My radical plan to restore ND football to greatness.

[midwestguy]

Step 1: Fire Charlie Weis.

I know this would be unpopular in many circles, but let me tell you why I would do this at the end of the regular season. Next year's schedule is very, very weak. Even a bad coach is unlikely to lose more than 2-3 games. So, if we don't fire Charlie at the end of this season, it will buy him 2 more years before he is further exposed. I'm not willing to wait that long. Additionally, bringing a new coach in next year with that schedule will give him an opportunity to do well immediately and build momentum.

Step 2: Hire a great X&O coach.

Get somebody great who has proven themselves in college with inferior talent. Chris Petersen, Mike Leach, Kyle Whittingham - are all good examples. I am open to other names, but this is the type of guy you need to hire.

Step 3: Hire Lou Holtz as a full time Director of Football Operations

He is famous enough to help with recruiting and can assist with making sure the coaching staff has what is necessary to win in terms of assistants. Also, he would be a good guy to have around for the kids to see. He is a champion and that stuff rubs off.

Step 4: Join a conference. Don't give me the money argument. ND makes plenty of money as do all other schools who are in conferences. There is a reason we are the only major Independent left - all the other schools came to their senses, e.g. Penn State. Money is less important to me than putting a team on the field that is battle tested. Remember the bowls in 05 & 06? We were slaughtered because we hadn't been tested for a run of 5 or 6 games like all the other teams who played in conferences.

Step 5: Pick an up and coming conference, not a dying one. I recommend the ACC. We already have been playing these teams anyway - NC and BC this year. The ACC has expanded its geographical base the last few years and we would fit in fine in terms of travel. We still could schedule Purdue, Navy & Michigan, but I would drop USC. This seems a better choice to me than going to an unproven Big East and what I perceive to be a dying Big 10. I feel strongly that the ACC could be as competitive as the SEC in about 4 years.

If we follow the above prescription I think we could be realistically competing for a National Championship in Year 3 of Conference play. I would assume it would take at least 2 years to join the ACC which makes this a 5 year plan.

 

[NDOM]

agree agree agree.

 

[NDOM]

Mike Leach please.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Why don't we just stop playing football entirely? Is this thread supposed to be serious in nature?

 

[PADOMERNUT]

Step 1: Fire Charlie Weis.

I know this would be unpopular in many circles, but let me tell you why I would do this at the end of the regular season. Next year's schedule is very, very weak. Even a bad coach is unlikely to lose more than 2-3 games. So, if we don't fire Charlie at the end of this season, it will buy him 2 more years before he is further exposed. I'm not willing to wait that long. Additionally, bringing a new coach in next year with that schedule will give him an opportunity to do well immediately and build momentum.

Step 2: Hire a great X&O coach.

Get somebody great who has proven themselves in college with inferior talent. Chris Petersen, Mike Leach, Kyle Whittingham - are all good examples. I am open to other names, but this is the type of guy you need to hire.

Step 3: Hire Lou Holtz as a full time Director of Football Operations

He is famous enough to help with recruiting and can assist with making sure the coaching staff has what is necessary to win in terms of assistants. Also, he would be a good guy to have around for the kids to see. He is a champion and that stuff rubs off.

Step 4: Join a conference. Don't give me the money argument. ND makes plenty of money as do all other schools who are in conferences. There is a reason we are the only major Independent left - all the other schools came to their senses, e.g. Penn State. Money is less important to me than putting a team on the field that is battle tested. Remember the bowls in 05 & 06? We were slaughtered because we hadn't been tested for a run of 5 or 6 games like all the other teams who played in conferences.

Step 5: Pick an up and coming conference, not a dying one. I recommend the ACC. We already have been playing these teams anyway - NC and BC this year. The ACC has expanded its geographical base the last few years and we would fit in fine in terms of travel. We still could schedule Purdue, Navy & Michigan, but I would drop USC. This seems a better choice to me than going to an unproven Big East and what I perceive to be a dying Big 10. I feel strongly that the ACC could be as competitive as the SEC in about 4 years.

If we follow the above prescription I think we could be realistically competing for a National Championship in Year 3 of Conference play. I would assume it would take at least 2 years to join the ACC which makes this a 5 year plan.

