Rivals: If ND Fires Weis, Irish Might Make a Run At TOB (Updated 7pm)

Final Update: Irisheyes.com, the Scout Notre Dame football franchise, reports that Charlie Weis is set to return for 2009.

The discussion below is not for nothing, however, as the fact is that Tom O’Brien will become a person of interest for bigger programs looking to improve their coaching situation.  While O’Brien has said that NC State is his last coaching stop, common sense says that keeping the coach and his staff happy is the prudent thing to do.


Silly Season for college football is upon us, and coaches who have failed in their current positions might be finding pink slips under their Christmas trees.  Perhaps the highest profile potential opening so far this year might be Notre Dame, where Charlie Weiss has thus failed to live up to his NFL resume and great fanfare…and might be fired after a review of his program is completed this week.

Ordinarily, that’s of only passing interest to NC State fans, but the media is starting its routine of pulling random names from the hat:

Rivals.com: Coaching Carousel

“If Charlie Weis is forced out at Notre Dame, don’t be shocked to see the Irish make runs at Cincinnati’s Brian Kelly and N.C. State’s Tom O’Brien.”

O’Brien is still building NC State’s program in his image, and the late season surge by the Wolfpack has been noted by the media and undoubtedly by Athletic Directors like Notre Dame’s Jack Swarbrick.  For their part, the Irish have made no definitive statement that Weiss is out of a job:

Chicago Tribune: Weiss, Irish AD Set To Meet Next Week

“Nothing will happen until we complete the entire review process,” Swarbrick said late Saturday night outside the Irish locker room. “We do that as a regular course. It doesn’t assume something will happen.”

“Swarbrick and the university president, Rev. John Jenkins, watched firsthand the dismantling that occurred at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. If experience is instructive, prudence should drive their every twitch in this process.”

That process might include another run at Urban Meyer, the coach they thought that the Irish had on board when they dismissed Tyrone Willingham in 2004.  From the same Chicago Tribune article:

[…] a window that presumably opens after Saturday’s Southeastern Conference championship game and stays that way for 40 days — a week past the BCS title game on 1/8 –  should Florida beat Alabama to win the SEC title.

Considering that Urban Meyer already said NO to Notre Dame once, it’s hard to imagine him leaving the gentle climate, rabid fanbase and deep pockets of The Swamp for the raw autumn afternoons on Notre Dame; but some people still consider Notre Dame college football royalty despite the fact that they have not won a bowl game since 1994.

When looking to deep pockets in college sports, one need  look no further than the Irish — they’re the only FBS team with its own national television deal, and the only team that has special standing in the BCS.  And, they will need those deep pockets to buy out Weiss whose contract still has seven years.  Since a potential move to Notre Dame doesn’t seem likely to n’t seem likely, the Irish would turn their sites to names like  Cincinnati’s Brian Kelly and State’s Tom O’Brien.

While we are pondering a potential Irish list, let’s not forget how wonderful of a job that Butch Davis has done turning around a floundering program in Chapel Hill.  (smiles).  Davis’ NFL experience and proven ability to recruit nationally would be a super fit for the Irish. (Don’t you think?)

Lee Fowler would be wise to read this quote that we intentionally put on the site last week.  We would hope that Fowler could find time away from his Lake house or his favorite restaurant in Cary (does his wife EVER cook?) and spend some time with Tom O’Brien negotiating a definitive contract extension with a satisfying raise.  Doing so would remove O’Brien from anyone’s wish list, real or imagined, and would be a statement of continuity in an obviously upwardly mobile football program.  That would provide solid answers to any questions opposition coaches might raise on the recruiting trail, and you can bet that they will do exactly that given half the opportunity.

State’s history of losing great coaches is mixed.  After losing Lou Holtz and Bo Rein inthe 1970s, Dick Sheridan expressed his loyalty to NC State – and consistently stated his love for Athletics Director, Jim Valvano – by turning down opportunities at Georgia, South Carolina, Auburn, Arizona and LSU in the late 1980s.  If Jim Oblinger and Lee Fowler ever want the Wolfpack program to seriously contend for the Championships that Coach O’Brien again referenced in his post-game comments after Saturday’s win, then they need to take care of business and tangibly let our staff know our level of appreciation for what they are building.

NCS Football Tom O'Brien

58 Responses to Rivals: If ND Fires Weis, Irish Might Make a Run At TOB (Updated 7pm)

  1. wufpup76 12/02/2008 at 11:11 AM #

    I see this just as the post said: name pulling speculation from the media

    “Don’t be surprised if … !!!”

    Well OK! THANKS!!! (for telling us basically nothing while starting needless rumors just to generate hits … love it when you guys do this – totally!)

    That said, do any of us have any faith or confidence in Fowler, Oblinger, or even the BOT *attempting* to do the right thing by TOB and his staff?

