http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/tal...-137-am-what-/
1:43 a.m. Update:
Charlie Weis.
Just the name makes your ears perk up a little more and holds your attention a little longer.
How long? Maybe just a night. Maybe 24 hours. Maybe for the length of whatever kind of contract he'd be willing to sign at KU.
We've reached that point in the search to find KU's next head football coach. Call it crazy. Call it delirium. I know fans of Kansas State, Missouri and probably every other college football program in the country certainly will. But that's OK, because, at least for now, it may actually be an option for KU athletic director Sheahon Zenger and the Jayhawks.
Weis, 55, currently is finishing up his first season as offensive coordinator at Florida. In 2010, Weis held the same position with the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs -- which at least lends some credence to the talk that he may be interested in coming to KU -- and helped KC reach the playoffs.
He left, abruptly, because of a desire to be closer to his son at UF and his family. Now, sources have told the Journal-World that Weis has talked with Zenger in recent days. Whether that was as an actual candidate for the job or more of a consultant remains to be revealed. But the mere thought that this four-time Super Bowl champion who spent five seasons as the head coach at Notre Dame (35-27 from 2005-09) would even be talking to anyone at KU about football is reason enough to pay attention.
There are a lot of things about Weis coming to KU that make no sense.
While at Notre Dame, where he struggled to win big but still guided the Irish to 3 bowls in 5 seasons, those who spent time around him said Weis, a 15-year veteran of the NFL sidelines, didn't take to the grind of recruiting, disliked even more the public appearances and donor functions and was more concerned about coaching the X's and O's of the game than running a program. Scary thought for a program like KU, which currently is in desperate need of a guy who can do it all. And do it well.
In addition, it would not be right to blog about Weis coming to Kansas without saying that the idea of him taking on the enormous gamble of trying to win at KU seems at least a little odd.
As for why he might consider it... Who knows? Maybe the challenge appeals to him. Win here and he's a legend. Maybe he believes in and likes Zenger. Maybe he wants to try to redeem himself for the 5 years in South Bend, Ind., and believes he can do better in the college game.
And maybe he doesn't. Again, our sources are simply telling us that Weis has talked with Zenger. To what extent and what was discussed is unknown at this time.
What is known is that after 10 days of waiting, wondering, worrying and hand-wringing, if Zenger ends this search by announcing Weis as KU's replacement for Turner Gill, KU fans are likely to party like it's 2007 and shouts of "Mike Who?" will be heard across campus.
Long, lonnnnnggg, way to go before we're there. And until anything more concrete emerges, you have to assume that KU hiring a guy like Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, Jacksonville OC Dirk Koetter or La. Tech head coach Sonny Dykes is much more likely.
But you never know what could happen. Especially with this search.
On to Day 11. Could be another crazy day.
Stay tuned...
Posted by
Matt Tait December 8, 2011 at 1:38 a.m.
Coaching Search 2011: Day 11, 10:42 a.m. - What to make of the Charlie Weis to KU rumors...
sportsnotredame.jpg
10:42 a.m. Update:
Spent most of the morning trying to track down this Charlie Weis situation and information is tough to come by. A few different sources have said that Weis is absolutely a legit candidate for Kansas, but whether he's the guy KU is going to hire or not remains up in the air.
Football Rumor Mill continues to push updates on Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, with the latest update from them saying that Malzahn has emerged as the leader. This is very possible.
Evidently, so is Weis. What a crazy turn of events this search has taken. All signs continue to point to a Friday press conference to introduce the new coach and a Saturday introduction at the KU-Ohio State men's basketball game.
Here's something to think about, if it is Weis, can you imagine the coaching staff he could put together? I don't know about you, but I think there could be some pretty impressive and surprising names there, too.
While we wait for more info on Weis and the search, here's a video of Weis talking about moving from Kansas City to Florida after the 2010 NFL season.
Florida Gators' Charlie Weis talks about move, Super Bowl rings by
dtyson13
Stay tuned...