Cutcliffe out

[Rip Rap]

SPORTS EDITORS:
Notre Dame has scheduled a news conference for noon South Bend time (E-S-T) today when football coach Charlie Weis is to make an unspecified announcement. The news conference will be held in the football auditorium of the Joyce Center.

The AP will be staffing with a reporter.

Notre Dame assistant coach David Cutcliffe is scheduled to take questions during a teleconference scheduled to begin at one p-m E-S-T.

The AP, Indianapolis

There are rumors on who his replacement is to be. A former ND qb coach most recently in NFL Europe. These rumors are not yet substantiated.

 

[Irish Envy]

It's official.

He's out due to health reasons according to ESPN.

 

[bmf175]

WOW!!!! What a huge blow to the coaching staff!!!

I know he did not make or break the entire staff, BUT this is still a huge blow. How are we going to find somebody with his experiance and knowledge this late in the game?

Who is suppossed to be taking his place?

 

[BigIrish]

WOW!!!! What a huge blow to the coaching staff!!!

I know he did not make or break the entire staff, BUT this is still a huge blow. How are we going to find somebody with his experiance and knowledge this late in the game?

Who is suppossed to be taking his place?

that was my question....my first thought was that it's a pretty big blow. i suppose, though, if you had to lose somebody, maybe it's not so bad. sure, cutcliffe is a great coach and is widely recognized for his ability to evaluate and develop quarterbacks. but so is C-Dub. although the two of them together is a great one-two combo, either one has proven they can develop a quarterback on their own. and when it comes down to it, i think the recruits like our staff, but are signing on because of weis.

the good news (if you can spin it this way) is that it's health related. The Irish really shouldn't suffer because an assistant coach resigned after a bypass surgery.

it does beg the question....will he be replaced immediately, or will weis take his time. and who will it be?

 

[Aerosmith777]

Ronnie P was in NFL Europe, wasn't he? If that rumor is true he's probly the guy they're talking about, I imagine at least. He's already there at the university in another capacity, so he might be the logical choice this late in the game.

This definately hurts. I thought Cutcliffe brought a great dimension to the coaching staff, both w/ his experience grooming QB's and his roots in the SEC. I know his health is bad though, and that's the obvious greater priority, so I hope for him and his family's sake he improves. Hopefully he'll stick around South Bend while he's on the mend. Everything I've ever read about him is positive, and he'd be a nice presence on campus even if its not in any kind of coaching capacity. Maybe he can come back sometime in the future.

 

[jiggafini19]

He's Catholic and has connections in the South. His recruiting niche will be missed as well as his knowledge of X and Os. Hopefully we'll see him back for spring ball in 2006.

 

[LuckoftheIrish86]

ahh terrible news, hopefully he can still contribute in a limited fashion in the Fall.

 

[guff]

That is some bad news. I wish nothing but the best for Cutcliffe.

There is no doubt that the staff would be better with Cutcliffe onboard, I don't see this as being devastating. Weis may have to spend more time with the QBs than he had intended but I’m sure the staff will adapt. The article written by Pat Forde on The Four Letter Network.com says that Weis has a coaching ‘depth chart’ to deal with such an emergency. The successor is in place pending completion of the contract.

I think that speaks volumes for Weis’ preparation. He leaves very little to chance. There is always a plan B with this guy. And based on his work in the NFL he seems very comfortable with plan B.

And now for the speculation. Powlus? I’m may be the world’s biggest Powlus fan, but he never looked like a QB that was mechanically and fundamentally sound. And it’s a big leap from selling mortgages and working for a State Senator to QB coach at the most famous football college on the globe. Maybe he picked something up in his travels in the NFL and NFL Europe. I would like nothing more for him, were he to be hired as QB coach, to succeed. Not just because his success would equal team success, but because there would be a degree of vindication. He get a bad rap that I think is undeserved. All that being said - he’s probably a long shot.

How ‘bout this for a name? Jeff Hostetler. Was QB when Weis was on the Giants staff. Average player - the best coaches are rarely the best players, average players seem to make good coaches. Now he’s not a ‘ND guy’ and has zero coaching experience to my knowledge. That’s why it’s called speculation.

Here’s another dark horse - Steve Beuerlein - ‘ND Guy’ , Average player (from NFL standpoint) Last I heard he got cut from the Broncos. But he may still be active on a NFL roster somewhere.

Any more speculation. It’s fun. Try it.

 

[bmf175]

I will speculate Tom Clements. Don't know if he picked up a HC job in the NFL already but it may be a choice, if he would accept.

