I don't believe what I just saw!
I have to borrow a line from Jack Buck's call of Kirk Gibson's improbable home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. While Jack couldn't believe his eyes when witnessing the over-the-top, against-all-odds hobbled Gibson limping around the bases, I couldn't believe my eyes because of the over-the-top, against-all-sense, are-you-out-of-your-freaking-mind stupidity by Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis. For the record, BeYellow editors are standing by to keep this post G rated.
The 14th loss of the Weis era did it. For the first time, I'm hot. Ticked. Pass the tylenol - ANGRY! Oh, of course I've been sick, humiliated, etc. But never this mad. Not because we lost to Navy. Not because we ended the 43-game winning streak against the Midshipmen. No, many far better Irish teams with much more to play for have come within literal inches of losing to the undermanned Naval Academy. Navy always plays their hearts out and overachieve against the Irish, so this one was a longtime coming and I congratulate them. There's no team on our schedule I respect more.
Back to the matter at hand. I've been an avid supporter of Coach Weis amid this season's onslaught by the media, but it's time to bring some heat of my own. In my postseason blog last January, I downgraded Weis's "Game Management" on his report card because of "asinine 4th down calls." From day one, Charlie has gone for it on 4th down way too much for my liking. Some argue that his aggressive, nasty, stop-me-if-you-can, gambler's attitude was exactly what the doctor ordered for the program after the soft Davingham era. However, there is a difference between being an aggressive gambler and an out of control reckless stunt man. I can't even count the number of times he's foolishly gone for it on 4th down, but off the top of my head, a few of Charlie's more notable calls are the following:
2005 vs. Michigan State: On 4th and 2 Charlie goes for it instead of trying a 37-yrd field goal. As it turned out, 3 points would have won the game and avoided a loss in OT.
2005 vs. USC: This joker goes for it on 4th down against the #1 Trojans from his own 28-yard-line. Did he confuse the real thing for a video game? I don't care that he made it, the call was still a ridiculous death wish.
2006 vs. LSU: A fake punt on the first possession of the game from your own 25. Never had a chance.
Now, to his credit, Charlie often times offers an acceptable explanation for seemingly stupid calls. For example, at halftime of the '06 UCLA game I actually booed Weis as he left the field. It appeared that he called for a QB sneak from the 6 yard line to set up the field goal before the half. After the game, he explained that he called a pass, but left the option open for Quinn to take it himself if they left the middle open and he thought he could score. Brady read it wrong and made Charlie look bad.
Ok, so on Saturday. Exhibit one: In the first quarter on 4th and 15 from the 20 yard line, Charlie lines up for a 37 yard field goal that would have put the Irish up 10-0. Instead, he runs a fake to the left side with bricks-for-shoes QB Evan Sharpley gaining only 5 yards. Commence the hair pulling and eye scratching.
Fast forward to 45 seconds remaining in regulation. Tie game. 4th and 8 from the 24 yard line. As I paced back and forth in the kitchen gearing up for a 41 yard game-winning field goal attempt, the thought never crossed my mind that even Charlie would go for it in this situation. As I watched in horror, the offense huddled up and ran a play, and Jack Buck's famous words came into my head.... well, that's the G rated version of the words anyway.
For those who didn't watch, that's right... 45 seconds left. Tie game. 4th and 8. 41-yarder would win it. Kicker has made a 48-yarder earlier in the season. Given this situation 100 times, how many times would you kick it? EVERY SINGLE FLIPPING, GOSH DARN (I'm trying hard here) TIME YOU IDIOT!!! My mind was racing at the moment and still is today, but I cannot remember a worse "what were you thinking" moron coaching moment in ND football history... or football history for that matter. (Willingham's punt from BC's 30 in '04 comes to mind as being close.)
The 14th loss of the Weis era did it. For the first time, I'm hot. Ticked. Pass the tylenol - ANGRY! Oh, of course I've been sick, humiliated, etc. But never this mad. Not because we lost to Navy. Not because we ended the 43-game winning streak against the Midshipmen. No, many far better Irish teams with much more to play for have come within literal inches of losing to the undermanned Naval Academy. Navy always plays their hearts out and overachieve against the Irish, so this one was a longtime coming and I congratulate them. There's no team on our schedule I respect more.
Back to the matter at hand. I've been an avid supporter of Coach Weis amid this season's onslaught by the media, but it's time to bring some heat of my own. In my postseason blog last January, I downgraded Weis's "Game Management" on his report card because of "asinine 4th down calls." From day one, Charlie has gone for it on 4th down way too much for my liking. Some argue that his aggressive, nasty, stop-me-if-you-can, gambler's attitude was exactly what the doctor ordered for the program after the soft Davingham era. However, there is a difference between being an aggressive gambler and an out of control reckless stunt man. I can't even count the number of times he's foolishly gone for it on 4th down, but off the top of my head, a few of Charlie's more notable calls are the following:
2005 vs. Michigan State: On 4th and 2 Charlie goes for it instead of trying a 37-yrd field goal. As it turned out, 3 points would have won the game and avoided a loss in OT.
2005 vs. USC: This joker goes for it on 4th down against the #1 Trojans from his own 28-yard-line. Did he confuse the real thing for a video game? I don't care that he made it, the call was still a ridiculous death wish.
2006 vs. LSU: A fake punt on the first possession of the game from your own 25. Never had a chance.
Now, to his credit, Charlie often times offers an acceptable explanation for seemingly stupid calls. For example, at halftime of the '06 UCLA game I actually booed Weis as he left the field. It appeared that he called for a QB sneak from the 6 yard line to set up the field goal before the half. After the game, he explained that he called a pass, but left the option open for Quinn to take it himself if they left the middle open and he thought he could score. Brady read it wrong and made Charlie look bad.
