Weis gets it right after early fumbles

[GoshenGipper]

I thought this article was great and a must read for all ND fans.

Football Commentary: Weis gets it right after early fumbles

By: Ken Fowler

Charlie Weis has faltered more than a few times this season.

But this week, at least, he's been a heck of a coach.

On Tuesday, Weis broke the news to Robert Hughes (and other players and reporters, separately) that Hughes' older brother, Earl, had died. Weis told Hughes to take as much time away from football as he needed.

"Something like that, how can you give him a time frame?" Weis said.

On Wednesday, Hughes was back. Weis said the freshman running back returned because of classes and to have a distraction from the grim reality for a while. Weis again insisted that Hughes could take things at his own pace, that he could try to play against Navy if he wanted to, but there was no rush.

On Thursday night, Weis was scheduled to drive Hughes to his home in Chicago to be with his family. Weis didn't want the freshman driving 90 miles, alone and facing his brother's funeral. He also wanted to spend "one-on-one time" with Hughes, something not so common on teams with more than 80 scholarship players, and sit and talk with Hughes' family.

What's more, Weis went through the athletic department's compliance office and the NCAA to arrange for one or two buses to take coaches and players close to Hughes to services for Earl on Friday.

That all might seem natural and nondescript, but that's precisely the point.

There's a reason Notre Dame alumni cling so dearly to the tradition of athletes living in normal dorms just like everyone else - because they are just like everyone else. And when football coaches react to human situations in humane manners, that's a good thing. Too often, sports celebrities try to construct a false wall between the public and themselves; the line is simple, and it's repeated often - "you just don't get it."

But here, there was no sign of that mentality. Weis made an analogy about a father or a mother - what they would do. By driving to Chicago, the coach is missing time he would otherwise spend studying tape, formulating a game plan or recruiting. But it's the right thing to do.

This week, Weis' good decisions aren't just in the off-the-field arena. He gave the first indication that Notre Dame just might be able to fix its performance fortunes sometime soon.

If the first step to overcoming a football problem is recognizing it exists, Weis moved onto Step 2. A reporter with the Navy press corps asked Weis what the biggest problems with the Irish are this year. The question was marvelous.

"For those of us who haven't followed Notre Dame football as closely as those people who cover it on a regular basis or are fans, could you kind of just quickly summarize what you feel has happened this year?" the reporter asked. "Is it simply a case of being hit hard by graduation and the younger players who have been asked to fill in just haven't performed or were not ready or the inexperience? In your overall big picture analysis, what's led to 1-7?"

The answer was better.

"Well, first of all, let's start with coaching," Weis said. " ... I, probably, with the transition that we've had from last year to this year, have not done the best job of having the team ready to go on a week in and week out basis. And we probably should leave it at that one because if you are looking for me to give you a whole dossier of problems that have happened this year, there would be too many things."

There was a follow-up, with the reporter hoping to get Weis to say the team's inexperience has been a "crucial factor" in its failings.

Weis didn't bite.

"It's a factor, but that's what it is," Weis said. "It's a factor; it's not the factor. ... I started with what I felt was the No. 1 reason, and I think that if you start with the head coach doing a better job, then you'd probably have a better record."

He told the truth. The inexperience has hurt, but he has also done a crummy job at times, which has set the team back. But simply by acknowledging that flaw, he's starting to turn things around.

It's just a week, but a week in which Weis showed why he still earns trust among fans: He can make good decisions about football and about life. That is the combination Notre Dame sought when it hired him, the combination we saw in 2005 with "Pass Right," and the combination that was lacking this season.

Not anymore.

 

[SoCalDomer]

I don't think there's any doubt he cares for his players like family and loves Notre Dame.

 

[GoshenGipper]

I don't think there's any doubt he cares for his players like family and loves Notre Dame.

I think some think differently even some inside the program. Personally I think that yes he can probably be rough at times, but he really has the best interest of ND at heart. I think a lot of people still need to remeber that CW is still learning how to be a head coach and he's going to make mistakes, but he has shown a willingness to change.

