Sunday’s Chicago Tribune featured an article which said Charlie Weis contemplated a return to the NFL as a coordinator after the disastrous loss to USC to end the 2008 regular season. On Wednesday, Weis clarified his statements in the article by stating that he never considered leaving Notre Dame, but did contemplate a return to the NFL IF Notre Dame decided to let him go following the disappointing ’08 season according to Michael Rothstein of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette.
“Does that mean that at any time I thought I wasn’t going to be here? You’re just going to have to deal with it. When you’re around a long time in this business, you have to deal with the negatives and have to have a plan just in case they end up happening. Did I expect to be here? Yes. Did I expect that I was leaving? No. Did I have a conversation with my family about whether or not there is a possibility? Yeah. If you’re a husband and you’re a dad, if you don’t do that, I think you’re being negligent in your responsibility. That’s about as far as it goes.
“Did I think I was going to quit and walk out the door? That’s not what I came here for. Even in that article, it said very clearly that that’s not why we came here. We came here to get Notre Dame back to the top of the heap and that’s what we intend on doing.”
So there you have it. Weis never considered leaving Notre Dame on his own, but at the same time it shows you just how close Weis was to getting let go at the end of the season. If he talked with his family about a return to the NFL in case was not retained by Notre Dame, it shows that he thought there wasa reasonable chance that he wouldn’t be back for a 5th season in 2009.
Let’s hope that the second chance Weis was given pays off with another 2005 type season.
@nepachris: I would be utterly thrilled if Clausen won a Heisman. I thought he was completely overrated coming out of high school, and I haven’t been shy about voicing my opinion on the subject. I’ll be happy if he’s in the running. I didn’t believe he had a chance to sniff it let alone win.
Quinn’s first two years were spent under Ty Willingham. I’m not saying nine months between seasons didn’t help, but I believe the turnaround had more to do with the system than maturity. Comparing Clausen’s frosh and soph numbers to Quinn’s frosh and soph numbers tells us very little.
Never has Notre Dame football thrown the ball so much as under Charlie Weis, and never have we been so reliant on the passing game’s success. Quinn’s numbers were mediocre his first two years, and under a different, less pass-happy system. All I’m trying to get across is, comparing their numbers doesn’t tell us very much.
And Quinn was loved because he broke out and had a big junior season. It had nothing to do with how heralded (or not) he was as a recruit.
@kyle: i never said clausen was a lock for anything. i was only stating that no matter what he does here or even wins the heisman the next 2 years, it would still not be good enough for “fans” like you and iken-biken. you said it yourself, he is ahead of quinns numbers. quinn was just as inconsistent as a sophomore and didnt break out until he was a junior. why not use that as a sign of what will be for the next 2 years at least. i for one do not have selective memory. i begged and pleaded with my tv for ty to put in the freshman quinn because he couldn’t be any worse than carlyle holiday who continually underthrew 5-10 yard slant patterns. i watched him get better his sophomore year. i watched him break out his junior and senior years. one reason quinn is so loved is because he wasnt the consensus #1 recruit and there was no hype surrounding him. all i am saying is be fair and dont judge clausen until he is done and for what he has done here and not to what the hype was/is.
Kyle,
Your such a terminator, I thought I was the only one.
@nepachris,
I couldn’t help but use that picture. It was too perfect.
@nepachris: Clausen has hardly shown he warrants a lock on the starting job let alone the Heisman. Obviously, I’m going just what I’ve seen in games, as I’m not there to witness actual practices, but any QB who shows the inconsistency he did last season shouldn’t be considered a lock for anything.
He may be ahead of Quinn’s numbers as a SOPHOMORE, but Quinn’s breakout year didn’t come until 2005, his junior season. People seem to have selective memory regarding this. Quinn looked awful in his first two years under TW. His accuracy was terrible, and I’m still not sure what he was doing with that “squat” under center deal. He became a different quarterback in ’05. Clausen being ahead of Quinn numbers-wise after two years doesn’t say anything, IMO.
no doubt jc, but i do agree with what they did to willingham. look how bad he killed the program talentwise due to poor, or lack of recruiting. people thought nd was wrong but i couldnt show him the door quick enough. poor washington now has to reinstitute, not rebuild, a football program much like we had to.
anyway, enough about that. isn’t there some kind of game tomorrow??? haha! i really have a good feeling about this year. i had posted on another website why we are going to be good this year and everything i said, BGI ran with it the next day. i wish they would do their own work! kidding of course, but if they see it too, then we are going to have an awesome year. not a “good” year like 05-06.
nepachris,
I agree too on both parties, however, ardent critical review 24/7 by the media can be overwhelming for a coach, since the University drew 1st blood. Not to mention, it’s only natural he probably did not like how he was treated. And I don’t blame him. Unfortunately, this University has a poor record concerning treatment of Head Football Coaches.
what is your problem with clausen exactly iken-biken? just wondering. i hope you are not one of those guys who bought into the god/savior hype he got when he commited. even though he is ahead of quinn’s numbers, people still feel he is not living up to the hype. he could win heisman this year and next and that still wouldn’t be good enough for some people. i just hope your not one of them.
jc, i agree, but he didn’t help matters talking about it either.
Well, the Chicago Tribune would have nothing to comment on at all if the University would learn to keep their mouth shut when it comes to employee performance appraisals. That’s my greatest irritation. If your not going to fire the person reviewed, then support them until that is a reality or agreed retirement. Drew does your boss advertise your job performance in the newspapers and the media? Would that irratate you? I think you need to redirect you irritation to the correct principals. I will say your back up plan comments apply to all in life – everyone should have a plan B for the well being of their family no matter what. Especially in this economy. It’s unfortunate Charlie’s 1st performance appraisal by the new AD was trial by fire in the media. We already have lost recruits do to the unprofessional approach concerning Charlie’s past performance. Which just makes his job all the more difficult to succede. I sincerely hope we don’t revisit that flawed method of appraisal in the future.
I’m glad he stayed. He’ll get this turned around.
All this will seem like ancient history after Weis sends Crist onto the field in place of Clausen, whispering into Dayne’s ear: “Brigade 9!” and the Irish go on to win the BCS.
I really am irritated at how sports media outlets are even trying to make a story out of this. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with what Weis did. It’s not like he was saying he wants to quit ND to go back to the NFL, he was merely making a backup plan – because more important than being a football coach? Taking care of your family.
Gives argument why he should be in the press box although he has been losing some weight.
nepachris,
That is hilarious, I did not really pay attention to the picture.
It does looks like dam, where the hell did the stadium go?
Could you not find a better picture??? hahahahaha!!!
seriously though, all the best chucky. this is the year!
I hope too, this second chance works out for Charlie. I have higher expectations than 2005 because we have more talent and experience with this team.
But hope is always high at the beginning of each new season. Eric Hansen described this new season with a stark dose of urgency: “Wins not words will define Weis.” It’s a tough concept but, that’s why we are paying millions to be in the conversation for a National Title.