More photos » by Darron Cummings - AP

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Saturday was a collective fail for many in the Notre Dame family.  The team wasn't ready, the coaches weren't ready and a lot of fans - yours truly included - had overlooked Navy in anticipation of the big primetime showdown in Pittsburgh.  Granted, fans are allowed to have their eyes wander and focus lapse, but you expect a bit more from those actually participating in the games.  But it wasn't that effort and execution weren't there the entire time, particularly on offense outside the ten yard line.  The offense hummed right up and down the field like they should, and the defense made a few necessary stops in the second half after getting shredded for the majority of the game, but there was a feeling very early on that this just wasn't meant to be.  Charlie Weis' tenure at Notre Dame was, for all intents and purposes, going to end on that field against the Midshipmen, who haven't lost at Notre Dame Stadium since 2005.

Two missed field goals from a kicker who had set the Notre Dame record for success a week prior.  A fumble at goal line by your all-world quarterback, and an interception at the goal line caused by a miscommunication between that same quarterback and an all-universe receiver who was still knocking some rust off.  At one point when it looked like Kyle Rudolph's collarbone had gone the way of the Dodo and Clausen looked like someone needed to outline him in chalk on the goal line, it seemed like a perfect end to a season and a coaching tenure: just sheer, unadulterated chaos and horrendous luck.

Charlie Weis has brought a lot of bad things onto himself.  There are the play calls and personnel usages that seem to be randomly drawn from a hat every game.  There's a decided lack of schematic advantage in a lot of cases, and the way he handled himself his first couple years on the job put him in a rather large hole in regards to public relations.  But make no mistake; he's had some bad luck.  Despite showing a clear willingness to find that right guy, he's never gotten the great defensive coordinator to help him out, like Spurrier had Stoops.  His tenure coincides with some of the best runs in both USC and Naval Academy history*.  He's been so so close to getting the big defensive tackle the team so desperately needs a handful of times, only to have the rug yanked out from under him at the last second every time.  No, Weis has done a lot of damage to himself, but the comedy of random, Angry Football God errors that plagued the team Saturday is a nice representation of Weis' tenure as a whole.

*A lot of people are shouting about "We lost to Navy, you can't do that!", while ignoring the fact that Navy nearly won at Ohio State and has consistently beaten or kept up with very good teams over the last half decade.  I'm not saying the loss isn't inexcusable and the final nail in Weis' coffin, but a lot of teams would lose to Navy this year, especially when every single bounce went the other way.

So where does the program go from here, at 6-3 with three very losable games ahead and a fan base that's already starting to track private jets?  Before the season started, I wanted 9-3.  After USC, I wanted 9-3, and that record is still possible, however highly unlikely with two road trips against good teams and a home game against a UConn team long overdue for an emotional win.  I don't think Weis wins out, and if he doesn't, it's over.  Even if he wins out - even with the absurdity of firing a 9-3 coach - I'm not sure he can come back.  So much of the fan base is just poisoned against him and in need of a change, I don't know if he can make it.  The fact sheets are created, short lists are being trimmed and if the administration is any sort of competent, they're already sending out feelers for a replacement.  There isn't a group of ND fans in the country who haven't already started their e-mail chain looking for a replacement.

That's what makes Saturday night's game at Pitt so interesting.  I'm very confident in the Irish's ability to compete, despite the fact Pitt is a top ten team with a balanced offense and tenacious defense.  If the Irish lose, well then that's it.  It's Kelly or Gruden or Meyer or Stoops or Patterson or Eric Taylor or whoever you want to dream of in the slot.  If it's a win?  Then there's another week of teeth gnashing and garment rending and seeing if Weis can survive two more games.  If you're interested in high drama and sad because Mad Men just went on hiatus, there's no better place to look than the Notre Dame community as they plan the funeral of a man who is still among the living.

