ND Paid Chuck Weis Almost As Much As Brian Kelly in 2010-2011

Reader Gregg chimes in with yet another quality find and assessment of it. He sends along this link to a Chicago Tribune story detailing how much Notre Dame is still paying Charlie Weis -- at about $8.7 million and climbing. From July 2010 to June 2011, Weis made over $2 million from ND, while Brian Kelly netted $2.4 million. 

Three more years, suckas!

In addition, it appears that Weis will continue to receive buyout money through December 2015. Amazing, really. But I wish I had such a contract.

Gregg's commentary with the link was as follows:

Basically, Charlie Weis has, ahem, "earned" $8.7 Million dollars since he was fired from Notre Dame, and will continue to get paid through 2015-- note that this figure does not include his ridiculously high salary from his coaching days-- this is merely his buyout so far (after all is said and done, the buyout will reportedly total around $20M). 

Not bad for a guy who went 15-22 in his last 3 years, and a lifetime coaching average of .564-- and even then, this number is inflated because 2 of his "victories" came from NCAA-mandated forfeits of opposing teams (USC and North Carolina were forced to vacate their wins for tainted seasons).  So it really is a .532 average.  UND was that desperate to get rid of this loser-- I have a colleague with a connection to a big shot within the alum association, and trust me, they passed the hat around.  His current salary at Kansas?  $2.5M.  Dude does less with more than anybody I've ever seen in CFB. 

If mediocrity has a price, I guess the going rate at Notre Dame is $20M.

Well-said, Gregg, and thanks for stoking the embers of Weis-hate. They always keep us cozy and warm. 

Nothing Says Stand-Up Guy Like Ducking Media Obligations

Thanks for the support, guys! See ya, suckers!

In recent weeks, Charlie Weis has become less and less arrogant-sounding and more and more contrite, even admitting last weekend that he wouldn't blame UND if they cut him loose (his buyout will cushion the fall, of course). Reports circulated that he had cleaned out his office, though who knows if those are accurate. AD Swarbrick told Weis not to go on his west coast recruiting trip and instead head right back to UND after Saturday's inevitable loss to Stanford. And Charlie is now apparently telling friends that he's had contact with at least six NFL teams about coordinator positions.

Speaking of that last point, if I were Notre Dame, I might view that as tampering or maybe Charlie acting inappropriately, and I might try to reduce his buyout as a result. BC fired their coach for listening to other job offers -- how is this any different? Notre Dame is still paying Chuck a lot to be their coach. If his instructions are to lay low, he should lay low and not be fielding job offers. But I digress.

UND lost their last game of the season -- and fourth consecutive -- to finish 6-6, a mere one game better than our rebuilding Purdue program. So about 25 seconds of that September game against them is now all that stands between them being sub-.500 and Purdue in a bowl game. Interesting, given the star-talent on that squad.

After the game, everyone was of course eager to hear from the coach. He had shunned an interview during the game and so this was the first chance to talk to him about this game and his future. As I've said before, part of being paid all these gobs of money is being required to speak to the media and, by extension, the fans. Not doing so is a giant "F U" to all of us. And also, maybe more tellingly, to his players.

These guys stood up for Coach Weis in recent weeks, talking about how they would want him back. Current and former players said firing him would be a mistake. Even after the Stanford loss, when his defense did him no favors, Jimmy "Shiner" Clausen said he wouldn't be at Notre Dame without Coach Weis' influence. Golden Tate said the coach has played a huge part in his development. High praise, and the players have consistently defended their embattled coach.

And how did he pay them back?

By not showing up to speak to the media and leaving his 18-22 year old players to answer questions about the coach's future at Notre Dame. Questions they have no idea how to answer, nor should they. It's awkward and embarrassing and something they should not have to deal with.

But that's what you get with this kind of classy guy.

Monday Morning Gumbo

Perfect
Mr. Handsome and his team squeaked by to improve to 9-0. Much like the Colts, the Saints aren't really in much of an offensive rhythm just past the midway point of the season. But, like the Colts, you know it won't take much for them to get back into one.

This is what they do right
Once or twice a year, EsPN flexes its programming muscle and strong arms a bunch of little schools into playing at weird times of the late night/early morning. Tonight, tomorrow morning is that day for '09. The games start at Midnight tonight and end at around 11:45 tomorrow night. Sure, it's not a full 24 hours of basketball, but it's pretty awesome. Kansas, UCLA, Michigan and Clemson are all involved (in relatively-normal schedule games)...but why would Clemson agree to go TO Liberty to play??? Horrible scheduling.

So we in the Midwest get to experience what our friends on the West Coast and even our pal Gregg, in Germany get to do so often- watch sporting events at extremely-odd times of the day. Enjoy your Corn Flakes and Monmouth as you get ready for work, tomorrow.

Big Play Ray
If you haven't yet seen it, try to catch the Vikings highlight of Ray Edwards' sack. Sure, it was an illegal hit, but it was pretty-awesome. I'm not going to give too much away other than saying think Lavar Arrington.

Woods-y
My brother-in-law spent some time Down Under last year and he told me everyone adds "ee" to the end of things in Australia. So, I thought it fitting to name this blurb likewise above.

Tiger Woods was asked to play in the Australian Masters, and he obliged just because he's a really nice guy. OK, maybe not...maybe a $3 million appearance prize got it done, but it's still worth talking about. Woods also walked away with around $200,000 for winning the tournament.

How do you think it makes the other players feel- Woods makes more than the combined field, just for appearing...and of course, wins the tourney too.

Unbelievable
If you decided to go to sleep when the Pats were up 31-14 in the fourth, you chose poorly.
I know, I know, Belichick is a genius...But it's not hard to understand where another genius got off the tracks, is it?