I was with you for a while. I am not for firing Weis, but then again I am not against it either. I think we need a young, energetic, creative coach that has at least some coaching experience. I think a guy like Chris Peterson would do great here. Hope he keeps ND Stadium grass green though....

I like Charlie and want him to succeed, but sometimes I get the feeling that these young guys have success in spite of him because they are so talented, and not because of him. Do I want to continue to live in this euphoria of great recruiting? Absolutely. Do I want to continue to see it not translate to wins? Not for another second. There has to be someone who can recruit and also coach them up. Is that new assistants? Maybe. But it might also be a whole new regime, HC included.

But I am not about joining a conference, or dropping USC. Why? It is a long time rival and despite their recent dominance over us I look forward to this game every year. Plus I think playing in SoCal every other year helps recruiting. And how could we fit in the ACC? You say they are expanding geographically. To where? The midwest?? Unless I am mistaken every school is in a state that borders the Atlantic Ocean.



Other than that you bring up some good points.....
Just throwing my two cents in there

 

[loomis41973]

We stopped playing football a long time ago.

 

[midwestguy]

But I am not about joining a conference, or dropping USC. Why? It is a long time rival and despite their recent dominance over us I look forward to this game every year. Plus I think playing in SoCal every other year helps recruiting. And how could we fit in the ACC? You say they are expanding geographically. To where? The midwest?? Unless I am mistaken every school is in a state that borders the Atlantic Ocean.

Other than that you bring up some good points.....
Just throwing my two cents in there

I could be flexible with USC. Just trying to free up a little schedule is all.

The ACC expanded to the north with BC a few years back and westwardly with Va Tech. Syracuse also technically joined, but then rescinded when the Big East went ape shit. I like the conference in aggregate and think it is up and coming in football. They also have several comparable academic schools in Duke, Ga Tech, UVA, UNC, BC, and Wake.

 

[midwestguy]

Why don't we just stop playing football entirely? Is this thread supposed to be serious in nature?

It is completely serious. Feel free to disagree, but what is make believe about it?

 

[PADOMERNUT]

Bring the smurf turf to South Bend!!!! haha

 

[SoCalDomer]

I disagree with all of your above points, but I'm glad this is a thought out post rather than some of your prior posts that got you to red.

welcome back to the green life. don't push it though.

 

[midwestguy]

I disagree with all of your above points, but I'm glad this is a thought out post rather than some of your prior posts that got you to red.

welcome back to the green life. don't push it though.

To be fair, I did say it was radical.

 

[Irish52]

Great post! If Charlie wishes to remain head coach, then he must soon recognize that he needs proven assistants and not apprentices. Unless he makes changes soon, then his future at ND will be in jeopardy....if it isn't already. Can anyone provide a modicum of rationality as to why he has kept the O-Line coach in spite of the fact that there has been no improvement in the O-line performance in 2 years. And I think it's time that John Tenatu live up to the hype he was given when selected to be an Assist. Head Coach for linebackers. We have more talent sitting on the sidelines than 90% of the teams we have played this year. So quit, once and for all, blaming the players for inexperience. Look what Florida is doing playing 15 freshmen and sophomores.

 

[phork]

I don't know why you are pushing the ACC so hard. Conferences Ebb & Flow every year and the ACC is not much better than the Big10, if at all.
I think geographically, and with the slate of teams we regularly play the Big10 is the better fit. The BigEast is a close second.
Fire Weis? I didn't get to see the game last night, so I can't comment in regard to that. But I was always on the fence on this issue. Closer to the lose him side now.
Great young mind, proven coach is a must. The question is not who would we get, but who would want to come here in the first place.
Lou Holtz is not needed. Bring in a proven winning coach and you'll get recruits lined up around the corner.
There really is no need to join a conference, and another 5 year plan is a recipe for disaster. In 20 years when 4 of those plans go belly up, then you'll know why 5 year plans are destined to failure.

 

[lags24]

If we were to join a conference it would be the Big East since all other Irish sports are a part of that conference.

 

[SteveM]

Fuel to the Fire

Fuel to the Fire

If we were to join a conference it would be the Big East since all other Irish sports are a part of that conference.

I say no a conference. It just limits ND's degrees of freedom.

If nobody pays attention to me (as usual) and ND joins a conference it has to be the Big 10. Why?

