Everybody's freaking out. Here's my rant. Enjoy. Or hate. I don't care which side you fall on to be honest, though I hope to our Good Lord that there are more real fans out there than what I've been seeing this week.
"OH MY GOD, WE LOST TO MSU! OH MY GOD WE LOST TO UNC! OH MY GOD WE LOST TO PITT IN 4 OT'S! OH MY GOD WE LOST TO BC! FIRE CHARLIE FIRE CHARLIE FIRE CHARLIE!"
Here's what I say: Shut your freaking pie holes people!
There are a few reasons why all ND fans should take a step back from the ledge and get some perspective:
1) This is a young team. Very. Young.
2) The losses this year were against decent squads (maybe with BC as an exception)
3) Things do not go from horrible to good that quickly, especially with the structural issues that we're struggling with
4) Charlie Weis has recruited more talent than we've seen at ND in over a decade, and almost all of that talent is in the bottom 2 classes - with another stellar class in the works soon.
5) Related to that, 'player development' doesn't happen in a season. And it doesn't happen the way you want when all your players are thrown to the fire without any time to develop on the practice/backup squad.
6) Just because fans have unrealistic expectations (11-1 people yeeeee-ah!) doesn't mean that the team is underperforming. It's largely a problem of Irish fans having no perspective whatsoever.
Here's some perspective for your @$$es - we were 3-9 last year. We were the third youngest team in the 119 teams in the FBS last year, and this year we're barely older. We start freshmen and sophomores all over the freaking place. Take a look at the depth chart, especially recently. Young players are everywhere. Very little depth, still. Trevor Robinson is a new one at the top of the depth chart due to Chris Stewart's newly scoped injury. The guys that were starting last year as freshmen are now starting as sophomores - with that WHOLE YEAR OF GETTING THE CRAP BEAT OUT OF THEM under their belts as experience.
Let's examine the losses this year too. Against MSU, the team took a slight step back but overall learned a lot about itself. The game was close into the 4th, despite a number of game-changing mistakes (turnovers). These are the things that kill any team, let alone a young team struggling to find an identity. MSU isn't a world-beater, but they are currently #15 in the BCS at 9-2. NUMBER 15! We were in it deep into the 4th and 1-2 plays away from beating #15 in the country.
Against UNC, we were in it til the last minute, literally. UNC, by the way, is #16 in the BCS. 16! We took #15 to the 4th quarter, and #16 to the last minute. Again, it was turnovers that killed the Irish in this game. Turnovers are something that are clearly a problem for young squads, and this one in particular.
Against Pitt, we played our next to worst game of the year and had a 17-3 going into half time. The second half we fell apart, obviously, and OT was horrible. But we had the #21 team in the country on the ropes. #21! It's not some joke of a team here, it's the #21 team in the country. A decent, solid squad. This Irish team didn't know how to finish a team off - didn't know how to complete a game and drill them into the ground. But it's not like we got wiped out by a ~Top 20 squad.
BC - well, BC was just terrible, yes. It was a mess. Again, stupid penalties and turnover mistakes killed the Irish in this game. Even with a terrible terrible first half of offense, the Irish were only down by 10 at the half and in the game.
So what's the point right?
The point is - this team is close. THIS CLOSE to winning some of these games. A few bounces here and breaks there and this team is 7-2. We were pretty close to beating #15. THIS CLOSE to beating #16 and #21. This is a team that was 3-9 last year. It's also a team that won 5 games. That is measurable progress. Now, yes, we've lost to the squads on the schedule that are decent. We've beaten the teams that we were supposed to beat. But after 3-9 people, WHAT THE F DO YOU WANT? You want us to win out the next year? Give me a freaking break - that's not how the world works! After losing to teams you were supposed to beat last year, this year we should be happy with beating teams we're supposed to. Yes, I just said that, and it's the truth.
We're looking at a very young, very talented Irish team with a relatively young and growing staff supporting and leading it. It's a team that starts a ton of freshmen and sophomores with a ton of talent and very little game experience compared to a lot of the squads we're matching up against, and very much so compared to the top programs in the country. This results in ups and downs. Fits and starts. Think about our play - you'll see 2 great plays, followed up by a bonehead play that kills a drive. It happens over and over. Over time, that play will get more consistent. Players start to see and feel things with experience. The game slows down, things get better. It hasn't yet. I want it to happen more quickly, yes. Charlie does deserve some criticism, as do the players. These results aren't acceptable. But the reactions I'm seeing all over the place? The rants and the bailing and the bashing? That's less acceptable than anything I've seen on the field.
