I object to the poll question. Patterson is my top non-Meyer candidate. That fitzgerald is even being considered, though, is outrageous.
brad on November 24th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Patterson>Weis>Fitzgerald
Dascenzo on November 25th, 2009 at 5:48 am
Best. Episode. Ever.
Joel on November 25th, 2009 at 6:04 am
Dascenzo. I used to email Sprout about how if they couldn’t get anyone big that they should stick with Weis, but I have changed my whole tune. I would go Patterson and then Fitzgerald and then who knows.
There is a mental and physical toughness that is clearly lacking on this team. They are also not fundamentally sound in the basics of the game. Where do you want me to start?? They do shit that my 7th and 8th grade coach used to yell at me for if I screwed up ONCE. From Sergio Brown getting beat 24/7 to Harrison Smith missing tackles and not knowing how to string out the QB on the option to Kyle McCarthy’s game saving INT’s that overshadow his missed tackles every game to Darrin Walls and every other Dback not turning to look for the ball to our dumbs penalties to Tenuta’s big FU–IN ego that he doesn’t change his gameplan for Michigan or Navy. A little known fact is that Rich Rod shredded Tenuta’s vaunted GT defense for 38pts when he was at WVU.
I would rather watch the 86′ team that went 5-6 even if I already knew they were going to go 5-6.
Weis doesn’t deserve to be on this list.
As the bears offensive coordinator….now that’s a different story.
The guy can recruit, develop QB’s, and run an offense inside the 20’s. That’s it.
The one that is to blame is the school. Charlie Weis is the culmination of bad decisions going back 15years. Swarbrick better get this done. Either we at least end up with Kelly, or I’m going to start believing that the people in Charge at ND should look in the mirror and start wondering about their own ego’s instead of the current head coach’s……it’s that or there is a higher power sabtogaging the program through bribes. I don’t really believe that, but how can we be so mediocre for so long??
Sorry Dascenzo…I just wanted to hear myself be an expert on why Weis sucks. Don’t take this as rage on you. I will stop talking.
I’m F##CKING love this show…..and I actually thought an episode of this nature was coming.
Tom Coughlin?? Anyone?? A coach who won at the college and pro level, and he has his own Super Bowl Ring that he can flash to incoming recruits.
Have a good thanksgiving guys
Rob on November 25th, 2009 at 6:41 am
I need to relax. Everyone left one liners and I wrote an essay.
Rob on November 25th, 2009 at 6:42 am
And then replied to your essay.
DMcG on November 25th, 2009 at 7:32 am
@Brad sorry you take offense to our Poll question. I’d welcome Patterson, I think it’d be a good change but he’s certainly not the big name, glamour pick that the masses seem to be hoping for. That being said I agree with you that Fitzgerald being considered is ridiculous, hopefully that’s just the media spinning rumors and stories, but I guess that means I added to it by writing that poll question.
@Rob no worries about the rant. We here at the Subway Alumni Show are fully supportive and welcoming of everyone’s addiction to ND football. I agree with a lot of what you wrote. You bring up good points about the defensive toughness and focus. Clearly it’s something that Charlie has overlooked since he’s been here as he’s an offensive mind but clearly it’s now coming back to bite us and him. I don’t however like the Tom Coughlin pick. You look at his stats, and outside the Super Bowl, they aren’t very compelling. He’s a barely better than .500 coach and he’s getting up there in age. You have to wonder how more he has left in the tank and how many years he’d be committed to the school. After going through Davie, Willingham, and Weis I’m looking for someone who’s planning on being and deserves to be around for a decade plus.
Houston Nutt or the Texas coach in waiting would be the best two picks no one is talking about.
Michael Allan on November 25th, 2009 at 8:41 am
As I was at the UConn game, I still gave Charlie hope. However after watching him on the sidelines, i have totally jumped ship and think he needs to go. Sadly i think it will mean a couple tough years ahead. I never once saw him talk to the Defense when it was their turn to go on the field or coming off of the field. I swear he only talked to Jimmy and Golden the whole game. This was disappointing. I would like to see a coach who gets guys fired up, gets the D ready to go, yells at and encourages the players!!
