I grew up on the south side of Chicago, and people alike were blessed with several "birth-rights." They are as follows: you were automatically a Chicago Bears fan, a Chicago White Sox fan and a Notre Dame Football fan.
These traits were not to be questioned, especially if you grew up as I did. I grew up as an Irish Catholic kid, which also meant I had to be a Fighting Irish fan.
For most of us, including me, the love for Notre Dame became quite strong, even if you attended college elsewhere.
Given that, the ups and downs... and the fact they have been primarily downs over the last two years, and have frustrated many of you as they have me. After all we were sold on Charlie Weis hiring as being the second coming of Knute Rockne.
I'll be the first to admit that he can do a halfway decent job of recruiting, but I keep scratching my head at what the Irish Alumni and athletic directors were thinking when they chose to give him that ten year contract extension... guaranteed no less.
If you look at the last three coaches at Notre Dame, both Bob Davie and Ty Willingham have a better winning percentage than Charlie Weis.
After watching last nights debacle at USC, admittingly between commercials of another show (come on, USC was favored by 32 points and usually the odds makers are pretty close, I didn't want to lose my voice yelling at the television).
I don't think I saw a worse beating of any other Irish team in recent memory. The season has been just as bad, especially when you have a lead on Syracuse and lose!!
As for a possible replacement for Charlie Weis, I had been thinking over the last four or five games as the television networks had shown him standing on the sidelines of each game that Joe Montana would be an excellent choice.
Not just because his son Nate is a freshman quarterback at Notre Dame, but from the brilliant mind of Bill Walsh who was his coach through a vast majority of his professional career. I mean, the man knows football, he certainly knows how to run an offense, score points, win games, heck I'll bet he can even design and call defensive plays!
I don't know how good his son Nate is, but from what I have read, he's not quite as good as his father... yet, but he is only a freshman.
During his senior season at Concord De La Salle High School last fall, quarterback Nate Montana didn't exactly set the world on fire. He was the third-stringer, and he finished the season 12-19 for 166 yards and one touchdown passing, plus 33 yards on 17 carries running. He even chose to be a walk-on at Notre Dame without any pressure from his father to do so.
But when your dad is Joe Montana, maybe the greatest quarterback ever to play the game, people look at you and see potential. So 30 years after Joe Montana's senior season at Notre Dame, Nate Montana is following in his footsteps for the Fighting Irish.
Although some Notre Dame fans will be excited just to see the name "Montana" on the roster, it's certainly not realistic to think that Nate can be the kind of player his father was, and it's probably not even realistic to think Nate will play in anything more than mop-up duty. Then again, Joe Montana came to South Bend as the seventh string quarterback.
Things turned out OK for him then, so why not now as the head coach? Heck he might end up coaching another great quarterback named Montana.
If I were a betting man, or a Notre Dame Alumni, I'd surely think long and hard about it and perhaps pass the collection basket around to buy out the remainder of Charlie Weis's contract and kick in an extra dollar or two to hire Joe Montana!
20 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
Jeremy 7 months ago
If Notre Dame really says what they mean they would fire Weiss, because you correctly note that Ty had a better record during his same time frame as Weiss.
I dont think Notre Dame will do it but, I can not blame them since they are no longer on their heirachy when they fired Ty a few years back. He was the first coach the Domers fired who do not get to finish their initial contract.
Edit Comment Cancel
Jack Benton 7 months ago
Thanks Jeremy for the read and the comments. I agree with you about Ty Willingham. I am sure he could have done a better job had he been given the time.
Edit Comment Cancel
Tim Bone 7 months ago
Charlie Weis is leading talented kids who are not competitive on the field. I have never seen 2 years of "disgusting" football. No rushing game, no blocking and Clausen is overrated. Notre Dame needs to open up EVERY position and let the kids compete for those spots before the bowl game and next spring.
ND needs a change and someone who has some charisma. Bob Davie, Ty and Charlie and not coaches to get these players excited. Look at Sabin, Meyer and even Holtz, they all are in the kids face on good plays and coaching them on bad plays.
CHANGE coaches now for us loyal ND fans!!!
Edit Comment Cancel
Tim Bone 7 months ago
Charlie Weis is leading talented kids who are not competitive on the field. I have never seen 2 years of "disgusting" football. No rushing game, no blocking and Clausen is overrated. Notre Dame needs to open up EVERY position and let the kids compete for those spots before the bowl game and next spring.
ND needs a change and someone who has some charisma. Bob Davie, Ty and Charlie and not coaches to get these players excited. Look at Sabin, Meyer and even Holtz, they all are in the kids face on good plays and coaching them on bad plays.
CHANGE coaches now for us loyal ND fans!!!
Edit Comment Cancel
Jack Benton 7 months ago
I agree with you 100% Tim!! So why not let Joe Montana have a crack at it, at least there would be some Lou Holtz style dedication.
Edit Comment Cancel
Mike Muratore 7 months ago
But... Joe Montana has never coached any form of football at any level. Not every great player makes a great coach. ...and trust me, I'm a die hard Joe Montana fan- I'll admit that I teared up when he hung them up- he was my boy-hood hero- but giving a former player with zero coaching experience and zero recruiting experience one of the most high pressure jobs in the game... well... it may be a bit hasty!
Edit Comment Cancel
Jack Benton 7 months ago
I see you're point Mike, but they all started somewhere!!! :) Besides, how much worse can it be than it is right now were it to happen? I'd say it's a "dream" thought!!
Edit Comment Cancel
S M Napier 7 months ago
Let me mention, since leaving the NFL, he with his wife have gotten into QH Cutting Horses, are very successful with it and can't see him leaving it for Coaching even if it's Notre Dame calling.
