I honestly don’t know where Notre Dame is going. Clearly Weis isn’t cutting it. The fact that he wasn’t fired after 3-9 should’ve used up all of his pity. I wrote a lonnnnnng post after last year’s loss to USC about whether or not Charlie should have a job anymore. At this point, I honestly don’t know what to do. On one hand, Weis clearly isn’t getting the job done. 3-9 was fucking pathetic and inexcusable. The next year, only 7-6…I mean, this shit is not ok at Notre Dame. Then you walk into this year, a talent laden team, a creampuff schedule…and you’ve already lost to a 5-5 Michigan team and a Navy team that just lost to Temple last week. I repeat TEMPLE BEAT THE TEAM THAT JUST BEAT NOTRE DAME FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!!!
Pitt and Stanford both scared me before this game, now Stanford just beat down a good Oregon team, Pitt continued to kill, and we lose to Navy…Holy F. As of now I figure losing one of those is a given, both is a very decent possibility. I feel like Weis can not be trusted with this team anymore. He just isn’t producing. I wish he had succeeded, he’s a Notre Dame guy, good pedigree, but holy shit win a damn game son. I always defend based on his recruiting, and his classes have been great, but they don’t produce, so what do you do??? If the results aren’t there, a change must be made.
But then there is the flip side. First, if they weren’t already gonna leave due to fear of a Bradford-esque injury, or the upcoming labor issues and likely rookie salary cap, you’ve gotta figure if Weis is fired that both Clausen and Tate will leave early. 2nd, you have to wonder how many recruits will leave. Chris Martin, one of if not the top Defensive players in the country, has already said he’s still taking visits even w/ his commit to us, just to keep his options open in case there is a coaching change. Add to that other players who may leave. Then think about having to implement the new system of a new coach on both sides of the ball, and essentially having to hit the reset button on the program.
Plus, who do you go get? There are 3 names you will hear out of Irish fans wanting a change: Brian Kelly (head coach at Cincinatti), Jon Gruden (ESPN Commentator for MNF, former Raiders and Bucs head coach) and Skip Holtz (Head Coach at ECU, son of Lou). there are problems with all 3 options here though:
Brian Kelly: Kelly has done a hell of a job at Cinci the last 2 years. Right now, the Bearcats are undefeated, have the inside track on the Big East and a BCS spot, and a shot at the National Title game, even if it is unlikely. Kelly’s gone 30-6 at Cinci since taking over for the bowl game at the end of the 06 season. This season has been by far the best for Kelly at Cinci, rebounding well from a loss in the Orange bowl to VT 20-7. My question right now, is if I’m Brian Kelly, why leave for a high pressure situation, where you need results quickly or you will be axed, when right now you have built a program and will be treated as the man, the myth, the legend? He has no prior connection to ND, and is currently wrecking shop in arguably the weakest BCS conference…why leave?
Jon Gruden: There are some coaches that thrive in the pros, and some that thrive in college. We’ve seen what happens when that line is crossed by the likes of Spurrier and Carroll. Gruden’s ties to Notre Dame run deep: His dad was an Asst. coach for the Irish while Jon attended Clay HS in South Bend. Gruden thought about going to ND, but knew he wouldn’t get playing time, so he ended up at Dayton after a stop at Muskingum College. While Gruden has a few years of Asst. Coaching in college under his belt, he’s been a coach in the pros since 1992. Gruden had great success as the head coach of the Bucs and Raiders, but is now sitting in the MNF booth. There are 2 things that make me think Gruden won’t work. 1st is the idea that some guys are built for college ball, some are built for the pros. How many coaches can you think of that have had success in both? 2nd, there are quite a few HC jobs in the NFL that look to be vacant at years end. While Gruden has ties to the Irish, coming to Notre Dame is a step down from the NFL, that’s all there is to it. Would it really be worth it for him?
As for Skip…here’s the thing, you will not find someone that loves Lou Holtz more than me. But what the hell has Skip Holtz ever done to make ND fans think he is the answer?? Skip did some good work under his pops as OC between 92-94. But as a head coach: 38-23 at UConn, 29-21 currently at ECU thru last year. ECU made headlines last year, upsetting #17 VT and #8 West Virginia in the 1st two weeks of the year. But the team ended up at 9-5, losing to a decent at best Kentucky team in the Liberty Bowl. Let’s put it this way, if his last name wasn’t Holtz, nobody at ND would know who he is. Is that really the guy you want leading the way?
So the way I see it, our current head coach has proven he can’t win, and while he’s able to get great recruiting classes, hasn’t been able to produce on the field. But at the same time, can this program really afford to start over AGAIN, and would the immediate roster losses be worth any perceived coaching benefits?
What the hell do we do?
1 comments:
While I tend to agree, the Senator is not as pessimistic as you or the Mark May's of the world. Weis will not be terminated, barring a late season collapse.
First, there are too many high-risk variables involved in terminating Weis: Clausen, Tate, and Floyd may opt for the draft, younger players may transfer, and there is a drought of amenable coaching talent.
Second, the loss to Navy is less attributable to Weis than poor defensive coaching and player mistakes.
Finally, let's not forget what Weis has done for the program. He has rebuilt a recruiting powerhouse not seen since Lou. He understands the school more than any coach since Lou. And he has ended several significant losing streaks since Lou.
In the end, Weis leaves something to be desired. He may never be a Pete Carroll. The Senator believes this is mostly due to a lack of good defensive coaching management. Rick Minter was pretty good DC; he didn't deliver. Corwin Brown was making progress until...Jon Tenuta changed the scheme and has been sucking it up with poor personell-position assignments in the backfield.
Firing Weis likely won't solve much. Firing Tenuta and returning to Corwin Brown's 3-4, I believe, will solve a lot.
FIRE TENUTA!
Post a Comment