    I’m a firm believer that when a contract is signed you do your damnedest to satisfy it and not complain … However, when performance far exceeds expectations or the most special of circumstances arise that dictate that a contract should be re-worked (in any way) then I can understand that … I wouldn’t have any problem w/ TOB & co. getting a raise – I don’t see this as a Tommy Bowden situation where a mediocre coach holds another job over the athletics department’s head just to get a raise (good business or not, Clemson was foolish to not let Bowden talk the walk if that’s what he wanted; TOB is another story)

    We’ll see what happens, I guess … Not going to worry for now, though

  2. BJD95 12/02/2008 at 11:16 AM #

    He deserves a raise because an average coach would have won 6 or 7 games, not 11. The clown who used to coach here, or whatever stiff Fowler would have hired if TOB didn’t fall into our lap probably wins 4.

  3. Alpha Wolf 12/02/2008 at 11:16 AM #

    wufpup – that was a bit of a cheap shot on your part. If SFN wanted to “run up our hits” there are easier ways to do it. Sportsbybrooks.com can give you an idea of what I am talking about.

    We made it entirely clear that this was a rumor. It’s being reported on other local sports sites too, just in case you missed it.

  4. Noah 12/02/2008 at 11:20 AM #

    I’m still not entirely convinced that Weiss is out at Notre Dame. If he does get canned, I think they’ll go after Brian Kelly pretty fast. If they do come after O’Brien, I do not believe he will leave.

    So…I’m not sweating this at all.

  5. wufpup76 12/02/2008 at 11:22 AM #

    ^Alpha, you took my comment wrong – sorry for the misunderstanding

    I was talking about the mainstream media trying to generate hits! You guys didn’t start the rumor! I LOVE you guys … this is my lunatic fringe interweb home!

    Have mercy!

  6. BJD95 12/02/2008 at 11:23 AM #

    Kelly would be the smart move, so I expect ND to go in a different direction.

  7. wufpup76 12/02/2008 at 11:26 AM #

    “Sometimes, Noah, it’s wise to bet on the come.”

    Like Chapel Hole did (rightly or wrongly) w/ Chief after winning 4 games a season ago … This is a clear case where I would bet on TOB

  8. Alpha Wolf 12/02/2008 at 11:31 AM #

    Alpha, you took my comment wrong – sorry for the misunderstanding

    My bad! And I apologize…guess I should visit rif.org, eh?

  9. burnbarn 12/02/2008 at 11:35 AM #

    I wonder if TOB would want to go to ND.. he talked about trying to build a rivalry with them in his BC days, but ND didn’t want to play.

    I agree with others.. i am not too worried about this one but we do need to make sure TOB is happy.

  10. Wolf Dog 12/02/2008 at 11:37 AM #

    I agree that TOB and his staff should get extensions and raises. Would really like to see a LONG TERM committment.

    ND is the one job I felt TOB would give consideration. I have no sympathy for ND though after what they did to O’Leary.

    UVA just cut off Al at the knees again. For the second time in two years they decided not to give him an extension. Recruiting will be hurt again, if you not going to grant an extension you might as well go ahead and let the coach go.

  11. LRM 12/02/2008 at 11:45 AM #

    For y’all worried about giving up your LTRs, the simplest way to do it is to just stop sending them money (that’s what six of my group did). They don’t sue you, they just sell them to someone else and make even more money, or in our case, they become visitors’ seats every game.

  12. bradleyb123 12/02/2008 at 11:51 AM #

    “Furthermore, explain to me why a coach who has won 11 games in two years deserves a raise?”

    Because he’s done a great job. If all you care about are the bottom line of wins and losses, then you don’t really know much about what is going on with the team. Sorry.

  13. wolfpackdawg 12/02/2008 at 11:53 AM #

    Dear God..please let them get Urban Meyer out of Gainsville..he has done enough damage there. 🙁

  14. Greywolf 12/02/2008 at 12:53 PM #

    “But whatever happens, if we don’t at least try our BEST to keep TOB, I will go. And I will do what I can to campaign against NC State athletics.”

    I care a whole lot more about NCSU than some folks here. Under no circumstances will I turn against NCSU — especially if these circumstances involve the oft ridiculed AD.

    Want to render yourself totally voiceless and ineffective in causing change in NCSU athletics? That’s easy. Disassociate yourself from the Wolfpack Club and become an outsider with a big mouth nobody’s listening to.

    Now, my take on ND or anybody else coming after TOB, integrity and doing things the right way are not hollow words with this man. He is going nowhere.

    The fear harbored that TOB can be bought only reflects our own values IMO.

  15. Wulfpack 12/02/2008 at 1:00 PM #

    TOB deserves a raise, plain and simple. If you are going to keep up with the Jones’, LF and co. better be drawing up a new contract.

