I don't get it.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 12.14.08 - 7:33 pm | #

Is it the fact that he looks confused and dejected?
T-Schaef | Email | Homepage | 12.14.08 - 7:39 pm | #

Brad, I think it's Charlie at his vintage best. This is the picture I'll always have of him. Clueless, but pausing to enjoy his close-up.
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 12.14.08 - 7:40 pm | #

In fact, it's poetry. lmao
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 12.14.08 - 7:41 pm | #

Charlie deserves lots of criticism, but this pretty weak.
BD | Email | Homepage | 12.14.08 - 7:42 pm | #

Its amazing to me how he is totally clueless as to how to coach, to us, today. Yet only a couple years ago he was a mad genius who made others (Paterno, Tiller, Fulmer) totally clueless.

I know we're all upset with the play of the team, but its not like this guy who has been a football coach for the past couple decades and was deemed bright enough of a football mind to coach for Parcells and Belicheck doesn't know anything about football.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 12.14.08 - 7:51 pm | #

Does Charlie have a Hawaiian shirt picked out?
Dana Payne | Email | Homepage | 12.14.08 - 7:59 pm | #

Brad, fwiw, I don't think it's a rip on Charlie per se (although some may read as much into it). Take it as more abstract, perhaps as a trifling snapshot of the current state of affairs. There are elements in this brief sequence I found amusingly annotative.

I could go on, that would be belaboring the point. It's just a short clip is all. No biggie.
Jay | Email | Homepage | 12.14.08 - 8:12 pm | #

I guess I don't see what's even remotely interesting about it. I thought he'd say something, do something...anything.
DagerOne | Email | Homepage | 12.14.08 - 8:15 pm | #

I'm not sure if anyone saw Pete Carrols bit on 60 minutes, but maybe Charlie needs to emulate his theory on football a bit. College football is a completely different game than pro football and charlie needs to adopt this. Even though we all despise Pete, he seems to connect with his players on a personal level in which Charlie does not. I'm not sure what happened from the Quinn era to now, but there are a lot of things amiss with the team. Charlie needs to figure out a way to connect with his team and believe that they're a top tier team. Once the team learns how to relax and play smash-mouth football for 60 minutes, they will be able to emulate ND football of past generations.
Kyle M | Email | Homepage | 12.14.08 - 8:37 pm | #

I actually think Charlie does connect with his players, but he does so in a different way. Every kid that Charlie has recruited has said that he's got a different style, a different aura about him because, ultimately, Charlie isn't selling himself. He can't - he hasn't been successful. What he's doing is serving as a bridge to not get the kid to connect to him, but to connect to the University of Notre Dame. He's nothing more than a bridge.

I know we have all said "well, he's recruited talent and he should be able to make it work." I think that's true, but the last two recruiting classes (after a 3-9 season and now a 6-6 season) are talented and they are ND guys. They didn't sign on to a 10-3 team. They signed up with a losing team - that means they must like the school, they must have that connection.

That's thanks to Charlie. I hope it works out for him next season, but to deny that he's been making connections seems to be unnecessary.
bhatta | Email | Homepage | 12.14.08 - 8:58 pm | #

i don't get why this is posted. can you explain, jay? i promise you wouldn't be belaboring the point.
me | Email | Homepage | 12.14.08 - 9:22 pm | #

All Jay is doing is showing a clip of a vulnerable Charlie Weis praying for any shred of help during a coaches challenge when the team is obviously getting demolished. It's symbolic of what's going on right now. He has his own huge "coaches challenge", and the future is anything but certain. The idea of Weis as a clever confident determined SOB of a coach has faded into this image after just 2 short years. The music in the background makes it all the more cinematic.

I liked it, Jay.

Go Irish.
Matty | Email | Homepage | 12.14.08 - 9:58 pm | #

He almost looks like one of those puffy fish.
VicPaul | Email | Homepage | 12.14.08 - 10:04 pm | #

It looks like Chuck is high on pain killers.
Hey maybe thats way or O has been so dazed and confused!!!
stadiumdudenamedchip | Email | Homepage | 12.14.08 - 10:13 pm | #

IN WEIS WE TRUST!!!!
stadiumdudenamedchip | Email | Homepage | 12.14.08 - 10:14 pm | #

I thought this was posted b/c there are people throwing stuff in the stands in the background. I actually thought they were snowballs at first.
Marcus | Email | Homepage | 12.14.08 - 10:22 pm | #

Ran into an East Carolina athletic dept. guy at the Carolina Panthers game tonight. He said Skip Holtz turned down the Syracuse job because he desperately wants the ND job. I told him that the job will almost certainly be available next year; whether Holtz is chosen - or even considered - is altogether another story.
shoetrees | Email | Homepage | 12.14.08 - 10:55 pm | #

Yeah, pretty weak. I blame the internet. Kids these days will post any old ten seconds and name it profound.
DG98 | Email | Homepage | 12.14.08 - 11:12 pm | #

Ok, I get it now. I guess I've just watched too many internet videos where something crazy happens in the middle. I kept looking to see if I was missing something.

