Charlie Weis Will Return in 2009
After a disappointing 6-6 season for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, athletic director Jack Swarbrick announced today that Charlie Weis will return for the 2009 season. Weis’ return brings mixed emotions to the Irish faithful who have watched their beloved team struggle the last two seasons. After watching such abysmal performances as the Syracuse game and the final minutes against Navy, even I was quietly hoping that Weis would be replaced.
Stability is important for a football team. Unfortunately, stability isn’t something that has been practiced at Notre Dame over the last 11 years. With the short tenures of coaches Bob Davie and Tyrone Willingham, there’s no wonder to why the Irish have been on a roller coaster ride. Weis’ return should help bring some real stability to the program and will hopefully allow new recruits to assimilate into the Irish team instead of starting over for the fourth time this decade.
Problems plaguing the Irish include a horrible offensive line, a quarterback who likes to turn over the ball and the overall team lacking intensity. Irish fans can only hope that 2009 will bring new life to the team. We have seen strides of improvement in the team’s defense and special teams attack. Hopefully this years recruits can fill the talent gaps and bring the Irish back to glory.
A major recruiting challenge for Notre Dame is finding quality players who can meet the academic standards. Charlie Weis and crew have done a fantastic job in keeping players GPA’s over 3.0. Not many Division 1A schools can say that. However, the harsh reality is the best athletes in the nation aren’t playing Division 1A football because they want to be a doctor. They are playing for the opportunity to make it to the professional level. I’m not sure that this issue is easily remedied, but definitely keeps the team’s star players to a minimum.
I hope the best for Charlie Weis. I can only imagine the immense pressure he faces from the Notre Dame administration and alumni, as well as the harsh media *cough* ESPN *cough*. When he started at Notre Dame, the program held high expectations and no idea how to reach them. It will take time. Irish fans have to be patient and optimistic! Remember, the Irish had a strong start at 4-1 this year. With some new recruits, hard work and a ton of faith, the Irish will be back to glory before we know it!
