At worst the second best Qb I've ever seen at ND, 2 All American caliber wr's, a superior TE, a veteran off. line. 5yrs to impliment some kind of defense. There is only one place to put the blame. It starts with Charlie and ends with Charlie.

I think CW is a good offensive play caller, though I miss all the screen passes they used to execute so well. But the personnel is different, with 2 of the best WR's in the game and a pocket passing QB, more of a downfield game makes some sense. I also think CW can recruit. I remember when they hired Tenuta, it was like he was supposed to be the missing link, he was so great and all. What the heck happened? Did the guy forget how to coach? Or was he just overrated to beging with? I do think, though, that allowing 21 offensive points to Navy is not bad, and this offense needs to find a way to score more than that. Option offenses are impossible to stop, and a team with the offensive personnel ND has should be able to score more than that. We should've won this game 35-21. Period.

Charlie didn't fumble the football, throw an interception or miss the field goals, his players did.

I was a ND fan, then Stanford and now SC...but a football fan. It's the math. 5 years, all his players and coaches, ND is a Pretty Good unranked team. Sorry. "pretty good" at ND is not good enough. It was and can be a premier team...with...a premier coach. For example, look at Stanford and their new coach Harbaugh. It has taken him 2+ years, or many other teams gone from good to excellent. 2 or 3 years. That's the math. End of story. Sorry Charrly! Roger

Lets quit all the BS. A new coaching staff is needed. Gruden would be a breath of fresh air !

Convenient scapegoat? That's rich. I hope the irony of the Arnold piece's title isn't lost on anyone. "Accountability."

I think Weis is an outstanding offensive coordinator, but his inability to develop a coherent defensive scheme is telling. I question his ability to manage a full coaching staff.

Temple beat Navy. How is it that the Temple coaches/players are doing a better job preparing for Navy than Notre Dame. I want Weis to succeed, but its becoming harder to imagine him bringing the program to a championship level.

Ryan are your expectations so low for this football team that 2 losses to NAVY! in 3yrs. is okay. Not one player on Navy could start at ND. Charlie hasn't got the job done, period. It's time for a new coach. Ryan I haven't been a Weis basher, til now. It's obvious he's not up to the task. Lou would have won that game by 4tds.

Notre Dame lacks killer instinct or any sort of swagger. I love the team and program and I try not to dislike Charlie Weis or blame him unnecessarily. But why do they always play to the level of their opponent and either lose or eek out a win? As a fan, I never have a feeling of confidence, I rarely feel they are in control of a game and I *never* feel they are going to crush a team. I suspect this starts with the coach, who sets the general tone for the team.

Beautiful article and absolutely true.
You will get ridiculed for writing it because you have used fairness and logic. That's in short supply these days on fan boards. CW didn't miss the field goals, the blocks or make the fumbles and he absolutely always starts the blame game on himself. Those who simply want change or stoop to disparaging the man on the basis of third hand stories or aversion to his being heavy set are not going to hear you. But thanks for this piece.
Those who think we will get anyone better will wait a long, long time.

So the coach on the sidelines determines whether a player on the field fumbles or whether a kicker can make a 30 yard field goal? The costliest mistakes that were made on offense were not a result of coaching.

Say what you want about the defense, I don't think anyone can defend their performance. The points left on the field by the offense (and there were enough to win) were a result of PLAYER error and poor PLAYER execution not coaching error or play calling.

Very well stated. We never feel they are in control of a game because the HEAD COACH is never in control of the game. He's too busy being out-coached. There is no drive or motivation. How many times have the Irish racked up the TDs in the first half, let their foot off the gas, and coasted the rest of the game. This tenacity or "killer instict" has to start from the top. Teach or motivate these phenominal student atheletes to put games away and play to their potential like the great coaches do. If Charlie can't do it, he needs to go. He's had more than enough time to prove himself...

Does ND play or have a defense? You can't win unless you're good on both sides of the ball.

There is no more excuses. WHen you have mature Heisman level talent on your team there is no reason to lose to the NAVY! I supported Weiss until the first Navy lose much less the second. I have two words for the Irish nation: URBAN MEYER!!!!!!!!!!!

I've always said that ND has stood for No Defense. This goes back for more than a decade. I agree with you. Offense sells the tickets but defense wins the championships!

Your correct, the players who should have been mentaly prepared for this game. I truly believe the Irish overlooked this team and the results were seen.

But he continues to take zero responsibilty for the worst defense I've seen in along time. They miss tackles, blow coverages, can't hold anyone on third down. He is the head coach it's ultimely his problem. Yet he continues to say they are making progress. Does he really watch the same game. I understand the players made some mistakes and they need to be held accountabe as well. Lastly, I'm tired of Notre Dame getting personal fouls(JImmy Clausen) and Charlie not doing anything about it. Where's the accountabilty for those mistakes? To me that is unexcusable and that shows me Charlie and the staff have no control of this team. Notre Dame has a big decision that needs to made after the season and I hope they make the right one this year!!!

I couldn't have said it better. The mental preparation is lacking and that was evident against the Navy! - The Stinking NAVY!!!! 43 years-in-a-row NAVY!!!!!! He's got to go. Sell some paintings from the Vatican, pay out Wiess contract, and call up URBAN MEYER because enough is enough!