Jay, my second comment wasn't directed at the post, but with regards to someone's comment that Weis looked clueless. I've just heard so many people say "he has no idea what he is doing" lately that I had to vent.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 12.14.08 - 11:18 pm | #

I'm personally getting sick of all of the personal attacks at Weis. Obviously he underestimated the situation at ND and didn't understand the coaching that 18 year olds required. It's not like he's stupid, he was very successful as a coordinator at the highest level of football. He is a first time head coach and has been making mistakes that come with learning on the job. Am I pissed he is learning on the job with us? Absolutely. However, I am more pissed at everyone attacking him even though he is working his ass off and still not getting the results we want. From the way people have been talking about him you'd think he came over to your house and killed your kid.

I think Charlie knows that next year is do-or-die, as it should be. He is going to do everything he can to make sure that we are successful. If we aren't, he'll be gone and will have saved us from what would've been a complete disaster of poor recruiting and coaching that would've come with another year of Ty. The cupboard will be full for a new coach.
Evan | Email | Homepage | 12.14.08 - 11:26 pm | #

Evan,
What does next year being "do or die" have anything to do with the equation? It is not like that is going to force him to be a better coach. Even if that were the case, he should be fired for making us suffer through the last two non-do-or-die seasons.

Personally, I liked it better when we failed because our coach went golfing. At least on the golf course you don't forget how to beat a ranked opponent.

----

Here's what that clip means to me: we got our asses handed to us again versus S.C.
Steve | Email | Homepage | 12.14.08 - 11:56 pm | #

What I mean is that there will be major staff changes going into next year to attempt to correct problems that were masked in the first three years by experience and a seasoned quarterback in years one and two and historical youth and inexperience in year three.

In his first two years, for the most part, we didn't acknowledge the poor o-line performance because we won with players who hadn't done much winning before Weis arrived.

In year three, we ascribed it to the complete absence of depth and experience.

This year it became painfully obvious that changes need to be made on the offensive staff.

If, next year, with any combination of new OL coach, new WR coach, new OC, or some other changes, we aren't markedly better, he will be gone.

Everyone thought Weis was a pretty special coach our first two years and thought that with the talent he was bringing he would be able to win the games we hadn't during that time.

I think a competent offensive line will do that.
Evan | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 12:08 am | #

Jay -

Saying "I don't think it's a rip on Charlie per se" is a little disingenuous...actually it's a lot disingenuous. Given the current attitude towards Charlie how could you intend it to be anything but a rip.
belden | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 12:49 am | #

60 minutes tonight was simply devestating in comparison to last year's focus on Weis and Notre Dame. We have focused on his short-comings as a coach in this blog, but this, clearly a triumph of the USC Media Department, simply underlines, and brilliantly so, what a detriment this poor, unattractive guy Weis is. The comparison was brutally planned and executed by USC with CBS in their pocket. And we all know why (see: Bush, Reggie). The difference in coaching prowess hardly had to have been stated. This was the worst defeat we have suffered at the hands of Troy.
Domerplayer | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 1:08 am | #

Get off Weis' back and let him coach! This constant snipping at Weis doesn't address anything. He's coming back next year and any doubts about Weis should become clear in 2009.
The Butobi Brothers | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 1:31 am | #

I didn't read this as a rip on Charlie at all. Some of you seem to be overreacting here - and mind-reading rather ridiculously as to the post's intentions.

Anyone who has read Jay's posts here knows that he often chooses interesting and/or resonant titles. When I saw "Coach's Challenge," and the clip of Charlie, I didn't think it was meant to make fun of him, but to show the tough situation he's in.

This is his ultimate "Challenge" after a lifetime in coaching, and most of it successful. When it seemed like no one else wanted the job, he took on that challenge, confidently, (perhaps too confidently) four years ago - to right the ship at his alma mater, and he's failed at it. I think he knows that too but in his dogged persistence he's going to stick with it. That's sort of who he is. That's what you see in that 10 seconds.

