SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis is done talking about last season. Who can blame him?
The Fighting Irish finished 3-9 – a school-record for losses – gave up a school-record 58 sacks and were last in the NCAA in total offense at 242 yards a game.
The season included the worst start (0-5) in 119 seasons of Fighting Irish football, the worst home losing streak (six straight), a loss to Navy for the first time since 1963 and two of the school’s 10 worst losses ever (38-0 to both Michigan and Southern California).
So before anyone could ask a question during Friday’s media day, Weis let it be known that he wouldn’t be answering any questions about last year.
“You will not hear one word out of anyone about 2007,” he said. “We’re moving forward.”
Weis focused on the theme “dive right in,” which he said he took from Bill Parcells. Weis said he gave players T-shirts with the motto, which is aimed at encouraging players not to wait to test the waters to see how things are going to be this year at Notre Dame but to jump in head first to help turn things around.
“I’m not looking for toe-in-the-water type of players,” Weis said. “I’m looking for players that aren’t waiting to see how things go, they’re going to be part of making things go.”
The Irish players said they’re eager to get the season started. Despite Weis’ edict, though, that no one would talk about last season, several players did mention it.
“I’m going to do everything I can to make sure last year doesn’t happen again,” quarterback Jimmy Clausen said.
Safety David Bruton said the Irish were using last year’s disappointment as an incentive.
“Of course it’s going to be in the back of some of our heads as some sort of motivation,” Bruton said. “But it’s not something we’re dwelling on. It’s not something we’re constantly reflecting back on.”
Weis stressed the need to get off to a fast start this season.
“I think that the team is hungry to get out there and start winning football games. And if you come out there and you start losing football games, that doesn’t mean you can’t still have a good year, but that’s not what we’re looking to do,” he said.
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