Charlie Weis wipes away tears as he enters Notre Dame Stadium before the game. (Getty)
By Brian Hamilton
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- If this was indeed the final home game in the Charlie Weis era, it came with all the proper fixings, at least for 2009.
Big plays. Big gaffes. Tons of drama, all the way to the end.
And a bitter end it was, with Notre Dame blowing a double-digit lead and falling 33-30 in double overtime today to Connecticut at Notre Dame Stadium.
After Notre Dame (6-5) got a 37-yard David Ruffer field goal in the second overtime, Connecticut (5-5) scored the winning touchdown on a four-yard run by Andre Dixon.
In the first overtime, Connecticut scored first on an 11-yard touchdown pass to Kashif Moore. But the Irish answered with a Jimmy Clausen TD pass to Michael Floyd.
Armando Allen's fumble with 49 seconds remaining in regulation was recovered by Connecticut at the Notre Dame 41, but the Huskies missed a 37-yard field goal that would have won the game as time ran out.
The Irish mounted a two-touchdown lead early in the second quarter, then contributed more than a few gaffes to the Connecticut comeback effort, including missed tackles that led to a 43-yard touchdown run and zero tackles that led to a 96-yard kickoff return for a score.
But Notre Dame inched ahead early in the fourth quarter on a 23-yard Ruffer field goal, taking a 20-17 lead with 11 minutes to go.
Connecticut then immediately threatened, moving to Notre Dame's 12-yard line after a 37-yard catch by Marcus Easley. But Zach Frazer threw an interception in the end zone on the next snap.
Photo: Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis on the sidelines vs. Connecticut. (Getty Images)
Beer, beer for old Notre Dame.
Bring on the whiskey, bring on the dames!
Send some sophomores out for gin
Don't let a sober person in!
We never stagger, we never fall.
We sober up on wood alcohol.
As our loyal sons go marching
Back to the bar for more.
Bye bye to old Notre Dame
Kunte and the Gipper and all that fame
Buried now and ain't that a shame
Now that her loyal sons go marching
Down to defeat once more.
No, you are certainly allowed your opinion and if you want to hate on ND nonstop, go ahead. I never said I was an ND fan, actually a proud NU fan, Fitzgerald has been good for us. But the fact of the matter is you are sitting at home on a Saturday night typing hate on a message board because you have some personal grudge against ND for whatever reason; maybe they're arrogant, maybe you hate what they stand for, maybe you think they deserve it because they are overly-publicized, maybe you didn't get into school there or know someone personally who goes/went there who you hate. Who really cares? It's pathetic.
I didn't say create excuses for ND or only say something when they win, but instead of saying notre dame sucks/they're arrogant/they deserve it, why don't you talk constructively about why they're bad or who their next coach should be? Otherwise, sorry, it just makes you seem pathetic. And calling ND racist for firing a coach who the next year went 0-12 with UW is the most ridiculous thing I've heard, those of you who say it should be embarrassed.
MSU... Michigan... Notre Dame...
Dying rustbelt areas with crappy weather that will NEVER come back. Ever!!!
Craig, it appears to me that ND has a near monopoly on arrogance, quite surprising given how little which the school can legitimately take pride.
I've been a Notre Dame football fan since I was a kid and always will be. It is a respected university and would be incredibly proud if I had a kid who graduated from the school.
All of you losers who cast hate on the coach(and your "witty" names for him), the school and some sort of arrogance, get over yourselves. Grow up, you idiots.
another great day! Arrogant ND loses again!!!
another great day! Arrogant ND loses again!!!
Perhaps the ultimate question the administration and alumni must ask themselves is: what kind of a college football program do they want, and should there be change in philosophy.
College football over the last quarter century at least has progressively passed by Notre Dame and it's fans. I don't think a change in coaches will solve anything, though Weiss looked like a resigned man this evening
No one fears ND football right now
Why is pointing out that ND is a huge disappointment hate? If the facts offend you, don't read. Put a DVD of Rudy on and enjoy. So, I guess the trib should only allow comments when ND wins a bowl game--but how often does that happen?
This comment board has become nothing more than a breeding ground for ND hate. It serves no real purpose, stimulates no real discussion, and should be shut down.
ND is so average in academics and they always have been. Just look at Charlie Weis, he's an ND grad isn't he? He's also too good a coach for ND. 'You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.'
Why all the fuss? Army used to win national championships,too. So did University of Chicago and Villanova. This is a football program that saw its best days over two decades ago.
"Sure they do, good one."
You're right--it's easier to just make up baseless accusations.
I went there. The football team is terrible, but I had plenty of players in my classes.
The ND grad myth?
