COLLEGE FOOTBALL Weis promises Fighting Irish will be nasty

The Patriots' offensive coordinator was introduced as new coach Monday.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Charlie Weis promises to give Notre Dame an arrogant attitude and turn the Fighting Irish into an intelligent, hard-working, nasty football team.
"I hate to include the 'nasty,' but that is part of being a winning football team," Weis said as he was introduced Monday as the new Irish coach.
Weis says his job is to raise expectations and win games.
Simple, but not easy.
Notre Dame hasn't posted back-to-back winning seasons since 1997-98 under Bob Davie. Tough academic standards and a difficult schedule have been blamed for the demise of the nation's most storied football program.
Weis, who will remain as offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots through the end of the season, said he doesn't believe any of that.
"I think that the people who complain about those things are looking for excuses," Weis said.
Wants an arrogant attitude
He wants to instill in the players an arrogance that they can win anywhere against anyone.
"That's the way I have to get the kids thinking, because once they are thinking like that it doesn't make any difference," he said. "You can call any play in the world, on offense or defense, but if the kids know the play is going to work, they are going to make it work. You'll look like a genius, but you have to sell the fact to them. Don't make excuses."
Weis replaces Tyrone Willingham, who was fired after going 21-15 in three seasons at Notre Dame. Just days after letting Willingham go, Notre Dame officials flew to Utah to meet with Utes coach Urban Meyer. They returned empty handed and Meyer decided to take an offer from Florida.
Athletic director Kevin White said he interviewed five candidates about the job opening, talked contract details with two, but only offered the job to Weis. He said Weis was the most impressive candidate.
"I like his demeanor. I like his passion. I like his body of knowledge," White said. "He's coached a lot of different positions. You put the whole package together, it says what we want to hear."
Differing views
Weis returns to his alma mater in the midst of what former Irish football player Dave Duerson, now a member of the school's board of trustees, described as great dissension.
That comment came several days after the Rev. Edward Malloy, who is retiring in June after 18 years as Notre Dame's president, said he was embarrassed that the school had fired Willingham. Malloy's assistant, Chandra Johnson, the school's highest-profile black administrator, shaved her head in protest.
Malloy and the Rev. John Jenkins, the incoming president, downplayed talk about dissension, saying the hiring of Weis would go a long way in settling things.
"Healing is too strong of a word," Jenkins said. "The board of trustees consists of 50 different people who all have very different opinions. That's not going to stop. You try to achieve the right balance. You're not going to please all the people all of the time."
Just hours after Weis was introduced at Notre Dame, WIllingham officially became the new coach at Washington.
Wants to retire there
New England coach Bill Belichick praised the job Weis has done for the Patriots the past five years.
"He's been a good friend," he said. "I'm happy for him personally, and we all at the Patriots wish him well."
Weis hopes to be at Notre Dame a long time.
"I don't come here to leave and take a job in the NFL in three years. This is not a stepping stone. This is an end-all for our family," he said. "When we come to Notre Dame, we come here with the intent of retiring here."