Hoping to copy the formula USC football used to regain national prominence -- fire the head coach, endure public ridicule as big-name candidates turn you down, hire a below-the-radar candidate based in New England -- Notre Dame introduced Charlie Weis as its 28th coach on Monday.
"Well, guess what folks, I hit pay dirt," Weis said at his introductory news conference.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Wednesday December 15, 2004 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 51 words Type of Material: Correction
College football coaches -- A graphic in Tuesday's Sports section with an article about a number of major universities hiring football coaches reported that University of Nevada Las Vegas hadn't hired a coach to replace John Robinson, who had retired. Mike Sanford was introduced as UNLV's new coach on Dec. 6.
Notre Dame would do leprechaun leaps if Weis worked out as well as Pete Carroll has at USC.
Weis, 48, will continue in his job as New England offensive coordinator while managing some Fighting Irish matters until the Patriots are eliminated from the NFL playoffs, which could stretch into February.
On Monday, a few prominent coaches in this musical-chair carousel finally took their seats.
Shortly after Notre Dame introduced Weis, former Notre Dame coach Tyrone Willingham presided over an afternoon news conference to announce his hiring at Washington while Stanford, the school Willingham left three years ago to coach Notre Dame, officially welcomed Walt Harris, who will leave Pittsburgh for The Farm after Panthers play in the Fiesta Bowl.
Also, Brigham Young made its choice, promoting Bronco Mendenhall from defensive coordinator to head coach, replacing Gary Crowton.
Notre Dame is banking Weis, a 1978 Notre Dame graduate who did not play college football, can start healing what has been one of the most painful chapters in school history.
The Irish saga began Nov. 30, when the school broke precedent and fired Willingham with two years left on his contract in order to court Utah Coach Urban Meyer, who had called Notre Dame his "dream job."
But Meyer already had agreed in principle to take the Florida job, which left Notre Dame humbled and embarrassed as it scrambled for a backup plan.
After making unsuccessful runs at other coaches, including Louisville's Bobby Petrino, Notre Dame homed in on Weis, seemingly a long shot for the job given his lack of head-coaching experience and the fact he would not immediately be available.
In contrast to the stoic and calculated Willingham, the New Jersey-born Weis demonstrated Monday he prefers the blunt-as-a-brick approach.
"For me to say anything that would be disrespectful of Coach Willingham and his staff would be absolutely ignorant on my part," said Weis, who signed a six-year contract worth about $2 million per season.