    TOB did a great job at BC, a Catholic school and one of ND’s biggest rivals. ND will fire Weis Monday (how could they not?) and you better believe that TOB will be on the Irish’s short list. THAT is why you pay him, and pay him AND his staff NOW. For once, can we be proactive about something of importance. If we don’t, we give him even more of a reason to return ND’s phone call.

  16. bradleyb123 12/02/2008 at 1:01 PM #

    “I care a whole lot more about NCSU than some folks here. Under no circumstances will I turn against NCSU — especially if these circumstances involve the oft ridiculed AD.”

    You were responding to something I wrote. Just to clarify, I never said I would turn against NCSU. I said I would campaign against NCSU, and by that, I mean against the administration. They are buffoons and need to be employed elsewhere if they do not have enough sense to pay to keep TOB around. If somehow, some way, TOB ends up going to Notre Dame, and we didn’t put up a good fight to keep him, then I will be done with NCSU athletics until such time that the administration is replaced with people that actually care about the state of NC State athletics. They won’t get another dime from me. And I will try to sway as many people as I can to do the same. If they won’t do what it takes to elevate our sports teams for the right reason, then maybe they will listen to us when our money stops flowing in.

  17. b 12/02/2008 at 1:13 PM #

    I would tend to think his time at BC taught a smart man a lesson about the Golden Domer’s. He couldn’t develop a rivalry becuase ND is constantly rebuilding due to the Al Davis personnel approach. And TOB seems to like to stick it to the bluebloods as much as take their money. Still if there is a risk of losing him I won’t be averse to throwing extra money his way, its the nature of the beast nowadays.

    But like any good marine, he prolly thinks Semper Fi is more than just a cute Latin phrase. Much ado about nothing….

  18. stoncuttr 12/02/2008 at 1:18 PM #

    I have it on good authority that Notre Dame is indeed interested in a head coach of a FBS team in North Carolina. Fortunetly for NC State it is not TOB.

  19. bradleyb123 12/02/2008 at 1:26 PM #

    “I have it on good authority that Notre Dame is indeed interested in a head coach of a FBS team in North Carolina. Fortunetly for NC State it is not TOB.”

    There are a number of good coaches in the state of NC (all five major D1 programs, plus App…), so it could be anyone.

    What is the point of keeping this information to yourself (especially if you are so sure of it)? Which coach do you believe it to be? And can you give us an idea of who your source is?

  20. Alpha Wolf 12/02/2008 at 1:38 PM #

    Were I ND, I would go for Jim Grobe. TOB is an awesome coach, but a school like ND needs a guy that is young enough for the long haul and has a solid record of building solid teams at schools with challenging academics. TOB certainly fits the latter description, but realistically, he’s not going to be a 15-20 year guy.

    We all know that Grobe seems settled in Winston-Salem for the rest of his career, but this is Notre Dame we’re talking about, and this is one of the dream positions for any midwest guy, which is exactly where Grobe hails from.

  21. wufpup76 12/02/2008 at 1:42 PM #

    ^Grobe is the coach I thought stoncuttr was referring to

  22. BJD95 12/02/2008 at 1:50 PM #

    I would think more Skip Holtz. He is the son of the ultimate Irish homer, who would use his platform at ESPN to talk them up constantly.

  23. Daily Update 12/02/2008 at 1:55 PM #

    There are four pretty attractive coaches in NC right now between Davis, Grobe, Holtz and TOB. Maybe too early to put Cutcliffe in that category, but a 5+ win next season and he is likely in discussion for jobs as well.

  24. wufpup76 12/02/2008 at 2:16 PM #

    ^Good point about Holtz … I didn’t even put 2+2 together

  25. Zen Wolf 12/02/2008 at 2:21 PM #

    My fellow state fans this is a blessing and we should see it as that. There is a lot of panic and worst case scenario going on right now. The best case scenario is that ND comes after TOB full force and he turns it down saying that he loves the 5 to 10 year potential of State. He steels a couple 4 star athletes from ND in the process and we are all over sports center because our coach turned down ND. The more success we have the more people will want a piece of us both good and bad. I think that TOB really loves the players that we have now. Having a guy like Russell Wilson at Quarter Back would be a dream for any head coach. Lee Fowler was able to get TOB here so let us support him by asking what we can do to help keep him here and not make threats about what we will do if he leaves. Your thoughts are powerful so think positive thoughts. We are a great school. I was so proud of how full our stadium was for the Miami game given the holiday weekend and the weather. We are worthy of greatness. We are worthy of greatness! I have not been more proud of a State football team than I am of this years team. Well done! TOB will stay and keep the flame burning at an intense yet steady rate. I love my University. The best football program in North Carolina. Not only on the field but fanbase,facilities and all around fun!

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