Comments on: UConn, Irish Clash on Senior Day

By: Jonathan Jensen

Jonathan Jensen — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:10:15 +0000

The thing that I keep coming back to and what is driving me crazy about Saturday's game is Weis' comment afterwards that he called the game conservatively in the first half.

This was Charlie Weis' last chance for a win against a team with less than four losses. Last chance for a road win against a top 10 team, his first since a win vs. a 7-5 Michigan team in his second game. Last chance to prove his critics wrong.

Last chance to let it rip.

And what does he do?

Call the game conservatively, and say that he was pleased the game was tied 3-3 with six minutes to go in the first half.

Huh?

When you think about it, this decision might be one of the biggest indightments of Weis' head coaching career.

What was he afraid of?

That his team would fall behind 20-3?

That his defense would give up big plays on the ground and in the air?

That his offensive line couldn't win one-on-one match-ups in the trenches?

Guess what? They all happened anyway.

Perhaps more importantly, what did he have to lose?

Answer: Nothing.

The loss to Navy had already blown any chances for a BCS bowl. The Pitt game was perhaps Weis' final chance to prove this team belonged in a New Year's Day Bowl, and that he was the man to lead them in the future.

He never even gave his team a chance to make their case.

It's almost as if Weis is constantly trying to show that he is capable of outsmarting the other team.

With one of the most prolific passing offenses in Notre Dame history, sure they're gonna come out throwing, try to get the Panthers back on their heels and get an early lead.

Nope. Too obvious.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:46:39 +0000

You always ask the question "Can/will the Irish establish/stick with the run". You should have the answer to that one on auto insert, and just put it in ahead of time … of course not.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:05:32 +0000

I am a Notre Dame fan at all costs. Whoever is coaching or playing I will stand with through it all. I am tired of all of the 'fans' that say they want good things but speak ill of whatever part of the program they choose to degrade. These are young men that we are talking about, give them your support or give them your silence. End of that story.
As far as fans in the stadium, I am past dissapointment on that. I am at most every home game and I see a bunch of people that should have given their tickets to a real fan and gone to the gold outing they think they are at. Stand up and cheer thr whole game! That is what a real fan does, stand up and shout encouraging statements & no demeaning ones.
GO IRISH, I love this team/stadium/school/coaches/everything that is Notre Dame Football

By: felicardenas

felicardenas — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:25:03 +0000

great piece. by far the best thursday night read I've had in a long time. the matchup is storybook, unfortunately not so much for nd. I believe the irish will play well tomorrow, play hard, hit hard, for the seniors. I just can't visualize a victory, considering it'll most likely go just as you predicted.

go irish!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:18:03 +0000

I see ND picking up enough motivation and spark to beat this
very mediocre team by at least a TD.
However, CW needs to move on. I do not share the emotions of many who somehow have trouble letting go of CW. He was a coach hired to
do a job which he did not do. He was tremendously overpaid to do that job and will walk away a multi
millionaire never having to work
again in his life.

So, my heart goes out to our players. However, CW is simply someone who didn't do the job and
is still getting a severence check like some of the CEO's that have been fired after taking their company
broke.

By: O'Boyle

O'Boyle — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:01:01 +0000

I have a hard time with the current "Fighting" (We still say this, right?) Irish coach playing the NFL philosophy of his mentor and "Only looking ahead to the next game" when this is the man that requested a meeting with Father Hesburgh to plead his case about why Coach Devine should be fired for his record and recent loss in the 70's back when he was a student. This man (Devine, never the other) is reponsible for one of the last two national titles for the school.

Bottom line- Experienced college coaches have just that; experience. A successful college coach would serve the University, and the monlith that is the ND board needs to give SOME flexability to that inevitable replacement.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:58:18 +0000

I think that all alums and fans of the football team are really, really tired of what has happened to our football program. Excitment has been replaced by exhaustion. "Here We Go Again" has become a cheer. The Huskies have something to prove. The Irish have little to gain for yet another year.

In the movie, "Hoosiers," Coach Dale tells his team: "I've seen you guys can shoot but there's more to the game than shooting. There's fundamentals and defense."

Of course, Gene Hackman isn't a real head coach. But it seems that Charlie Weis isn't much of a real head coach,either.

Another tough afternoon for the Irish.

~mpsND'72

By: Tim B.

Tim B. — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:15:25 +0000

If this is Charlies last time through the tunnel.. then i wish him all the best. He is a good honest ND man that deserves our Notre Dame respect. As far as any rumors.. i personaly feel its time for Urban renewal.

By: Scranton Dave

Scranton Dave — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:37:58 +0000

Vannie, you have done yeomans work this year, you really have. I dont know if they are going to win tomorrow, with all that's going on with Weis job specualtion, and the last 2 tough losses, and the season being, lets be honest, a colossal dissapointment, I just dont know whats left in the tank. If feel awful about this Weis situation cause he is a ND guy, but he has to go. He is an NFL OC not a College head coach. I want the kids to have a good senior day but I have a really bad feeling. Lets hope the Stoops rumors are true.