Also his play calling seems to be very questionable now a days. They were throwing the ball whenever they wanted and used the throw to move all the way down the field, then he decides to run, run, run! WTF? Then another drive the run is successful and he changes up to the pass. I understand that the run opens up the passing game, but stick with what is working at the time…UConn sure did and the run killed the ND D! Man, that was a tough one to watch!
Anyhow, i met Tony Rice and Chris Zorich and that was the highlight of my day! A win would have made the day a lot better.
As far as a new coach, I hope it isn’t Fitgerald, what has he really done? I like Brian Kelly as he is a Midwest guy and has taken a Cincy program to the top of the polls for a couple years now. He has proven that he can coach a team to at least beat Big East teams, which Weiss hasn’t! Meyer and Stoops are not going to leave their programs.
Being a Cubs fan and an ND fan just hurts sometimes!!
Go Irish!
J Doroh on November 25th, 2009 at 9:46 am
oh yeah, loved the show! those were my exact words I repeated to myself leaving the stadium
J Doroh on November 25th, 2009 at 9:46 am
i blame townies and sub way alumni for the clausen punch. how do either one have a vested interest in the university?
phil on November 25th, 2009 at 10:22 am
How is Brian Kelley a top tier coach? He’s coached two years in D1. Where’s his credability? That’s a fluke my friends. Keep Weis because the next coach (one’s that are available) aren’t going to bring anything to this program. Especially BCS bids or blue chip recruits.
Gregg on November 25th, 2009 at 10:38 am
I keep hearing the same thing from all ND fans and fully agree with Gregg. Everyone hopes the next ND coach will be here a long time and hate the fact we have had 3 coaches over the last 13 years or so. Name another top flight head coach that has made it 13 years with another top 10 program. Paterno and Bowden, and their programs are hit and miss.
Face the fact that ND and ND fans will not allow a coach to be at ND over 5 years. The ND Fan bandwagon is too rabid, expects too much too fast, and gets personal with the coach when things don’t go their way.
I say give CW another year, it’s not hurting recruiting, he is 5 plays away from being undefeated, and could make sure the players stay for one more year. All the speculation over next year’s coach is too much, there isn’t a big name out there that wants this job … Gruden, nope; Dungy, Nope; Stoops, nope; Meyer, nope; Les Miles, nope; Pete Carrol even, nope …
Not a single top flight coach wants this job. Keep CW, keep the seniors for another year, keep the current recruiting class together. Just my two cents.
Utah ND Fan on November 25th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Harbaugh – bank it.
Chamnis The Lunger on November 25th, 2009 at 11:05 am
I have been a huge ND fan since the days of Terry Hanratty. This mess is the university’s fault for 15 years of mismanagement, and arrogance. Charlie, despite the shortfalls leaves the program in much better shape than he found it.
Remember, Urban said no, so what does that say about the desirability of the job under the current administration. At least now there is some talent on the team, so perhaps a qualified coach will at least consider the job. Charlie poured his heart and soul into Notre Dame football and I as one fan wish to thank him for at least setting the table for the next coach to have a shot. Notre Dame fans are not noted for patience and if you recall, even Bill Cowher had some tough years at Pittsburgh before great success. His bosses had patience and were rewarded. Will we ever have the patience to let the right guy succeed?