I hate to blame Charlie and I feel for the man. But the bottom line is this. 5 years, no big wins to speak of (maybe Michigan in his first year). 2 losses to Navy, at home, after 43 straight wins. A pitiful loss to an 8-loss Syracuse team last year. The worst season in Notre Dame history in 2007. They consistently underachieve by eeking out wins over terrible teams like Purdue, Mich St, Wash teams. 3 blow out losses to USC. 2 blowout losses in BCS bowls. I have been a Charlie supporter up until now but the bottom line speaks for itself. I think it's time for a change.

I am 100% in agreement with Irish 1998. Weis is a good man, but he's had 5 years to make the Notre Dame program into a Top 10 in the nation and he hasn't been able to do it. I feel badly for him because I like his values and his character. But values, character and morals are only half the job.

When will all the let's get Urban Meyer for coach realize Notre Dame just isn't that special anymore. Urban Meyer turned down the ND coaching job, he didn't want it then, why would he want it now?Money? That is all that ND is even interested in anymore. That is why Notre Dame just isn't that special anymore. they have done that to themselves, just ask any previous long time season ticket holder? Notre Dame forced them out for the almighty dollar, rather than the tradition it sold out on to the highest bidder.

Ryan, 2 losses to Navy in three years. Of course when you get outplayed you lose. It's the coaches job to make sure you don't. Look at Weis's body of work the past 5yrs., I see many upsets, ND always on the losing end. There really is no defending his record. Believe me, I had hoped this year would be different.

I am wondering whether some of you guys watched the same game I did on Saturday. The ND offense is so predictable it is almost sad. The undersized, under talented Navy cornerbacks only had to move to the left and right side of the end zone and wait then fight for the ball. They did that really well and ND didn't score once on that play. In fact their two passing TD's were, one a pass to Floyd at the goal line (first time I have seen this play) and another great catch and run by Tate. Additionally, ND's freshman RB Reddick made some beautiful runs to get the ball inside the 10, then was taken out and Hughes put in and immediately ran into the first defensive player he could find. The offense is predictable and uninspired. That is coaching.

The defense was pathetic, and not because of a lack of effort, but because of a poor game plan. In 1971 ND beat the Texas wishbone, which is the triple option with a different formation, by having one linebacker take on the fullback every play and hit him hard. The fullback, a 1st team All-American gained less than 30 yards, fumbled 4 times and didn't remember even playing the 2nd half. No one, and I mean on one was watching the Navy fullback and it showed. Now I know that these coaches are supposed to be some of the best and I am only a business consultant, but come on, have some idea of what scheme you are going to use to slow or stop the running game. It was total disorganization. Once again, coaching.

With the offense that ND has and the speed and talent advantage, if ND had half the heart that Navy has the score should have been 50 to 14. And don't tell me about all the Irish mistakes. It shouldn't have been close enough for mistakes to have made the difference between a win and a loss.

Dump Charlie the Tuna.

Dorothy,

The games are on NBC each week. You should watch one.

I have been an ND fan for almost 50 years and I believe that I have a pretty good feel for ND football dating back to the early 60's.

This team, in the hands of a good coach would be 8 and 1, and maybe even 9 and 0. We are lucky that we aren't 3 and 5. We have one of the best QB wide receiver/tight end groups I have ever seen, yet we can't score in the red zone because the play calling is so predictable. That's the coach.

The defense was totally unprepared. No one seemed to understand the scheme and what their assignment was, if they even had one. The triple option can only be stopped if the defense executes their assignments.

IndianaJoe

Predictable, uninspired and totally unprepared to play...this falls on the head coach "The Hamburglar", "Charlie the Tuna" or just plain "Not Qualified Charlie".

Absolutely not, I don't think we need anymore NFL coaches coming to the college ranks. We need to take coaches that have good track records and deserve a test at (what used to be a) powerhouse. Skip Holtz would be the guy, look at his track record and an ND alum. He has won everywhere he has gone, he won at UCONN and then after he left they went back down. Now he is winning at East Carolina.....if we get anyone it should be Skip Holtz because Urban is not coming anytime soon.

If accountability is the topic of the day then clearly Charlie must go based on his lack of production. He is a mediocore to poor college coach by any measurement.

Also, you have to remember that after last year the AD and Charlie met and discussed the program in detail and the expectations for the coming year. Looking at this from a purely managerial point of view, the AD really has no choice but to make a change and find a new head coach. Otherwise, he puts his own credibility at risk for a coach who is not worth the gamble!

I don't think they should fire him yet. Maybe give him 1 more year to make a BCS bowl game. The bottom line is, he is an amazing recruiter and Willingham wasn't. That's the major difference between the two coaches.

This Charlie Weis quote will surely send a chill up most ND spines:

"But I think that as I just told the team, I coach the team exactly the same way every week regardless of the situation, whether it's a win or loss. One thing they know from me is I never change -- never, ever change."

So I guess at least we'll be consistently mediocre.

With all due respect Evan, it is about winning. Ara won in his first year, following a 2 and 7 season and won the national championship in his 3rd year. Devine won right away and won a national championship in his 3rd year. Lou won in his second year and, you guessed it, won a national championship in his 3rd year.