I found it rather poignant, actually. In fact, the whole Charlie story is rather sad. We all wanted him to succeed. He seemed to really get it. Now, many of us have concluded that he simply doesn't have what it takes to be the head coach at ND, for a variety of reasons. It really is a kind of a tragedy, and I think there could be many arguments that Charlie has been brought down by any one of a number of classic "tragic flaws" he seems to suffer from.

His downfall is not something anyone is trying to celebrate or pile on. The whole ND family has gone through some tough times for many years now. But we're all going to stick with it, because we know not to quit, and that someday we will get the program back on its feet and all of us -- and that includes Charlie -- will come out on the other side OK in the end, wherever he and we end up. That's my hope at least.
Curse of the Class of '98 | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 1:49 am | #

Riddle me this Batman.

60 minutes makes Pete Carroll out as a saint, and Charlie Weis as a loud, foul mouth bitter man.

Yet, USC only graduates 54% of their kids while ND graduates 96% (or something close to that).

How come 60 minutes didn't ask Pete about that? How come they didn't ask Pete about all the incidents he's had at USC (free housing anyone?)

Seriously, Pete Carroll is a slimeball of a person. 60 minutes puff piece came across as just a publicity stunt for Pete "I am a Humanitarian, just check my website and I'll tell you I am" Carroll. What a slimey cheat.
atepesm | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 1:50 am | #

I don't think many people saw the article in the SBT a few days ago that Domerplayer pointed out. Jay posted an article right after Domerplayer posted. It relates to the situation the Irish are in with the OL. Here is the link.
http://www.southbendtribune.com/...9/1023/ SPORTS13

According to the article, Domerplayer was right on about the scheme and zone blocking. I guess that begs the question, whose responsibility was it? Did CW tell Latina to have the zone blocking or did do it on his own? Since, CW is head coach, the responsibility ultimately falls on him for either not firing Latina (or tell him to use different scheme) if Latina was responsible or CW should be fired for calling the zone scheme in the first place. However, this has been going on for 4 years and it still has not changed.
GB | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 2:21 am | #

too bad the weather wasn't below 40, we could have gotten 10 seconds of weis drinking his own snot
stephen | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 2:26 am | #

I distinctly remember seeing this sequence during the game itself, and completely understand why it was posted.

I believe it shows Charlie in a vulnerable state, with about 10 million things running through his mind at the same time-

'I can't believe we're not playing better than this'

'I can't believe with all the work we put in that we can't do better'

'As an ND man, I can't believe I allowed another lopsided game at the hands of USC'

'I'm in some hot water now, and I'm concerned about my job and family'

'Where did we go wrong here?'

'This is humiliating'

It's that stunned little bit of time one has after a shocking event...the time it takes to shake off the initial shock, and take action to do something to address what just happened.

I believe Charlie will do something about it, I'm just hopeful that it is effective in righting the issues. I really do like the man.
Jay M. | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 8:12 am | #

Seen a lot better posts. Brad is right on this one. The only reason to post this is to get negative reactions, which we have had such an over abundance of in the last 3 weeks.
There is nothing in the clip. I really do not know how you can read cluessness or anything else into it like voice in wilderness suggests. Well let me change that thought... You can, but talk about cluelessness.
JP | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 9:11 am | #

Jay,
Your posts have been great in the past. The charts and analysis are super. I encourage you to continue that. It is a strength of BGS.
JP | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 9:19 am | #

i don't get it either...
what does it even mean?
I have always enjoyed BGS because the posts are meaningful and they make sense. This has neither...
swoover | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 10:03 am | #

Guys, keep in mind that BGS was created as an archive to record the state of the ND football program. This clip accomplishes that to a certain degree, by showing a side of Charlie that we don't often see in press conferences. I can't recall ever seeing him that pensive. Jay M is right, a million thoughts are going through CW's mind at that moment, and most of them are probably centered on the challenge that lays ahead for him and the ND football program. Efforts between last year and this year to right the ship have fallen short, so additional efforts must be made. That clip is documenting the shock that CW is experiencing that his brilliant plans have not come to fruition, and he hasn't really had to experience that to this degree (since last year there were so many viable excuses). I hope this makes sense.