Edit Comment Cancel
Mike Muratore 7 months ago
True... I think I could have won 6 games coaching Notre Dame this year... Maybe they could coax Gruden out of Tampa? Ugh. Whoever they bring in... they BETTER be sure he's ready to take over. This "growing into the job" crap is getting a little old!
Edit Comment Cancel
Jack Benton 7 months ago
They certainly don't need another "learn as you go coach', that's for sure. Maybe we can get Lou Holtz to leave ESPN?
Edit Comment Cancel
Ken Orr 7 months ago
Since Jack admits to be a good Catholic and having to support Nortre Dame, I must say, as a stalwart Proestant all my adult life, I root for everyone who plays the fighting Irish ...and believe me I am in the clouds these days. Way up there. Nothing... I repeat.. nothing thrills me more than to see the discusted faces of the Irish faithful file out after a loss and then to read the blogs of those same folks. I say.. keep Weiss and I'll be very happy.
Edit Comment Cancel
Jack Benton 7 months ago
Ken, show me some love will ya!! Feel my pain, I have to deal with the Bears too!!!
Edit Comment Cancel
Tim Bone 7 months ago
Make Joe Montana quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator. Bring in Gruden, Meyer to head coach. All we need is a coach who has "tenacity, charisma and toughness". The last coach like that was Holtz. Heck, even Joe Pop Paterno gets excited and yells at players sometimes!!!! Weis is trying to coach like Belichek and it does NOT work at the College level!!! Players love to win!!! and when they win they have fun!!!! and then they WIN more!!!!
Edit Comment Cancel
Jack Benton 7 months ago
Yeah Tim, there you go!!! Good idea, now your "cookin'"!! I agree with that 1000%!!
Edit Comment Cancel
Mike Muratore 7 months ago
I'm always afraid that Joe Pa will be the first coach to pass away while coaching a game... or break a hip...
Meyer will never... I mean NEVER leave Florida. ND has too tough recruiting and admissions standards. He's on easy street in Gainesville.
I'd love to see Gruden. He will change QB's every three weeks... but at least the team will have intensity! Does Adidas make ND golf visors? Someone make one up and send it off to Coach Gruden along with a nice fat contract offer...
please...
Or get Lou to stalk the sidelines for another three years while a new coach *like Montana* is groomed. Is he still spry enough to squat down and pick at the grass? MAN I miss that. Adidas will have to bring back the zipper-less pull-over v neck jacket with "Notre Dame" arced across the front...
Could work...
Edit Comment Cancel
Jack Benton 7 months ago
Yeah and I've got one of those zipper less pull over v-neck Notre Dame jackets too Mike! I love the part about Lou and the grass.......I almost forgot about that habit of his. Maybe he was checking the wind.....knowing him, I wouldn't be surprised if he weren't just to verify his kickers thoughts if nothing else. I'd agree, groom Montana if of course he would take the job and sweet talk Lou to coming back to "clean house"! Could work is right! Thanks for your insight and for the read!
Edit Comment Cancel
C.W. O'Brien 7 months ago
I personally think that bringing in Montana as a QB coach/OC/give-him-a-title-and-put-him-to-work Coach would be great on SOOO many levels.
The name of Montana instantly inspires alumni to start writing some fat checks. It gives Charlie Weis a name that the Notre Dame faithful love and respect. There is a big difference between CW saying that the quarterback is young and needs more time than if Joe Montana said the same thing.
Joe Montana may not know all the x's and o'x of college coaching and recruiting, but I guarantee you that he could motivate the players. He has a working knowledge of how offensive and defensive schemes work as a player, so it wouldn't be hard to train him on how to look at those things from a COACHES perspective.
The one thing that separates Charlie from TW or BD if that he is a Notre Dame alum who embraces the traditions and grand nature of Notre Dame. He is also 10 times the recruiter that either of those guys were. If he hires in Joe Montana, that buys him another couple of years of goodwill.
Side note: If Notre Dame does decide to go out and hire a new coach, Holtz would be good...and no I am not talking Lou. Think Skip. He was an OC/QB/WR coach under Lou. He has head coaching experience. AND I believe that he has a Notre Dame clause in his contract with East Carolina. No he isn't a big name, but he is a good coach and ND could pick him up on the cheap side of things. He understands college football. He understands Notre Dame.
Another side note: Nate's brother Nick is 20 times better. He already has an offer from Stanford, but Oregon, UCLA, Arizona, Notre Dame, OU, Texas, Alabama, and Tennessee are all after him. He plays at the same school that Crist and Clausen played at. I believe that he also has the same private coach that they had as well...you know...the guy that coached basically every USC starting QB this decade.
Edit Comment Cancel
Jack Benton 7 months ago
Very intriguing comments C.W., I like your ideas too. Let's just hope that the folks at Notre Dame really take a "hard look" at their program and what it needs, then make the change. CW isn't the answer, that's for sure. Thanks for the read and comments!
Edit Comment Cancel
Mike Muratore 7 months ago
Crist didn't go to Oak Christian... he went to Notre Dame Academy... Nate Montana is lighting up the scoreboard... he would be a good recruit for the Irish, he's a junior now, and could take over as a junior in South Bend after Crists 5th year!
I'd take either Holtz... but I miss Lou's stalking of the sideline. It's no wonder that he weighs 105 pounds... he is in perpetual motion... and INTENSE!
I'd like to see him announce his return to Notre Dame on the Gameday telecast, then throttle Mark May for being a douche as he's walking out the door.
Edit Comment Cancel
Jack Benton 7 months ago
Looks like we're stuck with Weis from all indications!! UGH!!!!!
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.