[vincesanity82]

As is often the case in the money sports, Tom Coughlin stood to win or be canned, according to Tom Callahan in his second football book, "The GM" (Crown Publishers, New York, $25.95). "Tom Coughlin was certain to be fired," Callahan asserts flat out. "This wasn't written down anywhere, but everyone in the front office knew it. Everybody in town knew it. The game was in Washington, two days before New Year's, and the only question was whether Coughlin would be fired on Sunday afternoon or Monday morning." Callahan even reported that the leading candidate for Coughlin's job was none other than Charlie Weis. Charlie was a heroic figure back then, having made a splendid start as coach at Notre Dame. But look at Charlie now. The Irish are a historic 0-4, and Weis' own contract may be up for discussion before the season ends. It remains to be seen how Notre Dame and Charlie work it out. -- Star-Ledger

NJ.com: Everything Jersey

[Lefty Noob]

Well, the Giants job was the reason Notre Dame panicked and gave Weis that big contract extension in the first place. I'm sure that's a decision they wouldn't have made that they realized exactly how this season was going to turn out. Will he be released from his deal and allowed to go to New York for the 2008 season? Well, let's just say it wouldn't surprise me.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Well, the Giants job was the reason Notre Dame panicked and gave Weis that big contract extension in the first place. I'm sure that's a decision they wouldn't have made that they realized exactly how this season was going to turn out. Will he be released from his deal and allowed to go to New York for the 2008 season? Well, let's just say it wouldn't surprise me.

I think its too big a buy out to release him...

[EmpireWF]

Why would they kick him out after one bad year?

[D1recruiter]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Well, the Giants job was the reason Notre Dame panicked and gave Weis that big contract extension in the first place. I'm sure that's a decision they wouldn't have made that they realized exactly how this season was going to turn out. Will he be released from his deal and allowed to go to New York for the 2008 season? Well, let's just say it wouldn't surprise me.

Lefty, that was only part of the rationale to extend Weis's contract. A lot of Weis's opportunity to get a Head NFL position was more "hype" by him and others than it was fact. This played into his getting the extention he wanted. Remember, this is a guy who graduated from ND who sat in the cheering section on Saturdays. This had to be his dream-come-true as an unathletic, overweight devoted fan. More of his contract extention was due more to assuring recruits that there wouldn't be another coaching change in the immediate future and an attempt to put to rest those clammering that three years wasn't enough for Willingham to establish his program. Two recruits I spoke with stated that not only were they guaranteed that the coach was going to be there during their tenure but that they also would see the field as freshmen. BTWl, they did play as freshmen.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by D1recruiter

Lefty, that was only part of the rationale to extend Weis's contract. A lot of Weis's opportunity to get a Head NFL position was more "hype" by him and others than it was fact... More of his contract extention was due more to assuring recruits that there wouldn't be another coaching change in the immediate future and an attempt to put to rest those clammering that three years wasn't enough for Willingham to establish his program.

True, but you do have to recognize that Weis parlayed those NFL rumors into the big new extension, forcing the university's hand to show recruits that there would be stability. That's pretty much all I'm getting at here. Whether there really was any chance of Weis jumping to New York is irrelevant. He created the image that it was viable, and in doing so, netted himself a nice new deal with a raise.

[ThePundit]

And let's not forget, he had a terrific first year. That's what got him that deal more than anything else.

[D1recruiter]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

True, but you do have to recognize that Weis parlayed those NFL rumors into the big new extension, forcing the university's hand to show recruits that there would be stability. That's pretty much all I'm getting at here. Whether there really was any chance of Weis jumping to New York is irrelevant. He created the image that it was viable, and in doing so, netted himself a nice new deal with a raise.

Originally Posted by ThePundit

And let's not forget, he had a terrific first year. That's what got him that deal more than anything else.

Both of these are excellent points and may be viable. I'm not denying that several factors played into Weis's contract extention to varying degrees. But, considering that he was in his first year, and ND should have known that he was winning with Willingham's boys who gained a year of maturity and playing experience, when why would Dr. White make such a stupid recommendation? Remember, this guy never was a Head Coach above the high school level. With the lure of the Irish there had to be any number of better qualified candidates who would have jumped at the chance to coach at ND. I still say it was to get recruits to commit to a program that had seen instability that with the much publicized six year extention the coach would be there unlike Willingham who they prematurely let go. That's who they were sending the message to, IMHO.

Also, I am not certain that another factor was that the BOTs and Dr. White had counted on Urban Myers taking the helm and when that failed to materalize the panicked. Thus, Weis! In addition, because of Willingham's firing and others being contacted prior to several other candidates, some of the candidates didn't want to have anything to do with the opening. Again, this was how Dr. White had botched the procress.