Weis Survives: Charlie Remains in Charge of Fighting Irish

Charles remains in charge of the Notre Dame football program, this after going 6-6 this year and only 3-9 a year ago.

Needless to say, things have not gone the way the Irish faithful would have liked during over past two seasons. Notre Dame appears headed for either the Sun Bowl, Texas Bowl, or Hawaii Bowl in the coming weeks, but where is the overall direction of the team headed?

Under the watch of coach Charlie Weis, it is hard to tell. What is most bothersome to me is not necessarily the record Notre Dame has compiled over the past two seasons but they way they have compiled that record. Losses in '07 to the likes of Navy and Air Force, whom the Irish had much more talent than, and then choke jobs against North Carolina, Pitt, and Syracuse, with near disasters against both Navy and Stanford, in which the Irish hung on for victories after leading by two scores or more.

What bothers me most about Weis and Notre Dame is how the Irish are seemingly always outcoached from halftime on. So many times this year the Irish have let teams back into games in which the opponent had no business being in. Where does much of that fall? Some on the defense, yes, but what would burn clock while also putting points on the scoreboard?

The running game. Notre Dame has not been able to run the ball under Weis. John Latina is in charge of the offensive line and after two train wrecks of seasons in that department, where do the Irish turn?

In 2007 the Irish yielded more sacks than any team in college football history. In 2008 Notre Dame averaged a whopping 3.4 yards a carry. Granted, the running backs haven't quite lived up to their billings of four- and five-star recruits, but the offensive line is much to blame for that. To me, the O-Line has gotten better in the pass blocking department, but the fact of the matter clearly is that Notre Dame needs to be able to run the football.

Weis promised in his inaugural speech as Notre Dame's head coach that the Irish were going to be a nasty football team. To me, nasty means power football, lining my guys up against your guys and pounding the ball down your throat for the duration of the game. Needless to say, we have not seen that under Weis, not even signs of that. I am not calling for Weis' head; I am instead giving him one last chance because that is all I can do.

Begin to be able to have a power running game. Start to show signs of this nasty football team you promised. Don't give up so many damn two possession leads that leave Irish fans heads in their hands after games.

It's time to put up or shut up, Charlie. I don't care when you run your mouth as long as you back it up. So far it is safe to say that you have not. I don't like to set a standard barrier for what keeps Weis around longer than 2009, but there is no reason Notre Dame should not be playing in a BCS game next year.

Does keeping Weis bring Notre Dame any closer to winning a national championship? Let yourself answer that question honestly and then ask yourself again if you really think he should remain as head coach of Notre Dame (not that many of you disagree).