With pressure mounting at the Dome, Weis' silence is Golden
Part II: Weis Q&A
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Forty-two seconds.
That's how long it took Charlie Weis to contemplate the question that defines his program at the moment.
Do you feel pressure?
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| Did a 3-9 season leave Notre Dame's Charlie Weis at a loss for words? (Getty Images) |
"I never feel pressure from outside if that's what you're saying," Weis said, starting out. "I just feel like, what's the right word? ..."
And then the pregnant pause as Notre Dame's coach -- seated comfortably in a Guglielmino Athletics Complex meeting room this week -- stared into space contemplating his answer.
For 42 seconds.
Before reading his reply, consider that Weis is never at a lack for words. That translated to fun for Irish fans when their team was winning 19 games in Weis' first two seasons. Even more fun, perhaps, for his critics when Weis had to explain why the program went south in 2007. But win, lose or draw the ire of fans after a 3-9 season, you cannot deny the guy is accountable.
And of course confident, bordering on cocky. That's why he signed an extension seven games into his first season, giving him some of the best security (and reportedly one of the highest salaries) in the industry.
In the first of two parts, CBSSports.com takes a quick offseason look at Notre Dame through Weis' eyes.
You don't see much of a strut by anyone around The Gug these days. Notre Dame has to get better -- in a hurry. As the coach himself said last year, "May God strike me dead" if he uses the r-word -- rebuilding.
There's a lot at stake these days when programs like Boise, Hawaii -- even Kansas -- are cashing BCS checks, while Notre Dame flounders. Not only is Weis on the hook but so is the man who gave him that 10-year contract, athletic director Kevin White.
"He's as prideful a guy as I've ever been around," White said.