 

[piyachi]

From an outsider perspective, I am shocked that real 'ND guys' could feel left out considering the way Weis handles things.

About Hughes, this is such a classy and considerate way to handle it. I hope Robert takes out any negativity he feels on the football field this week. About his brother - where did he play between high school and the pros? Also, did they find out who did this yet or are there any 'people of interest'? I haven't heard much beyond the family statement and now this story.

 

[LuckoftheIrish86]

Does anyone else feel that if Hughes plays (looks like he will) and there is a goaline situation Weis will turn to Hughes to run one in for his bro?

I can see it happening.

 

[Epitome]

Yes

 

[Moostache]

Is that the same Ken Fowler who does ESPN Thursday games and the Saturday pre-game shows? If so, color me shocked to see anything remotely complimentary come out from the WWL...

I do agree that Weis is handling this tragedy as well as possible. This horrible event will impact Robert for the rest of his life; and by taking a supportive role instead of a dismissive or passive one, Weis is showing both Robert and the rest of the team exactly where his priorities with them lie - making them not only better football players, but in helping them become better men in the long run and in standing beside them every step.

That kind of loyalty is all too rare these days and it will pay unexpected dividends in the future. Those benefits are not the reason to do it though, the reason to do it is its the right thing to do, period. Charlie Weis may ultimately fail to win championships, but he has shown a propensity for doing the right thing in cases like this. When people say Charlie "gets it", it is pretty clear what that means.

This is what a commitment means. This is what "all in" means. This is why, even in the midst of a historically bad season, he is attracting more talented young men to Notre Dame than at any time in the last 15 years; and why those young men remain firm in their verbal pledges to ND, even amidst the efforts of rivals to sway them, or through the barbs and teasing of friends and opponents mocking thier choice.

 

[Steve]

Is that the same Ken Fowler who does ESPN Thursday games and the Saturday pre-game shows? If so, color me shocked to see anything remotely complimentary come out from the WWL...

no, that's chris

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Nice article. God bless the Hughes family, Charlie Weis, and the University of Notre Dame.

 

[Wham]

Football Commentary: Weis gets it right after early fumbles

By: Ken Fowler

Charlie Weis has faltered more than a few times this season.

But this week, at least, he's been a heck of a coach.

On Tuesday, Weis broke the news to Robert Hughes (and other players and reporters, separately) that Hughes' older brother, Earl, had died. Weis told Hughes to take as much time away from football as he needed.

"Something like that, how can you give him a time frame?" Weis said.

On Wednesday, Hughes was back. Weis said the freshman running back returned because of classes and to have a distraction from the grim reality for a while. Weis again insisted that Hughes could take things at his own pace, that he could try to play against Navy if he wanted to, but there was no rush.

On Thursday night, Weis was scheduled to drive Hughes to his home in Chicago to be with his family. Weis didn't want the freshman driving 90 miles, alone and facing his brother's funeral. He also wanted to spend "one-on-one time" with Hughes, something not so common on teams with more than 80 scholarship players, and sit and talk with Hughes' family.

What's more, Weis went through the athletic department's compliance office and the NCAA to arrange for one or two buses to take coaches and players close to Hughes to services for Earl on Friday.

That all might seem natural and nondescript, but that's precisely the point.

There's a reason Notre Dame alumni cling so dearly to the tradition of athletes living in normal dorms just like everyone else - because they are just like everyone else. And when football coaches react to human situations in humane manners, that's a good thing. Too often, sports celebrities try to construct a false wall between the public and themselves; the line is simple, and it's repeated often - "you just don't get it."

But here, there was no sign of that mentality. Weis made an analogy about a father or a mother - what they would do. By driving to Chicago, the coach is missing time he would otherwise spend studying tape, formulating a game plan or recruiting. But it's the right thing to do..

The story was a nice human interest story up to that point. I thought the rest was unnecesary.