Now I might be wrong, but with the offensive talent ND has, especially at QB and receiver they should be at worst 8 and 1 and probably 9 and 0. Instead they are 6 and 3 and could easily be 3 and 6.

Joe, its clear that their offense is not the problem. Clausen is having a Heisman-calibur year and ND routinely puts up gaudy offensive numbers. Their problem is defense.

For the ND fans, it is all about winning. That said, I find it difficult to believe that there is a better coach out there that actually wants to coach at Notre Dame...

Weis has Notre Dame recruiting better than it has in 20 years. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for another year.

Y'all need to quit blaming Charlie for the woes of Saturday's game. He's the finest coach in NCAA football and the Irish are darn fortunate to have him. Even if Notre Dame loses on occasion, what's really important to me is that Charlie Weis is teaching these young men how to be strong contributors to society. That legacy will last a heck of a lot longer than this year's football season. Lighten up on Charlie. I love that guy!

I am gold and blue through and through and will always back our players and coaches along with their recruiting and decision making. I think Weis is just too arrogant and that is exactly why people hate the Irish. We need a coach in there that is confident, but also knows his teams limitations. We do have great players who will play on Sundays, but we cannot get them to win games.

Bottom line, we need a new stud coach. Not Weis or OLeary or some other drooling old coach with a butt in the front. Gruden, Meyer, pay them, get them to return the Irish to national prominence.

Indiana Joe...in response to your comments to both Dorothy and Evan, I also have been an Irish fan for almost 50 years - dating to my freshman year in 1965. What strikes me the most is the horrific treatment of our head coach by the Irish fans and/or ND Admin:
Ara was never let off the hook for the 10-10 tie with MSU - even tho ND won the NC that year (1966). Then he was winning BUT not by a big enough margin. Then I recall fans complaining that he couldn't get along well enough with the black players. Eventually we wore the man down - he aged WAY more than the time he devoted his talents to ND.
Devine wasn't colorful and media savvy enough in the eyes of the fans as I recall. And if I recall accurately, his family was getting verbally and emotionally abused by the Irish fans. He left to maintain his sanity....unlike Leahy or so I've read who suffered a nervous breakdown from the demands of "the most prized head coaching position in college". What a prize!!!!
Faust was in over his head, and the treatment by we "fans" was harsh.
Holtz was great - even got a statue. I never understood what he did to get run out of town on a rail. Maybe have a personality conflict with his boss - the AD? Maybe be too popular with the fans to the dislike of said AD? Certainly "Under the Tarnished Dome" was never substantiated to be true/accurate. He left under very ????? conditions - at best, I felt that the Admin wanted a more polished, younger, more sophisticated image....so we quickly settled for Davie. GREAT move firing Joe Moore and the last time we've seen a decent line.
Davie again over his head, lousy recruiter and the program spirals downward.
Willingham another gem, being hired haphazardly. Recruiting downward spiral accelerates and does YEARS worth of damage to our program.
Enter Charlie and are we headed for a repeat of our past "sins".

Let's learn from our history, fellow fans.

One of the best posts that I've read on this site suggested (in a timely fashion) promoting Charlie to Asst AD in charge of recruiting, operations, etc. and having him be part of the selection process for a new head coach.

My two cents for what it's worth.

Urban Meyer could be lured back to Notre Dame for a number of reasons. One, he could finaly be the guy who brings Notre Dame back to the front. Second,He has instant credibility. Third, he knows how to recruit already and imagine what he could dangle with NBC (Notre Dame Broadcasting Company). Fourthly, he would inherit Heisman talent (that Weiss hasn't done squat with). Finally, Urban Meyer is up for the challenge of adding his name to history. Winning a national Championship is already cool. Winning one at Notre Dame makes you historical. Wake up the echos and Call URBAN MEYER!!!!!

Wait, really? The finest coach in all of football? When has he shown that?

Irish1998 said it best, the numbers just aren't there. He has a 35-24-ish record over 5 years, with 1 win over a ranked team. Now he can't even beat the unranked teams.

I have never seen a team look so lost and unprepared out there on defense.

I also wish we can get away from calling Weis an "offensive genius." How many times has he been shut out? The raw skill of some of these players (Tate against USC especially) is making him look good, but he still has some of the most boneheaded playcalling you'll see on any given Saturday. Predictable playcalling in the redzone (the SAME fade route again and again), obvious 3rd and short calls.

Yes the execution was poor this week, but some of you are acting like this is the only game that we have lost over the past 5 years. Weis has been consistently mediocre. We could just as easily be 2-7 as 9-0 this year.

Weis needs to go. And we need a true college coach.

Evan,

I would have to disagree with you about the "best coach wanting the job", I would guess that there are at least two or three who would jump at the opportunity. Hotlz and Kelly to name two, and don't be surprised if Meyers would also be interested. He has won two and might win a third national championship in the past several years and is loosing his star. There is no where to go but down, but at ND the sky is the limit and he has good material to work with.

Go Irish.

You're Charlie's mother, right???

Urban Meyer! Why are we not banging this guy's door down right now? Let's take some of that NBC money and use it for something other than embarassing ourselves in front of a national audience!

Jan,

Nice reply. There are some things that I might not agree with, but I can certainly see the merit in having Weis as the Asst AD and Head Recruiter. I like that idea.

