Putting the Echos Back to Sleep

I knew this would be Charlie Weis’ last year at Notre Dame after listening to him in a post-game interview after their first game, a convincing victory over Nevada. He was humble and cordial and polite to the sideline reporter who interviewed him. In other words, he had changed.

It’s become a theme now. After every game, win or lose, he hobbles off the field and gives a humble, polite interview. Even when asked stupid questions, he doesn’t glare through the interviewer and roll his eyes, he answers them in as non-confrontational a way as he possibly can and moves on.

Of course, this has been a criticism of him since he came to Notre Dame. He was arrogant, cocky and antagonistic. Like his mentor, Bill Belichick the coach of the New England Patriots, he seemed to sneer, glare and grumble through his mandatory press appearances. People didn’t like this and let it be known.

And Weis, in a concession to those who didn’t like his arrogance and curt nature, changed. It may seem like a small thing, but that was the point when it became obvious that Charlie Weis was not the answer to Notre Dame’s coaching problem. Say what you will about his record against ranked teams, his failure in bowl games and the fact that he’s now lost to Navy two years in a row after not having lost to them once in decades. Those issues were not insurmountable for the real Charlie Weis, which isn’t to say he would have come out on top, but he won’t even have a chance now, and he doesn’t deserve one.

It was all there in the way he interviewed. He was making concessions. He was trying to please. He was conscious of what people outside his locker room were thinking and saying. That was the beginning of what will surely be his end in South Bend.

Coaching a team isn’t an easy task and the best of coaches drown out what anyone outside his locker room has to say about anything that involves the team. A good coach is the master and commander of his ship and the moment he starts listening to others about how to steer it, he will find that he loses the way.

Weis came into this year with the best team he’s had since his first seasons at the school. He came into this year with a chance to quiet his critics and put Notre Dame back on the path to it’s rightful place among the college football elite. If he had stayed focused and true to himself, his style, his way and his belief, he may have done it.

You can only shut out the shadows and whispers so long though. And once you acknowledge them, you see them everywhere and they hunt you relentlessly. The results were the little changes that his team has certainly perceived. They have made all the difference. And now, they’ve signaled the end. So long Charlie. If you ever get your chance again, try to remember: If an arrogant prick is what you are, then be that, own it and don’t let anyone take it away from you because who you were is what got you the job. Who you became is why you’ll lose it.