After going 19-6 in his first two season’s in South Bend, Charlie Weis came crashing back down to earth in the last two seasons going 10-15. Now, with a roster stocked full with his own recruits, we finally get to see if this guy can really coach or if he was just riding the coattails of Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, and Tom Brady all those years he was building up his football coaching resume. I, for one, am not expecting much.
Listen, I’m not saying Charlie Weis isn’t a good football mind and capable coach. What I am saying is this guy has not shown me anything to convince me that he is anything other than a run-of-the-mill, ordinary college football coach. Everyone expected this guy to come into the college game and install an offense that was going to be the envy of every major college program in the nation and, with it, have top recruits drooling to sign up and play for the Irish. Well, it’s now year five of the Weis era and we are all still waiting for the show to begin, while our popcorn has gone stale waiting in anticipation.
The excuses are over, Charlie. No more blaming Ty Willingham for talent that you would not have brought in to South Bend. You have now had the chance to bring in all of your own players, install your complex offensive system, and get yourself acclimated to coaching on saturday’s instead of sunday’s. There’s also no more blaming the dificulty of the Notre Dame schedule, as the 2009 Irish schedule is stocked full of cream puffs and traditional powerhouse programs that are in the midst of rebuilding(Michigan, Washington).
The 2009 Notre Dame Irish return 10 starters on offense, including a solid QB in junior Jimmy Claussen(32 TD/23 INT in 22 career starts). The defense returns 6 starters, including three quarters of the secondary. Charlie, you are now officially responsible for the entire Notre Dame program and it’s put up or shut up time. You signed a 10 year/$40 million dollar contract extension just 7 games into your 1st season as head coach. You made the Irish administration bend over backwards to kiss your ass because you made it be known that the NFL would be calling and you would be listening.
The 2009 College Football campaign will officially expose Charlie Weis as either the real deal or a flat out fraud. There is no in between, as the excuses are off the table and the wolves are circling the prey ready to pounce. You’ve done plenty of boasting and talking in your mediocre Notre Dame tenure thus far Charlie. It’s time to put up or shut up big boy. I’m not holding my breath.