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Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Too Old for Hide and Seek

posted by Mike Coffey
From Deep Throat on down, a lot of good has been done by anonymous sources over the years. But the age of the Internet has brought them out of the woodwork like carpenter ants from a falling tree, and the degree of accountability has fallen in direct proportion to their multiplication.

And now, Weis vs. the Media has finally brought out its entry. In a recent article, Mike Freeman of CBS Sportsline referenced a "prominent Notre Dame booster" to comment on how Charlie Weis allegedly treats the people around him. Here's what that person, whose name was withheld in "fear of reprisals from Charlie Weis", had to say about the coach:

"Am I happy with his X's and O's? The answer is yes, without question. How could I not be? But am I happy with how he has treated some key alumni and supporters like myself? No. He has treated some of us horribly. He has already alienated some boosters, alumni, members of the athletic department and others around him. He at times can be arrogant, moody and nasty."

I don't know who this "prominent Notre Dame booster" is. But we're fortunate at NDN that we get a pretty broad range of readership, so my chances are relatively good this guy reads our site or knows someone who reads it (or someone who can read it to him).

So I'll take my chances and talk to him via this medium. In the words of the commercial, today I salute you, Mr. Prominent Notre Dame Booster. And I'm here to tell you:

You're a shitheel.

Yes, I realize profanity can be unbecoming of a person of my advancing age who strives for professionalism, but I believe in simplicity in communication.

So you're a shitheel.

When I was at Notre Dame, I learned about something called accountability. When you're asked to do something, you're held accountable for the results. When you ask something of someone, you're accountable for that request.

That's why when the Call for Change letter was being circulated, 412 of us signed it with our real names and everything. I wanted to see changes made at my alma mater, and I felt asking for such changes anonymously was not the Notre Dame way. So my name was on it. The first signature, as a matter of fact.

(Yes, I mention that a lot. I'm rather proud of it)

Did I think there was a possibility there might be blowback? Sure. I was in the final stages of a book on ND basketball, and having ND withdraw its support for the work would have been quite the kick in the fruitstand. I like going to ND football games, and I'm sure ND could have tweaked my lottery results if they really wanted.

But as I said, it's not the ND way. If you want to criticize someone, you look them in the eye and do it, and you're willing to put your name behind it.

But now we have you, Mr. Prominent Notre Dame Booster. You give a lot of money to the school, and you most likely get perks associated with your "generosity", which you obviously enjoy. But Charlie Weis has put your nose out of joint. You want to say so, but you reeeeeeally like the perks you get for being so Prominent in your Boosterism.

So you decide to have your cake and eat it, too. You whine to a journalist about how injured your precious feelings are, which enables that journalist to write a lame attack piece. You get your pound of flesh without jeopardizing your football tickets or sideline passes or whatever undeserved gratifications you get from Notre Dame, while also enjoying the satisfaction of knowing you got back at Charlie Weis for being such a jerk.

In short, Mr. Prominent Notre Dame Booster, you're sackless. You're a wuss. When other people put up, you shut up. You sit in your prime seats with your parking passes and team access, smugly thinking how you gave that big meanie what-for in the press but didn't have to actually look him in the eye and back it up.

How wonderful for you. And how awful for a Notre Dame education, which takes a major hit being used the way you're using it. I know mine is worth less right now than it was this morning because it turns out that a gutless worm like you may be in possession of a similar sheepskin.

If this cowardly behavior is indicative of how you live your life, it's no wonder you have to buy your access with money because the chances people would pay attention to you without it are certainly much lower. Say what you want about the SBT writers that brought Weis' wrath upon themselves, but at least they had the balls to stand behind their article and look Weis in the face while doing so. You can't even do that much.

I call upon you to make amends, Mr. Prominent Notre Dame Booster. Show us you're really a Notre Dame Man (or Woman). Pick up the phone, call Charlie Weis, and acknowledge yourself as the source of the quotes. Be enough of a human being to be honest in your dealings with Notre Dame and its football coach. Don't pat people on the back one minute and stick a knife in it the next. Show us you have integrity. Show us your Notre Dame tuition wasn't wasted.

Signed,

Mike Coffey
Notre Dame Class of 1991

(see, using your name isn't so hard)
| More

13 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nicely done. But in my humble opinion, there is no "Mr. Prominent Notre Dame Booster". He's merely a ginned-up "straw man" mechanism, useful in propping up what is, essentially, just a bunch of whining by reporters whose parents never set limits.

8/09/2006 03:24:00 PM  
Blogger El Kabong said...

Certainly possible. Someone on Rock's House mentioned there was a Mike Freeman who was fired from the Indianapolis Star because he had falsified information on his resume. If this is the same author, he's exhibited questionable ethics in the past, so anything is possible.

But that story is difficult to verify, so I won't repeat it.

8/09/2006 03:29:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Kudos my man. I just finished reading that article about the so called prominent booster. All I have to say is whaaaaaaa. I served in the Army for 9 years and if you cry and complain about how you're treated there, well...good luck. Keep up the good work with your page, I read it atleast 3-4 times a day. GO IRISH!!!

8/09/2006 03:38:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

perfectly written! I wrote the cbs author back right away too. Got all over him for having no sources or names or anything...? Can't believe he worte it but as we all know put ND in the title and people read it which is what they want. I don't care if Charlie ever says another word to a booster or alumni to be honest? Just win, keep grad rates up, and don't break any rules doing it!!