Best,

IndianaJoe

As several others have pointed out, the talent is there. However, the calls inside the red zone were bizarre, to say the least. How many times do you make the call to jam it in from the one yard line, before the defense realizes that it is almost always the call Weis makes, and stacks 11 men in the middle?

Charlie just can't understand that this is COLLEGE football, and standard NFL calls that always work, just don't always work in college. Charlie should go back to the NFL, and let a COLLEGE coach take over the team.

Not only can't he win the BIG games, he can't even win the games that he is supposed to win. My hats off to Navy,though, they played a great game, and their players put 110% into the game.

No, his players fumbled, threw interceptions, and missed field goals. BUT, superior talent and better athletes should be enough to beat Navy, Temple did. Not making adjustments in the game plan and getting away from the running game even when it is working is completely charlies fault. He's had his time. With this amount of talent is the current record justifiable???

Charlie needs to get the side line ((fire)) burning. These guy's need to see GAME TIME PASSION from him. Dont walk or jog you sprint on that field and if Theo Riddick moves that football down the field. DONT TAKE HIM OUT AT THE 5 YARD LINE!!!!!You have a guy out on the field,playing with passion leave him in!!

I just read an article on NBC Sports Notre Dame Central and one section jumped out at me to show the lack of character that our head coach demonstrated. The following is a copy from the article.

{After the game, Notre Dame nose guard Ian Williams said that Navy "out-schemed us and I think they just played harder."

That drew a response Sunday from Weis, who pointed out that safety Kyle McCarthy said after the game that Navy's success had nothing to do with the scheme.

"There's a reason why one guy's a captain and one guy's not," Weis said.}

Are you kidding me! What a jerk kind of comment to make. Suggesting that because Ian Williams had the audacity to question the coaching skills of the almighty Charlie and his staff that he is somehow a lesser player. The University of Notre Dame deserves better and I'm not talking about wins and losses.

Although we may need a new coach, Gruden would not be a "breath of fresh air." Gruden would bring with him the same problems that Charlie Weis brought.
Cinicinnati's Coach, Connecticut's Coach, someone with a longer track record of winning at either a (formerly called) Div. 1 or Div. II school.
I am with Mr. Arnold, though, let's keep the vitriol to a minimum, please.

My neighbor is a coach at ND and I have never seen anybody work
so hard. Most of us could never put in the time or effort to make
ND a winner and miss all the family time because of their love for
ND. I have never seen this many talented players at the same time
and it seems they are still coming to Notre Dame. It's been a long
time since our last National Championship and I think the staff
we have now are on the right track. A Championship is the goal,
not to just make the BCS. My neighbor is a coach and was a player
and loves ND more than any of us. I think Charlie and him are the
kind of leaders we want to get us to the Championship level year in
and year out. I've waited 20 years just be a bit more patient.

Urban lost his star last year, Percy Harvin, but is still winning with an awesome leader. How about going after his DC, Charlie Strong, he too was on the ND staff with Urban Meyer.

In the immortal words of Charlie Weis, as reported by the sporting News or Sports Illustrated, at his first meeting.

"If you don't want your coach fired win more games."

"You are who your record says you are."

I'll end the GOOD, the BAD, the UGLY, like this:
The good is ND has rich history, yes. Currently a good COACH who is proving that the EXPLOSIVE players ND needs at the SKILL positions to WIN in big time college football are WILLING to sit on ND's side of the football "table" when ND meets on saturdays to discuss "BUSINESS" with the "BIG EIGHT" or any other team ND might face in a big time bowl game in the future. ND FORGETS that back when GOOD OL' MR HOLTZ was around ND still had PROBLEMS with DEPTH on ND's roster. Well maybe not depth but lets just say not as many future nfl players. Or at least you can say not as many as the CANES (CONVICTS), NOLES, GATORS, ETC. So, these teams have always been around. Even when ND was WINNING natn'l CHAMPIONSHIPS and facing teams such as the 'CANES (CONVICTS) AND NOLES LOADED with plenty of NFL talent, which are teams compairable to toady's GATORS and USC teams. ND knew back then ND couldn't compare to the AMOUNT and SIZE of talent they had but ND WAS TOUGH ENOUGH to BEAT those teams on any given day ESPECIALLY at HOME. Don't forget ND is merely trying to "eat" with them because on any given day EVERY team is BEATABLE, I'm sure any- and everyone would agree with that even if you live in VEGAS, L.A., DALLAS, MIAMI, ETC. ND may or may not EVER be a DYNASTY AGAIN but I'm sure EVERYONE would be happy with 1 'CHIP every 10 OR 20 YEARS as long as ND has waited! The DIFFERENCE is back then, HOLTZ was able to get in a players FACE and MOTIVATE the players to if nothing else DEFEND ND's FIELD, ND's TURF, ND's HOME. ND needs that back. The number one IMPROVEMENT I can see to DEFEND ND's "PLATE" ND's "SEAT" at the "table" is, ND's FRONTLINE. LOU had BIG, PHYSICAL, TOUGH, INTELLIGENT LINEMAN who were getting DRAFTED left and right by NFL teams. Saturday ND saw an O-line and D-line that was BEATEN BADLY for ND's "SEAT" at the "TABLE", something HOTLZ would never have allowed. I'm NOT saying it is or isn't ND's current coaches fault. But EVERY PLAYER at ND's "TABLE" were recruited to defend ND's TEAMMATES and ND's UNIVERSITY. I never experienced college life but I did play football at a high level at MT.CARMEL in CHICAGO, IL., home of players such as McNABB, SIMEON RICE, CHRIS CALLOWAY just to name a few; and attended ND's games in SOUTH BEND, IN. and at SOLDIER'S FIELD. I know that their is "TALENT" in the MIDWEST along with CAL, TX, FL, OH, ETC. Not as much but it's their.
The BAD is WHO can PROVE, or will PROVE, or has PROVEN that they can get ND back to that natn'l game? At least 1 more time if not ever again in ND's LIFETIME. When it really MEANS something IE CHAMPIONSHIP. Because everyweek means SOMETHING to ND that's nothing new. BUT like on saturday it meant EVERYTHING to NAVY and EVERYTHING to ND in terms of a BCS BID and ND did not show up to play ND's part.
The UGLY is ND's CURRENT coach, THOUGH a great MAN albeit, has PROVEN with his RECORD when measuring W'S AND L'S when they count MOST, that he is INEFFECTIVE! How can ND get to the BIG one if ND can't BEAT the little ONES for ND's spot at the "TABLE"?
FIGHT IRISH 4EVER!!!

