Now that the dust has settled from the debacle against Syracuse on Saturday, I was hoping to hear every one's perspectives on Charlie Weis and the future of ND football.
For me, its come to the point where I don't like either option of firing or retention. I think we're screwed either way.
If we fire Charlie, I have no doubt that the ensuring coaching search (as usual) will be more embarrassing than our play on the field Saturday. Unless Swarbrick is working behind the scenes right now, determining the interest of candidates and lining up a highly qualified "home run" candidate, this search is going to end up a disaster just like the previous three. It will be fully equipped with flight tracking, George Smith living on campus, and random names removing themselves from consideration without cause (i.e. Jim Fassel in 2004 and Gary Barnett for every coaching search since 1996).
On the home front, my other fear that firing Weis would lead to another "black hole" in our roster and depth chart. Starting with the 2009 season, we will have fully recovered from the attrition and empty recruiting class that resulted from our prior coaching change. I've honestly been looking forward to that and am curious as to what Weis can do with a loaded, experienced roster.
But on the other side, what has Weis shown us that honestly makes you believe we will be even decent next year? In a quote from his opening press conference, Weis said that we would have a "hardworking, intelligent, nasty football team, because the team would take on the personality of the coach." Weis' teams have definitely taken on the personality of their coach and the results are disastrous on the field.
When you hear that quote, as an ND fan you hoped that meant playing "nasty" and with swagger. Instead, it has meant playing reckless, soft, over-confident, and cute. The best example is the team effectively mailing in the Washington, Stanford, Navy, North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Syracuse games as wins because we had 2 score leads. There is a big difference between having swagger and being over confident and not sufficiently motivated. In every one of those games this was the case (thrown in SDSU while you're at it) and it has cost the Irish a successful season.
Looking ahead at a 2009 with Weis still at the helm. His 2008 Irish lost at home on Senior Day to an 8 loss team. There are a bunch of marginal teams on our schedule in 2009. Based on the evidence of Weis shown to date, his teams are not above being beaten (humiliated) by sub-par talent. Therefore, no one should simply point at a weak schedule and declare that we are guaranteed a 10-2 season. Rather, it will probably be much like this season, where we are more talented than 11 out of 12 teams we will play, but will probably finish around 7-5. Don't forget the fact that there is a very good chance that this team loses to Nevada (and their #1 ranked rushing offense) at home to start 2009. If that happens, 5-7 for 2009 is not out of the realm of possibility.
Where does this leave Notre Dame and the new athletic administration of Jack Swarbrick? We're screwed either way. But I'm interested to hear what everyone else thinks. Can we win a bowl game please?
At least the basketball team is good. Go Irish, Beat Horns!!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
It's just such a confusing situation with Weis right now. I remember the Pitt game when he first game in and it was amazing watching our offense move the ball that way, especially after three years of Willingham's inept coaching. It's like Weis has shown that he can coach and develop players (see first two years), and I understand that it was slim pickings last year, but we shouldn't be losing due to lack of talent this year (three top ten recruiting classes).
Right now I think the USC game will be ugly, but we can have a realistic chance of winning the Sun Bowl. I also think that the extra practices for a bowl game will be helpful with so many young guys on the team.
Final verdict from me, Weis gets next year and I hope it's noted publicly going into the year that there is support for him so recruits don't run somewhere else due to uncertainty over his standing. If Weis can't put together a strong year with the kind of talent he has on that team for the 09 season, we'll figure out things in the early spring 2010.
You guys can have Mike Sherman. Hopefully A&M will get rid of him and dangle about $3mil per year in front of Butch Davis.
Post a Comment