Tribal Warfare
01-10-2010, 10:30 AM
Background On Charlie … Weekend Cup O’Chiefs (http://www.bobgretz.com/chiefs-football/a-little-background-on-charlie-%E2%80%A6-weekend-cup-o%E2%80%99chiefs.html)
January 9, 2010 - Bob Gretz |
There are some things you should know about the newest immigrant from the east to arrive at Foxboro West.
If Charlie Weis is one thing it is this: he’s a Jersey Guy. He was born there, bred there, got his first coaching jobs in the Garden State, won his first Super Bowl ring working out of Giants Stadium. He knows Springsteen and Bon Jovi. He knows what it is to “go down the shore.” He has said “How Ya Doin’ ” about a million times in his life.
Beyond the Jersey roots, here’s what else you should know about the Chiefs offensive coordinator.
HE WAS BORN in Trenton, New Jersey on March 30, 1956. He’ll be 54 on his next birthday.
WEIS IS THE SECOND OF FIVE CHILDREN, four of them boys. His father was an accountant and his mother a nurse. He grew up in Middlesex, New Jersey.
HIS FATHER WAS A MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER in the Cardinals organization, establishing a love of baseball with his children. In the backyard of the Weis’ home they built a wiffle-ball park, with foul polls, a pitcher’s mound with a rubber and a scoreboard.
HIS WIFE IS MAURA and they have two children, Charles Joseph and Hannah Margaret.
FORMER GIANTS QB PHIL SIMMS ON WEIS: “What I like about him is what I miss about sports in general. I like coaches who are direct, honest and tell you things that are going to make you a better player. Charlie fits right into that mold.”
AT MIDDLESEX HIGH SCHOOL in New Jersey, he was a backup center on the Blue Jays football team that won a New Jersey state title in the fall of 1973, Weis’ senior season. He was the starting catcher on the baseball team.
AT NOTRE DAME, WEIS DID NOT PLAY FOOTBALL but graduated in 1978 with a degree in speech and drama. He dreamed of becoming a broadcaster like Marv Albert, who he listened to on the radio with broadcasts of the New York teams he loved: the Giants, Yankees, Knicks and Rangers. He earned a Masters degree in Education while coaching at the University of South Carolina.
THERE WAS A SIX-YEAR STINT IN HIGH SCHOOL COACHING after earning his degree. He started at Boonton High School and then spent five years at Morristown High School. His first year there, he taught English and was the freshman team coach. He advanced the next year to junior varsity coach and was a varsity assistant. He also coached fencing and lacrosse at Morristown. He also eventually became the varsity basketball coach.
HIS FIRST COLLEGE JOB WAS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, where he joined the staff of the late New York Giants running back Joe Morrison. Weis spent the first two years as a graduate assistant, working with defensive backs and linebackers. He spent the ‘87 college season as a volunteer coach for the Gamecocks, working with the defensive ends. He was hired in ‘88 to a full-time spot and was assistant recruiting coordinator. Morrison died suddenly in early ‘89.
WEIS RETURNED TO NEW JERSEY and spent the 1989 season as head coach at Franklin Township High (right), where he led the Warriors to a New Jersey state championship with a team that went 10-1. He installed the run-and-shoot offense that was very popular at the time.
HIS FIRST JOB IN PRO FOOTBALL was as an assistant in the New York Giants pro personnel department in 1989, the same year he was leading Franklin Township to a state title. Weis was hired because of his knowledge of the run and shoot offense. The Giants were preparing to play the Houston Oilers, and they asked him to breakdown some of the film of Warren Moon directing the run and shoot. That’s when he began working on a part-time basis evaluating players for Tim Rooney, who was the Giants personnel director.
IN LATE 1989, WEIS LEFT COACHING, returning to South Carolina where he worked selling long-distance telephone service to businesses.
WEIS’ FIRST YEAR WITH PARCELLS STAFF came in 1990 he was a defensive assistant and assistant special teams coach.
BEFORE HE BECAME COORDINATOR OF THE JETS OFFENSE IN ‘98, Weis handled running backs, tight ends and wide receivers for the Giants, Patriots and Jets.
