Notre Dame Reportedly Will Hire Weis

New England offensive coordinator Charlie Weis will be introduced at a news conference on Monday as Notre Dame’s new coach.

According to a source with knowledge of the proceedings, Weis agreed in principle to a six-year contract worth about $2 million a year. He will fly into South Bend, Ind., tonight, after the Patriots’ game against Cincinnati in Foxboro, Mass., and will address the team.

Weis’ hiring is effective immediately, but his move may not be complete until February because Patriot Coach Bill Belichick said Friday that he expected Weis to fulfill his duties with New England.

Weis, 48, has told sources he has almost an entire staff ready to go. It will be charged with handling recruiting while Weis finishes his duties in New England.

Notre Dame, according to a source close to the situation, called Buffalo Bill offensive coordinator Tom Clements Saturday morning and told him he no longer was being considered.

Weis is considered an offensive mastermind who excels in player development. He nearly died of complications after gastric bypass surgery in 2002. He underwent the procedure after his weight ballooned to 330 pounds. After surgery, he developed internal bleeding and an infection that caused his wife, Maura, to summon a Catholic priest to administer last rites.

From Chicago Tribune

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Montana (12-2) avenged a regular-season loss to Sam Houston State (11-3) with a 34-13 victory in a Division I-AA semifinal at Missoula, Mont. The Grizzlies had lost to the Bearkats, 41-29, on Sept. 18.

Montana will play James Madison (12-2), a 48-34 winner over William & Mary on Friday night, in the title game on Saturday in Chattanooga, Tenn.

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Valdosta State (13-1) rallied to win its first Division II championship with a 35-31 victory over Pittsburg State (14-1) at Florence, Ala.

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Josh Welch threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Walter Sharp with 49 seconds to play, lifting Mary Hardin-Baylor (13-1) to a 38-35 victory over Mount Union (12-1) in a Division III semifinal at Alliance, Ohio.

The Crusaders will play Linfield (12-0), which defeated Rowan, 52-0, at McMinnville, Ore. The Profs finished 10-3.

The title game is Saturday in Salem, Va.

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Keldrick Williams ran for four touchdowns to lead Alabama State (10-2) to a 40-35 victory over Southern (8-4) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship at Birmingham, Ala.

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David Gray, a sophomore receiver for California, was arrested early Friday on weapons charges outside a San Francisco nightclub. He was booked on a charge of tampering with identification marks on a firearm, a felony, and for carrying a concealed weapon and a loaded firearm in a public place, both misdemeanors.... Florida State receiver Lorne Sam had surgery for a stress fracture in his left foot on Nov. 23 and will not play against West Virginia in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 1.