Standing by Weis, Alumni come up fighting for Irish coach

[GoshenGipper]

Standing by Weis
Alumni come up fighting for Irish coach

If Charlie Weis is an ogre, he’s as lovable as Shrek.

That was the message yesterday from Joe Montana to Joe Theismann and many points in between, as a series of Notre Dame grads denounced the words of former All-Pro Bob Kuechenberg, who in Sunday’s Herald described Weis as an ogre unfit to lead the Fighting Irish.

“How in heaven’s name you can assess a person in such a vile, negative way without meeting him defies all common sense,” Theismann said. “I’ve known Bob for a long time, but he’s full of it. He’s flat wrong.”

On Sunday, Kuechenberg lit into Weis, whom he admits not knowing personally, for being “rude, curt and abrasive” to his friends and fellow alumni. He said he hopes a rich grad buys out the remainder of Weis’ 10-year contract and that “it’s karma he’s getting his ass handed to him” after a 1-5 start.

Those words struck a nerve in South Bend, Ind., with alumni big and small expressing their support for Weis, whose team hosts No. 4 Boston College this week.

“I went to school with Charlie and I’ve known him since back in ’79,” Montana said between business meetings in California. “Charlie tells it like it is, and people don’t like that. They want him to sugarcoat things, and he just won’t do it. I’m sorry he wasn’t nice to Bob’s friends, but with the team being 0-and-whatever, I’m sure he had a lot on his mind.”

Even Weis’ most ardent defenders wouldn’t try to convince anyone he’s warm and cuddly.

“I’m sure Bob has talked to people, and obviously he isn’t going to pull this stuff out of thin air,” Mike Golic said. “But I just haven’t seen it. Can Charlie be rough around the edges? He’d be the first to admit it. He’s a Jersey guy. But he speaks from the heart and treats everyone well. He’s a straightforward guy, and you know where you stand.”

“I understand Bob’s position,” added Danvers native and former All-Pro tight end Mark Bavaro. “Charlie is not the most pleasant guy in the world to deal with, and a lot of times he does rub people the wrong way. But he’s a great guy who’s got the biggest heart. He does things for people that no one knows about.”

These are rough times at Notre Dame, where Weis fields a young team that was stomped during an 0-5 start before rallying last weekend to beat UCLA. Many believe the sentiments voiced by Kuechenberg and others are at least partly in response to the team’s struggles.

“When teams lose, the first thing I do is look to see if the kids have quit, and none of Charlie’s kids have quit,” Theismann said. “If you don’t like the coach, you’re going to throw your hands up in the air and say, ‘Screw him.’ These kids aren’t doing it. That tells me as much about the man as knowing him.”

Kuechenberg mentioned disappointment that he never was thanked for encouraging a pair of standout offensive linemen from Florida to attend Notre Dame, which could have been an NCAA violation if Weis had sanctioned it.

Bavaro said shortly after Weis got the job, he offered to help with recruiting. Weis’ response surprised him.

“I was excited and wanted to know what I could do,” he said. “He was quick to put a hand in my face and rebuff my efforts. There were rules to follow, and he had to tread very lightly.

“Maybe that’s where Bob got a little offended. Even knowing Charlie as well as I do, it stung a little and did stop me in my tracks. I can see how someone who doesn’t know the good side of Charlie might take it the wrong way. But he’s right - in this day and age, he has to be careful.”

Peter Schivarelli walked onto Notre Dame in the early 1970s and now is a music manager whose acts include ’70s rockers Chicago. Theismann describes him as “Rudy, without the movie,” and it’s fair to say he’s not exactly a big name in the storied history of the Irish.
“The guys you’ve talked to - Montana, Theismann, Bavaro - they were famous and won Super Bowls,” Schivarelli said from his office in Chicago. “I was a nobody and you know what? Charlie treats me as good as he treats them.”

Weis’ supporters noted all the good he’s done, such as the Hannah & Friends Foundation for children with developmental disorders. Theismann recalled Weis refusing to attend a banquet in his honor unless the proceeds could be split equally among the charities of himself and former Irish coaches Ara Parseghian and Lou Holtz. Bavaro said no coach has ever made alumni feel more welcome on campus.

“He’s not Pete Carroll,” Schivarelli said. “Every time you see Pete, he’s shaking hands with four people at once. Charlie’s not a glad-hander.”

So while Weis might take his share of heat for being a tyrant, Theismann just doesn’t see it.

“I’ve been around Charlie Weis,” Theismann said. “I can assure you, none of those things said about him are correct. But I have a big advantage. I actually know the guy and have met him.”

 

[GoshenGipper]

Here's what started it all.

Kuechenberg has seen better days. Not only are his Dolphins 0-4 but he’s also a 1969 Notre Dame grad. The Irish are 0-5 and possibly on their way to 0-8.

“I’m feeling homicidal right now,” he joked.

He turned deadly serious, however, when the subject turned to Irish coach and former Patriots [team stats] offensive coordinator Charlie Weis.

“I want to start the movement -- Charlie’s last name is four letters, and so is ogre, because that’s what he is,” Kuechenberg said. “Look it up, and you’ll find some other adjectives that fit him to a tee.

“This man has not been a good ... human being might be a little bit broad ... but this man has not been good to anybody who came to Notre Dame. Within the Notre Dame family, when former All-American players say to a man that this guy’s an (expletive), and for no reason, to me it’s karma that he’s getting his ass handed to him.”

A number of Irish grads believe he strong-armed Notre Dame into a 10-year contract just seven games into his first season, in 2005, when he was already operating on a six-year deal.