SAID TIM ROONEY, PERSONNEL DIRECTOR OF THE GIANTS IN THE 1980S: “Charlie was one of the most persistent and confident people, but not in a negative way. Some people may view it as arrogance, but he’s been able to back it up.”
FORMER GIANTS TE MARK BAVARO ON WEIS: “He’s a very straightforward, no-nonsense type of guy. He’s not in it for glory or self-promotion. He’s in it to win.”
IN THE EARLY SUMMER OF 2002, Weis had gastric bypass surgery in a Boston hospital that went horribly wrong. Complications set in after the procedure, with heavy internal bleeding. Weis was given the last rites by a priest as he lay near death. He survived two weeks in the intensive care ward and then two more weeks in a rehab center before he was allowed to return home. He ended up missing just three days of training camp. Weis sued the doctors who performed the procedure. The case was heard in the summer of ‘07 and a Boston jury ruled against Weis in the malpractice suit.
AS THE PATRIOTS STARTED WINNING SUPER BOWLS, Weis got attention for head coaching jobs. He interviewed for several, including the Giants and Bills. Twice he expressed interest in the job at Rutgers, but he couldn’t get an interview. In the summer of ‘03, Weis was interested in the University of Washington job when Rick Neuheisel was bounced.
DURING A NOTRE DAME GAME AGAINST MICHIGAN in 2008, Weis got blind-sided by one of his own players trying to cover a punt and suffered MCL and ACL damage in his left knee. Here’s a look at what happened.
IN FIVE SEASONS AS HEAD COACH AT NOTRE DAME the Fighting Irish were 19-6 in his first two seasons and then 16-21 in his last three years, including 6-6 in the ‘09 season, including losing four straight at the end of the schedule. His 35-27 record, with a .564 winning percentage was the lowest for a Notre Dame head coach since the 1981-85 seasons when Gerry Faust’s teams had a winning percentage of .535.
TOM BRADY ON CHARLIE WEIS: “We’ve had a great relationship. I respect him an awful lot. He’s very diligent. He is very hard working. He is one of the first guys here in the morning and one of the last guys to leave. He is very smart and we’ve been through a lot together. We’ve had plenty of good seasons.”
CHARLIE AND MAURA WEIS ESTABLISHED the Hannah & Friends Foundation in 2003, in honor of their 14-year old daughter. Hannah suffers from Electical Status Epilepticus, a seizure disorder that sometimes resembles Autism. The foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with special needs. The organization provides grants to families caring for individuals and fosters an ongoing campaign promoting “Awareness and Compassion.” They have held fund raising dinners and golf tournaments, including one evening last year when Weis and Bill Belichick san on stage with Bon Jovi. Here’s a link.
We’ll have more on Weis and his offensive views coming up next week.
WILL PETE CARROLL JOIN WEIS IN RETURNING TO THE NFL?
One of the biggest stories in the football world, both college and pro, hit on Friday with word that Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll has been talking with the Seattle Seahawks.
According to the Los Angeles Times, a deal has been struck were Carroll will be president-head coach and have complete say so over the football operation of the team. He is reportedly ready to sign a five-year, $35 million deal.
Carroll was part of the ABC-ESPN telecast of the BCS Championship Game on Thursday night from the Rose Bowl and the subject of the NFL and Seahawks was never broached. But apparently earlier this week, a contingent from the Seahawks flew to Los Angeles to meet and interview Carroll. Seattle is also interviewing for their open GM position. On Friday, head coach Jim Mora was fired after just one season as the team’s head coach, replacing Mike Holmgren, who left after the 2008 season.
Carroll was head coach of the New York Jets in 1994 and the New England Patriots for three seasons. (1997-1999). He has a 34-34 record as an NFL head coach. He took over Southern Cal after Paul Hackett was fired following the 2000 season. He was the school’s fourth choice that year behind Dennis Erickson, Mike Riley and Mike Bellotti.
In nine seasons leading the Trojans, Carroll holds a 97-19 record and two national championships.
NFL teams have gone after Carroll before. He turned down a chance to coach the 49ers and interviewed with the Dolphins on then owner Wayne Huzienga’s airplane as it sat at an airfield in Costa Rica. He’s also met with the owners of the Falcons and Redskins.
