Amazingly, Charlie Weis has managed a one-year reprieve to stay on as head coach of the Irish.  Despite meeting with little-to-no success on the field, the powers that be apparently reckon that the momentum he has built on the recruiting trail outweighs – for now - his mediocrity on gamedays.  Better to give him another shot at developing the talent he has managed to attract to South Bend rather than see that talent leave along with its coach.  I guess I can buy that, but it seems to me that the inability to develop talent, motivate players to give it their all, and call a smart game are all unlikely to be rectified over the course of just one offseason.  Barring some sort of miracle next year, my guess is that the flirtation with Urban Meyer will begin again, which will dovetail nicely with the departure of Tim Tebow and possibly another national championship for the man known lovingly as Urban Liar to the Irish faithful.   

Meanwhile, our friends over at The Onion had a fun take on the drama:

SOUTH BEND, IN—Jesus Christ, the Son of God and president of Notre Dame football’s Booster Club, announced yesterday that head coach Charlie Weis will appear before Him to discuss his future, if any, as coach of the Fighting Irish. “I, like many Notre Dame fans, am disappointed in Weis, and his day of judgment has surely come,” Christ, His eyes flashing with righteous flame, said at the Sunday morning press conference. “Escorted by the angelic host and by [Notre Dame athletic director] Jack Swarbrick, I shall sit upon My heavenly throne Monday and, in all My glory, meet with Coach Weis. I am a fair and loving God, and I have always said that the souls of the righteous shall rise to national championships; but also shall the evildoers, like Bob Davie and Gerry Faust, be condemned for all eternity.” When asked about the untimely smiting of former coach Tyrone Willingham, Christ said He had no comment, asked for the questioner’s name, and left. 

Now this is cocky.   Fresh off his annual Irish beatdown, Pete Carroll is willing to sacrifice a timeout so his team can wear its home jersey for a “road game” against UCLA this weekend at the Rose Bowl.  I love it.  Arrogant and cocky in a very subtle way, and intelligently framed as having fun.  This is the level of cockiness to which Charlie Weis aspires.  Must be nice to know you can talk the talk AND walk the walk.

After being indicted on dogfighting charges last year, former Atlanta Falcons quarterback, Michael Vick, has managed to go bankrupt while serving out his sentence.  How?  One way was by having a friend serve as his financial advisor, and then having $3 million disappear without a trace while under his stewardship.  ESPN’s Rick Reilly tells us more.