Author: John Vannie

Patience and Measuring Success


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For the third time in the past decade, a new football head coach will lead the Fighting Irish into battle. While the players and coaches have changed, the lofty expectations and glowing reports from “insiders” remain a constant. I’m reminded that Tyrone Willingham and Charlie Weis created an instant buzz with promising first seasons, but…

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Notre Dame Has Run Out Of Mulligans And Flyers


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The last four coaching searches by Notre Dame have resulted in failure (one of them before the coach hired ever coached a game). That adds up to only one successful coach in the last 29 years – one successful hire out of the last 6 attempts going back to Gerry Faust. Notre Dame’s brand and…

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A Fitting End


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The Charlie Weis era came to a close at Stanford on Saturday evening in a manner that highlighted his shortcomings as a head coach. The Notre Dame defense, which Weis could never elevate to a respectable level of performance in his five year tenure, was instructed to allow the Cardinal to score the winning touchdown…

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It Can’t End Soon Enough


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Notre Dame closes the regular season with a meaningless game at Stanford on Saturday as the Charlie Weis era comes to an inglorious end. The 6-5 Irish are eligible for a post season bowl, but that technicality should not convince anyone that a postseason game will benefit the program in any constructive way. A new…

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Irish Fall in Second Overtime


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Andre Dixon waltzed into the end zone in the second overtime period to give the University of Connecticut a 33-30 victory over the beleaguered Irish on Senior Day at Notre Dame. The hosts started fast and held a 14-0 lead early in the contest, but the determined Huskies wore down the Irish with steady, physical…

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