UPDATE (9:12a PT): A cantankerous Charlie Weis said today Clausen will practice Tuesday and start against Stanford Saturday. He would not comment on reports of Clausen’s altercation. (Weis to media at presser: “I only want to talk about Stanford.”)

After a bunch of detail-less news reports about Jimmy Clausen getting jacked in the eye Saturday night, South Bend’s WSBT-TV finally gives us specific details regarding what happened.

(Not a dramatization of said events)

Let’s just say Clausen’s most recent date probably should just give up on that callback. Read more…

How insane has the Notre Dame coaching watch gotten? ESPN.com’s Brian Bennett gives us a taste:

Notre Dame has blocked tracking access to its university-owned private plane from the web site FlightAware.com, a popular tool often used by fans and media to speculate on the comings and goings of a coaching search. 

One problem with that (widely-circulated) note, none of those reports about the flight tracking have mentioned when it was actually taken down. Two sources told me today that the tracking was actually removed last year, long before Weis’ job was in imminent jeopardy. Read more…

You might remember that Charlie Weis did all he could to rehab his image through the media during the offseason, but apparently the real Chuck is still seeping through.

(Yep, they’re jumping off Chuckwagon in droves now)

The CHICAGO TRIBUNE today relates an embarrassing story about Weis as he was recruiting Terrelle Pryor last year. Very embarrassing. Read more…

Anyone who watched the Pitt-Notre Dame game (it was the only game on at my gym, honest!) on Saturday saw two badly-coached teams. The final two minutes of regulation was a clock-mismanagement debacle by the Irish (Weis), who only escaped to OT after the Panthers’ botched last drive ended with an inexplicable interception.

ND then went on to lose in OT with an offense unable to move the ball since halftime (see Pitt’s masterful defensive adjustments).

Saturday was a statement game for Charlie Weis, a game his team needed to win to prove they’ve turned the corner. Instead, Notre Dame blew a two-touchdown lead at home against a Pitt team that’d previous been torched by Rutgers.

So what is Weis doing to regroup the troops for a desperate stretch run? Beating down one of his players who told the truth after the Saturday loss. Read more…

The SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER reports this afternoon that, “University of Washington football coach Tyrone Willingham has resigned. Willingham will coach the Huskies through the end of season.

“Willingham and athletic director Scott Woodward made the announcement at a news conference Monday.”

Many will point to Willingham’s replacement at Notre Dame, Charlie Weis, as contributing to Willingham’s demise at UW. But the program was long gone before ND arrived last Saturday.

So this is a low point for Willingham, but far from, in my opinion, the end of his coaching career. Read more…

Earlier this week we had Texas Tech Coach Mike Leach pulling a kicker out of the stands and slapping a uniform number on him. Now Notre Dame, plagued by ghastly kicking performances this season, has turned to a former high school soccer player for help against Washington this Saturday.

(Brandon Walker’s epic suck has ND desperate as ever)

David Ruffer didn’t kick in high school and only played soccer for one season. But after trying out this week during an ND practice, he’s landed a spot on the travel roster to Washington this Saturday.

Read more…