Go Irish!

8/09/2006 03:40:00 PM  
Anonymous Dave Parnell said...

it's funny how all these adults who are complaining about Coach Weis sound like children. They like Charlie Weis and want to be around him because he is doing well and so far has the program in the right direction as long as the defense works out. He was brought to Notre Dame to do a job. Thank God he is not sitting around eating lunch with these "high profile" alumns talking about non-sense or playing golf at 6am in the morning like Willingham did and then point the finger when it didnt go their way. Charlie got his opportunity and he is going full force with it. I'm not a Notre Dame alumn but grew up in a house with two alumns. I understand how important the football program plays in the University. I know they would back the response written by Coffey and so do I.

Robert P. Parnell (class of 1958)
Tom Parnell (class of 1997)

Notre Dame football! It's about winning games and getting back to old school traditions and not sitting on our ass and reminicing how good the Irish used to be.

8/09/2006 03:44:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Although I am not an alumnus I loudly cheer what you have written here. There is no one as annoying as the gutless wonder who throws sucker punches from behind a curtain of anonymity. Kudos to you for calling him on it.

Bob Ward

8/09/2006 04:08:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

NG

8/09/2006 04:41:00 PM  
Anonymous Ted Eberle said...

Kudos to Mike Coffey. I am not a Notre Dame alum, but my feelings for the university are just as real. Shitheel is totally appropriate as are some other descriptive terms. Charlie Weiss is doing exactly what legions of ND alums and fans wanted. He is producing winning teams, holding his players to high standards of academic excellence, recruiting excellent high school players to come to ND for all of the right reasons, and bringing Notre Dame Football to the top of the class each year. Mr. or Ms. Shitheel step forward...you won't.
Ted
Wichita, KS

8/09/2006 04:46:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mike, I am a double Domer/athlete whose father and son are football monogram winners. Over the years, I have contributed a significant sum of money to ND. Additionally, I have developed strong contacts in our athletic department, including past coaches. They were very gracious in returning my correspondence, in taking an occasional phone call, and in greeting me whenever they saw me. Last November, I dropped Charlie a note after the Navy game telling him how proud I was as a Navy vet of the gesture we gave the Middies post-game. Charlie never wrote me back, and I didn't expect he would. My reason in writing him was to tell him my sentiments, and not to invite his response on the subject or have him massage me for being a faithful fan. I'd much rather have Charlie spend his time teaching our lads how to play football then responding to the enormous pile of correspondence he must get. But I do know from friends that Charlie does put the personal arm on a lot of people in a lot of different ways. For me, I'm satisfied that he produces winners on and off the field. In the end, Charlie is a fellow Domer, and he knows that from day one of a student's arrival at ND, no person dare lord it over another. We are all a community of equals. Nostradamus

8/09/2006 05:32:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Based on the number of times people have pointed out CW's selflessness (at times when he didn't know the act was being noticed) and his work with his daughter's charity the benefit of the doubt says he is a genuine person that truly respects others. anybody that thinks he would kiss their butt because they donate money is crazy. there is nothing about CW that makes you think he would go out of his way to kiss up to people with money - just doesn't seem to be his nature.

8/09/2006 07:05:00 PM  
Blogger woofish said...

You know, I read NDNATION.COM daily, I'm not a ND grad, tried but couldn't get a football scholarship so played club at a small college, and am a fervent follower of the Irish. I live close enough to Clausen's high school that I can see him play all the time. This crap with this booster and the Tribune guys is crazy. ND finally shows some great promise and now we get people harping on the program. Charlie obviously is a great coach, to whine about how he treats some donor looking to make a name for himself (scratch that, he's anonymous) is unbelievable. And to pop off to some reporter about it is beyond my comprehension. Enjoy where the team is right now. I went to the Fiesta Bowl last year and had a great time knowing what the future holds, paid a lot for my ticket I might add, Mr. Booster it wasn't free. I could go on forever..Mr. Booster, get a grip and shutup. GO IRISH!!

8/09/2006 07:51:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You know, I read NDNATION.COM daily, I'm not a ND grad, tried but couldn't get a football scholarship so played club at a small college, and am a fervent follower of the Irish. I live close enough to Clausen's high school that I can see him play all the time. This crap with this booster and the Tribune guys is crazy. ND finally shows some great promise and now we get people harping on the program. Charlie obviously is a great coach, to whine about how he treats some donor looking to make a name for himself (scratch that, he's anonymous) is unbelievable. And to pop off to some reporter about it is beyond my comprehension. Enjoy where the team is right now. I went to the Fiesta Bowl last year and had a great time knowing what the future holds, paid a lot for my ticket I might add, Mr. Booster it wasn't free. I could go on forever..Mr. Booster, get a grip and shutup. GO IRISH!!

8/09/2006 07:51:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

No one is criticising Charlie Weis. We need to stop taking the bait. No one who has lived through Davingham or Faust's day's is going to say a freaking word against Charlie and his style. Friends, papers don't sell themselves, they need conflict: Hezbollah versus Israel; Bush vs. Kerry; Paris Hilton versus intelligence. Forget it and stop buying the papers.

8/09/2006 11:23:00 PM  

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