Notre Dame can't block or tackle. They haven't been able to do that for seasons now. Who is to blame for players not executing fundamental football? Hmmm?

No doubt the defense lost this game and the coaches didnt have the answer once again for option football. I harken to last Sundays NE Patriots Miami game when Miami showed some new wrinkles early in the game and led 17-16 at one point. So what does Belichick do?He adjusts the defense on the fly and Miami does not score in the fourth period. Can Charlie Weis and his defensive coaches make these adjustments?Did they study how other teams defeated Navy and limited the Navy option? I say that Charlie did not do his homework and deserves his exit as ND head coach.

1.our experts came up with the real score in the notre dame/navy game, after making allowances for the blatantly dishonest officiating and tech reviewing by adding 21 points to notre dame's score and subtracting 7 points from navy's score.
2.two of the examples of the many acts of dishonest officiating, are easly visible on the tv feed posted right here at nd central, 3.the 1st is the phantom fumble by robby parris early in the 1st quarter. robby made the catch, his knee was down, and the game officials had blown the play dead and placed the ball where robby had made the catch for notre dame's next play. the tech review crew, however, reversed the game officials and created a phantom fumble and awarded the ball to navy very close to notre dame's goal line, thereby making an illegal gift of seven points to navy and hoping that the notre dame student athletes would thrown in the towel, recognizing that the officials were going to screw notre dame out of their win no matter what happened during the game. in addition, notice the similaries between the late vicious hits on robby parris by 2 navy players after the whistle was blown to the late vicious hits on robbty parris by 2 usc players at the end of that game(in both cases, the hits were to robby's head and knocked off his helmet and the lack on the required penalty calls by the officiating. obviously, robgy heard the game pofficials whistle the play dead and was in the process of putting the ball on the ground when he got whacked in the head.
4. also during the 1st half, after harrison smith had sacked navy's qb which would have forced nany to punt, the game officials created a phantom 15 yard roughing the passer call which gave navy a phony 1st down.contrast that phantom call with the many blatant acts of roughing the passer which navy players engaged in with jimmy clausen throughout the game, for which no penalties were called against any navy players.
5. our process servers have already served each game and tech review officials at the notre dame navy game with lawsuits at their homes and each one wants to settle and fess up.
6. did anyone associated with the naval academy or any navy student athlete have anything to do with the payoffs that were made to the officials?
7. absolutely no. if anyone wants the sources of the payoffs, just look at the schools which are involved in recruiting battles with notre dame.
8. do navy student athletes intentionally play dirty football like usc's football players? no. however, they play as hard as they can and if no penalties are called, they continue the same conduct.
9. for charlie and his staff and notre dame's student athletes, pittsburgh has their full attentions.
10. could notre dame's student athletes have played better than they did in the navy game? yes. however that is true in any game. the only relevant facts are that they played well enough to win, as they did in the michigan and usc games, only to have the win stolen from them byu dishonest officials.
11. how many people could go through experiences like that and still come out fighting? aside from notre dame's student athletes and charlie and his staff, very very few.
12. since we are not coaches or student athletes right now, we have plenty of time and resources for payback and for replacing the current corrupt officiating, rules enforcement, and rankings systems with honest high tech systems which are fully transparent.
13. we have plenty of other matters which are screaming for our attention. however, we have all set aside the time and resources to complete this project and we never allow our attention to be diverted away from any one project until we have fully accomplished our objectives.
GO IRISH!!!

Don't confuse activity with effectiveness. Think hampster.

