Campus Confidential

By Adam Abramson

The wind.

That's why Charlie Weis passed on sending out Brandon Walker to attempt a 41-yard field goal to win the game against Navy.

What's the famous quote? You miss 100% of the shots you don't take?

"That was about as disappointed as I've seen our team. There were a lot of guys who still hadn't gotten out of their uniforms and were still sitting (in the locker room). You could see how much it meant to them. That's a positive, not a negative."

What's a positive is that the Irish didn't revolt against Weis. They're 1-8 and suffered the most demoralizing loss imaginable. It had been almost a half century since the Navy football team walked off the field a winner against Notre Dame.

The team's lack of apathy is about the only positive Weis has going for him right now. Not kicking the field goal is the latest in a string of events that has you wondering what's going on with the leadership in Indiana?

If the Notre Dame kids have half a brain, they should be disappointed in their coach. The offense did what it had to do - it provided a chance to win the game. Considering the unit is the country's worst, getting down to the 24-yard line should have been enough. Facing a fourth-and-eight isn't exactly a QB sneak.

It was Notre Dame's eighth time going for it on fourth down against Navy. And it had converted six of the prior seven. But most of those were a lot shorter than eight yards.

I can't imagine the wind is not blowing on the majority of field goal attempts. And it was 41 yards, not 51. Not an excuse. Instead it resulted in a triple-overtime loss.

Weis' arrogance is completely unwarranted and has to be taking its toll on the program. Four- and five-star recruits aren't a cure-all for a program. For some strange reason I feel Weis is putting all of his eggs in that basket.

It's the same basket that holds sophomore tackle Sam Young (five-star), sophomore guard Eric Olsen (four-star), junior tackle Paul Duncan (four-star), junior guard Mike Turkovich (four-star), freshman quarterback Jimmy Clausen (five-star), freshman wide receiver Duval Kamara (four-star), sophomore running back James Aldridge (five-star) and freshman running back Armando Allen (four-star).

I'm not blaming the Irish troubles on those guys. I'm simply pointing out that heralded recruits mean nothing. Molding them means everything. Sometimes it takes longer for some than others for the light to go on, but most of the bulbs are dim when you're 1-8.

"I'm going to be here for a long time. I'm going to be judged by what happens when I leave. Let's see where I am when I walk out the door," said Weis, whose record while head coach in South Bend is 20-14.

I wonder if Tyrone Willingham thought the same when he was 21-13 after 34 games running the Irish?