October 24, 2005
Weis leaving Notre Dame for the NFL?
Just as the legend of Charlie Weis is beginning in South Bend, it's possible that the Notre Dame football coach could be leaving the Irish for a head coaching position in the NFL. It's all speculation right now, but something about Weis' UND contract has the NFL owners sniffing around:
Weis' six-year contract at Notre Dame includes a modest $1.5 million buyout, a number that caused one NFL head coach to remark this week, "That's it?"
That's it. The buyout means that, despite the fact that he has one of the country's most heralded recruiting classes coming in next season, Weis has positioned himself to leave Notre Dame after this season for the NFL if he so chooses.
And he might. Should Weis cap Notre Dame's impressive season with a win over Tennessee and then another win in a major bowl game, he could vault himself into the No. 1 coaching prospect on the radar of NFL owners.
NFL Analyst Adam Schefter goes on to say that at least one undisclosed NFL team has already been "quietly investigating" Weis.
While there's really not much to this today, Weis' buyout clause is certainly worth mentioning given his immediate success at Notre Dame. Would Weis leave the Irish for an NFL head coaching job? Nobody knows, but I suspect we're going to get the opportunity to find out.
Comments:
posted on October 24, 2005 4:57 PM — link — abuse?Jeff Quinton said:
Allen,
Lots of coaches have made those comments before and then changed their mind later. I wouldn't necessarily hold those statements alone as concrete proof that he's not going anywhere, although I do think it's doubtful he leaves after 1 year.Ron Mexico said:
posted on October 24, 2005 5:08 PM — 68.21.103.162 — link — abuse?
I highly doubt Coach Nick Saban admitted his NFL flirtations that much due to the recruiting damage...Weis is NFL-bound in 2007. The Golden Domers better start coach-huntin'
Steve said:
posted on October 24, 2005 5:17 PM — 64.164.181.10 — link — abuse?
I would say that the most likely timeframe for Charlie Weis considering going to the NFL will be when he brings a national championship to South Bend. As was the case for most recently Nick Saban and many other successful college coaches jumping to the pros.
Pat said:
posted on October 24, 2005 8:03 PM — 128.197.53.110 — link — abuse?
Weis has said on numerous occasions that he'll leave ND when his kid (currently in 7th grade or thereabouts) graduates from ND. Sure, all coaches say the "I love it here" type stuff, but not many put a date on it. Besides, he had a chance to grab an NFL job last year but came to ND anyway. If he had passed on the ND job he definitely would be a coach in the NFL now. I honestly can't see him leaving for the NFL before he's won at least one national championship at ND. Why leave to prove yourself in the NFL before you fully prove yourself in college? As he has said many times, he's spent nearly his whole life in the NFL. Why do people assume he's in such a rush to get back?
brownsrodeo88 said:
posted on October 24, 2005 9:44 PM — 172.148.189.76 — link — abuse?
Not to mention how stupid it would be for an NFL team to hire a coach after one succesful college season. I'm not saying he isnt an excellent coach, but I was going to put my franchise in his hands I would want to see a little more than 13 games as his head coaching resume.
Byron Wade said:
posted on October 24, 2005 9:57 PM — 68.204.171.160 — link — abuse?
This is silly. Charlie Weis is nothing if not a man of principal . . . even us Trojans know that . . . he's not jumping to the NFL anytime soon. Besides, the USC/Notre Dame great rivalry is just getting interesting again.
Eldergriffon said:
posted on October 24, 2005 11:34 PM — 67.188.161.239 — link — abuse?
I also doubt that Weis will leave in the near term, although it may be sooner than we all assume. But ND fans should get used to hearing this tale. As long as Weis is successful at Notre Dame, his name will be caught up in all sorts of rumors at the end of every NFL season-- there's nothing that he or anyone else can say to put them completely to rest. My prediction-- sometime in the next few years a story will break saying that "sources" confirm Weis is close to a deal with an NFL squad, although it won't turn out to be true.
Rich said:
posted on October 25, 2005 3:31 AM — 24.136.104.51 — link — abuse?
The fact that Charlie Weis is an alumnus, I think puts everything in a slightly different perspective. He was there for the glory years, and he wants to be there for the return of the glory years. Weis may well go to the NFL, but it won't be anytime soon.
Fan from Leahy "1941" said:
posted on October 25, 2005 4:29 AM — 70.33.99.215 — link — abuse?
Most of CW's buddies are in the NFL---The challenge to better his mentors (the 2 Bills) must present an exciting temptation to him---Charley must take into consideration that all the extra money he would earn in the NFL would greatly benefit his handicapped child and the foundation he started in her name---Charley was not ND's first choice---Does that bother him?---And Charley did tell us a little white one concerning the green jerseys.----SO WILL HE LEAVE???---NO!!!!----CW stayed on with NE to fulfill his contract----He will do the same at ND---He loves ND it is his school---Deep down he wants ND to return to glory by proving to the football factories of the world ND can win NC's with true student athletes---These are the football players who carry the same workload of studies as other classmates and room with them. (no football dorms at ND)---Contrary to what I said above Weis has nothing more to prove in the NFL---He has done it all in the PROS---CW will get all the money he needs at ND---The foundation for his child will prosper at ND---And finally CW will become the Mike Krzyzewski of college football who passed up 10 million to coach the Lakers in order to stay at the school he loved---And just one passing thought, could this rumor have been started by the football factories in order to stop recruits from going to ND????