Charlie Weis is in year 4, yes. But this isn't your typical year 4 and you all know it. But because we won the first couple games this season, all of a sudden last year never happened. Folks, this man is turning around a program that was BURIED! BU-RIED. He's turning it around by bringing in top talent and trying to develop them at a very young age. Player development isn't supposed to be something that a coach does on his own. In a fully developed program, a player learns from more senior players as much as from any coach. In a program where there are very few 5th year/Senior starters, who do the younger players look up to and learn from? Other young players? JUST the coaches? This is a huge problem for the Irish - they lack senior leadership and senior mentors to bring along the younger players. Young, talented starters need to have those more veteran guys around them. This is not the case at Notre Dame.
And don't give me the 'he's had all these great classes and where are the results'? The first class didn't bring in much talent, or many players in total. The second class was fairly highly rated, but largely a bust through transfers and injuries. Look back at that class - DECIMATED. So what's that leave? A few players from the 5th, Senior and Junior classes and a TON of talented freshmen and sophomores that have played their way onto the field through RAW talent. That says just as much about the lack of viable options in the upper classes as it does about the ability in the younger classes. But it also means that there are very few bodies on the field with talent and experience. This is brutal.
And turning around a program is not easy to do. This is a challenge. Has Charlie done everything right? No. Should he be able to do everything right? No. Do we expect better? Yes. Is his performance so far okay with me? No.
But, calling for his head, or bailing on this team is not the answer. The answer is the following: cheer your ass off for this team. Cheer your ass off for Charlie Weis as the Head Coach of our beloved Irish. And if/when he's no longer coach, you cheer your ass off for the next guy. Til then? Cheer the man and his squad on or shut your hole. I'm sick of all the whining and crying that 'fans' are doing. You know what fans do? They cheer on their team. They support it, and they do so consistently. They don't whine and bitch non-stop bc they think they can do something better. Guess what? They can't.
Do I think Charlie Weis is a great college coach right now? Heck no. Do I think he has potential to be? Yes. And do I think he's turning things around, as slowly as it appears to be happening? Yes. Should you be happy with things? Not at all. I seriously am not saying you should be happy with things, or that you shouldn't want better. But the reactions I'm seeing are just so so way over the top, it needed calling out.
Let's see where our fans net out on things - let's see if they can gain some perspective and support their players and coach for the rest of the season. Some will, and I will stand with them. Others won't, and I know that. But in a few years when we hoist a NC with our champion players and coaches, you'll get to celebrate with us. We won't know the difference. You will.
By Matt November 11, 2008 - 1:34 am
I’ve gone through a couple days of depression and now I’ve decided that I’m going to be as optimistic as possible for the rest of this year and next.
For me, it all boils down to a few things:
1) Charlie is not, at this time, a great college coach. 2) Charlie may be smart and hardworking enough to become a very good college coach. 3) Charlie has recruited great talent- talent which may hide his coaching issues and allow him time to learn.
In the meantime, at the end of the season it’s time to hire a real OC. I’m convinced that Charlie’s main reason for putting Haywood in charge this year was to set up and allow the future OC hire. Without this act, no legit OC would have come to ND under Weis.
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By VicPaul November 11, 2008 - 3:54 am
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Thank you for expressing exactly what I’ve been thinking. I see wonderful things in our future. Go Irish!!!!
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By Soo November 11, 2008 - 9:37 am
I agree with you 100%…. thank you for constantly updating your blog
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By Rob November 11, 2008 - 10:28 am
Amen! At least someone seems to have retained their senses out in Irish fanboy land. Firing Charlie would be disastrous for this team. I, for one, would much rather see measured progress than a quantum leap, and we are seeing that progress. Get a grip folks.
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By Frommy November 11, 2008 - 1:03 pm
28 years out of ND, seen alot of ups and downs. Its still my school, and its still my team. Thanks for suggesting to some of our so called punk ass fans to sit down and shut up, or jump onto the next bandwagon that comes along. I hear Ball State is the hot football team in Indiana now, they might want to check things in Muncie.
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By Irish Queen November 11, 2008 - 2:13 pm
Finally! Someone has some perspective about this team. While I never coached, my father and his cousin were both high school and small college coaches many years ago. Both said that when Charlie was hired that this would be a long rebuilding process and their hope was that he would be given the time to complete the job. Too many fans expect this young team to live up to their expectations when it wasn’t reasonable to begin with. The season is not over and wasn’t wasted.
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By JB8310 November 11, 2008 - 4:26 pm
So glad to finally read a post that is the truth. This team is still VERY young, and while I would love ND to be 8-1 or 7-2 and ranked now, fans are expecting a bit much from a group of young players, some of who were playing high school ball only a year ago. Weis loves this school and certainly wants the best for it. I, too, am not off the bandwagon; yes, I’m disappointed with the NC/Pitt/BC losses, but I’m still hoping for a 7-5 season and a bowl win. GO IRISH!!! Beat Navy!
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By jb November 11, 2008 - 7:04 pm
Amen. Let’s cheer them on. That’s our job as fans. Let everyone else, players, coaches, administrators do theres. Go Irish!
