Over The Pylon

6-5 was indeed "not good enough"

We’ll hold what Kenny Powers would say, since it isn’t “official” in the “official” sense of the word, but the New York Daily News, the New York Times, and ESPN’s Joe Schad are saying that Charlie is indeed the proud recipient of the most recent pink slip in the Coaching Carousel of 2009.

For anyone following college football recently, this will come as no tremendous surprise. Normally, when your supervisor cancels a work trip you had planned for months amidst scuttlebutt and rumors that you were on thin ice, that is what is pretty much the definition of “warning sign”. According to the folks in the know, those smoke signals did indeed signal a fire, or firing, as the case may be.

The initial reaction across the country will be a loud and proud majority of people who despise ND and Weis, and who now feel vindicated that Charlie was unceremoniously shown the exit. While Weis certainly had issues, I find it challenging to fall in line with the hatred and contempt that he seems to generate. The argument of wins and losses is certainly a valid one, but for me, the talking points about his attitude, demeanor, and niceties are virtually a moot point and belong nowhere near the discussion as to whether or not Charlie is a good coach or deserving of the ND head job.

Was Weis a bit full of himself? Did he carry an attitude? Did he believe that he was indeed God’s gift to Notre Dame football? I can’t say, because I’ve never met him. However, what I can say with absolute certainty is that with enough wins on his resume in South Bend, no one would have cared. Mark Mangino is just the most recent example of the impunity carpet being pulled out from underneath the meanie when the wins don’t pile up. Bobby Knight is certainly the historical gold standard of behavior being irrelevant when wins were accumulating, and unfortunately for Charlie, there simple weren’t enough W’s on the opposite side of the scales of employment.

So now the 2009 season, which I dare say has been a bit boring, is about to go plaid. Notre Dame is one of those situations where a coaching search is a borderline 3-ring circus of “interest”, “non-interest”, denials, flight tracking, people lauding ND as a special place, people denying ND is anything out of the ordinary, etc. etc. etc. ad nauseum. For the Weis haters, he’ll get his OTP come-uppance Kenny Powers style once the school or Charlie issues some sort of official statement. Until then, we’re left to wonder what could have been, what should have been, and try and wrap our heads around the unbelievably massive amount of dollars it’s going to take to get Charlie and his staff out, and a new coach and his assistants in. And while we’re at it, I certainly hope everyone has had their fill of Golden Tate and Jimmy Clausen since it is a virtual certainty they won’t be back either. It is not a good day to be a Notre Dame fan, or in this case… their coach.

UPDATE: Notre Dame makes it official and announes it themselves that the AD and the President/Priest at ND have not retained Sir Charles. Kenny?

Charlie? You're fucking out!

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Should I stay, or should I go?

As I am sitting here watching the first half of the Notre Dame-Stanford game wind down, I thought I’d offer up an opinion piece.  An Edgitorial if you like.  A lot is being said of the Notre Dame situation in the second half of this season, and I thought maybe it’s time I let my tongue (fingers) wag a little.

Before we began our season at OTP, we took time to analyze the upcoming season, and against all advice from fans and non-fans alike, I predicted at most a three-loss Notre Dame team this year.  In no certain terms, I was labeled crazy and a “hater”.  I’m sure if I had the FBS crystal ball in my hand at the beginning of the year and found out the Irish would lose five (possibly six after tonight), even I would have thought that was crazy.

As I’ve stated, I’m a fan of Notre Dame.  The Irish have an incredible history and a program rich in tradition.  I admire that, much more than a flash-in-the-pan team that might have a good four or five years. But even empires have to fall at some point (2000-2008 Yankees?).  I really think Notre Dame is in that era right now, and it’s a painful thing to watch.  But one thing is for certain: win or lose tonight, Weis has to go.

Therein lies another argument.  Notre Dame would have to buy out a pretty fat contract with Weis, some reporting upwards of $18 million.  Does the whole city of South Bend even operate on that kind of a budget?  That’s where it gets tricky: pay Weis and essentially suffer in mediocrity for a few years, or get out now?  My solution: get out.

I know financially this probably wouldn’t make sense to most programs, but at this point, Notre Dame needs the defibrillator.  With a program like Notre Dame, there is no excuse to sit back and wait and see what will happen next season.  Thankfully, the Irish alum have deep pockets, and I really don’t foresee money being that big of an issue.  Maybe at Ball State, but not at Notre Dame.

One of the most recent reasons I think Weis should go is directly related to the Clausen “cold-cocking” incident at a bar early Sunday morning last weekend.  First of all, let’s assume he was sucker punched and in absolutely no way instigated the altercation.  It’s a long shot, but just try to believe that.  I know Jimmy is of-age, but at what point does a head coach have to say, “Look, we’re in season.  No unnecessary risks, no poor decisions, and from now until the season ends, I’m your parent.”  Seriously, has Charlie never seen The Program and the downfall of Joe Kane?

I understand the players have rights and all that, but there is no excuse a public figure, a leader of your team, is out at a bar at two in the morning after a game.  Yeah, it sucks if you’re a player, and maybe it’s a little extreme to institute a four or five month curfew, but it really should be the nature of the beast.  Weis should have some semblance of control of this team, and incidents like Clausen got himself into Sunday morning just prove that he might not have much control over that team.

Another reason he has to go is both his record (worse than Davie and Willingham) and questionable play-calling.  I can’t get into all the instances of this year and keep this under 700 words, but there’s no way you “Weis can do no wrong” fans can argue with this.  Just as easily as Notre Dame could be 9-2 at this point, they could also be well below .500.

 Hopefully I’ve opened the can of worms just enough to let some of you comment on what you think would be best for Notre Dame in 2010.  You know my opinion, so what’s yours?  Does Charlie stay or does Charlie go?

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