The Herald Bulletin

Afternoon Update

Sports

Discussion

November 16, 2009

George Bremer: Irish eyes look for new coach

Sorry, Charlie. Saturday night likely marked the end of the Weis era at Notre Dame.

Oh, he’ll finish out the season (most likely at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville), but the guess is he won’t be back in 2010 past Jan. 1.

The writing was on the wall two years ago when, during a 3-9 season, Notre Dame lost to Navy and ended a 43-year winning streak. For good measure, the Irish fell to the Midshipmen again this year.

Weis survived the first unthinkable defeat. He isn’t likely to survive the second.

All that saved the former coaching genius last year seemed to be a dominant win over the host school in the Hawaii Bowl.

Have the standards in South Bend really fallen so far?

Of all the disappointing outcomes in this lost season for college football in Indiana, Notre Dame’s 6-4 record causes the most discouraging looks.

Weis, himself, said he likely had to compete for a Bowl Championship Series berth to keep his job this year.

It was there for the taking.

Notre Dame lost close early season games to Michigan and USC. At the time, both losses were seen as encouraging signs by some fans.

But the Wolverines and Trojans both have since been exposed as frauds.

After a 4-0 start, Michigan sits at 5-6 and tied for last place in the Big Ten with Indiana.

A 55-21 humilation at the hands of Stanford (who visits the Irish in two weeks) Saturday dropped USC to 4-3 in the Pac-10, good for a tie for fifth place.

Notre Dame could have, and perhaps should have, beaten both and taken an 8-0 record into this year’s Navy game.

Back-to-back losses to the Midshipmen and Pittsburgh have ended any remaining BCS hopes.

They’ve also likely started the clock on another Notre Dame coaching search. Many believe that quest will lead to Cincinnati and wunderkind coach Brian Kelly.

The Bearcats are ranked No. 5 in the nation, and they remain a darkhorse candidate to play for the national title.

Kelly has built amazingly successful programs at Division II Grand Valley State, Central Michigan and now UC.

He’d arrive in South Bend with few questions attached.

There’s always a chance Notre Dame could chase a former NFL champion like Jon Gruden or Mike Shanahan. Both men’s names came up during the last search that netted Weis.

Weis was no better than Notre Dame’s second choice in 2004.

The guy the Irish really wanted, Urban Meyer, is on track to play for his third national title in the past four years at Florida.

Notre Dame lost out on Meyer in part because it waited too long to officially cut ties with embattled Tyrone Willingham.

Whomever the Irish have in mind this time around, they can’t afford to make the same mistake again.

Contact George Bremer: 640-4831, george.bremer@heraldbulletin.com

Text Only
Sports
  • Super Bowl Peytons Pl_Brem.jpg Another surgery for Manning?

    According to a Wednesday report by Sports Illustrated’s Don Banks on the magazine’s website, Peyton Manning underwent an unreported follow-up procedure on his injured neck last summer and the Indianapolis Colts believe further surgery is inevitable in the future.

    February 15, 2012 1 Photo

  • 0122 sports CIC wrestling 152.jpg Wrestlers have eyes on prize

    For Alexandria’s Luke Blanton, Pendleton Heights’ Clint Nicholson and Shenandoah’s Jacob Lumpkin, qualifying for the 2012 IHSAA State Individual Wrestling finals brings a bevy of emotions

    February 15, 2012 2 Photos

  • 0115 sports ahs vs jeff bbb 027.jpg Indians put stop to slide

    In the end, it took eight seconds of insane defense to end the Anderson boys basketball team’s eight-game losing streak.
    In a game twice postponed by weather, the Indians held off a last-ditch rally at Huntington North for a 59-58 North Central Conference victory on Wednesday.

    February 15, 2012 1 Photo

  • 0112 sports au vs rh 018.jpg AU men lose, but still clinch spot in HCAC tourney

    The Anderson University men’s basketball team lost to Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference rival Manchester College 81-71 on Wednesday night at Stauffer-Wolfe Arena in North Manchester.

    February 15, 2012 1 Photo

  • Teverbaugh, Rick.jpg Rick Teverbaugh: Familiar face leads Wildcats

    For me, there will be much excitement and anticipation as part of the girls basketball regional Saturday at Decatur Central.

    February 15, 2012 1 Photo

  • THB Bramwell Rick Bramwell: Indy sport show is can’t-miss event

    Many outdoor enthusiasts look forward to late February for the migration of the sandhill crane, some warmer weather and the Ford Indianapolis Sport, Boat & Travel Show. This is something I don’t want to miss.

    February 15, 2012 1 Photo

  • Northwestern Indiana _Brem.jpg Hoosiers hold off ’Cats

    Tom Crean’s first 20-win season at Indiana came with some fitting benchmarks.
    A freshman credited with turning the program around led the way again. An injured senior who survived a six-win season closed it out. And, of course, the Hoosiers had to scrap for another 40 minutes to pull off the win

    February 15, 2012 1 Photo

  • 0216 spts Cavs.jpg Cavs pick off Pacers

    Kyrie Irving scored 22 points in his return after missing three games with a concussion, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 98-87 win Wednesday night over the reeling Indiana Pacers, who dropped their fifth straight.

    February 15, 2012 1 Photo

  • 0215 sports alex vs eastern hancock 033.jpg Royals edge out Tigers

    If Alexandria’s non-conference matchup with Eastern Hancock was relatively meaningless, someone forgot to tell just about everyone involved.
    The two teams turned a sleepy weeknight crowd electric Tuesday night with a wild, high-flying affair that ended with a 92-91 Royals victory, new individual scoring records for both schools and a home crowd that remained standing in proud applause long after the final buzzer.

    February 14, 2012 1 Photo

  • 0128 sports phhs vs greenfield 010.jpg Power outage grounds Arabians

    An accident on Indiana 13 at Indiana 38 knocked power out throughout the southern part of Madison County on Tuesday and caused the postponement of Pendleton Heights’ boys basketball game against New Castle.

    February 14, 2012 1 Photo