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[BGIF]

Head Coach Charlie Weis Signs Contract Extension
Weis inks a new deal to continue as coach through the 2015 season

Oct. 29, 2005

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - University of Notre Dame head football coach Charlie Weis has signed a new, 10-year contract to continue as coach of the Fighting Irish program through the 2015 campaign.

Weis, who is in his first season at the Irish helm in 2005, signed an original six-year contract (that took him through the 2010 season) when he was hired on Dec. 12, 2004, as Notre Dame's 28th head football coach. This new agreement - that takes effect with the 2006 season -- adds an additional five years to that commitment. In his first season with the Irish in 2005, Weis has led the Irish to a current 5-2 record that has earned his team rankings this week of ninth in the Associated Press media poll, 10th by USA Today (the coaches' poll) and Harris Interactive, and 15th in the Bowl Championship Series standings. The Irish already have defeated three ranked opponents (AP poll) on the road - posting wins over 23rd-ranked Pittsburgh, third-rated Michigan and 22nd-ranked Purdue. To this point in the season, this '05 Notre Dame team represents the highest-scoring Irish team in modern history at 37.9 points per game. Quarterback Brady Quinn (in only seven games) already has broken the Irish single-season record for touchdown passes with 20, including a single-game record six against BYU. Quinn has played a key role in the Irish currently averaging 340 passing yards per game, far above the all-time Notre Dame season average of 252.7 from 1970.

Meanwhile, wide receiver Jeff Samardzija ranks second in the country with his 11 TD receptions, including at least one in a Notre Dame-record seven straight games to start 2005. Wide receiver Maurice Stovall set a Notre Dame single-game record of his own versus BYU with four TD receptions.

"In a very short period of time, Charlie has clearly and impressively demonstrated the ability to take the Notre Dame program where we all want it to go," said Notre Dame athletics director Kevin White.

"Whether you talk about on-field results, off-the-field understanding of the Notre Dame athletics and academic culture, recruiting, public relations, or any other area, Charlie already has indicated that he possesses the abilities to position our program to compete at the elite level of college football.

"We're excited that Charlie wanted to extend his commitment to Notre Dame, combined with the University's interest in furthering its relationship with him. All of us are enthusiastic about what the future holds for Notre Dame football with Charlie Weis as our head coach. We're confident that we've got the best coach in America ensconced at his alma mater for the remainder of his career." Said Weis, "Since the first day I arrived at Notre Dame as head football coach, one of my primary goals was to be able to see this job through to the time my son, Charlie, would graduate from the University of Notre Dame and to stay in this position until I retire. By restructuring this contract, adding an additional five years, this allows me to accomplish that goal. Maura, Charlie, Hannah and I are very happy to become a permanent fixture in the Notre Dame community."

 

[Aerosmith777]

wow. 7 games in and they already gave the man an extension? That really says something about the job he's doing both on and off the field.

Wish this would end the speculation that Weis might leave for the NFL, but it won't since I'm sure this contract has buyout clauses like every other coaching contract these days. Still though, at least we know he won't go anywhere even if we have to listen to speculation about it from losers on sportsline and ESPN.

 

[nayers]

just curious, did they give him a raise...and what are the other terms of his contract.

 

[BGIF]

Jim Donnan on ESPN made a comment that it was a $20 million deal but offered no explanation if that was the whole contract, 10 years @ $2 million per, or the worth of the extension.

I'd go with 10 at 2 and assume down the road CW won't have to worry about inflation.

 

[bigdon]

This is obviously in response to the speculation that Weis was going to the NFL. Left unanswered that rumor could have a negative effect on recruiting this year and next. It had to be silenced and it was.

I will not argue wether he deserved this or not. I am a great Weis fan and this was a business decision on the part of the ND Brass. But to say that because he won 6 games in his first year he was given a 10 year extension is nonsense! Willingham won more than that in his first year but there was no extension! I hope Weis is here for 20 years but this contract was given in response to the rumor which was circulating over all of the major networks on Friday and Saturday. Name me one other coach in any sport that was given a 10 year extension mid way through his first year?

 

[leppycole]

This will put an end to pro USC reporters trying to lure recruits away from south bend

 

[jiggafini19]

October 31, 2005
Extension A Weis Move
by RYAN O'LEARY

Saturday's announcement that Charlie Weis would remain at Notre Dame through the 2015 season brought a feeling of calm for his family and the university as a whole.
Other than his immediate family, though, those most affected by the extension may be the players who have yet to strap on a gold helmet.

"The problem with (rumors about the NFL), as the season goes on...it has a negative effect on recruiting," Weis said on Sunday. "We wanted to nip that in the bud."

Because of the relatively meager buyout clause in Weis' original deal and the immediate success he has enjoyed during his first season, rumors began to surface last week that Weis might return to the professional level if the opportunity arose -- which it almost certainly would have.

It didn't matter that the coach called Notre Dame his last stop when he took the job. Now, he hopes people will take his word a little more seriously.

"Anytime people put stories out there that are unsubstantiated," Weis said, "regardless of where they're coming from, they have to be addressed sooner or later.

"This isn't just any job for me. This is my alma mater."

And it's an alma mater he's proud to sell to prospective recruits. So far, with 19 verbal commitments and a likely top-five class lining itself up, he's clearly done a decent job.

He's hoping that success will continue, now that all the rumors have been put to rest. Weis doesn't like to buy into media chatter, but he knew what competing schools would do with that talk -- so he killed it as quickly as he could.

"I think you have to be aware of everything," said Weis, "and realize where the biggest impact can come into play. And I think that the biggest impact in this case would be recruiting, basically negative recruiting...Now it's flipped from an uncertainty to a strong plus as far as Notre Dame and Charlie Weis are concerned."

Not that Weis needs too many more pluses on the recruiting trail -- his love for his alma mater, the shiny new facilities on campus and the shiny Super Bowl rings on his hand seem to be serving him well enough.

Armed with a nice, long contract, the Irish coach should be an even more formidable presence in a prospect's living room.

"Now you know who you're going to play for the whole time you're in college," he said.

Odds are most will view that as a positive.