Killian wrote:MClub,
I agree that this series needs some vitrol. It has become way too stale over the past decade. I think Rodriguez and Weis are the perfect coaches for this series. It's going to be easy to hate them both.
Since you mentioned it . . .
Here's an excellent article about public perceptions of Weis, both as a person and coach.
I've never met Weis. From what I've read about him, he strikes me as an imperfect person capable of both good and bad things, which gives him something in common with each and every one of us. He's definitely arrogant, the prevaling opinion at ND Nation to the contrary notwithstanding. He's also capable of a lot of compassion, as evidenced by the Montana Mazurkiewicz (sp?) story as well as the Hannah & Friends charity he and his wife established.
By way of comparison, I did meet Gerry Faust, and in my own personal experience, I can probably count on one hand the number of people I have met over the course of my life who were nicer persons. Because I was able to observe him while I was a student at ND, he taught me lessons in grace under pressure which I try, but too often fail, to incorporate into my own life. However, he failed to meet expectations while coaching at ND, and for that reason, it was necessary for ND to end its relationship with him, at least in the capacity of head football coach, one way or the other.
Regardless of what I thought, or did not think, of any ND football coach as a person, I have never rooted against any particular coach at ND, nor would I ever do so. To do so would be tantamount to rooting against the team, at least in the short term.
From what I've read about DickRod, there are reasons to dislike him as well, including the manner in which he left WVU. But I'm not letting my opinions, or lack thereof, of these coaches influence my rooting interests. I'll root for ND against Michigan because it's ND. If the two schools were somehow to switch coaches, my answer would be the same.
