I think the number of recruits that would transfer or de-commit based on a Charlie Weis firing depends on who the new coach would be. If it's an exciting, well known coach that the players can be equally (or more) excited about playing for, than I doubt most of them would go anywhere. But to me, even if it costs recruits, the move to fire Weis is justified. What's one more year going to do? If we give him another season it will simply be one more season wasted.
We've already seen him be out coached by the best and worst in college football. We've seen him make foolish promises that there is no reasonable way to keep. We've seen transfers and defections, blowout losses, bowl losses, the expectation of always losing to USC each year...I mean, seriously, do we need to see anything more to make a rational decision? I agree...four years is plenty of time to turn a program around with proper and smart coaching and recruiting. The recruiting is there in rankings, but so far that highly touted talent is failing to produce on the field just like the coaching. That is a lack of leadership, preparedness, coaching and fundamentals...all of which lay at the feet of Weis ultimately. I think it's pretty safe to assume that if someone like Bob Stoops, Pete Carroll, Nick Saban, Les Miles or even Urban Meyer had our talent currently we'd be better than 6-5. Since I believe Notre Dame is the greatest team in college football, I believe they deserve the greatest coach and that simply isn't Weis.
Will it be easy to attract a big name person? Hell no. It hasn't been for a while now. But, that doesn't mean you give up trying and settle for something less than you deserve. While the college football landscape has changed and the Notre Dame head coaching job is no longer the crown jewel it once was, there has still got to be those out there that would like a chance to bring it back. Those with the qualifications, resume and ability to do what Davie, Willingham and Weis could not. Why not get started on that as soon as possible instead of sitting around for another year asking "What's going on?"
