Hey Gang,
Here is the full article from the Ft. Wayne News-Sentinal. However, the only part about SBTB is the one already listed. That said if you are wanting to catch up on Golic here is the rest of that article.
The ;D Friar
News-Sentinel, The (Fort Wayne, IN)
April 24, 2006
Section: SPORTS
Edition: FINAL
Page: 1S
Memo:Column
Weis-Golic is good one-two punch
Golic's wit would keep things lively, as it did at the Blue-Gold Game.
Reggie Hayes, rhayes@news-sentinel.com
Here's a novel idea for Notre Dame's football program: Let Charlie Weis coach and hire radio host Bob Golic to handle the postgame news conferences.
It'd be the best of both worlds: Innovative coaching followed by irreverent analysis. As long as the wins keep coming, everyone goes home happy.
We were treated to that tag-team duo after the Blue beat the Gold 10-7 on Saturday in the annual - what else? - Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium.
None of the record crowd of 41,279 learned anything new from the game. Brady Quinn remains a solid quarterback with reliable receivers (one TD to Jeff Samardzija) and running backs (Travis Thomas rushed for 106 yards, Darius Walker 83). Mean-while, the Irish defense as currently constituted would likely still be sauteed if it played Ohio State.
Weis assessed the spring in his usual restrained manner, saying he was more or less pleased with the defensive improvement.
"We were able to create some depth we didn't have at this time last year," Weis said.
Don't look for that comment to make the next version of Bartlett's Familiar Quotations.
In Weis' defense, the news that would have prompted a better quote - the oral commitment of superstar prep quarterback Jimmy Clausen - was off-limits because a coach can't talk about a recruit before he signs a letter of intent.
All of Weis' blandness was forgiven, however, once Golic took over the microphone.
Among Golic's quick quips:
* His honorary assistant coaching gig was torture on his feet. "I had to lean against the stadium and pretend I was signing autographs."
* He never expected Weis, a college friend, to be the head coach at Notre Dame: "He was actually voted most likely not to be making tons of money coaching Notre Dame."
* He remembered his reaction the first time he saw a camera pan to Weis coaching in the NFL: "Charlie! He owes me a case of beer."
Golic, who hosts an afternoon radio show in Akron, Ohio, even answered a question about his season on the television show, "Saved By The Bell: The College Years."
"Four years of major-college football here at Notre Dame, 14 years in the National Football League - one year in a kids' TV show and that's all people talk about. The sad thing is the cheerleaders all ran out to me to get a picture, and just for the briefest of moments, I thought, `I still got it.' "
Weis' plan to use honorary coaches was a stroke of genius. OK, that's a bit extreme. But let's say it's a good idea. Golic and his brother, Mike, better known as "Mike" on ESPN Radio's "Mike & Mike in the Morning," helped the defenses. Jerome Bettis and Rag-hib "Rocket" Ismail worked the offensive sides.
The former players entertained the media, inspired the players and reminded fans of Notre Dame's rich tradition.
Even a smart-aleck like Golic can't help but turn sentimental in endorsing Weis' psychological approach.
"A lot of things I will say and others will say will sound corny sometimes," Golic said. "But there is a different look in people. There's a different look in the eyes of some of the players, a different look in the eyes of the fans. They see something. ... Everything's going in the right direction."
Bettis spoke to the team in Pittsburgh last season and said he's happy and pleased with the program. Ismail, who criticized the school's firing of former coach Tyrone Willingham, met with Weis and threw his support behind the coach, too.
"The demeanor last year - regardless of the score, it was almost like you just expected that you were going to be able to come back and have an opportunity to win," Ismail said. "The spirit of that - I felt that through the television."
I appreciate Ismail's enthusiasm, but a man can take only so much mush.
That's why Golic would be the perfect press secretary for Weis.
Golic is still waiting for that case of beer, incidentally.
"It wasn't a bet," Golic said. "I actually gave him money to go pick some up. And then we graduated."
Here's hoping this is the first of many Weis-Golic reunions still to come.
Reggie Hayes
For more sports commentary and insight, check out Reggie's blog at
www.news-sentinel.comThis column is the commentary of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of The News-Sentinel. E-mail Reggie Hayes at rhayes@news-sentinel.com.
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