Lose Game, Lose Job?

Written by Josh Cohron | 09 September 2009

While there aren't a ton of marquee games this weekend in college football, there are two that are must-see for all fans. Third-ranked USC takes its six running back circus to Columbus for a battle with the #7 Buckeyes. The Trojans' true freshman quarterback Matt Barkley will be tested going into the hostile Horseshoe at 8pm on Saturday night. Ohio State has taken some criticism after being in a very close game against Navy last weekend. I tend to give the Buckeyes a little leniency, seeing as Jim Tressel probably didn't want to show anything to Pete Carroll and his staff. More to the point is that Buckeye players were probably looking past Navy to USC. There is no doubt the Big 10 could use the Buckeyes to play well and win to help its national image, which has been tarnished over the last three or four seasons.

The USC/Ohio State game may have higher rankings, but the biggest game on the schedule this weekend is Notre Dame playing at Michigan. Arguably, this is a matchup of the two most storied programs in all of college football. Even though both teams have hit hard times lately, this game is still as big as it ever was. Storylines and rumors still abound from the matchup. The Wolverines limped to a 3-9 record last year in Rich Rodriguez's first season. On top of that, Michigan is just coming out of a media firestorm where they were accused by players (former and current) of violating the NCAA's hour limit for practicing in a week/day. Michigan's administration started conducting its own investigation after the story came out. For a program that missed a bowl game for the first time in 30+ years last year, this wasn't the kind of publicity it was looking for.

More after the jump.

Notre Dame fans are known as a bit greedy and not very patient. Charlie Weis is in his fifth year and has won one bowl game, the Hawaii Bowl last year. The Hawaii Bowl isn't exactly what Irish fans get too excited about. Weis may be sitting on the hottest (and biggest) seat in college football. He is dealing with a rabid fanbase that had ridiculous expectations for him when he came to South Bend after being the offensive coordinator for Bill Belichick's Patriots that won three Super Bowls. He was supposedly a genius that was going to save the ND program that Ty Willingham had destroyed by all Irish fan accounts. After two winning seasons (with Willingham's players), he went 3-9 in 2007 and 7-6 last year. He seems to not like to deal with the fans and just wants to coach. All these ingredients make for a fanbase ready to explode.

What does all this mean for Saturday's tilt in Ann Arbor? It could mean that the losing coach will be looking for employment in a few months. If the Irish come in and wax the Wolverines, the fanbase may get restless. The good vibes of beating Western Michigan last weekend will be quickly gone and the unrest of last season and fans could start looking to the 2010 season. Plus, if Michigan loses, the allegations about violating rules will resurface. It is possible that if UM loses to ND, they could still have a decent season. But, with games against Ohio State and Penn State and at Michigan State and Iowa, it's not likely. Another losing season combined with rules violations would likely be the end of Rodriguez at Michigan.

And if the Irish take one on the chin and lose? Weis would probably need to be updating his resume on the ride home. Notre Dame fans have heard Lou Holtz and Beano Cook talk about them in the BCS Championship Game, so a loss to a team that went 3-9 last year may send some over the edge. Weis may need to win 10 games, just to keep his job. A loss to Michigan and a probable loss to USC makes that a much tougher plateau to reach. I doubt that Notre Dame would fire Weis during the season, but a loss in Ann Arbor this weekend and a loss to Michigan State next Saturday may do the trick.

Let me be honest, I'm a Michigan fan. I am praying for a Wolverine win on Saturday, but my head is telling me it may be next year before UM is really back. Notre Dame will probably win on Saturday. Nothing would make me happier, though, than for the Wolverines to beat the Irish (on my birthday!). Behind the Ohio State game, this is the second biggest game every year for many Michigan fans. Plus, I would love to see Charlie Weis get fired after all the crap he's said about Michigan. I don't know why Notre Dame fans were so excited when he was hired... a QB from Michigan (Tom Brady) made Weis, obviously not the other way around.