I'm almost feeling sorry for Charlie Weis. Almost. He's just such an unsympathetic figure that it's hard to muster any pity even with the avalanche of negative publicity and calls for his job. Take a look:
The Sound Bend Tribune's Jeff Carroll writes that even an upset of epic proportions at USC would just be fool's gold, and that Weis isn't the coach to turn around this program. Jeff is a former coworker of mine at The Times of Northwest Indiana and his opinions are enlightened and not reactionary.
The L.A. Times' Gary Klein says through no fault of Weis', the Irish lost big just by getting rid of Tyrone Willingham. That firing cost Notre Dame Brian Cushing, who is an All-America candidate at linebacker for USC.
The L.A. Times' Jerry Crowe got a hold of former ND coach Gerry Faust, who praised the job Weis is doing. Not sure if that's the source of praise Weis was hoping for, but there it is.
The New York Times' Pete Thamel says if Notre Dame's boosters are calling the shots, they should stop.
Lou Holtz tells the Trib's Fred Mitchell that Notre Dame has no excuse not to win a national championship. In fact, Holtz says it's easier to win one now in South Bend than it was when he coached there.
Darren Rovell at CNBC says there's no way Charlie gets canned this year.
Jeez, let's try to weigh this one.......keep arguably the game's worst recruiter for a single recruit? Does that mean cashing in last year's class (rated above SC) for Cushing (who, unfortunately, covers only one position on the field)? Roman, methinks you shouldn't heed advice from Gary Klein.
Roman responds: No, I don't think they should have kept Willingham. Just an interesting tidbit. Cushing would not have made a difference this season. Getting highly rated recruits isn't the problem.
Weis is indeed getting the recruits, but they are sure taking long to develop and to make an impact on the team. That goes back to coaching, I'm afraid. I agree with Weis being on the hot seat, but I say give him one more chance next season to fix this mess. For me, it just goes to show how much Willingham really damaged this program. Look at the University of Washington football program for example.
keep charlie at ND - Then Michigan will have someone to pound on year after year.
Weis is an amazing recruiter, he's just a terrible teacher/head coach. I hope he gave a fat check to Bob Davie for the offense he took over in his first season that got him all that money. It's funny that people keep praising him for the classes he's bringing in, but he only won games with someone elses recruits. To me that says he can't turn great highscool kids into above average college players. Sure he can make a QB a star but he can't put together a run offense to save his job. Hopefully they can him after they accept a bid to the Toilet Bowl (which is better than they deserve) and find someone new to start over.
I've been an ND fan for the last 28 years and I now find myself rooting for Navy and Syracuse and anyone else they play just hoping it will finally be the loss that gets Good Time Charlie on the next South Shore train outta Southbend.
First - get off the Willingham mantra. Fact is Ty ws hired for one reason only - he happenned to be a black coach and the school caved to the clamor to do the right social justice thing. It was a big mistake and they moved on. Heck Ty's own alma mater did not want him nor Alcorn State.
Weis most likely is not a HC, but his ego drove him to accept a job way over his head. best thing for him - resign ( he won't ) and head to Chi or Cle as OC.
ND's biggest challenge - they have not had a great HC since Holtz and few if anyone out there want the job given all the factors at the school. Given this fact - Weis might survive another year IF he does not get humiliated at USC and wins a bowl against anybody. While I think its time for him to go - I'd revel in seeing Charlie have a great 2009 season and watch tehmedia eat their words.
Rocklin...I doubt the powers that be at Notre Dame would hire a coach ONLY because he is Black. Certainly, race played a part in his hiring, but lets not forget what Willingham did at Stanford. Willingham is the only Stanford coach since Bill Walsh, over 30 years ago, to leave the program with a winning record. Willingham didn't produce,he seems to be in over his head when it comes to schools that emphasize football, but he certainly arrived with the proper credentials.
As for Weiss...he needs to go...Notre Dame hasn't been the same since Lou Holtz left, they need a COLLEGE coach, not just a coach.
I've been an ND fan for somewhere around 50 years and have seen some humiliating games but with the talent the have right now none was as bad as the loss to Syracuse. I don't know if everything can be blamed on charlie or not but I do know that IF he survives to coach next season ND better finish in the top 3 or he will be gone.
To set the record straight, Ty Willingham was NOT fired b/c Notre Dame caved and did the right thing for social justice b/c he is black. Ty Willingham was fired b/c Urban Myer (now of Florida) had just come off a huge winning season at Utah and was being highly recruited by Florida. Perhaps to up the ante for the job at Florida, Urban Myer made the comment that he might be interested in the job at Notre Dame. Seeing Urban's amazing success with Utah, Notre Dame wanted to leap at the chance to consider him for head coach, but could not do so until they fired Ty Willingham. So, Ty was very suddenly and unceremoniously fired, Notre Dame had discussions with Urban, and Urban's wife axed it b/c she didn't want to live in South Bend (who would?). Then ND had to go coach shopping, and briefly spoke to Mike Shanahan and one other coach, before finally settling on Charlie.