John Walsh said:
posted on October 25, 2005 6:31 AM — 205.188.116.199 — link — abuse?
Do you think the "Charlie Weis may jump to the NFL" rumors are from those who are competing with Notre Dame for the nation's top recruits?
John Walsh
Bill said:
posted on October 25, 2005 8:06 AM — 204.74.160.12 — link — abuse?
I'm not even remotely worried about Weis leaving. What upsets me, though, is that the NFL Network writes up this story and doesn't include Weis' own words where he says he's staying 10 years to see his son graduate from Notre Dame, and that ND is his final coaching stop. He's said it multiple times.
B.J.C said:
posted on October 25, 2005 9:03 AM — 209.146.219.242 — link — abuse?
He just left the NFL!!! He could have coached for any of the 6 NFL teams that went after him for a head coaching job. He went to ND because it was his dream job. If anyone thinks he's leaving you know nothing about him. He'll be there for at least a decade. Really.
Sean said:
posted on October 25, 2005 11:21 AM — 67.184.249.119 — link — abuse?
If you are a ND fan, you read articles like this and laugh. The rest of the nation has no real idea about Weis, ND fans know him pretty well. Trust in this, he wont be leaving ND for a long time. And if you are a fan of a team ND plays, that is really going to hurt knowing that.
Kevin E. Somerville said:
posted on October 25, 2005 1:06 PM — 69.15.81.190 — link — abuse?
Weis has the best job in American sports. What could possibly sway him to go back to where he spent so many years? He has a chance to become an icon for the ages at ND. Even if you hate ND, the school towers over the factories and also the NFL.
Bill Rocklin said:
posted on October 25, 2005 1:10 PM — 208.42.232.46 — link — abuse?
Charlie is a very astute individual and has found a great home for he and his family for quite a number of years into the future. He's won the Super Bowl so why go back to the dregs of the NFL which spits many head coaches out - talented or not - faster than water runs over Niagara Falls. ND can afford and will pay Charlie whatever is needed to keep him. ND is a pressure cooker, but he is the perfect fit for the program. With a great recruting class coming up and next year's Heisman winner in Quinn - he ain't leaving home next year or any year in the near future - at least until the Vatican approves his cannonization.
Sir John said:
posted on October 26, 2005 9:52 PM — 207.200.116.133 — link — abuse?
I'll just say he is a man of remarkable honor and integrety. (Montana childs promise and taking his son to the So Cal locker room to congratulate them.) I don't think "Talking heads" and Media quite know how to grasp Weis in a greedy age of money first. Either they have no honor, break their word or teach their children some odd values.
rob said:
posted on October 28, 2005 10:01 AM — 198.109.249.27 — link — abuse?
hey i think you guys are right on when you say that he will stay. this quote"I don’t come here to leave and take a job in the NFL in three years. This is not a stepping stone. This is an end-all for our family,” he said. “When we come to Notre Dame, we come here with the intent of retiring here.” - Charlie Weis so we all know thatcoach weis is a man of his word i.e.(montana) and those are his words and whether its 1st and 10 on the 2 or a 1.5 mill buyout hes true to his word!goirish!
NDFAN73 said:
posted on October 28, 2005 6:45 PM — 68.52.150.162 — link — abuse?
This is one of two things, an attempt by someone to get talk going in hopes of actually facilitating it (which won't happen) or hammer the money point home so ND re-does the contract at the end of the season giving Charlie a raise (which will probably happen anyway but probably as a bonus). Look the writers can say anything they want and usually do regardless of facts or lack of. ND has finally found a good coach, there is no way they let him go after the first season. If they have to give him a raise, pay him a bonus, redo the contract, buy him a house, or build a bridge to name after him, they will. This is really wishful thinking on the part of some talking heads who need to create stories that can generate web hits or sell newspapers.
posted on October 29, 2005 10:39 AM — link — abuse?
Gameday just reported Weis is finalizing a 10 year contract with Notre Dame today.
posted on October 29, 2005 10:42 AM — link — abuse?
Window dressing, Jeff. Don't you think? Just something to calm down the recruits. I think it's a rumor that's going to have some legs to it for the next year or two.
posted on October 29, 2005 11:02 AM — link — abuse?
Without knowing the details, a contract extension or renewal won't preclude any coach from going elsewhere. It was like the phantom 5-year extension SC gave Holtz before the Clemson game in 2003. The 5-day resignation/firing clause with no buyout was still in place in that extension - it was just timed to screw with Bowden in recruiting before the game. That one blew up in Holtz's face when they lost 63-17.
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Allen said:
posted on October 24, 2005 3:51 PM — 67.129.221.130 — link — abuse?I highly doubt that Coach Weis is leaving any time soon. He has stated on occasion that he plans on retiring from Notre Dame and will not leave unless asked to by the university.