So Long Charlie, and Thanks

As I watched the Notre Dame-Pitt game tonight, I couldn't help but get the feeling I was watching a death row inmate walk to the electric chair. The Charlie Weis era seemingly will end in year five. Before we all bury Charlie Weis, let's remember what he did for this program.

Charlie Weis inherited a bare cupboard from Ty Willingham. Whomever follows him at the Golden Dome will not have a similar problem. Notre Dame's roster is full of athletic, talented players for the next coach to make a splash with. Charlie Weis proved it is possible to recruit at Notre Dame despite the lofty academic standards and lack of a real recruiting base.

Despite never taking the program to the heights many envisioned, Weis did bring Notre Dame back from the brink of irrelevance. Charlie Weis was a shot in the arm to a lagging program from the beginning. Unfortunately for the program, and for Weis, he never could get the team to turn the corner from being competitive to winning.

Fans can say what they will about Charlie Weis the coach, but let's not forget Charlie Weis the person. He has been an excellent representative of the University, and the care he has for his players has never been in question. Weis may have lost some games, but one thing he never lost was the faith of his players. Players always left it all on the field for Charlie Weis.

Charlie Weis has certainly evolved as a head coach from the first day he arrived on campus. In the end, an inability to build a dependable defense, assemble a staff of top notch assistants, and win big games may have led to his demise.

I don't know if Urban Meyer, Jon Gruden, or Brian Kelly can get this team to take the next step. I do know that Notre Dame owes their ascension from the base of the stairs to Charlie Weis. Charlie Weis returned some of the luster to the Golden Dome and revived a stagnant program.

If the Charlie Weis era is indeed over, we should all thank Charlie Weis on his way out of town. So long Charlie, and thanks.