I'm afraid that realistically we have to resign ourselves to several more years of Weis mediocrity. He won't be replaced unless, as posters have noted, the team has another November collapse.

But that emphatically does not make him a Notre Dame caliber HC. The improvement so-called is at least partly illusory, derived as it is from a small number of really high-performing players on offense. If you watch a lot of college football – or even just took a good look at our game with USC – you'll see that the talent gap has emphatically not been closed. Clausen, Tate, and a healthy Floyd would start for nearly any team in the country this year. McCarthy might be a nickel back at USC, and Rudolph might make their third team. But no other players in our roster would make the two-deep roster at USC, Texas, or Florida – and that's why we aren't competing for a NC.

It's not improvement in 2009 if you are playing with your own recruits up to the level of – 2005, which in case anyone hasn't noticed this season resembles nearly point for point and position by position: Clausen for Quinn, Tate for Samardijzia, Allen for Walker, Rudolph for Fasano, McCarthy for Zbikowski. Last second loss to USC. Other games closer than they should have been. Return to BCS – and how did that turn out?

2005 wasn't exactly a banner year for ND football, and the next two years were the worst I've seen in 45 years of watching ND fb. Weis looks good now ONLY when compared to his own low level of achievement. The fact that he doesn't lose as many games this year as he has the last two and has coached this team up to the level of four years ago does not inspire confidence.

We're stuck with this blowhard mediocrity because of the longterm contract and because of the further wrenching dislocation that another coaching change would cause.

But anyone who thinks Weis has taken, is in the process of taking, or has the ability to take us back to the elite level of college football that we occupied for most of 60 years does not understand what Notre Dame football is about, what that elite level is, or what it takes the get there. Requirement #1 is a coach who "gets it."

Having said that if they lose another game or two this year there is a problem. Clausen and Tate will likely leave and the overall direction of the program is in doubt.

The defense has shown signs of improvement and so has the offensive line. I just hope they rise to the occasion for the rest of the year.

Oh, and it is year five, you were wrong and your childish way of trying to explain your way out of it is laughable. Five and six are two different numbers. We are in year five.

Grow up.

The Bearcats are on their way to what would be a third consecutive season with 10 victories or more, something that's never been done in the school's history.

First of all, you need a basic reading comprehension class. I wrote that as far as a National Championship game was concerned, this year was over. So, it is year 6 as far as that goes. We won't win it in year 5. Sorry you struggle so much with that.

Wow, how did we do in those BCS games you have touted? Hmmmm. it looked like we didn't even deserve to be there based on the field merit. Almost like there was another selection criteria. Like selling seats and drawing an audience. Hey, but if you enjoyed those beatdowns, keep praising them.

Wow, you mean this 80th ranked defense is getting better? Can they get worse? Hey, but it has only taken us 5 years to get here.

The goal has never been to be a top 15 team. The goal has been to compete for a NC. Something we haven't done since Charlie took the helm. Year 6 people. Just keep making excuses. I demand more personally.

What I can't accept is how all the Weis apologists want to give the pound-for-pound best coach in his own mind a complete pass on 2007 and 2008.

Were the kids those years were less talented. Sure. But does Weis have no responsibility to coach the kids up?

2007 and 2008 were the most embarrassing teams in the history of the school. By far.

And just so we're all on the same page, Brian Kelly's last two recruiting classes were ranked 60th and 44th by Rivals. Do you see Kelly whining or his teams folding like lawn chairs? Hardly. Tony Pike goes down and what happens? The Bearcats don't skip a beat. The Irish lose their top WR because Clausen lobs an uncatchable pass onto the pavement at Michigan and everyone wants to throw a pity party for poor Charlie.

Ridiculous.

You guys want an overrated pompous coach for the next 10 years, so be it. Brian Kelly's come along one every five years. The last time the Irish missed his name was Urban Meyer. Feels like deja vu all over again.

Second, you need to chill and wait until the end of the season. If we crap out the rest of the season, I am sure that a lot of people will support you. But if we go out and win out through the rest of the season (with a couple of those games comfortable wins), followed by visit to a BCS bowl game, then you will have been proven wrong.

As for the defense, if you can't see improvement in the defense, that you are choosing to cover your eyes. We held USC to 80 yards less than their normal rushing. We held BC to 80 yards less than their average. Before we yanked our starters against WSU, we had given up 110 total yards over 3-1/2 quarters (which is better than USC did with their highly ranked D).

We aren't any closer than when Weis took over? If you can't see the talent upgrade on this team, then you are either not being objective or you really don't understand football. When Weis took over, we hadn't been to a BCS bowl game in 5 years, there is a chance we could go to 3 in his first 5 years. What other barometer would you use to measure improvement besides bowl games and talent?

If the defense continues to improve, we continue to win by ever larger margins (especially with Floyd back), and we win out, we will be sitting in a good position going into next year. So sit back and watch the rest of the season. Come back and brag about how insightful you are if we drop 1 or 2 more games. If we win out, fess up to being wrong and jump on the bandwagon.