Another factor in Carroll’s situation could be the possible sanctions hanging over Southern Cal football with the NCAA. At the top of the list of potential problems are allegations that former RB Reggie Bush and his parents received cash and rent-free home while he was in school.
SIGNINGS, FIRINGS, INJURIES & MOVEMENT AROUND THE LEAGUE
* PRO BOWL/AFC – OT Jake Long of the Dolphins has pulled out of the game and been replaced by Jets OT D’Brickashaw Ferguson; WR Wes Welker is out because of injury and replaced by teammate Randy Moss; Bills S Jairus Byrd is out because of injury and he’s been replaced by Patriots S Brandon Meriwether.
* PRO BOWL/NFC – Bears LB Lance Briggs has pulled out of the game and will be replaced by Packers LB Clay Matthews.
* CHIEFS – announced addition of Charlie Weis as offensive coordinator.
* LIONS – fired special teams coach Stan Kwan.
* SEAHAWKS – fired head coach Jim Mora.
* SENIOR BOWL – the coaching staffs of the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins will coach the teams in this year’s game in Mobile, Alabama.
SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY …
January 9
Born on January 9, 1942 in Winnsboro, Louisiana was CB Goldie Sellers (left). He joined the Chiefs in 1968 after spending two seasons with the Broncos. Sellers played two seasons with the Chiefs (1968-69), appearing in 28 games with six starts. He had three interceptions during the ‘68 season, returned nine punts for 144 yards and a 76-yard TD return. He also returned two kickoffs for 40 yards.
Born on January 9, 1956 in Satanta, Kansas was LB Gary Spani. He was selected in the third round of the 1978 NFL Draft out of Kansas State University. Spani played nine seasons with the Chiefs (1978-86), appearing in 124 games, with 108 starts at inside linebacker. He finished his career as the leading tackler in franchise history with 999 total tackles, 9.5 sacks, nine recovered fumbles and two interceptions. He was named to the College Football Hall of Fame and the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2003.
January 10
Born on January 10, 1962 in Green’s Pond, South Carolina was WR Clarence Weathers. He joined the Chiefs in 1989 after playing six seasons with the Patriots, Browns and Colts. Weathers appeared in 11 games during that ‘89 season, catching 17 passes for 192 yards. He finished his career with two seasons playing for the Packers.
January 9, 2010 - Bob Gretz |
There are some things you should know about the newest immigrant from the east to arrive at Foxboro West.
If Charlie Weis is one thing it is this: he’s a Jersey Guy. He was born there, bred there, got his first coaching jobs in the Garden State, won his first Super Bowl ring working out of Giants Stadium. He knows Springsteen and Bon Jovi. He knows what it is to “go down the shore.” He has said “How Ya Doin’ ” about a million times in his life.
Beyond the Jersey roots, here’s what else you should know about the Chiefs offensive coordinator.
HE WAS BORN in Trenton, New Jersey on March 30, 1956. He’ll be 54 on his next birthday.
WEIS IS THE SECOND OF FIVE CHILDREN, four of them boys. His father was an accountant and his mother a nurse. He grew up in Middlesex, New Jersey.
HIS FATHER WAS A MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER in the Cardinals organization, establishing a love of baseball with his children. In the backyard of the Weis’ home they built a wiffle-ball park, with foul polls, a pitcher’s mound with a rubber and a scoreboard.
HIS WIFE IS MAURA and they have two children, Charles Joseph and Hannah Margaret.
FORMER GIANTS QB PHIL SIMMS ON WEIS: “What I like about him is what I miss about sports in general. I like coaches who are direct, honest and tell you things that are going to make you a better player. Charlie fits right into that mold.”
AT MIDDLESEX HIGH SCHOOL in New Jersey, he was a backup center on the Blue Jays football team that won a New Jersey state title in the fall of 1973, Weis’ senior season. He was the starting catcher on the baseball team.
AT NOTRE DAME, WEIS DID NOT PLAY FOOTBALL but graduated in 1978 with a degree in speech and drama. He dreamed of becoming a broadcaster like Marv Albert, who he listened to on the radio with broadcasts of the New York teams he loved: the Giants, Yankees, Knicks and Rangers. He earned a Masters degree in Education while coaching at the University of South Carolina.