Okay first things first. Bye bye Tenuta. Obviously he is not smart enough to make an adjustment when the same thing just isn't working. Harrison Smith... Sit him down because he doesn't even deserve to start for Navy. The rest of the defense is just as pitiful. You can say all you want about Charlie, but the blame for the season is all on the defense. Now Saturday, while the defense still played awful, they only gave up 21 points. ND's high powered offense was non-existent inside the red zone (Same story through the season). While you can say Charlie's fault... Again, he calls plays. the players are the ones that need to execute. Michigan came down to horrendous defense. It should have never come to that point. USC came down to Kamara slipping and falling in the endzone on a smart play. Everyone expected Tate and Kamara was wide open because of it, he just couldn't stay on his feet on a dry field. Navy came down to too many turnovers and missed oppurtunities in the red zone. Clausen as, a Heisman candidate, should know better than to take a hit right there. It was a good effort, but he needs to think wisely. Especially with Christe out for the season. He had another down to score. Tausch missing two field goals is unexcused. That pick was not Clausen's fault, but his receivers need to hold onto the ball. The O- Line should be able to step up and not give two sacks in a row at that point in the game to the extremely undersized Navy defensive line. Those things right there cannot be put on Charlie. Execution is what is accountable for not only this loss, but all of the Irish losses this season. At any rate... Their is still 3 games left, Pitt, UCONN, and Stanford. ND has the potential to win out and still get a New Years' Day bowl game. Everyone on the field just needs to play flawless from here on out. GO IRISH!

hey joe,
1. charlie and his staff, including tenuta, are not going anywhere unless they choose to.
2. we do not have any more influence over the decision process that you do, but we know enough about the decision process to know that, after the tyrone disaster, notre dame very seriously considered dropping out of bcs football and playing in the ivy league.
3. all decision making powers are now in the hands of notre dame graduates who have done extremely well as student athletes at notre dame, in the nfl, and in their lives.
4. one of those people has the 1st name joe. however, he is not you.
5. each of these people is extremely well qualified and more than sohisticated enough to be able to spot dishonest officiating and corrupt rules enforcement, and rankings systems.
6. none of the people with that decision making power at notre dame has even thought about any coaching changes at notre dame.
7. coaching decisions at notre dame are not democratic processes that can be influenced by media hacks like eric hansen and his friends at the south bend tribune or by any notre dame enemies or fans who think they know something about college football of college football at notre dame.
8. charlie and his staff and notre dame's student athletes have brought back notre dame football with honesty and integrity and without compromising notre dame's very high academic and character standards.
9. you and those like you can either wait around to see what college football and notre dame football are like after we shove honest and transparent high tech officiating, rules enforcement, and rankings systems down the throats of corrupt college sports enterprises with economic violence in the civil courts combined with whatever the powers that be at notre dame may be doing behind the scenes or you can but that garbage about 2 loss florida and alabama teams being undefeated on paper and root for those bogus teams.
10. you also have the option of continuing your posts and assisting notre dame's opposition in the recruiting wars to con recruits and their familes into flushing their lives down the toilets of usc, florida, michigan, lsu, and most other currently ranked football powers.
11.for the pitt game and the forseeable future, in charlie and his staff and in notre dame's student athletes we have absolute faith, not because we are qualified to make any coaching decisions, but because those who do at notre dame are extremely well qualified in those areas.
12. we have learned enough, with the assistance or real experts, about the crooked officiating, rules enforcement, and rankings systems to be able to use economic violence in the civil courts, in which area we are the experts, to drive the corruption out of college football and college sports vand bto replace those systems vwith honest transparent systems which will benefit notre dame student athletes and every real student athlete at every other school.
GO IRISH!!!

here is a history lesson for all you poor pitiful with short memories.when tyrone was fired the reason given was that he had not recruited well.like it or not that was the reason given.
charley done quite well for two years,and then the big recruiting hole showed up big time!in 07 and08 there was very little talent in south bend with more talent in 09 6-3 aint bad so lets give him another year and quit whining like a bunch of little kids

here is a history lesson for all you poor pitiful with short memories.when tyrone was fired the reason given was that he had not recruited well.like it or not that was the reason given.
charley done quite well for two years,and then the big recruiting hole showed up big time!in 07 and08 there was very little talent in south bend with more talent in 09 6-3 aint bad so lets give him another year and quit whining like a bunch of little kids

here is a history lesson for all you poor pitiful with short memories.when tyrone was fired the reason given was that he had not recruited well.like it or not that was the reason given.
charley done quite well for two years,and then the big recruiting hole showed up big time!in 07 and08 there was very little talent in south bend with more talent in 09 6-3 aint bad so lets give him another year and quit whining like a bunch of little kids

You must be kidding. Those are Irish officials through and through. Maybe you should watch a very frustrated Clausen pushing a Navy player in the back.

great article Keith! %100. This Pittsburgh game will probably be the true test for this team and this coaching staff. How does a team recover from a dismal outing the week before and play a top rated team like Pitt? We will find out. #1 Notre Dame ( for better or worse) GO IRISH!

Give me a friggin break he threw his team under the bus and was mortified that one of his soldiers spewed the truth, that alone should get him fired.This guy is done and if anyone thinks this loss to navy can be forgotten with a win at pitt forget it!!!

Ron P from berwick PA a total bust as a qb at nd and another yes man for CW right now! I could care less if he is the hardest working man in cfb history, if they are lossing to NAVY!!!!!!!!!!!! Send Ron p back to berwick and CW and the rest of these losers back to their holes under rocks!!!!!!

