Things are not going well for Notre Dame head football coach Charlie Weis. He's in the midst of a rough season, not likely to make a bowl game, and rumors are rampant that he will be fired after a five-year-term that has not brought the university a national championship. The number one name on the lips of everyone to replace Weis is ESPN analyst, and Super Bowl-winning head coach, Jon Gruden. However, this morning ESPN locked up Gruden with an extension on his current contract which expands his responsibilities as an ESPN talking head.In addition to sticking with the ESPN Monday Night Football color commentary role -- in which he's pretty much been Mr. Enthusiasm -- Gruden will be working the NFL Draft, the Pro Bowl, Super Bowl week, and on radio the Rose Bowl and the BCS game. Basically, if Gruden is talking football, he's doing it on ESPN air.
Gruden's extension makes sense in light of the Notre Dame situation. Gruden would be just the kind of high-profile football superstar that Notre Dame would want to recruit. He's got a huge public personality, a recognizable face and image, and a football pedigree. He even has a colorful nickname, "Chucky," as in the Child's Play movies with the evil looking doll. When angry, Gruden and Chucky share facial similarities.
There's also reason to believe that Gruden's dream coaching job might've been ND. His father was an assistant coach in South Bend under Dan Devine, and Jon had wanted to attend the university, but passed up the chance because he didn't think he'd ever get on the field. Presumably, he was no Rudy.
So now, ESPN gets to keep him. That's not a bad thing, but it would be better if Gruden channeled a wee bit more Chucky and got a little surly during the broadcasts, you know, just for fun.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. on 'Faces of America' and the Beer Summit
Six Reasons Why '24' Has Jumped the You-Know-What
The Super Bowl Commercials: The Best
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-16-2009 @ 4:19PM
Pingles said...
I'm not a big Football fan but have been loving Gruden's input on MNF. Like Steve Young I really enjoy both his delivery and the expertise he brings.
Reply
11-16-2009 @ 4:33PM
unc69dmo said...
Gruden was not yesterday...not today...and not in the future a college coach....dealing with all the recruiting BS........academic BS.........the cold dreary podunkness of south bend.......
It's beneath him.......
Reply
11-16-2009 @ 5:22PM
Matt said...
Just a small correction, not that it means much, but they already qualified for a bowl.
Reply
11-16-2009 @ 7:09PM
bsgfan2003 said...
I *think* Allison meant that a BCS is a bye bye.
I dearly love Notre Dame.
11-16-2009 @ 6:03PM
Robert D said...
The report coming from ESPN that this extension has been signed does not indicate whether Gruden has an opt-out clause. Since the report is more of a horn tooting piece, I would highly doubt that an opt-out clause would initially be reported. Until John Gruden explicitly says "I do not want to coach the Irish" his extension does not eliminate him from consideration. Until then, this extension is really just Gruden doing what's best for him right now. That could change 2 months from now when Notre Dame is looking for a new head coach.
Reply
11-17-2009 @ 7:57AM
Laura said...
Chucky is too opinionated for this job. Last night was terrible, we all know he doesn't like the Ravens, I thought he wanted to "DO" Brady Quinn, I think he's in love. He totally dissed the Ravens every chance he got. A reporter should be more objective!
Reply
11-17-2009 @ 10:20AM
brikel666 said...
Keep Chucky on MNF. After the Kornholer and Dennis Miller debacles, they finally got one right. Used to think Gruden was just angry butthead but at MNF he seems like a nice guy and you can almost feel the guy's love for the game.
Reply
11-17-2009 @ 10:18AM
HeelDuke said...
Gruden will be on Sunday night footbal with Al and Chris within two years. You heard it here first. The only way it will ever get back to the glory days of Cosell and Meredith.
Reply
11-17-2009 @ 10:27AM
Curt said...
The MNF guys are the best group to do the broadcast for as long as I can remember. They make watching the game fun. Gruden was a great add.
Reply
11-17-2009 @ 10:59AM
John said...
And here I thought Gruden was campaigning for the coaching job of the Cleveland Browns last night. He kept mentioning his connection to the area, etc. That and how he liked the Browns and that they had some talent that needed to be used. He was complimentary of Brady Quinn, talking about watching a tryout of his and also his connection to Mike Holmgrem, who may become the next GM of the Browns. Very interesting!!!
Reply
11-17-2009 @ 11:01AM
Curtis said...
Gruden is like a Teenage Student Body President with a lot of football knowledge. He is overly eager and although I truly appreciate his football analysis he doesn't have the intuitiveness for the game he's actually working. Think of how often John Madden would make a point about a player or the situation a team was in and then all of a sudden it came to pass as if he was a psychic. Gruden? Not so...yet. He's still so excited just to be sitting in that chair that he comes across a little bit TOO much like a Pollyanna.
But, I was hoping he would replace Wade Phillips at Dallas, so I'm not saying Gruden is hopeless. :)
Reply
11-17-2009 @ 11:23AM
Sportsnut said...
I'm very dissapointed, Jon Gruden,along with Jawarsky
are WINDBAGS
Reply
11-17-2009 @ 1:15PM
Mike said...
Never liked him----too full of himself.
Reply
11-17-2009 @ 2:35PM
Robert Blessing said...
Gruden is the best fit to be added to MNF in a long time. With his love, enthusiasm and expertise of the game it is very enjoyable to watch. I have been following im for a long time as a Buc's fan and find him to be comfortable and having fun without any of the pressures of a head coach.
Reply
11-17-2009 @ 9:26PM
tom conn said...
I THINK BIG MIKE DITKA WOULD MAKE A FIND REPLACMENT AT ND
Reply