• The Big 10 needs a 12th team for even divisions and a conference playoff
• ND is a Midwest school
• The Big East would be a big step down prestige wise
• The ACC would be a smaller step down, but also an undesired co-mingling with some southern programs that have or had suspect standards

Charlie can't get it done as a head coach, so "Ty" him out. (If the alums can find the shekels to buy him out in this economy).

Hire Bill Cowher as head coach. <--- Go ahead, start blasting.

Jimmy ain't that good. <---- Reload.

SteveM

 

[PADOMERNUT]

I am sorry to say this, but you must be put in a straightjacket if you think Bill Cowher will be the next head coach, or he even should be.

 

[NDOM]

I say no a conference. It just limits ND's degrees of freedom.

If nobody pays attention to me (as usual) and ND joins a conference it has to be the Big 10. Why?

• The Big 10 needs a 12th team for even divisions and a conference playoff
• ND is a Midwest school
• The Big East would be a big step down prestige wise
• The ACC would be a smaller step down, but also an undesired co-mingling with some southern programs that have or had suspect standards

Charlie can't get it done as a head coach, so "Ty" him out. (If the alums can find the shekels to buy him out in this economy).

Hire Bill Cowher as head coach. <--- Go ahead, start blasting.

Jimmy ain't that good. <---- Reload.

SteveM

BOLD 1) agree
BOLD 2) agree
BOLD 3) disagree. no more pro coaches please. get someone in here that knows college.
BOLD 4) agree.

 

[PADOMERNUT]

If we get rid of Weis, I think we need someone with college experience, so NDOM I agree with you. It doesnt have to be a huge name, but someone who knows the college game, who is energetic, who is creative, and most importantly who is hungry to prove himself

 

[NDOM]

If we get rid of Weis, I think we need someone with college experience, so NDOM I agree with you. It doesnt have to be a huge name, but someone who knows the college game, who is energetic, who is creative, and most importantly who is hungry to prove himself

Thank you and you are correct. We need someone who knows the college game (Mike Leach), who is energetic (Mike Leach) who is creative (DEFINATELY Mike Leach) and most importantly who is hungry to prove himself (Mike Leach??) Since Mike Leach took over Texas Tech they have been nothing but dominant on offense. Year in and year out Texas Tech is competative. My god could you imagine a Texas Tech offense at Notre Dame? oooohhhh Santa! I know what I want for christmas! lol

 

[NDFan78]

Rivals has a good article concerning ND. I agree with the article. Next year will be make or break for Coach Weis. He can bring in the recruits but if they can't be developed into "big time players", none it matters. Next year his recruits will be seniors and juniors.

 

[NDOM]

Rivals has a good article concerning ND. I agree with the article. Next year will be make or break for Coach Weis. He can bring in the recruits but if they can't be developed into "big time players", none it matters. Next year his recruits will be seniors and juniors.

The one by Tim Prister? I read that too and agree 500% with it.

 

[rogosIRISH77]

I don't want anyone named "Leach" as our coach, he's a great coach, but I don't think he is the right type of person for the ND job. I would love to have Cowher here. I don't think it is that CW doesn't know college football. I think we just need someone who is more fiery, someone who can motivate this team to get JACKED for games. CW was pretty good at it those first two years, but he seems to have calmed down. I hate watching the Irish lose, but it is even harder to watch them lose with no fire. I think Cowher is the answer because when I watch my Irish take back their spot at the top of college football worlds I want them to look badass in the process.

 

[NDOM]

Cowher would be a very bad move.

 

[irishfan]

1. Weis should stay for atleast another year
2. Weis needs to go back to playcalling
3. Either switch to a 4-3 and keep Tenuta or keep the 3-4 and get rid of him.
4. Don't join a conference
5. And hire Holtz in some way to oversee the program

 

[ND22SB]

Texas T. is doing good and now he has what it takes to be ND coach....get real! For that to be mentioned is ludicrous. I believe there needs to be some change, but not with the HC, with the offensive scheme. Line coach, playcalling, route running, etc. The defense is holding thier own, but they could really use a true DT in the middle to draw double teams.

 

[Catsudon]

another vote for big east, since obviously, all of our other sports are in it already, and big east has been weak for a few years now, so it would be easier for us to get the automatic BCS bid.

 

[NDgettysburg]

Step 4: Join a conference.

nope....lost me.