I don't know if you have ever been the number 1 rated player in the country coming out of high school or had about every passing record at ND,but he has and had to listen to people like you. He is the
quarterback coach and I would say Jimmy is not the problem. You don't know him and if you did you which you had a son just like him.

1. try und.com and the interviews with nore dame's offensive captains, jimmy clausen and eric olsen, and with the defensive captains kyle mccarthy and scott smith.
2. jimmy stated that, if charlie weis was not at notre dame, jimmy would not be there and the rest of notre dame's student athletes have the same attitudes.
3. although none of the people at notre dame who now have decision making power in football matters at notre dame has even thought about firing charlie weis or his staff, notre dame's student athletes have now stated their positions very clearly.
4. if anyone at notre dame attempted to fire charlie or any member of his staff, count jimmy clausen, golden tate and quite a few other notre dame student athletes gone to the nfl and not back at notre dame next season.
5. also count as gone virtually every one of notre dame's current verbal commits for 2010.
6. both college and high school football players have seen dishonest officiating many times. they know that notre dame's real record this year is 9-0, not 6-3.
7. they also know that the current corrupt officiating, rules enforcement, and rankings systems, along with every school that has been running full time football player programs at which the football players have zero athletic obligation and get no real educations will also be gone next season.
8. if anyone needed any more proof that all of the media garbage about the jobs of charlie and his staff being on any hot seats have no basis in fact at all and are generated by media shills weho get paid to do so by notre dame's rivals on the recuiting trails, then all such doubts have been eliminated, except for notre dame's enemies.
GO IRISH!!!

I read most every comment you post and find for the most part that they are interesting and entertaining. I would like to ask if you would give websites or anything in writing to back what you are talking about when it comes to the officiating?

Officiating are you kidding! Lets not forget the Hughes TD vs Washington when his knee was down at the one and was not over turned. Win some lose some, I think for the most part calls even out at seasons end. I wish I knew what the real problems are. If the defense could stop anyone for more then the occasional three and out we wouldn't be having this Charlie debate. LIfe long Irish fan and I hope to see a title again someday but as a life long Cub fan well......

mike ford,
1.we are now in attack and settlement modes for these cases.
2. if we were to post on any website all of the evidence that we have, along with the pending civil lawsuits, those named would have their settlement and come clean options cut off, a tactic which is not wise at this point in such matters if you are playing to win very quickly, as we always do.
3. we have given many references to evidence that anyone can watch right here at nd central in the notre dame game films and other references to items posted at und.com.
4. at this point in such cases,there is always a flood of settlements and additional evidence and witnesses.
5. we think that you will agree that winning quickly with that additional evidence and witneses puruant to setlements which will have to remain confidential far outweighs any benefits that might be achieved by putting the whole magilla online right now and stopping the flows of the new evidence and witnnesses.
6. we were not born with the knowledge to know how to catch and surf these big waves without wiping out, but we have learned very well.
GO IRISH!!

For all you idiots thinking urban meyer is gonna fix our problems... how many years till he gets someone to run his quarterback running offense... you can bet jimmy will go to the draft. Now what? you have two outstanding talents in tate and floyd and they can't be used properly in that offense... If you're going to hire anyone stay within a pro-style scheme.(John Gruden) i do not feel Weiss needs to be fired this year. The schedule is watered down, but it is the 26th best schedule in the country. My solution is to hire Romeo Crennel to run the defense; him and Charlie have ties from the Pats.

ND, with a significant athletic and size advantage along the offensive line, chose to employ a finesse passing game against an undersized NAVY 3-4 alingnment. The 3-4, in this case, was desinged to apply pressure to a predominantly passing offense. NAVY used a deep zone to guard against the deep pass(like BC/UW/USC/MSU).
NAVY dared Coach Weis to run the ball or throw short passes within the zone. This battle was over before it was even fought and Weis's ego is to blame. Notre Dame did not try to run the ball at the start and fell behind by 14 points. This put Notre Dame strictly in a passing formation. Sadly, as an ND fan of 30 years, we did not have Belichick's defense to stop the triple option. The only meaningful stat in football is rushing yards. Notre Dame had 60 against NAVY. Run the ball, stop the run. Notre Dame is incapable of either. The run game statistics may be slightly better this year, but so are the opponents. Peace.

Is he the one who taught clausen to take 2 sacks at the end of the game one that was a safety? Was he the one who taught clausen to throw a backward pass against washington, hMMMM? These are things that a junior QB at ND SHOULD NEVER DO!!!!!! Nice coaching!!

He's the one who taught him not to listen to assholes who never
played the game beyond high school and that's why he is one of the
top qb's in the country and will be making millions soon. How's
your football career going?

I have reserved judgment on CW, but this year it is obvious he is not up to it. He has all of his people in place, but the execution, the attitude and the results are all lacking. It has been painful to watch, and I will not watch it any longer. If those who defend Carlie get their way, I hope they enjoy themselves watching the team continue to stumble.

I have been a very expensive season ticket holder since 87' and I
can tell you all this. Not only are coaches and players accountable
but so are the fans. ND stadium is like going to watch paint dry
anymore. Nobody gets excited,most get annoyed if you stand up and
cheer. It's brutal now. The 80's and most of the 90's the place
had energy and it was an amazing place to be. Watch USC and Florida
games and you can feel the excitement from their fans. These are
young men playing a game and it should be the greatest time of
their lives. It's like a division II crowd. We fans need to be
accountable if we ever plan on getting back to the top.