Barry Ewen on November 25th, 2009 at 11:14 am
I guess losing to UConn doesn’t warrant a full episode. I will just eat my lunch in silence then. Hope the marathon went well
Pat McCarthy on November 25th, 2009 at 11:15 am
i like the sick feeling i have been getting in the pit of my stomach watching the irish play the last 3 weeks… cant wait to feel it again saturday. what is up with nbc? im beginning to think the announcers are secretly rooting against the irish. as for the big decision im sure the administration will find some way to screw up the next coaching selection. i like brian kelly, maybe he can bring that collaros kid with him?
adam on November 25th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Isn’t the real question concerning a new coach, “Is he a good coach now, and everywhere else he’s been. And can he manage the staff and players”? Fitzgerald is a damn good coach. Smacked Ohio State didn’t he. So is Ferentz. So is Patterson. Lou wasn’t a big name when he was hired either. But he sure could coach. Go Irish!!!!
lbuzalski on November 25th, 2009 at 11:40 am
My first choice is Charlie Weis however
If we could get Stoops or Brian Kelley that would be great! but I think getting Stoops is more hopeful thinking than any real possibility. Kelley is our best hope next I think would be is Patterson. I would be very upset with Meyers
domerbill on November 25th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Anyone but Weis. Seriously, would ANY division I program in the top 50 hire Weis? No, then why would we/you want to keep him? I’d take any of the following over Weis:
Whittingham
Butch Davis
Mike Reily
Peterson
Harbaugh
Johnson
Tuberville
Richt
Leech
Ferentz
and maybe even Edsall
My neighbor is a coach on the football team and I can tell
you this, Charlie and his staff work non stop and put in
hours most of us would never do,no matter how much we loved
our jobs. If you don’t have enough talent then it’s hard to
win. It takes time to get talent and I have seen a lot more
talent every year Charlie and staff were here. I think we
are in big trouble if we fire him now. The talent is coming, it just takes time and when it happens we will be playing for National Championships every year. Hope to see
Coach back and ND on track to add to the championships.
Go Irish
JOE on November 25th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
JOE you must be a Michigan fan. By your logic Navy has more talent then ND since they have beaten us two of the last three times. The truth is that Weis is underperforming with the four and five star recruits he has brought in. He can recruit with the best of them, but he can not coach. All the talent in the world will not make up for poor fundamentals, a confused secondary, and lack of concentration not to mention intensity on the field as well as the sideline. The head coach needs to be a general and Weis is more like a clerk who is best suited for all the behind the scenes work that goes with being a coordinator.
Eric and Sprout, this show reflects every ND fans feelings at this time. Genious. Now lets all pray for Brian Kelly to be named the next HC.
kyndfan on November 25th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
We have a good quarterback and 2 good receivers and 1 good
tight end. I would say that is not enough talent. It all
starts on the lines and we need to get better,period..A new
coach will fix this problem before we run him out of town
again? Charlie has keep us close this year..We don’t have
the talent,period…The small percentage of people who played college football know it really has nothing to do
with the coach..If we had more talent than Navy we would
have won. We need to keep getting more talent,not more
coaches.
JOE on November 25th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
If you can not get enough talent to beat Navy after five years, how long do you need? The fact that you are sticking with your argument to the point that you say a Navy squad who is smaller, slower, but more disciplined and call them more talented just shows that you are unwilling to blame or credit the coaching staff for what happens on the field. Was Washington more talented than USC this year? No, Carrol’s ex-coordinator knew what he was going to do and prepared his team(probably all summer) for that one game. Talent isn’t everything. Why was Lou Holtz successful every place he coached at. Not every school he coached at was a traditional football school with top talent, but his coaching abilities made them play, as a team, past their individual talent. 90% of success on the field is preparation, motivation, and discipline. This is what a head coach has to provide in order for a team to be successful.
kyndfan on November 25th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
I live in Fort Worth. Gary Patterson takes one and two star recruits and coaches them up…way up. Like it or not, TCU is the number 4 team in the country. In the last 10 years they have a lot more victories against teams that have gone to BCS bowl games than ND has. Go to Rivals.com and look at their recruits over the last 5 years. Imagine what he could do with 4 or 5 star recruits (assuming he could get some at ND). He may not be a glamorous name. All he does is win, baby.