My position regarding Weis is that I wanted 9-3 and that record is still possible, so until it becomes unachievable, I'm going to hold off on posting about potential coaching changes.  I'll be listening to Monday Night Football  for secret signals from Jon Gruden and looking into Brian Kelly's system, but I'm going to cover this team like the games do still matter, at least until they don't any more, which could be this weekend in time for Saturday Night Live.  The FanPosts are available for anyone and everyone to discuss coaching rumors or potential options, but for a few more days at least, I'm going to act like Charlie Weis is the head coach at Notre Dame for the future.  That might be the epitome of naiveté, but that's how we're going to play it until Pittsburgh.

More photos » by Darron Cummings - AP

3 days ago: Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen, second from left, looks on as the team sings the Notre Dame alma mater after Notre Dame lost to Navy 23-21 in an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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Sigh.  We have a lot to talk about, friends, but enjoy the rest of your weekend and we'll get at it on Monday.  Sad times accomplished.  Solomon Burke, play us out.

Armando Allen is out, but St. Michael Floyd has returned.  The last time the Midshipmen played at Notre Dame Stadium...agggh....not.....take it away, House Rock Built.

Go Irish, Beat Midshipmen.

More photos » by Michael Conroy - AP

7 days ago: FILE - In this Sept. 5, 2009, file photo, Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd heads upfield after making a catch during NCAA college football game against Nevada in South Bend, Ind. Floyd will play against Navy on Saturday, six weeks after breaking his left collarbone. Coach Charlie Weis said Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009, that the 6-foot-3, 220-pound sophomore was cleared to play Monday for the No. 19 Fighting Irish. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

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A lot ofimportant stuff in regards to injuries in Coach Weis' Tuesday.  First, the good:

• Michael Floyd is cleared to play for the Navy game (!!!!!). Floyd had 13 catches for 358 yards and five touchdowns before going down with a broken collarbone in the Michigan State game. With Golden Tate playing at the level he is, Jimmy is going to have a field day back there.
• Robbie Parris is also back after Taylor Mays' attempted homicide. It's nice to see college football writers across the country starting to realize that Mays isn't actually a top-tier safety in the Eric Berry/Earl Thomas/Kyle McCarthy-mold, but really just a head hunter who we all were led into thinking was good.  I was guilty of it as much as anyone, but writers are redeeming themselves nicely in noticing this, although it'll be interesting to see if NFL scouts pick up on it. (Probably not.)  Nice to see Parris back, especially since Robby Toma and Duval Kamara have got some reps in his absence. Receiving corps is looking particularly deep now.

And the not so good:

• Back-up quarterback and heir apparent to the throne whenever Jimmy leaves, Dayne Crist, is out 4-to-6 months with a torn ACL. He could be back for spring practice, but nothing is certain there. If you were on the Notre Dame message boards this week, you might have been as surprised as I was to find that A) Only Notre Dame players enter the draft early and B) Only Notre Dame players get injured. I should start selling "Hold me, I'm Irish" t-shirts on this site for all of the emo Fighting Irish fans, we'd make a killing.
• Trevor Robinson is doubtful for Navy, and Armando Allen is day-to-day. If I had my druthers, I'd try to limit their action against the Midshipmen and get everyone up to one hundred percent for the throwdown with Pitt next Saturday night.

The most important things from these bullets are obviously St. Michael's return and Crist's injury.  The offense might almost be unstoppable with Floyd back, but sadly, getting a big fourth quarter lead will mean increased reps for Evan Sharpley, who won't be on the team next season.  John Goodman will now be your emergency third string quarterback, so um, Wildcat anyone? 

*

We'll get into a more extensive look at the team in the coming weeks, but I'm very worried about the Irish basketball team this season.  Even though they are playing an embarrassingly awful non-conference schedule, the Big East is still really good and Scott Martin's injury was an absolute killer.  Martin was the second most important player on the team after first-team preseason All-American Luke Harangody, as was going to fill in the Kurz/Ayers roll as big forward who could shoot perfectly.  Now we have a team that goes seven deep and relies on three-point shooting, only there are about two shooters you'd feel comfortable with. 

Oh, what is it that you're drinking there, Seth Davis?  May I have a sip?