Kuechenberg cites the embarrassment of losing earlier candidates Urban Meyer to Florida and George O’Leary to a falsified resume for the administration acting as quickly as it did, fearing Weis would leave for the NFL after just one season because he had a small $1.5 million buyout.

“In the face of all of those embarrassments, to then have Charlie Weis back out on you a couple of weeks into his career would have been really embarrassing, which is probably why they succumbed to that type of blackmail,” Kuechenberg said. “It’s the mark of the man. I can see after a couple of years to say let’s talk about an extension. But right away? It’s karmic justice that Charlie Weis is getting what he deserves for his actions.”

Kuechenberg helped steer a pair of highly touted offensive line recruits to Notre Dame from St. Thomas Aquinas High School near his home in Florida and never received so much as a thank you from Weis.

“I was very proud of my little role in influencing that,” Kuechenberg said. “You would think, it’s not like my name is Jack Jones. It’s not like he hasn’t heard of me. I spent 15 years in the big leagues. My feelings were hurt on that, and then all this now. He’s getting what he has earned.”

What particularly rankles Kuechenberg is how Weis has treated Notre Dame grads, big and small.

“I was up there two weeks ago for the Michigan State game,” Kuechenberg said. “He has insulted people. It doesn’t matter if you’re an ex-football player, a regular alumni, what have you. He’s been abusive and totally, unnecessarily arrogant to the Notre Dame family itself and it’s all coming back in his lap.

“I’ve yet to meet the man, and frankly I hope I never do. There’s nothing about his image that I have any respect for. I don’t know Charlie personally, but his image is wide enough and consistent enough from sources I hold in high regard. These are good friends of mine and it’s the same broken record. This guy is an ogre.

“He’s been rude to them, curt and abrasive. The Notre Dame student-athlete is held to a higher standard, so what’s with the coach? Hello -- you’re the leader. Act like one.”

Weis was preparing for last night’s game against UCLA and could not be reached for comment. Notre Dame spokeman Brian Hardin noted that other ND grads such as Mike Golic, Joe Theismann and Jerome Bettis know Weis and speak highly of him.

“I don’t feel comfortable responding to these comments from someone who hasn’t met Charlie,” Hardin said. “There are plenty of Notre Dame alums who know Charlie well and would have much different things to say than Mr. Kuechenberg.”

The 0-5 start nevertheless is the worst in Notre Dame history and there’s a good chance the Irish could finish 2-10, two losses worse than Notre Dame’s nadir of 2-8 in 1960.

“Admittedly, the Notre Dame job is probably one of the biggest, toughest pressure cookers in all of college,” Kuechenberg said. “If you don’t win there, you have to be gone. The question is, since he’s Charlie Weis, and he has this unprecedented 10-year contract, can he be let go? If you go 2-10 and piss off everyone you encounter, I see no reason why you should stay.”

Kuechenberg sees a flicker of hope.

“I’m just hoping one of these wealthy alums helps buy out his contract,” he said.

 

[Junkhead]

He sounds like a total douchebag.

 

[fitz_bu47]

That sounds like Kuechenberg is just pouting b/c Charlie "didn't give him his props." The guy sounds like a real dousche, "I spent 15 years in the big leagues." I have never met Coach Weis, but from what his players say and the guys who are actually around the program and have met the guy say I would love to play for him, and I am glad he is our coach.

 

[Master Guns]

Geez talk about sour grapes and to have never met CW and make those comments is just stupid.

 

[SouthieND04]

Kuechenberg sounds drunk!

Theismann said it best: “When teams lose, the first thing I do is look to see if the kids have quit, and none of Charlie’s kids have quit,” Theismann said. “If you don’t like the coach, you’re going to throw your hands up in the air and say, ‘Screw him.’ These kids aren’t doing it. That tells me as much about the man as knowing him.”

 

[WaveDomer]

It's good to know that Weis is looking out for the program and being careful. Talk about disrespecting the ND family: going to a newspaper to whine and call a guy an ogre. How about you man-up, pick up the phone, and call Weis tell him what your problem is? Keep that junk out of the media. That's all the team and school needs now, drama.

 

[MeanGreen]

I am not sure what the purpose behind this rant does. CW is not going to change and I do not want him. It is football people, major college football and to that it is Notre Dame football. Where when you win it wasn't a big win or by a big enough margin. When you lose, the team is slow, no one want to go there anymore, the coach is a jerk. However, whether we are winning or losing everyone is gunning for us and this year is no exception. UCLA acted as if we were 5-0 this week. Now we have alums with a bruised ego ranting. From what I have seen from being on campus for a game each of the last 9 years, there are more alums back for games the past 3 years then any other time in the past 9. Not sure what Bob wanted CW to do, but to bad for him.

 

[Irish52]

I think Kuchenberg could of handled his complaint about not being recognized for his recruiting help by simply picking up the phone and talking directly to Charlie. Airing his disagreements in the newspaper has done little or nothing for the University except, perhaps, hurt recruiting and I feel reasonalbly certain that Kuch doesn't want to do that. Bury the hatchet...pick up the phone!

 

[irish4ever]

I hate the Dolphins anyway!

 

[onenybrother]

I hate the Dolphins anyway!

The same organization who every year pop champagne after every team lose one game. But this Douche Bag only find fault in something Charlie does. What about the way he treat his wife and family. What about the charity work he does. Every wants to pile on while we down. I should never see on the sideline's as long Charlie there. But he will apologize and kiss Charlie ass and everything will be o.k. But I'm a New Jersey guy also and we never forget.

 

[IrishFan4Life]

wow that guy sounds like a dingleberry.