IRISH COACH WEIS TAKES TIME TO HOST CANCER PATIENT: It’s easy to dump all over Charlie Weis, with the way Notre Dame’s season is turning out. (Ending a 43-year winning streak over Navy, anyone?)

But even as the luck of the Irish runs out all around him, Weis still finds time to brighten the lives of those less fortunate:

The SIOUX CITY (IA) JOURNAL reports how the ND coach hosted a visit from Tom Hueser, a 75-year-old cancer patient from Iowa.The disease had recently spread from his colon to his spine. And Tom’s first wife died from cancer over 30 years ago. Hueser had also faced other hardships, such as losing a son in a car accident and losing his farm to bankruptcy.

But Hueser’s daughter sent Weis a letter about her dad’s situation, and the Irish coach ended up inviting the whole family to South Bend. Weis spoke with the family, brought them to the pre-game luncheon, and gave them sideline passes for ND’s game against USC.

Of the experience, Hueser remarked, “I met with Coach Weis for 20 to 30 minutes. He was so personable. We didn’t talk about football, we talked about life.”So, as Irish fans wail and moan about the terrible year they’ve suffered, sometimes it’s good to sit back and count your blessings. You may not have wins, but at least you have your health.