Notre Dame Needs Leadership

The BC game was a big eye opener for me.

I saw a BC defense come out and punish the Irish up front.  I saw an offensive line have the line of scrimmage established on their side of the ball instead of BC's.  I saw a QB throw some errant passes when he should have tucked and ran it.  I saw Brian Smith fire up his team before the game and then disappear after the kickoff.

Some say Coach Weis is a disciplinarian and too hard on the Irish.  I say the Irish need to man up and grow up.  You don't go to Notre Dame to be average.  You go there to win National Titles, and if you are not of that mindset when you arrive on campus, then you need to play for another team.

Alabama is a good example of a young team responding to a very disciplined environment with Coach Saban.

I think Coach Weis needs to be more flexible on offense and cut it loose.  Let these horses you have recruited over the last two years stretch their legs and have some fun.

In the same breath, I would like to see the Irish players start to hold themselves more accountable for their lack of production.

Sam Young, you need to step it up and put a foot in your own butt and the butts of all your offensive linemen.

Jimmy, you need to pull your head out of your butt and start to take steps to being a good game manager and start running the ball if there is nothing there.  If you can improve anything in the offseason, it better be your speed.  Make defenses honor your ability to run the ball, and you might find more opportunities downfield as a result.

Brian Smith, you need to back up the talk on the field.  If you talk the talk, you better walk the walk.  Defense is an attitude and a desire to be the meanest and baddest dude on the block.

Coach Weis, I would like to see you calling some plays.  You won three Super Bowls by calling plays.  Adjust your game to the college level, and you will find the promised land.

I looked at Rivals today and saw Evans from California committed to the Irish.  You are going to land another top 10 recruiting class this year.  It's time to see the investment pay off.

Good luck, and GO IRISH!