Irishfan82 on November 25th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Ha. That episode left me empty and wanting for more….just like this season (and my sex life). Hey don’t give up on Meyer. Regarding his denial, what’s he supposed to say? “Yeah, I’m talking with Notre Dame and will probably go there.” That wouldn’t work so well for his title run, would it? As for Kelly, I can’t put my finger on why exactly, but I’m just not feeling it. I don’t think he’s the right guy.
JerseyShoreNDFan on November 25th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
sprout, who does your beard want to be the next HC?
adam on November 25th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
I just heard from Mannix that there’s a new rumor coming down the grapevine. Apparently Tony Dungey is also a rumored coach since Swarbrick previously came from the Indy area. He heard this from an ND grad that works for MSU and may be friends with Swarbrick.
I know…more fuel to the fire.
Clutch on November 25th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Weis has handled this with class and he has tried very very hard to make ND a success. Having said that I do not understand how anyone could argue that he should stay. His last three years would get him fired just about any upper echelon program. Who cares if he can recruit, his teams plays soft – they cannot block or tackle plus poor special teams play game after game. In addition they make huge mistakes with penalties on a consistent basis. Think about it – they have lost to Navy twice, Air Force once, an awful Syracuse team, they came within a hair of losing to San Diego State team that lost every game last year. Also they have not won one significant game in the five years he has been at ND. I feel sorry for anyone who has tried as hard as Weis has but it is time.
Bern on November 25th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
One thing is for sure….We were never blown out this year. Maybe more yds against us because our D can’t stop the run. But of our 5 loses, the most was 7 pts. If we could stop the run better, stop the homerun pass, score in the red zone more instead of settling for FG’s, we’d be 11-0 as of right now, PERIOD! Our lads played some crappy ftball, but never quit. CW is that close to turning it around. Replace 2 assistants, study the mistakes, learn from them,& things should be hunkydorry. Yes? No? If we beat the tree, I’d give him another year, then just watch how hard he works! The locker room doesn’t need an improper shakeup.
Hi guys – I find it incredible that there are still people that want to keep Weis. You could’t have been watching ND football games during the last three years. Joe – When you’re sinking in quicksand you don’t wait to hopefully hit a solid bottom.
If Charlie and his staff were working real hard the past three years, they wasted their time and our time. If we worked that hard and got those results, I hope there was someone smart enough to kick us out the door pronto.
I wrote once before that you can recognize the people who are still high on Weis. They are the ones sitting in the TV room at the asylum, drooling.
We fans deserve better immediately. And let’s not select or not select a coach based on a feeling. If that was the case Hanna Montana would be in the mix. Who would’t want to be on her team.
Let’s let this folly end and welcome in a new dawn.
Ron on November 25th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
I’d still like to see what Gruden could do. They made mention of him on ESPN today in reference to being a leading candidate, I thought he was out of play with the new contract, but it was ESPN reporting so take it for what it’s worth. And most of the time it’s not worth much.
Hoss on November 25th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
1st choice: Patterson, TCU. Good defenses, 73% win record, beat Okla. Univ. at least twice in recent years and has the experience to successfully recruit in Texas.
2nd choice: Fitzgerald, Northwestern. Possibly a budding ARA who is an enthusiatic coach and gets the most out of his players while recruiting in the Big Ten at a strong academic school.
3rd choice: Randy Edsel, UCONN. Done very good job in a relatively new program. Very enthusiatic.
4th choice: Kelly, Cincinnati. I’m just not sure of him, but he is Irish and enthusiastic.
Rabid Fan on November 26th, 2009 at 3:56 am
This has been amazing to watch. The Irish have turned on one of their own. It has been a shame to watch what Charlie Weis and his family have been put through. Sometimes the arrogance of the Irish faithful is astounding. We want top flight recruits that also must take calculus as freshman (that eliminates 75% of the recruits of the SEC and Big 12 and The Ohio State University). We want players that play on the edge, but any type of infraction gets them thrown not off the team, but out of the University. Get real!!! We want a coach that wins and respects all the traditions of the University which means being basically on call to all the Irish organizations nationwide. Don’t know if the Rock could make it here today.
