The Sommer Frieze

Not to disparage U Conn, but ND shouldn’t lose to U Conn. Charlie Weis’ job was hanging by a thread before today’s game, and it’s probably safe to say that he coached his last home game for the Fighting Irish today. There is a road game at Stanford, where another loss likely looms.

The first two years weren’t bad. 9-3 and 10-3 but losses in the bowl games. Borderline top 10 in 2005 and the lower end of the top 20 in 2006.

His last three years however, have been disastrous. 3-9 in 2007. 7-6 last year (with a win in Hawaii in a bowl game; excuse me, but I believe 6-6 teams do NOT deserve a bowl. Eliminate all bowls where someone isn’t at least 8-4. There are too many bowls. I know…won’t happen, but 6-6 is NOT bowl-eligible in my mind. Talk about dumbing down) and most likely (if they lose to Stanford) 6-6 again this year (Will they go to …ahem… Hawaii again? 6-6 and go to a nicer place than some major bowls have?).

NBC may be saddled with a mediocre team, but there is no question the games have been exciting.

Game 2: ND lost to Michigan (another program on hard times) by 4.
Game 3: Beat Michigan State (who finished…6-6 and is eligible for…need I say it?) by 3.
Game 4: Beat Purdue by 3.
Game 5: Beat Washington in OT by 7.
Game 6: Lost to USC by 7.
Game 7: Beat BC by 4.
Game 9: Lost to Navy by 2. ND had gone 43 straight years w/out losing to Navy until losing to them in 2007 (since Staubach).
Game 10: Lost to Pitt by 5.
Game 11: Lost in Double OT by U Conn by 3.

Cardiac Kids to be sure. But if Charlie ticked off some before the season began (remember the billboard “Congratulations on the fifth year of your internship?”) what do you think happens now?

The question is not whether Weis is gone, but who replaces him?