Weiland is widely considered one of the best metal vocalists of all time, but away from the stage, he was a huge Notre Dame fan. Growing up in Ohio, with a father who graduated from Notre Dame, Weiland had dreams of playing quarterback for the Irish.
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But while the closest he ever got was getting hit in the face with a football at a tailgate, he lived for the Golden Domers, so much so that during the build-up to the 2007, he wrote an open letter to then-head coach Charlie Weis begging him not to leave South Bend for the NFL.
Instead of leaving South Bend, Weis stayed.
Your recruits Charlie, who are just beginning to trickle in, came to play for you. You! Not someone else and they are coming to South Bend to those brutal winters from places all over the country – from the South to Southern Cal, just to be led to the Promised Land. Jimmy Clausen, the most Highly recruited player in High School football committed to Notre Dame. When asked why in a recent interview, he said to play for coach Weis and get a new environment. Why? The promised land, the Crown Jewel, the National Championship. But we can’t start talking about Notre Dame in the same breath as a National Championship yet. You’ve gotta win one. The team’s gotta go out there and get one. We the Irish Nation fight for it with you together and we will all win one together and walk away to the Promised Land together.
Yours truly,
Scott Weiland Rock n’ Roll Singer Stone Temple Pilots Velvet Revolver Legacy & Notre Dame Football Fan
Unfortunately, the Irish finished 2007 with a 3-9 record, including a loss to Navy that snapped the Midshipmen’s 46-game losing streak to Notre Dame. Weis led the Irish to consecutive 6-6 seasons in 2008 and 2009, and was replaced by Brian Kelly before the start of the 2010 season.