Having friends who are professors at ND, yes, I believe the ND grad truth. You can point to a myriad of other athletic program faults but to presume that their education is a fraud is, at best, an ignorant assumption.
"What good is a high Grad rate if the kids don't ever have to attend class?"
They attend class. That's BS.
Was I the only one impressed by those "holding calls" which reversed the UConn TDs in Q4? You could put an NFL allstar team on the 5 yd line and give them 10 tries, no way were the refs letting ND give up a TD in that situation. Just had to make sure they didn't throw 5 flags at once which I guess is why the calls seemed late.
In fact as Charlie was conceding after the 2nd OT I was still waiting for the flag reversing the last UConn TD. Guess the zebras forgot whose turn it was to throw it.
Of course, in fairness, if the stupid UConn coach had used his 3 timeouts correctly he could probably have given his kicker a chip shot from the 5 yd line to end it in regulation.
So, UConn deserved to lose.
Was I the only one impressed by those "holding calls" which reversed the UConn TDs in Q4? You could put an NFL allstar team on the 5 yd line and give them 10 tries, no way were the refs letting ND give up a TD in that situation. Just had to make sure they didn't throw 5 flags at once which I guess is why the calls seemed late.
In fact as Charlie was conceding after the 2nd OT I was still waiting for the flag reversing the last UConn TD. Guess the zebras forgot whose turn it was to throw it.
Of course, in fairness, if the stupid UConn coach had used his 3 timeouts correctly he could probably have given his kicker a chip shot from the 5 yd line to end it in regulation.
So, UConn deserved to lose.
RE Exec, Gruden's "BS announcing job" is as one of the 3 guys in the booth for ESPN's Monday Night Football. Not exactly a "BS announcing job", and he just signed a long-term deal to stay in that role, he is extremely good and popular in it.
Notre Dame is a prestigious school, but it's amazing how none of those 5 top-graduation rate programs are top-level, OK Florida-level football programs (as I recall, it was Notre Dame first, Boston College was in there too, graphic during the game). Notre Dame better lower its expectations at BEST to 9-3 every year and an outside shot at BCS, no way they can attract national-title athletes at every position given the academic rigor.
The guy that started the Urban Meyer thread was being sarcastic...
Leather Helmets....someone else bit you to the punch, so now sit down and have a cracker, dork.
It would only be arrogance if they were some other school. Simply put, Notre Dame IS the most prestigious football program in the country. What other school has a national contract with a major network? I can see my Irish if I am in New York or Palm Beach. I can even see them in my Gulfstream on my way to Palm Beach. Yes, Notre Dame gets some special treatment, but that is because they ARE special. The oldest marching band, the most famous fight song, the strongest alumni association, and one of the few independent schools left. Notre Dame players that don’t go to the NFL go to med school, business school, and other successes; most other schools are still teaching their players to read and write. Urban Meyer will take the job for 4 reasons: 1) all his big stars are graduating and he is going to have to rebuild Florida anyway, 2) he coached at Notre Dame as wide receivers coach in the 90’s so he is familiar with the way things work at ND, 3) He has been quoted that Notre Dame is a dream job and it would be an honor, 4) no matter how great Florida is, they will never get the national exposure that ND can get every Saturday afternoon. BTW, ND can always call Jon Gruden as a backup; his father Jim was an assistant to Dan Devine during the ND 1977 championship team; doesn’t he have some BS announcing job? What a waste for him.
ND has put itself in a position to pay off this tub of mediocrity to the tune of $10 million (ND sources say that figure is way too high, so that means it's about $9.68 million), some more to pay off whichever of his genius coordinators have contracts, and then pony up the cash to hire a new star coach. If you compensate the blob over $3 million per year to screw up this program, how much will you have to pay a marquee coach to unscrew it?
Frontbutt blames the defense like that lets him off the hook. He is just a passing game coach, and nothing else seems to interest him.
I've heard that Weis' buyout is in the $15 million range.
Before they fire Charlie they should fire whoever authorized such an absurd contract, even if he has SJ after his name.
Face it, if the last three ND coaches deserve to have been fired somebody should step up and take responsibility for having hired them.
Personally I blame Obama and that honorary degree, maybe the Vagina Monologues also have something to do with ND not being able to hold a lead against UConn (did I just write UConn??).
I agree. Bring in Urban Myers. He will come here. This is Notre dame. We were good like 20 years ago.
Myers knows the Irish are better than Florida. We will return to prominance with Meyers.
We are ND. Were are bigger than Florida and their top 5 finishes every year. Are losses or on Channel 5. Their games are on cable.
I say we even though I couln't get in to Notre Dame in my wettest dreams. Really the main reason I root for them is because of their moronic nickname. Come to think of it, it is probaly fitting that a team called the Irish is a loser.
