Clausen and Weis Fail Again

Achilles walked before he talked, Jimmy. Image via Wikipedia

Three years ago, young Jimmy Clausen rode into South Bend aboard a stretch white limousine like a conquering hero. At the ensuing media-blitzed press conference, the ballyhooed recruit talked the proverbial talk when he formally committed to Notre Dame:

I was real honored and blessed to get a scholarship from a guy like coach Weis. He has three Super Bowl rings on his fingers. That what I’m here for, to try to get four National Championship rings on our fingers [crowd erupts].

Three years ago, Charlie Weis guided his No. 11 Irish into a Sugar Bowl date with No. 4 LSU. Though the “Fighting” Irish fell 41-14, two BCS bowls in as many seasons certainly portended great things for the program and coach.

Weis, for his part, had his own public boast — Notre Dame would enjoy a “decided schematic advantage”, he claimed, because of Chuck’s NFL experience and, presumably, genius.

Three years ago, the sky was the limit. With the golden-armed, golden-haired and golden-hyped QB  comin’ to campus and the coach that could outsmart Knute Rockne, how many “rings” do you think the two nostradami figured they’d have by now? One? Two? With a third on the way?

Yet three years later, these are the scalps that Chief Weis and Warrior Clausen have collected: Duke, Hawaii, Michigan, Michigan State, Navy, Nevada, Purdue (2008 & 2009), San Diego State, Stanford (2007 & 2008), UCLA and Washington (2008 & 2009). Nope, not a single ranked opponent. Yep, they still go by “Jimmy” and “Charlie.”

Last Saturday, the duo had another shot at a ranked opponent, No. 6 USC. Again, the Irish couldn’t break through, losing 34-27. Though some folks may view the close-call as a positive step forward, I’m not buying it. The original Trojans don’t get posterity points for nearly upsetting the Greeks. And for that matter, Achilles didn’t drag Hector’s carcass from the back of a limousine, James, if you catch my drift.

USC extended its winning streak in the rivalry to eight games. Period.

Clausen, in his first game against a top-20 defense this season, managed a pedestrian 260 yards on 24-43 passing. USC led 34-14 with 12 minutes remaining before easing up on the accelerator. The talent discrepancy between the two schools has not disappeared.

Average coaches win games that their teams are supposed to win. Great coaches sometimes win games that they have no business winning. Weis, for all his strategery, has too often missed on the former and still has never done the latter.

I’m not calling Clausen a bust. I’m not endorsing getting Weis fired. But I am calling them both failures after such arrogant starts. Three years later, their legacies remain inextricably knotted together in disappointment.