Fans sound off on Weis' return

By Dustin Grove (grove@wsbt.com)

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In this Sept. 24, 2005, file photo, Washington coach Tyrone Willingham, left, and Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis shake hands after an NCAA college football game in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Dec 3, 2008 at 4:06 PM EST

Story Updated: Dec 3, 2008 at 6:43 PM EST

SOUTH BEND — It was all the buzz Wednesday on ESPN, on the front page of sports sections, and the talk of the town in South Bend.

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“Weis is coming back next year,” said one man as he stood in line for a cup of coffee at the South Bend Chocolate Café.

“I think it’s great, I really do,” said Tom Doyle, as he manned the cash register at Idle Hours Used Book Shop downtown.

After two disappointing seasons and rumors of a contract buyout, the University of Notre Dame officially announced Wednesday morning that Weis will return for a fifth season.

“He’s a good coach,” Doyle said. “But he might have to change some assistants.”

Not everyone was so happy.

“I didn’t want him back,” said John Squint as he sat at a café table sipping coffee. “I don’t think I’m the only one.”

As for why Squint thinks Weis was invited back: “I think it was money. They couldn’t afford to pay out the rest of his contract.”

Others, including South Bend Tribune sports columnist Jeff Carroll, called the university’s decision a double standard. In 2004, Notre Dame fired head coach Tyrone Willingham after two dismal seasons.

“The Willingham firing after the 2004 season today looks like it was the right decision, considering his abysmal performance since then at the University of Washington,” Carroll wrote. “Notre Dame better hope that retaining Weis looks like a genius stroke some day, as well. Otherwise, consider a decade under the Dome completely tarnished.”

In this football town where pigskin is golden, fans say, no matter who the coach is from year to year, the Irish legacy will live on.

“Notre Dame’s going to survive. They’ll be fine,” said one downtown shopper.

But others here are just wondering what all the fuss is about. When asked whether they followed Notre Dame football, a group of about six businessmen quickly responded; “No. We’re trying not to.”

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