Anthony on November 26th, 2009 at 7:34 am
I have been a ND fan all my life and what has happened since the replacement of holtz has been deplorable. davies,willingham arrrg. I would really like to know what was behind letting holtz go. no rummers just facts. As for charlie,the guy is all ND you can tell but i feel he is an off. corrdinator not a head coach. ND fans have paid for his learning curve wich has been sub par for 4 yrs. maybe able to launch QB carreers,but there is more than just off. players on a team. ND has been raked over the coals for the last 11 yrs and i hate to see that, especially for the fans. Is it all the coaches fault? Does the administration share any of the blame? So if they do decide to replace charlie, will we the fans have to go though another 4yrs of a learning curve just to fire another coach ? If only CEO’s had the same standards to reach as coaches and had to be analysed by a board of financial analyst’s ( as in sports ) maybe the whole country would be on a sound foot.
larry leek on November 26th, 2009 at 7:36 am
Happy Thanksgiving – I liked Charlie Weis at first because I liked what he said and I believe the powers to be who chose him liked his spiel also. I and they thought he was on the up and up, but I realized in year 3 that it was nothing but hot air. So let’s not say we are turning on one of our own. One of our own should have produced and would not have legally stolen and continue to steal money from us.
In addition, Charlie chose to make himself and members of his family the theatrical side show. They all liked it when things went fairly well and they had the attention they all liked, but now people are picking on them and are being mean to them. Boo Hoo! You can’t have only the good without the bad. Name me another coach who has his son on the sideline like Charlie Jr.. This ND football is a serious show that doesn’t need a 15 year old helping coach. The only way Charlie can redeem himself is to give back all the money he made and then his salary can be refigured at minimum wage. P.S. If his program did so well to bring ND back, why are we loosing so much and why do we want to clean house. I don’t think Charlie will be thought of very highly in the future.
Ron on November 26th, 2009 at 9:00 am
Happy Thanksgiving Irish faithful! Im thankful I’m not a Michigan fan! YeeHaw go Irish! Ann Arbor is a whore!
Grassy on November 26th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Best episode ever.
John Tague on November 26th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
I was at that game, and I have forever lost what little respect I had for Uconn football. Their fans were total d-bags during and after the game. At the end of the game when all the Irish gather in the end zone and sing the alma mater the Uconn band blasted their school song over our band, and the Uconn fans started one of their stupid chants, and this was on senior night. Yeah they got a win in our house, but they were down right ass holes about it, regardless of what happens with our coaching situation I hope when we play them in 2011 we destroy them.
Kurt on November 27th, 2009 at 10:25 am
Patience is a Virtue1 Unless you’re a fan of ND football as it seems! We need to hang on to Charlie Weis. He’s ND legacy, he recruits well, and the team will come around in 2010. We may need to adjust the defensive coaching in order to compete.
None of the tier one coaches mentioned should be considered at this time. Meyer in FL, why would he leave that cake walk? Stoops is coming off a horrifc season at OK. Kelly? be ralistic, he’s at Cincinatti and has done a god jo there for a basketball school that is. and besides our last trek down to Cincy area didn’t exactly pan out…..
Stick with Charlie!~
Chris O'B on November 27th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
I’m not even mad at Charlie, I’m disappointed…
Couple of more thoughts:
There is no chance they hire someone who hasn’t been a head coach at D1 before
Kelly has been D-1 for 5 years, Central Michigan before the ‘Natti.
My top choices beyond the dream of Urban and Stoops are Kelly, Peterson and Patterson.
Why Weis has to go:
This schedule screams 10 wins minimum, this should have been a BCS team. USC is as down as they will be, Michigan lost 7 games, Navy is a team they beat 41 times in a row before Weis, Weis is 3-2 against them, UConn featured the worst QB to win at ND since Damon Dowdell, they came out flat against Pitt.
BC is Weis’ best win since Penn State in 06.
Eric Olsen is the most undisciplined captain I’ve ever seen.