Brady Quinn Learned Teammate Qualities from Charlie Weis

It appears Brady Quinn learned all about throwing teammates under the bus from his old mentor, and fellow stand-up guy, Chuck Weis.

According to this story from ESPN, Quinn gave the hand signals Derek Anderson would be using in a scrimmage to the defense so it would be harder for Anderson to succeed. You know, the same Derek Anderson Quinn is competing with for the starting Browns QB job.

Derek Anderson said the radio receiver in his helmet wasn't working Sunday, so he had to work with hand signals. Anderson said Brady Quinn, who was quarterbacking the White team, schooled White defenders on those hand signals, which made it harder for Anderson to work a drive filled with short passes.

Great guy.

(Thanks to reader Joey for the tip.)

Charlie Weis An Expert Motivator...For Michigan

Some video surfaced over the weekend of Charlie Weis trying to rally the troops in South Bend and I'm guessing he'd prefer the video not be making the rounds like it is. The upshot, if you haven't seen it or heard it is that Weis implies the Michigan Wolverines will come into South Bend in September making excuses about their team and he finishes with a flourish: "To hell with Michigan!"

As the SportsbyBrooks article so neatly lays out, here was Fat Charlie's commentary in the video:

“I’ve always been one never to make excuses and not blow hot air. I believe you have to back up your words by performance on the field. I think that’s the message our team is going to try to stay, we’re gonna start on September 6 with San Diego State, we’re going from there. I think the first opportunity we’ll have to make a statement is that day.

“Then we’ll listen to Michigan have all their excuses as they come running in, saying how they have a new coaching staff and those changes. To hell with Michigan.”

I'm not sure where I would even start.

Well, okay, I do. Charlie, you're never one to blow hot air? Come on. I mean, just... come on!

And you believe you need to back up your words on the field? Well, I do, too, and that's admirable of you. But you lost 38-0 last year to an 0-2 Michigan team that was QBed by a freshman (Ryan Mallett) who hated his coach. And you're going to talk smack?

And to bash a program like Michigan, well, I would think it'd make more sense to bash us, you know? If we got mad, what's the worst we could do? Beat your ninny boys by a couple TDs? Michigan might hurt you. Like, physically damage your pretty-boy QB.

But on the subject of non-excuse making, let's look at a couple of gems from Charlie from last season...

When Demetrius Jones bailed on ND before their 38-0 drubbing against Michigan last fall, Fat Chuckles said this:

"What happened came as a surprise," Weis said. "But I'm not going to use it as an excuse and say our team was distracted."

No, clearly you're not going to say that. We've point this out before, but this is like saying, "Your sister's low-cut top and huge tits came as a surprise to me, but I'm not going to insult you and call her a whore."

Against BC a few weeks later, Evan Sharpley was a putrid 11 for 29 for 135 yards and the story was this:

Clausen started but failed to lead the Irish to a score. He was 7-of-20 for 60 yards and was pulled after he threw his second interception on Notre Dame's first offensive play of the second half. That set up BC's third touchdown.

"I'm never big on blaming the quarterback for the lack of production on the offense," Weis said.

Gotcha. So you'll just comment on how you WON'T say that.

Oh, and hey, remember when the Trojans curb-stomped the Irish 38-0 for the second 38-0 shellacking ND took last year? And Chuck said this:

When asked if he believes the Irish have hit rock bottom, Weis chose his words carefully.
"I'm going to answer that very cautiously, because I don't want to be called sarcastic using New Jersey rhetoric," he said. "So let me just say people better enjoy it now, have their fun now."

Yeah, everybody better enjoy it now... all you meanies enjoying ND struggling! We're a class act and we'll be back! Of course, the minute Michigan has a struggle, like a new coach installing a new offense, fatso will be the first one to mock them, implying they're making excuses they haven't even had a chance to make yet.

Oh, I was already looking forward to college football but this kind of stuff just makes it even better. Keep talking, Charlie.

Best News Ever: Charlie Weis Sticking to His Plan

In probably the most memorable speech ever given in Gettysburg, the wise one, The Manatee, told sycophants and bandwagoners alike that he was sticking with his plan and would continue to do so. Honestly, this is much better news than anything I've heard in months. With the addition of Tenuta to his coaching staff, I actually was beginning to think UND would be a force. But, if his address in Gettysburg is the truth, people that have fond feelings for UND like myself should have a fun fall.

My favorite nugget from his speech was, "I could get hoodlums and thugs and win tomorrow," Manatee said. "I won't do it that way."

A lot's wrong with this statement...But, it harkens back to what I've always detested about Notre Dame- the belief that their student athletes are better than everyone else's. I know, they're all honors students and attend mass every morning...but their virtuous young men can't seem to get them over the hump, gosh darnit.







Teams like Boston College, Brigham Young, Wisconsin and others are Filled with thugs and hoodlums...So they're winning, obviously. If only UND would stop taking the high road, things wouldn't be so darned hard for them!!

"I buy it," One of the UND Club Members commented about Weis' speech. "I think were on the right track and I'm looking for a dramatically better performance on the field this year."

He's probably right...But games against San Diego State, a depleted Michigan team early in the season, Stanford, North Carolina, Navy and Syracuse might help them DOUBLE last year's win total...That is dramatically better.

Stick with that plan, oh wise one!!! Wake up the echoes...errrr something.

Having Our Fun Now

I don't know which one's funnier, my version or the real one...







































The fact that ESPN is involved makes it all the more enjoyable...If anyone didn't question ESPN's journalistic integrity before, they should definitely now.