On another note, I complete agree that our OL blocking schemes are terrible. Latina is going to take the fall, I imagine, and CW will attempt to bring in a coach who knows this blocking scheme better and can teach it better. That might fix the problem, but I think the problems are inherent to the system and not the coach necessarily. The SBT article mentions that zone blocking was created in attempt to neutralize oversized defensive linemen. That's fine if you need to compensate for undersized offensive linemen. However, we're the ones with the huge linemen in Chris Stewart and Sam Young. Let them grade roads by blowing up off the ball. If their mass is moving sideways instead of downfield, the d-linemen can just sidestep them and attack the slots.
Erik '04 | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 10:06 am | #

I agree with Butobi Brothers. Pete Carroll is a slimeball, but he is the coach of "America's Team"...well, sort of.

I am glad I missed that piece on 60 Minutes. Charlie has his faults, but let's not glorify USC. Great point about their grad rates.
Ted | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 10:22 am | #

From reading the comments, this post also appears to be a bit of a Rorschach test.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 10:44 am | #

This is the most subtle, mesmerizing, and poignant post I have ever read on this site. It is clearly over some heads, but in no way does it detract from the quality of this site. Quite to the contrary.
BradEncore | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 10:59 am | #

That's my impression, too. It's a Rorschach test accompanied by a great sounding band song. Love it.

What do I see in it?

Napolean meeting his Waterloo. Again.
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 10:59 am | #

For the life of me, I can't understand how everyone here seems to have so much patience with Charlie Weis.

Was it the same way with his predecessor?

Brad (above) mentions that Weis was hailed a "genius" his first two years at Notre Dame. I never heard that after year one, as all football fans saw the 2nd, much more experienced Weis-coached Irish team get demolished three times that (2006) season - a clear case of 'coaching down.'

Great talent (see: wide receivers) are truncated within Weis's supposed strength, the passing game. Great backs (HS, at least) seldom break a 5-yard gain.

As for 'slime balls,' we like to use the term for Urban Meyer, Pete Carroll, almost anyone not coaching in South Bend. Is there any evidence that Weis is really that much different? Isn't he married, with children? Doesn't any responsible husband and father take better care of his health, for his loved ones? A big clue to his problem lies therein.

Weis never had 20 years of coaching success, as someone mentioned. He was a very good high school coach. This year's New England Patriots is proving that Weis was no more than an adequate coach within a superior system.

In comparison - and I can't believe that this has proved out - Gerry Faust was a coaching genius.

Oh, and let's cut the "CBS bent to the pressure of USC" pap. We have yet to get anything that could be deemed as negative, or unprofessional, coverage from any major news outlet during the Weis regime.

Pass right.
DomerInWunderkindLand | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 11:16 am | #

One of the worst posts ever for BGS... A total was of time.
Vin | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 11:44 am | #

I'm glad you all enjoyed it.
Jay | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 12:03 pm | #

I think Pete Carroll was a bit much in going into gangland at midnight, but he should probably get the benefit of the doubt.
Charlie is simply waiting on the challenge, so I don't see much more than that.(Harrison Smith's pick)
The Sun Times article is more relevant. Charlie will be functionally incapacitated until May or June, and if he's not careful might put on another 30 lbs. I don't see how he can coach effectively this winter and spring, and as others have suggested, maybe the health is a legitimate out for him to withdraw gracefully.
canuck 75 | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 12:19 pm | #

Weis never had 20 years of coaching success, as someone mentioned. He was a very good high school coach. This year's New England Patriots is proving that Weis was no more than an adequate coach within a superior system.

You forget, or ignore, his years as an assistant with the Giants and Jets, and his first tour with the Patriots. He was a very successful assistant coach (receivers, running backs, quarterbacks) in the pros; that's how he eventually became New England's offensive coordinator.

As to whether this year's Patriots prove that Weis is "an adequate coach in a superior system"... perhaps. This year is marred by the season-ending injury of Tom Brady, which certainly was a setback (if he's healthy, New England wins the AFC East easily). One of Weis's hallmarks as an OC was the total inability of defenses to spot trends or tendencies in his play-calling. Not having studied New England intently this year, I can't say whether they are as unpredictable as they were in the past. But they have been pretty successful, even after Weis left.