Joe simmer down bro no need to use gutter mouth language.Joe, BTW lots of other professions to be succesful at, I am very comfortable thanks, how about you? Mi Amigo, you are a class act.

Joe:

How about the excitement on the field? Is it possible Joe, that ND is just boring right now, and has been for quite a while? Joe I sat at very expensive seats for the USC game, amazing how you are not the only one, is it not Joe? While I was sitting in those said seats Joe, I noticed that USC had excitement, and jumped around all game long, then I looked directly across the fifty to the other side of the field, and do you know what I noticed Joe? I noticed a bunch of uninspired football players standing atop the benches with their thumbs up their you know whats. This is the problem Joe, our coaching staff is uninspired and out of their league when it comes to preparing a football team to play at top caliber!! Once we get this god awful staff out of here, and get a brand new one in, you will see how excited ND stadium can get!! I guess you will have a for sale sign next door in the near future!!

I find the calls for Urban Meyer interesting. Didn't we call him 5 years ago? I don't think we got the answer we wanted. Also, I keep hearing calls for Gruden but our most recent foray into the NFL system for a coach isn't working out so well. I am very frustrated with Weis in general and I question if he is the coach for the long run. However, I'm also not real interested in another change that sets this program back 2-3 years into rebuilding. If Weis get's fired, this recruiting class could fall apart. Also, Clausen is most likely going to leave and that would mean a new coach coming in with inexperience at QB - a recipe for disaster. It interesting that CW's "skill position" recruits have progressed since he started calling plays (Clausen, Tate, Floyd, etc) yet the secondary - which at the start of this season was going to be our best group on defense - has regressed terribly. I think Tenuta's zone blitzing scheme is not suited for our "cover corners" skills and from what I hear from some friends who went to Ga Tech, Tenuta is completely unwilling to change his ways. Would it make more sense for Charlie to stay for next year and develop the young QBs; and fire Tenuta now and put Corwin Brown back calling the defensive plays? At least that keeps the offense somewhat consistent while potentially putting our defense back into the place in needs to be. If this defense progressed even a little from last year, this team would be undefeated or at worst have one loss. Ultimately, Charlie is the HC and therefore has a large amount of the accountability, but I think this year's downfall is strictly at the defensive scheme level and that is 100% Tenuta's fault.

John, you are all right! You either really love ND or hate them.
I hope I don't have a for sale sign next door, because if we do
then we just lost a great future head coach. Next time call me
I'll get you a better deal on your tickets.

People, People haven't you learned anything? Urban Meyer runs a spread offense there would be several seasons for him to recruit the talent to run such an offense sound familiar? Does Michigan ring a bell? Gruden has no college football experince so I would throw him out, look for a solid defensive coach if your going to replace CW. ND has the cash to do what it wants but don't be so careless with the decision. There are 3 games left and 3 wins means the gator bowl and a bowl win means were 10-3. Keep in mind Charlie broke the 9 game bowl losing streak. A gator bowl win is not the BCS ok I get that but it is progress.

Progress is so overrated! Besides what kind of progress is it when you end one streak and start a brand spanking shiny new one? ND football will continue to underperform under BOZO! ND students today think navy is more our speed, than lets say USC! Put that in your progress pipe and smoke it! CW keeps sinking this ship to new lows and if you call that progress I could only imagine what you consider regression! Stop with this one more year S this was constant last year well guess what this year is here and the only game he COULD NOT LOSE, HE DID and this should NEVER be forgotten! Show them all the door now. BTW I am fed up with this JC accolades garbage he threw a backward pass against washington that made him look like he has learned not a thing, add to that incident the 2 sacks at the end of the navy game one for a safety and how can anyone conclude this guy is lights out! The best 2 things can happen to ND is CW being booted out on his fat ass and JC leaving, NEXT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

John do you watch the games?

No Charlie didn`t fumble the ball or miss the field goals, but he calls the plays.

Calling for a fuulback with questionable speed to run an end sweep was an invitation for disastor.

Why not run Riddick who showed both speed and power on that drive?

This type of play calling by Charlie carries over from his ill advised fourth down calls in the Sugar Bowl game against LSU three years ago.

He needs to go.

Most of thhe posters here saying 'Charlie must go' aren't getting the point of the article! Keith says you have every right to argue that he should be fired. BUT you can not disparage the man and attack his character in the way that has been done on the ridiculous ND boards this week. That's what's supposed to make us different as the Notre Dame community.

And just because someone disagrees with you on this point doesn't mean that they are stupid or that they love ND more than you. They just differ with your opinion about what's best for the program moving forward from here.

Excellant Summation !!

I understand your point I just would like to see more in the regular newscasts about this issue and everyone seems afraid to say anything other then with the debacle in the SEC

Weiss walks away with millions of $'s every year, while destroying the once rich history of ND. He should be sent, along with his Bon Jovi CD's, packing back to New Joe-Zee! And his hapless Defensive Coach Tenuta should have been fired weeks ago. Tenuta is the greatest enemy ND currently has.

I'm talking about all the officiating problems (ex. Iowa-Indiana) That was some horrendous officiating and who is to gain from calls and games like that?