Weis Out At Notre Dame, Bowden Uncertain

It's official, Notre Dame has fired Head Coach Charlie Weis.   Twenty three losses in three years just didn't get it done in South Bend.   I had the Irish winning 9 or 10 games this year, especially with the soft schedule and seven home games.   Finishing 6-6 is just mediocre.  Notre Dame has had three consecutive recruiting classes ranked in the top 5.   He just couldn't get it done.  All of you who read my blog KNOW that I have no "like" for Notre Dame.  Still, it is a VERY good job....25 million dollar facilities, their own television network (NBC or the Notre Dame Broadcasting Company) and a national recruiting base.  Forget all these so called "academic requirements"....if they have all these academic issues recruiting players why have they finished in the RIVALS top 10 six years in a row ?  Lets not feel bad for Weis, he has an 18 million buy out deal and will land with and N.F.L. team next year (Kansas City Chiefs would be my bet).

Here are the top candidates that I think Notre Dame will consider:

1. Urban Meyer-     I think this would be the "dream" for Notre Dame but I don't see the Gators letting Meyer go that easily.  It could cost Notre Dame alot of money !  Meyer has previously stated that Notre Dame is his "dream job"...but based on his recent recruiting (top notch) this is a long shot.  But, Tim Tebow is leaving and why not leave on top with another possible BCS Championship (if they can beat Alabama in the SEC Championship Game). 
2. Bob Stoops-       A midwestern Catholic kid with excellent recruiting ties to football rich Texas and the midwest, this would be a very good hire.  Coming off a dissapointing 7-5 season (mostly due to player injuries), Stoops has been at Oklahoma for 10 years now and might think a change of scenery would re-energize him.
3. Brian Kelly-        The BEST and most LOGICAL choice.   He was won EVERYWHERE he has coached (Grand Valley St., Central Michigan) and look what he has done at Cincinnati.  He has the Bearcats on the verge on a second straight BCS game, Big East Championship and possible BCS Championship game (depending on outcomes from Florida, Alabama and Texas in their conference championship games).  He runs a dynamic offense, understands defense (a former linebacker at Assumption College and defensive coordinator with Grand Valley St.) and has that "charisma" factor that could stock Notre Dame with top notch recruits on BOTH sides of the ball and the alumni would love him. 

Other possible candidates would be Gary Patterson at T.C.U.   Patterson has done a marvelous job resurecting the T.C.U. program and is a very balanced coach (offense and defense). 

Jon Gruden always gets headlines but I don't like a former PRO coach running the ship for Notre Dame.  Jim Harbaugh would be a decent fit.  Another midwestern guy who can recruit at good academic institutions (Stanford).

All being said, "IF" Notre Dame settles for anyone else other than those on the above list, they will settle for less and be in the same qaundry five years from now and another Charlie Weis moment.