Memo to Notre Dame Players: Time To Get It Done for Your Coach

This Saturday, it is really simple for Notre Dame football players. They must come away with a win against Michigan State. They must fight for Charlie Weis.

They played great last week but lost a heartbreaker. This week, they must get the victory. At the end of the day, a loss is still a loss—no matter how impressive the team is in defeat.

Weis cannot have a lot of losses this year and still keep his job. I would hate to see anybody else coaching the Irish next season. For one, that would mean another disappointing season for the Irish. Nobody in South Bend wants that.

That makes this game huge. It has to set the tone for the rest of the year.

Another loss—no matter how close—will leave a very bad taste in the mouths around South Bend, and Weis haters will be out in full force all next week. It is up to the players to make sure that doesn't happen. Jimmy Clausen really needs to step up his leadership and guide this team to a victory.

Weis really has a good team assembled this year, and now it is time for them to put it all together on the field. They know that and have to embrace the pressure. Every single player on the team should consider it a failure for them as much as it is for their coach if they lose. That coach is the one who took a chance on them.

Every player on that team should take it personal when they hear the attacks on Weis. That is their coach and the guy who brought them there. Every player on the team should have the attitude that they would rather die than see Weis get fired. Every player on the team should do everything in his power to make sure that doesn't happen.

I know many Irish fans doubt him, but I like Weis. I like him because of how committed he is to Notre Dame. He has worked much harder than Tyrone Willingham in recruiting the best players in the nation. He works tireless hours, even in the offseason. He is also known to be seen attending other sporting events for Notre Dame.

Having a guy that is that committed to the program is one that Notre Dame should want to work out. Weis really does deserve to succeed. Even with all that, it does have to translate into wins. If it doesn't, Notre Dame has no choice but to look elsewhere in the offseason.

No matter the case, I know it will be hard finding another coach as committed to Notre Dame as Weis.

The game this Saturday is the one that will set the tone for the Irish, good or bad, in 2009. It won't be easy. The Spartans are also coming off a disappointing loss to Central Michigan and will want redemption. Michigan State has also had Notre Dame's number as of late. The Spartans have won six straight in South Bend.

Since Weis took over, he is only 1-3 against them. That one win came in East Lansing, when the Spartans really dominated most of the game, but Brady Quinn led an unbelievable second-half comeback.

It's needless to say that if Weis is going to succeed, there are certain barriers he must break down in 2009. Michigan State is the first one. The players need to come through for their coach.