golfrewind.com

Is there any reaction out there to the naming of New England Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis to the head coaching job at Notre Dame?

Although a Notre Dame graduate, Charlie never played college ball. He's 48 years old and a stomach-stapling recipient, who underwent the procedure to make himself more attractive as a head coach candidate.

I hope that this guy is a genius who can return the Irish to their former glory, but I have to tell you that I am uneasy with this appointment. The guy hasn't been a head coach since he coached high school ball. Why is he worth more money to Notre Dame than Urban Meyer was? Despite his operation, he's still a fat white guy who looks like a heart attack waiting to happen.

Would it make a difference if Weis was a fat, black, hispanic, or asian guy? Let's face it. Notre Dame no longer has it's pick of available premier coaches.....or premier players for that matter, and therein lies the problem.

I mention his whiteness only because there are many who feel that Notre Dame alumni would be more comfortable with a white coach and that this preference, as well as his record, doomed Willingham. I have personally never seen any evidence of this prejudice on any of the Notre Dame boards I frequent.

My personal feeling is that fat is fat, and a threat to one's health, whatever one's color or age.

I understand your point about Willingham completely, and I happen to agree. Although I put more emphasis on his record than his skin color. I don't think too many alumni were uncomfortable with TY when he started out 8-0.

I just don't understand the racial issue with alumni/fans and coaches. I don't hear the same issues when it comes to the racial composition of the teams. I'm not singling out Notre Dame here because it's the same most everywhere. Alumni and fans have no problem with schools recruiting and playing black players. Why all the issues with black coaches?

You're 100% right about the weight issue. Given the health risks of the operation, I hope Weis was more concerned about his overall health than his "appearance."

I liked the way Willingham addressed his firing, saying the only thing he could attribute it to was a lack of wins. It showed real class, not to mention smarts. Any program would be lucky to have him and IMO, Notre Dame won't return as a perennial power until it loosens acedemic standards for athletes, starts scheduling more cupcakes or both.

Notre Dame would be wise to consider joining a conference like the Big 10. The haydays of Notre Dame's popularity and NBC televising every game are over. Young athletes today don't know, or don't care, about ND's history and tradition. For the best players it's all about what have you done lately and can I win a National Championship? Neither question bodes well for ND these days.

What Notre Dame needs are a few more movies like Rudy and The Knute Rockne Story to raise public consciousness of their tradition in football. Maybe they could bankroll an update of the Rockne film, or do one about Ara Parseghian.

I've got it! Produce a TV series about a group of high-achieving young students at Notre Dame who worship football, and have to deal with the conflict between their love of football and their love of the Church when they learn that their winning coach and his staff are all devil worshippers!

What do you think?

I don't think anyone at Notre Dame would have a conflict with a winning coach if he were Satan himself.

Very funny, wazmankg!

If he took the Irish to a national championship, I might agree with you. Even the priests would get on board.

amen to that brother,

i'm kind of tickled that ND canned their coach, cuz several of their players are now on the Iowa campus this weekend.

and I for one would not be excited about ND joining the Big-10. they had their chance, but opted for their big tv contract and big cash. I would rather see the Big-10 opt to let a smaller school in so they could maybe eventually become a bigger and better school. jmho

stag