Fitzgerald Is Out

According to Beano Cook today from ESPN.com

Beano Cook (4:05 PM)

Apparently, I've been told that Pat Fitzgerald, my pick for the next coach at Notre Dame isn't even interested. It's hard to believe, but I've been told that. I don't have another pick, because you only get one. If I were Iowa, I would be worried about Kirk Ferentz, if Notre Dame approaches him. However, I believe that Notre Dame has already hired their next coach. That's just their opinion, but we will know who the next coach is by next week this time at the latest

Kiper Says Meyer Should Leave Florida for Notre Dame

Here's a snippet of Mel Kiper's chat today on ESPN.com

Do you think Weis desewrves to stick around for one more yr.? He seems to come closer every yr. I understand the prestige of ND. I have been a fan all my life. But to get rid of him do you already have to have another BIG name in the works?

Mel Kiper (1:07 PM)


I think the decision's been made. I think Charlie defined the Notre Dame job when he took the reins when he said 6-5 is not good enough. To be 6-5 on the cusp of 6-6 with a loss to Stanford. I think he'll go back to the NFL and do a good job there. The beginning of the tenure was good the end was not. They couldn't build a defense. What surprised me was Urban Meyer being proactive and saying no to Notre Dame. If I were him, I'd leave to go to Notre Dame. How many times do you have four full years of a player as good as Tim Tebow, arguably the greatest college football player of all time. You could never duplicate the success you've had with Tim Tebow. Add in Percy Harvin and the great defense. Am I ever going to find another Tim Tebow? Maybe, but I'm not counting on it. National recruiting at Notre Dame. They're down right now and there's no where to go but up. I would jump at the opportunity to go from Florida to Notre Dame. So, that was surprising to me. It opens up opportunities for Brian Kelly, Pat Fitzgerald, Chip Kelly, Jim Harbaugh. Also, Jim Harbaugh, he's beaten USC, who Notre Dame plays every year. Recruiting with the high academic standards, recruiting nationally. Pat Fitzgerald same thing. And he has the Northwestern background like Parsigian did.

Pete (Chicago)


Is Jimmy C and Golden Tate gone for sure now?

Mel Kiper (1:13 PM)


I think they were before. I said that a month ago when we were doing the chat. Jimmy Clausen will be a top 10 pick in the draft. That OL is a question mark. It was a disappointing line this year, especially the LT position. I don't know if it will be any better next year. Golden Tate is not a first round pick in my mind. He's a 2-3 round pick. If he comes out, he has to be OK with that. And I don't think that changes next year.

Kelly Announcement to be Made Next Week

During the Senior Day Fiasco up in the Notre Dame pressbox, it was revealed to me and a few of my sources that Cincinnati's Brian Kelly will indeed be the next head coach of the Fighting Irish next season. Paqui Kelly, Brian's wife, was in Culver, Indiana on Wednesday and Thursday, looking at Culver Military Academy for their two boys (Patrick and Kenzel).

An announcement will be made sometime next week, and after Sunday's press conference of Coach Weis' firing.

More Possible Changes Within the ND Athletic Department

Before I get into the other possible wholesale changes in the landscape of Notre Dame Athletics, here's another interesting tidbit of information that was relayed to me from a certain football PA Announcer.

At the end of the season Coach Weis will step down and resign his post of Head Coach of the Fighting Irish, but....will remain with the squad as recruiting coordinator. As strange and bizarre as that sounds, it seems quite possible on several fronts.

(A) Weis has been an excellent recuriter of talent, which has been evident of his tenure as coach. Granted, he has done well in developing the talent, he does have an eye for it.

(B) He will also want to stay around and see the Hannah & Friends flourish. Makes a lot of sense since it is located here in the area, after putting millions of dollars into that project.

So it is still quite possible we could still see Charlie Weis next season on the Notre Dame sidelines, but not as the Irish Head Coach.

With all these decisions to be made, the man behind the moves, Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick, might also be on his way out. Ever since the passing of NCAA President Myles Brand, Swarbrick has been in constant contact with the Indianapolis headquarters and has put his name in the hat for possible replacement.

After contacting several former ND alums within the NCAA Headquarters, it has been confirmed that Swarbrick will be interviewing next week for the job. It's also been mentioned that Jack is waffling on his decision process of Weis and possible successor. Sounds quite convienent since the regular season will be finished a week from tomorrow, and he told ESPN that he won't make a decision till a week after the season.

More on Meyer

Preliminary talks with Urban Meyer's agent went according to plan yesterday, as every Notre Dame fan from the Irish nation had their own opiniion about the future of Coach Charlie Weis and the direction of the program. The bait has been dangled to Meyer and his "boss", wife Shelly. Everyone in the media and around the UF program have said that to get to Urban is to get to his wife. An interesting bit of information the past two weeks out of Atlanta, might turn in the favor of the Irish.

Nicki Meyer, the Meyer's oldest daughter, is a freshman on the Georgia Tech Volleyball team, has been contemplating transferring schools. Whom might you ask is at the top of the list for possible schools? You've got it Irish fans, Notre Dame. Nicki has only seen action in four games from her Libero/Defensive Specialist position, and wants more considerable playing time. Meyer has also mentioned that she would like to be closer to family and friends as another reason for leaving the Yellow Jackets.

So what does this all mean in the scope of landing Meyer? Shelly Meyer is big into family and would love the idea of having her children close by. Nicki snubbed UF last year, and has no interest of playing for the Gators. Daughter Gigi, a junior at Buchholtz High School has been Notre Dame's Volleyball camps the past several years, and has been a future target for Debbie Brown's Irish squad.

This added bonus could be the key to landing Urban Meyer back to South Bend!

Weis' Future Being More Clear: The Wheels are in Motion

The Charlie Weis clock is now ticking to its preverbial ending. It all started on Saturday night after the Irish lost to Pittsburgh 27-22 and it's long flight back to South Bend. Sunday morning Weis was called in to Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick's office at 9:30 am, where he was told something. Whether he is staying or going, has not been made publicly, but the final nail seems to have been nailed shut.

Here are a few tidbits which should uncloud the Irish Nation's mind about the future of Coach Weis:

~ Weis calls off his Sunday media press conference. This is the first time in five years he has called off a press conference.

~ The media try to contact both Swarbrick and ND President Fr. Jenkins for comment on Weis future, but are not able to be reached, due to both being away from campus.

~ 12:00 p.m. South Bend Private Flight carrying Swarbrick and Jenkins is headed South to Florida.

~ The same plane also has scheduled flights this week to Cincinnati and Oklahoma.

~ Bob Stoops of Oklahoma has been reported as being intersted in the Notre Dame job if it becomes available, according to Brian Hamilton of the Chicago Tribune.

According to one of the Board of Trustees and a source inside the Athletic Department has both confirmed that both Swarbrick and Jenkins have put a package together to lure Urban Meyer back to South Bend. Here are the main details that are on the table as of yesterday:

1.) A 10-year $50,000,000 base salary, which doesn't include endoresment and university incentivies.

2.) 3 "special" projects a year, which may include JUCO transfers.

3.) A contract with Nike (football only)

4.) Additional incentives:

(a) $550,000 for Top 10 Finish
(b) $750,000 for BCS Bowl appearence
(c) $1.2 million for BCS National Championship
(d) $400,000 for 90% or better graduation rate

The carpet is ready to roll out for Meyer for the taking, whether Swarbrick and Jenkins can get it done, will be the trick. If not, Brian Kelly, seems to be the next logical choice.

These next two weeks will be a roller coaster for media and Irish fans alike. But one thing is for sure, the Weis era clock is about to hit midnight!