Embattled Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis, likely a week or so away from officially losing his job, is making one thing clear as his five-year South Bend reign crumbles all around him.
He will not step down as the Irish head coach.
Armed with 18 million reasons to eschew quitting and forcing a move by the university, Weis told the media this afternoon that his intentions are to stick it out to the bitter end.
“No, that’s not happening,” he said when asked if he would resign. “But ... if they decided to do something, could you understand that? I’m the head football coach. Who else is responsible? Now, I could sit there and try to blame everybody else, but who is -- ultimately, it falls on my shoulders. That’s the way it is.”
Weis also snidely insinuated that several close losses this season should be enough to give him and his staff another season, but seemed resigned to the fact that it likely wouldn’t matter in the end.
“You know something, if they decide to make a change, OK, I’d have a tough time arguing with that, because 6-5 isn’t good enough -- especially when you’ve lost five games by a touchdown or less.
“My intent is to be here. But if that were the rationale, I mean, it would be tough for me to argue with that point.”
Bottom line? According to several Irish sources, Weis -- barring an unexpected change of heart by those in power -- will be officially excommunicated from the football program at a point shortly after the Stanford game.
At that point, the school will begin targeting in earnest their No. 1 choice to replace Weis -- Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly.
