Notes From Weis' Post-Season Presser

Charlie Weis wasn't surprised his recruiting class stayed together this year.
Of course, there is still about two months to go until National Letter of Intent Day, but so far, there doesn't seem to be any concern of defection from any of the players Notre Dame has orally committed, which is projecting to be the nation's top class.
Weis attributes that to the players constantly communicating with each other.
"I took a pretty big backlash last year when I said we were really going to get down to the word commitment and get down to a clear explanation of what the word commitment was," Weis said. "I think that the guys that we've gone after have all understood that right from Day 1, what our stance was, we've supported them and they've supported us and their families have been involved and their coaches have been involved and they've understood this is the way we're going to do it.
"When you recruit a bunch of high character kids that are all involved with other kids that you're recruiting, they do it themselves. They already bought into that school of that's how they'd like it to be done. It makes it easier when the players are already recruiting themselves. They have relationships here and they aren't going to bail on their friends."
To be sure, though, Weis is having multiple coaches meet with each recruit. In addition to the player's recruiting coach, he'll likely get a December visit from a position coach, coordinator and Weis.
This is important to show recruits that coaches are paying attention, but also important if a coach leaves -- either by Weis' decision or by his own accord. Offensive coordinator and running backs coach Michael Haywood is a candidate for the open job at Houston, and Weis said he isn't planning on making any other personnel decisions until after he comes off the road recruiting.
"They might be seen by four people in the month of December," Weis said.

Four to Senior Bowl
Notre Dame will have four representatives playing in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., in January. Defensive lineman Trevor Laws and safety Tom Zbikowski will attend, along with tight end John Carlson and center John Sullivan.

Mum on Grimes catch
Weis didn't say much when asked about an explanation of the reversal of David Grimes' touchdown catch against Stanford in the season finale. In a somewhat cryptic answer, Weis didn't even mention Pac-10 officials.
"I think we've had a very good relationship with the Big East officials this year and since we've gone to the Big East and they do a very good job of keeping us informed in when things happen," Weis said. "I think I'll just leave it at that."
The play would have been the go-ahead score in Notre Dame's eventual 21-14 win over the Cardinal.

This and that
Weis went to the White House last week at the request of President George Bush to possibly become a member of a 21-person committee on special needs children. Weis said it appears to be heading in the direction of him joining the committee. His daughter, Hannah, is a special needs child and Weis and his wife, Maura, have a foundation -- "Hannah & Friends" -- set up to help special needs children. ... Weis did not have any injury updates but was meeting with team doctor Jim Russ later Monday. He indicated players who needed surgeries have already gotten them, but did not elaborate. ... Weis said there will be 14 recruits at the team's Football Banquet this Friday, which will be followed by Notre Dame's men's basketball game against Northern Illinois on Saturday.

-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette