This is precisely why we Domers immediately took to Charlie Weis. He implicitly gets Notre Dame--and he knows what he's doing, which always helps.

So many outsiders do not 'get' Notre Dame. And when they're made into insiders, it becomes plainly obvious that they never will. Davie never 'got' ND; Willingham, for sure. We ended up with two mediocre coaches because our ADs never 'got' ND either. Through dumb-luck, we ended up with Charlie Weis. Heck, we could've ended up with the current coach of Florida and then had to deal with 5 more years of a coach who would never understand why students and alums love their Alma Mater and why winning the right way matters so much.

Again, thank God for Charlie Weis.
Raristotle | Email | Homepage | 05.26.06 - 5:45 pm | #

While I agree that White's phrasing of the statement clearly shows that he feels more like an outsider, I don't agree that the statement itself is true. I remember this statement as well and it bothered me for a different reason. It characterizes ND as a needy thing. (Or characterizes its representatives in that way.) I would say that ND creates a love for it through the way it conducts itself and for what it stands. People who don't recognize that and/or can't embrace it, really don't belong in decision-making roles within it.

All of the comments about Charlie "getting it" relate to his understanding of the fundamental principles of the place. ND stands for something very specific. We don't want to be like anyone else.
Ben | Email | Homepage | 05.26.06 - 6:40 pm | #

Maybe I just missed the boat, but could someone explain the beef that certain people have with Kevin White? As I understand it, since he became AD, Notre Dame has improved dramatically in the overall placings of its Olympic Sports (and, consequently, the Director's Cup standings), and team GPAs and graduation rates have soared in the process. Under White, ND has seen construction (and refurbishing) of several athletic facilities, including the Gug, that recruits salivate over.

Some say that ND has been "lucky" to have landed Charlie Weis, but aren't the results of a particular coach, to an extent, sort of unpredictable? What if ND was "lucky" to retain George O'Leary as a coach...a man who had a respected track record on the field, and who was recently rewarded with a contract extension from UCF? And who's to say ND would not have improved from 5-6 this past year under Meyer, a man with enthusiasm, a clear understanding of the game, and a tireless recruiting effort?

Again, maybe I just missed the boat.
Pantalones | Email | Homepage | 05.26.06 - 7:36 pm | #

Pantalones - There are different reasons for different people. Some don't like the awkward statements he occassionly tosses out at press conferences. Others see him as an easy target to take out frustrations on the past 5 years of ND football. Many don't like his legacy at Arizona State of sticking advertising wherever he could in the football stadium. Still other bristled when White continuely brought up the success of the Olympic sports while the golden goose, the football program, suffered under poor leadership.

One specific example I can give you that is frequently used against White is that when the 1977 National Championship team returned to campus during a fall home game for their 25th anniversary reunion, White charged the team for a corporate tent. Some might see that as an understandable business decision while others contend that some things just aren't worth the money and treating the 1977 championship team like any other corporate entity is one of them.

Again, most ND fans don't think White is necessarily poor at his job. Rather, they just think that ND could do better.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 05.26.06 - 8:06 pm | #

I would agree the White is not necessarily poor at his job except when it comes to football.
bob drake | Email | Homepage | 05.26.06 - 10:06 pm | #

Could it be that even though Kevin White understood Notre Dame's place in the pantheon of college football, you really can't understand it fully until you sit at the highest seat in the athletic department? No doubt Mike Blumenthal "got" what ND football was all about, yet his blunders and horrific scheduling set ND football on the back burner for a decade....
Mike | Email | Homepage | 05.27.06 - 8:20 am | #

I think you missed it all -- it's the fact that we are paying 3 head coaches at the same time last year. Period. I think the management of the basketball program could be vastly improved -- and for the most part, that gets a pass. No one says a word.

I do not think ND needs a Domer in the position AD necessaily. That certainly didn't help the late Michael Wadsworth. You need someone with passion, intelligence, judgment and, most importantly, can build an extraordinary team around him. Right now, I'd give our pal Kevin a B- or C +. After a NC, the grade from most alum would skyrocket.

But here's my point: its Memorial Day, sunny and mild and I'm sitting here written about Kevin White. What a loser am I.
Yago | Email | Homepage | 05.27.06 - 10:25 am | #

Dear Pantalones and Pat,

I can explain, quite briefly, why ND fans don't like Kevin White as AD, or his predecessors.


They will never be Moose Krause.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 05.29.06 - 9:18 pm | #

Brad - Weis will never be Rockne either, but that doesn't mean ND can't have a run of a few good years. Holding any future AD to the standard set up Moose is unrealistic. However, I do think it is realistic to set the bar a little higher than it is right now.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 05.30.06 - 9:04 am | #

No disagreements there, Pat. I just like to remember the Moose, and I'll use any excuse to bring him up.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 05.30.06 - 5:12 pm | #

I have to say having worked in the athletic department for a time under Wadsworth and under White, that people have no idea the stuff that goes on behind closed doors. Truth is that the Athletic Dept was a mess in '80-81 when Joyce hired Corrigan. At that point Moose had been a figurehead who didnt do much beyond shaking hands after football practices.

Gene Corrigan brought the Irish Athletic Dept up to the 20th century....but was also criticized because (1) he wasnt Moose and (2) he wasnt an ND guy. Time proved that he was one of the best athletic officials around (ran the ACC and later the NCAA and is still ND's MAIN GUY on any coaching or staff hiring).

Rosenthal and Wadsworth didnt do much, beyond keeping Holtz around and babysitting an NBC contract.

So if I learned anything from my time in the athletic dept, its that the AD job is one that should be judged over time. And in 10yrs we'll all be thankful that we had White up there.
Will | Email | Homepage | 06.02.06 - 9:31 pm | #