Nothing wrong with Ty, just like there was nothing wrong with Dusty, and certainly like there is nothing wrong with Lovie. All of their counterparts just got more time and the right amount of money spent on recruitment.
Of all of these guys my heart went out to Ty the most. He was never wanted in my opinion. I wonder if Ty managed to beat Navy??? Sometimes these things just seem to answer themselves. All Wiess needs is a tan, and then maybe folks could see his record.
Roman:
Can you please add a few new posts to this site? I hate seeing Weis' ugly mug when I visit. I know Charlie raided Belichick's wardrobe before he left New England, but he sure didn't steal any coaching techniques.
Roman responds: Lol. There's a new post every day Seedy. Tell you what, you'll llike the pic I post later today. Stay tuned.
I hope he stays because I hate Notre Dame.
I hope ND beats USC, but declines a bowl this year. We dont deserve one.
http://www.jimtardio.com/notre-dame/notre-dame-cheerleaders.jpg
I vote for keeping the loser! We at USC love Charlie, we just love beating the hell out of the arrogant SOB. I'm am truly sorry for the ND. It is a superb university, with a long and very proud tradition. However, from the halls of learning to the field of play I say keep him. We love beating Charlie and his great genius.
In all candor you cannot seriously blame the fambles, the interceptions, the sacks on the coach. This is simply poor playing on the part of the players.
Regardless, ND fans, keep Charlie, give him another and another chance. He is a genius, just give him time and the players to adjust to the his genius. Genius is rarely understand by the medicore, the public.
2009 score predication: USC 67 ND 0
Reading some of these blogs is the reason I hate Norte Dame and their racist fans and supporters. Look at Bob Rocklin and Edgar posts. If you think Ty was the reason Norte Dame is losing you need your head checked. This is the reason I think no black players should play for this school. If a black parent send their kids to this school to play sports all they need to do is read some of the blogs from the ND boosters and fans. This team has sucked since 1988 way before Ty arrived. Besides Ty has actually beat a top 25 team Weiss has not. All of these great classes he has recruited have been inflated. Do you think his last recruiting class was better than USC? This was no doubt rated by a ND fan. This team has the weakest schedule in college football almost every year. Why dont they play in a conference like Boston College? They would only win 5 games a year. Keep Weiss these racists deserve him.
38-3?
Will someone please put a fork in this turkey. He looks done to me.
Another racism comment again? What is it with some of you bloggers? Dude, I'm a minority in this country and I have no favorites towards any color or appearance and I'm not about to get into an overblown analysis about what's racist or not in a sports blog. I mentioned Ty Willingham by fact and example. His Washington team is winless this year and I agreed with Weis on the hot seat! If you like, Mike 23, I also blame Bob Davie for Notre Dame's downfall as well! Happy?? Unbelievable. Quit misinterpreting my posts, clueless!
Clueless ND fans..." For me, it just goes to show how much Willingham really damaged this program" This is what this guy Edgar wrote. Like I said this program has sucked since 1988 and it not Ty's fault. Weiss has been there 4 yrs and no he doesnt deserve another year and NO I'm not happy because I have to read stupid posts by lost ND fans. WHY DOES THIS SUBPAR PROGRAM GET SO MUCH PRESS? WHY NOT NEBRASKA OR MIAMI? Norte Dame????
And I'm not an ND fan either. I'm not even an alumni! I gave an opinion based on Roman's topic of discussion! Again, quit misinterpreting my posts and placing me in a category of your so-called "ND Fans and Faithful"! The only thing stupid is you making this out as another racist topic! And for the record, Davie was even worse than Ty. Happy again?! I mentioned Ty at first because he was the guy prior to Weis and the comparison with U of Washington's football program troubles TODAY are more than fair that has been brought by expert analysts and reporters other than myself, a normal blogger! And spell Weis correctly, mr. know-it-all Mike 23 guy!
Buzzards are circling Weiss everywhere he goes. USC opened up a can on ND! Until they start changing the atmosphere around there its going to keep happening. Its the atmosphere - not the "academic standards". Northwestern has standards probably even higher than ND, but they find players willing to go their because they have made the place more appealing. Culture is huge. That starts from the top down. Don't sell people short. There are guys as intelligent as any at ND at USC and other programs. We ASSume that they are brighter because they are ND and have a losing record. They might be poor students AND terrible players also. Stop assuming players that are talented are not as bright as an ND student.
Well ND fans its time for Weis to let the door hit him whre the sun don`t shine.
He is not a College Coach!
Schools should quit hiring Pro coaches expecting miricles.
No Notre Dames players are not smarter.
That can of kickass USC put on them ought to make the powers to be take notice.
Fire Charlie....Make Mike Haywood head coach...awinner everywhere he has been.
Or keep Charlie and USC will keep using ND for Practice dummies.