THERE WAS A SIX-YEAR STINT IN HIGH SCHOOL COACHING after earning his degree. He started at Boonton High School and then spent five years at Morristown High School. His first year there, he taught English and was the freshman team coach. He advanced the next year to junior varsity coach and was a varsity assistant. He also coached fencing and lacrosse at Morristown. He also eventually became the varsity basketball coach.
HIS FIRST COLLEGE JOB WAS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, where he joined the staff of the late New York Giants running back Joe Morrison. Weis spent the first two years as a graduate assistant, working with defensive backs and linebackers. He spent the ‘87 college season as a volunteer coach for the Gamecocks, working with the defensive ends. He was hired in ‘88 to a full-time spot and was assistant recruiting coordinator. Morrison died suddenly in early ‘89.
WEIS RETURNED TO NEW JERSEY and spent the 1989 season as head coach at Franklin Township High (right), where he led the Warriors to a New Jersey state championship with a team that went 10-1. He installed the run-and-shoot offense that was very popular at the time.
HIS FIRST JOB IN PRO FOOTBALL was as an assistant in the New York Giants pro personnel department in 1989, the same year he was leading Franklin Township to a state title. Weis was hired because of his knowledge of the run and shoot offense. The Giants were preparing to play the Houston Oilers, and they asked him to breakdown some of the film of Warren Moon directing the run and shoot. That’s when he began working on a part-time basis evaluating players for Tim Rooney, who was the Giants personnel director.
IN LATE 1989, WEIS LEFT COACHING, returning to South Carolina where he worked selling long-distance telephone service to businesses.
WEIS’ FIRST YEAR WITH PARCELLS STAFF came in 1990 he was a defensive assistant and assistant special teams coach.
BEFORE HE BECAME COORDINATOR OF THE JETS OFFENSE IN ‘98, Weis handled running backs, tight ends and wide receivers for the Giants, Patriots and Jets.
SAID TIM ROONEY, PERSONNEL DIRECTOR OF THE GIANTS IN THE 1980S: “Charlie was one of the most persistent and confident people, but not in a negative way. Some people may view it as arrogance, but he’s been able to back it up.”
FORMER GIANTS TE MARK BAVARO ON WEIS: “He’s a very straightforward, no-nonsense type of guy. He’s not in it for glory or self-promotion. He’s in it to win.”
IN THE EARLY SUMMER OF 2002, Weis had gastric bypass surgery in a Boston hospital that went horribly wrong. Complications set in after the procedure, with heavy internal bleeding. Weis was given the last rites by a priest as he lay near death. He survived two weeks in the intensive care ward and then two more weeks in a rehab center before he was allowed to return home. He ended up missing just three days of training camp. Weis sued the doctors who performed the procedure. The case was heard in the summer of ‘07 and a Boston jury ruled against Weis in the malpractice suit.
AS THE PATRIOTS STARTED WINNING SUPER BOWLS, Weis got attention for head coaching jobs. He interviewed for several, including the Giants and Bills. Twice he expressed interest in the job at Rutgers, but he couldn’t get an interview. In the summer of ‘03, Weis was interested in the University of Washington job when Rick Neuheisel was bounced.
DURING A NOTRE DAME GAME AGAINST MICHIGAN in 2008, Weis got blind-sided by one of his own players trying to cover a punt and suffered MCL and ACL damage in his left knee. Here’s a look at what happened.
IN FIVE SEASONS AS HEAD COACH AT NOTRE DAME the Fighting Irish were 19-6 in his first two seasons and then 16-21 in his last three years, including 6-6 in the ‘09 season, including losing four straight at the end of the schedule. His 35-27 record, with a .564 winning percentage was the lowest for a Notre Dame head coach since the 1981-85 seasons when Gerry Faust’s teams had a winning percentage of .535.
TOM BRADY ON CHARLIE WEIS: “We’ve had a great relationship. I respect him an awful lot. He’s very diligent. He is very hard working. He is one of the first guys here in the morning and one of the last guys to leave. He is very smart and we’ve been through a lot together. We’ve had plenty of good seasons.”
