The Sun-Times article is worth a read. I hesitated at first but Mariotti at least deals with the question of why an 7-0 (and then 8-0) Willingham was not given this treatment.
dtynesdc | Email | Homepage | 10.30.05 - 11:22 am | #

I think Mariotti's ultimately fair in his article, but he can't resist insinuating that Charlie and LaMonte planted the rumors in the first place [wink, wink].
Jay | Email | Homepage | 10.30.05 - 11:26 am | #

Mariotti's article is actually pretty good despite the lead.
mike newton | Email | Homepage | 10.30.05 - 12:14 pm | #

Well, Power brokers? They know a good thing when they have it now. The 'wink wink?' I dunno. But if you look at it it's about $23,000,000 which is roughly what his old contract paid per year. Paid per year anyway. No boost was asked for, although I'm sure down the road they will toss more into it. There is most likely still a buy out clause involved. I did read he could have had more when he came in as Coach but moved the rest to Assistant salarys.
John | Email | Homepage | 10.30.05 - 3:36 pm | #

The biggest problem is now Charlie's health. Nobody has the guts to bring it up in the media, but that contract will not get fulfilled unless Charlie re-prioritizes his health management scheme.

If he really means what he says about family uber alles, then he will adapt. Just as we can all see the results on the field, we can all see if he chooses to take what life has given him, or make it very hard to win.

I admire Charlie very much. I want to continue admiring him for many years.
Ed | Email | Homepage | 10.30.05 - 4:34 pm | #

No self-respecting fish would deign to be wrapped in a Mariotti column. Having been humiliated with his year-long bad-mouthing and flip-flopping on the White Sox (if a scum like Mariotti actually has a sense of shame), he is now turning his attention to Notre Dame.
DJ | Email | Homepage | 10.30.05 - 8:29 pm | #

I agree about the coach's health being a bigger threat than the NFL. If he were to be hired away from Notre Dame we might not win as many games. But if his health fails, who cares about winning percentage?

Not only is this guy a Grade A family man, he's an outstanding mentor. His influence extends far beyond the realm of football. The world would suffer if he goes down, not just Notre Dame.

But fortunately, we can actually help in this regard. Prayer is a powerful thing. It may not keep Lienart out of our endzone, but it can heal our coach.

Sorry if that's too much religion for you guys, but since you had about thirty posts debating the morality of homosexuality recently, I thought it wouldn't be inappropriate.
aNDy | Email | Homepage | 10.30.05 - 8:43 pm | #

WHAT? How did this crap get into other wise ( I had supposed, intelligent ND fans?) For God's sake all your plans laid out and a car can kill you in a crosswalk tomorrow and your dead... you young things.

You guys are not ready for those issues. I am they are don't worry about them.
John | Email | Homepage | 10.30.05 - 10:01 pm | #

We were debating homosexuality? When was this?
Brad | Email | Homepage | 10.31.05 - 8:25 am | #

For God's sake all your plans laid out and a car can kill you in a crosswalk tomorrow and your dead

Nope, ND took care of that too...to the tune of $21 million they built a new road around campus and closed Juniper road (which previously through campus).

I didn't see ND's logic then in building the road, but everything is crystal clear now. They plopped $21 million down to save Weis' life...now he doesn't have to use the crosswalk.

:)
jOHN b. | Email | Homepage | 10.31.05 - 9:34 am | #

Weis is a family man, and he and his wife really care about their developmentally disabled daughter. You don't uproot every couple of years someone with those type of disabilities.

Weis was here to stay...this contract just shuts the media speculation down. All contracts can be broken...just get the right lawyers or one side willing to spend / give up the money.
John B. | Email | Homepage | 10.31.05 - 9:37 am | #

Are people really that intent on finding something to worry about? Charlie obviously is concerned about his health and being proactive about it, why else do you think he had the bypass surgery in the first place? Just because he's a big guy doesn't mean that he's down as Sbarro every day for lunch eating a whole supreme pizza. Besides, anyone from New England will tell you that he looks like he's lost a whole person compared to how he was a few years ago.
Tom | Email | Homepage | 10.31.05 - 11:04 am | #

aNDy,

Thanks for waddling in for a little trolling. There's never a bad time to drop a little sarcastic bigotry into the discussion.
Coach Leahy | Email | Homepage | 10.31.05 - 5:12 pm | #

I suggested Irish fans pray for their coach. John ridiculed that as a stupid, childish thing to do. And then Coach Leahy calls ME the bigot. What am I biggoting against? Atheists?

Coach Weis has a diagnosed medical condition serious enough that he elected to have a risky surgery for it that almost killed him. He is doing all he can. Nobody doubts his determination in anything. But it never hurts to pray for a guy.

If you think it is a waste of time, John, don't do it. But why insult those who do? Remember, Notre Dame is a Christian university. There will always be guys like me in the crowd. If you don't like that, you picked the wrong team to root for.
aNDy | Email | Homepage | 11.01.05 - 6:21 am | #