Zibby Back for a 5th Year? George? Larry?

Sid · Dec 20, 2006

Check out near the bottom of the article re: coach Weis' comments on team members possibly returning for a fifth year:

Weis tweaks routine for bowl

By Michael Rothstein
The Journal Gazette

SOUTH BEND – Charlie Weis remains a student on the job, still learning what works and what fails, what he can pull off and when he needs to pull back.

Perhaps his biggest lesson came a year ago, when he held a tight cord around his Notre Dame team, resulting in a tight, bland performance against a talented Ohio State team that throttled the Irish in the Fiesta Bowl.

So this year, in preparation for his second Bowl Championship Series appearance in as many years, Weis is switching things up.

He’s taking longer to implement the offensive and defensive packages. He’s allowing his players some more space and running shorter practices, which started Monday, to keep Notre Dame sharp for when it plays Louisiana State in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on Jan. 3.

“The difference is, I think, based off of what I’ve seen so far, I don’t think we’re coming in rusty,” Weis said. “Where last year at this time I think we came in rusty and then we got flat. I’m not anticipating those two things happening this year.”

Part of what Weis has done is cut practice time down to two hours a day. He’s also taking his time introducing situations, with Tuesday being first and second down, today beginning to install third down and Thursday a composite review. Friday will be red-zone and goal-line and Saturday will be the two-minute offense, a situation where Notre Dame (10-2) has been effective this season.

Then the players will be off until Dec. 27, when they must be in New Orleans by midnight.

“I slowed down the process for this game,” Weis said. “So right now I’m not concerned with getting them ready to play like this Saturday. I’m just getting ready to get them home for Christmas with a lot of knowledge base of what we’re going to do when we get down to New Orleans.”

But one of the biggest changes will come when Notre Dame arrives in New Orleans. Last year in Phoenix, Weis kept players on strict, early curfews that led to a team meeting and one player being sent home.

This year, Weis is rectifying it.

“Let me just tell you they’re happy right now,” Weis said.

So no curfew at all?

“Let’s not get ridiculous,” he continued. “Let’s just say the first night down there they have late curfew, but the guy doing the bed check is the head coach, and it’s followed by a (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) breakfast the next morning, so do the math. But I think they’re very pleased with the give and take. I don’t think you’ll hear any of our players whining.”

A Carlson return

Senior tight end John Carlson returned to practice Tuesday and appeared to have no lingering effects of a right knee injury suffered against Air Force on Nov. 11.

Weis, though, said he will keep the Mackey Award finalist out of contact drills for most of this week.

“He conceivably could play this week,” Weis said. “Running around was not the issue. He couldn’t run beforehand, but he’s running fine.”

Weis also said he expects everyone on his team to be ready for the bowl game, although senior safety Chinedum Ndukwe would be questionable if the game was Saturday. Ndukwe, who injured his knee during the USC game on Nov. 25, was not at the media portion of practice Tuesday.

Returning for a fifth

Notre Dame has yet to announce which players will return for a fifth year – a process that includes both the football department and the academic side of Notre Dame – but Weis is encouraged by who has applied.

Among the potential candidates are Carlson, safety Tom Zbikowski, defensive tackle Trevor Laws and center John Sullivan. Those four represent the most likely members to leave early for the NFL.

“The process is pretty well completed as far as my end of it,” Weis said.

While he declined to discuss specific players – Zbikowski’s status was brought up – he gave indications some players might surprise and return for a fifth season.

“I think Notre Dame football fans will be very happy when the results are in,” Weis said. “It’s just there’s a long process that takes place.”

Weis could use as much experience as possible as he loses at least six offensive starters – including quarterback Brady Quinn and wide receivers Jeff Samardzija and Rhema McKnight – and five defensive starters.

mrothstein@jg.net
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George Krebs · Dec 20, 2006

Wonderful.....

HoustonLarry · Dec 20, 2006

Sid...

<t>Actually thanks for the article as I have not seen it. Please remember I said I hope he is back. I also hope the coaches can find a way to get him productive. He and the other three were torched all year and I fear will be versus LSU. Again, hope I am wrong.<br/>
I really want Carlson back as he is money.</t>

George Krebs · Dec 20, 2006

To me the key returners would be Carlson, Thomas and Sullivan. And let me say that i hope Zibby makes me eat crow in the LSU game. I notice he has not been named on any post season all start teams; that's probably a sign he wants to come back.

I keep going back to Jason Sapp's comment on BGI that "Zibby has outgrown Notre Dame".

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