Charlie Weis to return as ND head football coach

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Various media reports state that Charlie Weis will return as ND football coach in 2009. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

By WSBT Sports

Story Created: Dec 2, 2008 at 7:10 PM EST

Story Updated: Dec 2, 2008 at 11:41 PM EST

NOTRE DAME -- Charlie Weis will return to coach at Notre Dame in 2009, an athletic department source confirmed to the South Bend Tribune on Tuesday night.

Notre Dame last Saturday completed a 6-6 regular season with a 38-3 loss to USC. That followed a 3-9 season in 2007, giving Weis a four-year mark of 28-21.

Weis swept into South Bend fresh off helping the New England Patriots to the 2005 Super Bowl title. His first Irish team finished with a 9-2 regular season record, the lone losses coming in overtime to Michigan State and in the final minute against top-ranked USC before a 34-20 Fiesta Bowl loss to Ohio State.

With high expectations the following year, the Irish ascended to No. 2 in the national rankings before a 47-21 home loss to Michigan. ND entered the final week of the regular season ranked sixth in the country but was drubbed 44-24 at USC. Another BCS bowl resulted in another loss, this one 41-14 to LSU.

With Brady Quinn off to the NFL, Notre Dame plummeted to 3-9 in 2007 largely because it finished 119th (out of 119 schools) in total offense.

An easier schedule and a more experienced offense, along with three straight successful recruiting classes, were expected to help propel the Irish this season.

Notre Dame barely escaped San Diego State in the opener before reeling off four straight victories. In Week 2, against Michigan, Weis suffered a knee injury when he was hit by linebacker John Ryan. The Irish looked like they had an outside shot at a third BCS bowl in four years, but a blown fourth-quarter lead at North Carolina was the beginning of a run in which they lost five times in seven games to close the season.

Included were a four-overtime home loss to Pitt and an anemic offensive performance in a loss at Boston College. Notre Dame barely survived a furious fourth quarter rally by Navy in Week 10 before an embarrassing home loss to Syracuse. Before ND blew a 13-point fourth-quarter lead, fans pelted the Irish bench with snowballs, and as Weis left the field he was jeered by fans.

Then came last week’s 38-3 loss at USC, a game in which Notre Dame did not record a first down until the final play of the third quarter. Afterward, Weis was asked about his future.

“I’m the head football coach at Notre Dame,” he said. “And I will be until the time comes somewhere in my career, either by my choice or their choice, they’re going to tell me I’m not the head coach at Notre Dame.”

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