Wake-up call: Charlie Weis, BCS, Phil Jackson

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Wake-up call begins this morning still trying to recover from the excitement of the MLS Cup at Home Depot Center.

Not even USC-Notre Dame week is likely to perk us up. It has begun under the huge shadow cast by Charlie Weis.

The Chicago Tribune today examines both sides of this question: Should the Notre Dame administration let Charlie Weis go or should it allow Charlie Weis to stay?

Times columnist Bill Dwyre laments that the rivalry has become one-sided, calling Notre Dame ‘the formerly Fighting Irish.‘’

Whatever happened to Gerry Faust? Times columnist Jerry Crowe tells us.

Notre Dame’s fall hurts USC as well because it leaves the No. 5 Trojans without a quality opponent (Notre Dame, UCLA) the last two weekends, meaning little chance to move up in the BCS rankings unless several upsets occur above them.

Could happen. Rivalry games involving Auburn-Alabama, Texas-Texas A&M, Florida-Florida State and Oklahoma-Oklahoma State are tricky for the favorites.

Texas’ Mack Brown and Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops have taken to the national airwaves to campaign on behalf of their teams. They’d better take care of the two agricultural schools in their respective states first. (Oklahoma State used to be an A&M).

Chris Dufresne writes that we should get ready for another Red River Shootout. The Sporting News concludes as well that the Texas-OU drama is far from over.

Who else but Lakers Coach Phil Jackson could find things wrong with an 11-1 start?

--Randy Harvey

Photo (top): Frankie Hejduk and his Columbus Crew teammates hold up the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy after defeating the New York Red Bulls 3-1 in the 2008 MLS Cup match at the Home Depot Center on Sunday. Credit: Victor Decolongon / Getty Images

Photo (inset): Charlie Weis. Credit: Joe Raymond / Associated Press