The Firing Line: Weis Waits on ND Decision

“The Firing Line” at Football Rumor Mill focuses on coaches around the country who are in serious jeopardy. The latest edition centers on Notre Dame Coach Charlie Weis…

“It” is the job security of Charlie Weis, the Notre Dame football coach who surely ran out of real estate, rope and rational defenses in a humiliating 38-3 loss to relentless USC. What Syracuse began last week in South Bend, the Trojans finished here. Whatever was left of Weis’ worthless offensive genius façade crumbled on a night when the Fighting Irish were without a first down until the final play of the third quarter. They had four first downs and 91 total yards in an utterly feeble performance that should be Weis’ last as head coach. No amount of pretzel logic should save Weis now, no amount of finger-pointing at the previous regime, no amount of blue-skying about recruiting rankings begetting future greatness. Unless the Fighting Irish brass refuses to spend what ESPN has reported is an outrageous sum to buy Weis out of his massive, millstone contract, he’s done in South Bend. There can be no other justification for keeping him. Not now, as his winning percentage dips to sub-Ty Willingham levels and his offense sinks to new lows. It’s very simple. If Willingham had to go after three seasons, Weis has to go with a worse record after four. Or the explanation for keeping him had better be brilliant. – ESPN

If Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick is in any hurry to determine the employment status of head football coach Charlie Weis moving forward, he certainly didn’t display it on Saturday night at the L.A. Coliseum. Meeting with a group of reporters after Notre Dame’s 38-3 loss to fifth-ranked USC, Swarbrick continually stressed that his next meeting with Weis would be a comprehensive review of the state of the football program, not merely a summit to determie if Weis will remain to coach the Irish for a fifth season. “You’re assuming that’s what’s going on and it’s not,” Swarbrick said when questioned directly about a decision on Weis. “We are engaged in a process of reviewing the program and asking ourslves how do you make it better? What do you do? – South Bend Tribune

Not even close. And because of Notre Dame’s 38-3 loss to fifth-ranked USC Saturday night at the L.A. Coliseum, could Notre Dame be looking at the close of the Charlie Weis Era? “I’m not concerned with that right now,” Weis said after ND amassed 91 total yards, second-lowest in his four seasons. “I’m more concerned with the health of my team and the spirit of my team. I’m the head football coach at Notre Dame.” ND athletic director Jack Swarbrick, who met the media in the stadium tunnel after the game, said he planned to next meet with Weis at their regular Monday meeting time, but admitted it might be Dec. 8 rather than this Monday, since Weis plans to stay out on the West Coast to recruit. “We sit down with the sports administrators and we review each of our sports after the season,” Swarbrick said of the procedure in evaluating all Irish coaches. “That’s what we’ll do. We look at a host of factors.” The Irish lost for the fourth time in their last five games, limping to a 6-6 regular-season finish after a promising 4-1 start. And the loss will only add to the questions about Weis’ future. – South Bend Tribune