The Notre Dame Beautiful Mess

I knew ND was not going to any BCS game. In fact, they might make the Weedwhacker Bowl. I hate to say this is fate compli, but the writing on the wall seems to be clear. I've watched countless Senior Day Football games at all levels and I don't recall seeing ONE cry. Personally, I think Coach Charlie Weis seems to be a good guy. Do you remember how they GOT him? People don't recall that. Let me refresh your memories. You think Meyer going to Florida is the reason he got the job. Wrong. After a series of doors being slammed in their faces (Gruden, Marriuci, Petrino, and Tedford to name 4), ND played the one card they had left. Charlie Weis, Offensive Coordinator at New England and ND alum (didn't play there). His track record in the NFL spoke for itself.

Now I'm enjoying the view a bit. They gave Weis the 5 years and his best 2 years were the players of Ty "he got only 3 seasons" Willingham (Quinn being the top of the litter). Willingham had a slightly better winning percentage. Willingham was shown the door, Weis gets a fat extension which they will soon pay in a very expensive buyout. I don't dislike Weis at all, but the arrogance that's in excess with Notre Dame. A guy like him deserves better as I see it.

Remember Kevin White ( http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=3422039&sportCat=ncf )? He was smart enough to see what went on he left ND for the same job at DUKE!!!

So who comes in next, should this go down? I have broken this down in to the No chance, slight chance, and possibly.

No Chance on Earth:

Urban Meyer, Mark Richt, Nick Sabin, Bob Stoops, Mack Brown. All of these guys have one thing in common. They have well established programs as it is so why would the leave to clean up someone else mess. Sabin, you could say, was a big reason Les Miles enjoyed the success he did after he left. He also called it the biggest mistake of his life leaving LSU. They all have the best players at their access and most are less than 300 miles away. If you think you can pay them more, forget it. Jim Harbough, a Michigan guy, won't take it either especially since he'll beat them this Saturday. He got a few ND commits to change their mind. I'll go this far. If any guy on this list takes that job, the guys who don't might help him pack up. In other words, great programs with equally great traditions (especially of recent history). Why follow someone else's ghosts? When it's all said and done, they're going to be the ghost future coaches will be chasing.

Slight chance:

Jon Gruden. He has the ties to ND (Dad was an assistant under Dan Devine) but recently signed an extension. Dennis Erickson. The thing is he doesn't stay anywhere for long. Chris Petersen and Brian Kelly could make perfect sense based on what they've done with their programs (Boise St & Cincinnati). But would they feel it would be worth the moves, especially after what happened to the last 3 guys who roamed the sidelines (and what's happening now)? Kelly is a bit like Urban Meyer 5 years ago. How about Mike Leach at Texas Tech? Unless they can him, don't hold your breath. I also saw an article where Pat Fitzgerald would be a consideration. Why leave Northwestern? It seems that's where he wants to be. He's at his alma matter and his family won't need to travel far to watch him coach (45 minutes vs 2 1/2- 3 hours). Chip Kelly I would call a slight chance but Oregon is doing well, so with all the Nike money there why leave?




Possibly (and some names not mentioned in other places):
Paul Johnson (GA Tech)- good coach but hasn't been on the job that long.

Gary Patterson (TCU)- nice fit. He has only 2 losing seasons and won at least 10 games since 2005.

Tom Clements, who is Green Bay's QB Coach. I saw this in the Tribune yesterday. The thing is he's never been a Head Coach and only served as a Coordinator for 2 years. Also an ND alum.

Tommy Tubberville- the guy who actually coached Auburn to 9 plus wins in 6 seasons. He did this in a conference that gave us the eventual national champion 3 straight years (Florida in 06' & '08, LSU in '07).

Gary Crowton- current LSU coordinator was a Head Coach at BYU and Louisiana Tech.

Jimbo Fisher- on one side, you have a sure thing in FSU. When Coach Bowden steps down, he gets the gig. Signed, sealed and delivered. But since he got there, FSU's offense has gone nowhere. Crowton replaced Fisher after he left LSU for FSU.

Congrats, ND. You make the change. It will cost you more than the $8 Million alone. It may cost you recruits. So if you think things post-Willingham were bad, just wait. Your rep is officially garbage. Have fun on National Signing Day.