darbypitcher22 wrote: I'm not so sure Davie was ready to handle taking over for a legend in South Bend (Holtz) and if I'm correct Willingham wasn't the 1st pick for the job anyways(didn't that follow the O'Leary debacle?)

The situation is a bit different, IMO, in that they simply aren't going to waste their money paying Weis for next season when he's not going to win... Especially if Clausen leaves for the NFL (which I think is a big chance with his season, and with the unknown status of the CBA in the NFL).

It's a matter of wasting the money they'll be paying everybody next year, and most likely making them some sort of settlement.

Besides, regardless of Weis' lack of success as a CF Head Coach, he still proved that he was a crucial part of the Patriots success as an OC.

He won't have problems finding a job. They may even do something where they assist him in finding a position. I'm not 100% on how buyouts with collegiate programs work, but I'm just throwing out ideas for discussion.

darbypitcher22 wrote: I'm not so sure Davie was ready to handle taking over for a legend in South Bend (Holtz) and if I'm correct Willingham wasn't the 1st pick for the job anyways(didn't that follow the O'Leary debacle?)

Yes, Willingham was the "politically correct" hire after they botched the O'Leary hiring. IMO, O'Leary would have been great at ND but again, leave it to an incompetent staff and AD at the time to not perform a simple background check and that entire situation could have been averted.

I get what you're saying about it'll be money they were going to use anyways. Depends on how his assistants contracts are written; some are written on one year renewals(I remember hearing something about this with Glen Mason's Minnesota staff when they went to the Music City Bowl a while back) and some are longer, complicating the buyout process

darbypitcher22 wrote: I get what you're saying about it'll be money they were going to use anyways. Depends on how his assistants contracts are written; some are written on one year renewals(I remember hearing something about this with Glen Mason's Minnesota staff when they went to the Music City Bowl a while back) and some are longer, complicating the buyout process

Yeah, I mean, like I said, I'm not sure exactly how it works. I don't think any of us really know.

But my main point is, 1) they are one of the most prestigious schools in the nation, even while in a slump, and 2) they will be spending the money anyway, so why not spend it on replacing a losing staff?

I'm sure you could find out what his contract looks like; Tressel's is public record and can be found on the internet( I remember reading it a while back, but that was before the most recent two extensions that added some provisions to the contract) and I'm sure you can find information on his assistants in there as well

Buying out the assistant coaches contracts is chump change to ND.

it probably is; Tenuta's contract is a cool million from what I've heard but other than that should be easy

darbypitcher22 wrote: I'm sure you could find out what his contract looks like

Weis' contract is not public information.

I'm sure you could still look around on the internet and find a copy

^^^^^I've tried with no success.

If Billick is Notre Dame's dream hire...welcome to three more years of 6 win seasons. Congratulations.

killdeer wrote: If Billick is Notre Dame's dream hire

He's not my dream hire. If they hire Billick then they should replace the entire administration and the new AD to boot!

The dream hire for a lot of people is probably Brian Kelly. As much as I've tried to see this happening I just can't. He's either going to stay at Cincy for the long term, or he's going to sit tight and go after the Michigan job in a year or two. Would that be a hell of a 2 finalists for that job? Les Miles and Brian Kelly?

^^^^^I was in South Bend last weekend for the UConn game and alot of people I spoke to think Kelly is the man. Personally, they need to go after Urban Meyer or Bob Stoops and according to athlete37, Stoops will be the next HC.

I think it will be Stoops as well; Meyer has said he's not leaving Gainesville

Stoops needs a change of pace. It'd be a good hire for the program. But I think that Kelly would be the way to go if they want to develop these young guys.

That's probably what lots of people are thinking; I think Stoops ends up being the guy. He'll delay it till after the bowl game, and then he'll bolt.

It'd be a good decision for him considering he's losing a lot of talent to the draft.

yah you're right

I don't believe this for a second. I'm not calling the thread author a liar because I believe that they heard it. Just saying that this is nothing more than a far-fetched rumor IMO.

ND wants any coach besides Fat Charlie. Maybe Mike Ditka will come coach.

Why would Stoops leave for a lesser program?

in my humble opinion, Urb is the only coach out there today that can turn ND around.

killer_ewok wrote: I don't believe this for a second. I'm not calling the thread author a liar because I believe that they heard it. Just saying that this is nothing more than a far-fetched rumor IMO.

killer, Spencer Tillman made that claim on CBS yesterday and that's where the rumor began:

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/11/27/billick-an-irish-candidate/

I don't think thats true. Are you saying that just because he has previous experience as a former member of a Notre Dame staff? I think Stoops or somebody else might be able to do it, it'll just take a little longer than most people expect