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By dauoo November 11, 2008 - 8:43 pm
Warning: HLS computers have tagged the comment below as pointless and not really pertinent to the conversation. Proceed with caution.
Here is the combined record of teams ND has beaten this year: 12-28. Not one of those teams has a winning record. Here’s the 2007 teams combined: 11-26. Not 1 of those teams had a winning record. Notre Dame is 13-15 in bowl games with the majority of the loses coming in the last 13 years. Notre Dames last bowl win was in 1994; they have lost their last 9. As an Independent ND makes it’s own schedule. Next year ND only plays 1 team that is a BCS top 10 team, USC. 2 of the teams on the schedule; Washington and Washington St, haven’t won a game this year. I think it’s time for some realism.
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By tjak November 11, 2008 - 11:38 pm
Hey dauoo, thanks for the friggin reality therapy. To me this is not about blind support; even the biscuit says it is fair game after 2009. It is about why one is a fan or a supporter at all of any team. I am an Irish fan, a NHL Habs fan, a CFL Blue Bombers fan, a NFL 49er’s fan, a MLB Blue Jays fan and a NBA Celtics fan. Save the Celtics who were nothing until last year, nothing I cheer for has won a title of any stripe since the niners in 1995. It has been a dry spell dude. I tell you, well meaning friends ask why I bothered cheering through all the mediocrity. The answer my friend is that I made a choice to cheer for these teams. The reasons are irrelevant, I made the choice and loyalty is what makes one a true fan. I have no problem with people venting their angst and frustrations-this is our right as fans; Saturday night was an awful night and maybe I should no longer let sports set the agenda for the mood in our home. However, true fans are there through thick and thin and if and when Charlie goes I will get his back. BTW I did the same for Davie and Willingham.
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By The Biscuit November 12, 2008 - 12:19 am
dauoo, please hold still while i rip your comment to shreds.
Your first point: “Here is the combined record of teams ND has beaten this year: 12-28. Not one of those teams has a winning record. Here’s the 2007 teams combined: 11-26. Not 1 of those teams had a winning record.”
My counterpoint: I specifically said that progress is going from losing to teams you shouldn’t lose to to beating those you should. ND is beating the teams they should. They’re not beating the teams they shouldn’t. This shows there’s a lot of improving to be done, but does not refute that progress has been made. Hence, your point is irrelevant, as you so aptly put.
Your second point: “Notre Dame is 13-15 in bowl games with the majority of the loses coming in the last 13 years. Notre Dames last bowl win was in 1994; they have lost their last 9.”
Counterpoint: How is this freaking relevant to the above? Other than the 2 bowl games that Weis coached in and lost, what’s the relevance? Unless you’re blaming all of ND’s bowl losses on Weis (why not? let’s blame him for the big BC upset in 93 while we’re at it!), I don’t get it.
Your third point: “As an Independent ND makes it’s own schedule. Next year ND only plays 1 team that is a BCS top 10 team, USC. 2 of the teams on the schedule; Washington and Washington St, haven’t won a game this year.”
Counterpoint: Schedules are set YEARS in advance. When these games were set in stone, the Big Ten was much stronger. Michigan was a perennial power. Besides, look at the BCS top 10. If we had scheduled Texas Tech 5 years ago you would’ve said “why are we scheduling such WEAK teams”. C’mon man, you’re going to blame Weis and/or the team and/or the admin for not being able to predict the freaking future? Give me a break.
Your final point: “I think it’s time for some realism.”
Counterpoint: I think it’s time for some rationale thoughts and arguments.
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By solo076 November 12, 2008 - 11:01 am
Great posts. I concur on several points. Switching to baseball for just a moment I think that most would conclude on paper the Yankees are the best team in baseball. Not just for the money factor but position for position they are some of the best in the league. Having said that it gave me great pride to see the upstart Rays beat them and Boston this year. They too are young but have talent. A separating factor is the heart and desire. I feel that the Irish would be far better if they showed that desire more. There is little senior leadership on this team as was pointed out on some other posts and that hurts. They have some great talent and I think that they are putting too much pressure on themselves to win. We as fans do not help. Last year was a blessing in that they should have little expectations and only desire to function as a team and improve the fundamentals of their game. The talent is there and so is the talent in the coaching staff. I would only recommend that CW be fired if there were no positive changes being made. If people look closely there have been changes every game both this year and last. The line has improved dramatically. Clausen is smarter about reading defenses and doing a better job of getting rid of the ball. Stat wise he is ahead of Brady at this time in tenure. This year he has WR playmakers that I feel are better than what Brady had as a whole (MF will be the next Irish Heisman contender). The Irish lack a running game. That hurts but check the recruits last two years the Irish have brought in some decent talent at the position, and 09 recruits are looking good as well. The d-line has suffered the loss of Laws but the secondary is better as a whole. Given a top rated pass rusher the d would be terrific. This time next year we will be singing praise and as already stated by others be a solid contending team.
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