For Charlie Weis and Irish, All Quiet at Notre Dame

Things are strangely quiet this morning in South Bend.

With all the reports swirling regarding office cleanings and clandestine jet trips to Oklahoma, I fully expected a press conference to have been announced by now.

Surely the decision is made. Right?

The Irish limped to a more-than-disappointing 6-6 record, dropping it's last four games to Navy, Pittsburgh, Connecticut, and Stanford.

The Irish defense parted like the Red Sea for anyone carrying a football all year, and forgot how to tackle all together for the stretch run.

Jimmy Clausen is now making headlines for altercations outside CJ's pub rather than for his play, and both he and Golden Tate are almost certainly headed into April's NFL draft.

The program has descended into despair, again, and even Weis states that he would have no argument with his own dismissal.

So why the wait?

Is it to toy with ESPN? Maybe to see just how many hours of coverage can be eaten up speculating about who will replace a coach who hasn't actually been released yet?

There are several articles about what Weis will be doing next year (please come to Cleveland, Brady Quinn needs you) before he is available.

The world has decided. Now we are waiting.

But what if Jack Swarbrick hasn't decided.

What could be the hang up?

Is it that he wants to make the right hire, not just a big name coach? Could it be that he wants to make sure that the next coach is truly a better candidate than the current coach?

Is it that he doesn't want to be "Meyered" by a Chris Petersen or Brian Kelley who may use Notre Dame as a red herring to up an offer from another big school?

Is it because Charlie is taking a hard line on his contract buy-out and negotiations are stalled?

Or is Swarbrick legitimately unsure if he will or will not fire Weis?

For Notre Dame fans, this would be the most terrifying thought.

If there isn't a decision on Weis' future at this moment, what could possibly happen between now and the Little Caesar's Bowl that could sway him one way or another. Would another meaningless third-tear bowl blow out over a MAC school renew Swarbrick's faith in Weis?

As the hours continue to roll by with nothing but silence and speculation spilling out of South Bend, tension and attention is mounting.

We are all eagerly waiting for something.

But waiting for what?

Maybe they will actually announce that Bob Stoops has accepted the Notre Dame job before announcing that Charlie Weis has been terminated.

At least that would live up to the hype!