Ok, so on Saturday. Exhibit one: In the first quarter on 4th and 15 from the 20 yard line, Charlie lines up for a 37 yard field goal that would have put the Irish up 10-0. Instead, he runs a fake to the left side with bricks-for-shoes QB Evan Sharpley gaining only 5 yards. Commence the hair pulling and eye scratching.
Fast forward to 45 seconds remaining in regulation. Tie game. 4th and 8 from the 24 yard line. As I paced back and forth in the kitchen gearing up for a 41 yard game-winning field goal attempt, the thought never crossed my mind that even Charlie would go for it in this situation. As I watched in horror, the offense huddled up and ran a play, and Jack Buck's famous words came into my head.... well, that's the G rated version of the words anyway.
For those who didn't watch, that's right... 45 seconds left. Tie game. 4th and 8. 41-yarder would win it. Kicker has made a 48-yarder earlier in the season. Given this situation 100 times, how many times would you kick it? EVERY SINGLE FLIPPING, GOSH DARN (I'm trying hard here) TIME YOU IDIOT!!! My mind was racing at the moment and still is today, but I cannot remember a worse "what were you thinking" moron coaching moment in ND football history... or football history for that matter. (Willingham's punt from BC's 30 in '04 comes to mind as being close.)
I couldn't wait for the press conference to hear Charlie's explanation of these two calls. Last night I anxiously fired up und.com, and it didn't take long for the question to come. As for the fake field goal, he said that on every one of Navy's field goal defenses from the left hash this season the left side was wide open. They thought it was a sure TD. Unfortunately, this was the first time the guy on that side didn't rush. Ok, fine. In typical fashion, I can accept that explanation.
Now for the end of the game and not trying the field goal. I was hoping there would be something. All three kickers had broken 6 legs between them while celebrating the last touchdown. The long snapper had inexplicably lost all feeling in his arms. A glaring reflection off of the crown on TD Jesus would have been in the kicker's eyes. Gimme something!
Nope. All we got was, "I watched [Walker] in warm-ups and he was having trouble against the wind at that end, so we decided that we needed to be 4 yards closer in order for us to feel comfortable with a field goal attempt."
Excuse me? Wind? Four yards closer? To feel more comfortable? You think trying a 41-yard game winner is riskier than trying to convert a 4th and 8?!?!!!
I don't care if a monsoon was blowing in and you are down to your 4th string walk-on kicker from the women's soccer team. I don't care if it was a 51-yarder. I don't care if it was 4th and 2. I don't care if we had ended up converting the 1st down or even scored a TD to win the game.
If it was a 55-yarder, then I might think about going for it.
Charlie also said this about the call, "This was a simple one." Huh? Simple to see you need to kick the FG!
And Charlie Junior, what about you? Why does a 13-year-old have a headset anyway? This could have been your big moment to speak up. "Uh, Dad? You wanna think about this? Might you consider a field goal here... to win the, um, game... sir."
Weis has crossed the gambling line into "irresponsible" territory too many times. But this one takes the proverbial cake. I have defended him like crazy and will probably do the same when the media calls for his head at the end of this season. But this call has shaken my trust in him at its core.
Nope. All we got was, "I watched [Walker] in warm-ups and he was having trouble against the wind at that end, so we decided that we needed to be 4 yards closer in order for us to feel comfortable with a field goal attempt."
Excuse me? Wind? Four yards closer? To feel more comfortable? You think trying a 41-yard game winner is riskier than trying to convert a 4th and 8?!?!!!
I don't care if a monsoon was blowing in and you are down to your 4th string walk-on kicker from the women's soccer team. I don't care if it was a 51-yarder. I don't care if it was 4th and 2. I don't care if we had ended up converting the 1st down or even scored a TD to win the game.
If it was a 55-yarder, then I might think about going for it.
Charlie also said this about the call, "This was a simple one." Huh? Simple to see you need to kick the FG!
And Charlie Junior, what about you? Why does a 13-year-old have a headset anyway? This could have been your big moment to speak up. "Uh, Dad? You wanna think about this? Might you consider a field goal here... to win the, um, game... sir."
Weis has crossed the gambling line into "irresponsible" territory too many times. But this one takes the proverbial cake. I have defended him like crazy and will probably do the same when the media calls for his head at the end of this season. But this call has shaken my trust in him at its core.
Line up a gimpy Kirk Gibson for all I care, Charlie. Just try the freaking field goal!
Next time, you should watch the live post game show on NBCsports.com. (Shameless plug.) Although I think it was probably best that you cooled down a little before viewing the presser. I had to take a walk outside the truck to keep from exploding.
I'll be honest - I was a lot harder on Charlie about the 4th and 15 fake field goal. I understand that it fit the situation but having Whitaker out there on a 31 yarder was a tipoff to the Navy defense. As dumb as it was, I saw it coming. Isn't Nate more of a distance kicker? (Although apparently no one can kick more than 37 yards so I guess that's a moot point.)
As far as Charlie is concerned, if you're going to be the leader of the pompous parade, you better darn well be leading the troops to victory. Not going to lie, I'd tolerate it a little better if we were winning (Go Pats!!). But as far as ND is concerned, I'm struggling to stay supportive of the attitude displayed by Coach Weis this year. The hope we have is that he has been truly successful in every position he has ever held prior to this one. You've got to be adaptable to have had that kind of track record. Good thing - because he's got an awful lot of changing to do.
Go Irish!
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