 

[SteveM]

But Why Exactly?

But Why Exactly?

Cowher would be a very bad move.

NDOM,

Can you explain yourself?

Cowher is Pete Carroll with a little more lunacy. But then again, Carroll's kind of unique in his adolescent enthusiasm. (Which I think is great BTW.) <--- Go ahead, throw the Hatin' on Carroll stink bombs. It's like a dog chasing a car reactive thing with you guys. But go ahead...

He's a proven commodity at the head coach level and he won year after year in Pittsburgh with tons of roster changes because of free agency. So you know he knows has to utilize his talent.

And as I mentioned in earlier posts, he's got the fire that kids feed off of.

At this stage of his career, I think he'd be perfect.

I wonder what The Bus would say if he were asked for an opinion?

SteveM

 

[NDMontana]

I was with you for a while. I am not for firing Weis, but then again I am not against it either. I think we need a young, energetic, creative coach that has at least some coaching experience. I think a guy like Chris Peterson would do great here. Hope he keeps ND Stadium grass green though....

I like Charlie and want him to succeed, but sometimes I get the feeling that these young guys have success in spite of him because they are so talented, and not because of him. Do I want to continue to live in this euphoria of great recruiting? Absolutely. Do I want to continue to see it not translate to wins? Not for another second. There has to be someone who can recruit and also coach them up. Is that new assistants? Maybe. But it might also be a whole new regime, HC included.

But I am not about joining a conference, or dropping USC. Why? It is a long time rival and despite their recent dominance over us I look forward to this game every year. Plus I think playing in SoCal every other year helps recruiting. And how could we fit in the ACC? You say they are expanding geographically. To where? The midwest?? Unless I am mistaken every school is in a state that borders the Atlantic Ocean.



Other than that you bring up some good points.....
Just throwing my two cents in there

I want to expand on what you said.

1. Drop USC? Are you fucking kidding me? That is our rivalry game. I don't give a shit if we win by 100 or lose by 100, I want to play USC.

2. You talk about hiring Chris Peterson like it's easy. He likes Boise. He has a Top 10 team. And I think he's seen how his predecessors (Dirk Koetter and Hawkins) have faired after leaving BSU. They both took over former powers, thought to have latent potential, that just needed the right man. Koetter was out at ASU quickly and, while he's still there, Dan Hawkins has to be on the hot seat at CU.

3. All of that "ND needs to join a conference" shit has been perpetuated by a media that is simply espousing Joe Paterno's anti-ND bile. How do you gauge an up-and-coming conference anyway? Everyone thought that the Big East was really sexy last year....where are they this year? The ACC sucks; beating ND doesn't qualify NC or BC for shit, we nearly lost to San Diego State and Stanford, too.

Speaking of Paterno, man I'm glad that Penn State lost yesterday. I didn't want to see that asshole even sniff a BCS game. He has to be the highest paid, dimentia riddled fan in the country. He's getting paid millions to sit in a cozy press box and watch games. Well fuck Penn State, too.

 

[NDOM]

I want to expand on what you said.

1. Drop USC? Are you fucking kidding me? That is our rivalry game. I don't give a shit if we win by 100 or lose by 100, I want to play USC.

2. You talk about hiring Chris Peterson like it's easy. He likes Boise. He has a Top 10 team. And I think he's seen how his predecessors (Dirk Koetter and Hawkins) have faired after leaving BSU. They both took over former powers, thought to have latent potential, that just needed the right man. Koetter was out at ASU quickly and, while he's still there, Dan Hawkins has to be on the hot seat at CU.

3. All of that "ND needs to join a conference" shit has been perpetuated by a media that is simply espousing Joe Paterno's anti-ND bile. How do you gauge an up-and-coming conference anyway? Everyone thought that the Big East was really sexy last year....where are they this year? The ACC sucks; beating ND doesn't qualify NC or BC for shit, we nearly lost to San Diego State and Stanford, too.

Speaking of Paterno, man I'm glad that Penn State lost yesterday. I didn't want to see that asshole even sniff a BCS game. He has to be the highest paid, dimentia riddled fan in the country. He's getting paid millions to sit in a cozy press box and watch games. Well fuck Penn State, too.

Actually thats Charlie Weis (Excluding the sitting down in the press box part)