CHARLIE AND MAURA WEIS ESTABLISHED the Hannah & Friends Foundation in 2003, in honor of their 14-year old daughter. Hannah suffers from Electical Status Epilepticus, a seizure disorder that sometimes resembles Autism. The foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with special needs. The organization provides grants to families caring for individuals and fosters an ongoing campaign promoting “Awareness and Compassion.” They have held fund raising dinners and golf tournaments, including one evening last year when Weis and Bill Belichick san on stage with Bon Jovi. Here’s a link.
We’ll have more on Weis and his offensive views coming up next week.
WILL PETE CARROLL JOIN WEIS IN RETURNING TO THE NFL?
One of the biggest stories in the football world, both college and pro, hit on Friday with word that Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll has been talking with the Seattle Seahawks.
According to the Los Angeles Times, a deal has been struck were Carroll will be president-head coach and have complete say so over the football operation of the team. He is reportedly ready to sign a five-year, $35 million deal.
Carroll was part of the ABC-ESPN telecast of the BCS Championship Game on Thursday night from the Rose Bowl and the subject of the NFL and Seahawks was never broached. But apparently earlier this week, a contingent from the Seahawks flew to Los Angeles to meet and interview Carroll. Seattle is also interviewing for their open GM position. On Friday, head coach Jim Mora was fired after just one season as the team’s head coach, replacing Mike Holmgren, who left after the 2008 season.
Carroll was head coach of the New York Jets in 1994 and the New England Patriots for three seasons. (1997-1999). He has a 34-34 record as an NFL head coach. He took over Southern Cal after Paul Hackett was fired following the 2000 season. He was the school’s fourth choice that year behind Dennis Erickson, Mike Riley and Mike Bellotti.
In nine seasons leading the Trojans, Carroll holds a 97-19 record and two national championships.
NFL teams have gone after Carroll before. He turned down a chance to coach the 49ers and interviewed with the Dolphins on then owner Wayne Huzienga’s airplane as it sat at an airfield in Costa Rica. He’s also met with the owners of the Falcons and Redskins.
Another factor in Carroll’s situation could be the possible sanctions hanging over Southern Cal football with the NCAA. At the top of the list of potential problems are allegations that former RB Reggie Bush and his parents received cash and rent-free home while he was in school.
SIGNINGS, FIRINGS, INJURIES & MOVEMENT AROUND THE LEAGUE
* PRO BOWL/AFC – OT Jake Long of the Dolphins has pulled out of the game and been replaced by Jets OT D’Brickashaw Ferguson; WR Wes Welker is out because of injury and replaced by teammate Randy Moss; Bills S Jairus Byrd is out because of injury and he’s been replaced by Patriots S Brandon Meriwether.
* PRO BOWL/NFC – Bears LB Lance Briggs has pulled out of the game and will be replaced by Packers LB Clay Matthews.
* CHIEFS – announced addition of Charlie Weis as offensive coordinator.
* LIONS – fired special teams coach Stan Kwan.
* SEAHAWKS – fired head coach Jim Mora.
* SENIOR BOWL – the coaching staffs of the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins will coach the teams in this year’s game in Mobile, Alabama.
SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY …
January 9
Born on January 9, 1942 in Winnsboro, Louisiana was CB Goldie Sellers (left). He joined the Chiefs in 1968 after spending two seasons with the Broncos. Sellers played two seasons with the Chiefs (1968-69), appearing in 28 games with six starts. He had three interceptions during the ‘68 season, returned nine punts for 144 yards and a 76-yard TD return. He also returned two kickoffs for 40 yards.
Born on January 9, 1956 in Satanta, Kansas was LB Gary Spani. He was selected in the third round of the 1978 NFL Draft out of Kansas State University. Spani played nine seasons with the Chiefs (1978-86), appearing in 124 games, with 108 starts at inside linebacker. He finished his career as the leading tackler in franchise history with 999 total tackles, 9.5 sacks, nine recovered fumbles and two interceptions. He was named to the College Football Hall of Fame and the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2003.
January 10
Born on January 10, 1962 in Green’s Pond, South Carolina was WR Clarence Weathers. He joined the Chiefs in 1989 after playing six seasons with the Patriots, Browns and Colts. Weathers appeared in 11 games during that ‘89 season, catching 17 passes for 192 yards. He finished his career with two seasons playing for the Packers.