Domer Double Standard?

Sitting here watching the Notre Dame Fightin' Irish get dominated for yet another week, I can't help to think about the double standard the University set when it decided to fire Tyrone Willingham after only three above average seasons.  Albeit Willingham's tenure wasn't up to Irish standards, their new coach, Charlie Weis is starting to look like a downright disgrace to domers.  Particularly on the offensive side of the ball where Notre Dame has never been as inept as they are right now. 

This year's Irish team has failed to score an offensive TD in 10 quarters of play, during which time they've compiled a total of -8 yards rushing and scored a grand total of 13 points.  Over the past 5 games the Irish have given up 30+ points and are on track to lose their fifth straight game by a 20+ point margin.  Never in Tyrone Willingham's tenure did the Irish lose this many in a row or by this much, in fact NEVER in Irish history has this happened.  What has to be tough for Irish fans is that Weis is supposedly an offensive coach.

So the question I ask is, why did the Irish reward Charlie Weis with a 10 year $30 million extension after one year on the job?  And will they treat the caucasian head coach the same as the african american one, relieving him of his duties after 3 years on the job? 

Just maybe Charlie Weis looked great as an offensive coordinator for New England b/c he knew what the defensive calls were?  Clearly this didn't hurt his offensives in New England. 

ESPN's Pat Forde made a similar argument earlier this week but that was before this embarrassing loss to a bad Michigan team.

Unfortunately hypocrisy is alive and well in America, and it likely will be on display in South Bend Indiana following what sure to looks like the worst season in Notre Dame football history.

Comments

[Backer_T]

Charlie Weis has led ND to back to back BCS bowls and would need to go 0-12 this season to tie Willingham in Win %. The last of Davie's recruits graduated last year and now we are stuck with Ty's crappy classes.

Ty was fired because he couldn't coach (lowest 2.5 year win % in ND history) and couldn't recruit (worst recruiting rankings since they've been published). Also, Weis has already locked up his 3rd consecutive top 10 recruiting class, so get your shots in now.

[Beavercat]

Actually you're wrong. Weis has taken the team to back to back BCS bowls b/c its Notre Dame - last year they had NO business in a BCS game and it showed. If Notre Dame were in the SEC they woudn't even have been bowl eligible.

As for recruits - this is where you are wrong. Tyrone Willingham joined Notre Dame in '02 - Bob Davies last recruits (unless we're talking 5 year guys who are NOT the cream of the crop) left ND in '05. So Weis won primarily with all Tyrone Willingham recruits - including Brady Quinn (first Tyrone class) and Jeff Smardajza (sp?).
As a Stanford Cardinal Fan I've experienced plenty of top 5 recruiting classes under Bill Walsh (second term) that didn't work out - so I'm skeptical b/c Charlie Weis' program should be well under way (3rd year) with much of the starters being Sophomore & Juniors he brought in but when I watch the games I see a disorganized team made of of individuals not playing as a team.

And for ND's prized QB recruit Jimmy Claussen, maybe he becomes a great player but so far he lacks the arm strength, mobility and decision making that everybody heralded as can't miss.

I personally don't have anything against ND but it does bug me how much of a free pass they get every season into a great bowl game so long as they win 7 or 8 games.

Charlie Weis won't go 0-12 (Notre Dame schedules too many patsies for that to happen) but I think he's starting to show that he's not Lou Holtz or Pete Carroll - meaning Notre Dame won't be challenging for national titles anytime soon.