Irish fans should read this. Most, including me, had given up on Weis after the Syracuse loss followed by the beat down in South Central. But Weis clearly didn't give up on himself, even while his future was up in the air he left the locker room in L.A. and went back on the road recruiting while the team returned to South Bend. I was ready to hear that Swarbrick had fired him, saying all the right things about how hard he worked and everything but he felt the program needed a new direction. Good bye Charlie. Mike Frank has written a perspective on Charlie, I'll link it here. Tim Priester also wrote one. Both of them were outstanding articles and really captured how Charlie has turned things around, at least for the moment. Charlie Weis I'm hopeful that Charlie has finally finished his internship as a HC and is ready to kick some ass on the field. He has a very good roster to work with next year, he won't be contending for the NC most likely, but a 10-2 record should be achievable and maybe even an at-large bid to a BCS game. It really is Charlies make or break year, fans are back on his side and want him to succeed. I've seen a lot of posts, where people aknowledge that Charlie gets ND, he's one of us, he wants to do things the right way, to win the right way. But that's the key, one of us or not he needs to win. Read the whole article, It's excellent.
I am one of Weis' toughest critics. But I have learned things about him from a couple of friends of mine that show another side. My good friend Carlo Calabrese told me that Weis is 100% honest with his recruits and players. That he spends much more time discussing personal development, family, scholastic goals and whatnot than football or what you can do for him or the team. He was constantly checking on Carlo Jr and seeing how he was doing in school. He visited the Calabrese house several times AFTER he had Carlo Jr' committment. He would stay for hours talking about all sorts of topics. The last time he was there it took him forever to make it to the front door from his car because of his knee. Carlo's wife was diagnosed with breast cancer several months ago, about the third week of the season. Weis calls her regularly to check on her, sends her flowers. She's had a tough go of it but when Weis came to dinner recently she cooked for him and it brought him to tears. When Trattou and Hunter welched on him at the last moment two years ago he swore that ND's committment is 100% solid and that he expect the verbals to be the same and that he would never let that happen again. He makes that clear to recruits and tells them not to verbal until they are sure and have explored their options. When Oliver broke his word and visited Tenn two days telling Verducci he was not going and was 100% Irish, Charlie yanked his offer instantly. I knew that was coming. Weis is going to do something really nice for a double amputee Iraq war veteran in my town. This kid is only 22 years old. I am working it out through Carlo. I'll give details when I get them set in stone but he has already e-mailed me with his promise of any help he can give. The jury is out on his HC abilities but not on him as a man and a man of his word. I am behind him 100% and hope that he succeeds.
Thanks, George. May I copy your post and send it to some folks, including my son, who would like to know about the side of him that you have described?
That was a good article Terry. My opinion of him over the last 4 years has been pretty positive. He has recruited very well from the beginning. Notre Dame and Florida have a similar situation this year where the total numbers aren't there for to be ranked high but if you look at the average stars the class is easily top 10. Stuff happens but I still believe Charlie can be successful, but only if the fan base gives him that opportunity. I personally hope they do.
Terry I think it took a lot of courage for Mike Frank to write that article. He has some strong anti CW members on his board. Perhaps I cut CW too much slack but I do feel that he works as hard at recruiting as any coach in college football. He cares deeply about ND and being the coach there. I don't believe he'd like to someday be anywhere else. I think he has tried to upgrade his staff while still being as loyal to his asst. coaches as he possibly can. I understand that many close to the school find him distant or even brusk but there are many times that he seems to go out of his way to help or touch those in difficult situations. He is a very complex individual who can charm a recruit and his family and in the next minute turn off team boosters by the dozens. I've learned that Charlie recruits over a 2 yr. period. He' been working on the 2010 class for months now. It means that until his third year, he hadn't had a full recruiting cycle. Being patient has allowed him to assemble a deep talented team. But the final test still remains. Can he make beautiful music with his sypmphony? I'm not sure. I think he can. He needs team leadership. His team has to make plays. His staff has to teach and inspire and they have to make up for the deficiencies that they have especially on defense. His effort and dedication deserve loyalty and patience in my opinion. He more than anyone knows the situation he's in. It's time to go all in. There probably won't be a better hand.