So to sum up, I wouldn't diminish Weis's contribution to New England's success, but I would also say that he was far from the only reason they won.
DJ | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 12:22 pm | #

Awesome, Jay, you have definitively proven that if you post/print/televise anything with Weis' image, however trivial, you will inspire visceral reaction from all directions. Brilliant. (This despite the current, relative detente [with regard to immediate firing] everywhere but at NDNation)
Thundershaker | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 12:24 pm | #

DomerInWunderkindLand,

I think some people have a bit more patience with Charlie than they did with Willingham because I think there is the impression that at least Charlie is trying, whereas the image most people have of Willingham involves a set of golf clubs. Simply put, Charlie works hard and a lot of the time hard work pays off. I know that I'm hoping all his hard work will pay off; whether that will happen I have no idea.

As for another one of your statements, if you're trying to say in a roundabout way that Charlie is a slimeball for being fat then you completely lost me. Yes, he's overweight and yes, that may in some way have an effect on his family. But you can say that about a father who drives 80 mph on his way home from work or any other situation where a parent puts him or herself in danger. Sorry, but that's a dumb thing to say. Nobody is perfect. And the reason people think Meyer and Carroll are slimeballs has to do with their players constantly getting arrested, their abysmal graduation rates, and (in the case of Carroll) NCAA violations that he has managed to weasel his way out of. I'd take an overweight coach over guys like that in a second.
Jade | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 12:24 pm | #

I am on the Internet criticizing a blog!
Majnun | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 12:42 pm | #

I like the vultures circling in flight behind CW several times.... just waiting for the opportunity..
jmc | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 12:44 pm | #

The more I think about it, the more I like this post. CW's supporters hate it, because it shows CW at his most vulnerable point. Not even an ounce of leadership or wherewithal is present. He can't even muster some "fake it 'till you make it" Jersey bravado.

Weis is not a good many things, but he is self-aware. I think at that point, even he realizes he is in over his head. Kind of sad in a way.

Oh well. Let the kool-aid drinkers carry the banner for another year. The rest of us will just suffer through some underwhelming football.
Steve | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 1:02 pm | #

And the point is?
azjimbo | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 1:27 pm | #

...I'm not for all this sniping at Weis...he'll be there another year...at least...who would be available and better if Charley got hit with a bus tomorrow?...no one comes to mind...but I didn't see Holtz on the horizon back when, either...
jim/redondo beach | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 1:32 pm | #

This post is downright John Cageian, specifically 4'33''-esque. When faced with an absence of action, what do we see instead?

Perhaps it shows a defeated man, taunted by the score above, utterly helpless to take any action to combat it.

Perhaps the "Coach's Challenge" is, in fact, the score itself, and Weis' fruitless struggles to chip away at that gargantuan lead USC has possessed over the years.

The items being thrown in the background are decidedly reminiscent of post-Syracuse "Snowball-gate," symbolic of the absolute nadir of this season and a reminder of how far we've fallen.

And a perpetual and undeniable component in the background is the incessant rabble, forever making noise about this, that, and the other thing.

It's brilliant, inspiring, and heartbreaking. A tour de force and testament to the human spirit.
Pete | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 1:37 pm | #

I think the reference to Rorschach testing is most apt. People are reading into the clip whatever their a priori beliefs are about Weis.
Kris | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 1:47 pm | #

Can you believe that rumor has it that Yale is talking to Tyrone Willingham???? I wish they had Weis' number!
notrewood | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 1:56 pm | #

Not since Hans Moleman's short "Man getting hit by football" has there been a better cinematic commentary on the current state of Notre Dame football.
scott | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 2:02 pm | #

...I think Yale is a good fit for willinhgam...he won't have to recruit and his stupefying gaze on the sideline could be construed as deep thinking...
jim/redondo beach | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 2:15 pm | #

The last thing we need is more "Us vs Them" crap, Steve. That's a terrible attitude
Majnun | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 2:47 pm | #

Agreed Majnun. We're all in the same boat here.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 3:02 pm | #

Scott: bonus points for a "Hans Moleman" reference. Choice.
Jay | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 3:07 pm | #

Ok, so I think everyone here is misreading my posts. I don't think this is a bad post. Actually, I think its a very good post. I just said that I didn't get it, cause I was watching it expecting there to be something in it that I didn't notice. I get it now. Its pointing out the 'coach's challenge' against the challenge that our coach currently has on his hands. In that respect, its rather brilliant.

My negative comments were not directed at the post, but to comments that I have repeatedly heard regarding Weis being 'clueless', or 'having no idea what's going on' out on the field. I hate comments like that, because its total armchair crap. Whether or not you like Weis, the guy knows more about football than everyone who has ever posted on this site combined. You can have your opinion on the guy as a head coach for ND, but to make judgements about his knowledge are just assinine. That's like berating Peyton Manning cause "I could make THAT throw". That was my only point, that I didn't want people to look at this and take it that way. That's all.

