WOW, that was quick and unexpected!
jaykit | Email | Homepage | 10.29.05 - 1:12 pm | #

Great news. We've finally got adults running the show at ND.

Sorry Shefter and company -- your plan backfired bigtime.
Jim | Email | Homepage | 10.29.05 - 1:24 pm | #

Additionally, I love the fact that this guarantees that ND will be making positive headlines during an off week. An added bonus which I'd bet was a consideration in the timing of the announcement. Can't hurt recruiting.
Haiku Ninja | Email | Homepage | 10.29.05 - 2:27 pm | #

As a life long ND fan and Patriot fan here in New England, people just need to know that what Charlie says he means. Whether it's retireing at ND or playing to the other teams weakness. Someday Lee and Kirk will get it.. Nice move by ND.
Don | Email | Homepage | 10.29.05 - 3:25 pm | #

Damn straight this will help recruiting. You know that enemy coaches have probably been trying to discourage our potential recruits (McCoy et al) by telling them that Weis will be gone to the NFL in 1 or 2 years. The rumor from NFL.com only added fuel to the fire. Today's announcement squashed those rumors. And the timing of the announcement couldn't be more perfect, because Weis, if I am not mistaken, was using this Friday and Saturday to go on the recruiting trail. If there was any doubt in any of the recruits heads that Weis would soon be leaving for the NFL, Weis probably just told them to watch the news on Saturday, because I'm sure he inked the deal a couple of days ago.
Murph | Email | Homepage | 10.29.05 - 3:58 pm | #

You're right about the whole "but Ty Willingham started 7-0 part".

I think it was Rod Gilmore during the Miami-UNC game made a comment about Ty going 8-0 and how Weis has only coached 7 games. He was obviously trying to insinuate that both the administration and the fan base are jumping the gun with regard to how successful Weis is going to be. He even said "Remember that you heard it here first!" meaning that he thinks we aren't going to maintain this positive direction.

Fortunately, no one listens to Rod Gilmore. Or takes him seriously for that matter.
Dante | Email | Homepage | 10.29.05 - 4:23 pm | #

gotta love the story headline on espn.com: "Not lucky, good. Irish extend Weis to 2015" That statement pretty much sums up the Weis vs. Willingham argument. Willingham was lucky, Weis is good.
tedwick | Email | Homepage | 10.29.05 - 6:37 pm | #

This was the best news I could have had all day. Charlie is awesome and I'm glad the Administration realizes it!
Loretta | Email | Homepage | 10.29.05 - 7:37 pm | #

I think a lot of football programs around the country had their worst fear realized -- not only that Charlie is bringing ND back to the top, but he's gonna keep us there for a long time to come.
Marc | Email | Homepage | 10.29.05 - 8:40 pm | #

This is great news! I think everyone, including ND administration, realizes we are starting a new era in ND Football. We can all sense it...How exciting!
Philip Wilson | Email | Homepage | 10.30.05 - 8:12 am | #

The only thing that would make this story any better is if it turns out that Charlie's agent leaked the paltry size of the buyout in the original contract to NFL.com. ND responds with an extension (and a Michigan grad is used as an unwitting dupe). Thinking one step ahead of the competition seems to be a Charlie hallmark, OK?
Daniel | Email | Homepage | 10.30.05 - 8:56 am | #

There are 2 important points to take away from this news.

1. We are lucky that CW is an ND guy, as opposed to just being a good football coach. It is now fairly obvious that CW is paid far more than any professor at ND. For years I remember hearing rumors that ND's presidents (monk, Fr. Hesburgh) struggled with the idea that a football coach would be paid more than a professor at a heralded academic institution. This still might have been an issue (and part of the reason) when Bob Davie was hired. Don't forget ND is just like any other institution, sometimes egoes get in the way.

If CW wasn't an ND guy, known for doing great things in the community, it could be very tough for ND's best professors to swallow the fact that some football coach is making 10-20x what their making.

2) Many in the administration deserve credit for a coming of age and rights of passage for the University. ND's football program has had a serious upgrade in the last year. And as a result, that will effect many unobvious aspects of the University.

Of the specific people, Fr. Jenkins is one of them. However, be aware that there are also people behind the scenes pulling strings and influencing decisions. . . . . I'd be interested to hear what a conversation with Fr. Scully tells us . . . . . .
atepesm | Email | Homepage | 10.30.05 - 1:15 pm | #

...and that grinding sound you hear from Sorin Hall is Monk Malloy's teeth.
Fr. Brian Stanley | Email | Homepage | 10.31.05 - 9:46 am | #

Does this make it the third day Monk has been embarassed at ND??
Kevin | Email | Homepage | 10.31.05 - 2:24 pm | #