He already expressed interest in coaching the Irish, don't know if he would accept a positions coach job, especially if he is lined up for a HC job in the NFL.

WOW!!! Speculating is fun!!!

 

[nayers]

Josh McDainels...QB coach last year with Patriots

 

[BigIrish]

wait - let me get this straight. from the sounds of the article, cutcliffe said that he wouldn't be healthy enough to coach football this year. does that mean that he intends to get back into the game next year? and if so, is weis keeping the door open for a return to the Irish?

 

[jiggafini19]

I'm thinking Powlus. He put in the time during spring ball. Easy transition. He's already on the payroll anyway. Less HR work for ND.

 

[guff]

Powlus would be a good 'placeholder' if it is Cutcliffe's intent to return to ND next year. But I don't think that's his plan.You don't resign if plan to return in a year.

 

[brucejcarr]

Coach Cutliffe, may god be with you during your recovery.

Joe Montana!!!!!!!!!!! He did express intrest in coaching at the Blue Gold game.

 

[KMac151993]

I think that Ron P. wouldn't be a wise choice just for the fact that he has never coached really anywhere at any level. Montana would be a great choice but I doubt he would want to undertake that. I hope Cutcliff can return next season he seemed like a good fit and a good recruiter. I looked into my choice for replacement in Skip Holtz but he as at E. Carolina now so thats out. The best choice would be Tom Clements. He was rumored to be the next HC at ND after Holtz didn't make the cut but still a great guy and another domer.

 

[jiggafini19]

He might not be the best choice, all's I'm saying is that he will be THE choice. If Clements wants to assist that guy that beat him for the same job he interviewed for, I'll give him credit. That would be a sweet pickup for the staff.

I hope Cutcliffe returns in 2006, though. He can help develop Frazer and Sharpley.

 

[weisfaninmass]

Josh McDainels...QB coach last year with Patriots

I second Nayers guess. C Dub didn't take anyone from his former team out of respect to the Pats and Belechick. However, desperate times change that.

 

[Aerosmith777]

I can't possibly imagine Clements taking a job as QB coach for a college team (even Notre Dame) when he's already an offensive coordinator in the NFL. That seems like a big step down. He'd obviously be a great choice considering he was one of the two finalists for the head coaching job, but I just can't see that in the cards. It'd be a huge step down in pay, & it'd wouldn't be a logical step if his goal is to be a head coach somewhere soon.

I don't think Ronnie P would be a horrible choice considering how late in the game it is. i mean, it is june already, who's out there to get worth getting that doesn't already have a job? A former QB might be the best they can do at this point. Especially if Cutcliffe could come back in a year anyway, and who knows, maybe he will? Hostetler and Beurlien are interesting ideas. Montana would be a pipe dream come true, but can't see it happening sadly.

 

[weisfaninmass]

I think that Ron P. wouldn't be a wise choice just for the fact that he has never coached really anywhere at any level. Montana would be a great choice but I doubt he would want to undertake that. I hope Cutcliff can return next season he seemed like a good fit and a good recruiter. I looked into my choice for replacement in Skip Holtz but he as at E. Carolina now so thats out. The best choice would be Tom Clements. He was rumored to be the next HC at ND after Holtz didn't make the cut but still a great guy and another domer.

If it was Powlus it would have been a done deal/announced by now. Clements - no chance either way. Weis' ego would never allow him to hire his prime competition for the job and Clements still believes he should have gotten the head coaching job this time and last time around.

The Skip Holtz idea is interesting. Still think it is NE Pats QB coach.

 

[bmf175]

Coach Cutliffe, may god be with you during your recovery.

Joe Montana!!!!!!!!!!! He did express intrest in coaching at the Blue Gold game.

Yes why not? He isn't doing anything important, Notre Dame football what can be more important?
Its not like the job is that difficult, especially for a Hall of Famer, show up teach some footwork watch some film go over defenses. Get paid.

Does cool Joe own an Arena Football Team?

 

[Aerosmith777]

yeah, but it involves moving his family if he's not living in South Bend already (which I don't think he is) and being a coach is a pretty intesive job. Its not something I think he'd enter into lightly, I think he'd only do it if he seriously wanted to pursue a coaching career which up till now it hasn't seemed like he does. We'll see, certainly would be great, but I'm not holding my breath for it.

 

[KMac151993]

I have always liked Skip Holtz and his style of play calling. He took and utilized the talent he was given and built things to maximize their potential. E. Carolina has a real good coach now, too bad the Irish couldn't have landed him as an O-Cord.