<p>I don't know that the play calling was bad per se. Irish fans have grown accustomed to the high-flying offense of Brady Quinn, Jeff Smarjzda, Rema McKnight and crew. We don't have those guys anymore, instead we have guys who are literally being broken in. </p>
<p>I don't believe that Weis has lost his nerve or had a meltdown or anything like it with the drastic change in the look of the offense. This is the guy, after all, who was, until now, gaining ND the moniker of Quarterback U.</p>
<p>When Weis came in, he inherited a two-year veteran NFL-caliber junior quarterback in Brady Quinn (whom, by the way, Ty Willingham never really pursued all that much--it was more a matter of Quinn really pushing his way in back in the day...) Quinn was mature and battle-tested.</p>
<p>Now, he's dealing with some 19 year-old kid who was at Domer Fest at Frosh-O weekend with the rest of the freshman. This time last year, he was still playing high school games. He started two games earlier in the season than any ND freshman quarterback has ever started a game. The bright lights of the press--and all the nasty coverage that sports can bring--have been shining on this kid for years, in a way previous generations of high school kids have never had to cope with. I don't care how good he is; he is still young, still a kid, still under the lights with a hostile crowd of 110,000 screaming while he snaps and a press corps with an axe to grind against anyone at the top... I cannot fathom what it would be like to be him, in the spotlight he is playing. Granted, that's why he came here. But I think Weis is looking at the longer term, not just this season, but the next four of Clausen. This is the first starting quarterback he got to recruit and gets to break in. So he's being a little conservative; maybe a little too conservative. I don't blame him for that... </p>
<p>I think the real judgments will be best made as the season progresses.</p>
<p>Notre Dame vs Michigan. Both teams have had rather disappointing starts, and it will be an interesting atmosphere. Usually these teams meet with higher stakes on the line, but this time the stakes are a bit different. Michigan is fighting for their coach's job, and if you guys didn't already know... Mike Hart guaranteed a victory over the Irish moments after he was thrashed by the ducks. The Irish are fighting for respect, and that my friends is very powerful.</p>
<p>Im looking forward to a great game, and lets give Lloyd Carr an 0-3 start!</p>
<p>My understanding is that Jimmy Clausen is a decent enough kid. Were he really cocky, the seniors would be all over them, and they are not. My d said JC was at DomerFest and swarmed by young women and hangers-on. He didn't ask for the fame; he was just that good in high school. I don't know, though, that is his doing, as much as it is the doing of the hangers-on. He's a kid who used to watch game films with his older brothers when they were QB's for Tennessee, and he was a 10 year-old. </p>
<p>If you've ever read some of the drivel on Rivals.com and comparable sites, you've seen just how nasty it can get and just how petty people can be about the people on the top. The spotlight and scrutiny of these kids while still in high school is staggering. The Internet has made it possible for all the pressures and abuse that used to characterize the pro level to creep its way down to high school kids.</p>
<p>I'm willing to give Jimmy a break... I wouldn't want to be in his shoes--or his parents', either.</p>
<p>If Charlie doesn't lead ND to a BCS win in the next 3 years, do you think he'll be fired? Just known as another coach who can't win "the big one?"</p>
<p>Let remember that in the Charlie's first two years he won more games than any other ND coach with the same tenure. </p>
<p>Ty had a good first season, but if I remember correctly, went 6-6 in his second season.... ( that may be wrong) maybe 5-7 actually.... someone correct me</p>
<p>But, the main reason he was fired, I believe, was because of the recruiting. We were not bringing in the top prospects, and that mixed with the mediocrity is what forced his departure. </p>
<p>Big C-train will be around for awhile, don't you worry. We have 2 sub-par games, and everyone is up in arms. Most of it fueled be the negativity on ESPN, but please remember that its only week 2 in year 3 of the Weis era. His contract is to go through 2015, and I personally believe he will be there for the entire time.</p>
<p>We haven't won a bowl game since 94... but I think we will win one this year. We will win atleast 6 games, and therefore we will get a bowl birth. We will play a mediocre team, and we will break the streak. That will give us momentum going into next year... we will win 10, possible 11, games next year and we shall be granted a BCS bowl. Armando Allen will be a household name, and possible a heisman contender. Jimmy, with crown on head, will be chilling, throwing touchdowns, and winning games. Oh the future is bright!</p>
<p>I've heard that Mr. Willingham had plenty of time to spend on the golf course. A major part of his difficulty in recruiting was a less-than-stellar work ethic. No one has ever accused Weis of such a thing!</p>
<p>Maybe Charlie doesen't spend much time golfing, more likely practicing screaming obsenities or perfecting the fine art of arrogance. Two very unappealing traits (I'm sure there are others), not becoming a graduate of Notre Dame, or for that matter a human being.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Bottom line is that rebuilding is rebuilding. USC went through it because of NCAA sanctions. We are going through it because Ty Willingham was a second-rate coach who didn't work all that hard. We are now seeing precisely why Mr. Willingham was fired, and not a minute too soon. With 19 commitments already in hand, Weis is en route to assembling what it currently rated the #1 recruiting class in college football.</p>
<p>There is no comparison whatsoever between Ty and Charlie!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Otoh, Willingham took over the reigns of a UW team that was even more devoid of talent than ND (and thus, also in a "rebuilding" stage) and with a (RS) frosh QB managed to beat a pretty good Boise St. team.</p>
<p>And Wake last year (and Northwestern for 3 yrs since '95) managed to win their respective conf. championships with less heralded recruiting classes than ND had under Willingham.</p>
<p>
[quote]
]My understanding is that Jimmy Clausen is a decent enough kid.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Clausen is hardly a kid hell be 20 in a couple of weeks.</p>
<p>crazyforyou-Can you elaborate? Most football coaches, esp at this level, can be jerks. Try living in the heart of football country--you will definately see jerk football coaches. Somehow, I don't perceive Charlie Weis as a jerk. He is doing his job and I suppose that sometimes he has to act like a jerk--perhaps to capture the attention of 18-21 year old boys!</p>
<p>If you haven't noticed yourself that he is an arrogant, belligerant, rude, individual there's not much I can say to elaborate. </p>
<p>I thought that when I saw his first press conference. I thought that when I met him. The fact that a top recruit told me he wouldn't play for the guy pretty much confirmed that even those that play the game, don't need to be cursed at or called names under the pretext of "good coaching".</p>
<p>For me, the magic of the Fighting Irish isn't just winning games. It's doing it differently than everyone else. Doing it while upholding the academic standards of the college. While promoting the values of the college, with respect, dignity, fairness, compassion, generousity. For now, with Charlie Weis at the helm, the magic is gone.</p>
<p>Is that what Frank Leahy did? There have been some sub-golden links with him. It is rumored that Lou Holtz gave his players steroids. If you think the game of college football and recruiting is very pure and clean, I think you should take a closer look. Also, how can you say that his attitude is in conflict with the academic standards of the University? Win now, win later, that is the motto that he does and should go by, and he also does it while holding up a standard of academic excellence.</p>