The question Swarbrick and his associates must grapple with in the coming days is this: Is Notre Dame in a bad marriage with its highest-paid employee or should they exercise patience? Let’s take the latter argument first.

It is inarguable that Weis has recruited well the past two seasons. While some starters have been disturbingly capricious in terms of performance — quarterback Jimmy Clausen provided the perfect epitaph of his first two seasons in South Bend earlier this week when he said, “We’ve been consistent here and there” — there is little doubt that this team has its greatest abundance of freshmen and sophomore talent since early in the Holtz era. Players such as cornerback Robert Blanton, wide receiver Michael Floyd and linebacker Brian Smith have All-American potential.

If Weis can sign a third consecutive class as talented as the last two, Swarbrick et al might as well give him a chance. After all, this is the same guy who started out 9-2 in South Bend with a seasoned crop of talent.

On the other hand, it would seem recruiting is the only aspect of the job in which Weis has been better than “consistent here and there” the past few years. Is youth and inexperience an acceptable excuse for a team failing to record a first down for nearly three quarters? For come-from-ahead losses to the likes of Syracuse, Pitt and North Carolina?

Charlie Weis has an astute football mind. He respects Notre Dame and what it stands for. His players graduate and there have been no truly scandalous moments, outside of the underage-drinking bust here and there, since he arrived.

Special feature Irish pride Check out some of Notre Dame's cheerleaders throughout the years.

Does he inspire, though? Is it within him to make players, and coaches, better than the sum of their individual parts? Do his players play for him? Is he a leader?

We will revisit that question next season. For it actually seems, sadly enough, that a 35-point loss to the school’s oldest continuous rival is respectable to save the Notre Dame head coach’s job. The feeling here is that, unless a number of high-school seniors de-commit in the coming weeks, Weis will be on the sideline for the bowl game as well as Notre Dame’s season opener with Nevada next September.

Swarbrick would only say that he and other athletic officials review Weis after the conclusion of the regular season, which is no different than the way they review every other Irish head coach.

“There’s no guarantee for any coach,” said Swarbrick, whose first four months on the job are proving very interesting, “and that includes our women’s soccer coach whose headed to the final four next weekend.”

You can presume that Randy Waldrum, whose team is undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the nation, is safe.

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