Status

Is this exciting, or what? Monday felt a lot like National Signing Day. Popular Notre Dame blogs, message boards, and recruiting sites were closing shop and crashing like 2012 was happening in 2009. Rumors are flying everywhere- even if they don’t have the wings and we may have witnessed hell freezing over as Notre Dame looks to hire its 5th coach in 13 years. (Yes, George counts).

It was so crazy yesterday, that I refused to go shopping with my wife, for fear of “missing” something. Well… maybe it wasn’t that crazy.

Goodbye Charlie. There isn’t much more to say on my end about this, other than to express my gratitude towards the work ethic of Coach Weis and his passion towards winning. It didn’t work out- but it wasn’t from a lack of trying.

Here is the official press release from Notre Dame:

University of Notre Dame head football coach Charlie Weis will not be retained, University director of athletics Jack Swarbrick announced today.

“We have great expectations for our football program, and we have not been able to meet those expectations,” Swarbrick said. “As an alumnus, Charlie understands those goals and expectations better than most, and he’s as disappointed as anyone that we have not achieved the desired results.”

Swarbrick recommended the dismissal Sunday night to Notre Dame’s president, Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.

“We have established an evaluation process for all of our athletic programs that, in the end, results in a recommendation from Jack to me,” Father Jenkins said. “I accepted Jack’s decision and look forward to working with him on selecting a new head football coach who is the very best choice possible for the University and especially for our student-athletes.

“I am most appreciative to Coach Weis for his service to Notre Dame and our community. He and his family have my prayers and best wishes.”

Weis spent five seasons as Irish head coach from 2005-09, with his teams achieving consecutive records of 9-3 (Fiesta Bowl appearance) in ’05, 10-3 (Sugar Bowl appearance), 3-9, 7-6 (Hawai’i Bowl victory) and 6-6 in ’09 – for an overall 35-27 mark (.564).

Swarbrick announced that Rob Ianello, the Irish assistant head coach/offense, wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator, will assume responsibility for football operations until a new coach is hired. Ianello has spent the past five seasons on the Notre Dame staff and previously was part of football staffs at Wisconsin (1990-93, 2003-04), Arizona (1994-2002) and Alabama (1987-89).

Moving forward…

The search / race is on. As I mentioned earlier, it’s getting nuts. Rumors, denials, sources, and shady meetings are the topic du jour. nothing is absolute fact and conspiracies are being thrown around like this was a plot in an Oliver Stone movie. The following are the top 5 names that are being mentioned in no particular order:

• Bob Stoops
• Gary Patterson
• Butch Davis
• Brian Kelly
• Jim Harbaugh

OK. Now here’s what I know for sure:

• Bob Stoops has said “no” in as many ways as one can possibly say “no” without saying the word- “no.” That usually means that at one time it may have been possible, but probably won’t happen. 
• Gary Patterson just got a contract extension today with TCU.
• I haven’t heard anything significant about Davis, but his name is being tossed around a lot.
• Brian Kelly is reported to be closing in on a contract extension with Cincinnati. Irish fans across the country that have been screaming for Kelly to be the next head coach, are trying to find a happy place where their soul won’t consume them into the stomach of hell.
• Jim Harbaugh. Fuck me… Jim Harbaugh? You bet. How did the last coach that came from Stanford to ND work out?

I wrote a post a few days ago stating that i would not be a part of any rumor mill. I am holding on to that statement. These are the 5 most talked about “candidates.” If you need more info on them- I’m sure you or some guy you know has a source.

Goodbye Chris Martin. Chris Martin, a 5 star defensive end recruit for the 2010 class, has had a busy day of texting people to let them know he has decommitted from Notre Dame and will still consider them- along with Florida, Oklahoma, Cal, Southern Cal, and whoever else may come along. Chris was the highest rated recruit in this class and was the first to commit when he called Charlie on signing day last year.

Exodus. It could happen. As we just saw, Martin decommitted and Irish verbal commit, Kendall Moore, will be visiting NC State where David Amerson (S) just committed not too long ago. Amerson was a big target for Notre Dame- and safety is a HUGE NEED.

For the most part, however, the members of the current Irish recruiting class are publicly saying that they intend on sticking with their verbal commitments to Notre Dame. That may be the least of our worries.

You can probably consider both Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate gone. This isn’t breaking news, but it will become even harder to swallow if what happens next, happens. During a coaching regime change it is common for players to start transferring or leaving early for the draft- or go on their Mormon missions. I won’t spread any rumors of transfers, but I will say that I fully expect a few transfers.

Here is the eligibility chart for 2010. The ND job will be a tough one next year.

Status: Unknown. Unknown, and it will be a long December. Shit, it will be long and tiresome all the way till Signing Day. Nay, Spring ball. What lies ahead is exciting, but nerve racking as well. Irish fans have become used to this though. Too used to this. What is important is that Swarbrick move with speed, while allowing himself options. That isn’t the easiest thing to do.

I need a drink. I suggest you do the same. Subway Domer status: buzzed.