Oh yeah, indeed:

Maybe I'm overreacting to one practice, but this team was bigger, deeper and more talented than I anticipated. Clearly, the Irish do not have much margin for error, and they certainly cannot afford any more injuries. But they've got the best player in the league, if not the country, and that's not a bad place to start. Notre Dame might have a low ceiling, but it also has a pretty high floor. Write it down: The Gody is going back to the NCAA tournament.

During the course of the article, Davis praises everyone on the team for something and compares Tim Abromaitis to Matty Carroll.  I obviously hope he's right, but I'm going to maintain some skepticism until we actually see it mesh on the floor.  The first non-tomato can for the Irish is Northwestern on November 27.  They'll then play either Saint Louis or Iowa State, with the only opportunity for a big non-conference win coming December 19, when the UCLA Bruins roll into town.  The Big East slate isn't as tough as it was last year with UConn and Louisville twice, but it's still not going to be easy.  I will leave you with my single favorite part of the story:

When Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry told Harangody that the Cavs considered former Louisville forward Earl Clark a better pro prospect, Harangody told him, "I have a f------ problem with that."

*

Staying over at SI.com, Stewart Mandel spends part of his mailbag advocating a plus-one plan.   If you frame the plus-one as a natural step to getting to a playoff, then I can accept it.  If you frame it as some sort of cure to the many ills of the collegiate football postseason, you're an idiot.  Tell me, if we're using the "Mandel Plan," what do you do in years like 2002 or 2005, when you have two clear, undefeated teams at the top heading into the bowls?  Or, even more fun, what about in years like 2007, when it's a giant clusterf*ck?  Who would play in the plus-one game then?  LSU vs. USC?  Or Georgia?  Or Kansas?  Or West Virginia?

Mandel tacks this onto the bottom:

I'm sure I will now be deluged with 800 e-mails picking my proposal apart, but keep one thing in mind before you hit send: There's at least a glimmer of hope the Mandel Plan could become reality (the SEC and ACC are already open to a plus-one), whereas any larger playoff proposal -- no matter how many political action committees form to support it -- still has a 0.0 percent chance of getting adopted any time soon.

Great, so I'm supposed to be excited your shitty plan has a chance to come into reality?  Awesome.  Thanks for that caveat, Stewart. 

*

In the latest College Football Is Going To Hell News, they just added the Dallas Bowl for New Year's Day 2011.  What esteemed program will you see play on what used to be a holy day for college football?  I'm glad you asked!

Jan. 1, 2011 -- Big Ten (No. 6 team) vs. Big 12 (No. 7 team)
Jan. 1, 2012 -- Big Ten (No. 6 team) vs. Conference USA team
Jan. 1, 2013 -- Big Ten (No. 6 team) vs. Big 12 (No. 7 team)
Jan. 1, 2014 -- Big Ten (No. 6 team) vs. Conference USA team

Can I set my Tivo now?!  Gee golly, can't wait to see Purdue and and UTEP square off while I'm nursing a hangover.  IS NOTHING SACRED TO YOU PEOPLE?!

More photos » by BAHRAM MARK SOBHANI - AP

10 days ago: Notre Dame player Sergio Brown celebrates with a back flip after defeating Washington State, 40-14 in an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 in San Antonio, Texas. (AP Photo/Bahram Mark Sobhani)

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Some Irish fans - we'll call them the lunatic fringe - have been complaining that Notre Dame hasn't been blowing the doors off of teams because of their vast talent advantage, or whatever.  Granted, every team they had played against Nevada had been a BCS team that either has a great win or very competitive game against a top team.  We were not going to get a poor effort from them, and due to the abilities of Jimmy Clausen and friends, the Irish were 5-2. 

This game - this weird Halloween night clash with a Pacific Northwest foe near the Mexico border - is what it looks like when you play a team where you have a dominant talent advantage.  You control the lines on both sides of the ball, you get your back-ups plenty of reps and everyone gets to focus on enjoying the band and going home happy.  There were obviously some very bad things to come out of last night: the injuries of still-unknown consequence to Trevor Robinson and Dayne Crist, plus Jimmy re-aggravating the turf toe.  But the Irish did what they needed to do as they get ready for a tricky November slate, and now to the bullet points.