I love this site.....I really don't know what I'd do without it.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 3:42 pm | #

So, is this clip appreciably different from 10-second spots that might have been seen in any of Weis' previous 48 games as head coach? Does it matter? Ten seconds is a very small fraction of the twelve thousand or so that elapse in a football game.

The reactions are more interesting than the post, to be sure.
Louie | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 4:06 pm | #

This is a brilliant post, and i applaud Jay for putting it up here. There is much more to this blog than stats. Kudos Jay.
BenFranklin1976 | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 4:10 pm | #

It isn't as noticeable on the youtube video but I saw it in hi-def on my flat screen pretty well. Not only is Charlie dejected, there's a guy standing up behind him giving a double middle-finger salute.
JS | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 5:50 pm | #

Weis is more successful as a coach than any of you detractors. He is an ND guy trying to fix a problem created by Non-ND coaches. Keep the faith! We did not get where we currently are overnight. Let's support the student athletes as they mature. Let's just hope we rise faster than MI. GO IRISH!
Doc Possum | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 7:18 pm | #

I'm no lip reader, but look real close at both times his mouth moves.

'Poop'

Call me crazy, but I think that's what he's says both times, and I love it.
Tim | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 8:19 pm | #

Majnun --

No "us vs. them" crap. As Pat says, "we're all in the same boat." The only problem is that some have window seats and can see what direction we are headed, while others have to take the captain's word on it.
Steve | Email | Homepage | 12.15.08 - 11:03 pm | #

http://www.scoresreport.com/2008...-his-dream-job/
84Alum | Email | Homepage | 12.16.08 - 8:02 am | #

"The only problem is that some have window seats and can see what direction we are headed, while others have to take the captain's word on it."

Just saying that is giving in to us vs. them crap. Simply put, people don't want to hear that you think you're smarter than everyone else. It's not that hard to figure out.
Jade | Email | Homepage | 12.16.08 - 12:50 pm | #

Jim Redondo Beach ..

To answer your question ("what happens if Charlie gets hit by a bus?") -- I'd have to assume that all riders would be transported to a local hospital, police would write their reports, insurance and legal people would look for their share, and ... Charlie would take an extra pain pill?
ND1842 | Email | Homepage | 12.16.08 - 1:47 pm | #

I knew this clip reminded me of something. Then I found it:

http://www.naturegraphics.net/be...airie% 20dog.jpg
Joe Subway | Email | Homepage | 12.16.08 - 2:19 pm | #

Very zen, Jay.
tcob | Email | Homepage | 12.16.08 - 3:26 pm | #

Jade --

Take from it what you will. I never claimed to be right. Your reading into my comments your own biases...or insecurities. I used the word "some" to describe the people who can see, not the words "me" or "we." I'm under no illusion that my view of Charlie Weis is the gospel. In fact, I hope it is wrong--for the sake of ND.

You are ignoring the obvious if you don't think there is a split in the fan base. It has nothing to do with us vs. them. I don't feel like spinning every flaw that Weis or this team has into something that can be fixed with a little more effort or some extra "rah, rah's" by the fan base. It is my opinion that CW is in over his head. I'll express it whenever I feel like it (so long as this site continues to allow freedom of thought, and I see no indication they won't). If that is some sort of traitorous form of dissension in your book, then so be it.
Steve | Email | Homepage | 12.16.08 - 4:09 pm | #

The clip and subsequent posts remind me of "The Kramer"...art that speaks differently to all, and at the same time is disturbingly compelling.
RocketShark | Email | Homepage | 12.17.08 - 2:53 am | #

Failure is the forge through which the virtuous must pass to take the form of the universe. For the weak, it it a tyrant, and a persecutor.
indy | Email | Homepage | 12.17.08 - 10:38 am | #

He blows a spit bubble at 6 secs, nice.
PQ | Email | Homepage | 12.17.08 - 11:20 am | #

Judging from some of the responses, this entry went right over the head of many of them.

Brilliant post, Jay. Heh.
ZhengND | Email | Homepage | 12.18.08 - 4:59 pm | #

BTW, like just about everything else this year, Charlie lost the challenge.
NotThatTom | Email | Homepage | 12.18.08 - 8:49 pm | #