As his assistant coaches begin their monthlong trips across the United States after a send-off barbecue today, Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis will take a knee.
Actually, he might take two.
The fifth-year Irish coach was in Fort Wayne on his Notre Dame alumni club speaking tour Thursday and addressed the state of the team and his ailing knees. The joints are of particular concern, as Weis is recovering from having his left MCL and ACL injured when he was hit on the sideline by John Ryan during September’s Michigan game and right knee replacement surgery in January.
“I’m going to spend that four weeks and do a lot of walking, get on the elliptical machine and do my stepping, do swimming in the pool,” Weis said before addressing the club. “The things I’m going to do, while (the assistant coaches) are on the road, is legitimately spend a month just building up stamina. It had nothing to do with anything other than building up stamina.
“It’s no longer pain. I don’t have pain. I just don’t have stamina.”
Weis appeared in pain after the Blue-Gold game Saturday and hinted that if it been an actual game, which could last more than four hours, he might have had to reconsider his sideline position.
Weis stayed on the sideline Saturday and said he figures to do so in 2009.
During his speech to the Notre Dame Club, he joked that a lot of people had laughs at his expense and that he never had seen anything like what happened to him.
“I think I have plenty of time to work on both knees,” Weis said.
While Weis spoke openly about his knees, there was at least one topic he wouldn’t touch Thursday: President Obama.
When asked about the decision to invite Obama to speak at Notre Dame’s commencement next month, Weis quickly deflected the question.
The invitation has sparked debate and protests from Catholics, including a decision to not attend the graduation by Bishop John D’Arcy of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. Weis did not indicate – nor was he asked Thursday – whether he’ll attend the school’s May graduation.
“I’m the head football coach at Notre Dame. That’s what I am,” Weis said. “I’m not a politician. I’m not here to make political statements. I’m the head football coach. I’m worried about the state of the union of Notre Dame football.”