• Golden Tate is a top two or three Heisman candidate at this point, and anyone who has him lower than that is simply voting for the big name quarterback who was supposed to be at the top of the ticket before the season started.  All he does is score touchdowns - out of the backfield, on catch and runs, tearing the ball away from three defenders on a jumpball in the endzone - and jump into bands and refuse to get tackled at any point.  He's amazing, he's got two go-ahead fourth quarter touchdowns (Michigan State, Boston College) and a huge game against Southern Cal.  He played better as more of the defense focused on him after Michael Floyd's injury.  Golden Tate is a Heisman front runner, and anyone who doesn't have him there doesn't deserve a vote.
• Great work by the defensive line all night, as KLM led the team in tackles with five.  Ian Williams had a pick, Ethan Johnson was a constant presence in the backfield and Wazzu running back Dwight Tardy didn't really get going into the second string was in.  Hopefully they enjoyed rushing the passer this week, as the next game against Navy won't warrant too many of those opportunities.
• Excellent game by Robert Hughes and Theo Riddick as Armando Allen sat a spell.  Hughes had 182 yards of offense on 28 touches - just beautiful, gaudy numbers as he consistently provided a nice check down for Jimmy - while Riddick flashed some speed with 12 for 75. 
  
• Dayne really flashed the gun on that pass to John Goodman.  Let's hope his leg(s) is okay, although it's not a good sign when the pain from an injury is so intense a player just drops the ball.  Jimmy, please stay?  Thanks.
• Tony Dungy compared Clausen to Drew Brees at halftime.  I like it.
• Duval Kamara went from being written off by Irish fans to becoming a very nice part of this receiving corps.  It was also nice to see Kyle Rudolph back in the mix at receiver, as well as Mike Ragone getting his first catch of the season (which seems impossible, yet is true).
• As far as Irish bowl chances go, they are two very tough road games and two tricky home games away from winning out, so let's not get too involved with that.  However, it is worth glancing at:  If the Irish go 10-2 they will have a shot at a BCS game, a good chance at the Cotton Bowl (depending on how LSU looks in November) and become a virtual lock for the Gator.  If they go 9-3, I imagine it's almost a definite trip to the Gator against the Canes or Hokies.  There are all fine games against good teams, so the focus of Irish fans should be on just winning, baby.
  

by Michael Conroy - AP

17 days ago: Notre Dame wide receiver Golden Tate scores the game winning touchdown in the fourth quarter against Boston College in an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009. Notre Dame defeated Boston College 20-16. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

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Some interesting games over the course of the day, but business really picks up tonight. 

Go Irish, Beat Cougars.

Rank	Team	Delta
1	Alabama
2	Florida
3	TCU	3
4	Cincinnati
5	Texas
6	Iowa	3
7	Boise State
8	Southern Cal
9	Oregon	3
10	Georgia Tech
11	LSU	3
12	Miami (Florida)	3
13	Penn State	4
14	Houston	1
15	Virginia Tech	4
16	Oklahoma State	4
17	Ohio State
18	Pittsburgh	5
19	West Virginia	2
20	Arizona	5
21	Oklahoma
22	Notre Dame
23	South Carolina	5
24	Mississippi
25	Central Michigan
Last week's ballot

I'm very comfortable with the Top 11 here, and after that, you can rearrange all you want.

Texas is where it is because its best three wins are against Oklahoma, Texas Tech (who just got blown out by Texas A&M) and @Missouri (winless in the Big XII).  Cincinnati's resume isn't substantially better, but they at least have the @Oregon State win in non-conference.  TCU is a solid third with wins @BYU, @Clemson, @Air Force and @Virginia.  The Longhorns can move up with a win in Stillwater Saturday.  Iowa perhaps has the resume for third (@PSU, Arizona, @Wisconsin, @MSU), but they're paying a little bit for the close calls, both Saturday night and in the Northern Iowa and Arkansas State games.