed under Weis. We no longer measure a coach by wins or championships. The only things that matter are whether the "boys tried," or "never gave up," or "came close." Never mind all the bone headed coaching decisions -- again forgoing a field goal on the opening drive of the third quarter that would have been a momentum changer! ND will drop a few more games to less talented teams this year, get a bid to the Lysol Toilet Bowl in Secaucas, N.J. where Jimmy Clausen will throw 10 TDs against Seton hall Prep. And Weis will be rewarded with a 10 year extension!
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10-18-2009 @ 11:46AM
blotdoc said...
Hey schoolbeans:
Are you nuts? The only winning Weis ever did was with Ty's recruits!
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10-18-2009 @ 11:53AM
paulfishbeach5 said...
Keep Charlie on board and keep on losing.
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10-18-2009 @ 12:59PM
rfreedl221 said...
AS usual, Notre Dame is overated. They had no right to be ranked 25th after coming from behind in the final minutes to defeat a mediocre team and lose to a Michigan team that is rebuilding with a rookie quarterback that will make everyone forget about Clausen who thinks that losing is a great motivator. Clausen, like Brady Quinn, is an unknown. He has yet to prove himself in the pros and never won the big games at Notre Dame. Tom Brady was a Michigan quarterback in case the Coach forgot. Losing may be winning at Notre Dame.
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10-18-2009 @ 1:06PM
Kourtney said...
Really Jimmy? What did you show the country, that you guys had the opportunity to win the biggest game of any of your careers and you blew it? I am diehard Irish fan and cannot believe this defeatist attitude and talks of moral victories; there's not such thing. You should expect to win, play to win, and then be mad as hell if you don't win. Get Charlie Weis out of there, seriously. I can't believe what came out of that guy's mouth at the end of the game, and it's obviously that his team has learned the same "oh shucks" attitude when they lose. That lost yesterday was unacceptable.
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