WEIS MOVE A WISE MOVE?
Charlie Weis officially launches his "What Have You Done For Me Tomorrow?" phase with today's news that he will be retained by Notre Dame. When we cornered athletic director Jack Swarbrick on Saturday night at USC following the 38-3 loss to the Trojans, he spoke as if every coach in South Bend is evaluated at the end of the season similarly. Swarbrick joked that even his head women's soccer coach, Randy Waldrum, is subject to a review "and he's headed to the Women's Final Four next weekend."
Maybe every coach is subject to review, but don't expect to read a statement from Swarbrick any time soon that Waldrum has been retained for next year. In other words, there's no need to release a statement to say that a coach who is doing an outstanding job and is under contract is returning.
No, you only do that for coaches who are having a difficult time convincing recruits that their job status is not in jeopardy.
I'll have much more about this in a column later on, but here's a quick tease: Notre Dame, in Charlie Weis's first two seasons, had seven 100-yard rushing games by an individual in each of those years. Last year they had four 100-yard rushing games by an individual. This year? Just one.
That is pathetic. Offensive guru or not. If you cannot run, you cannot win.
Doug Flutie, on "College Football Live", gently noted that in just about every game Notre Dame plays the other side is more physical. Absolutely. Notre Dame is not nor has it ever been a "nasty" football team under Weis. That needs to be rectified immediately.
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On the front page of this site right now, the lead story is an argument by our Joey Johnston that Tim Tebow "has earned" the Heisman Trophy. I must disagree. And I think we all know how much I love Tebow Steaks. Here's my main issue, among many: Johnston argues that ever since UF lost to Ole Miss and Tebow made the following proclamation--
“I promise you one thing. A lot of good will come out of this. You have never seen any player in the entire country play as hard as I will play the rest of the season. And you will never see someone push the rest of the team as hard as I will push everybody the rest of the season. And you will never see a team play harder than we will the rest of the season.’’
--well, ever since then, Johnston asserts, the Gators have outscored opponents by a margin of 344-78.
Fine. Florida lost at home to Mississippi by one point on September 27th.
Two days earlier, USC lost by six to Oregon State in Corvallis.
Since then, the Trojans have outscored opponents 314-49, which is a greater margin of butt-kicking, percentage-wise. In their last eight games USC has shut out three teams and held another two to just a field goal. Does that mean USC quarterback Mark Sanchez should be considered for the Heisman? Or linebacker Rey Maualuga, the leader of the Trojan defense (or Brian Cushing? Or Taylor Mays?).
Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy have higher passer efficiency ratings than Tebow.
McCoy, Bradford and Graham Harrell have completed a higher percentage of their passes.
McCoy, Bradford and Harrell have all thrown more TD passes and have all thrown for more yardage.
Tebow has thrown the fewest interceptions (phenomenally, only 2 in 246 attempts) of the trio, but all three Big 12 South QBs have completed more passes than Tebow has even attempted.
Is Tim Tebow the greatest leader in college football? He may be, but Colt McCoy's supporters can make that argument, too. I love Tebow. Wish so many more people were like him, not just more players. But has he "earned" the Heisman this season? No more than someone from USC has. And certainly not any more than those Big 12 South QBs who, like Tebow, have led their teams to 11-1 records (and lost on the road).
My choice? Colt McCoy, who is also the Longhorns' leading rusher.
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John,I don't often disagree with you but this time I do. I am neither a Florida fan or a Tebow cheerleader. But I do think that he is by far the best player in college football.
Your buddy was talking about Tebow as a leader not just a QB, in that regard he has no equal. Your comments on his passing numbers were only fair if you mentioned his rushing numbers also. Don't forget to include broken tackles too.
I would hate to be a RB at Florida knowing that inside the 10, I would never get the ball, because the mighty Tebow needs to have his stats padded!
Mark, that's really not an accurate statement. He hasn't padded his rushing stats much at all this year, especially down the stretch. If you've seen Florida, their running backs are small, superquick, big-play types. Tebow is their best short-yardage back, which is why nine of his 12 rushing scores are 4 yards or shorter.
Having said that, he has half as many rushing touchdowns as he did last year. USF's running backs have as many TD runs of 10 yards or less than he does. The reason the Gators are ranked where they are is the emergence of a running game to complement Tebow in the second half of the season.
I'm not saying Tebow should win the Heisman, but if he does, it won't be because of gaudy stats -- which is how we won it last season. It'll be because he's the best player on a team in position to play for a national championship.
There's no other worthy Heisman finalist east of the Mississippi, so it's easy to see Bradford, McCoy and to some extent Harrell/Crabtree splitting the middle of the country and Tebow edging them because of that.
You sound like those that get overpaid to give commentary in regards to Tim Tebow. It is funny how the Big 12 is assumed as tougher as the SEC because you have a league of all offense and no defense. Ole Miss has turned out not to be that bad of a program this year. But look at this, Tim is the defending champion of the Heisman. Clearly. And don't bring up USC........ The giant in the weakest conference in the world. Please don't. The same team that was given credit for winning Carrol's 1st national title that was not won in the BCS championship. Mark this, and debate it all you want............ The winner of the SEC championship is the National Champion. They will win it all. What will be said then...... Heisman will be over. May be Timmy in the end, but the SEC is just the more dominant conference this year.
For some it is better to be the best "Number 2 or 3" than to be a mediocre Number 1.
Charlie Weis appears to fall into this category of professionals. He is brilliant offensive mind, however, when he dilutes his specialty with the details of overall leadership, the area where he is an expert is softened and everythingelse is not up to par.
I also believe Romeo Crennel falls into this category, a great defensive mind that, as the number 1, has been mediocre in his results.
Ironic they both came from the Patriots organization, I believe that is simply cooincidence. This was a great experience for both of them, but there are NFL teams that must be clamoring for a great offensive and defensive mind. In their respective roles, both of them will reenter the niche where they belong, and the teams that get them will be successful, at least on the side of the ball each controls.