Is it over yet for Irish?
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Charlie Weis doesn't have a clue.
And even the Notre Dame head coach admits he might not find one this season for why this Irish team has devolved into the worst in school history.
"In two weeks I don't know if I'll be able to give you an answer to that," Weis said. "As a matter of fact, I don't know if in two months I'll be able to give you an answer to that."
It's never a good sign when Weis answers questions about his team quitting on him, Notre Dame going winless at home and how the off-season can't arrive fast enough all in the same post-game press conference. But those were the inquiries the Irish coach faced after Saturday's 41-24 home loss to Air Force (8-3).
One fact not in question is that Notre Dame (1-9) has checked out a new low in the program's 120-year archive. No Notre Dame team has lost nine games in a season or gone winless at home with next week's Duke visit the only potential salvation. And no Notre Dame team has ever been so inept on the ground or so vacant on the scoreboard.
Weis does have some statistical coaching company, however. Three Irish bosses have lost at least 15 games during their first three seasons on campus: Joe Kuharich, Gerry Faust and Tyrone Willingham. OK, so maybe that won't make Weis feel any better.
About the only solace Weis can take from the second service academy loss in as many weeks was the play of quarterback Jimmy Clausen, who returned from a two-game sabbatical to complete 22 of 40 passes for 246 yards and 3 touchdowns.
"We got ourselves a quarterback today," Weis said. "He was slinging it pretty good."
The hotshot freshman's numbers would have been better if not for at least a half-dozen drops that stalled drives and cost the Irish possessions.
"Obviously guys are not out there trying to drop the ball," said receiver David Grimes, who also hauled in a 21-yard score.
But that was hard to tell after former All-American candidate John Carlson lost a fumble on Notre Dame's first snap. From there the Irish offensive line missed blocks and the running backs let blitzers slam into Clausen. Air Force finished with 6 sacks, tying its season-high.
The offensive struggles also included fullback Asaph Schwapp's lost fumble that Air Force linebacker John Rabold returned 19 yards for a touchdown and a 10-0 first-quarter lead.
Meanwhile, the Irish defense couldn't get a read on the generously measured 5-foot-8, 180-pound do-everything athlete Chad Hall, who was dwarfed even by NBC sideline reporter Alex Flanagan. Listed as a Falcons wide receiver, Hall rushed 32 times for 142 yards, caught 2 passes for 31 yards and returned a kickoff for 52 yards.
"He's wearing a little heavier harness and we are going to ride him a little," said Air Force coach Troy Calhoun.
Not that tackling was Notre Dame's only problem on defense. After the Falcons scored a window-dressing touchdown with less than two minutes remaining, the Irish extended their misery when Ian Williams was penalized for a personal foul on the extra point. Trevor Laws compounded the mistake by kicking the penalty flag to draw an unsportsmanlike conduct call.
The Falcons kicked off from the Irish 40-yard line and specialist Ryan Harrison cleared the cross bar to elicit the loudest cheer of the game inside Notre Dame Stadium.
"Guys are coming to work and you're just not finding the answers," said linebacker Maurice Crum. "I don't know what happened. I'm in disbelief still that it's happening. I just think it's a dream and I'm going to wake up some day."