So many stupid penalties that allow the other team to continue drives, Harrison Smith against Pitt last year, Robby Blanton against UConn this year.
His game plans seem like a 12 year playing Madden. Just picking random plays.
I’m ready for the Dayne Crist era but I think John Goodman is going to be the only “QB” at spring practice.
I probably should have organized my ideas and written a column but I just don’t want to.
The Subway Alumni show is great. I say keep Charlie and be patient and by 2015 the weekly game on NBC will be a rerun of previous years games. Chris and Greg, I like your spirit and I know your contributions to the University will increase, so that Charlies’ pockets and bank account can be padded. Thanks to you, he’s working. He’s worth minimum wage, but we paid millions.
Chris – I agree with you 100% about Kelly. Who does he think he is running a fabulously successful program at Grand Valley State, bringing Central Michigan back from the undead and now being 11-0 at some low life basketball school. What a loser!!
It appears that the powers to be at Cincinati are able to make better choices than those at ND. I think that Kelly is too competent to come to ND. Did you see the glum looks on the faces of the Cincinati fans. Not like Notre Dame fans after our games. I hate to be so sarcastic, but Charlie should have been gone after year 3. Noone competent could have had a team that looked so bad, but so many excuses were made for him. I hope those who continue to adore Charlies will soon be leaving the tv room at the asylum because their meds finally kicked in.
Ron on November 28th, 2009 at 2:35 am
Dascenzo – Great post and my thoughts also
I live in Michigan and go to the majority of Michigan State Games, but leave early to catch the ND games on NBC. I admit I’ve been staying longer and longer. Last week saw MI State crushed by Penn State. Crushed. Was on the sideline and Penn State did not look so great either. Score however was 42-14.
My point is this. Most teams we played this year are average at best. We should have beaten Michigan State by 28 ponts, we lost to an awful Michigan team, we barely beat Purdue and Washington and the story against Navy, Pittsburg and Connecticut has been told. Notre Dame is an average to below average team with tremendous talent. We should be scoring 40 points a game. Why arent’t we. The play selection is stale and obvious. The only excitement is when Jimmie slings the ball down the field hoping someone will go up and fight for. I’d like to see more passing like Christ to Goodman, where the receiver is actually in stride not actually standing still waiting for the ball from Jimmie.
Ron on November 28th, 2009 at 3:08 am
Hey guys, fantastic site, keep up the great work. Sprout, if there were ever a night for the black jerseys that you’ve been yearning for, tonight would be it. It gives me no pleasure to see the Weis era end on such a down note, but let’s hope Swarbrick can hit a HR with the hire. GO IRISH. BEAT CARDINAL.
Irish96JPB on November 28th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
I enjoyed the game last night and thought throuout why wasnt’ the play calling like this all the time. Smart and inovative. I actually thought maybe they should keep Charlie. However, there is always that moment where ND hits the wall and allows other teams back into the game.
Ron on November 29th, 2009 at 4:18 am
Charlies leaving makes me feel like I had an unwanted house guest who’s finally leaving, but is taking all my furniture with him. This is all blood money that he’s accepting and you know it’s going to turn on him.
Ron on November 30th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
I got the story about Jimmie’s black eye from a reliable source today. Appears Jimmie and his brother were putting the moves on someone’s girlfriend. When confronted, Jimmie says we’re the Claussens and we own this town. The boyfriend then used them as punching bags. No sucker puches involved.
Ron on November 30th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Easy Ron. Unless you are gonna give names and exact proof, let’s let the Jimmie black-eye situation die. No need to keep that going.
Sprout – You might want to add spell check to the web site. I can see that grammar check would also be appropriate.
Whether in our haste we spell Clausen Claussen or Weis Weiss, one still knows who we are referring to. Writing on this web site is not the same as a doctoral thesis and does not require perfect spelling. How does misspelling a name indicate disrespect? I know plenty of people in higher positions who cannot spell and cannot write a sentence.
It’s like the sign that says, “Speeke onle Inglish hear”.
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