So, are Charlie Weis' days at Notre Dame already numbered? Not officially, perhaps, but you'd be surprised how many Domers have their own ideas as to who will be the Fighting Irish head coach in 2010.
Some Domers, reflecting back almost a quarter century to Lou Holtz' well-orchestrated hiring, believe that a similar "secret" arrangement might already have been struck with Cincinnati's impressive Brian Kelly, and cite how ironic it was that the news of Kelly not taking the Tennessee job and the announcement that Weis would return to South Bend in '09 happened almost simultaneously last December. Of course, there's a better chance that was all coincidence, but it helps the rumor mill whirr, doesn't it? Other subway alums are already promoting Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald; word from some of the "underground" Notre Dame networks is that the power brokers in South Bend are keeping very close tabs on the young Wildcat HC. Whether Fitzgerald wants to leave his alma mater never seems to come up with those ND backers, but hey, it's another juicy rumor. Some Domers are even holding out hope that Urban Meyer will change his mind from a few years ago and return to South Bend, never minding the fact that Meyer seems to have a pretty good thing going at Florida. But you get the idea, as potential candidates from those above to Jon Gruden to Regis Philbin all seem to come up at one time or another.
What we do know is that the days when Weis would have few worries about his job security in South Bend just because he possessed a long-term contract are probably gone forever. That factor once kept Gerry Faust employed at Notre Dame for the duration of his 5-year package in the '80s. But in the past decade the Irish have been almost as quick to hit the ejection button on their coaches as George Steinbrenner once did with Yankee managers. It's certainly not lost on Weis that predecessors Bob Davie and Tyrone Willingham were both sent packing with time still remaining on their deals. Performance counts as much as contracts nowadays at Notre Dame.
And performance certainly hasn't been up to par lately, with Weis off back-to-back disappointing campaigns, including a 3-9 ugly-fest in 2007. Things marginally improved a year ago, but the Irish still needed a bowl win over outmanned Hawaii, in the type of minor postseason affair the school used to proudfully shun, to get above .500. And it's become so chic to taunt Notre Dame that even Barack Obama saw fit to poke fun at the gridders during his controversial appearance at graduation ceremonies in May.
Weis certainly won't have the "youth excuse" to fall back upon this season, with the bulk of the ND lineup consisting of upperclassmen. And after the departure of o.c. Mike Haywood to Miami-Ohio, Weis will have no one to blame for the play-calling but himself, as he's again handling those duties. Ten starters are back on offense, including jr. QB Jimmy Clausen, who's developed a nice rapport with deep-threat WR Golden Tate (58 catches and 10 TDs LY). But Clausen's protection was spotty LY, and a supposedly more-physical OL still wasn't able to open holes with any consistency for RBs Armando Allen, Robert Hughes & James Aldridge, all of whom return. Clausen's maturity and decision-making also remain concerns after he tossed 17 often ill-advised picks in '08.
Prospects might be a bit better for a stop unit that now has respected d.c. Jon Tenuta calling the shots after sharing duties with Corwin Brown LY. Tenuta, who has switched the "D" from a base 3-4 to a 4-3, is expected to launch blitzes from all angles, thanks to the enhanced quicks and athleticism on the platoon. There's now enough talent in the 2ndary for Tenuta to risk leaving the DBs on the proverbial island; big things are expected from sr. SS Kyle McCarthy and jr. FS Harrison Smith, who moves from LB. True frosh LB Man'ti Teo, who spurned USC, might be Weis' best-ever defensive recruit and should contribute immediately, while sophs Kapron Lewis-Moore & Ethan Johnson could emerge as pass-rushing terrors on the DL.
Summary...The pieces might be in place for a Notre Dame resurgence, especially since the '09 schedule appears manageable and with the "D" now a full Jon Tenuta production. But memories are still fresh of the Irish getting manhandled on numerous occasions, and despite all of those returnees on offense, Weis can't be comforted by the fact that his fate essentially rests in the erratic hands of QB Jimmy Clausen. Let the rumor mill whirr.
