ShareThisIf Charlie Weis somehow manages to squirm out from under the proverbial ax, Notre Dame should consider naming him its CEO.
Since, in the financial world, CEOs are often rewarded for their failures, perhaps the university should toss its $4 million-a-year football coach a bonus as well.
Crazy thing is, Weis works in college football. And that's a world in which the heads of underachieving programs are usually on the chopping block, with boosters and fans clamoring for their heads to roll.
Most of the time, they get their way, even when it means paying hefty buyouts.
Unless, of course, a university does something incredibly stupid like Notre Dame did. After just seven games into Weis' first season in 2005, the Irish signed him to an unheard of 10-year contract worth about $40 million.
Before arriving at South Bend, Weis had never held a head-coaching job at either the college or professional level, but at 5-2, he'd already demonstrated enough to convince then Athletic Director Kevin White that he was the coach of the future for Notre Dame.
"In a very short period of time, Charlie has clearly and impressively demonstrated the ability to take the Notre Dame program where we all want it to go," White said at the time.
If truth be known, it was Notre Dame's near upset (34-31) of No. 1-ranked Southern Cal that was the deciding factor in Weis' eye-popping contract extension. White wanted to lock in the so-called offensive genius for the long term, lest he get away.
Weis went on to finish the 2005 season at 9-3, with predecessor Tyrone Willingham's recruits.
Ironically, it was a remark he posted on a banner in the weight room following that season that may come back to bite him: "9-3 is not good enough."
Weis did go 10-3 the following year, but again, primarily with Willingham recruits, like quarterback Brady Quinn and receiver Jeff Samardzija.
Since 2006, Weis has compiled the worst resume in Notre Dame coaching history:
He holds the dubious distinction of being the first Irish coach to lose to Navy since 1963. With last Saturday's 23-21 loss to the Midshipmen, he's now done so twice in the past three years, both times at South Bend.
Weis' 10-15 record from 2007-2008 ranks as the worst two-year stretch in Irish history. It includes the first 0-4 start; first 0-5 start; and first ever nine-loss season (2007).
In 2008, Weis became the first Irish coach to lose to an eight-loss team, Syracuse.
Since 2007, he's 3-16 against teams that finished with a winning record. He has zero wins versus teams finishing in the Top 10. He's 1-13 against teams that finished in the Top 25.
Weis is 0-5 against Southern Cal, having lost to the Trojans by an average margin of 19.8 points per game. And he owns the worst loss to USC (38-0) in the 79-year history of the rivalry.
The list of Weis' underachievements at Notre Dame goes on and on. Suffice to say it serves as more of an indictment for his firing than did the records of any of three fired predecessors: Willingham (2002-2004), Bob Davie (1997-2001) and Gerry Faust (1981-1985).
Overall, Weis is 8-19 (.296) against teams with winning records; Faust was 12-23 (.343); Willingham 12-15 (.444); and Davie 18-22 (.450).
If Notre Dame loses as expected Saturday night at No. 8 Pittsburgh, that could seal Weis' fate. He would be 35-25, a winning percentage of .583, which is the exact same winning percentage Willingham had (21-15) when he was fired after his third season.
Even if the Irish escape Pitt with a win and beat Connecticut and Stanford the next two weeks, the best the Irish can finish is 9-3.
And, as Weis would say, that's not good enough.
If he survives to coach another year, it will come down to dollars and no sense.
His buyout would likely cost the Irish somewhere in the neighborhood of $5 million to $6 million. Money that would be well spent. It's time to cut their losses.
Michigan, another heralded football program mired in mediocrity, ought to consider doing the same.
Rich Rodriguez arrived in Ann Arbor two years ago with about as much fanfare as Weis at South Bend, and a bit more baggage.
With games remaining Saturday at No. 21 Wisconsin and next week against No. 10 Ohio State, Michigan (5-5) will likely post its second consecutive losing season under Rodriguez. Michigan's last losing season prior to Rodriguez was 1967.
Because of his short tenure at Michigan, Rodriguez will probably survive to coach a third year. But another sub-par season, and, guaranteed, he will not achieve CEO status.
(Email John Tucker at jtucker(at)unionleader.com)
(E-mail John Tucker at jtucker(at)unionleader.com)
columnUNBALANCED LINEMust credit New Hampshire Union LeaderColumn
