Verbal Commit | by Pat

As expected, Notre Dame addressed Charlie's future today. Here is a copy of the press release.

NOTRE DAME, Ind. -- Charlie Weis will continue as head football coach at the University of Notre Dame, University athletics director Jack Swarbrick announced today (Dec. 3).

Swarbrick, who made the decision in consultation with University president Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., met with Weis in California on Tuesday to review this past season, discuss plans for 2009 and communicate his decision.

“Though this past season fell short of the expectations that all of us have for our football program, I am confident that Charlie has a strong foundation in place for future success and that the best course of action is to move forward under his leadership,” said Swarbrick.

“He, I and the others involved in leading our football program are committed to doing everything necessary to ensure a successful 2009 season. We are examining every aspect of the program and will make changes wherever we think they are needed.”

Weis’ four-season record at Notre Dame is 28-21 after his first two Irish teams in ’05 and ’06 finished 9-3 and 10-3, respectively, and made Bowl Championship Series appearances. The Football Writers Association of America named Weis its 2005 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award winner as the national college coach of the year...

For those fans still inclined to rage, rage against the dying of the light, notice that Swarbrick in his lawyer-esque glory leaves the future pretty much wide open, e.g., we're going to "move forward under his leadership," rather than commit to and fully support Charlie. What's striking is what Swarbrick did not say. No definite time frame is indicated; not even Charlie will be our coach in 2009. At this point, the odds of ND reversing course are extremely low, but the tepidness in this statement is revealing. Swarbrick said the very least he could have said, while still supporting Charlie for the time being.

Moreover, I think there's a pretty definite undercurrent of dissatisfaction with the whole thing in Swarbrick's words. "This past season fell short of the expectations that all of us have for our football program," and we'll "make changes wherever we think they are needed" should be a harbinger of further developments.