Bring on Meyers!
Guess that all of the ND fans can now cancel their hotel reservations for the BCS championship game. Maybe they wil get a birth in the Toilet Bowl.
dude on November 21, 2009 6:04 PM
Listen idiots, Urban Meyers has done everything for the Gators
--------------------------
Listen, idiot. His name is Urban MEYER. No S.
Now go back to pretending that Notre Dame football is relevant.
Again, there is no S in Urban Meyer's name. Just like there is no BCS is Notre Dame's future.
Notre Dame has many more problems than its coach. There's a reason beyond head coaching that the school hasn't won a title in more than 20 years or loses to schools such as Navy and UConn. Much like the NFL, the NCAA has more parity and Notre Dame can't rely on its name as it used to.
TY Willy - given your comment about ND being racist, how many black coaches are in the Big Ten?
For people that hate Notre Dame, why do you waste your time reading articles and then commenting? Seems kinda fruitless huh?
Bring me joy. This racist university gave this clown a bunch of money after one year with someone else's team, then gave him another year after they fired the previous coach for the same record. I hope they keep him another year so the university can show their true colors.
Bad times for the Notre Dame Fightin' Micks.
You know college football is upside down when teams like Michigan, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Florida State aren't even in the Top 25.
What does Charlie W. and Jesse Jackson Jr have in common ? Both had gastro bypass and lied about it,they both have a cloud hanging over them. Goodbye Charlie,give the job to Lovie. AMF Golden Dome Fans.
csoud on November 21, 2009 6:23 PM
ok, first, i am so happy with whats going on in SB. that school is so arrogant with how they run thier business its sickening.
second, when talking about possible coaches please spell thier names correctly. Its URBAN MEYER not URBAN MEYERS.
BEFORE YOU GO SPOUTING OFF ON SOMEONE'S SPELLING, YOU SHOULD LEARN HOW TO SPELL "T-H-E-I-R." IDIOT.
csoud scribbled: "ok, first, i am so happy with whats going on in SB. that school is so arrogant with how they run thier business its sickening.
second, when talking about possible coaches please spell thier names correctly. Its URBAN MEYER not URBAN MEYERS."
what's, not whats
their, not thier
it's, not its
their, not thier
Be careful when correcting others.
Urban Meyer would be an idiot to leave Florida and go to Notre Dame. He's got a great thing going at Florida and the last guy who had that and jumped to the "next challenge" (Steve Spurrier) has been struggling to recapture the magic. Meyer can look forward to leading a perennial favorite for the national title by staying at Florida, or subject himself to endless scrutiny by going to a moribund Notre Dame team and trying to restore its former glory. Tough choice, huh?
As for Pat Fitzgerald, he's taking his 8-4 team to a nice bowl game in a warm location after beating two BCS top-15 teams in three weeks. I don't see him leaving, either. Northwestern has much more realistic expectations of their football team than Notre Dame, which actually went into this season thinking they'd be in a BCS bowl.
ok, first, i am so happy with whats going on in SB. that school is so arrogant with how they run thier business its sickening.
second, when talking about possible coaches please spell thier names correctly. Its URBAN MEYER not URBAN MEYERS.
ND will not get Myers no way he would give up sunny Florida for the Golden Dome. But take a look west to Fresno State and Pat Hill. He has done a great job at Fresno State with a limit recrutiing area, up agains the PAC 10 and others. Has shown he can beat the big guys. With talent he is going to be a winner.
Good day and good ridence Weiss.
Listen idiots, Urban Meyers has done everything for the Gators. As there are a lot of speculation that Urban Meyers is ready for a new challenge and he is going to see that this is his best opportunity to become a coach for the ND. Just in case you fools don't know. Urban Meyers did say that coaching ND is his dream job. See who will laugh in the end you negative tools.
Dead man walking.
yes!!!! notre dame loses~! urban meyer would never leave florida at the top of his game. get a grip. notre dame sucks.
BEARS' disease ha struck the Irish
Dave, take your confidence to Vegas and bet against Meyer. Meyer is still listed as the highest odds of being the next coach at ND.
Vegas is the only place that will pay you for your confidence.
I love all you Domers just assuming Urban Meyer is coming to ND.
Listen. The main reason you change jobs is to move up in your profession. Urban Meyer can't get any bigger. He's got the nation's premiere program and multiple titles to his name.
Only completely biased ND'ers believe in any remaining prestige to the ND program.
Well that sucked. Goodbye Charlie Weis, is about time this guy gets fired. I feel bad for the seniors losing their last game at home. But if Notre Dame hires Urban Meyers there is a bright future for the Fighting Irish football team.